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MUCH TO BLAME, 
 
 A TALE. 
 
 BY A CELEBRATED AUTHOR. 
 
 " Lessons of wisdom have never so much power over us as 
 when they are wrought into the heart through the ground-work 
 of some story which interests our passions." — Sterne. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: JOHN TEMPLEMAN 
 
 39, TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD. 
 IViDCCCXXlV. 
 
T. White, Printer, Johnson's Court, London, 
 
MUCH TO BLAME. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Sir George Villeroy, Bart, married his 
 first wife for love, his second for money. 
 The first was taken from him when his 
 only surviving child, a daughter, was ten 
 years old, and he loved this living sem- 
 blance of his first wife with so strong an 
 affection, that he would not probably have 
 married again, had not the unexpected 
 derangement of his affairs made it desir- 
 able to him to accept the pecuniary as- 
 sistance, which was all but offered to him 
 by Miss Elizabeth Badderly. Sif George 
 was so indolent and careless a man that his 
 steward was able to defraud him of a very 
 large sum of money ; and this loss obliged 
 
 VOL. I. B 
 
liim either to alter his manner of living, to 
 a very painful degree, to leave his country* 
 or to accumulate debts. The first was 
 repugnant to his love of indulgence, the 
 second to his love of his country, the third 
 to his love of integrity. An advantageous 
 marriage was another resource, and Miss 
 Badderly, a faded beauty, nearly on the 
 verge of forty, who was said to live single for 
 his sake, expressed such excessive sorrow 
 for his losses, and such affection for his 
 little Julia, that he could not but believe 
 she would willingly repair the former with 
 her fortune, and be a mother to the latter. 
 Nor was the lady slow to convince him 
 that his conjectures were right ; and she 
 bestowed on him herself and her three 
 thousand a year as soon as he asked for 
 them, taking care, however, to stipulate for 
 a handsome jointure, ample pin-money, and 
 a large provision for younger children. 
 
 Lady Villeroy was now at the height 
 of her wishes. She had never felt affec- 
 tion but for two persons— herself and Sir 
 George Villeroy, whose attentions on her 
 
first entering the world had seemed to 
 vacillate between her and his first wife, 
 Lady Julia Mordaunt ; therefore, however 
 she might caress the poor Julia, she, in her 
 heart, disliked her, as the child of the 
 woman whom she had always envied, and 
 who had, she thought, robbed her of her 
 lover, and also, as a rival in Sir George's 
 affection. But when the point was gained, 
 the mask was thrown off, and Sir George 
 soon discovered that the child, who, till the 
 age of ten years, had been used to un- 
 limited indulgence, would now be curtailed 
 of what he considered as even necessary 
 recreations, and would be under the rigid 
 control, of a severe task-master. At first 
 parental affection urged him to interfere, 
 but indolence, increasing indolence, forced 
 him to acquiesce — as he could not but own 
 that his best friends had told him he was 
 spoiling Julia, and Lady Villeroy was con- 
 tinually assuring him that all her severity 
 was intended for the child's good ; there 
 were other beings yet unborn, for whose 
 welfare Lady Villeroy was equally solici- 
 
tous — namely, her own future progeny ; 
 and while she was constantly, though 
 vainly, imagining that a male heir would 
 in due time be born to the house of 
 Villeroy, she was always talking of the 
 necessity of curtailing all unnecessary ex- 
 pences, in order to be provided for the 
 maintenance of the large family which she 
 might one day have ; and poor Sir George 
 found only, too late, that he had better 
 have retrenched, and remained single, than 
 have given up his usual enjoyments, and 
 his liberty of action also. But it was easier 
 to yield than to resist, and as his lady did 
 not abridge him of his usual quantity of 
 wine, or his nap after dinner, he tried to 
 forget that no servants would stay in his 
 family, because they had not enough to 
 eat, and to think that Lady Villeroy was 
 right in resolving to give a useful, rather 
 than a fashionable education to his daugh- 
 ter ; on this system she hired a governess 
 for Julia who undertook to teach her 
 grammar and needle-work only, and 
 enough of the French language to enable 
 
5 
 
 her to teach it to her little brothers and 
 sisters when they should arrive. At their 
 leisure hours the governess and Julia were 
 expected to assist Lady Villeroy in working 
 for the family, knitting rugs, bed-side 
 carpets, and so forth. Lady Villeroy being 
 what is commonly called a notable ma- 
 naging woman, and some persons more 
 just than elegant, used to bestow on her 
 the common, vulgar appellation of a nip, 
 or a skin-flint— that is an avaricious, mean 
 woman. Hitherto poor Julia had slept in 
 the largest room on the second floor, both 
 in the town and country house ; but now 
 that room was to be set apart for a nur- 
 sery, and she and the governess, a well- 
 born woman, " whose poverty, but not her 
 will," consented to be an inmate of this 
 establishment, were obliged to sleep in a 
 small and almost unwholesome room adjoin- 
 ing. The dress, too, of Julia underwent a 
 gradual, but complete metamorphosis ; 
 Julia was inclined to be both tall and fat 
 for her age ; and on pretence of tightening 
 her into a proper shape, the child wore 
 
6 
 
 high stiff stays, so narrow in front that 
 the fine open chest, which nature gave 
 her, was wholly obscured ; her shoulders 
 thrown up in an unhealthy and ungraceful 
 manner; while her mother-in-law was 
 often lamenting how shockingly ill-made, 
 and how very high shouldered her poor 
 dear Julia was; then, her hair was re- 
 presented as having such a tendency to 
 be dirty, that it was necessary it should be 
 cut close to her head ; and those luxuriant 
 auburn ringlets, which had once been the 
 pride of both her parents, were so com- 
 pletely annihilated as soon as Lady 
 Villeroy assumed her reign, that Sir 
 George could not help stamping his foot 
 with vexation, and almost muttering an 
 oath when he first beheld the change ; 
 indeed, Julia was at length so completely 
 altered by want of her accustomed exer- 
 cise and recreation, by her ugly dress, and 
 her cropped hair, that the likeness to her 
 mother, which made her odious to Lady 
 Villeroy because it endeared her to Sir 
 George, was entirely annihilated ; and 
 
the mortified father used to exclaim, when 
 Julia made her low and awkward curtsey 
 at the door, as she left the room, " Well, I 
 am so disappointed, I really believe that 
 girl will make a plain woman after all ; '' 
 and he retained this opinion even when Julia 
 had attained her fifteenth year ; though he 
 could not help declaring, even in her pre- 
 sence, spite of the frown of his wife, that 
 she was at least a fine grown girl, though 
 very narrow chested and high shouldered. 
 No wonder, as spite of her rapid growth 
 the poor girl was forced to wear her 
 frocks two years, till they became at length 
 so short, that decency as well as grace 
 were violated in her appearance ; but Lady 
 Villeroy was at length urged to bestow a 
 deep flounce on these old habiliments, by 
 the jealous pain which an observation of 
 Sir George's occasioned her. 
 
 " Really, my dear," said he, " Julia's 
 petticoats would be frightfully short were 
 it not for the excessive beauty of her feet 
 and ankles, which remind me forcibly of 
 her poor mother." 
 
Jealousy immediately conquered ava- 
 rice, and Julia and Miss Brightwen, the 
 governess, were desired to lengthen the 
 frocks with all possible expedition. Mean- 
 while, though Julia's mind and talents re- 
 mained uncultivated, her heart and her 
 temper were in a state of progressive im- 
 provement. The temper of few children, 
 who had been indulged in all their wishes 
 till the age often, could have escaped utter 
 destruction when such indulgence was suc- 
 ceeded by severity and privations ; but as 
 Julia's temper was so good that it had not 
 been much injured, even by pernicious in- 
 dulgence, it was enabled to resist the nearly 
 as fatal power of severity, by the counter- 
 action which the influence of the gover- 
 ness proved to that of the mother. Sophia 
 Bright wen had known better days — and 
 fortune smiled deceitful in her birth. Her 
 father, soon after her good and pious mo- 
 ther was taken from him, was so embar- 
 rassed by his own extravagance that he 
 was found to sell his estates ; with what 
 remained after his debts were paid, he 
 
entered into a business in which he only 
 just escaped bankruptcy, and, like Sir 
 George Villeroy, had been induced to 
 marry for money ; but unlike Sir George 
 he speculated with the money thus ob- 
 tained, which so irritated the temper of his 
 wife, that his children could not live in the 
 house with her, and he himself was obliged 
 to own that it was necessary they must try 
 to maintain themselves; accordingly, his 
 daughters were forced to leave home, and 
 the elder was induced to marry for a 
 maintenance, and became miserable and 
 indigent for life; the younger, Sophia, 
 was glad to accept the situation of gover- 
 ness to Julia Villeroy, with a scanty salary, 
 and on conditions which pride and ava- 
 rice only could have imposed, and des- 
 ponding poverty have accepted. 
 
 But Sophia bore her lot with unre- 
 pining patience ; she had early learned to 
 cast her cares on her Creator, and when 
 her father proved a beggar, and her lover, 
 in consequence of it, forsook her, and mar- 
 ried a richer maiden, Sophia remembered 
 
10 
 
 there was one in heaven who loved her ; 
 and she learned at length to smile amidst 
 her sorrows. When she became an inmate 
 of Sir George Villeroy's house, she felt great 
 sympathy with the situation of poor Julia. 
 Julia, like herself, was the object of a 
 mother-in-law's tyranny and dislike, and 
 she endeavoured by her affectionate sooth- 
 ings to heal the wounded feelings of the 
 irritated and suffering girl. She told her 
 also the story of her own sorrows, and 
 while Julia listened to it, she saw in it 
 such a resemblance to her own distress, 
 that the relater naturally became endeared 
 to her, and she was always impatient when 
 the few hours in a day which she passed in 
 Lady Villeroy's apartments became fewer ; 
 and fewer they very soon became, as Lady 
 Villeroy said Sir George's frequent attacks 
 of the gout made him unable to bear the 
 excitement of the presence even of his own 
 child. Julia had loved her father tenderly, 
 and she loved him still ; but as she was 
 now forbidden the usual testimonies of his 
 fondness, her pleasure in being with him 
 
11 
 
 was destroyed, and she found the society 
 of her governess a refuge. Soon also it 
 became a blessing to her, for the simple, 
 unobtrusive, but heart-felt piety which 
 enabled Miss Brightwen to endure with 
 cheerful patience the hardships of her lot, 
 was not lost upon the sensitive mind of her 
 pupil; even though her governess could 
 not teach her accomplishments, she was 
 able to instruct her in those truths, with- 
 out which all other teaching is vain, and 
 thus enabled her to bear the " crook in 
 her lot" with humble resignation. 
 
 Yet, though Julia was denied the 
 means of learning either music or draw- 
 ing, her talents for them shewed and in- 
 dulged themselves in spite of all opposi- 
 tion ; her room was decorated with 
 cheap prints, on which she expended part 
 of her small allowance, and which she en- 
 deavoured to copy in her few moments of 
 leisure from her heavy tasks of working 
 for the indulgence of Lady Villeroy's ne- 
 cessities, fancies, or parsimony ; and the 
 face of Miss Brightwen, in various views, 
 
12 
 
 was to be seen in every part of the room, 
 ill-drawn indeed, but so like as to shew 
 that her talent for drawing was worthy of 
 cultivation. At dusk, both the governess 
 and the pupil might be seen leaning out 
 of their window, listening with eager de- 
 light to the hand-organ playing in the ad- 
 jacent square, and there was not a tune on 
 the barrel which Julia could not sing by 
 heart, almost as soon as she heard it, and 
 with which she did not make vocal the 
 fields round her father's mansion in the 
 country, when she was sure that no echo 
 could bring it to the ear of Lady Villeroy. 
 But this was a pleasure of which she was 
 now entirely deprived, for as there was a 
 degree of hospitality and generous living 
 requisite to Sir George's situation in life in 
 the country, which did not suit the nar- 
 row spirit and saving ways of Lady Vil- 
 leroy, she contrived to alarm Sir George's 
 fear for his health so much, that she made 
 him think it dangerous for him to remove 
 from the immediate vicinity of his London 
 physician and their house in Gloucester- 
 
13 
 
 place became at length their only resi- 
 dence. Consequently, as Lady Villeroy 
 could not, or would not spare a footman to 
 walk behind Miss Villeroy and her go- 
 verness, and she had been told by persons of 
 whose opinion she stood in awe, that 
 Julia was too tall and womanly to walk 
 without one, the garden in Portman-square 
 was the boundary of poor Julia's walk, 
 and those cheeks which had glowed with 
 the roses of health while she could enjoy 
 the air and exercise of the country, now 
 became pale and lifeless from confinement 
 at her needle, and from want of relaxation 
 and exertion. At length, however, the 
 governess and pupil obtained leave to 
 walk out for an hour or two before break- 
 fast toward the Regent's Park, and by 
 their rapid pace, the prisoners always 
 endeavoured to make as much of this 
 opportunity as possible. One morning as 
 they were going along this favourite road, 
 they heard a hand-organ at a distance, and 
 Julia could not resist her inclination to 
 follow it^n order to listen to it more at 
 
14 
 
 her ease than she had hitherto done ; in 
 vain her governess was representing to her 
 that she was going too far, when, at this 
 moment a dog of a very suspicious ap- 
 pearance came staggering along the road, 
 and Miss Brightwen catching hold of 
 Julia's arm, pulled her forcibly back, ex- 
 claiming, " that dog is mad, let us get 
 over this gate instantly !" but before Julia 
 could reach the gate, retreating backwards 
 for the greater safety, the dog directed his 
 steps towards her, and was on the very 
 point of springing on her, when a gentle- 
 man, who was passing in a gig, jumped 
 out, and seizing the animal by the nape of 
 the neck, held him struggling in his grasp, 
 conjuring Julia to climb over the gate 
 instantly lest the animal should get loose ; 
 but Miss Brightwen vainly attempted to 
 persuade her to go further than the top 
 bar of the gate. She saw the evident 
 danger of her preserver, whose hold of the 
 dog grew every moment weaker, and she 
 could not stir from the spot, but remained 
 motionless in fearful expectation of the 
 
15 
 
 consequences. At length some men who 
 had been sent in pursuit of the dog, came 
 up, threw a noose over his neck, and saved 
 the gentleman from a fate which became 
 unavoidable ; and he was turning to speak 
 to Julia, when, on looking round, he saw 
 that his horse had burst from the hold of 
 his groom, and was running down the 
 road dragging his gig against the hedge, 
 and in momentary danger of overturning 
 it. Accordingly, he immediately joined in 
 the pursuit himself, and soon disappeared 
 from their view. But Julia continued to 
 gaze after him, indulging a hope he would 
 return, till Miss Brightwen insisted on her 
 setting off for home immediately, or they 
 would be too late for breakfast, and they 
 should not be allowed to walk out again. 
 Julia reluctantly complied, the more so, 
 because the men who had pursued the 
 dog, and others who had joined them, 
 were loud in praise of the gentleman's 
 intrepidety in seizing so powerful an 
 animal at the evident risk of his own life. 
 " He is a gallant fellow, I know," said one of 
 
16 
 
 the men, " I forget his name, he is a captain 
 in the navy, and some lord's son :" but Julia, 
 though willing to linger still to listen to 
 this conversation, was urged forward when 
 another man said, " Well my dear, he 
 saved your life, that is a sure thing, and I 
 do not wonder you look so pale and so 
 frightful, nor that other person neither, 
 shall I give you an arm ?" This offer they 
 civilly, but hastily declined, and with 
 tottering, but rapid steps they returned to 
 Gloucester-place. When they arrived they 
 luckily reached their own apartment 
 unquestioned ; but the terror which Miss 
 Brightwen had undergone, on Julia's 
 account, threw her into a fainting fit, which 
 put Lady Villeroy to the expence of so 
 much hartshorn and sal volatile, that she 
 declared they should never go out of the 
 garden into the square again. A sad 
 hearing for Julia, who had secretly re- 
 solved to go every morning to the same 
 spot, being more alive to the hope of seeing 
 her preserver than to the fear of meeting 
 another mad dog. 
 
17 
 
 Miss Brightwen thought the hope more 
 unfounded than the fear, and was not sorry 
 that, for the present at least, their morning 
 ramble was forbidden ; and, for the first 
 time, Julia found her governess not dis- 
 posed to sympathise in her feelings. * But, 
 you forget, surely, that he saved my life, 
 and how ungrateful I must be not to wish 
 to see him again!" was Julia's constant 
 reply, when Miss Brightwen disapproved 
 her desire of revisiting the scene of her 
 danger ; however, Julia was always ap- 
 peased, when she readily owned that, as 
 far as her fright allowed her to judge, the 
 gentleman was tall and handsome, and of 
 his courage there could be no doubt : 
 " Who knows," she used to add, and that 
 always made her peace, " who knows, but 
 you may see him one day when you least 
 expect it." But Sophia soon found that 
 Julia had little pleasure in talking on any 
 other subject, and that she seemed to 
 dwell with never ceasing satisfaction on 
 the remembrance of this only marked event 
 in her life. 
 
18 
 
 This circumstance alarmed the con- 
 scientious governess ; for, as she was not 
 at all aware that Julia had ever read 
 books which treated on the subject of love 
 and adventures, she began to fear that she 
 had herself prepared her young heart to 
 receive this strong and, perhaps, dangerous 
 impression, by telling her the history of 
 }.er own unfortunate attachment. Her 
 acquaintance with her lover had first begun, 
 in his having saved her from an enraged 
 cow ; and she had once given her a detail 
 of all her love, all her injuries ; but then 
 it was only once, as he was married, and 
 even to think of him was become criminal ; 
 still, it had been once too much, for the 
 conversation had made an indelible im- 
 pression on its hearer : as, before he mar- 
 ried his second wife, her father had allowed 
 her to read whatever his library contained, 
 and though she was only ten years old, the 
 ideas of love, of lovers, first-sight attach- 
 ment, and adventures, faded away from it 
 again for want of being renewed, had not 
 the chances of life presented the real 
 
19 
 
 heroine of a love affair to her in the form 
 of Sophia Brightwen. There, before her 
 eyes, she beheld a love-lorn maid, telling a 
 tale of faithful and hopeless attachment, 
 weeping too as she told it, and looking inte- 
 resting beyond all description : this reality 
 was far more dangerous than any fiction 
 could have been ; and, while Julia listened 
 to the story with many a trickling tear, the 
 governess imputed her sorrow to sympathy 
 alone, unconscious that even her grief 
 made her the object of envy to her young 
 companion, and that she wished to have a 
 lover, a tender grief, an adventurer, and a 
 confidante ; and as the story of her love had 
 not long been confided to Julia, when the 
 alarm in the Regent's Park took place, there 
 was an adventure, a young and handsome 
 deliverer, and, perhaps, a lover! at least 
 there was an object to love, and Julia 
 believed she loved — but though she tried 
 to be very unhappy, certainly sighed 
 deeply and audibly ; she eat heartily, slept 
 well, and grew fat, in spite of her wounded 
 heart. Still she certainly thought too 
 
20 
 
 much of her preserver, but she was, begin- 
 ning to admit, that he was probably mar- 
 ried, for Miss Brightwen was continually 
 saying that she might never see him again; 
 that it was very evident he was not much 
 interested in them, or he would have re- 
 turned to -enquire how they did after he 
 had caught his horse, and as this last ob- 
 servation had more weight than the others, 
 Julia was beginning to talk, and even to 
 think less of the generous unknown, when 
 a new event in her life promised to obli- 
 terate the remembrance of it entirely. 
 
21 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Lady Julia Villeroy (Julia's mother) was 
 the daughter of the Earl and Countess of 
 Beltravers ; and the countess, on the death 
 of her first husband, married the Earl of 
 Pakenham, who was a widower, and, as 
 well as herself, had an only daughter ; — 
 these children grew up with the most affec- 
 tionate regard for each other ; in process 
 of time one of them married Sir George 
 Villeroy, and the other Lord Stanmore, 
 afterwards Earl of Erpingham; their 
 friendship continued unimpaired till the 
 death of Lady Julia Villeroy ; and Lady 
 Helena Fortescue, the daughter of Lady 
 Erpingham, who was only some months, 
 older than Julia, was her frequent play- 
 fellow, and the guest of her mother. The 
 children also were accustomed to call each 
 other's mother aunt, and their husbands' 
 uncle, though no relationship subsisted 
 
22 
 
 between them ; but affection loves to make 
 ties as close as it possibly can, and Lady 
 Villeroy and Lady Erpingham loved to 
 address each other by the name of sister ; 
 they were also pleased to be addressed by 
 their children in the language of near 
 kindred, while they delighted to behold 
 the affection which subsisted between them. 
 But when Lady Julia died, and Sir George 
 married again, all frequent intercourse 
 between the families ceased, and Julia 
 and Lady Helena met no more, for Lady 
 Villeroy always remembered that the 
 latter was an indulged and high-spirited 
 child, therefore not a suitable companion 
 for her already too much petted daughter- 
 in-law, and every invitation to Erpingham- 
 place was peremptorily forbidden. This 
 refusal distressed Lady Erpingham, and 
 enraged Lady Helena ; but the latter 
 could not forget the companion of her 
 happy childhood, and as Lady Helena and 
 her father were coming to London unex- 
 pectedly on business, after an uninter- 
 rupted residence there of some years in 
 
23 
 
 the country, on account of Lady Erping- 
 ham's ill health, which made country air 
 necessary to preserve her life. Lord Er- 
 pingham wrote a letter to Sir George, to 
 announce his intention of calling on him 
 very soon, accompanied hy his daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 " What, is this Lord Erpingham com- 
 ing to London on business for a few days, 
 and meaning to call on me!" cried Sir 
 George as he perused the letter : " Lady 
 Villeroy, we must write and ask them to 
 come hither." 
 
 " Come hither !" not for the world !" 
 she replied, turning pale with apprehen- 
 sion ; " consider the state of your health, 
 my love ; that rude, spoiled girl would 
 riot you to death in a day." 
 
 " Nonsense ! she is a young woman 
 now, and, I dare say, is as quiet as Julia— 
 they must come hither, indeed ; remember 
 our near connexion, my poor wife was no 
 relation at all to the Erpingham's." 
 
 « That is all stuff, Sir George, let 
 hem go to the hotel— they can afford it, 
 
<24 
 
 and we have not a house fit to receive 
 lords and ladies, and servants fit to cook 
 for and wait on them." 
 
 " Then, why have we not, Lady Vil- 
 leroy ?" said Sir George, with more than 
 his usual spirit. 
 
 " Why not ? because we cannot afford 
 jt to be sure, and lay by what we ought 
 of our income for unforeseen emergen- 
 cies." She no longer dared to say, as she 
 used to do, " for the sake of younger 
 children," as they, though foreseen, were 
 certainly not now likely to be really 
 seen. 
 
 " Nonsense !" cried Sir George, petu- 
 lantly, " what emergencies have we to 
 dread now that ought to prevent me from 
 opening my house to an old friend !" 
 
 " An old friend, Sir George, is one 
 thing, but a peer of the realm is an- 
 other." 
 
 " 'Sdeath ! madam, do you mean to 
 say a lord cannot be a friend ? what do 
 you mean, madam, with your mysterious 
 objections V 
 
25 
 
 " I mean that a lord cannot be enter- 
 tained as easily and cheaply as a friend 
 who is not noble." 
 
 ft Cheaply ! I do not want any friend 
 of mine to be so entertained at my house, 
 Lady Villeroy, and I shall write to tell 
 them." 
 
 " They cannot come hither," she re- 
 plied coldly and firmly, " for it is utterly 
 impossible ! The hangings of the best bed 
 are taken down and papered up. The 
 next best bed is down, posts and all ; we 
 have but one house-maid, and, in short, it 
 is impossible." 
 
 Sir George was silenced for awhile, 
 though not convinced by this reasoning, 
 as an upholsterer could soon restore the 
 beds to their original state. Another ser- 
 vant might be hired, and dinners could be 
 procured from an hotel. But he had now 
 acquired such a habit of yielding, and he 
 was so pleased, so flattered, when Lady 
 Villeroy replied to his expostulations by 
 bursting into tears, and throwing her fine 
 arms round his neck, assuring him all she 
 
 c 
 
26* 
 
 did was to preserve his precious life, for 
 she knew if Lord Erpingham came to the 
 house, he would drink himself into a fit of 
 the gout in the stomach, that at length she 
 reconciled him to her views, and he al- 
 lowed her to write the following letter to 
 the earl under his dictation : — 
 
 MY DEAR LORD, 
 
 It gives me the greatest pleasure to 
 think I shall see you so soon; but I am 
 grieved to my very soul to be unable to 
 invite you and your charming daughter, 
 Lady Helena, to take up your abode with 
 us. But Lady Villeroy, whose hand I am 
 forced to borrow to write this, and my 
 physicians, are of opinion that my health 
 is not strong enough to admit of any vi- 
 sitors, and that the more dear they are, 
 the worse for me, as I am unable to bear 
 any excitement, and that of the affections 
 less than any other; so that even my 
 daughter Julia's company I am not able 
 often to enjoy. But I shall indulge myself 
 in an hour's conversation with you, and 
 
27 
 
 am always, my dear lord, with affectionate 
 regards to your countess and family, 
 Your's, very truly, 
 
 G. Villeroy. 
 Lady Villeroy's best compliments. 
 
 This letter occasioned poor Sir George 
 many a deep sigh, and a strong expres- 
 sion of regret ; but no doubt Lady Villeroy 
 and the physicians knew best, and the 
 letter was sent. But he could not forget 
 the privation, to think he was obliged to 
 submit, and when Julia came in with the 
 dessert as usual, that is, came to eat some 
 of the musty raisins, old cakes, and often 
 unripe fruit, which Lady Villeroy called a 
 dessert, and to drink half a glass of home- 
 made wine; her father could not help 
 telling her how sorry he was that he was 
 too ill to invite Lord Erpingham and Lady 
 Helena Fortescue to the house to stay 
 during their approaching visit to London. 
 
 " To London !" cried Julia, thrown off 
 her guard by this news and almost screaming 
 
28 
 
 with delight, " are they coming to London ! 
 and shall I see my uncle and cousin ?" 
 
 " Nonsense! No more your uncle 
 and cousin than they are mine," cried Lady 
 Villeroy; 
 
 " But the child has been always used 
 to call them so." 
 
 " Then it is high time, Sir George, she 
 should learn to leave off such unbecoming 
 pride, and conceit, and vulgarity." 
 
 " Yes, child, yes ; Lord Erpingham and 
 Lady Helena Fortescue will be here next 
 week." 
 
 " Oh, how glad I am !" cried Julia, but 
 tears were in her eyes. 
 
 Sir George, resenting the harsh reproof 
 which had occasioned them, called her to 
 him, and was going to give her a much 
 warmer kiss than usual, when she unfor- 
 tunately trod on his worst foot, and he 
 could not help pushing her away, as he ut- 
 tered an exclamation of pain. This was 
 enough to occasion Julia's instant banish- 
 ment ; and the long-suppressed tears now 
 trickled down her cheeks, and declaring 
 
29 
 
 her father had not spirits strong enough to 
 bear the sight of weeping ladies, she was 
 dismissed to her apartment, in spite of Sir 
 George's intercession ; but she carried with 
 her the hope that she should soon see her 
 cousin, and was consoled. Lord and Lady 
 Erpingham, their daughter, and their se- 
 cond son, were sitting together, when Sir 
 George's letter arrived. 
 
 " Well," said Lord Erpingham, smil- 
 ing, " does it contain an invitation or 
 not?" 
 
 " I think it does," said the countess. 
 
 " It ought to do so," said Captain For- 
 tescue. 
 
 " And would," cried Lady Helena, " if 
 Lady Villeroy were not his wife." 
 
 " Do not be so severe and hasty in 
 your judgment," replied her mother; "what 
 do you know of Lady Villeroy ?" 
 
 u No good, mamma. But pray read 
 the letter, papa ; I see it makes you smile, 
 but not with pleasure." 
 
 " Read it aloud, Helena. Just what I 
 expected. Well, but what harm is there 
 
30 
 
 in this letter, my dear ? If Sir George be 
 too ill to receive company, that is not Lady 
 Villeroy's fault." 
 
 " But is he so T 
 
 " Why should you doubt it ? Why 
 doubt his word ? I am sure if the physi- 
 cian disapproved Lord Erpingham's hav- 
 ing guests at his house, I should forbid 
 them coming. Indeed, you are unjust to 
 poor Lady Villeroy." 
 
 " There, that is so like my mother," 
 said Lady Helena, " always making ex- 
 cuses for ever}' one. The other day she 
 was reading Paradise Lost, and, to my 
 great amusement, she began to make ex- 
 cuses for the devil, and called him poor 
 fellow ; therefore no wonder she feels so 
 kindly towards his true and lineal descend- 
 ant." 
 
 " Helena, for shame." 
 
 " Nay, mamma, in the height and 
 ancienty of the founder of the family, Lady 
 Villeroy would forgive his nature ; for you 
 know she is always labouring to prove her 
 family higher than that of my dear aunt 
 
31 
 
 Villeroy, who, living or dead, is equally the 
 object of her envy and jealousy." 
 
 * Really, Helena, you are too severe," 
 cried her father; and I am sorry your 
 mother's example is so thrown away on 
 you." 
 
 * Her example is not thrown away on 
 me papa ; it operates 'too forcibly. Mamma 
 is so over-candid, that she makes me the 
 contrary. But I will say no more about 
 Lady Villeroy, I will content myself with 
 commenting on uncle Villeroy's letter." 
 
 " Better tear that in pieces than his 
 wife's character, Helena." 
 
 " Thank you, brother ; and, thus au- 
 thorised, I begin. — ' Sincerest pleasure to 
 think I shall see you.' That's true, I dare 
 say ; — ' and he is grieved, no doubt, not 
 to be able, that is, not to dare to invite us 
 to the house. Charming daughter ! that 
 
 is, of course — physicians'think Pho — 
 
 Lady Villeroy thinks she is prime doctor 
 and blister-plaister -too — can't bear the 
 excitement of the affections, " and so he 
 rarely sees Julia ! oh, the odious cunning 
 
32 
 
 of that paragraph ! a palpable excuse for 
 the neglect which we shall find the dear 
 girl suffering under : — her father cannot 
 bear her presence. There peeps out the 
 cloven foot ; — now, mamma, if you can 
 make an excuse for this maratre." 
 
 " Helena, do not call names ! the ex- 
 cuse is an obvious one, her husband's ill 
 health; though, I own it is strange, that 
 parents should not always be the better 
 for the company of their children." 
 
 " Strange, indeed," cried Lady Helena, 
 throwing her arms round her mother's 
 neck, "there spoke thy own maternal heart, 
 and I do not believe the truth of any part 
 of the letter ; do you, papa ? do you, 
 Marcus ? Mamma, you know, believes 
 every thing, and has money and food still 
 for every mountainous woman that comes 
 to the hail-door; though so many have 
 been safely delivered of pillows and bol- 
 sters at the Park gates." 
 
 " Saucy girl ! but I believe you are 
 right, and that the baronet's lady did not 
 choose to be at the expense of entertain- 
 
33 
 
 ing us; — well, he deserves all he meets 
 with — but that poor dear orphan, Julia; 
 now, my lord and lady, hear my proposal, 
 which is, that we carry off Julia, and 
 bring her back with us." 
 
 " The very thing we always intended, 
 my dear," said the countess, " how ten- 
 derly I loved her poor mother ! and my 
 heart yearns towards this poor girl, who 
 is, I am told, much neglected, and passes 
 her time chiefly with an amiable but in- 
 competent governess." 
 
 f Yes ; and she is quite a woman now, 
 nearly my age; — she is seventeen and up- 
 wards ! — why do you laugh, Marcus ?" 
 
 " To think what a contrast this tyran- 
 nised over, and neglected girl exhibits to 
 you, Helena — you, the petted, the spoiled, 
 and the loved of all hearts. Poor thing ! 
 do not let her come hither, it will only 
 teach her to feel more severely the misery 
 of her own situation." 
 
 '.' Well then, Marcus, if you feel so 
 much for the misery of her situation, do 
 c5 
 
34 
 
 not let her go back any more, but give 
 her another home." 
 
 Captain Fortescue started, and changed 
 colour, as Lady Helena said this ; then 
 giving her a look of melancholy reproof, 
 he suddenly left the room. 
 
 " There, Helena! see how you have 
 wounded your brother's feelings," cried 
 Lord Erpingham ; " I wish you would 
 think before you speak." 
 
 " I did, papa, and therefore I spoke ; 
 I meant what I said, believe me." 
 
 " But you know it is a subject 
 Marcus cannot bear to be joked upon." 
 
 " Nor did I joke ; surely, two years is 
 long enough for any spirited man to 
 wear the willow ; and, for the sake of a 
 coquetish jilt, is he to renounce marriage, 
 and insist on no one's naming love to 
 him ?" 
 
 " But, my dear, I know you did not 
 mean to wound his feelings ; still you should 
 remember his excessive sensibility." 
 
 ". Indeed, dear mamma, I cannot help 
 
35 
 
 suspecting, when regret and misery of this 
 nature last so long, that there is a little 
 temper mixed with them — and I want to 
 cure Marcus of these fancies, instead of 
 indulging him in them." 
 
 " Temper ! Helena ! oh, no — it is all 
 feeling, and wounded affection." 
 
 " Aye, so you tell him, mamma, and 
 he thinks, therefore, it is amiable to grieve ; 
 and so it might be, if he had lost by 
 death a beloved wife or mistress ; but so 
 to pine for a heartless wretch, who for- 
 sook him almost at the altar for a large 
 jointure ; it is not to be endured, and — 
 O dear ! there he goes, with folded arms, 
 and looking so sad ! I am very sorry now 
 that I said what I did ; I must go and 
 make it up with him." 
 
 So saying, the affectionate girl went 
 in pursuit of her brother, and, in a short 
 time, they returned arm in arm to the 
 house, though the traces of tears still 
 lingered on the glowing cheek of Lady 
 Helena. Julia, meanwhile, was antici- 
 pating with great delight, the pleasure of 
 
36 
 
 seeing Lady Helena Fortescue, little think- 
 ing that she was to be invited to return 
 with her to her happy home ; such a pos- 
 sibility would have almost rendered her 
 wild with joy ; as it was, she found herself 
 unable to pay undivided attention to any 
 thing she did ; and whenever she was 
 alone with her governess, she could talk 
 of nothing but Lady Helena, and wonder 
 how she looked, and what she wore : and 
 then the poor thing cast a mournful eye 
 on her own beggarly and old-fashioned 
 wardrobe, to which her mother-in-law, in 
 expectation of Lady Helena's arrival, had 
 added a chintz gown, of a large running 
 pattern, which had been one of the wed- 
 ding gowns of the first Lady Villeroy's 
 mother, and was now made up with long 
 sleeves, and lengthened by a scant, single 
 flounce of muslin, in order to serve as an 
 afternoon gown for Julia. But, used as 
 Julia was to excessive frugality and the 
 absence of all smartness in her attire, she 
 could not endure the idea of wearing this 
 unusual and old-fashioned dress : but she 
 
37 
 
 was forced to submit to her fate ; and 
 though Miss Brightwen assisted her to 
 the utmost in endeavours to improve the 
 rest of her apparel, Julia found that all 
 she could do was to arm herself with 
 patience and humility to the mortifications 
 which her vanity must endure during her 
 young companion's visit. 
 
 " But, if she loves me, you know Miss 
 Brightwen, she will not care about my 
 dress," was the oft repeated observation to 
 her affectionate auditor ; and the " No to 
 be sure not," her constant reply, was ever 
 welcome, and was at length relied upon; 
 meanwhile, Lady Helena was eagerly 
 anticipating the journey to London ; for, 
 having learned to consider Julia Villeroy 
 as the object of her mother-in-law's cruelty 
 and ill usage, her young and generous 
 heart could not rest until she had endea- 
 voured to rescue her awhile from her 
 power. 
 
 Lady Helena had considerable powers of 
 mind and an almost intuitive perception of 
 character ; and knowledge of human na- 
 
38 
 
 ture, but her feelings were often too strong 
 for her judgment, and her earnest wish to 
 do right, sometimes precipitated her into 
 acting wrong, and led her to mar the cause 
 which she wished to render successful. 
 With the usual rashness and self-confi- 
 dence of gifted youth, she had a dangerous 
 contempt for the restrictions of worldly 
 prudence, and the usages of society; and 
 as her mother's delicate health had obliged 
 her to consign her from the age of eight to 
 sixteen, to the care of a fond and injudici- 
 ous grand-mother, Lady Helena, used to 
 command, and taught to believe that her 
 eccentricities were the proofs and the in- 
 spirations of genius, was only too apt to 
 act in defiance of salutary caution, and to 
 fancy because her intentions were right, 
 that her mode of executing them could not 
 be wrong. Lady Erpingham beheld her 
 and all her actions with eyes of unqualified 
 admiration ; but to Lord Erpingham and 
 her brothers, she was an object of anxiety, 
 as well as love ; and they frequently found 
 it necessary to warn the young enthusiast, 
 
39 
 
 that wounding the self-love of those she 
 meant to amend, was not the way to reform 
 them, and that by acting in opposition to 
 the prejudices of the world she might in- 
 jure herself without benefiting others. 
 Such was the noble girl who now set off 
 for the metropolis with her father,- with a 
 heart full of love and pity for the poor 
 Julia, and of virtuous indignation against 
 her mean maratre, as she persisted to call 
 her; and Captain Fortescue thought it ex- 
 pedient to warn her, that if she wished to 
 carry her point, and induce Lady Villeroy 
 to consent to let Julia return with her, she 
 must take care not to let that lady see that 
 she considered herself as a female knight- 
 errant, come to rescue a fair damsel from 
 the castle of a cruel and unrelenting ogress. 
 Lady Helena bore this advice with great 
 sweetness, because she felt its propriety, 
 and she resolved to put a restraint on her 
 feelings for the sake of carrying the point 
 on which her heart was set. Lord and 
 Lady Erpingham had thought it most ad- 
 visable that she should write to Lady Vil- 
 
40 
 
 leroy, and express her wishes to take Julia 
 back with her, that she might be prepared 
 for leaving home ; but Lady Helena, who 
 perfectly knew the character of the lady in 
 question, thought she was most likely to 
 succeed if no time was given for prepara- 
 tion, as in the latter case Julia's wardrobe 
 could not be replenished, and the mother- 
 in-law would have an excuse for not ex- 
 pending money on the daughter-in-law. 
 
 " Surely, my dear," said Lord Erping- 
 ham, as they went along, " it would have 
 been better for you to have written to ex- 
 press your wish of taking Julia back with 
 you." 
 
 * Indeed you are mistaken, papa," she 
 replied ; " believe me, I know Lady Ville- 
 roy, and I am very sorry that prudence 
 will oblige me to conceal that knowledge 
 from her." 
 
 " Prudence! Helena, is that virtue of 
 your acquaintance?" 
 
 " She has at present only left her card 
 for me, I own ; but on this occasion I mean 
 to call on her for a long visit I assure 
 
41 
 
 you; but there is St. Paul's, and in 
 another half hour or so, I shall see this 
 poor, dear girl, and my uncle Villeroy." 
 
 As Lord Erpingham always intended 
 to drive to Sir George Villeroy's immedi- 
 ately on coming to town, he had appointed 
 a person to meet him there, who wanted to 
 speak to him on business ; and from this 
 person the family in Gloucester Place 
 learned of the approaching arrival of their 
 visitors. 
 
 Lady Villeroy imparted the news to 
 Julia on her way to her toilet. 
 
 " Pray, mamma, what shall I put on ?" 
 asked the fluttered girl. 
 
 "Your chintz to be sure," was the 
 answer; and with a heavy heart she 
 obeyed. 
 
CHAP. III. 
 
 Lady Villeroy began the task of dressing 
 with much more alacrity, for variety was 
 in her the only passion powerful enough 
 to conquer avarice ; and as she was with 
 reason proud of her person, and remem- 
 bered that Lord Erpingham had often 
 pronounced her to be a very fine woman, 
 she had taken care to bespeak a fashiona- 
 ble, and becoming morning and evening 
 dress against the time of his visit ; the 
 latter, as it was near their usual time of 
 dinner, she now put on, not only on that 
 account, but because an evening dress 
 gave her a better opportunity of displaying 
 her charms, and would lead Lord Erping- 
 ham perhaps to exclaim when he saw her, 
 " Really, Lady Villeroy, I do not see that 
 you are a day older since I saw you last !" 
 probably the morning dress would have 
 been more likely to secure this flattering 
 
43 
 
 exclamation ; but Lady Villeroy thought 
 otherwise ; and while her dowdy-looking, 
 and ill-dressed daughter-in-law awaited the 
 arrival of her noble visitor, with mortified 
 vanity, and consciously unbecoming attire, 
 Lady Villeroy entered the drawing-room 
 so tastefully arrayed, and full of such 
 conscious elegance and beauty, that Sir 
 George beheld his wife with pride and 
 admiration, but almost turned away with 
 mortification and dislike from the contrast 
 exhibited by Julia and her dress. Kinder 
 feelings however instantly returned, when 
 he reflected, that if he felt mortified, Julia's 
 mortification in being obliged to wear such 
 unbecoming apparel must be far greater ; 
 and calling Julia to him by the name 
 of dear child, he imprinted a kiss on her 
 pale cheek, and in no conciliating tone, 
 desired to know why Lady Villeroy had 
 dressed the poor girl in such an odious and 
 disgusting gown. Lady Villeroy said it 
 was an expensive, handsome chintz gown, 
 and that large patterns were the fashion. 
 " But why do you make her wear that 
 
44 
 
 ugly tippet and handkerchief always, as if 
 
 she had deformities and disease to hide V' 
 
 " Because it would be indecent for her to 
 
 go uncovered at her time of life, Sir George." 
 
 " Humph !" replied he, shrugging his 
 shoulders and casting a sarcastic and 
 meaning look at the uncovered shoulders 
 and displayed person of Lady Villeroy, 
 " What, I suppose elderly ladies alone are 
 privileged to be indecent now a days." 
 
 Lady Villeroy did not reply ; she was 
 speechless with alarm and surprize ! What 
 was the matter with Sir George ? It was 
 evident that Julia was gaining favour and 
 she losing it ! a hateful insinuating crea- 
 ture ! once she had caught her, lately, 
 adjusting his pillow, and mixing wine and 
 water for him when she had gone out ; and 
 another day she had found her reading 
 aloud to him ! It was time, then, that this 
 dear child, who had been the means of 
 drawing from him the only sarcasm on 
 herself which she had yet heard, should be 
 removed awhile from his presence, and go 
 she should on some pretence or another. 
 
45 
 
 " Yes," said she to herself, " if Lord Er- 
 pingham asks her to return with him, go she 
 shall, though I had rather she should go 
 any where else ; but then, she can go thither 
 for nothing, and the suddenness of her 
 departure will be an excuse for her not 
 having more and better clothes ; and as she 
 has a monstrous appetite, her board will 
 be no small saving. — How right were the 
 conjectures of Lady Helena ! " 
 
 Lady Villeroy was not mistaken — Julia 
 was gaining, and she losing ground in his 
 favour. 
 
 The tyrant sometimes carries his abuse 
 of power so far, that the meanest slaves 
 are at length rouzed into resistance, and it 
 was the case in this instance. 
 
 In former days Sir George had valued 
 himself on his hospitality, and still more 
 upon his family — a family so ancient, and so 
 noble, that he conceived himself the equal 
 of any peer of the realm, whose descent 
 was of less antiquity. Lady Villeroy had 
 mortified his feelings on both these points, 
 and had forbidden him the indulgence of 
 
46 
 
 one of them ; she had positively refused to 
 let him entertain Lord Erpingham as his 
 guest, and had also declared that their 
 house and establishment were not fit to 
 receive and entertain persons of such high 
 rank! Mean and grovelling idea! an ac- 
 knowledgment of inferiority which his 
 proud heart disdained. Then, his daugh- 
 ter, his heiress, dressed like any thing but 
 a young lady, he thought, in a gown that 
 looked as if made out of a bed-curtain, 
 while no pains or expense were spared by 
 her mother-in-law to decorate her own 
 person ! Sir George was indignant, more 
 and more, the more that he reflected on 
 his lady's conduct ; — while her love of 
 saving had not wounded his pride [and his 
 vanity, he was contented not to interfere ; 
 but now that she had invaded both, in his 
 own and his daughter's person, he felt a 
 strong determination to throw off the 
 yoke she had imposed on him, and to open 
 his doors again with all his wonted hospi- 
 tality ; a good night, and the consciousness 
 of perfect health at that moment contri- 
 
47 
 
 buted not a little to make him thus de- 
 termined and thus energetic ; and while he 
 spoke to Lady Villeroy in a cold, peevish 
 tone, and with averted eyes, but caught 
 Julia fondly to his bosom, and gazed on 
 her with an expression of tender recollec- 
 tion, as if in her he fancied that he beheld 
 her mother, his alarmed wife trembled for 
 her threatened power, and could only keep 
 up her spirits to go through the expected 
 visit with proper energy, by looking at 
 herself in the glass, and thinking, with 
 delighted expectation, how much Lord 
 Erpingham would admire her. There was 
 a silent spectator of all that passed, who 
 was by no means an unobservant, and an 
 uninterested one, namely, Miss Brightwen — 
 and she augured favourably from what she 
 saw, for the future interests of her beloved 
 pupil. But if they led to nothing further, 
 tokens of affection from a father were 
 precious to a child ; and Sophia beheld 
 with pleasure the pale cheek of Julia, 
 gradually overspread with a becoming 
 glow, the result of pleasing emotion at 
 
48 
 
 receiving notice so unusual, and in the 
 presence of her mother-in-law. Miss 
 Brightwen had been desired to attend Julia 
 into the drawing-room on this occasion, not 
 only because Julia had earnestly solicited 
 it, but because Lady Villeroy thought the 
 dowdy-looking governess, as well as the 
 awkward daughter-in-law would prove an 
 excellent foil to her charms. But there 
 her self-love deceived her; she had too 
 little mind, and too little of that discrimi- 
 nating taste which mind, and mind alone, 
 bestows, to appreciate the unobtrusive 
 attractions of Sophia Brightwen. A hand- 
 some and young face seen from under a 
 very old looking mob cap, as if its wearer 
 had resigned all pretensions to youth and 
 beauty — with the illusions of wealth and 
 happiness ; a slender, but finely rounded 
 form, shrouded in a double muslin hand- 
 kerchief and a white gown, the only white 
 gown she was possessed of, and which she 
 persevered in wearing on this occasion, 
 spite of Lady VElleroy's hints, that she 
 wondered any but rich people should ever 
 
49 
 
 wear white dresses as they cost so much 
 washing, constituted the appearance and 
 the garb of Sophia Brightwen — the latter 
 affording a strong evidence of her pro- 
 priety of feelings, and simplicity of charac- 
 ter ; and even Lady Villeroy could not 
 help owning, as she observed how well the 
 long black eye-lashes and the full-black 
 eye-brow of Sophia set off the dazzling 
 whiteness of her skin, and the expression 
 of her long Asiatic eye, that really, in some 
 views of her face, the dowdy girl was 
 handsome. 
 
 At length the well-known liveries were 
 recognised, and an open barouche and 
 four drove up to the door. Sir George, 
 obeying the impulse of his heart, limped to 
 the head of the stairs to meet his old 
 friend, and welcome Lady Helena ; while 
 Julia, rendered more than commonly awk- 
 ward and bashful by emotion, got as far as 
 possible from the door, and hid herself 
 behind Miss Brightwen, who anxiously 
 expected the entrance of Lady Helena, 
 being eager to judge by her countenance 
 
50 
 
 and manner, whether her hopes, that she 
 would be a friend to her beloved pupil, 
 and produce a favourable change in her 
 joyless existence, were likely to be realized. 
 Lady Helena entered with a cold and 
 proud air, and suffered with evident un- 
 willingness the salute and insincere 
 welcome of the lady of the house ; with 
 a cold and still haughty eye she glanced 
 over the now alarmed Sophia, but when 
 she caught a view of her whom she sought, 
 her countenance lighted up with pleasure 
 and affection, and clasping Julia in her arms, 
 she called her her dear Julia, her dear 
 cousin, and expressed her delight at seeing 
 her. Miss Brightwen was satisfied ; a smile 
 played on her expressive lip, and a tear 
 darted to her dark eye ; and when Lady 
 Helena looked at her again it was with a 
 very different air and manner, for she un- 
 derstood and admired the countenance that 
 beamed so benignly upon her, and saying, 
 " Your governess, I conclude, Julia?" she 
 curtsied to her, with answering compla- 
 cency. Lady Helena was, indeed, agree- 
 
51 
 
 ably surprised ; she had entered the house 
 disliking, equally, Lady Villeroy and the 
 governess, because she concluded a gover- 
 ness chosen by the former, and known to be 
 deficient in fashionable accomplishments, 
 must be odious and disagreeable ; but now 
 her quickness of perception told her she 
 had been unjust, and that smile and that 
 tear which came from Sophia Brightwett's 
 heart made their instant way to her's. In 
 the mean time Lord Erpingham was pay- 
 ing his compliments to Lady Villeroy, but 
 not without casting an enquiring look 
 towards Sophia, who was evidently not to 
 be introduced to him. Who then could 
 she be ? — her dress was so quaint, that she 
 might have been taken for a servant, but 
 her manner could not be so mistaken ; it 
 had the mark of gentlewoman too strongly 
 impressed on it, and he bowed to her as he 
 went to meet Julia with the graceful cour- 
 tesy of a man of the old school. 
 
 " Miss Brightwen, Julia's governess, 
 papa," cried Lady Helena, and the earl 
 bowed still lower ; while the happy Julia 
 
52 
 
 and Sophia exchanged looks of satis- 
 faction. 
 
 "And is this the little Julia?" cried 
 Lord Erpingham, holding her from him 
 with both his hands, and gazing eagerly 
 in her blushing face; " grown quite a 
 woman I protest, but look up my dear, let 
 me see your eyes, — yes," added he, with a 
 sigh, and turning to Sir George, " it is 
 the same sweet countenance Villeroy — that 
 countenance which once seen can never be 
 forgotten." 
 
 Sir George understood him ; "I am 
 glad you think so," said he, in a faltering 
 voice. 
 
 " We see no likeness whatsoever, my 
 lord," cried Lady Villeroy, hastily; 
 " whatever likeness there was is gone 
 now." 
 
 " Surely not, madam, features may 
 change, but countenances never." 
 
 " No, to be sure," cried Lady Helena, 
 ". and Julia is still very like dear, dear 
 aunt Villeroy." 
 
 This was wormwood to the feelings of 
 
53 
 
 Lady Villeroy, and it was with difficulty 
 she could restrain them from venting 
 themselves in words of angry contradic- 
 tion ; conceal them she could not ; and 
 Lady Helena turned away with a look of 
 such mallicious triumph at sight of her 
 mortification, that Miss Brightwen could 
 scarcely keep the proper degree of serious- 
 ness. 
 
 " But, my dear girl, have you a cold, 
 or a cough, that you wear this frightful 
 tippet?" said Lady Helena. 
 
 " Oh, no, but—" 
 
 "But, what!— do, pray take it off 
 then ;" and she was going to untie it, but 
 Julia resisted, exclaiming, " Oh, no, I 
 must not indeed ; mamma — " 
 
 " It is my pleasure that she wears that 
 tippet, Lady Helena." 
 
 u Then I have done — I understand 
 you, and say no more, madam; but I hope 
 you will allow me to go and adjust my 
 hair after my journey." 
 
 " Certainly, but our unoccupied cham- 
 bers are all in disorder —beds taken down; 
 
54 
 
 but if you will excuse going into my 
 room. Go, Miss Brightwen, and see that 
 it is ready." 
 
 Julia accompanied her, eager to vent 
 her glad feelings to her sympathising 
 friend, and ask her if she did not think 
 Lady Helena an angel ? 
 
 The moment Julia disappeared, Lady 
 Helena caught hold of Lady Villeroy's 
 hand, and said, " Let me take advantage 
 of Julia's absence, dear madam, to entreat 
 that you will forgive her?" 
 
 " Forgive her ! — what can your lady- 
 ship mean; do you not know — " 
 
 " Surely Julia is in disgrace, and you 
 have thought proper to punish her by mak- 
 ing her wear before us that odious tippet 
 and gown ; if it be not so, I beg pardon." 
 
 Lady Villeroy at first was too angry 
 to reply; but Sir George exclaimed — 
 " What is that you say, Lady Helena, 
 about the gown and tippet? — I thought 
 them monstrous queer and unbecoming 
 myself, but my lady there said I was quite 
 wrong, and they were all the fashion." 
 
55 
 
 " I said no such thing, Sir George ; but 
 the gown was as good as new, and was 
 worn by Miss Villeroy's betters : I think 
 it was quite good enough for her, and I 
 have no idea of encouraging a girl in 
 ideas of waste and extravagance." 
 
 " It might be worn by Miss Villeroy's 
 ancestors, madam," replied Lady Helena, 
 proudly, " but not, I conceive, by her 
 betters, as the daughter and heiress of Sir 
 George and of Lady Julia Villeroy has 
 not many betters in a worldly point of 
 view." Then seeing the cloud grow still 
 darker on the mother-in-law's brow, she 
 added, in a gayer tone, " the gown may be 
 handsome and good, and if worn by a fine 
 graceful woman like you, Lady Villeroy, 
 whose figure can carry any thing off, 
 might appear to advantage ; but my poor 
 little unmade outre cousin looks in it as if 
 she had been forced to fly from a fire in 
 the night, and had wrapped herself up in 
 one of the bed curtains." 
 
 " There," exclaimed Sir George, " I 
 said your gown looked like a bed." 
 
56 
 
 " Helena, you are very saucy, and I do 
 not think even Lady Villeroy's good na- 
 ture can forgive you," said Lord Erping- 
 ham. 
 
 " Oh, yes — yes she will ;" said Lady 
 Helena, remembering she had a point to 
 carry, and repenting that she could not 
 but appear an impertinent interferer ; 
 " yes, for her own sake, she will smile on 
 me again, because she knows she has 
 pretty dimples, and all women you always 
 say, papa, like to display their beau- 
 ties." 
 
 This second compliment to her beauty 
 made Lady Helena's peace, and when 
 Julia returned to conduct her to the cham- 
 ber, the frowns were succeeded by the 
 dimples. 
 
 " Now, my dear, take me to your own 
 chamber, not Lady Villeroy's; I would 
 rather see your apartments than her's/ 
 said Lady Helena. 
 
 "My — my apartments! — oh! they are 
 not worth seeing, and are at the top of the 
 house." 
 
57 
 
 " No matter, I love exploring;" and 
 Julia obeyed. They found Miss Bright- 
 wen there, not a little astonished at sight 
 of the young and noble visitor. "How 
 is this, Miss Villeroy ; our room is not 
 worthy to admit such company ! " she ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " It is not worthy of such occupants," 
 replied Lady Helena. 
 
 " But which is your own chamber, 
 Julia?" 
 
 " Oh ! we have but one chamber, and 
 this is our sitting-room." 
 
 " What! have you not a bed to your- 
 self?— But no, I dare say not, one pair of 
 sheets cost less than two, and economy is a 
 virtue." 
 
 At this strange speech, from such a 
 person, Julia, not seeing its drift, looked 
 suprised ; but Miss Brightwen, thrown 
 off her guard, by the archness of the look 
 which accompanied it, and by the ludicrous 
 and exact knowledge of Lady Villeroy's 
 chamber, which it contained, gave way to 
 laughter, which she vainly turned away to 
 
 D 6' 
 
58 
 
 hide. Lady Helena instantly seized her 
 hand, exclaiming — " Miss Brightwen, I 
 came hither prepared to hate you, but I 
 see that I shall doat upon you, for I find 
 that you can laugh and cry too, and I am 
 
 sure you love that little girl, and but 
 
 hush! even truth must not be spoken at 
 all times." 
 
 " Certainly not," replied Miss Bright- 
 wen, significantly, " but I am very glad 
 that your ladyship parts with hatred so 
 easily." 
 
 " Not all hatreds, Miss Brightwen." 
 
 " Dear me, how could you or any one 
 think of hating poor, dear Miss Bright- 
 wen?" cried Julia, fondly throwing her 
 arms round her. 
 
 " Nobody that knows her would, 1 am 
 sure." 
 
 "And why do you call me little Lady 
 Helena, I am as tall as you ?" 
 
 " Taller, my dear, but I call every 
 thing little that I love." 
 
 " And do you love me ? — how kind ; 
 grateful little soul ; but tell me why have 
 
59 
 
 you not this large room to sit in ?" throw- 
 ing open a door as she spoke. 
 
 " Oh, that is the nursery." 
 
 u Nursery ! what for your boys and 
 girls, Julia, when you marry ?" 
 
 " No; for my brothers and sisters." 
 
 " And pray where are they, my dear T 
 
 f No where at present ; but we live in 
 expectations of them," said Miss Bright- 
 wen, smiling. 
 
 " What — really— is there one in the 
 way ?" 
 
 " No, certainly not ; but who knows 
 what may happen, and it is right to be 
 prepared with a room for the reception of 
 expected guests. 
 
 " Admirable!" cried Lady Helena, 
 turning round on her toe, and making 
 numberless pirouettes round the room as 
 she always did when any thing amused or 
 delighted her ; " and so in the mean time 
 you, my dear Julia, are to be suffocated in 
 a little nut-shell of a room; surely you 
 might occupy this till the brats come." 
 
60 
 
 " Oh ! we do walk in it sometimes, and 
 look out of the window." 
 
 " Really ; what noble daring ! " 
 
 " Yes, but mamma — " 
 
 "Julia, if ever you call that woman 
 mamma in my presence, I — Julia! I can- 
 not bear it ; I knew and loved your own 
 real mamma, and you surely must have 
 strangely forgotten her to be always cal- 
 ling Lady Villeroy by that sacred name." 
 
 " Forgotten my own dear mother ! no, 
 indeed, Lady Helena, but papa desired 
 me to call her so, and you know I ought 
 to obey him." 
 
 " Yes, but do not do it in my presence 
 if you can avoid it. What an odious glass, 
 it is not big enough for a doll to dress by," 
 said Lady Helena, pettishly, as she turned 
 one of her fine dark curls round her fin- 
 gers — what a set out for an heiress! — oh, 
 
 how I hate " Here Lady Helena's 
 
 eye met the frowning brow of Miss Bright- 
 wen, whose awe of rank was very inferior 
 to her sense of right, and who would not 
 
61 
 
 allow any one to speak disrespectfully of 
 Lady Villeroy in her presence, or that of 
 her daughter-in-law. Lady Helena under- 
 stood and obeyed the reproof, and re- 
 spected the reprover, but she indulged 
 herself in sundry grimaces, expressive 
 of her wonder— an indignation at the 
 appearance of the apartments — and then 
 taking Miss Brightwen's arm she insisted 
 on her returning to the drawing-room to 
 give her one of her reproving looks when- 
 ever she was inclined to behave ill ; and 
 she made her re-appearance still leaning 
 on her arm. Lady Villeroy beheld, with 
 frowning surprise, Lady Helena's familiarity 
 with a person whom she herself always 
 kept at, what she called, a proper distance; 
 and the sight did not help to soothe the 
 irritation of her temper, which had been 
 considerably ruffled by the praises Lord 
 Erpingham had bestowed not only on the 
 beauty of Julia's countenance, but on the 
 fine face and distinguished appearance of 
 her governess — two beings whose personal 
 characters she had always looked upon 
 
62 
 
 with contempt, and as unlikely to attract 
 tne observation, much less the admiration 
 of such a connoissieur in beauty as Lord 
 Erpingham; and I believe there is no 
 severer pang can be inflicted on a woman 
 of great personal pretensions, and still 
 greater vanity, especially if in the wane of 
 her beauty, than to hear encomiums on 
 tte personal charms of those whom she 
 has always considered as inferior to her- 
 self — no matter how near the person so 
 applauded, whether it be a sister, a niece, 
 or even a daughter ; indeed the more fre- 
 quent and immediate the competition, the 
 greater is the jealousy, and often the dis- 
 like ; nor could she entirely restrain and 
 conceal her feelings, for, with a tone of 
 pique, she said, " I see that your ladyship 
 soon makes acquaintance — I believe you 
 never saw Julia's governess before." 
 
 " No, madam," she replied, " never ; but 
 as there is often love at first sight,) why 
 not friendship at first sight ? — I think this 
 lady capable of inspiring it." ■ 
 
 " Dear ! how romantic Lady Hettna ! 
 
63 
 
 I think you do Miss Brightwen a great 
 deal of honor." 
 
 Lady Helena was going to answer her, 
 and, perhaps, in no conciliating manner, 
 had she not been interrupted by Julia's 
 approaching her with an eager and blush- 
 ing countenance, as if she had something 
 very interesting and important to say 
 to her, but her courage failed her; 
 she then put her arm through Lady He- 
 lena's, who allowed her to lead her to a 
 seat; Julia wanted to say, " Then do you 
 believe in love at first sight?" — but her 
 conscious heart restrained the tell-tale 
 question, and when 6he heard her mother- 
 in-law's " how romantic," she was very 
 glad that she had not spoken. 
 
 Sir George now asked if Lady Villeroy 
 had not ordered refreshments. 
 
 " To be sure I have," she replied, in no 
 gentle tone ; and the butler at that mo- 
 ment made his appearance with chocolate 
 and its appurtenances. 
 
 <*None for me," said Lady Helena; 
 but she eagerly seized on some of the 
 
64 
 
 slender pieces of toasted bread, and ate 
 them with strong marks of hunger. Lord 
 Erpingham also refused the chocolate, but 
 took the cake which accompanied it. To 
 Miss Brightwen and Julia nothing was 
 handed; but the servant having offered it 
 to his mistress, set the tray on the table. 
 
 " You have no chocolate, madam," said 
 Lord Erpingham, kindly, who had seen 
 with generous indignation the neglect of 
 the servant, which he attributed to the 
 mistress ; " will you allow me to offer you 
 some ?" taking a cup as he spoke. 
 
 " Miss Brightwen is bilious, my lord, 
 she must not drink chocolate," said Lady 
 Villeroy hastily; and Sophia, thanking 
 him more by a look than by words, de- 
 clined the offered cup. 
 
 Sir George who had seen, with mortifi- 
 cation and surprise, chocolate enter when he 
 expected a substantial luncheon for persons 
 who had travelled thirty miles, now rose, and 
 hobbled towards Lady Villeroy ; " Why 
 did you not order — " was all that Lady 
 Helena overheard him say, but she saw 
 
65 
 
 that Lady Villeroy resisted his proposal, 
 whatever it was. 
 
 The keenly-feeling girl could no longer 
 restrain her indignant impertinence ; but, 
 giving her father a look which made him 
 almost tremble for the consequences, 
 Lady Helena said to the butler, as he 
 was leaving the room, " I will trouble you 
 to bring me some Madeira and water." 
 
 The poor man, with a look of alarm, 
 bowed, and looked at his no less alarmed 
 mistress. 
 
 " There is Madeira in the cellaret," 
 she replied. 
 
 " Yes, my lady, but — " 
 
 " I know what I say," she angrily an- 
 swered, and the man disappeared. 
 
 " Have you nothing better to give Lady 
 Helena than dry bread," cried Sir George, 
 " to eat with her wine, Lady Villeroy?" 
 
 " My dear girl, I hope you will call for 
 what you like, and consider yourself as 
 quite at home." 
 
 " Helena has proved that she thinks 
 
66 
 
 herself quite at home by asking for 
 Madeira, Sir George. Had I supposed 
 that so young a lady drank wine in the 
 morning, I would have ordered it, Sir 
 George." 
 
 " Well, but neither Lord Erpingham 
 nor I are young ladies, and — " 
 
 " You drink Madeira in the morning ! 
 Sir George; you know it would kill 
 you." 
 
 Here the entrance of the wine inter- 
 rupted her. Lady Helena poured out half 
 a glass, but, on tasting it, she set it down 
 again coldly, observing, " That she could 
 not drink Cape Madeira," and she saw the 
 butler could scarcely restrain a smile. 
 
 Lady Villeroy's countenance now be- 
 came crimson with rage, while Lord 
 Erpingham looked reproachfully at his 
 daughter. 
 
 But Sir George, in a voice tremulous 
 with anger, exclaimed, " What, madam, do 
 you give our noble friends Cape Madeira ! 
 let there be a bottle instantly brought of 
 
67 
 
 that which has doubled the Cape, or I will 
 go for it myself." 
 
 Lady Villeroy, forcing a smile, with 
 livid lips, replied, " Oh, I did not know 
 that it was part of the education of a 
 modern young lady to be learned in wine." 
 She then hastily left the room, followed by 
 the butler. 
 
 Sir George, however, called him back, 
 and desired to know whether there were 
 no sandwiches to be had ; the man said he 
 would ask his lady, and hastened after 
 her, while Sir George, muttering an oath, 
 threw himself back in his chair in evident 
 discomposure ; and Lady Helena, who en- 
 joyed the storm she had raised, pirouetted 
 about the room ; but she now remembered 
 she had a boon to obtain, and, approach- 
 ing Sir George in her most caressing 
 manner, she begged to speak with him in 
 the next room ; then playfully hanging on 
 his arm, as she led him thither, she whis- 
 pered in his ear her wish to take Julia, her 
 dear Julia, her own dear, blessed, beau- 
 tiful aunt Julia's child home with them ! 
 
68 
 
 " That you shall if you wish it/' he 
 replied, brushing a tear from his eye, 
 " though I own I shall miss the poor child 
 very much now ; lately I have seen her 
 more than usual, and she has been very 
 useful to me ; but she shall go, for I know 
 she will be happier away." 
 
 " Now, there is a dear good uncle Vil- 
 leroy," cried Lady Helena, patting his 
 cheek ; " so all is settled." 
 
 " No, my dear, no — you must ask Lady 
 Villeroy's consent also." 
 
 f Certainly, if you desire it." 
 
 " Oh, you have obliged me beyond 
 measure." 
 
 " Yes ; but if Lady Villeroy cannot 
 spare her." 
 
 " Oh, you will find her very willing to 
 spare her, believe me," she replied with a 
 meaning nod of her head ; and Lady He- 
 lena returned, gambolling before him like 
 a kitten. 
 
 Lady Villeroy now re-entered, pre- 
 ceded by the Madeira and a tray of sand- 
 wiches, on which Lady Helena seized with 
 
69 
 well acted voracity. " Now, I will tell 
 you, Lady Villeroy," said she laughing, 
 "that I would not let papa order any 
 luncheon on the road, though we did not 
 order dinner at Mivart's hotel till seven, 
 because I expected we should get here 
 just at your hot luncheon time." 
 
 " Hot luncheon ! dear me, we never 
 have such unwholesome things, and we 
 dine at five." 
 
 " We did not know that ; so, when 
 we came, and instead of being summoned 
 to a hearty meal, I beheld milk chocolate! 
 all my milk of human kindness turned to 
 gall, Lady Villeroy ; and I called aloud 
 for Madeira and water, as papa would 
 not,— but then papa is of the old school, 
 I of the new ; and when one is where 
 one knows one is welcome, I think it is 
 more polite to give trouble than for- 
 bear." 
 
 A stiff inclination of her head was all 
 Lady Villeroy's reply to this speech, for 
 her attention was now painfully attracted 
 
70 
 
 to Sir George, who, having tasted the 
 wine to be sure it was right, had filled a 
 bumper and drank it off. Lady Helena, 
 who, in reality, did not want wine, drank 
 a small quantity only, watching Lady Vil- 
 leroy's countenance all the time, who was 
 observing her father's movements, for he 
 was pouring out a glass which he offered 
 to Miss Brightwen, who accepted it. 
 
 " Dear me, Miss Brightwen, what are 
 you about ? drink strong wine fasting ; for 
 shame !" cried Lady Villeroy. 
 
 " I am not fasting, madam : I have 
 eaten a sandwich, and I am ordered to 
 drink a little Madeira every day, and I do 
 drink it." 
 
 " Ordered, by whom ?" 
 " By my physician, madam." 
 " Indeed ! an expensive remedy ; pray 
 where do you get it, and how can you 
 afford it ?" 
 
 " I buy it for myself; and I must con- 
 trive to afford it as my health requires it, 
 madam." 
 
" Buy it for yourself! in my house, 
 Miss Brightwen," cried Sir George ; "Lady 
 Villeroy, why is this ?" 
 
 " There was no agreement for any 
 wine when Miss Brightwen came hither, 
 Sir George, and no governess can expect 
 Madeira." 
 
 rt But I expect, in future, Miss Bright- 
 wen should have Madeira for her own 
 use, madam." 
 
 " Brightwen ! Brightwen did you say ?" 
 said Lord Erpingham, " the name is fami- 
 liar to me ; I once knew a Mr. Brightwen 
 in Norfolk, is he — * 
 
 " He is my father, sir," replied Sophia 
 with great emotion. 
 
 " Your father ! madam, and yet I see 
 you here." 
 
 " Yes, sir, misfortune, and — " 
 
 « Forgive me, dear Miss Brightwen ; 
 but think of my surprise! when I saw 
 him he lived on his own estate in Norfolk, 
 and I was much indebted to him for his 
 hospitality, and for some days pleasant 
 shooting. Do tell me if — " and he took 
 
72 
 
 her hand; as he spoke, so kindly, and his 
 voice betrayed such interest, that poor 
 Sophia's full heart could not bear it, and, 
 bursting into tears, she rose to leave the 
 room ; as she did so, she heard a mut- 
 tered " what fine feelings ! " from Lady 
 Villeroy, but she was made ample amends 
 by Lady Helena's running to open the 
 door for her, and grasping her hand affec- 
 tionately as she passed her ; poor Julia 
 meanwhile sat even more on the edge 
 of her chair than usual, and was uncon- 
 sciously pulling the oft-mended ends of 
 her gloves to pieces, from violent emo- 
 tion. 
 
 " Julia, my dear," said Sir George, " I 
 feel ashamed to think I know so little of 
 Miss Brightwen's history, you, no doubt, 
 can tell us the whole of it." 
 
 " Oh yes, papa ; poor Mr. Brightwen 
 was very generous, and so was his first 
 wife, so they lived very hospitably." 
 
 " That is, they were extravagant, and 
 made away with their fortune," said Lady 
 Villeroy pettishly. 
 
73 
 
 " Yes, mamma, I fear it was ; and then 
 poor Mrs. Brightwen pined and died ; and 
 then, and then—" here Julia paused and 
 blushed. 
 
 " Well, what then, my dear?" said Sir 
 George. 
 
 " Why, then Mr. Brightwen married a 
 rich old woman for money." 
 
 " Poor man !" cried Lady Helena. 
 
 " Well, but then he became rich again ; 
 therefore, why was Miss Brightwen al- 
 lowed to go out as governess ?" 
 
 " Oh, because he went into business, 
 and was almost ruined again; his new wife's 
 temper was so bad, and she was so miserly, 
 the children could not live at home, and 
 were forced to go out." 
 
 " Poor things ! no uncommon case I 
 believe," said Lady Helena. 
 
 " I fear not," observed Lord Erping- 
 ham, who had been amused, yet pained by 
 Julia's hesitation, and by the similarity of 
 Miss Brightwen's situation to her own — 
 but afraid lest Lady Villeroy should apply 
 to herself his saucy daughter's words and 
 
 VOL. I. e 
 
74 
 
 exclamations, he added, bowing to Lady 
 Villeroy, u all mother's-in-law do not re- 
 semble some of my acquaintance." 
 
 The lady smiled at this implied compli- 
 ment, as she considered it, and was about 
 to speak when Julia hurried across the 
 room. 
 
 " Whither are you going, child ?" said 
 she. 
 
 " I wish to go and see how Miss 
 Brightwen is, mamma." 
 
 u That is kind, my dear girl," said Sir 
 George. " Do go ; Miss Brightwen deserves 
 that attention from you ; and here, carry her 
 another glass of Madeira — stay, take the 
 whole bottle, if our visitors drink no 
 more." 
 
 " They cannot now, Sir George ; they 
 cannot, as Miss Brightwen is to have it." 
 
 " They know I could order more for 
 Miss Brightwen, I trust, Lady Villeroy ; 
 and I am sure they do me the justice of 
 believing, they are welcome to all the wine 
 in my cellar." 
 
 " Certainly we do ; but it is not for the 
 
75 
 
 wine in your cellar that we are come," re- 
 plied Lord Erpingham, eager to change 
 the discourse, " but to rob you of some- 
 thing far more precious ; — we come, with 
 Lady Villeroy's permission, to take Miss 
 Villeroy back with us ; can we prevail on 
 you madam to part with her V 
 
 A sudden gleam of pleasure was now 
 so visible in Lady Villeroy's face, that Lady 
 Helena saw the point was gained, and 
 bounding towards her with every fine fea- 
 ture full of joyful expression, she ex- 
 claimed, 
 
 " I thank you — that countenance, kin- 
 der than your tongue, to my impatience, 
 tells me you consent !" 
 
 If Lady Helena had said, ' your 
 countenance, instead of that,' Lady 
 Villeroy would not have smiled so 
 benignantly as she did, while pronouncing, 
 " Certainly I consent to part with Julia if 
 her father be equally willing ;" for that 
 seemed to stand for expressive, fine, speak- 
 ing, in short, for all the epithets which she 
 had ever heard applied to a countenance, 
 and which Lady Helena's own eyes, beam- 
 
76 
 
 ing with complacency, seemed to see, while 
 she looked impatiently in her face. The only 
 objection, she added, was the state of Julia's 
 wardrobe — and there being no time to re- 
 plenish it, as her departure was to take 
 place so soon. To this Lady Helena's 
 reply was ready and was satisfactory also ; 
 a reply uttered with an arch smile at the 
 corners of her mouth, and a meaning glance 
 at Lord Erpingham, who now began to 
 speak of the necessary arrangements for 
 the morrow, and said that there was room 
 for Miss Villeroy's maid on the barouche 
 seat by Lady Helena's. 
 
 " Julia has no maid," replied Lady 
 Villeroy, bluntly ; " she has been brought 
 up to wait on herself my lord ! whatever 
 assistance she wanted, she has always 
 received from Miss Brightwen." 
 
 " Then it will be the more necessary 
 that young lady should accompany her, 
 and I was just going to request the com- 
 pany of Miss Brightwen, to whom I should 
 be most happy to have an opportunity of 
 repaying the attentions I received from her 
 ather." 
 
77 
 
 " Oh, my dear, sweet papa !" exclaimed 
 Lady Helena, how you have delighted me ! 
 I was wishing to request this additional 
 favor. 
 
 " Aye," cried Sir " George, the poor 
 thing is not well, and change of air may do 
 her good as well as Julia : Pray, Lady 
 Villeroy, spare Miss Brightwen." 
 
 The brow of Lady Villeroy now looked 
 dark with storms. This attention shown 
 by Lord Erpingham to a being whom she 
 had always treated with neglect ; the 
 admiration which he evidently felt for a 
 woman whom she had considered as inca- 
 pable of inspiring it, were wormwood to 
 her self-love ; besides, she wanted Miss 
 Brightwen's assistance in finishing a carpet, 
 and in mending clothes and other notable 
 jobs ; and she uttered a most decided no, 
 in no very complacent tone of voice. 
 
 Lady Helena was about to argue the 
 point with her, when a look from her father 
 checked her, and at this moment Julia and 
 Miss Brightwen re-entered the room. 
 Lady Helena instantly made known the 
 
7S 
 
 permission granted to the surprised and 
 delighted Julia ; but when she added that, 
 to the great disappointment of Lord 
 Erpingham and herself, Miss Brightwen 
 could not be permitted to accompany her, 
 Julia's countenance changed, and a tear 
 started to her eye, while she turned round 
 and looked sorrowfully at her gentle 
 and resigned friend ; the look was con- 
 tagious. Miss Brightwen again suddenly 
 quitted the room. 
 
 " Sure," cried Lady Villeroy, sarcasti- 
 cally, * that girl's sensibility is quite nau- 
 seous !" 
 
 " Stay where you are Julia," she added, 
 seeing her hand was on the door, " you 
 seem to forget that our noble guests have 
 the first claims on your notice and at- 
 tention." 
 
 " That I beg leave to deny," cried Lady 
 Helena, " such a friend as Miss Brightwen 
 has the first claim on my cousin Julia's 
 attention, especially when she is sick and 
 sorrowful." 
 
 " Cousin Julia !" cried Lady Villeroy 
 
79 
 
 with a sneer, " really, Lady Helena, one 
 would suppose you were a quaker, for 
 quakers always call cousin, even where 
 there is no relationship at all." 
 
 " Do they ! I am so glad ! for they are 
 dear, good people I am told, and Mrs. Fry 
 is a quaker you know." 
 
 " Mrs. Fry ! that shocking woman 
 who is so fond of bad company and bad 
 people ; she goes to Newgate every day 
 and wants to prevent their being hanged ! 
 well, I am sure I should be very sorry to be 
 like her in any thing." 
 
 " It is not easy to resemble her, Lady 
 Villeroy — but, as you say she is a shocking 
 woman to be so fond of associating with 
 bad people, and merely in order to try to 
 make them good, and then to suppose, poor 
 mistaken woman ! that they have souls to 
 be saved like herself, and souls worth 
 saving !" 
 
 " Aye, souls worth saving ! that is a 
 mistake indeed," said Lady Villeroy, not 
 comprehending the irony, though a little 
 apprehensive that Lady Helena was laugh- 
 
80 
 
 ing at her ; but a frown from Lord 
 Erpingham again checked Lady Helena, 
 and the conversation was entirely put an 
 end to by Sir George's pausing in his walk 
 from one drawing-room to the other, and 
 again requesting that Miss Brightwen 
 might accompany Julia. But the no was 
 even more violently pronounced than 
 before, and Lady Helena seeing that 
 Julia's heart was full, kindly said, she 
 wished to speak with her, and led her out 
 of the room. They then hastened to 
 Julia's apartment, and while Julia wept on 
 Miss Brightwen's shoulder, Lady Helena 
 indulged herself with many half uttered, 
 half murmured exclamations against cun- 
 ning, tyrannical, half bred women, and 
 maratres ; which Miss Brightwen was now 
 too sorrowful and dispirited to notice or 
 reprove ; still she was glad, very glad that 
 Julia was going to be where she could 
 not fail to be happy ; but to have accom- 
 panied her, would have made her as happy 
 herself as she now could be ; and to see 
 happiness within her reach, yet not be 
 
able to grasp it! but Sophia was soon 
 ashamed of giving way to the weakness of 
 unavailing regret, and her dark expressive 
 eye, freed from its tears, was soon able to 
 reprove the daring sallies of Lady Helena 
 against the sacred majesty of Julia's mo- 
 ther-in-law. To be brief, the noble tra- 
 vellers soon after departed to their hotel, 
 leaving Lady Villeroy delighted to get rid 
 of them, as she feared every moment Sir 
 George's rash and desperate hospitality 
 should urge him to insist on their staying 
 to partake of the fare, which, with no 
 savoury smell, was on the point of being 
 served up. But Sir George felt no 
 sympathy with her delight — with him 
 mortified feelings alone reigned trium- 
 phant. He had not been allowed the 
 enjoyment of his noble friend's company at 
 d.nner, nor to entertain him in the stile to 
 which he had been accustomed — a stile 
 worthy of Lord Erpingham's rank and 
 his own. Then, his daughter, his heiress 
 was not to have a maid of her own to wait 
 on her, and she was denied the company 
 e .5 
 
82 
 
 and assistance of her dear, kind, young 
 friend and intelligent adviser. It was 
 not to be wondered at, therefore, that Sir 
 George scarcely ate at dinner, and that he 
 doubled his quantity of wine after it, now 
 that he exhibited a degree of rebellion to 
 Lady Villeroy's authority, which, till then, 
 she had believed to be impossible, and 
 which alarmed her for the continuance of 
 her conjugal dominion. 
 
 No sooner had Julia made her appear- 
 ance with the dessert, than Sir George de- 
 sired her to go back for Miss Brightwen ; 
 Julia eagerly obeyed the command, but 
 Lady Villeroy, with a faltering voice, 
 begged to know what he wanted with 
 Miss Brightwen. 
 
 " I want her, madam," he replied, " to 
 drink a glass of Madeira with me; I bit- 
 terly repent I never paid that deserving 
 and unfortunate young lady proper res- 
 pect before." 
 
 " Why, Sir George, you are doting 
 surely — respect to your daughter's gover- 
 ness!" 
 
83 
 
 " And why not ? — if I do not pay her 
 respect myself, how can I expect my 
 daughter should respect her? besides, 
 Lady Villeroy, as Lord Erpingham says, 
 she is a very handsome woman, and beauty 
 in distress is a very engaging thing, Lady 
 Villeroy." 
 
 " Lord Erpingham is a fool," cried 
 Lady Villeroy, enraged beyond all res- 
 traint, " and the proverb says ' one fool 
 makes many,' Sir George." 
 
 Miss Brightwen's entrance prevented 
 Sir George's reply, who, in order to make 
 more than sufficient amends for his past 
 neglect, advanced to meet the astonished 
 Sophia, and taking her by the hand, led 
 her to a seat beside him ; then asking her 
 what she would eat, put some dried-up 
 raisins and an old sugar-cake on her 
 plate ; but on tasting the same himself he 
 muttered a sort of an oath, and hastily 
 ringing the bell, desired the butler to take 
 away the trash he had brought, and get a 
 proper dessert for a gentleman's table at 
 the nearest shop. 
 
84 
 
 The man secretly delighted at what 
 he heard, with an ill-suppressed grin pre- 
 pared to obey, but Lady Villeroy com- 
 manded him to desist, and in a voice 
 choked with passion, desired to know why 
 the dessert was not as good to day as yes- 
 terday — and why, what was good enough 
 for her and him was not good enough for 
 Miss Brightwen ? 
 
 " Because, madam, the dessert has 
 been good enough in your eyes for a 
 
 succession of yesterdays and to-days 
 
 it is a faded beauty now, Lady Villeroy, 
 and I like something new and pretty, as 
 well as good, like Miss Brightwen herself, 
 so come, you, sir — come you grinning 
 jackanapes! — clear the table, and cover it 
 again as it ought to be covered." 
 
 The man obeyed with alacrity, and un- 
 interrupted, for his lady was too full of 
 consternation and of misery, I may say, to 
 make any further resistance ; for there 
 cannot be a more agonizing pang in the 
 catalogue of woman's trials, than to see 
 and hear a man, whom she has considered 
 
S5 
 
 as wholly devoted to herself, express ad- 
 miration of youthful beauty ; wherefore, she 
 is conscious of the decline of her own 
 charms, and, therefore, seems threatened 
 with the loss of her sovereignty. Even 
 Lady Villeroy's avarice was subdued by 
 this apprehension; and when the butler 
 returned with ices, as well as cakes and 
 fruit, she was not provoked to utter a 
 single angry animadversion, but she sat in 
 silent anxiety, regarding, with a watchful 
 and jealous eye, Sir George's conduct to- 
 wards Sophia and Julia ; the latter he had 
 seated on his lap, and was kindly pressing 
 her to his heart, ever and anon, while he 
 occasionally took Miss Brightwen's hand, 
 and urged her to eat, in a voice which was 
 full of tenderness and kindness. What! 
 two rivals, at once, started up to overset 
 her empire ! it was too much, and she 
 began to repent of not having consented 
 to let Miss Brightwen accompany her 
 pupil to Lord Erpingham's. 
 
 Sir George meanwhile continued to 
 press his young companions to eat and 
 
86 
 
 drink, and offering an ice to his lady, sarcas- 
 tically observed, " You had better take it 
 Lady Villeroy, for ice, you know, cannot 
 be served up a second time." Had she 
 been only angry, the chances are that Lady 
 Villeroy would have forcibly resisted ac- 
 cepting the offered favor at the risk of in- 
 juring her carpet; but her anger was 
 mixed with so much agony that she only 
 refused what was offered to her with a 
 faintly uttered negative, and continued to 
 beat, what is vulgarly called, the devil's 
 tattoo with her feet. 
 
 st My dear Miss Bright wen," said Sir 
 George, " I know not how I shall bear to 
 part with this dear girl, now I have learned 
 to feel her real value," and as he spoke he 
 took Julia on his knee again ; " this living 
 image of — " here he paused, as if in strong 
 emotion, and filled another bumper; 
 f( but I hope you will be so kind as to 
 look in upon me, now and then, in her 
 absence. I was sorry that you could not 
 be spared, but now, I am selfish enough to 
 rejoice that you remain with us, and 
 
87 
 
 when Lady Villeroy goes out, I trust, you 
 will come and enliven my solitude." 
 
 " Certainly, sir, if you wish it." 
 
 " Oh, dear, yes !" 
 
 " Pray do, Miss Brightwen ; and, papa, 
 make her read to you — she reads so beau- 
 tifully!" 
 
 " Indeed ! an excellent accomplishment 
 in a woman ; — really, Miss Brightwen, 
 I am quite sorry I have hitherto seen so 
 little of you, and paid you so little atten- 
 tion ; but in future I will make the most 
 of the domestic comfort, which is, I find, 
 within my reach: my dear girl, here is 
 your father's health — poor man ! he is, I 
 think you said, Julia, very much to be 
 pitied. In what way, my dear, is he so af- 
 flicted?" 
 
 Both Miss Brightwen and Julia were 
 too painfully conscious to be able to an- 
 swer this question, and their embarrass- 
 ment was so visible to Lady Villeroy, and 
 the cause so painfully obvious also, that 
 she could not keep her seat, but darting 
 
 
88 
 
 an angry glance at her, she suddenly left 
 the room, firmly resolving that if Sir 
 George, who was now, she flattered her- 
 self, under the influence of wine, should be 
 as fond of Sophia's company the next day 
 as he was then, she should, at all events, 
 be gotten rid of for some time. 
 
 Sir George, who from a feeling of vin- 
 dictive mortification, had struggled with 
 sleep, in order to pique his offending wife, 
 had no longer a sufficient motive to con- 
 tinue his efforts, but gently releasing 
 Julia from his arms, he prepared himself 
 for his usual repose, and Sophia and her 
 pupil returned to their apartment. 
 
 " Oh, how kind my dear papa is 
 grown! " cried Julia, as they went along; 
 " I shall now be so sorry to leave him ; I 
 do hope you will be very, very kind to him 
 in my absence; but then, I shall be sorry 
 to leave you too. Dear me ! — well, to be 
 sure, there is no unmixed good in this 
 world — is there Miss Brightwen ? " 
 
 " No, Julia, certainly not ; if there 
 
89 
 
 were, how few of us would think of 
 another and a better world! " 
 
 The rest of the evening was passed by 
 them in praises of Lady Helena and Lord 
 Erpingham, and in preparations for the 
 morrow; by Sir George, in alternate sleep 
 and uncomfortable musings ; and by Lady 
 Villeroy, in an indefatigable application to 
 her needle, while her heart was swelling 
 with secret rage, and fears of evil to come, 
 certain, but as yet undefined to her imagi- 
 nation. 
 
CHAP. IV. 
 
 The morning came, and, terrible confir- 
 mation of her worst forebodings, Sir 
 George, though no longer under the influ- 
 ence of wine, insisted on the company of 
 Miss Brightwen at the breakfast, table. 
 Had Lady Helena been his instigator, in 
 order to gain Miss Brightwen as her guest, 
 he could not have pursued a more certain 
 way of obtaining the end in view. Long 
 before Sophia had eaten the egg, which he 
 forced her to take, Lady Villeroy had said 
 within herself, " she shall accompany Julia !" 
 but she did not make known her determi- 
 nation, as she feared Sir George might 
 now oppose it, from aversion, to part with 
 his new flame, as jealousy styled Sophia. 
 Nor did she mention it till there was only 
 just time for her to get ready against the 
 appointed hour; but scarcely could she 
 do so, for Julia was in such an ecstacy of 
 
91 
 
 delight at the idea of not being separated 
 from her, that she was incapable of ren- 
 dering her any assistance, till Sophia, in 
 order to soberise her joy, reminded her 
 how much her poor father would miss her 
 society ; then the ready tear succeeded 
 the as ready smile, and she was enabled 
 to be useful. 
 
 At length the expected barouche was 
 seen driving up to the door, and Julia and 
 Sophia entered the drawing-room equipped 
 for the journey. Julia's dress consisted of 
 a straw bonnet, rather pinched up in front, 
 by the frequent struggle which, during 
 many a winter, it had gone through with 
 the uncourteous wind, and of a dark cloth 
 pelisse, the arms of which were too short 
 for the wearer, while the cuffs were turned 
 up with a skin that once had been covered 
 with hair of some animal, but now only 
 patches remained unimpaired, to shew the 
 enquiring naturalist to what species it be- 
 longed. 
 
 Sir George's now observant eye in- 
 stantly discovered the shabbiness of her 
 
9 ( 2 
 
 appearance, and he turned his blushing 
 daughter round, examining her dress with 
 indignant surprise ; as he did so, his eye 
 glanced on Miss Brightwen, and he de- 
 sired to know whither she was going in 
 her neat and pretty attire ; and when he 
 heard she too was going to leave him, he 
 expressed his regret so loudly, that Lady 
 Villeroy was impatient till she was fairly 
 seated in the carriage, and removed from 
 his sight. 
 
 To his reproaches concerning the shab- 
 biness of Julia's dress, she had, she thought, 
 a sufficient satisfactory answer : i<r You 
 know there was not time to get new 
 things ready !" 
 
 " But, madam, was such a dress as 
 that ever fit to be worn by my daughter 
 and heiress ?" 
 
 The word 'heiress,' uttered, for the 
 first time, by the lips of Sir George, had a 
 most overpowering effect on the nerves of 
 his wife, as he had hitherto been as 
 anxious as herself for the birth of a son 
 and heir, and disposed to continue to hope, 
 
93 
 
 though hope were lost. It was with a 
 faltering and subdued voice, therefore, that 
 she answered — 
 
 " Your heiress, Sir George? I never 
 till now understood that Miss Villeroy 
 was to be brought up and dressed as your 
 heiress !" 
 
 At this moment the servant announced 
 Lord Erpingham and Lady Helena For- 
 tescue ; the latter fixed her quick eye on 
 the poor mortified Julia's travelling dress, 
 but delicately withdrew it instantly, and, 
 with an exclamation of joy, desired to 
 know whether Miss Brightwen was so 
 equipped to accompany them. The affir- 
 mative, in answer to this question, was re- 
 ceived with satisfaction so warmly ex- 
 pressed, that Lady Villeroy's brow grew 
 still darker than before, and her noble 
 guests, therefore, seeing that all was not 
 right, wished to make their visit as short 
 as possible ; and Julia having received a 
 cold salute from Lady Villeroy, went with 
 a tearful eye to take leave of her father, 
 who caught her fondly in his arms, and, 
 
94 
 
 in a faltering voice, declared that he did 
 not know when he experienced such pain, 
 as parting with her occasioned him, espe- 
 cially as Miss Brightwen would not stay 
 to console him ; " But listen to me, Lady 
 Helena," said he, " do Julia and me the 
 honor and favor to interest yourself in my 
 dear girl's appearance, and order for her a 
 wardrobe worthy the daughter of — , you 
 understand me." 
 
 " I do, and will obey a la kttreT 
 
 " Thank you, my dear ; then now take 
 this, Julia!" he cried, giving her a bank 
 note to a large amount. 
 
 " Oh no, papa, I do not want money, 
 mamma has given me some already." 
 
 " Indeed!" he replied, looking pleased, 
 u and, how much ?" 
 
 " Two pounds !" 
 
 Lady Helena now turned to the window 
 unable to restrain her laughter, at sight of 
 the ludicrous and indignant wonder of Sir 
 George's face, when he heard of this liberal 
 allowance to his heiress for a visit of se- 
 veral weeks ; however, he was too well 
 
95 
 
 bred to express his displeasure before com- 
 pany ; but, forcing the note into the hands 
 of Julia, he said, " There — there, I hate 
 long partings, especially with those I love, 
 and now, the sooner the pang is over the 
 better." He then wrung his old friend's 
 hand in silence, and, with overflowing eyes, 
 tried to tell him the next time they met, it 
 should, he insisted on it, be for a longer 
 time, and he should not go to an hotel : 
 he then saluted Miss Brightwen, to the 
 great sorrow of Lady Villeroy, and seemed 
 as if he knew not how to relinquish the 
 weeping Julia from his arms ; at length 
 they were seated, and the barouche drove 
 off, leaving Sir George to reproach his 
 astonished and indignant wife for her par- 
 simony to his daughter; and her to wish 
 that a severe fit of the gout, by rendering 
 him again dependent on her, might con- 
 quer his rebellious spirit, and restore her 
 influence in all its pristine power. 
 
 " Stop ! stop ! whither are you going T 
 cried Lord Erpingham to the post-boys, 
 " this is not the way home." 
 
96 
 
 " No, they have my orders/' cried Lady 
 Helena, bidding the men go on. 
 
 " Your orders, indeed! what do you 
 mean ?" 
 
 " Oh, you shall soon know, papa," and 
 the carriage stopped in a few minutes at a 
 very fashionable milliner's. 
 
 " I will be with you again directly," 
 said Lady Helena, jumping out, but not 
 before she had taken a large handsome 
 shawl from her own shoulders and thrown 
 it over Julia, so as to hide her pelisse 
 entirely. 
 
 " What is the girl about now ?" cried 
 Lord Erpingham, smiling complacently, 
 as he saw the joy which lighted up the 
 eyes of Julia while she folded the graceful 
 drapery round her ; and Miss Brightwen 
 looked as pleased as her pupil. Lady 
 Helena soon returned with a bonnet of 
 great beauty and elegance, and a shawl 
 for herself like the one which she had 
 thrown over Julia ; then telling the young 
 woman, who stood curtsying at the door, 
 that she should hear from her soon ; she 
 
97 
 
 untied Julia's old bonnet, tied on the new 
 one in its place, and threw the other with 
 an air of indescribable contempt under the 
 seat, and cried out with an air of autho- 
 rity, " You may drive towards home now. 
 There, papa !" she added, " now I natter 
 myself, our cousin looks like our cousin ; 
 and, oh, when I get her to Laurel Grove, 
 I will make her so smart, you will not 
 know her again, papa!" 
 
 * But, my dear, you have not done 
 much as yet — this fine mantle is only an 
 external covering; I thought you would 
 have called Julia out with you, to have 
 her measure taken ; is not that the term 
 ladies?" 
 
 " What !" exclaimed Lady Helena, " I 
 exhibit my blushing pretty pet in that 
 dress, to the grinning wonder of millinery 
 apprentices ; no, indeed ! my plans are 
 laid, and I do so enjoy them ! but how 
 unnecessary was it for my uncle Villeroy, 
 to desire me to interest myself in the ap- 
 pearance of Julia ; never did child long to 
 dress a doll more than I do to dress you » 
 VOL. i. f 
 
98 
 
 and that is very generous in me, when I 
 know how much handsomer you will then 
 be than I am." Here Lady Helena's eyes 
 met those of Miss Brightwen: "Papa!'' 
 cried she, blushing, " have you ever ex- 
 amined Miss Brightwen's eyes ?" 
 
 " As much as I dare." 
 
 " That's right, papa, be as timid still, 
 for I never was so afraid of an eye in my 
 life, and I shall soon not dare to look at 
 her at all." 
 
 " Why so, my dear girl ? in me such 
 fear may be prudent." 
 
 " Oh, and in me too ; for if you had 
 only seen her reproving look at me just 
 now." 
 
 " For what, Helena ?" 
 
 " Oh, she accuses me of affectation and 
 falsehood, that is, her look did — it said 
 you are fibbing, Lady Helena — you think 
 yourself quite as handsome as my pupil." 
 
 " Is this true, Miss Brightwen T 
 
 " Yes, my lord, I own it is ; but I did 
 not think my looks had been so expres- 
 sive. 
 
99 
 
 " Now you are affected and false, Miss 
 Brightwen, and I can bear to look at you 
 again ; if you did not think your eye pow- 
 erful, why inflict it on me ? that is, why 
 look at me at that moment as you did ?" 
 
 " I had thought your ladyship supe- 
 rior to the sort of disingenuousness you 
 were practising, and I felt mortified and 
 disappointed." 
 
 " There, Helena! a compliment and a 
 lesson at once." 
 
 " But, indeed, papa, I value the latter 
 the most, and hope to profit by it." 
 
 It was now Miss Brightwen's turn to 
 make disqualifying speeches, and talk of 
 inability, presumption, and so forth ; but 
 her good sense, and her integrity forbade 
 it : she felt that Lady Helena had defects, 
 to which a look or word of gentle reproof 
 might occasionally be salutary ; and she 
 felt also a high-minded desire to repay 
 her's and her father's kindness to herself, 
 in the only way in her power. Short 
 indeed seemed the drive to Laurel Grove 
 to all the travellers - but more especially 
 
100 
 
 to Sophia, who saw herself suddenly raised 
 to her original consequence after years of 
 contemptuous neglect, and appreciated at 
 her full value by those whose esteem was 
 in reality distinction. 
 
 " What a paradise it is !" cried Miss 
 Brightwen, as from the brow of one of the 
 steepest Surrey Hills, the seat of Lord 
 Erpingham, in the valley beneath, burst 
 suddenly on her eyes — eyes accustomed to 
 gaze only on the level plains of Norfolk, 
 while Julia was trying to recollect every 
 scene which she had known in childhood,and 
 making herself believe that all was as it 
 used to be, though she did not think the 
 trees had been so thick and tall. 
 
 " If the trees could speak, they would 
 say the same of you Julia — for it is really 
 surprising to think how girls and shrubs 
 too will grow in twelve years." 
 
 " True, Lady Helena, it was silly in me 
 to say what I did ! well, but I shall not 
 find your mamma grown and altered — my 
 dear, dear aunt." 
 
 " Aunt, Julia ! welcome sound ! what 
 
101 
 
 a convincing proof that we are thirty 
 miles from your mam Lady Villeroy." 
 
 * Yes, my dear, your aunt is grown 
 fat, but Time, the more he sees of her 
 loves her so well that he cannot bear to hurt 
 her ; therefore, she is not grown old, and 
 you know she is past the age for growing 
 tall — but see, there she is at the window." 
 
 Julia instantly jumped up, and wholly 
 forgetting her former care to conceal her 
 shabby pelisse in the delight of seeing the 
 well remembered face, kissed both her 
 hands with such vehemance that her man- 
 tle fell and disclosed her in all her ?nes- 
 quinerie (shabbiness) of appearance. 
 
 " There, there, cover up those naked 
 wrists again, pray do," cried Lady Helena, 
 with a look of dismay ; " never did daugh- 
 ter of the house of Villeroy wear such a garb 
 as that before, and never shall again if I 
 can help it ; but here we are I" Then jump- 
 ing out, and almost dragging Julia after 
 her, Lady Helena left the Earl to do pro- 
 per honor to Miss Brightwen, and bound- 
 ing into the room where the countess and 
 
102 
 
 another lady sat. gave the delighted Julia 
 into her mother's arms. The first look which 
 Lady Erpingham gave, was one of pleasure, 
 for she beheld the beaming countenance and 
 regular features of her regretted mother ; 
 but the second was one of pain and mortifica- 
 tion, as her person seemed ill-made, and 
 as if inclined to deformity. Lady Helena 
 meanwhile had bounded back again to 
 meet Miss Brightwen, whom in the warm 
 feelings of the moment, she had uncere- 
 moniously preceded ; but she was too late, 
 the earl was leading her in, and he pre- 
 sented her as Miss Brightwen, a young 
 lady from whose father he had received 
 civilities which he should be happy to 
 return. 
 
 " But, mamma, you will never guess 
 who Miss Brightwen is. She is no other 
 than the odious, stupid governess of my 
 dear cousin Julia, whom I was so fond of 
 abusing when unknown, and now she is — " 
 here she paused and passed her arm fondly 
 round the waist of the blushing Sophia. 
 
 '• What is she, Helena ?" 
 
103 
 
 V A dear, sweet creature ; only she has 
 formidable eyes, and knows how to use 
 them." 
 
 * Helena, you distress Miss Brightwen," 
 cried the countess, regarding her with 
 added courtesy when she heard who she 
 was, and would have entered into conver- 
 sation with her, but Lady Helena seizing 
 Julia, turned her slowly round and round 
 before her mother and Mrs. Magnal, the 
 lady present. 
 
 " Well, what does the girl mean now ?" 
 said Lord Erpingham." 
 
 " Why this I mean — get Julia by 
 heart, figure, and dress ; see what she is 
 now, that you may judge of my powers of 
 metamorphosis, that is all, and I am only 
 imitating the celebrated Mr. Repton, papa, 
 who used, you know, to make an exact 
 resemblance of the place which he was 
 called to improve and adorn, and then 
 give another drawing to shew what it was 
 under his hands. So here you see is Julia 
 Villeroy, a high-shouldered, narrow- 
 
104 
 
 chested, crop-haired, ill-dressed young 
 person." 
 
 "Helena! Helena!" 
 
 " Nay, indeed, mamma, even your 
 candour can see nothing to admire in this 
 shabby pelisse of which the flames shall 
 consume all the moths have left, — so now, 
 to begin my operations, come away Julia ! 
 but I will have all the merit to myself, not 
 even Miss Brightwen shall be present." 
 
 " Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest 
 girl, till you applaud the deed! so sit 
 down with mamma, and dear Mrs. Magnal, 
 eat, drink, and be merry, send us up a 
 sandwich, and good bye till we shine upon 
 you in all our glory !" 
 
 Julia was as willing to go as Lady Helena, 
 and immediately and gladly followed, or 
 rather preceded her at her bidding — but 
 Lady Erpingham called her daughter back, 
 and in a whisper told her to be careful 
 what she said of Julia's form, as she was 
 very sure the defects were those of nature 
 as well as dress, and not removable. 
 
105 
 
 " We shall see that/' she replied, and 
 darted out of the room. 
 
 Lady Helena's maid was instantly 
 summoned to a conference; accordingly 
 the wardrobe of her young lady was made 
 to yield up all its stores, as Julia was de- 
 clared able to wear her dresses, being of 
 the same size with herself, and in a few 
 moments the willing Julia was dispossessed 
 of her disgusting habilaments; but, oh, 
 the genereus joy of Lady Helena, when 
 she found that Julia's form was fine as her 
 face ; and it was with great difficulty the 
 poor timid girl, unused to undress before 
 strangers, could prevail on her enthusiastic 
 friend not to summon her mother to the 
 chamber to see how pretty her doll was 
 before it was dressed, and how well 
 jointed. 
 
 " Why, my dear creature, how could 
 you ever breathe in these stays of your's ?" 
 asked Lady Helena, finding that her own 
 were only just large enough for her. 
 
 " I could not always," answered Julia, 
 F 5 
 
106 
 
 with meek simplicity, while Lady Helena 
 stalked about the chamber, with uplifted 
 hand, as if threatening some one, and mut- 
 tering maratre ! odious maratre ! at eyery 
 step, being no longer under the govern- 
 ment of Sophia's eye. 
 
 At length Lady Helena allowed Julia 
 and herself to rest from their labours 
 awhile, that she might deliberate on the 
 measures necessary to give the last embel- 
 lishments to her dear, darling doll. 
 
 The dress to be worn was soon deci- 
 ded on, much to the horror of the waiting 
 maid, who most pathetically exclaimed — 
 " What, my lady ! that new dress from 
 Madam D.'s which you have never worn — 
 the white net over white satin ! " 
 
 " Dear me," cried Julia, " that's too 
 good for me." 
 
 u For shame, Julia — have more self- 
 respect ; nothing is too good for the heiress 
 of Sir George and Lady Julia Villeroy — 
 and you, Mrs. Gibbs, do as I bid you, and 
 fetch my present — my first valuable pre- 
 
107 
 
 sent to my dear cousin Julia; you can 
 make me one like it, she shall have the 
 original." I shall not attempt to describe 
 Julia's refusal and exclamations, and, at last, 
 delighted consent, to wear and accept the 
 most beautiful dress she had ever seen, if 
 aunt Erpingham approved ; still she was 
 sure she should be happier in a less costly 
 dress, for if she should tear and dirty it — 
 u But what can we do with this ill-cut crop, 
 Gibbs?" 
 
 " My dear girl, what is become of your 
 fine glossy curls ? " 
 
 " Oh, mam — " 
 
 "Julia!" cried Lady Helena, in a 
 threatening tone, " well, then, Lady Ville- 
 roy chose they should be cut off." 
 
 " Did she !" — a humph — gulping down 
 a hard word ; " but your hair is inclined to 
 curl, I think." 
 
 " O, yes ! " 
 
 " Then, Gibbs, soap and water di- 
 rectly ?" 
 
 In a short time the application was so 
 successful, and the auburn hair of Julia, 
 
108 
 
 curled in glossy beauty oyer her fine 
 shaped head. 
 
 Lady Helena was in raptures; ex- 
 claiming, as the work of adorning pro- 
 ceeded, " Oh! poor dear Repton was no- 
 thing to me." Nor was Julia, herself, less 
 delighted, as she glanced a timid eye over 
 her dress, while she beheld herself at full 
 length in a glass, and as the consciousness 
 of self-approving beauty stole across her 
 busy thoughts, she wished that the generous 
 unknown, as she called her deliverer, could 
 could see her in that dress. 
 
 Miss Brightwen was, at length, per- 
 mitted to enter, and give her opinion of 
 the metamorphosis, which called a blush 
 of pleasure into her pale cheek— that 
 blush was a triumph to Lady Helena ; but 
 Miss Brightwen, herself, as company was 
 expected, and at Lord Erpingham's house 
 she was to appear, and be treated as some- 
 body, was not allowed to escape the im- 
 proving hand of Lady Helena. Her cap 
 was forbidden to be worn ; her fine hair 
 was becomingly dressed, and a lace scarf, 
 
109 
 
 which Lady Helena insisted she should 
 wear, gave a sufficiently dressy appearance 
 to her simple dove-coloured silk gown. 
 
 " Now, then," said Lady Helena, "that 
 I have done my duty to my guests, I must 
 do it to myself ; come, Gibbs." 
 
 " What gown, my lady ? — the one your 
 ladyship meant to wear ; you know 
 you — " 
 
 * What f murmuring again Gibbs ! 
 well, as I see you are mortified — " 
 
 * Yes, my lady, that gown was so be- 
 coming, that- " 
 
 " Say no more ; to pacify you I will 
 wear the lovely pink gros de Naples, and 
 even as many flowers as you desire ; I will 
 be a walking green-house ; Persian jessa- 
 mine shall rise beyond camelia japonicas, 
 and orange flowers' beyond geraniums — 
 will that do, Gibbs ? " 
 
 " No, my lady, I hope I have not such 
 a vulgar taste." 
 
 "What! displeased again, really " 
 
 Here Lady Helena suddenly paused, for she 
 heard Julia, who had been looking out of 
 
110 
 
 the window into the garden during this 
 dialogue, suddenly exclaim — " Oh, Miss 
 Brightwen ! " and leaning her head on So- 
 phia's shoulder. 
 
 " What is the matter— are you ill Ju- 
 lia ?" cried Lady Helena, running to her. 
 
 " Oh, no, nothing, only I saw — " 
 
 « What ?— a— " 
 
 " A gentleman ! " 
 
 u And what then ; is it so alarming a 
 sight as to put you in a flurry ? — a perfect 
 gentleman is a rare sight, I own ; but, my 
 dear, if one has such an effect, what will 
 two or three have — and I expect as many 
 at dinner to-day, so what will you have to 
 fortify you, camphor, jalap, or sal volatile ? 
 How, tears ! my poor child ! this is really 
 serious ; Miss Brightwen, what does this 
 mean? — leave the room for a moment, 
 Gibbs." 
 
 But Lady Helena and Sophia both in- 
 terrogated in vain; Julia only said she was 
 sorry and ashamed of being so foolish, but 
 could not, or would not say more ; and 
 again she started on seeing a gentleman 
 
Ill 
 
 in a dark-blue coat and shining buttons 
 cross the lawn, and left the window in 
 disorder. 
 
 u Well, is that the terrible gentleman, 
 Julia ? I hope not, if terror betokens love ; 
 for that is our head gardener, a great beau, 
 and one of the handsomest young men I 
 ever saw ; you can never have seen him 
 before, Julia, I am sure ; look again !" 
 
 She and Miss Brightwen both looked, 
 
 and Julia said nothing ; but Sophia said, 
 
 '." That is the same gentleman who passed 
 
 before, and I am almost certain he is quite 
 
 a stranger to both of us." 
 
 Julia was silent, and Lady Helena 
 said, " As this is the case, and you are 
 dumb, Julia, I may as well recal Gibbs." 
 
 " I should like to go to my own room," 
 replied Julia; and Miss Brightwen con- 
 ducted her thither : when there, Julia 
 threw her arms round her governess and 
 exclaimed in great agitation, " Oh, no ! 
 no ! it was no gardener whom I saw ! but 
 the generous unknown who saved my 
 life!" 
 
112 
 
 " You must be mistaken : I looked on 
 the lawn at the same moment you did, 
 and saw no one but the man whom Lady 
 Helena calls the gardener." 
 
 Julia said no more, but emotion and 
 expectation soon restored the bloom of 
 which the former had robbed her, and 
 even with greater brilliancy ; and when 
 Lady Helena came to conduct her down 
 stairs, she gazed on her with generous ex- 
 ultation ; when they reached the drawing- 
 room, Lord Erpingham met the embar- 
 rassed Julia at the door, and presented 
 her to the company, while the ever kind 
 Lady Helena gave her arm to Miss Bright- 
 wen, in order to mark the respect she felt 
 for her, and courteously introduced her 
 to the circle around. 
 
 " There, you see !" said Lady Helena 
 to the Countess and Mrs. Magnal, looking 
 at Julia. 
 
 " Well done, Repton," cried Mrs. Mag- 
 nal, while Lady Erpingham followed Julia 
 with eyes of tender regret, as she recalled 
 her mother to her mind, and lived those 
 
113 
 
 hours over again in fancy, when she and 
 Lady Julia used to enter the room to- 
 gether, as full of unblighted hopes and 
 prospects of future happiness ; and how 
 proud she would be of her daughter's 
 appearance ; and how happy ! as happy as 
 I am when I look at Helena. At this 
 moment Lady Helena's eye met her's, and 
 the tear, hitherto restrained, now fell on 
 her cheek. " Nay, nay," she cried, run- 
 ning to her, and interpreting her look, 
 " not tears for the dead, but smiles for 
 the living, dear mamma ; but now, does 
 not my doll look pretty ?" 
 
 " If she had your carriage, Helena, she 
 would be all her mother !" 
 
 " I can't either give her or lend her 
 that, mamma, but she will be able to steal 
 it in time, I trust, having such opportuni- 
 ties given her by you and me." 
 
CHAP. V. 
 
 The dinner was now announced, and Lord 
 Erpingham gave his arm to the wife of a 
 peer's son ; then pitying Julia's timidity, 
 he offered her the other, and desired her 
 to sit next him on his left hand at the 
 table : she gladly obeyed, not having yet 
 recovered her agitation on entering the 
 room, when, casting a timid look round, 
 she had tried to discover the incognita, 
 but he was certainly not there, and she 
 felt at once mortified and relieved. But 
 she had scarcely begun her dinner when 
 her power of eating was taken away, by 
 the exclamation of — et But where is Mar- 
 cus ? where is my son ?" from Lady Er- 
 pingham. 
 
 u Not ready, his servant says," replied 
 the earl. 
 
 Here Sophia looked at Julia, and saw 
 
115 
 
 by her countenance that her hopes and 
 her emotion were again awakened. 
 
 « Well," said Lady Helena, " if I had 
 not been ready for dinner, what would 
 Marcus have said V 
 
 " That you were guilty of an im- 
 propriety, Helena, and deserved to be 
 scolded." 
 
 " Aye, and he would have scolded me 
 too." 
 
 " But not unkindly, Helena." 
 
 " No, to be sure, mamma, Marcus can 
 do nothing wrong — but even you cannot 
 approve this unusual want of regularity." 
 
 " Remember, it is unusual, and there- 
 fore excusable." 
 
 " May be so ; but I am very angry for 
 all that ; there was I meditating to present 
 him in my most graceful manner to Miss 
 Villeroy, leading him up to her with — 
 Let me have the honour to present my 
 brother, Captain Fortescue, to his cousin 
 Julia ?" 
 
 Captain Fortescue ! thought Julia ; and 
 my deliverer was a naval officer, and a 
 
116 
 
 lord's son ! oh, it must be he !" and she 
 could scarcely keep her seat from ex- 
 pectation of his entrance. 
 
 " Is that all you meant to say, sweet 
 Helena ! I could have done it better my- 
 self," cried a singular looking young man, 
 who sat by Helena, dressed in the most 
 studied manner. 
 
 " No, it was not all — but now the pre- 
 sentation must take place over a plate of 
 hot soup, and across a plateau, and our 
 grace and dignity will have no opportunity 
 of shewing themselves." 
 
 * Well, I suppose Marcus and the 
 second course will come in together." 
 
 " This is really abominable, mamma, 
 though it is unusual, especially as Marcus 
 had nothing to do to prevent his making 
 his toilet earlier." 
 
 " Take care, my Helena, of Tray," 
 said the young man who spoke before, " or 
 you will repent your severity on poor 
 Marcus." 
 
 " Impossible !" 
 
 " Yes you will, when you hear what 
 
117 
 
 detained the culprit from his toilet ; I 
 know he will be angry with me for telling, 
 but Marcus has been acting his own 
 puppy dog ; he has been in the water." 
 
 " What do you mean, Mansfeld ?" 
 
 " Only that he has been saving a 
 child from drowning, and not very far 
 from being drowned himself." 
 
 The mother and sister both rose, Julia 
 half rose ; but, at a look from Sophia, re- 
 seated herself. 
 
 Mansfeld said, " Lady Helena, this is 
 only one of your bad jokes." 
 
 * No, on my honor ; ask papa." 
 
 " My dear girl, it is all true, but I 
 wished you and Augusta not to know it 
 till you saw Marcus well and safe ; he has 
 been in danger, for the river was rapid, 
 deep, and full of weeds." 
 
 " Augusta, my love ! be composed — 
 he is here !" 
 
 Captain Fortescue now entered the 
 room, and his mother and sister ran to 
 him with hearts too full, for aught but the 
 silent welcome of stretched out arms and 
 
116 
 
 tearful eyes ; and when he turned his 
 face towards Julia, she recognised in the 
 saviour of the drowning child her own 
 preserver ; it was more than romantic 
 seventeen could bear! and Sophia, who 
 also recognised him immediately, and 
 watched her every look, now saw her co- 
 lour change, and led her out of the room 
 just as the earl exclaimed — 
 
 " Miss Villeroy, you are ill ; the heat of 
 the room, I fear, oppresses you — Helena, 
 attend to Miss Villeroy." 
 
 Lady Helena would have followed her, 
 but Sophia begged she would not, and the 
 former was as yet too much engrossed with 
 her brother to feel interest enough in 
 Julia's indisposition, to be sorry for the 
 prohibition. I shall not enter into any 
 detail of what Miss Brightwen said to her 
 agitated pupil, suffice that she told her 
 Captain Fortescue would despise a weak, 
 love-sick girl, as such ill-restrained emotion 
 would soon discover her to be ; and seeing 
 that consideration seemed to have but 
 little effect, she added, that it would be 
 
113 
 
 an ill return for all her years of love to 
 her, if she should now have to blush for 
 her pupil, and have it said of her, that she 
 had so fatally neglected her duty, as not 
 to have taught her even decent self-com- 
 mand. 
 
 * That shall never be ; you shall never 
 have to blush for me, Miss Brightwen," 
 cried Julia, making a great «ffort to be 
 calm, and I am ready to accompany you 
 back to the dinner room !" 
 
 " When they returned, they found 
 Captain Fortescue made, against his will, 
 the hero of his own tale ; but he politely 
 broke off his relation on the entrance of 
 the strangers, to whom Lady Helena pre- 
 sented him immediately, and whom he 
 seemed to look at as if he had never seen 
 them before, which, as Julia afterwards 
 remarked to Miss Brightwen, was very 
 strange : " It was not likely," said she, 
 " that he should know me again in my 
 beautiful dress, but that he should forget 
 you is surprising." 
 
120 
 
 Captain Fortescue's account of his 
 morning's exploit, though told with mo- 
 desty and simplicity, could not fail to do 
 credit to his humanity, and to deepen the 
 impression which that humanity, when 
 exercised towards herself, had made in the 
 young heart of Julia; but Sophia listened 
 with anxiety to a tale which would not 
 otherwise have interested her, only because 
 she feared for its effect on the peace of 
 her pupil, especially as the reciter was a 
 man in the prime of life, of a noble, pre- 
 possessing countenance, and a fine manly 
 figure ; not that these requisites were ne- 
 cessary to charm her devoted pupil. The 
 man who had saved her life was the 
 man who had captivated her fancy, and 
 had he been little indebted to nature for 
 the gift of personal beauty, her imagina- 
 tion would have bestowed it on him ; nor 
 were Sophia's fears lessened when she saw 
 Julia unconscious that there was any one 
 present beside himself— hanging with fixed 
 attention on every word he uttered, while 
 
121 
 
 he, she also observed, scarcely regarded her 
 in return, or seemed to think that more was 
 required of him towards the new guests 
 than a " will you do me the honor to drink 
 wine with me," addressed to each in her 
 turn ; but if her brother was unconscious 
 of the deep interest which Julia not only 
 felt in him, but betrayed, Lady Helena 
 was not so unobservant, and as soon as 
 the ladies retired, she took Sophia and 
 Julia into her own room, and desired to 
 know of the latter whether she was really 
 given to love at first sight, and whether 
 her heroic brother had displaced the hand- 
 some gardener in her heart. 
 
 " Oh ! but — " replied Julia, blushing 
 and stammering to the extremest degree 
 of embarrassment — " oh, but he — he saved 
 my life!" 
 
 " Pshaw, pshaw my dear, the boy's life 
 you mean." 
 
 * No, no ; my life, my own life." 
 
 " Who ! my brother, Captain For- 
 tescue ?" 
 
 VOL. I. g 
 
122 
 
 " Yes, indeed it is very true," said 
 Sophia. 
 
 " Oh, you sly ones !" replied the 
 delighted Lady Helena, catching Julia in 
 her arms ; '* and then, to meet as if you had 
 never met before ! And so Julia is a rogue, 
 and Marcus a rogue ; and I am so happy !" 
 
 » What for?" 
 
 « Oh, that is my secret :— but come tell 
 me all about it, for I am dying with 
 curiosity." 
 
 Miss Brightwen, then, at Julia's re- 
 quest, related the danger and the escape ; 
 the latter of which was wholly owing, she 
 believed, to the generous fearlessness of 
 Captain Fortescue ; which generous fear- 
 lessness he would have shewn, and exer- 
 cised, said Lady Helena, to save the life of 
 anyone— therefore, ladies, you do not owe 
 him any marvellous obligation, for it is 
 evident he did not know whether you were 
 pretty or not. 
 
 « No obligation !" cried Julia, indig- 
 nantly. 
 
 " No marvellous one were my words— 
 but come tell me a little more." 
 
123 
 
 Sophia now informed her of Julia's 
 disregarding her intreaties to ensure her 
 own safety, while her deliverer was in 
 danger : and no sooner did Lady Helena 
 hear this, than she clapped her hands 
 and pirouetted round the room in her usual 
 maimer, when she was excessively pleased, 
 and exclaiming, "Well done ! my generous, 
 grateful girl ; why Julia your are quite as 
 heroic as Marcus in your way, and I 
 promise you he shall know of this." 
 
 " Oh, no ! do not tell him, pray do 
 not." 
 
 " Be quiet, my dear, you are a little 
 fool, and I must insist on being allowed to 
 ask Marcus what I please, and tell him 
 what I please ; Marcus, the woman-hater, 
 I call him." 
 
 " What !" cried Julia, turning pale : 
 on which Lady Helena gave Julia a full 
 account of her brother's unfortunate and 
 ill-placed attachment. 
 
 Marcus Fortescue, when very young, 
 had been thrown in the way of a very 
 handsome and still more seducing woman, 
 
124 
 
 rather older than himself, who had spent 
 her fortune, and whose extravagant propen- 
 sities made a rich marriage almost indis- 
 pensible to her : — but the rank of Captain 
 Fortescue had even more attraction for her 
 ambition than wealth had for her necessi- 
 ties ; she, therefore, forgot her debts and 
 her embarrassments, when he had drawn 
 from his parents a reluctant consent to the 
 union, and an early day was fixed for its 
 taking place; — but the lover was ordered 
 unexpectedly to join his ship, and the lady, 
 during his absence, was seen and admired 
 by an elderly gentleman of very large for- 
 tune. At this moment her creditors, be- 
 lieving her marriage with Mr. Fortescue 
 was at an end, became unexpectedly cla- 
 morous ; and as her heart was not con- 
 cerned in her engagements to him, she 
 eagerly caught at the first overture which 
 her new admirer made her, and before her 
 lover returned she was become the bride 
 of Mr. Tyrawley ! But so artfully did she 
 word her letter to the half-distracted 
 Marcus ; so pathetically did she paint her 
 
125 
 
 agony on finding the extent of her debts — 
 debts, shej said, incurred for a brother 
 who had died a beggar, and her consequent 
 resolve, never to burthen him with her em- 
 barrassments, a proceeding which love and 
 honor equally, forbade That Fortescue 
 was not only her victim but her dupe, 
 and while, as a man of principle and 
 feeling, he resolved never, if possible, 
 to see her again, he fancied her as 
 wretched as himself; and though he con- 
 demned the step which she had taken, he 
 was convinced that she was deserving of 
 pity, rather than of censure; still there 
 were moments when he thought that if she 
 had really loved him, she would have gone 
 to prison, rather than have married ano- 
 ther man ; and, in these periods of misery, 
 he forswore the sex, and appeared as his 
 sister had described him — a woman-hater ! 
 but, then, at other times his heart melted 
 into tenderness at the idea of his self- 
 devoted Lucy, and he resolved never to 
 marry, not from hatred of the sex, but 
 from fidelity to her. 
 
126 
 
 Mrs. Tyrawley, meanwhile, was enjoy- 
 ing all the happiness which wealth and 
 luxury could bestow, but all she had of 
 heart was suffering severely — for that all 
 was given to one on whom, in early youth, 
 she had lavished whatever she could com- 
 mand of money, and for whom she had 
 also injured her reputation ; one, too, who 
 repaid her often with coldness and neglect, 
 and, who, not unfrequently made her ex- 
 perience the miseries of jealousy. During 
 her engagement to Fortescue, and at the 
 time of her marriage, this man was living 
 abroad with another woman, and vindictive 
 resentment had added weight to the 
 motives which prompted the two mar- 
 riages. Now he was returned, but not to 
 her, for he pretended to resent her infide- 
 lity, though he had publicly avowed his 
 own, and that bosom which abroad was 
 sparkling with diamonds, that made her 
 the envy of her sex, was torn at home with 
 the misery of faithful but unrequited pas- 
 sion ; and the injuries of Captain Fortescue 
 were amply revenged. 
 
1S7 
 
 It was the still remaining influence of 
 this dangerous woman that Lady Helena 
 wished to counteract, by the presence and 
 power of Julia; but it was only too evi- 
 dent that her brother had not only beheld 
 Miss Villeroy without even a consciousness 
 that she was beautiful, and a wish to look 
 again at her, but that, though he had seen 
 her under interesting and remarkable cir- 
 cumstances, she had not made the slightest 
 impression on Tiis memory. But when 
 Lady Helena heard of the moral beauty 
 which Julia had displayed, her hopes re- 
 vived, for she knew, that though her bro- 
 ther might be blind to charms of person, 
 since the falsehood of his beautiful mis- 
 tress, he would not be equally insensible 
 to the charms of such a grateful and un- 
 conscious self-devotion as Julia had ex- 
 hibited. " He has evidently forgotten 
 your face, Julia," said she ; " but when 
 he hears what I shall tell him, Marcus 
 will not forget your heart; and he has 
 learned to know that a man can depend on 
 a woman's heart with more security than on 
 
128 
 
 her beauty: — so, courage! courage! and if 
 you cannot help liking Marcus, and I fear 
 that you have allowed yourself to think of 
 him too much and too long, I trust that, 
 though as yet you have no cause for hope* 
 you have also none to despair ; so look 
 as pretty as you can, and leave the rest 
 to me." 
 
 " Oh, dear Lady Helena ! how 
 ashamed I am that you should know of my 
 weakness." 
 
 " Never mind, if I did not know your 
 malady, child, how could I try to apply a 
 remedy to it ? — but let us now return to 
 the drawing-room. It may, however, be 
 as well for you, Julia, to follow Miss 
 Brightwen's excellent rule with you, and 
 never talk on this subject when it can be 
 avoided ; I cannot bear to encourage in 
 you an attachment which may be hopeless, 
 even though the object of it be my own 
 dear brother." 
 
 " God bless you!" cried Sophia, with 
 great feeling, and pleased at this impul- 
 sive tribute. 
 
129 
 
 Lady Helena pressed closely to her 
 side the arm she held, whispering, as they 
 entered the garden, where all the company 
 had assembled, * Now, then, I am sure I 
 
 have spoken right ; |is " Lady Helena 
 
 was become very anxious to learn her bro- 
 ther's opinion of Julia, and taking his arm 
 she led him aside to ask him if he was not 
 struck with her beauty ? 
 
 * I have scarcely looked at her," he 
 coldly replied, "but she seems very un- 
 formed — no manner." 
 
 " She is not mature enough for you, 
 I suppose," returned Lady Helena, rather 
 sarcastically. 
 
 " No, she is not," he abruptly answered, 
 and left her as abruptly. 
 
 So I have gained nothing by this ! 
 thought Lady Helena, regretting that she 
 had wounded her brother's feelings by her 
 evident allusion to Mrs. Tyrawley ; but it 
 was not long before she again gained pos- 
 session of his arm, and led him to a half- 
 circular building, where she had left Julia 
 and Miss Brierhtwen ; but she vainly tried 
 
 Gi 
 
130 
 
 to force him into conversation with her new 
 friends ; his manner was cold, absent, and 
 distant. At length Lady Helena ex- 
 claimed—" Marcus, I should like to know 
 how many civic wreaths you have deserved ; 
 how many lives do you think you have 
 saved ? " 
 
 " Only one that I know of." 
 " Are you sure of that? " 
 " I think so." 
 
 " Did you never save two beautiful 
 damsels from a mad dog, at a considerable 
 risk to yourself ? " 
 
 " I remember seizing a mad dog by the 
 neck once, just as he was about to spring, 
 as I thought, on a young girl ; but she 
 was not beautiful that I know of, but ra- 
 ther dowdy-looking, and the poor thing 
 was so terrified that she lost all presence 
 of mind, and would not follow the example 
 of her companion, and get over the gate, 
 though I could not tell how long I should 
 be able to hold the dog." 
 
 « So, then, you imputed her remaining 
 only to terror — did you?" 
 
131 
 
 " To be sure — to what else could I at- 
 tribute it?" 
 
 " Certainly not to its true cause, for 
 that was really so romantically generous 
 and heroic, that I laugh when I think 
 of it." 
 
 " Lady Helena !" said Julia, turning 
 now pale, and now red by turns. 
 
 " What is all this ?" said Captain For- 
 tescue, looking earnestly at the blushing 
 girl, " and how came you acquainted with 
 this adventure ? and how does it concern 
 Miss Villeroy ? she could not be the 
 dowdy-looking girl whom I saved V 
 
 " But indeed she was." 
 
 " Lady Helena, pray, pray do not — " 
 
 " Be quiet, I will tell him, and the 
 reason why she would not get over the 
 gate was, that she feared her deliverer was 
 in danger, and she awaited the event in 
 agonizing suspense, regardless of self-pre- 
 servation." 
 
 " Is it possible !" he exclaimed, " look- 
 ing at Julia with eyes whose expression, 
 had she seen it, would have amply repaid 
 
132 
 
 her for her painful confusion ; but poor 
 Julia could see nothing, and, leaning 
 her head on Miss Brightwen's shoulder, 
 she burst into tears. In a moment the 
 tone of Fortescue's feelings towards her 
 was altered. Why did she cry ? it was so 
 girlish ! such sickening sensibility ? and he 
 remembered, also, that she had been forced 
 to leave the room at dinner! yet, to be 
 sure, if it was true, that in consideration 
 of his danger she neglected to provide for 
 her own safety, she was a grateful-hearted 
 being, and he respected her for it ; — while 
 these thoughts were passing in his mind, 
 Lady Helena was privately scolding, and 
 Miss Bright wen soothing Julia ; the latter 
 then turned to him and said — 
 
 " I, as well as my pupil, Captain For- 
 tescue, have always hoped that chance 
 would, one day, enable us to return our 
 gallant deliverer thanks for our preserva- 
 tion ; or rather, could enable me to thank 
 him for saving my dear young friend : as 
 you may recollect, that, less disinterested 
 than she was,' I took your advice and 
 
133 
 
 climbed over the gate, vainly trying to 
 pull her after me." 
 
 " Yes, yes I do remember, and I com- 
 mended your wisdom ; but I think I now 
 see your fair companion as she then stood, 
 her hands clasped, and every feature con- 
 vulsed with agony ! " 
 
 As he spoke, he gazed earnestly at 
 the now-recovered Julia, who ventured to 
 raise her eyes to his — eyes which thanked 
 him, and regarded him with grateful emo- 
 tion in spite of herself. 
 
 " Miss Villeroy," said he, taking her 
 hand respectfully, " I little thought what 
 treasures I was preserving, when I invo- 
 luntarily seized that dangerous animal! — 
 but how could you be so rash as to remain 
 where you did ? " 
 
 " I could not help it," replied Julia ; 
 " I could not move, for the creature strug- 
 gled so violently, I expected every mo- 
 ment it would bite you." 
 
 " And what then, my dear," said Lady 
 Helena, " what would that have signified 
 to you, provided you were unbitten." 
 
134 
 
 " Lady Helena, for shame ! how can 
 you talk so unfeelingly ; if any harm had 
 happened to my preserver, I am sure 
 
 I " Here she turned away to hide the 
 
 tears that filled her eyes. 
 
 u Should never have been happy again, 
 I suppose." 
 
 u You see, Marcus, the dowdy-looking 
 girl has a heart." 
 
 •' Hush, hush Helena ! do not repeat 
 such a calumny against the youth and 
 beauty which I now behold ; what could 
 ail my eyes when they could see two such 
 objects as those now before me, without 
 committing the image of both of them to 
 memory immediately." 
 
 " I will tell you, Marcus, you did not 
 look at Miss Brightwen, and Julia was 
 then a dowdy-looking girl, as you describe 
 her ; but thanks to Repton and me — she 
 now is what you see her, and hearts, un- 
 touched as yet, may rue the saving of 
 that day. But come, let us in, Julia, the 
 dews are beginning to fall, and from that 
 
135 
 
 danger not even my gallant brother can 
 save you." 
 
 Captain Fortescue now offered an arm 
 to each of his new friends ; and his sister, 
 during their walk to the house, made num- 
 berless bounds, and as many pirouettes. 
 
 " But, Julia/' cried she, suddenly stop- 
 ping, " you have not yet expressed your 
 thanks to Marcus." 
 
 " She has looked them," he replied, 
 " and that look was all-sufficient ; besides, 
 I really feel that I only did what any man 
 would have done on such an occasion." 
 
 " Indeed !" observed Miss Brightwen, 
 " you are not just to yourself, for the 
 other men present ran away even faster 
 than I did ; Miss Villeroy was the only 
 hero besides yourself." 
 
 " Valiant little soul !" cried Lady 
 Helena, patting her on the shoulder. 
 
 " Well, well ! but I am a sailor, and a 
 man of war you know, and must be brave 
 whether I will or no ; and — " 
 
 Here a loud shriek from Lady Helena 
 interrupted them, she had nearly trodden 
 
136 
 
 on a frog, and, calling it odious reptile, 
 she shrunk from it with fearful abhor- 
 rence. 
 
 * Poor thing !" exclaimed Julia, taking 
 it up gently, and laying it into the nearest 
 flower-bed as she spoke, it might be trod- 
 den upon if it remained here." 
 
 " There Helena ! there is a lesson and 
 an example for you," said Captain For- 
 tescue. "Miss Villeroy, most men would 
 have done what you have thanked me for 
 doing, but few women would have had the 
 courage to act as you have done." 
 
 " Oh, yes Marcus, yes ! any girl that 
 had had the advantage of being Miss 
 Brightwen's pupil — for, see, I am sure by 
 the pride with which she is now looking at 
 Julia, that she taught her to conquer 
 natural antipathies and touch frogs, and 
 be sentimentally anxious to save the lives 
 of the horrid creatures." 
 
 " Is it not so, Miss Brightwen, for I 
 remember the time when Julia used to 
 scream even if a fly set up its bristle at 
 her." 
 
137 
 
 " Oh, yes ! and I used to run away from 
 a harmless beetle as if it had been a lion — 
 but Miss Brightwen convinced me of my 
 folly." * 
 
 " Folly ! thank you my dear for that 
 back-handed blow." 
 
 " Dear me, Lady Helena, I am sure I 
 did not mean — " 
 
 " No matter what you meant ; you, by 
 implication, said I was a fool— but I for- 
 give you, because I am generous enough 
 to like to see you shine at my expense, and 
 I own you have done so, and that I am a 
 fool to scream at sight of a frog." 
 
 " Well, Helena, and what is the next 
 step after seeing one's folly." 
 
 " To amend it, brother ; and if you 
 will solemnly promise to follow my exam- 
 ple, and give up all your follies, I will 
 begin the work of reformation directly, — 
 but, dear Miss Brightwen, I am a spoiled 
 child ; my grandmother loved me too well, 
 and therefore never taught me to subdue 
 my own will ; she meant well, and I loved 
 her very, very dearly." 
 
138 
 
 u Then prove your affection by not 
 blaming the unintended result of her's, 
 Helena/' replied her brother, while Julia 
 exclaimed — 
 
 " Oh, dear ! it is so very sweet to be 
 loved by a parent, that I wonder — do not 
 you Miss Brightwen — that any one can 
 think their parents can love them too 
 well ?" As she spoke her voice became 
 tremulous, and Fortescue again looked 
 kindly on her. 
 
 " I really believe, thought he, that 
 little girl has a heart, and that she does 
 not say and do prepossessing things from 
 artifice, and the wish to please." 
 
 Lady Helena meanwhile, though a 
 little hurt at her brother's reproof, and the 
 tone in which he had uttered it, was com- 
 forted by the look he gave her artless 
 friend, and observed, with a smile, " that she 
 wished her heart were as loving and grate- 
 ful as Julia's." 
 
 The greater part of that evening was 
 passed in a manner only too gratifying to 
 the feelings of Julia — for its chief amuse- 
 
139 
 
 ment was looking over the drawings of 
 Captain Fortescue, and hearing him sing 
 duets, or glees, with some amateur perfor- 
 mers who had joined the party ; but it was 
 with a beating heart, and glowing cheek, 
 that she over-heard Lady Helena tell her 
 brother that Miss Villeroy had a fine voice, 
 as she had been told, and an excellent 
 ear ; — also, an admirable eye for drawing, 
 and that she hoped, under his tuition, she 
 would learn both to draw and to sing 
 tolerably, till she was allowed proper 
 instruction. Impossible ! I can never sing 
 before him ! never shew him my draw- 
 ings! was the immediate conviction of 
 her mind — yet she was not sorry to hear 
 such praises of her powers, though she was 
 sure Captain Fortescue would be terribly 
 disappointed were she ever to exhibit 
 before him. Still, how she envied the 
 young lady who was so happy as to sing 
 duets with him, was it possible that such 
 happiness could ever be her's! never, 
 never ! 
 
 The next morning saw Julia risen 
 
140 
 
 almost with the lark to try and copy a 
 drawing of Captain Fortescue's, which 
 Lady Helena had lent her unknown to her 
 brother; and Miss Brightwen was astonished 
 to see how well she succeeded in her task. 
 " And this talent has been suffered to 
 remain uncultivated !" said Sophia to her- 
 self; — " but will not Julia lose in peace of 
 mind what she may gain in accomplish- 
 ments, if she became the pupil of the man 
 she already likes too well!" Yet how 
 could she help it ? impossible, without be- 
 traying the secret of her pupil, for she saw 
 that Lady Helena meant that her brother 
 should undertake to impart some of his 
 own accomplishments to Julia, and she 
 knew that Lady Helena was too much 
 used to have her own wishes fulfilled, to 
 submit to her representation, and be go- 
 verned by her opinion. She could not, 
 however, be easy without making known 
 her fears to Lady Helena on the subject; — 
 but that sanguine being declared that there 
 was room only for the hope, as men were 
 all fond of teaching — teaching being a 
 
141 
 
 mark of superiority— and that a dull eye 
 would have more chance of charming a 
 man's heart, when looking up imploringly 
 in his, full of conscious dependence, than 
 the brightest of eyes beaming with inde- 
 pendence and power. 
 
 " This is system, dear Lady Helena," 
 replied Sophia. 
 
 " It is truth also, dear Miss Brightwen, 
 and you must not forbid the poor Julia 
 from trying her only chance to get a heart 
 back, in dear exchange for her own: — for 
 her own is, I see, gone beyond reach." 
 
 " Do not say so ! I cannot bear to 
 think that the feelings of my pupil are 
 under such bad regulation: — no, I still 
 flatter myself that they can be made 
 obedient to her reason and her delicacy." 
 
 " Well, well ! perhaps so, — but if 
 Marcus can be brought to love her in 
 return, reason and delicacy may be at the 
 wedding, and give the bride joy with safe 
 consciences, you know." 
 
 " True ; if — " but opposition was vain. 
 The copy was seized by the scheming 
 
142 
 
 and delighted sister, and carried in triumph 
 to her brother, who owned Julia deserved 
 a master, and agreed to teach her some of 
 the rudiments of drawing; — but Julia 
 made little progress when he was with 
 her. Whether she copied what he drew, 
 or tried, under his tuition, to draw from 
 nature, for her lines were unassured, and 
 her touch faint ; but when alone her pro- 
 gress was surprizing ; her best effort was, 
 however, seen only by herself — namely, a 
 pencil sketch of her teacher's profile, which 
 might have satisfied the most accurate 
 eye, and was only too valuable to one of 
 the most affectionate of hearts. When 
 Lady Helena, after much solicitation, pre- 
 vailed on Julia to sing to her brother, 
 Captain Fortescue gave no encouragement 
 to her to proceed, as she really seemed to 
 have neither voice nor ear; and Lady 
 Helena herself believed that Sophia had 
 over-rated her pupil's musical powers from 
 ignorance and partiality : —but, one morn- 
 ing that Julia having seen the brother and 
 sister set off on along walk, repaired pri- 
 
143 
 
 vately to the music room, to turn over 
 the songs and glees which she had heard 
 Captain Fortescue sing, and was, from 
 ear, singing over all the words which 
 accorded best with her feelings. Lady 
 Helena and her brother returned unex- 
 pectedly, and as they drew near, they heard, 
 with surprize and delight, an unknown 
 but sweet and powerful voice breathing 
 forth, amongst other things, the plaintive 
 melody of that old glee — 
 
 Since first I saw thy face, I resolved 
 To honor and renown thee ! 
 
 If now I be disdained, I wish 
 
 My heart had never known thee ! * 
 
 They stopped to listen — the singer re- 
 peated the strain again and again, as if 
 feeling lingered over the sound as well as 
 taste ; while Lady Helena, with sparkling 
 eyes, whispered Marcus, " It must be 
 Julia ! it can be no one else !" 
 
 " Nonsense, Helena, no fear could have 
 obscured entirely such a voice and power 
 as that." 
 
144 
 
 Not fear alone, thought she, but timid 
 love might. 
 
 " Well, well ! listen still," she replied, 
 and Julia sung the song, which in their 
 presence she had vainly attempted. Lady- 
 Helena triumphed ! it was a song which she 
 had never heard or seen till Julia tried to 
 sing it, and now even her brother believed 
 that she was the invisible musician — but 
 invisible she was not long allowed to re- 
 main ; for, as soon as she had ended her 
 song, Lady Helena threw open the door, 
 and the note which Julia was just going to 
 sound, died away on her lips. 
 
 " So, you sly thing, you can sing I 
 find !" cried she, clasping Julia in her 
 arms. 
 
 " Yes ; there is no want of voice and 
 ear now," said Captain Fortescue, while 
 Julia exhibited such signs of confusion, and 
 such trembling emotion — emotion so far 
 beyond the apparent cause — that the plea- 
 sure this discovery of her talent gave him, 
 was quite lost in aversion to what he 
 thought her weak sensibility. Affected 
 
146 
 
 emotion, indeed, he thought it, and he could 
 only bring himself to join coldly in Lady 
 Helena's extravagant encomiums ; however 
 he did praise her, and poor Julia did not 
 feel the coldness of his manner, but told 
 Sophia when alone with her, how good 
 and condescending Captain Fortescue was 
 to give her such warm encouragement, and 
 say she had a fine voice. It was, however, 
 some time before she could put forth all 
 the powers of her voice in his presence, 
 but as soon as he was out of the room he 
 often heard her rich and powerful tones 
 following him as he went, and floating on 
 the air as he walked under the window. 
 
 This is very strange, thought he 
 at length — I never saw such timidity as 
 this before! The love of admiration, the 
 desire to please have usually given full 
 possession of their powers to all the wo- 
 men with whom I have hitherto associated, 
 but this beautiful girl seems to be a 
 stranger to the common excitements of her 
 sex. It is very strange, but may not eager 
 desire to please sometimes take away the 
 
 H 
 
146 
 
 power, and may not a conscious feeling 
 of — of Here Captain Fortescue sud- 
 denly paused in his meditation, for he was 
 really no coxcomb, and he found he was on 
 the very point of becoming so ; — he cer- 
 tainly observed Julia with more attention 
 from that moment, than he had ever done 
 before, and saw that, though her eye 
 never by any chance met his with a steady 
 gaze, it was fixed on him whenever he 
 seemed engaged in looking at any one 
 else." 
 
 " What can this mean," said he to 
 himself, " I am afraid — Pshaw!— yet, I 
 may as well not go on to sing with her so 
 much. The master we have procured for 
 her does very well. I shall not take the 
 pains I have done with her : but whether 
 from curiosity, or pity, or generosity, Cap- 
 tain Fortescue continued his lessons, and 
 Julia was at length able to enjoy that 
 envied pleasure of which she had once 
 despaired— that of singing duets with him ! 
 the present moment, however/still bounded 
 the thoughts and wishes of the artless 
 
147 
 
 girl. To be with her kind preserver, as 
 she liked to call him — to receive his instruc- 
 tions in singing and drawing, with fixed 
 attention— to beguile the time of his 
 absence by practising according to those 
 instructions, and looking forward with 
 eager expectation to the hour of re-union 
 with him, now formed the business and the 
 happiness of her life, and as she experienced 
 no jealous fear, because Captain Fortescue 
 payed more attention to her than he did to 
 any other woman, Julia Mas completely 
 contented with her situation, and all she 
 dreaded was change of any kind. 
 
 Lady Helena, meanwhile, was sanguine 
 in her hope that her brother was every 
 day becoming more and more entangled, 
 though unconsciously so, in the light charms 
 of Julia ; and Miss Brightwen was inclined 
 to think so too : both these interested ob- 
 servers were the more convinced that 
 Julia was becoming every day more and 
 more an object of interest to Captain For- 
 tescue, from the anxiety with which he 
 ften laboured to impress his sister, tha 
 
148 
 
 he never, never could love again ; and that 
 all he could now feel, even for the finest 
 and most accomplished woman in the 
 world, was admiration and brotherly affec- 
 tion. On these occasions his sister was too 
 wise to contradict him, though she was 
 forced to turn away from him, to hide the 
 arch smile which forced itself on her lip, 
 when she saw her brother's eyes, while his 
 lips uttered these assurances, involuntarily 
 watching the door for the expected en- 
 trance of Julia. 
 
 Nor were Lord and Lady Erpingham 
 uninterested spectators of what was pass- 
 ing ; it was one of the first wishes of their 
 hearts to see Captain Fortescue, whose 
 fortune was large, united to Julia ; and as 
 the earl had imparted to Sir George his 
 secret wishes on the subject, and had re- 
 ceived his assurances of a glad consent to 
 the union, they [felt themselves at liberty to 
 do all in their power to assist the progress 
 of the attachment ; and, in order to make 
 their son still more dependent for amuse- 
 ment on Julia and the family circle, they 
 
149 
 
 resolved to pass a few weeks at a retired 
 and beautiful cottage which the earl had 
 on the sea-shore, in the county of Sus- 
 sex. 
 
 Julia had never seen the sea, and Cap- 
 tain Fortescue derived a new and unex- 
 pected pleasure from watching her expres- 
 sive countenance, as the sound and the 
 sight of its ever rolling waters first pre- 
 sented themselves to her wondering eye 
 and ear. But not even nature, in this her 
 perilous magnificence, could long abstract 
 the attention of Julia from him who sat 
 beside her ; while she gazed, and turning 
 on him a look of apprehensive affection, 
 she involuntarily exclaimed — " And is this 
 what you call your home, Captain Fortes- 
 cue ? — Oh, dear, I almost wish I had not 
 seen it." 
 
 " Why so, Miss Villeroy ? " replied 
 Marcus, blushing, but gazing on her with 
 more than usual animation and pleasure. 
 
 " Aye ; why so Julia ? " said Lady He- 
 lena, with one of her arch looks. 
 
 The poor girl now felt that she had 
 said too much, and with excessive embar- 
 
150 
 
 rassment, she replied, " Oh, because — 
 because it is such an unsafe and such a 
 restless home." 
 
 " It the better suits a restless heart," 
 returned he, assuming his gravest and 
 coldest manner ; for there was an expres- 
 sion of triumph in the face of his sister, 
 who had, he saw, observed his countenance 
 while he looked at Julia ; and he leaned 
 over the side of the barouche, with so de- 
 jected an air that Julia uttered a deep and 
 involuntary sigh. 
 
 " Look, Julia, there is a ship in full 
 sail ! " cried Lady Helena, wishing to draw 
 Julia's tell-tale attention from her brother; 
 " there, that is just such a house as Mar- 
 cus lives in." 
 
 " Indeed 1 " she faintly replied, " and 
 can he sleep in such a dwelling, and on 
 such a restless place ?" 
 
 " Oh, the more restless the better, as 
 you heard him say just now ; but here we 
 are, Marcus, if you are not asleep, perhaps 
 you will condescend to hand us out." 
 
 The pavilion, as it was called," was well 
 deserving of the rapturous praises whic 
 
151 
 
 burst from the lips of Miss Brightwen and 
 Julia on entering it. The drawing-room 
 terminated in a large bay-window, which 
 commanded a fine view of the sea, and 
 seemed to project immediately over it, so 
 that, while that mass of waters rolled 
 bluely round on every side, it required no 
 great sketch of fancy for the residents in 
 it to imagine that they were in the cabin 
 of an East Indiaman, and on their voyage 
 to India. Even Lady Helena, used as she 
 was to the view, gazed on it with as much 
 delight as Miss Brightwen and Julia ; but 
 they soon missed the latter from their side* 
 for she had found dearer objects of contem- 
 plation — some sea-views, with M.Fortescue 
 del. upon them. 
 
 " Really, Julia," cried Lady Helena* 
 u I have no patience with your want of 
 taste; to be looking at those paltry works 
 of the creature, when the most stupendous 
 work of the Creator is in all its magnifi- 
 cence before you." 
 
 " Oh, but they are your — your brother's 
 drawings." 
 
152 
 
 " I know that, and — " here Captain 
 Fortescue's voice was heard at the door, 
 and Julia's intuitive delicacy led her in- 
 stantly from the drawings to the window. 
 
 ft Is not this a delightful view, ladies?" 
 cried Marcus, as he entered. 
 
 " O, yes !" said Julia. 
 
 " My brother said view, not views, Ju- 
 lia," said Lady Helena, smiling maliciously 
 as she whispered her remark : " I think 
 you are more qualified to give an opinion 
 of the latter than of the former." 
 
 "What is that?" enquired Captain 
 Fortescue. 
 
 " Nothing, sir," replied Miss Bright- 
 wen, alarmed for her pupil, and hastening 
 to her rescue." 
 
 " Nothing, but that Lady Helena, who 
 is, you know, rather tyrannical, insists on 
 every one's being as enthusiastic as herself 
 on every occasion; and she is reproaching 
 Miss Villeroy, because she does not feel as 
 rapturously as herself on the sight of the 
 ocean." 
 
 " Wretched calumniator! treacherous 
 
153 
 
 misrepresented " cried Lady Helena: " I 
 tyrannical! — am I tyrannical, Marcus?" 
 
 Sophia was satisfied ; she had taken 
 Lady Helena off Julia, and as that was all 
 she wanted, she cared not for her attacks 
 on herself; but the arrival and entrance of 
 Lord and Lady Erpingham suspended the 
 conversation, and Lady Helena forgot to 
 renew it. 
 
 The next day it was proposed that they 
 should all go on the sea in a boat which 
 was kept for such excursions ; and the 
 proposal was received with pleasure by 
 every one but Lady Helena, who, beckon- 
 ing Miss Brightwen into the garden, 
 exclaimed, with a look of alarm, " Oh, 
 that we had never come hither!" 
 
 "Why so?" 
 
 ** Because, suppose Julia should be ill 
 at sea?" 
 
 " What then, Lady Helena, she will 
 get well again, like other people." 
 
 " Yes ! but to be seen by my brother 
 in such a situation ; to run the risk of dis- 
 gusting him before she has made sure of 
 
 H5 
 
154 
 
 charming him. Ah, you may laugh, Miss 
 Brightwen, but I am a very bad sailor 
 myself, and no power on earth shall ever 
 tempt me to go in the same boat with — 
 I know who ! " 
 
 (i Indeed ! " cried Sophia, ceasing to 
 laugh at Lady Helena's ludicrous distress, 
 at the impulse of curiosity ; " so there is 
 an — I know who — I am so glad to hear it ; 
 who is this feared and favoured person?" 
 
 " You will laugh still more if I tell 
 you ; it is somebody whom I never saw." 
 
 " Amazing ! " 
 
 " It is the dearest friend of Marcus,and 
 a perfect paragon ; now, though I hate para- 
 gons, and always fancy them fat, unmean- 
 ing-looking beings, with cherub faces, and 
 wings behind^ their ears, I have an ides! 
 that I should admire this Lord Restormel. 
 But then, even such as you see me, Mar- 
 cus tells me that his friend is not at all 
 likely to admire me, because — Oh, sweet 
 Miss Brightwen, how I do love you for 
 that flattering look of incredulity! but, 
 indeed, Marcus means what he says ; 
 
155 
 
 Lord Restormel is very particular in his 
 ideas respecting women, and I am too ec- 
 centric, too independent, too daring to 
 please him." 
 
 " Then," replied Sophia, laughing, " I 
 should think that your best chance of 
 charming him would be in a boat ; for 
 what can make you appear more depend- 
 ent than sea-sickness, more timid -looking, 
 and more like other people." 
 
 u Disgusting dependence ! terrible ti- 
 midity ! contemptible common-place! — 
 No, no, when we do meet, I will have all 
 my powers of resistance about me; but, 
 in the meanwhile, do consider the interests 
 of this dear Julia. She must take her chance 
 — she must bear, if needs be, the common 
 lot ; and, see, there she is leaning on your 
 brother's arm, and looking so delighted at 
 the boat that is to carry Julia and her 
 fortunes, that I hope the elevation of her 
 feelings will elevate her beyond the reach 
 of physical sufferings." 
 
 " But if she should sympathise with 
 me?" 
 
156 
 
 " Is that likely, when her sympathy 
 with your brother must be so much 
 stronger?— we shall see, but never, never 
 shall any man I love, and whom I wish to 
 love me, see me any where but on terra 
 firma." 
 
 The boat now waited for Lady Helena 
 and Sophia, the former of whom nearly 
 lost her footing as she entered, it by 
 having her whole attention fixed on Julia, 
 in order to observe how she bore the sea- 
 saw motion which the roughness of the 
 waves had already occasioned ; but Julia 
 was all smiles and blushes of delight. 
 The sea was Captain Fortescue's home, 
 and she was there with him, the si- 
 tuation drew her nearer to him, she 
 thought; and never, never had she felt 
 so happy; certainly, she had never looked 
 so beautiful : and while Lady Helena was 
 pale and silent, from apprehension rather 
 than from indisposition, Julia's coun- 
 tenance beamed with a sort of trium- 
 phant satisfaction ; Captain Fortescue 
 declared she was so good a sailor, 
 
157 
 
 she should go with him on his next cruize 
 if she would honor him so far. 
 
 Here Sophia gave Lady Helena a 
 look, which said, see how unnecessary 
 your fears were, and unnecessary they con- 
 tinued to be, for even Lady Helena herself 
 returned to shore, without having expe- 
 rienced any sensation but that of pleasure ; 
 and Julia declared that she should like to 
 live on the sea as well as on land. 
 
 " Indeed !" said Lord Erpingham, 
 smiling, " then you were certainly made 
 for a sailor's wife, Miss Villeroy." 
 
 At these words his son, ever suspicious 
 of artifice in women, darted an enquiring 
 look at Julia, expecting to read in her face 
 that her admiration of the sea was a lure 
 thrown out to entangle him ; but Julia's 
 hopes had never yet gone such lengths, and, 
 with the utmost simplicity and unconcern, 
 she replied — " If I had been a man, my 
 lord, I should certainly have been a sailor, 
 I believe ; I hope we shall take another 
 sail to-morrow !" Marcus was satisfied 
 she was not laying a snare for him ; nay, 
 
158 
 
 he began to think her heart was not so 
 much his as he had fancied it to be, and 
 he felt mortified; for neither man nor 
 woman likes to give up the belief that 
 they possess the power which they had 
 appropriated to themselves, even when 
 that power was not dear to the heart, and 
 was only gratifying to the vanity. This 
 apprehension led Captain Fortescue in- 
 voluntarily to watch Julia's looks and 
 manners, with more interested observation 
 than they had ever before excited in him, 
 but the result was unfavourable to Julia's 
 interest ; the conscious conviction which 
 his earnest gaze and fixed attention occa- 
 sioned, her downcast eye, her embarrassed 
 manner, and her blushing cheek, set the 
 alarms of his vanity at rest ; he ceased to 
 be anxious concerning the prize which his 
 conscience told him he had never sought 
 to win, and for which, as he was sure of it 
 unsought, he, in a measure, felt compara- 
 tively little value ; still there was such 
 evident purity, such ingenuousness, and 
 such an absence of all artifice, in whatever 
 
159 
 
 Julia said, looked, or did, that, but for the 
 evident wishes of his family, which were 
 too openly manifested, Captain Fortescue's 
 moral taste would have led him to linger 
 affectionately by the side of Julia, and feel 
 no dearer pleasure than in assisting her to 
 draw, and in joining his voice to her in 
 the duets which he had taught her ; but 
 fear for her, and his conviction that he 
 could never love again, held him at a dis- 
 tance from her, and even Lady Helena, as 
 well as Julia, was too great a novice in 
 love, to know that a woman has be^un to 
 influence a man's heart in a very sure and 
 undoubted manner, when he feels himself 
 obliged to act counter to his inclination, 
 and wean himself at all from her society. 
 , Julia, therefore, wept on the shoulder of 
 Sophia, because Captain Fortescue was not 
 within as much as usual ; and Lady Helena 
 was quite in despair at finding that Mar- 
 cus was oftener in his boat than at the 
 piano-forte with Julia ; but, Sophia, more 
 skilled in developing the progress of the 
 affections, saw cause for hope where the 
 
160 
 
 • 
 
 others read only despair ; this conviction, 
 however, she thought it best to conceal in 
 her own bosom, as Julia's love wanted 
 not the fuel of hope to make it burn only 
 too brightly, and Lady Helena might, she 
 thought, in an unguarded moment, unveil 
 her brother's heart to himself too soon, 
 when convinced that aught was hidden 
 there. 
 
CHAP. VI. 
 
 Captain Fortescue's own ship, the Valiant, 
 now came round to that station, and Julia's 
 heart beat with joyful expectation when 
 he declared his intention of giving a dance 
 on board of it, if his sister would provide 
 the necessary number of ladies. Never 
 was desire obeyed with greater alacrity — 
 though Lady Erpingham, on the plea of 
 ill health, had declined visiting in the 
 neighbourhood, Lady Helena had re- 
 turned all the calls which had been made, 
 and her invitations to the ball were thank- 
 fully accepted. On the appointed day, 
 the cabin and deck of the Valiant were 
 thronged with beauty and fashion ; and 
 Julia, who had been much improved in 
 dancing quadrilles, by the brother and 
 sister, looked forward to the dance with 
 unmixed satisfaction. 
 
 Captain Fortescue began the ball with 
 
162 
 
 Miss Villeroy as his mother's guest ; but 
 he was careful not to engage her again, 
 lest the report that he was her lover should 
 be confirmed by his doing so ; but he 
 almost repented of his caution, when he 
 saw how closely the heart of Julia was 
 besieged by his second lieutenant, Lord 
 Clanross, who was in the prime of youth, 
 and so excessively handsome, both in face 
 and person, that while he sat beside Julia 
 on the deck, as the sea breeze sported in 
 their glossy curls, and deepened the colour 
 in their cheeks, Raphael might have drawn 
 them as Cupid by the side of Psyche : 
 while Julia's eye was downcast, her cheek 
 flushed, and her smile evidently that of 
 pleasure, as Captain Fortescue, with no 
 pleasing consciousness observed. " And 
 was he then deceived ? was Julia coquet- 
 tish like the rest of her sex ; and could this 
 beautiful, noble boy, in one hour annihilate 
 all his claims on her preference, and by 
 administering incense to her vanity and 
 her ambition, banish his image from her 
 heart ? could it be ? no— he would inter- 
 
163 
 
 rupt their long conversation, held too, as 
 it seemed to him, at an indecorous distance 
 from the rest of the company :" and he was 
 going towards them in order to ascertain 
 what effect his sudden appearance would 
 have on Julia, when Lady Helena, who, 
 with Miss Brightwen was watching with 
 evident pleasure the uneasy countenance 
 of her brother, as he beheld the happy 
 pair, now intercepted him on his way, 
 and seizing one of his arms, while she 
 desired Miss Brightwen to take the other 
 — " Whither were you going, Marcus ?" 
 cried she. 
 
 " Going ! I — what does it signify 
 whither I was going, as you have arrested 
 my steps." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I want you to answer ques- 
 tions ; Miss Brightwen is rather uneasy 
 at Lord Clanross's attentions to her pupih 
 and especially as she seems to receive them 
 with so much complacency ; tell us what 
 the beautiful boy's pretensions are ? would 
 it do do you think ? " 
 
164 
 
 ie Do ! really 1 — I never thought about 
 it." 
 
 * That's a fib, Marcus ; for I thought 
 you looked at them as anxiously as Miss 
 Brightwen did, and I feared — " 
 " Feared what, Helena ? " 
 " That you knew something against 
 the young peer, and were wishing to in- 
 terrupt so dangerous an intercourse." 
 
 " Not dangerous, but a little too 
 marked for a first interview — do not you 
 think so." 
 
 " I do, sir," said Miss Brightwen, " and 
 as you are of the same opinion, I shall go 
 and interrupt it." 
 
 " No, no ; pray do not interrupt so 
 much evident happiness, but give the noble 
 lover a fair chance." 
 
 " Lover, Helena ! and a fair chance ! 
 why, I thought — " 
 
 " Yes ; I know you think, but you 
 may be mistaken, and if Lord Clanross is 
 an amiable youth, and, as he is a real 
 lord, though, perhaps, a poor one, I see 
 no reason why — " 
 
J 65 
 
 " Miss Brightwen ! dear me ! how can 
 you be so officious ? see, Marcus, she is 
 leading Julia away ; but, oh, how bright 
 our little cousin's eyes look! and how 
 high her colour is ; whatever that Adonis 
 said, it was no doubt very delightful ! " 
 
 As Julia turned from Lord Clanross, 
 the thin scarf which she wore was blown 
 by the breeze against his mouth, and he 
 held it there, imprinting on it so fervent a 
 kiss ; and as he did so, Captain Fortescue, 
 as if thinking he presumed too much, 
 rather pettishly snatched it from him, and 
 gave the end to Julia, who blushed still 
 more at the second than the first action 
 for she feared that Marcus thought she 
 had encouraged the young peer to be so 
 familiar, and that she ought to have done 
 what he did, and looked as indignant ; 
 but Miss Brightwen did not look re- 
 provingly ; Lady Helena looked nothing 
 but delight, she would therefore have 
 been cheered again, had not Captain For- 
 tescue looked so grave, and, as she feared, 
 so stern. 
 
166 
 
 " What is all this, Marcus ? " said Lady 
 Helena, taking him on one side ; " why 
 do you so evidently disapprove the young 
 peer's gallantry to Miss Villeroy ? " 
 
 " I disapprove ! indeed you wrong me ; 
 but, surely, it was not quite decorous to 
 kiss her scarf ?" 
 
 " I see no harm in it, if he be a youth 
 of good character, and would make Julia 
 happy ; really, Marcus, you seem so very 
 slow in replying to what I say, that, I fear, 
 Lord Clanross is not what he ought to 
 be." 
 
 Captain Fortescue was, indeed, sur- 
 prised at his own unwillingness to reply, as 
 on all other occasions praises of the noble 
 boy were common and dear to his lips, but 
 no ungenerous feeling, however powerful, 
 could long hold dominion over him, and 
 he, at length, gravely replied, " Were 
 Clanross a few years older, Helena, he is 
 all I could desire for the husband of my 
 sister ; I leave you to judge, therefore, if 
 I can disapprove of him as the lover of 
 Miss Villeroy ?" 
 
167 
 
 " Then why did you look so sternly 
 and oddly just now ?" 
 
 " Because — because I was rather hurt 
 to see how like Julia is to the rest of her 
 sex — how easily caught by every new 
 flatterer." 
 
 " But who ever flattered the poor 
 child before ? not you, Marcus, I am sure ; 
 at least I never heard you." 
 
 " Why no — I never absolutely flattered 
 her, but — " 
 
 " Take care, Marcus, or I shall suspect 
 you are jealous." 
 
 " Jealous ! / jealous, Helena ! ab- 
 surd." 
 
 Here he suddenly shook off her arm 
 and joined Mr. Mansfeld, who was sport- 
 ing his airs and graces in the midst of a 
 laughing group on the deck. Lady Helena 
 immediately took the arm of Julia, and 
 looking archly in her face, hoped she was 
 satisfied with her last partner. 
 
 •* Oh, quite delighted ! he is so sen- 
 sible and agreeable !" 
 
 " And so handsome too !" 
 
168 
 
 " Is he ? " 
 
 " Hypocrite ! do you not know that 
 he is." 
 
 " No 5 indeed ; I only know that he 
 adores your brother." 
 
 " So so— all is explained, to my satis- 
 faction at least," said Lady Helena, smiling 
 at Miss Brightwen, " and so Lord Clan- 
 ross entertained you, not with your own 
 praises, but those of Marcus." 
 
 " To be sure, or he would not have 
 entertained me at all." 
 
 " Well ; and are you going to dance 
 with him again ? " 
 
 " Oh yes — the two next dances." 
 
 '.' No, no ; that would be too particular ! 
 Marcus would not approve that, nor my 
 mother neither ; you must dance two 
 dances with some one else, before he takes 
 you out again." 
 
 " Indeed'! then I would not dance 
 with him on any account ; but why should 
 Captain Fortescue disapprove ? is it very 
 improper ?" 
 
 " Why not, very— but I think you 
 
169 
 
 had better dance the two next with Mar- 
 cus." 
 
 " Oh, certainly, if he likes it ! " 
 • " I will ask him." 
 
 But though Captain Fortescue thought 
 Julia ought not to dance four dances to- 
 gether with any man, except he were an 
 accepted lover, he would not dance with 
 her himself, but preferred introducing 
 Mansfeldt to her, having undertaken to 
 settle the point with Lord Clanross. 
 
 Poor Julia was excessively mortified to 
 find that she must give up Lord Clanross 
 for Mansfeldt, and not for Captain For- 
 tescue, especially as she was too unsophisti- 
 cated, and too unversed in the obliquities 
 and caprices of fashion to relish the eccen- 
 tricities, or as she denominated it, the as- 
 surance and vulgar familiarity of Mr. 
 Mansfeldt ; but he was judged a proper 
 person to dance with her, by the man whose 
 will was her law, and she submitted to her 
 fate with as much cheerfulness as she 
 could assume ; she could not, however, 
 help assuring Lord Clanross of her inten- 
 
 VOL. i. i 
 
170 
 
 tion to dance the two next dances with 
 him, with a degree of eager pleasure and 
 interest, that deepened the gloom now ga- 
 thering on the brow of Captain Fortescue, 
 and he turned away, saying to himself, 
 yes, all women are alike; there is no stea- 
 diness of attachment in them! how de- 
 ceived I have been in this girl! — she 
 seemed to have a heart. Julia's eyes, 
 meanwhile, followed him with anxious con- 
 cern, for his manner towards her was cold, 
 and though she knew he was not other- 
 wise engaged, he had not thought fit to 
 dance with her ; but she was soon rouzed 
 from her melancholy reverie by the voice of 
 her partner — " Shall I call Fortescue back 
 Julia?" said he. 
 
 "Did you speak to me, sir?" she re- 
 plied ; confused at the question, and half 
 angry at the familiarity. 
 
 " Yes, to be sure ; is not your name 
 Julia — are not your eyes following Marcus, 
 as if you wished him to return?" 
 
 " No, indeed, sir ; I did not want him 
 to return, for the dance is going to begin." 
 
171 
 
 " For the dance is going to begin ! Oh, 
 then, if it were not going to begin, you 
 would want him, being unable to endure 
 the fatiguing company of Miles Mansfeldt 
 — bad taste that, fair Villeroy ! I dare say 
 you neither like deviled biscuit, nor olives." 
 
 " I never tasted either, sir." 
 
 " No, I dare say not — a plain boiled and 
 roast girl, 'pon honor! — poor thing! — but 
 you will have better taste in time. Now, 
 I dare say, you will prefer that every day 
 John Bull dish, Marcus Fortescue, to me 
 the desired of all men of fashion and taste, 
 to give a relish to their wine, and poig- 
 nancy to their entertainments." 
 
 " Indeed, I do, sir," cried Julia. 
 
 " Frank enough, that ; but, as I said 
 before, you will know better in time." 
 
 " Never, sir — dear me, why does not 
 the dance begin ?" 
 
 " And, oh, when will it end, say I ? 
 Upon my soul, Julia, I only dance 
 with you to please Marcus. As you like 
 plain speaking, you shall have it, my dear. 
 Girls are odious things, like spring chick- 
 
172 
 
 ens — no taste — want green pease and 
 plenty of pepper to get them down at all." 
 
 Julia could not help laughing at the 
 queerness and impudence of this speech, 
 nor at the affectation of the manner; on 
 which Mansfeldt conceitedly exclaimed — 
 " There, I knew I should catch you at last, 
 you will admire, me pretty face, beyond 
 any thing in the world in time ; and if you 
 behave well, perhaps I may make you the 
 fashion." 
 
 Here the quadrille began, and their 
 conversation was, to Julia's relief, sus- 
 pended, and her attention pleasantly en- 
 gaged by watching the dancing of her 
 partner, when not dancing herself. It p ar _ 
 took of the affected eccentricity of his cha- 
 racter, and was sometimes in the first stile 
 of excellence, and then so languid and so 
 lame, that Julia asked him if he was ill; 
 on which mimicking her voice and girlish 
 manner, he replied, " Only got a bone in 
 my leg ;" in a way that convulsed all who 
 heard him with laughter. 
 
 When the quadrille was ended, Mans- 
 
173 
 
 feldt led Julia to a seat apart, but she 
 preferred, she said, going to Miss Bright- 
 wen; consciousness and delicacy, however, 
 withheld her when she saw that Captain 
 Fortescue was sitting by her, and she re- 
 turned to the seat which Mansfeldt had 
 provided. 
 
 " Mutability! — thy name is woman!" 
 cried Mansfeldt, " but I want to talk to 
 that dark-eyed madona myself, so I shall 
 call her to us; what is her name ?" 
 
 u Bright wen." 
 
 " And what else ?" 
 
 " Sophia." 
 
 "Here, Sophia!" cried Mansfeldt, 
 beckoning as he spoke. 
 
 She saw the motion, but did not hear 
 the call, and obeyed it ; Captain Fortescue 
 conducting her. They found Julia with 
 an agitated manner, and a flushed cheek, 
 and overheard her say with no common 
 indignation, " You are welcome, sir, to 
 call me Julia, though I think it vulgar and 
 too familiar, sir, but I will allow no one to 
 take liberties with I-Iiss Brightwen : I 
 
174 
 
 never presumed to call her Sophia, or 
 Sophy, in my life, and no one shall treat 
 her with disrespect in my presence." 
 
 The girl has a heart then, thought 
 Captain Fortescue, looking on Julia with 
 eyes of approving kindness, while Sophia 
 took the seat next her, and asked what 
 was the subject of dispute? 
 
 Mansfeldt, meanwhile, was putting his 
 .hand, alternately, to either cheek. " She 
 slapped me on both cheeks, 'pon honor ! " 
 cried he. 
 
 " Slapped you, sir ! " 
 
 " Metaphorically, I mean, not literally. 
 Fair Amazon!— good bye! — can dance no 
 more with you, bright-eyed Thalestris ! " 
 
 " Fortescue, I pray tame your young 
 vixens for yourself in future, break in 
 your own fillies!" 
 
 " A word with you, Mr. Mansfeldt," 
 replied Captain Fortescue, with a flashing 
 eye, leading him away as he spoke; what 
 he said I know not, but in a short time 
 they returned arm in arm, much to the 
 relief of Miss Brightwen, who, though she 
 
175 
 
 did not impart her fears to Julia, had 
 apprehended an angry conversation be- 
 tween them; and Mansfeldt entreated 
 Julia to forgive all his faults of omission 
 and commission ; to excuse language which 
 he meant, he owned, to puzzle, but not 
 offend her, and to allow him to lead her to 
 the dance again. Julia was quite willing 
 to grant every request but the last; to do 
 that she peremptorily refused, though 
 Mansfeldt told her, an overt act of for- 
 giveness was necessary to prove to him 
 that he was forgiven ; but she persisted in 
 her refusal, and Miss Brightwen assured 
 him that, as he had informed Miss Ville- 
 roy, he danced with her only to please 
 Captain Fortescue, she was unwilling to 
 burthen that gentleman, unnecessarily, 
 with obligations. 
 
 From this decision, spoken with a 
 firmness and dignity of manner which 
 awed Mansfeldt in spite of himself, 
 he felt that there was no appeal ; and as 
 Fortescue's countenance shewed that he 
 approved what Miss Brightwen said, he 
 
176 
 
 bowed affectedly and retired, but whis- 
 pered to a gentleman near him, as he 
 passed, and loud enough to be heard, that 
 Sophy, the ABC teacher, was, he saw, 
 disposed to shake her ferule over him, and 
 that he had such a horror of governesses, 
 since he went to fhis first school, and was 
 forced to sit still, that he always ran 
 away from a pedagogue in petticoats. 
 
 " Who can this Mr. Mansfeldt be ?" 
 said Sophia to Lady Helena, on the very 
 first opportunity ; " and why is a man of 
 such offensive manners tolerated in the 
 circles in which I see him ?" 
 
 As my reader maj wish to ask the same 
 question, I will endeavour to answer it. 
 Miles Mansfeldt was the son of a lucky 
 father, a person who, by assisting to build 
 up the fortune of a man of notoriety in his 
 day, insured his own, — and having an office 
 of trust about the court, was able to give his 
 son a footing in high society, to which nei- 
 ther his birth, norhis]real merit entitled him, 
 and which his income on his father's death 
 was not sufficient to enable him to keep. 
 
177 
 
 But Mansfeldt had much shrewdness, 
 some talent, great observation, and a 
 thorough acquaintance with the weakness 
 and the wants of those amongst whom 
 the chances of life had thrown him ; — he 
 knew that, as the worn out, because ever 
 pampered, palate of the epicure requires 
 deviled biscuit and fried bones to provoke 
 it to fresh exertions,— so the worn out 
 sensibilities, and the indolent indifference 
 of idle men of fashion, requires the odd, 
 the uncommon, and the queer, to rouze 
 their torpid faculties into sufficient exer- 
 tion to enable them to lounge pleasantly 
 through the day, and that the man who can 
 make them laugh at his own expense, or 
 that of other people, is sure of becoming 
 to them a necessary of life, till he is sup- 
 planted by something newer, and more 
 cleverly absurd than himself — especially if 
 he can exite wonder in those who have 
 long ceased to wonder at any thing, and 
 who are ready to exclaim, that there is 
 nothing new under the sun ; and that all 
 is vanity and vexation of spirit. Mansfieldt 
 i 5 
 
178 
 
 therefore undertook not only to make 
 lords and ladies, and persons of fashion 
 laugh, but wonder also ; — wonder at his 
 queer similies, laugh at his ready applica- 
 tion of them, and still more at his excessive 
 impudences, and even ill-bred daring ; — 
 but as he usually contrived to let an exces- 
 sive respect for rank peep through the 
 familiarity with which he addressed it, and 
 gave himself the appearance of acting a 
 part, as if he was only making a buffoon 
 of himself to entertain those who were 
 nearly past the power of being enter- 
 tained, he became at length a privileged 
 person ; and as he danced well, dressed 
 well, wrote epigrams, drew caricatures, and 
 sang comic songs, and was an admirable 
 mimic, no party was complete without 
 Miles Mansfieldt, and his sayings were 
 retailed by the great, the beautiful, and 
 even by the intellectual — since what they 
 wanted in wit they made up in oddity. 
 However, at the time of which I am 
 writing, he was degenerating fast into vul- 
 gar familiarity, unredeemed by humour, 
 
179 
 and many besides Sophia Brightwen and 
 Julia, were beginning to ask, who can 
 this Mr. Mansfeldt be ? and why is he 
 here? 
 
 Lady Helena could only say that she 
 found Miles Mansfeldt in possession of a 
 certain sort of power, a sort of patent 
 place about fashion's court, which he had, 
 she concluded, purchased in some way or 
 other, with certain perquisites annexed to 
 it, namely, the liberty of dispensing with 
 the common forms of society, and giving, 
 and withholding names and titles as 
 caprice and impudence dictated ; — but 
 she supposed his would be like other un- 
 necessary offices, abolished by modern 
 reformers in the state of fashion— and she 
 thought it very evident that he had long 
 ceased to be on the civil list. To which 
 punning truth her auditors readily as- 
 sented : while Lady Helena was giving 
 this sketch of Mansfeldt, Lord Clanross 
 came to claim the hand of Julia, who 
 yielded it with such pleased alacrity, that 
 Fortescue, who, though at a distance, was 
 
180 
 
 looking at the group with fixed attention, 
 turned half-indignantly away — for though 
 the pride of man as yet forbade him to 
 own it to himself, he had had pleasure in 
 believing the heart of Julia was his, and 
 wounded as his own had been by the 
 falsehood of one woman, there had been 
 something healing and delightful to him in 
 the belief that he was loved with grateful 
 tenderness by another of the sex, and one 
 whose notice and regard would soon, he 
 knew, be eagerly sought for and greedily 
 coveted. That time was come, — Julia was 
 no sooner seen than she was admired and 
 courted, and his fancied hold on her affec- 
 tions seemed to him to have dwindled 
 entirely away. 
 
 " There," said he again, turning to 
 look at them in spite of himself. 
 
 " How she smiles on him while he 
 speaks to her ! and how delighted, how 
 animated she looks ! I wonder why Clan- 
 ross does not look equally happy !" but it 
 was evident that he did not, and when 
 Julia was called away from him by Sophia 
 
181 
 
 to go and speak to Lady Erpingham, Lord 
 Clanross approached him with folded arms, 
 with a countenance expressive of any thing 
 but satisfaction. 
 
 " What is the matter, Clanross ? " said 
 Captain Fortescue ; " has the smile of 
 youth and beauty a saddening, rather 
 than enlivening power ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir, when that smile is for 
 another, not for me." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " Is it possible, Captain Fortescue, that 
 you do not know ? Miss Villeroy smiles on 
 me only, because I talk to her of you, 
 and in your praise ; and this very moment, 
 when she left me, she said, ( Well, be sure 
 to recollect some more anecdotes of my 
 preserver, to tell me when 1 come back to 
 you.'" 
 
 Fortescue blushed — uttered a pooh! 
 pooh! — nonsense! it is all gratitude, I as- 
 sure you '. but he was ashamed to feel 
 what a weight was instantly removed from 
 his brow, and with what complacency he 
 looked around him, and especially on Lord 
 
182 
 
 Clanross; on Julia he did not dare to look, 
 lest his countenance should express too 
 strongly the revulsion which had taken 
 place in his feelings ; and he was glad to 
 find immediate occupation in obeying the 
 wishes of Lady Erpingham, who thought 
 the elegant cold collation which had been 
 prepared on board ship, had better be eaten 
 on shore, as a wind had sprung up, which 
 was likely to endanger the comfort of 
 many of the guests. Accordingly the 
 boats were gotten ready, the debarkation 
 began, and by the time the whole party 
 was landed at the pavilion, Captain For- 
 tescue was again master of his feelings and 
 his looks; during the rest of the day no- 
 thing occurred worthy of particular notice, 
 except that an accident which called forth 
 the fears of Julia for the life of Captain 
 Fortescue, was the means of gratifying 
 the feelings of the latter, and wounding 
 those of her young admirer, Lord Clan- 
 ross. A rash, unthinking boy took up a 
 gun, which he found lying on a bench in 
 the garden, with which a servant had been 
 
183 
 
 shooting sparrows, and aimed it at Marcus, 
 who was walking with Julia ; it went off 
 and the shot hit him in the face. Julia 
 seeing the blood flow, and terrified also at 
 the suddenness of the explosion, rent the 
 air with her cries, and looked at him with 
 such an agonized expression of tenderness, 
 that Miss Brightwen was very glad she 
 was beheld and heard by no other by- 
 stander than herself; and Lady Helena 
 was not less delighted to observe that For- 
 tescue assured the almost fainting girl that 
 he was only slightly hurt, in a voice and 
 manner almost as tender as the one to 
 which he replied. And when Lord 
 Clanross hastened to the spot with the 
 rest of the company, to enquire into the 
 result of the accident, he saw enough in 
 Julia's still, unsubdued terror, to overcloud 
 his brow, and destroy his enjoyment for 
 the rest of the evening. 
 
 " Poor youth!" said Sophia to Lady 
 Helena, when they retired for the night. 
 
 " Nay, nay, be not alarmed for him,'' 
 replied Lady Helena, " he will take no 
 
184 
 
 harm, I believe; he is young enough and 
 susceptible enough to fall in love with every 
 pretty girl whom he sees, and if she will 
 not have him another may, and the noble 
 Cupid will be happy at last; when he first 
 saw me, he was perce de milk dards, but I 
 was in a cold, haughty humour, and my 
 ice smothered his fire instantly ; but Julia's 
 deceitful smiles blew it up into aflame; 
 I really pitied him when he found out that 
 to her he shone only with reflected light." 
 
 " And, pray Lady Helena," said So- 
 phia, " with what light did that odd-look- 
 ing young man shine, who engrossed so 
 much of your attention during the day ? " 
 
 "Odd-looking only! — ugly you mean." 
 
 " Why, yes, ugly if you will allow me 
 to say so." 
 
 " But he is very agreeable ; that is, he 
 answered all my purposes, and gratified 
 all my feelings." 
 
 " Indeed! and who is this favoured 
 man?" 
 
 "A married man, my dear questioner." 
 
 " Surprizing ! then he too shines, I 
 
185 
 
 suspect, with that reflected light of which 
 you were talking." 
 
 " He does ; for he married Lord Res- 
 tormel's first cousin, and, during the 
 father's life, as it was a marriage against 
 the consent of parents, he and his wife 
 would nearly have starved but for Restor- 
 mel's generosity, and, in short, it did my 
 heart good to hear such traits of true no- 
 bleness of nature, and considerate delicacy, 
 as he told me of my brother's friend." 
 
 " And did it do your heart good only, 
 dear Lady Helena ?" 
 
 " Why, I do not exactly know; for I 
 own that I think too much of this man 
 already, as, should we meet, there is very 
 little chance of his liking me; still, still 
 we do meet, and my fate is determined ; 
 I have resolved to discourage all other 
 pretenders, though I am equally deter- 
 mined never to yield long to the miseries 
 of a hopeless passion ; for that, I trust, I 
 am too proud, and too strong-minded ; and, 
 unlike poor Julia, I shall never pine away 
 the victim of ill-requited tenderness." 
 
186 
 
 H And why do you think that Julia 
 would so yield, and so pine ? Is it pos- 
 sible that you do not see in her the most 
 decided candidate for this sort of self-de- 
 votion ? " 
 
 " What could save her if Marcus were 
 to marry another, or prove in any way 
 unworthy of her devoted attachment ?" 
 
 " Principle — while there is a hope of a 
 return, and there is no crime in loving her 
 preserver, for it was gratitude in her that 
 led to love ; she will persevere, and she 
 will suffer, perhaps, from the torments of 
 suspense and anxiety ; but, depend on it, 
 that girlish, unresisting as she seems, Julia's 
 piety and sense of right would enable her 
 to bear up against trials which might, 
 perhaps, prove too much for you." 
 
 " If so, how wisely must you have 
 formed her heart and mind, and how could 
 you bestow on her this counteracting 
 energy." 
 
 " Merely by making her a Christian, 
 a practical Christian, and teaching her the 
 duties of submission to her heavenly 
 
187 
 
 Parent : and the obedience to the will of a 
 nominal earthly one, to which she was 
 obliged, that necessarily submitted, will, in 
 little things, has been, believe me, an excel- 
 lent preparation to submission in great 
 things." 
 
 -■ Alas!" cried Lady Helena, her fine 
 eyes filling with tears, " if this prepara- 
 tion be necessary to enable one to bear 
 the probable trials of life, what will become 
 of me when the hour of trial comes ? " 
 
 " Only learn, dear young friend, to 
 distrust your own strength, and to cast 
 your own cares on him who is able to 
 carry you through all trial, and you need 
 not fear." 
 
 Lady Helena shook her head, as if dis- 
 trusting, or unable to apply to the remedy, 
 and retired to her chamber. The fort- 
 night that followed was one of great hap- 
 piness to Julia, and of pleasing expecta- 
 tion to her friends, for Fortescue rarely 
 left the pavilion, and he was now never 
 tired of correcting Julia's drawings, or of 
 teaching her new music ; and Lady Helena 
 
188 
 
 remarked in silence, that Marcus now was 
 more eager to teach Julia new duets than 
 new songs ; and that Moore's tenderest 
 words lost none of their tenderness when 
 uttered by either party. Lord Clanross, 
 meanwhile, visited daily at the pavilion, 
 and implicitly relying on Marcus's assur- 
 ances in former days, that he should never 
 marry, he buoyed himself up with the 
 hope, that his devoted attentions, and ar- 
 dent love would, in time, induce Julia 
 to transfer her affections from one who 
 could not return it, to one on whom it 
 would bestow happiness the most perfect ; 
 still there were moments when he believed 
 it impossible for Captain Fortescue to 
 resist the ill-concealed regard of such 
 a fascinating girl ; nor could he fail to 
 observe, that however unlike a lover his 
 friend seemed when Julia's attention was 
 wholly devoted to him, his manner as- 
 sumed all the restless and almost pettish 
 jealousy of one, whenever she seemed en- 
 grossed by his conversation, and disposed 
 to smile on his assiduities. If he be jea- 
 
189 
 
 lous of her, he can and does love, thought 
 he ; all my hopes are vain ; but self-love 
 has its jealousies as well as love, and so 
 like is the false to the true, that it is diffi- 
 cult to distinguish the one from the other. 
 But even at these moments of anxiety, 
 Lord Clanross shewed the truth of Lady 
 Helena's observations on him, for if she 
 smiled on him, and tried to share his at- 
 tentions with Julia, she could always suc- 
 ceed in her attempt ; and he said within 
 himself, had she smiled and talked thus 
 when I first saw her, she would have been 
 the choice of my heart ; and Lady Helena, 
 whenever she heard his deep sigh, and saw 
 his jealous glance at Julia and her brother, 
 could scarcely refrain from patting him on 
 the arm, and saying, never mind, you may 
 suffer for awhile, but the pang will soon 
 be over. Lord Clanross, however, no 
 doubt, thought differently ; as the lover 
 who believes he can never cease to love, is 
 ceasing to love already ; a circumstance 
 now took place which made him resolve to 
 bear his state of suspense no longer, but 
 
190 
 
 avow his passion to the object of it ; for, 
 by the death of a distant relation, he be- 
 came possessed of a considerable fortune, 
 and was able, therefore, to offer such set- 
 tlement to the heiress, as Sir George Vil- 
 leroy could not but approve ; still, how- 
 ever, he hesitated, because he was afraid 
 of a refusal, and because he fancied that 
 Captain Fortescue wore every day more 
 and more the air of a declared lover ; he 
 therefore resolved to write to him, as to 
 write was more easy than to speak on 
 such a subject, and request to know what 
 was his situation, or what were his inten- 
 tions with regard to Miss Villeroy : he did 
 so, and it was with more emotion than he 
 had imagined possible, that Fortescue re- 
 ceived and read this letter, he could easily 
 say what was his situation, but what were 
 his intentions with regard to Julia, it was 
 not so easy for him to declare ; however, 
 Lord Clanross did not require an imme- 
 diate answer, as he was gone to London 
 on law business, and he trusted that before 
 his return he should know his own mind ; 
 
191 
 
 but he could not fail to observe what 
 an effect this letter had on his feelings to- 
 wards Julia ; he was now certain that the 
 moment was arrived when his attentions 
 might be proved beyond dispute to have 
 interfered with her forming a proper and 
 desirable marriage, as it was evident that 
 while he remained near her, even though 
 not attentive to her himself, her heart was 
 too much prepossessed in his favour to allow 
 her to make another choice — what was he 
 then in honour and in justice to do ? was 
 he to absent himself immediately ? or was 
 he to conquer his own heart, and offer 
 himself to her acceptance ? But could he 
 do this ? was his attachment to another 
 woman sufficiently subdued ? While these 
 thoughts were passing in his mind, he 
 could not help regarding Julia with more 
 tenderness than ever, for he was either on 
 the point of making her his own, or of 
 surrendering her to the claims of another ; 
 if he did the former, he, spite of himself, 
 dwelt with delightful anticipation on the 
 pleasure of being beloved by so pure and 
 
192 
 
 devoted a heart ; and if he did the latter, 
 he shrunk with painful pity from inflicting 
 on her that misery which he had endured 
 himself, for he believed that for some time 
 at least Julia would be unhappy, though, 
 ultimately she might be happy with another 
 man, and rejoice that she had not married 
 the object of her first attachment. But 
 was it possible for him to resolve to afflict 
 so affectionate a heart, even for a short 
 period ? Fortescue thought not, as he hung 
 over her while she sung or drew, and saw 
 her modest yet expressive eyes raised 
 to his as if asking for that approbation of 
 her efforts which was the only reward she 
 sought or desired. At these moments 
 there was so much answering love in his 
 voice, look, and manner, that the 'whole 
 family, and even Miss Brightwen herself, 
 were convinced that in a very short time 
 they should be made happy by seeing Julia 
 the betrothed wife of Marcus ; and in spite 
 of her well principled caution, Sophia 
 could not help joining Lady Helena in con- 
 gratulating Julia on having at length 
 
193 
 
 gained the heart of the man who had long 
 been in possession of hers. Fortescue him- 
 self had retired to rest that night, believing 
 that his mind was made up, his fate deci- 
 ded, and his heart satisfied; he, therefore, 
 wrote as follows to Lord Clanross : — 
 
 " MY DEAR LORD, 
 
 " Ere this letter reaches you, I shall 
 have come forward as a candidate for the 
 love of Miss Villeroy ; with what success 
 I cannot presume to anticipate ; but in a 
 nature so grateful and so generous as her's, 
 it is very likely that the obligation which 
 she thinks she owes me, will influence her 
 to smile on my suit, in preference to that 
 of a younger and handsomer man. How- 
 ever, you shall know the result of my ap- 
 plication as soon as I know it myself. I 
 shall console myself for your disappoint- 
 ment, should it take place, dear Clanross, 
 by the hope that as you have not been 
 much with Miss Villeroy, your attach- 
 ment cannot be strong enough to cloud 
 over your brilliant prospects for any consi- 
 derable period. I, on the contrary, have 
 
 VOL. I. K 
 
194 
 
 had so many opportunities of witnessing 
 the excellence of her heart and character, 
 that I soon felt my aversion to marriage 
 insensibly fade away, and my heart re- 
 awaken to feelings, which I thought ex- 
 tinct in it for ever." 
 
 Here Fortescue laid down his pen, for 
 the image of his first love came over his 
 mind; but that of Julia Villeroy soon 
 replaced it, and he went to bed decided 
 and happy. 
 
 The next morning there was much less 
 conversation at the breakfast-table than 
 had ever been before, but never so much 
 conscious satisfaction. Julia, indeed, was 
 more full of blushes, and her eyes more 
 commonly downcast than ever, especially 
 when Fortescue, with pleased alacrity, 
 busied himself in rendering her those little 
 attentions by which love delights to shew 
 itself, and of which it is so delightful to 
 be the object of one moment; he had to 
 clasp her bracelet round her sleeve ; next, 
 to replace the scarf that had deserted her 
 shoulder; now, to pick up her handker- 
 
195 
 
 chief; in short, he had no eyes, no ears, 
 but for her and her wants ; and it was evi- 
 dent to the lookers on, that as soon as 
 breakfast was over, he would seek an op- 
 portunity to make a declaration of love, 
 and Julia's fate and his own be unequivo- 
 cally decided. 
 
 But who shall dare to calculate with 
 any certainty on the chances of futurity? 
 It is curious to observe how often events, 
 trivial both in reality and in appearance at 
 the time of their occurring, are sometimes 
 most important in their operation on the 
 fate of those concerned in them ; and how 
 often the unguarded utterer of a severe 
 and just reproof has had to rue, perhaps, 
 through life, the result of the enmity 
 which that reproof excited. 
 
 Julia Villeroy had entirely forgotten 
 that she had inflicted a wound on the self- 
 love of Miles Mansfeldt, and if she thought 
 of him, she did so with indifference, not 
 resentment; but he had not forgotten 
 -the wound his self-love had received, and 
 he remembered her with malignity and 
 
196 
 
 vindictiveness ; to him, therefore, the pros- 
 pect of her being doomed to pine in hope- 
 less love for his friend, Captain Fortescue, 
 was replete with mean satisfaction ; and 
 when he saw reason to believe that her 
 passion would be returned, he was filled 
 with mortification and inquietude ; but the 
 latter feeling had more causes than one. 
 Mansfeldt, in addition to other vices, had 
 the vice of gaming, and the greatest part 
 of his property had long ago been played 
 away ; he had, consequently, often been 
 in very distressed circumstances; as 
 though on the whole a lucky gamester, 
 there [were times when his luck entirely 
 deserted him. 
 
 At these times Captain Fortescue, who 
 gained considerable prize-money during 
 the war, had generously stepped forward 
 to assist a man whose pleasantries had 
 often enabled him to wear away many a 
 miserable hour, and never had Mansfeldt 
 applied to him for relief in vain. But if 
 he married Julia Villeroy, whose unsophis- 
 ticated taste he knew he was not likely 
 
197 
 
 to please, and whose influence over her 
 husband he believed would be unbounded, 
 he feared that he should no longer be an 
 ever- welcome visitor to Fortescue, and 
 that the hand and the heart once so open 
 to his tale of distress, would be closed 
 against him for ever. It was, therefore, 
 worth his while to try to prevent the 
 marriage, and he laid his plans accord- 
 ingly. 
 
 On their way from the continent, Mrs. Ty- 
 rawley and her husband landed at Brighton, 
 and thence proceeded to Bognor, whence 
 Mansfeldt, who was stayingthere, was in the 
 habit of bringing over parties, either by land 
 or by water, to see the pavilion, usually 
 coming at those hours when he knew the 
 earl and his family were likely to be taking 
 their morning drives or sail; but when 
 Mr. and Mrs. Tyrawley arrived, and the 
 latter expressed a strong desire to see a 
 spot which she had so often heard Captain 
 Fortescue praise, he expressed his readi- 
 ness to be her escort, but named as the 
 proper time for setting off, an hour, when 
 
198 
 
 Marcus, he knew, would be at home, and 
 could not fail to meet and to behold this 
 destroyer of his peace ; nor was the lady at 
 all averse to see Fortescue again; she was 
 desirous of proving whether he had really 
 broken her chain, as she had heard with a 
 contemptible, but very natural jealousy, 
 that her devoted and long faithful admirer 
 was on the point of marrying a young and 
 beautiful heiress, to whom he was said 
 to be most tenderly attached. 
 
 " This last part of the story/' said the 
 artful Mansfeldt to her, " I totally disbe- 
 lieve ; the man who has ever truly loved 
 you, Lucy, cannot, I am sure, love such 
 an insipid doll as Julia Villeroy ; and as I 
 know he will be very wretched if he mar- 
 ries her, I wish you would throw yourself 
 in his way, and should the now-smothered 
 flame burn out afresh, Fortescue will be 
 saved from destruction, and you will have 
 the satisfaction of being his preserver." 
 
 " That would be joy to me, indeed, as 
 I fear I used him very ill, poor fellow," was 
 the coquette's apt reply, and she prepared 
 
199 
 
 for the rencontre with the most impatient 
 alacrity. 
 
 " See, see Marcus ! there is a sailing- 
 boat making for the shore," cried Lady 
 Helena, u and full of ladies and gentlemen 
 too." 
 
 " So there is," he replied ; " and, if I 
 mistake not, Mansfeldt is on board : whom 
 is he bringing now, I wonder, and at this 
 hour ! for the horses are round. It is very 
 inconvenient, I was just going to drive Miss 
 Villeroy out in the pony chaise." 
 
 " Well ! surely, you need not wait to re- 
 ceive him, or his guests ; — away with you." 
 
 " Not so, Helena, he sees that I know 
 him, and I would not willingly run the 
 risk of hurting his feelings." The truth 
 was, that Fortescue knew Mansfeldt wanted 
 to borrow money of him, and he feared 
 that he would suppose he wished to avoid 
 him on that account. Accordingly, For- 
 tescue hastened to the shore to assist the 
 party to land, and he observed, with some 
 surprise, the well acted reluctance of 
 Mansfeldt to receive his assistance. 
 
200 
 
 " No, no, Fortescue, do not trouble 
 yourself; I was sure you would be out* 
 making love in the woods with your Phil- 
 lida, or I would not have come." 
 
 " How unfortunate! he added, in a 
 whisper, " but she would come — I could not 
 keep her away." 
 
 " She would come! — who would come 
 and what does all this mean ? " thought 
 Fortescue. 
 
 There was now only one lady to assist 
 from the boat, and she was closely veiled. 
 Mansfeldt pretended to press forward to 
 her assistance, but he took care to make a 
 false step, which, by forcing the boat on 
 one side, seemed to endanger the safety of 
 the lady, who eagerly stretched out her 
 hand to catch hold of Captain Fortescue ; 
 he as readily met her grasp, and assisted 
 her to land ; but, whether from carelessness, 
 emotion, or design, her foot slipped, and 
 to save herself from falling, she was forced 
 to encircle the neck of her supporter with 
 her arm. At this moment her veil dropped 
 off, and he beheld the woman whom he 
 
201 
 
 had so fatally adored— the woman, whom 
 he had resolved never to behold again ; and 
 whose allurements, and whose falsehood 
 he had hoped to forget in the possession of 
 innocence, tenderness, and beauty. But 
 there she stood, with eyes imploring 
 pardon ! eyes full of tears, of tenderness, 
 and irresistible power; her fine arm still 
 resting on him as if she was too much 
 agitated to stand without support ; and 
 all the witchery of her form and manner, 
 armed in all its dangerous power against 
 his peace, and him. 
 
 Fortescue tried to shake off her hold ; 
 he tried to avert his eyes from her, but it 
 was impossible. The days of his earliest 
 tenderness— the day of his youthful happi- 
 ness and fondest hopes stole over his recol- 
 lection ; she looked on him as she had 
 then looked ; her hand courted the grasp 
 of his as if it had never, never been given 
 to another ; and it was not till he remem- 
 bered that he held the wife of another 
 man, that he had power to turn away from 
 her with abhorrence, and uttering— cruel, 
 K5 
 
202 
 
 accursed chance! to rush from her pre- 
 sence, and seizing his servant's horse, to 
 ride far away from her and her destructive 
 fascinations. 
 
CHAP. VII. 
 
 The windows of the breakfast-room over- 
 looked the spot where this scene was pass- 
 ing, and at those windows stood the happy 
 group which Fortescue, impelled by kind- 
 ness, had left to go and meet Mansfeldt ; 
 but no one but Lady Helena knew Mrs. 
 Tyrawly personally, and turning very pale, 
 she clasped her hands together and ex- 
 claimed — " 'Tis she, 'tis she herself! and 
 Marcus will be again lost ! Look, look, 
 there he goes ! O, poor, poor Marcus." 
 
 " What can you mean ?" cried Lord 
 Erpingham, and whom did you see ?" 
 
 ** Who ! that woman, Mrs. Tyrawley." 
 
 " Impossible !" he returned. 
 
 " Who should presume to bring her 
 hither! you must be deceived, Helena," 
 said Lady Erpingham— no one could do so 
 improper a thing." 
 
 " Yes, Mansfeldt, for he dares do any 
 thinff." 
 
204 
 
 " Nay, nay Helena, you are too severe ; 
 and surely the lady herself was incapable 
 of so indelicate a proceeding." 
 
 " My dearest mother, do not irritate me 
 by saying any thing palliating of that 
 woman ! I tell you I saw her and — but 
 where are Julia and Miss Brightwen?" 
 They had retired to their own apartment 
 unperceived. 
 
 Sophia and Julia had both seen the ex- 
 pression of Fortescue's countenance as he 
 turned from the lady, who was leaning on 
 him, and rushed towards his horse ; and as 
 soon as she heard the name of Mrs. 
 Tyrawley, Miss Brightwen hurried her 
 almost insensible pupil away, — she felt 
 that the sorrows of ill-requited tenderness 
 were too sacred to be seen by the eyes of 
 any one ; and when she reached their apart- 
 ments she delicately offered to leave the 
 agonized girl alone;— but Julia felt her 
 presence a support, and being well aware 
 of the extent of her calamity, for how 
 could Captain Fortescue marry one woman 
 while his feelings were still so evidently 
 
205 
 
 under the dominion of another, she gave 
 way to an immoderate burst of sorrow, 
 upon the sympathizing and supporting 
 bosom of her friend,— but it was not long 
 before her well-regulated mind was able to 
 listen to the voice of consolation. Sophia 
 offered it thus — " What a mercy it is that 
 this meeting did not take place after you 
 were married, instead of before ! What an 
 escape have you not had !" 
 
 At first poor Julia was inclined to dis- 
 pute the truth of the observation, and to 
 believe , that if she had been his wife, her 
 devoted love would have so much won 
 upon his heart, that it would have been 
 proof against the power of this unworthy 
 woman : but Sophia tried to convince 
 her that she thought too highly of the 
 nature of the other sex, in attributing such 
 influence to the tenderness of a virtuous 
 wife, when put in competition with the 
 blandishments of a mistress whom the 
 husband had loved with all the ardour of a 
 first passion — and that Captain Fortescue 
 
206 
 
 having proved his own remaining weakness 
 to himself, could not now, as an honorable 
 man, become the husband of any woman. 
 Lady Helena,meanwhile, was impelled by 
 affectionate pity, but, withheld by delicacy 
 from seeking the afflicted Julia, especially 
 as she could not give satisfactory answer 
 to the qestions which Julia would naturally 
 put to her, " Whither is your poor brother 
 gone, and when will he come back ?" for 
 Captain Fortescue had said to his servant 
 as he mounted his horse, " I shall not be back 
 for some days." Still she could not help 
 going to Julia's apartment, and was on 
 the point of reaching it when the sight of 
 Mansfeldt, nodding and smirking at the hall 
 window, and about to knock at the door, 
 made her hurry back again ; and with a 
 countenance of indignant resentment she 
 returned to her mother and the earl. 
 
 " There is Mansfeldt at the door," said 
 she, " coming, as I suspect, to triumph in 
 the mischief he has done !" 
 
 " Nay, Helena, surely he could not do 
 
207 
 
 the mischief designedly, he is not a 
 fiend." 
 
 " My dearest mother, he might think 
 it only a good joke." 
 
 " Whatever he thought it, here he shall 
 not come. It was a liberty," cried Lord 
 Erpingham, " in Mansfeldt, or in any man, 
 to bring Mrs. Tyrawley hither, and self- 
 respect obliges me to resent it." 
 
 Here the earl entered the hall, followed 
 by Lady Helena, just as Mansfeldt was 
 admitted : spite of his habitual impudence 
 he was awed by the lofty carriage, and 
 cold dignity of the earl, as he shrunk 
 proudly from his offered hand ; nor could 
 his malignant, light grey eye, meet with 
 any steadiness the flashing eyes and 
 searching glance of Lady Helena, while a 
 smile of contempt played cordently on her 
 beautiful lip. 
 
 " My lord, I— I am sorry ; hoped to 
 
 find you all out, or I should not " was 
 
 all he could at first say. 
 
 Here Lord Erpingham interrupted him 
 with—" But as you find us all at-home, Mr. 
 
208 
 
 Mansfeldt, you and your party had better 
 re-embark with all possible expedition." 
 So saying he turned his back on him. 
 
 The countess, fearing her lord had 
 been too severe, now came forward, and 
 said, * Mr. Mansfeldt, my lord and I do 
 not suppose you meant to do harm by 
 coming so accompanied." 
 
 " Me, countess ! oh, dear no, 'pon my 
 honor, no— and sweet Helena, I — " 
 
 " Lady Helena Fortescue is my name, 
 sir," she replied, rT and I am Helena to 
 those only whom I respect and esteem." 
 
 f In attitudes, I protest," cried 
 Mansfeldt, " but I assert my entire inno- 
 cence of any design to — " 
 
 " Sir," cried Lord Erpingham, " had I 
 believed that you did not so come hither, 
 I would not have condescended to hold 
 with you, even this short colloquy. Good 
 morning. Drummond open the door for 
 Mr. Mansfeldt." 
 
 " My lady, the Right Honorable Lady 
 Helena Fortescue, one word with you," 
 said the undaunted Mansfeldt. But 
 
209 
 
 regarding him, with a look of such 
 indignant contempt, that even he was 
 confounded by it, she waved him from her 
 with a haughty and scornful air, and fol- 
 lowed her proudly bowing father, and her 
 kindly curtsying mother into the drawing- 
 room. And Mansfeldt was forced to leave 
 the house unheard. 
 
 " Helena," said the earl, who began 
 to think his daughter's suspicions of Mans- 
 feldt just — " Helena, I shall give orders 
 that in future I am never at-home to Mr. 
 Mansfeldt." 
 
 " Poor man," said Lady Erpingham— 
 " but if he should be innocent of any 
 design!" 
 
 u Why even then his want of feeling 
 in intruding himself on us at such a 
 moment, and his impertinence to Helena, 
 ought to be resented, and I wonder that I 
 have even been prevailed upon to bear 
 with him so long." 
 
 " Poor man — but as — " 
 
 " Lady Erpingham say no more ! there 
 
210 
 
 are times and seasons when indulgence 
 degenerates into weakness, and this would 
 be one of them." 
 
 The benevolent pleader unable to resist 
 the words of her husband, and the looks of 
 her daughter, obeyed and was silent. 
 
 " Now I will go to dear Julia," said 
 Lady Helena. 
 
 " Aye, do my dear, and tell her how 
 bitterly we feel our disappointment, and 
 that both your mother and myself long to 
 express to her our regrets, and how ten- 
 derly endeared she is to us by this trial in- 
 flicted on her." 
 
 " Oh, dear ! no papa ; you had better 
 take no notice to her whatever of what has 
 occurred when you meet. The subject 
 was always too delicate a one to discuss 
 with her, and now it is more sacred 
 still !" 
 
 " Well, I believe you are right ; yet 
 when I see this beloved girl, I shall scarcely 
 be able to refrain from tears." 
 
 " Indeed you must try, mamma ; but 
 
211 
 
 I must go, or she will wonder why I stay 
 away, though she may not wish to see 
 me." 
 
 Julia was beginning to wonder at not 
 seeing her, when Lady Helena knocked at 
 the door. It was opened by Julia herself, 
 and with a countenance so calm, so re- 
 signed, yet, at the same time, so sorrow- 
 ful, that Lady Helena was even more af- 
 fected then if she had found her in tears ; 
 and her own assumed composure utterly 
 forsook her. 
 
 " Oh, my poor infatuated brother ! " 
 she exclaimed, throwing herself on Julia's 
 neck ! " Miss Brightwen ! dear, dear friend, 
 do not, do not hate poor Marcus." 
 
 " Hate him," cried Julia, struggling 
 with her tears ; " who could ever hate 
 your brother ! not Miss Brightwen, I am 
 sure — no, nor any one : what has he done 
 to deserve hatred? —no, no, he deserves 
 pity, but not hate ; but where is he ?" 
 
 As Lady Helena expected, her answer 
 was by no means satisfactory, and fears 
 for Captain Fortescue wrung from poor 
 
212 
 
 Julia expressions of agony, and signs of 
 agitation which her sense of his own dis- 
 appointment had never occasioned. 
 
 u But, I dare say, he will write soon," 
 observed Lady Helena ; and Julia, whose 
 sweetness of nature made her ever willing 
 to receive comfort, was comforted by the 
 assurance. 
 
 " I hope — I trust," said Julia, " that my 
 dear aunt and uncle do not know, do not 
 suspect how very weak I have been ; for 
 you know it was very weak in me to be so 
 sure, so very sure that he loved me, and 
 my presumption is justly punished." 
 
 " Do not, dearest girl, blame yourself, 
 blame me, blame Lady Helena, for we fed 
 the hopes which you would not otherwise 
 have kept alive." 
 
 " True, very true, Miss Brightwen and 
 Julia was not presumptuous, nor was Mar- 
 cus to blame ; he thought himself cured, 
 and so did the cat in the fable fancy she 
 was really made a fine lady for life, till a 
 mouse ran across the room, and then she 
 could not help running after it ; — but, oh 
 
213 
 
 dear ! oh dear ! in this case Marcus was 
 the mouse, and the cat popped upon him 
 to destroy him; but, thank heaven! she 
 did not destroy him! he got away from 
 her, and, I trust, he will unhurt return." 
 
 <( Return ! " cried Julia, her eyes spark- 
 ling, in spite of her, at the idea. 
 
 " Return ! did you say," cried Sophia, 
 gravely, if there be any chance of that, 
 Lady Helena, Miss Villeroy and I must 
 go back to London directly, and I shall 
 write to Sir George to shew him the ne- 
 cessity of it." 
 
 " Why, you cannot think of doing so 
 unkind and officious a thing, Miss Bright- 
 wen ? " 
 
 " Say, rather, I must do my duty ; I 
 cannot allow Miss Villeroy to remain where 
 she will be daily in the presence of a man 
 whom she too fondly loves, and who has 
 shewn that he does not love her as she 
 deserves to be loved, fondly and exclu- 
 sively. — I cannot allow her to be so de- 
 graded as to wait here like a slave in a 
 harem, till your brother may think proper 
 
214 
 
 to throw the handkerchief to her ; and I 
 am sure she would not consent to such 
 degradation herself." 
 
 " No — no, certainly not ;" faltered out 
 Julia, pressing her closed hands against 
 her chest, as if conscious of dreadful op- 
 pression there : " Oh no, no, no ; but take 
 me away directly, if you think he will 
 return ! " 
 
 " Is this your real wish, Julia ! " said 
 Lady Helena haughtily, yet mournfully. 
 
 u . Oh yes, yes ! Lady Helena," cried 
 Sophia, Cf I should be mortified beyond 
 expression, if I have over-rated my pupil's 
 sense of delicacy and self-respect, but I 
 will put them to the trial, and I leave her 
 alone with you, and your influence." 
 
 She then left the room, and joined the 
 earl and countess on the lawn : she found 
 the latter very eager to go to Julia ; but 
 Sophia, like Lady Helena, earnestly wished 
 that, not even by any increased kindness 
 of manner, the mortified parents should 
 express their regret for their son's con- 
 duct, and their sense of its effects on her ; 
 
215 
 
 nor could they help owning, that Miss 
 Villeroy could no longer, with any pro- 
 priety, remain under the same roof with 
 Captain Fortescue. They then took their 
 drive as usual, and Julia did not see them 
 till they met at dinner ; but, such a dinner, 
 contrasted with that of the day before, 
 when all was cheerfulness, affection, and 
 hope ! Julia's only chance for composure, 
 was keeping her eyes turned away from 
 every one : for every eye unconsciously 
 watched her, and expressed such affec- 
 tionate sympathy and pity, that she could 
 scarcely maintain the calmness which self- 
 respect enjoined. Lady Helena, whose 
 feelings were not under such control, 
 could not endure her sense of the past and 
 the present, but was forced to leave the 
 table to indulge her feelings in private. 
 The next day passed heavily along, and 
 no letter from Captain Fortescue ! the 
 day after was also one of disappointment 
 and uncomfortableness ; but, on the fourth 
 day from his departure, Lord Clanross ar- 
 rived at the pavilion, bearing a letter from 
 
216 
 
 Marcus to his fasher ; Lady Helena turned 
 very pale when the earl gave her the 
 letter, as soon as he had read it, and said 
 he would attend Lord Clanross to his 
 study. The letter was as follows, and 
 dated, London: — 
 
 " A quelque chose malheur est bon." 
 " My dear father, I was wishing for an 
 excuse to leave England, when I received 
 a letter from our dear Augustus, to say 
 that he is at Paris, and not well there, 
 and, therefore, wishes me to go over to 
 him ; 1 shall consequently set off for Dover 
 to-night. I sent for Clanross as soon as I 
 arrived here, and shall make him the bearer 
 of this, begging you to smile upon the suit 
 which he will prefer to you, and to give 
 him every opportunity of ingratiating him- 1 
 self with the amiable object of his affec- 
 tions. I cannot give him higher praise 
 than to say, I think him worthy of the 
 hand and heart of Miss Villeroy ; I know 
 no other man who is. I will write to my 
 mother as soon as I reach Paris. 
 
 Your affectionate son, 
 
 M. F. 
 
217 
 
 " So then, mamma, Marcus, by these 
 hurried lines, formally renounces all inten- 
 tion of offering to Julia himself, and gives 
 her up to Lord Clanross ! but I am sure 
 she will not have him, let him be ever so 
 worthy. I cannot bear it, mamma ! I can't 
 indeed — Julia bears the disappointment 
 much better than I do." 
 
 " Then there is the better chance for 
 Lord Clanross, my dear." 
 
 " Do not say so ; do not say he has any 
 chance — but see, hither comes Miss Bright- 
 wen." 
 
 " I am told you have had news of 
 Captain Fortescue," said Sophia, " and — " 
 
 " Did Julia send you ? " 
 
 " I came of my own accord, but she 
 is anxiously expecting my return." 
 
 " There, do you read what he says, 
 but, I think, Julia must not ! — what say 
 you?" 
 
 Sophia could not peruse such an utter 
 
 downfal to all Julia's expectations without 
 
 the greatest and most painful emotion : 
 
 Marcus had not only given up all preten- 
 
 vol. i. l 
 
218 
 
 sions to Julia himself, but wished another 
 man to obtain her. 
 
 " Well ! Miss Brightwen — your an- 
 swer!" cried the impatient Lady Helena. 
 
 However trying to her feelings, she 
 replied, in a voice almost suffocated with 
 tears, " Miss Villeroy must be told the 
 whole truth, and I wish to shew her the 
 letter." 
 
 " Take it then ! I am glad you do not 
 insist on my applying the torture to her, 
 however salutary it may be," returned 
 Lady Helena, and Sophia disappeared with 
 the letter. 
 
 " Then all is over, indeed," cried Julia; 
 " he wishes me to accept Lord Clanross ! 
 this is too, too cruel ! Leave me, my dear 
 friend ; leave me alone a few minutes, 
 that I may endeavour to obtain strength 
 and fortitude where best they can be 
 found ; but tell them I cannot, will not 
 see Lord Clanross." 
 
 Sophia obeyed her ; and Lord Clanross, 
 after a positive assurance from Lord Er- 
 pingham that he would forward his pre- 
 
219 
 
 tensions to Julia by every means in his 
 power, left the pavilion, declaring he should 
 return the next day. As soon as he was 
 gone, Julia, ashamed of giving way to the 
 indulgence of an unreturned attachment, 
 left her apartment unsolicited, and ap- 
 peared the most cheerful of the party. 
 The earl and countess, indeed, and Lady 
 Helena also, were alarmed by Fortescue's 
 letter for the health of Lord Aston, as 
 well as distressed for the hopeless misery 
 of his brother ; and Lord Erpingham re- 
 solved to set off for Paris, if the next letter 
 declared that the latter was not better : 
 but the post of the next day brought a 
 letter from Lord Aston himself, which 
 dissipated their alarm ; and the day after, 
 one which produced an immediate change 
 in the plans of Julia. Sophia herself was 
 summoned away to nurse her married sister, 
 who, in the midst of her sickness, sorrow, 
 and indigence, had been deserted by her 
 husband ; and at all risks, therefore, and 
 all sacrifices to herself, she felt it to be 
 her duty to hasten to her immediately, 
 
220 
 
 and not to wait for permission to do so 
 from Sir George and Lady Villeroy ; but, 
 before she set off, a letter arrived from the 
 latter, desiring that both Julia and her 
 governess would return to London in- 
 stantly, as Sir George had been confined 
 to his room some time with a violent 
 attack of the gout, and desired to see his 
 daughter ; but they must, at Sir George's 
 particular desire, return by one of the 
 many stages to London which passed the 
 pavilion daily. I cannot attempt to de- 
 scribe the various feelings, none of which 
 were pleasurable ones, which were ex- 
 perienced by the party at the pavilion on 
 receiving this letter. Lady Helena's feel- 
 ings, however, were the most agreeable, 
 because she felt excessive indignation, and 
 when one feels that sensation with justice, 
 there is a degree of self-complacency mixed 
 with it which renders it satisfactory. Po- 
 sitive and peremptory, however, as the 
 summons was, Lord and Lady Erpingham 
 resolved not to obey it, as Miss Brightwen 
 could not accompany Julia, and it was 
 
221 
 
 impossible that she could go in a stage 
 coach alone ; nor, however properly at- 
 tended, could they endure the idea of her 
 travelling in a manner so improper for 
 her situation in life : Lady Erpingham, 
 therefore, wrote, as well as Sophia, to in- 
 form Lady Villeroy of Miss Brightwen's 
 enforced departure, and of her wish to 
 send Julia home in a post-chaise with her 
 own maid, when they reached Surrey, 
 whither they were then going ; and having 
 sent off this letter, Lord Erpingham gave 
 orders for their immediate removal. It 
 was with great pain that poor Sophia pre- 
 pared to leave her pupil, and that Julia 
 saw herself obliged to be separated from 
 her ; it was the more trying to Sophia, be- 
 cause she thought it likely that Lady Vil- 
 leroy would resent her departure so much 
 that she would never allow her to resume 
 her situation ; but she was a little cheered 
 by Lady Helena's assurances that she 
 would certainly let her come back, because 
 she could get no one to play governess to 
 an heiress at so low a price as she did, and 
 
222 
 
 could not liire a sempstress to do so much 
 work at so low a remuneration. To be 
 brief, Miss Brightwen set off for an ob- 
 scure town in Kent early in the morning, 
 and at noon her noble friends and their 
 guest were on their road to their seat in 
 Surrey ; but, before they left the pavilion, 
 Lord Clanross, contrary to the disinterested 
 advice of Lord Erpingham, declared his 
 love to Julia, and was instantly and de- 
 cidedly refused. But to return to Glou- 
 cester-place ; the first two months of Julia's 
 absence passed heavily with her father, 
 as he had begun to take pleasure in her 
 company, whenever indulged in it ; and, 
 as he had discovered that Miss Brightwen 
 was not the silent, stupid young woman 
 which he had been taught to believe her ; 
 but his conviction that Julia was happier 
 where she was, than she could ever be at 
 home, reconciled him to her absence, and 
 when he found there was a probability 
 that her visit to his friends, would lead to 
 her forming a desirable marriage, he ceased 
 to express even a wish for her presence. 
 
223 
 
 Lady Villeroy, meanwhile, was full of con- 
 flicting and opposite feelings on the same 
 subject; she rejoiced in the absence of 
 Julia and her governess, because both 
 were become objects of interest to Sir 
 George ; and she regretted it because she 
 missed their assistance in the labours of 
 the needle, nor could she contemplate the 
 probability of Julia's marriage without 
 jealousy and dislike : for, in the first place, 
 she knew that Sir George would, spite of 
 her opposition, bestow on her a dower wor- 
 thy of an heiress ; and, in the next, she could 
 not endure the idea of seeing such an insig- 
 nificant child as Julia take precedence of 
 her, and Lady Villeroy be forced to follow 
 into a room the Honourable Mrs. Fortescue. 
 But she was called from these painful con- 
 siderations to the performance of active 
 duties by the sick couch of her husband; and 
 Julia had been absent four months before 
 Sir George was able to leave his bed, and 
 was well enough even to desire her pre- 
 sence. But at the end of that time, as he 
 felt himself, in his own opinion, declining 
 
224 
 
 fast, and as the desired union was not likely 
 to take place, he thought he should be 
 justified in desiring her immediate return : 
 nor was Lady Villeroy herself averse to it 
 now as Julia would come back as she went — 
 subject to her controul, and not raised in 
 consequences of being the betrothed wife 
 of Captain Fortescue, into a rank and a 
 degree of consideration, which would 
 oblige her mother-in-law to grant her in- 
 dulgences that would force her to incur 
 unnecessary expense. But Lady Erping- 
 ham's letter, proposing that Julia should 
 travel post, as Miss Brightwen could not 
 be her travelling companion, filled her with 
 resentment, and she vented it on Sophia 
 exclaiming against her assurance in daring 
 to quit her post without leave, and de- 
 claring that if she could get any one to 
 come to her on equally low terms, she 
 should never return to Gloucester Place. 
 But she saw no means of avoiding the ex- 
 pensive journey proposed to her, when, 
 luckily the wife of a tenant of Sir George's 
 was, she found, coming to London, on such 
 
22.5 
 
 a day, from the neighbourhood of Laurel 
 Grove, and would pass the gate of the 
 lodge. To the care of this good woman 
 she resolved therefore to consign Julia, 
 and taking advantage of Sir George's sleep- 
 ing moments, she proposed the plan to 
 him when he was scarcely awake, and 
 when all he heard distinctly, was, that 
 Julia would by that means travel home 
 much faster than she could otherwise do. 
 This prospect, that of Julia's returning as 
 quick as possible, was so pleasant a one, 
 and he was so incapable of enquiring into 
 the how and the wherefore, that he eagerly 
 exclaimed, 
 
 " Oh, yes— let her come so, and the 
 sooner and the quicker the better." 
 
 " Then you approve my plan," re- 
 turned Lady Villeroy. 
 
 " To be sure ; there, there, — close the 
 curtains for pity's sake." 
 
 This was all Lady Villeroy wanted — 
 and she wrote accordingly, not without 
 considerable pleasure while she reflected 
 L 5 
 
226 
 
 that she was thus issuing what might be 
 considered as degrading orders to a girl, 
 whom she had recently expected would be 
 elevated above her, and rendered indepen- 
 dent of her further control by an ^honorable 
 marriage. But whatever were the feelings 
 with which this letter was written, it was 
 received with one feeling only, that of vio- 
 lent indignation by the family. Lady 
 Erpingham, indeed, in her mild and candid 
 manner, observed, that Julia would perhaps 
 be better protected on the road in the 
 coach, and safer in case of accidents than 
 if she had gone in a chaise with a maid- 
 servant only ; — but Lady Helena would 
 not listen to any excuse for so odious a 
 proceeding, and Julia, though feelings of 
 pride were unknown to her, felt her eyes 
 fill with tears at the consciousness that 
 Lady Villeroy, with the approbation of Sir 
 George, had proposed a plan for her 
 journey which was considered as a de- 
 grading one by her noble friends. 
 
 " Papa," cried Lady Helena, "do 
 
227 
 
 write and say that as Sir George is too 
 poor to do it, you will send Julia home in 
 a post-chaise, and pay all expenses. 
 
 " Dear Lady Helena, do not talk so !" 
 said Julia, " papa is not poor, nor is he 
 mean, and I am sure he would not suffer — 
 nay, it is all Lady Villeroy's doing — it is 
 indeed." 
 
 " Well done, orator Julia !" cried Lady 
 Helena, (i to one part of your argument 
 I agree — Sir George is not mean, and I 
 dare say he would not suffer my papa to 
 pay your expenses." 
 
 " Helena," said Lord Erpingham, an- 
 grily, " you might have spared your 
 friend's feelings this unnecessary shock. — I 
 will not wound Sir George's, by allowing 
 our dear Julia to disobey the orders given, 
 unless we can find a more suitable and as 
 cheap a conveyance. — If we did not ex- 
 pect company at the house to-day, which I 
 cannot leave, I would myself convey her 
 to town, but I can spare neither time> 
 carriage, nor horses." 
 
 " Oh, those tiresome Magnals ! so their 
 
228 
 
 precious presence is to prevent you from 
 paying the dues of love and proper protec- 
 tion to this dear girl, papa !" 
 
 " Tiresome Magnals ! for shame Helena, 
 they are very worthy people ! Worthy or 
 not, they are our guests, Lady Helena 
 Fortescue, and I must pay them proper 
 respect for my own sake if not for theirs.— 
 Miss Villeroy must, I am sorry to say, 
 return according to the plan which her 
 natural protectors have laid down for her, 
 and no doubt the person selected to take 
 care of her is respectable and trust-worthy. 
 All I can do with propriety, I will do ; — I 
 will send one of my men-servants with her 
 on the top of the coach ; — but it would not 
 be decorous in me to reprove Sir George 
 Villeroy for want of proper care of his 
 daughter — nor to affront him by measures 
 insinuating that those plans were influenced 
 by an undue regard to economy." 
 
 Lady Helena said no more, as she saw 
 that her father was determined ; but she 
 could not help, during the course of the 
 day, muttering, in his presence, expressions 
 
229 
 
 of hatred against mean maratres; and 
 when orders were given to have a place 
 taken in the coach for the next day, and 
 to desire it to stop at the lodge to take up 
 a young lady, Lady Helena begged that 
 it might be taken in the name of Miss 
 Julia Villeroy, daughter and sole heiress 
 of Sir George and Lady Julia Villeroy. 
 
 " I see no necessity for that, my dear 
 girl," coolly observed Lord Erpingham, as 
 if he did not understand the irony of her 
 words : " Julia is too wise not to wish to 
 preserve her incognitia, while in a situation 
 inferior to her pretensions, and has nothing 
 to do but meekly to obey her father's will." 
 " Her father's will ! my lord." 
 " I have said it, my lady, and your 
 ladyship strangely overrates the hardship 
 imposed. Our dear Julia is only seven- 
 teen, and looks much younger than she 
 is — has not been presented — is not known; 
 and in four hours she will be at home, 
 without any trouble or care. Many a 
 young lady better born than either Julia 
 or you has travelled, I doubt not, even 
 
230 
 
 without protection, on or in a stage- 
 coach before now, during the French revo- 
 lution." 
 
 " I triumph, papa, (my lord, I mean, 
 as I am your ladyship,) but you are forced 
 to have recourse to an extreme case to 
 justify this, and give, as an illustration, 
 some pennyless emigree — but, oh, there is 
 one marked difference ! the emigree had 
 escaped from tyranny, and Julia is return- 
 ing to it." 
 
 " Helena ! " exclaimed Lady Erping- 
 ham, while her father frowned a rebuke. 
 
 Lady Helena, however, would not, 
 could not recal her words; and, to escape 
 the lecture she had deserved, she dragged 
 the tearful Julia out of the room to take a 
 walk. 
 
 The next morning, though at an early 
 breakfast, Lady Helena still harped on 
 Julia's journey ; her manner of talking of 
 it was changed ; she wished she was going 
 with her, especially as her papa thought 
 it such a desirable conveyance for high- 
 born young ladies, and earnestly hoped 
 
231 
 
 that Julia would write a little book, called 
 a Young Lady's Adventures in a Stage- 
 Coach ; she then declared, she wished she 
 had such an opportunity of studying cha- 
 racters, and humbly begged to be allowed 
 to accompany her cousin Julia. 
 
 " By all means," cried the earl. " Take 
 physic, pomp! — expose thyself to feel 
 what passengers feel, and know thyself a 
 woman." 
 
 " Pomp is very much obliged to you, 
 papa, for the permission," replied Lady 
 Helena, smiling, " and assures you she 
 will not forget it; she is still more obliged 
 to you for allowing that she is a woman — 
 an admission which my poor eighteen years 
 never could draw from you before. But 
 hark! I hear a horn! and, alas! not the 
 post-horn bringing letters, but the coach- 
 horn to bear away dear Julia. I must go 
 and see whether she is ready." 
 
 Away she went, and full of tears herself, 
 returned with the weeping Julia. It was even 
 a parental leave, which her host and hostess 
 took of their departing guest; but she went 
 
232 
 
 to the coach attended by servants only, 
 as Lady Helena was forbidden to ac- 
 company her, that the rank of the passen- 
 ger might not be suspected. Lady Helena 
 had given particular charge to the servants 
 to ascertain the number of passengers in- 
 side and out, and what they looked like ; 
 and she heard that the person to whose 
 care Julia was consigned was respectable- 
 looking, and seemed very glad to see Miss 
 Villeroy, and that there was no other pas- 
 senger in the coach, but a man who seemed 
 fast asleep in the corner. 
 
 It was sometime before Julia could pre- 
 vail on herself to break from the mournful, 
 and even tearful reverie into which she 
 had fallen ; she could not help contrasting 
 the feelings with which she had left home, 
 with those to which she was returning to 
 it; — she was then full of all the hopes and 
 the untamed vivacity of early youth, but 
 now her prospects were blighted, her heart 
 wrung by the sorrow of an unrequited at- 
 tachment, and the vivacity of her time of life 
 had vanished with her hopes. The marked 
 
233 
 
 difference between her mode of travelling 
 never even occurred to her; she was too 
 wretched to give it a single thought, for 
 there is this advantage attending conscious 
 misery, that it renders one indifferent to 
 external circumstances ; and if Julia re- 
 membered where she was, it was with sa- 
 tisfaction, because she had been told that 
 she was in the quickest conveyance possi- 
 ble, and would be the sooner restored to 
 that beloved father, who was ill, and suf- 
 fering. 
 
 The presence and company of Miss 
 Brightwen she could not help regretting 
 with excessive bitterness ; but with the 
 image of Sophia, at length returned the 
 remembrance of her precepts, and her own 
 unrepining patience. She would be hurt 
 to see me thus, thought Julia; and soon 
 after the involuntary tears were dried, and 
 she was able to smile with her usual sweet- 
 ness on the well-meant efforts of her com- 
 panion to comfort and amuse her. The 
 passenger in the corner meanwhile slept 
 on. 
 
234 
 
 When the travellers had gone about 
 twelve or fifteen miles, a man's voice de- 
 sired them to stop, and asked whether 
 there was room inside? Julia looked out, 
 and while thinking that both the voice and 
 face were familiar to her, she saw that the 
 enquirer was a groom who often attended 
 Lady Helena; she did not speak to him, 
 but returned his respectful obeisance in 
 silence ; but she was on the point, how- 
 ever, of asking him if he was going to 
 London, as she saw him throwing a small 
 portmanteau to the driver, when her 
 speech was suspended by surprise, on be- 
 holding Lady Helena, dressed in her habit, 
 her whip in her hand, evidently heated by 
 the haste with which she had ridden, sud- 
 denly appearing at the end of a lane, 
 and desiring admittance into the coach, 
 motioning Julia, and her servant on the 
 coach-box to silence, by putting her finger 
 to her lip ; Julia obeyed, but it was even 
 with agitated delight that she saw her 
 friend opposite to her ; she eagerly asked 
 her, in a cautious whisper, how she got 
 
235 
 
 leave to come, and whither she was 
 going ? 
 
 " I did not ask for leave, I chose to 
 think it unnecessary, after what papa said 
 about pomp to-day,— and I am going to 
 London." 
 
 u To London — to us!" 
 
 " No, no, not uninvited : — I am going 
 to see my cousin, Mrs. Seybright, who will, 
 I know, be glad to receive me for a few 
 days, and I took this opportunity, being re- 
 solved to share your weal or woe, Julia, in 
 every situation of life, if possible. There, 
 there, silly girl, do not cry ; and now to 
 look about for adventures. Who is that 
 man in the corner, or rather what sort of 
 person is he ? " 
 
 "I cannot tell :— but how sorry and 
 angry my uncle and aunt will be when—" 
 
 "Hush! hush! they will forgive me, 
 I am sure, before we meet again, and I 
 will only be alive to the present moment 
 now ; besides, I wished to be incognita, and 
 you have, by your nonsense, betrayed me 
 to your friend." 
 
236 
 
 The good woman, Mrs. Spence, was 
 instantly beginning, with great respect, to 
 promise, that she would not betray her 
 
 lady when a frown from Lady Helena 
 
 stopped her, who pointed to the man in 
 the corner, and whispered Julia, " I really 
 believe that sleeping beauty has slumbered 
 on during all the noise my coming in 
 made ; but see, he is roused now, I hope 
 he will turn out amusing, or that we shall 
 take in other passengers." 
 
 Lady Helena was nearly right. The 
 man in the corner seemed to have slept 
 through all the bustle ; but now he rose 
 from his reclining posture, and cast a 
 scrutinizing glance around him. Lady 
 Helena regarded him with a look equally 
 observant ; she saw that he evidently 
 beheld Julia with admiration, but she was 
 not satisfied with the less approving and 
 bolder stare with which he regarded her; 
 she was, however, disappointed, when, 
 having satisfied his curiosity, he composed 
 himself to sleep again in the corner. 
 
 " I cannot bear this," whispered Lady 
 
237 
 Helena ; if he goes thus all the way to 
 town I shall have derived no fun from my 
 expedition." Accordingly, she began to 
 talk very loudly, and on various subjects ; 
 having desired Mrs. Spence, in a whisper 
 to call her Miss Brown, and the good wo- 
 man delighted to be made a party in the 
 secret of a noble lady, grinned compliance, 
 and thought Lady Helena the sweetest, 
 funniest, and most affable young lady in 
 the world. But vainly and variously did 
 Lady Helena talk, and Julia modestly 
 and softly replied. 
 
 The man in the corner appeared to 
 sleep on ; this was too much for the irrita- 
 ble and impatient Lady Helena. Accord- 
 ingly, with her usual rashness and indis- 
 cretion, having at first contented herself 
 with exercising her whip in playfulness on 
 Julia's and Mrs. Spence's petticoat ; she 
 slyly, and as if by chance let it fall, and 
 with no light stroke on the ancle of the 
 sleeper ; but she blushed and shrunk back, 
 full of too late regret and shame, when 
 he started up — a blush of surprise mantling 
 
238 
 
 on his cheek, and regarding her with a 
 frown of dignified reproof. In a moment, 
 however, his expression changed; an 
 arch smile dimpled the corner of his 
 mouth, which he turned away to conceal, 
 and to Lady Helena's humbly expressed 
 hope that she had not hurt him, and her 
 request for pardon, he good-naturedly 
 replied, " Never mind, I am not hurt, my 
 dear, and I dare say you did not mean to 
 hurt me." 
 
 The " my dear" smote rather harshly on 
 the feelings of Lady Helena, and threw 
 Julia so much off her guard that she 
 darted a look of angry surprise at the 
 speaker, but Lady Helena rebuked her 
 with a frown, and considering this famili- 
 arity as the beginning of an amusing 
 stage-coach incident, the grand object of 
 her present ambition, she smoothed down 
 the ruffled plumes of her pride, and pre- 
 pared herself for what was to come next. 
 
 The appearance of their fellow passen- 
 ger was certainly, hitherto, not much in 
 his favor ; his coat was faded and a good 
 
239 
 
 deal worn, and was cut quite short in the 
 skirts; a large great coat was thrown 
 across his knees, and he wore a coloured 
 silk handkerchief round his neck, which 
 came over his chin, and on his head was a 
 welch wig, that even extended to his eye- 
 brows, but the glance of his dark and 
 deep-set eye was so bright and intelligent, 
 so searching, and so sarcastic, that while 
 still sitting back he surveyed his compani- 
 ons. Lady Helena, proud as she was, and 
 conscious of her own consequence, felt 
 relieved when it was directed towards her 
 fellow-travellers. He then leaned back in 
 the corner again, and seemed to cover his 
 whole face with his pocket handkerchief, 
 but it was no such thing, for Lady Helena 
 soon discovered that he pulled it away from 
 his eyes, and that those eyes were fixed on 
 her ; nor could she bear their scrutiny, yet 
 why should she mind it. To be sure he was 
 nobody ; and as his portmanteau, or cloak 
 bag, stood up before him, Lady Helena 
 was convinced that he was nothing more 
 than a rider, who travelled the country for 
 
240 
 
 orders, like the son of her nurse-maid. 
 The stranger seemed as if he read her 
 thoughts, while she directed her eyes to 
 his cloak bag, for he suddenly stretched 
 himself in no respectful manner ; then 
 taking off his welch wig, as if resolved to 
 dismiss sleep for the rest of the journey, 
 he stroked down the rough luxuriance of 
 his glossy black hair, adjusted his neck 
 cloth, removed the coat from his well- 
 turned limbs, and with a smile, which 
 Lady Helena chose to think the true 
 smirk of a tradesman, took his luggage 
 on his lap, and asked the ladies if they 
 understood French silks, for he could show 
 them a fine specimen of them if they 
 wished to order any. 
 
 " Pray do not trouble yourself, sir," 
 said Julia, " I do not want any thing of 
 the sort." 
 
 " Nor I," cried Lady Helena, " but I 
 should like to see the goods nevertheless, 
 and may want some one day or other." 
 
 (( Yes, a white gros de Naples would 
 be a pretty wedding dress," observed the 
 
241 
 
 young man, leering up in her face, " and 
 you would look so pretty in it ! " 
 
 Julia again turned round and re- 
 garded him with indignation, while the 
 frown of offended dignity gathered on the 
 brow of Lady Helena ; however, she re- 
 collected where she was, and she took no 
 notice either of his allusion or his com- 
 pliment. The stranger now displayed the 
 pieces of silk ; there were only three of 
 them, one was of a pale blue, the other of 
 pink, and the third of white. 
 
 " There," said the young man, " there 
 are goods ! not but what I think we can 
 make as good in England now— but the 
 order was given me, so I was forced to 
 execute it : now tell me which do you like 
 best ?" 
 
 " The pink," said Lady Helena. 
 
 " Right, — it would suit your black 
 hair the best ; and this young lady would 
 look best in the blue," replied he, looking 
 at Julia with a sort of respectful inclina- 
 tion of the head. « This white one is for 
 my bride that is to be, when I can find 
 vol. 1. M 
 
242 
 
 one ;" and, looking up in Lady Helena's 
 face, with a very significant and presuming 
 stare, " who knows but she may not be 
 far off — chances and coaches have jumbled 
 many folks together, that would otherwise 
 never have met ! " 
 
 Lady Helena's eye shrunk from his 
 conceited and bold glance, but there was 
 something so ludicrous to her in the easy 
 impudence of the man's pretensions, and 
 her own situation, that she could not 
 retain her gravity : and her laughing 
 seemed the signal of general laughter, for 
 even Julia could not forbear ; and Mrs. 
 Spence, delighted with the consciousness 
 of being in the secret, and full of the bust- 
 ling importance which such a conscious- 
 ness gives, bestowed on Lady Helena an- 
 swering looks of great meaning ; and, 
 ending a sort of chucking laugh, with a 
 ' well, for my part,' and a glance at the 
 young tradesman, so fall of self-conse- 
 quence, that his mirth became the most 
 incontrollable of any, and it was with 
 difficulty that he composed himself suffi- 
 
243 
 
 ciently, as he gazed on the good woman, 
 to exclaim — " Well, good folks ! you seem 
 very merry at the idea of my espousal, 
 but I promise you, my merry madam, that 
 when I marry a certain person you shall 
 have a wedding favor." 
 
 " Very well, and be sure you do not 
 forget," cried Mrs. Spence, chuckling 
 again. 
 
 But Lady Helena now began to grow 
 as grave as Julia, and though pleased with 
 having a real stage-coach adventure, for 
 Mrs. Spence had whispered in her ear 
 that she would certainly have an offer 
 before she got to London, and that she 
 had made a conquest, she could not but 
 feel that it was not proper she should be 
 the subject of such conversation and such 
 jokes ; nor was her vanity gratified, while 
 her pride was wounded, for, in reality, 
 both were severely mortified, as she could 
 not but be conscious, that where there is 
 no respect there is no real admiration, and 
 that the stranger, when addressing Julia, 
 
244 
 
 was a different man to what he was when 
 addressing her ; that his manner was re- 
 spectful, his countenance modest, and that 
 he became, in appearance, at least, a well- 
 bred gentleman ; yet there was nothing in 
 Julia's manner, except its quietness, to 
 mark her rank and situation ; no conscious 
 dignity, no loftiness of carriage, and she 
 had both ; therefore, why was she to be 
 addressed with familiarity, degrading flat- 
 tery, and saucy glances, while Julia was 
 accosted with such marked and almost 
 graceful respect ? Lady Helena could not 
 answer this question with satisfaction to 
 her feelings, and she was provoked to find 
 that she envied Julia the gratifying, be- 
 cause respectful admiration which this 
 unknown man offered her ; while she was 
 lost in this painful reverie, Mrs. Spence 
 pointed out a fine mansion to their notice, 
 and mentioned some anecdotes relative to 
 its noble possessor, one of which was, that 
 she was so cruel to her daughter, and so 
 jealous of her, that she would not allow 
 
245 
 
 her to go out, though she was turned 
 eighteen, and kept her in the nursery 
 still. 
 
 " I dare say that is true," observed 
 Lady Helena, " for I remember to have 
 heard papa say that she was not presented 
 as she ought to have been at the last 
 drawing-room." 
 
 Here an audible though suppressed 
 laugh burst from the stranger, and Lady 
 Helena looked at him with frowning 
 amazement ; but, nothing daunted, he 
 gazed steadily at her in return, with a 
 sarcastic smile, and pointing to a fine 
 girl in the road, said, " I know, without 
 my papa's telling me, that that young 
 creature, though I dare say she is eighteen, 
 was not presented at the last drawing- 
 room." 
 
 " You are rude, sir," cried Julia, pro- 
 voked at this sneer at Lady Helena, who 
 did not even attempt to reply. 
 
 " If you say so, madam," the young 
 man answered with great deference and 
 gentleness, " I am sure that I am so, and 
 
246 
 
 I beg your friend's pardon ; well, I see," 
 he continued, resuming his familiar tone, 
 " that I shall not get an order here — so I 
 may as well put up my pieces, and not 
 shew my patterns." 
 
 " Oh no, shew us your patterns, I beg; 
 we should be very glad to serve you," said 
 Lady Helena, with a petit air de protec- 
 tion, which became her stile of features 
 and person, when she was in her right 
 place, but which certainly seemed ill- 
 timed where she was ; and the person whom 
 she addressed appeared to think so, for he 
 replied with an arch tone and look — 
 
 et Indeed ! aye, I see my fortune is 
 made now ; what think you, you comical 
 soul?" addressing Mrs. Spence, who, in 
 imitation of her superiors, now began to 
 draw herself up, and look proud. 
 
 " No more a comical soul than your- 
 self, sir ; my name is Spence." 
 
 " Thank you for your information, 
 Miss Spence ! " 
 
 " No, sir, — mistress." 
 
 " Married, then ! alas ! I have no hopes," 
 
247 
 
 and he turned an eye, bursting with 
 laughter, on Lady Helena, who, unable to 
 resist the contagion of his mirth, as she 
 saw Mrs. Spence's countenance beaming 
 with ill-suppressed pleasure at the com- 
 pliment, which she believed sincere, begged 
 that he would no longer delay to shew her 
 the patterns ; but he sought for them in 
 his trunk and his pockets in vain ; and 
 after expressing great distress at his loss, 
 he added, " but, as I have escaped with 
 life, all other losses are comparatively 
 nothing." 
 
 " Escaped with life ! " cried all his 
 companions at once. 
 
 " Do tell us all about it," said Mrs. 
 Spence. 
 
 " Yes, good folks," he replied, " you 
 see before you a man who was nearly 
 drowned only a few nights ago, through 
 his own impatient folly ; no packet was 
 going to sail from Dieppe to Brighton, 
 wind was contrary, and it blew a storm, 
 but I could not wait." 
 
248 
 
 r* '" Not wait V 
 
 te No ; I had urgent business in Eng- 
 land, and so I got some sailors to put off 
 in a boat with me and my baggage;" 
 here a sort of shuddering came over him, 
 and he hid his face and paused, but soon 
 continued thus : — (i I cannot attempt to 
 describe the danger and misery which 
 succeeded; it unman's me to remember 
 the lamentation of one of the poor men 
 for his wife and children, when we thought 
 death inevitable ! and to think it was all 
 my doing ! my rashness ! " — here he paused 
 again, and looked out of the window — 
 " however, blessed be Providence ! we wea- 
 thered the storm, and landed at Bognor, 
 though I lost every thing but my cloak- 
 bag ; but I can scarcely forgive myself for 
 having endangered so many lives !" 
 
 " And all for what ? could any busi- 
 ness be urgent enough to require such a 
 risk," said Julia. 
 
 Lady Helena was silent and affected ; 
 she had watched the countenance of the 
 
249 
 
 stranger as he spoke, and had been almost 
 moved to tears by the depth of feeling 
 which his voice and looks had displayed. 
 
 " I thought so then, at least," an- 
 swered he ; " I had a dear suffering friend 
 in England, who conjured me to come to 
 him in his distress, and so I came at all 
 hazards." 
 
 " Well, I am glad you escaped," cried 
 Lady Helena with great kindness, " and — 
 and all the rest of you," she added, fearful 
 she had spoken too kindly. 
 
 " I thank you," he replied, laying his 
 hand on his heart, and darting at her one 
 of his most scrutinizing glances. 
 
 " But how did you make your way 
 hither ?" said Lady Helena. 
 
 " By travelling on tops of coaches, or 
 on foot, as I feared the news of my danger 
 might travel before me else, and a false 
 statement agonize one loving heart." 
 
 " Oh, there is then a loving heart?" 
 
 " Yes, but she is not to wear the white 
 silk ;" and as he spoke he winked his eye 
 at Mrs. Spence ; Lady Helena saw it, and 
 m 5 
 
250 
 
 the charm was dispelled again ; all interest 
 in the narrative or the narrator vanished, 
 and she heard with indifference, that the 
 loving heart which he feared to alarm, was 
 his mother's. 
 
CHAP. VIII. 
 
 At this moment Julia, who had been look- 
 ing out of the window, exclaimed, — " Oh • 
 stop, stop, pray stop ! the coach pray do ! 
 I am so frightened." 
 
 " Stop, stop !" cried Lady Helena, "but 
 why ?" 
 
 * Oh, because I am sure I saw papa's 
 own man on the top of the coach standing 
 at that door, and what may he not be 
 coming to say V 
 
 Lady Helena now called again, and so 
 did Mrs. Spence and the stranger out of 
 their window, but in vain, till Lady Helena 
 finding herself disobeyed became quite 
 angry and vociferated an " I command you 
 to stop fellow !" in a manner that called 
 forth a sarcastic smile on the lip of the 
 stranger. 
 
 " Bravo," cried he, " one would think 
 you had been used to play queen on the 
 
252 
 
 stage." However the coachman did now 
 deign to stop, and Julia insisted on get- 
 ting out and running back to the coach to 
 confirm or remove her fears. Lady Helena 
 was going to accompany her, when Mrs. 
 Spence prevented her, exclaiming, as she 
 descended the step, te No, no, pray stay 
 my lady, and let me go." 
 
 This disclosure of her rank so utterly 
 confounded Lady Helena, that she re- 
 seated herself, unable to make even an 
 effort to follow her ; she was able, however, 
 to cast an anxious look at the stranger, to 
 see whether he heard what Mrs. Spence 
 said, and she thought she observed an ex- 
 pression of surprise on his countenance. 
 
 " Ridiculous!" cried she, to call me 
 my lady, as if I were a lady!" 
 
 " Ridiculous indeed !" he coolly re- 
 plied, " laughing ; no, no, you are no lady 
 I know." 
 
 " Do you, indeed !" said Lady Helena 
 changing colour — " and pray how do you 
 know that ?" 
 
 He did not speak, but looking at her 
 with a most provoking archness, and sauci- 
 
253 
 
 ness of expression, he rubbed the ankle 
 which she had hit with her whip. Lady 
 Helena felt, and could not bear the severity 
 of the reproof. 
 
 " He was sure she was no lady," he 
 said, " and he had thus shewn her why he 
 thought so !" 
 
 Shame and conscious degradation dyed 
 her cheek in blushes, and tears of a most 
 painful nature forced themselves into her 
 eyes. To be thus reproved by an inferior ! 
 it was insupportable ! but she had deserved 
 it, and that was more painful still ; how- 
 ever, she trusted he did not see the pain he 
 had inflicted, for she thrust her head out 
 of the window to look for Julia's return. 
 She was not long absent, and she came 
 back witL a smiling countenance, exclaim- 
 ing — " It was not the man I thought it 
 was, and I am so glad, but indeed I was 
 terribly alarmed." 
 
 " Dearest girl !" cried Lady Helena, 
 with a mournful tenderness, as Julia re- 
 seated herself—" I am happy indeed that 
 you have no new cause of unhappiness!" 
 
 The smile of Julia was now instantly 
 
254 
 
 over-clouded, and she burst into tears, 
 while Lady Helena's tears flowed unre- 
 strained down her cheeks, as she gazed on 
 her weeping companion. At this moment 
 she suddenly looked round and beheld the 
 stranger looking at her with an expres- 
 sion, and the only unequivocal expression 
 of approbation and admiration which she 
 had yet seen on his face, while he was gazing 
 at her, and she was angry with herself for 
 being so gratified at beholding it. It 
 was, however, transitory, for he suddenly 
 sighed deeply, and looked out of the win- 
 dow, as if he thought his earnest gaze at 
 such a moment obtrusive. But he soon 
 resumed his easy familiarity, and began to 
 talk of his travels ; nor was it long before 
 he completely rivetted the attention of his 
 auditors as he talked to them in his own way, 
 as he said, that is of the silk manufactory 
 at Lyons ; and he described the process 
 of making their silk, which he had care- 
 fully observed, and also that in Spitalfields. 
 This conversation amused and interested 
 Julia, whose well-constituted mind was 
 
255 
 
 ever willing to turn from contemplating its 
 trials, and she observed, that a friend of 
 her's had often said information and in- 
 struction are to be obtained any where 
 and every where, if one is able and willing 
 to seek for and to receive it. Still, little 
 did I think I should learn so much in a 
 stage coach. 
 
 " And why not in a stage coach — did 
 you never ride in a stage coach before ?" 
 
 " Oh, no never," cried Lady Helena, 
 eagerly — " and we shall never, never ride 
 in one again !" 
 
 The stranger now gave way to violent 
 laughter, which he endeavoured to hide by 
 covering his face with his handkerchief. 
 Lady Helena and Julia did not deign to 
 notice this rudeness, but Mrs. Spence, con- 
 scious of the rank of the ladies, could not 
 let it pass unnoticed, but declared, she saw 
 nothing to laugh at in what the young lady 
 had said, and it was all true ; she was sure 
 she would never ride in a stage-coach 
 again, and no wonder when she met such 
 
256 
 
 uncivil treatment in it from nobody knew 
 who. 
 
 « My good lady," replied the stranger, 
 " all ladies who travel thus, are "nobody 
 knows who,' to their companions, till 
 they have by broad hints of their conse- 
 quence, and especially by their animated 
 expression of dislike to travel in so vulgar 
 a vehicle, which they never did before, 
 and never will do again, convincing each 
 other that they are somebody ! though still 
 in reality they may remain ' nobody 
 knows who,' — for few persons are as ge- 
 nerous as yourself, and tell their names : 
 you, I remember, told me your name was 
 Spence, and alas ! death to my hopes ! you 
 also added mistress to it." The manner in 
 which he said this was so comically pathe- 
 tic, that the friends forgot their anger 
 awhile, and could not help smiling ; — -but 
 Mrs. Spence was still more offended, as 
 she saw he was laughing at her, and she 
 angrily cried — 
 
 " None of your flings, young man ! 
 
257 
 
 either at me or these young ladies — ' no- 
 body knows who !' indeed !" 
 
 '* No, no, young woman, somebody ! I 
 own them now to be somebody ! for you 
 know they never travelled thus before, and 
 never will again." These last words he 
 spoke exactly in Lady Helena's tone and 
 manner, and still more offended at his 
 presumption, she haughily threw back 
 her head, darted at him an indignant look* 
 and folding her arms, leaned back in the 
 corner of the coach, as if resolved to 
 preserve a strict silence in future. 
 
 " One of the somebodies is affronted I 
 fear," said the stranger in a loud whisper 
 to Mrs. Spence — " I am sorry for it — but 
 we are all equals in a stage-coach you 
 know, and I loves my joke, and must have 
 it even if your friends be dutchesses in dis- 
 guise ; and they may be, for as I am un- 
 used to be in such grand company, I 
 should not find them out." 
 
 " Dutchesses ! no not dutchesses ! 
 
 but ," here she grinned with excessive 
 
 meaning, and looked as if she could no 
 
258 
 
 longer conceal the secret of the rank of 
 her companions. 
 
 " Oh ! I know I have discovered some- 
 thing," whispered he again. 
 
 u What ! what have you discovered ?" 
 " That you are — a countess and the 
 mother of that sullen young lady in the 
 corner." 
 
 " A countess ! I a countess ! well, for 
 my part ! — there's a compliment," cried the 
 delighted Mrs. Spence, thrusting her elbow 
 against Lady Helena to make her notice 
 what passed, and forgetting her usual 
 respectful distance. But Lady Helena 
 was not in a humour to relish the familia- 
 rity, and shrinking from her touch, she 
 proudly said— "Your elbow is rather sharp 
 Mrs. Spence, I desire not to feel it again." 
 
 As Lady Helena said this, her eye met 
 that of the stranger,— and strange to say, 
 she beheld in his an expression of disappro- 
 bation of her pride and her petulance, 
 which not only made her repent what she 
 had said, but even influenced her to repair 
 her fault, especially, as she saw that the 
 
259 
 
 poor woman writhed under the reproof. 
 With her sweetest smile therefore, and 
 her kindest tone, she took hold of the good 
 woman's arm, and playfully passing her 
 hand over her elbow, she said — u My 
 dear Mrs. Spence, you seem so good- 
 natured, that I wonder your elbow is 
 so sharp, for none but scolds, they say, have 
 sharp elbows ; yours, therefore, belie you 
 very much — do they not my dear cousin V 
 " Yes, that they do," replied Julia, " for 
 Mrs. Spence is remarkably kind and good- 
 tempered." 
 
 • Oh, dear ladies, you make me blush !" 
 cried Mrs. Spence, confused as much by 
 Lady Helena's courtesy as she had before 
 been by her severity; but the pleasure 
 excited by the one, was easier to be borne 
 than the pain to be inflicted by the other, 
 and as the confusion soon went off, her 
 delight expressed itself in sundry." " Oh, 
 dears! and you are very good," uttered 
 with blushing volubility. 
 
 Lady Helena, now pleased with herself, 
 ventured to look at the stranger, but his 
 
260 
 
 eyes were averted, and he was humming a 
 tune out of the window. Lady Helena 
 was mortified, she thought she had de- 
 served a look of approbation now,but he had 
 not given it, and she was hurt, and where- 
 fore ? why should she care for the reproof 
 or approbation of a person like that ? 
 Lady Helena was really ashamed of her 
 weakness, and could not but own to her- 
 self that her vanity was far greater than 
 her pride ; for if she had more pride than 
 vanity, this man's opinion of her must have 
 been a matter of indifference. The coach 
 now stopped at an inn, and the travellers 
 were asked to alight — but the ladies pre- 
 ferred remaining where they were, and 
 partaking of the contents of Mrs. Spence's 
 basket. The stranger, however, chose to 
 alight, and while he was in the house Lady 
 Helena desired Mrs. Spence to call the 
 coachman and ask the name and the con- 
 dition of their fellow-travellers, but he was 
 ignorant of both ; he believed, however, he 
 was well known on the road, and was a 
 rider from London, — but he would enquire 
 
261 
 
 more of a young woman whom he brought 
 with him, and who was on the top of the 
 coach. Here Lady Helena exchanged a sig- 
 nificant glance with Julia, and an indig- 
 nant blush overspread her cheek, when 
 she thought that their companion united 
 loose morals, perhaps to impertinent fami- 
 liarity. But such a suspicion never oc- 
 curred to the less interested Julia ; and 
 when the coachman returned, she felt 
 neither pleasure nor surprize at learning 
 that the young woman was a poor sick 
 girl on crutches on her way to London, to 
 consult a celebrated surgeon, who was to 
 give her advice gratis ; and unable to pay 
 the expense of a coach thither, that as 
 the coachmen informed Lady Helena the 
 stranger had overtaken her on the road, 
 and assisted her along, had paid for a place 
 for her beside the coachman, as she could 
 not bear to go inside, and had given her 
 money besides ; and wben I asked her his 
 name, said the coachmen, " the poor thing, 
 said, " His name ? Angel, I believe, for he has 
 acted like one to me; but I never saw 
 
262 
 
 him before, though I have reason to bless 
 him as long as I live." 
 
 Julia and Mrs. Spence listened to this 
 favourable account of their companion, 
 with smiles of unassembled delight, and 
 declared they should look at him when he 
 came in again, with much pleasure. 
 
 But Lady Helena said nothing; she 
 was provoked to acknowledge to herself 
 how much this low, saucy, and familiar 
 person had interested her, and this evi- 
 dence at once of his worthiness and of his 
 situation in life, together with the con- 
 sciousness that she had made an un- 
 favourable impression on him, filled her 
 with feelings which she could not have 
 defined, but which it was painful to endure. 
 While this was passing in her mind, the 
 stranger came out, and looking up at the 
 poor woman on the box with a smile of 
 the utmost benevolence, he said something 
 to her; then, seeing that he was observed, 
 he turned away, and walked backwards 
 and forwards before the coach. He had 
 now taken off his silk handkerchief, ad- 
 
263 
 
 justed his black silk cravat, and had con- 
 cealed his short coat, which had suffered 
 so much from wind and weather, by his 
 great coat; and as he walked rapidly 
 along, Julia and Mrs. Spence declared 
 they had never seen a finer or handsomer 
 man. Lady Helena was of their opinion, 
 but ye— es, uttered slowly and brokenly, 
 was all she chose to say, and Julia chided 
 her for her reluctance, to do the young 
 man justice. 
 
 At length, with cheeks glowing with 
 the exercise he had taken, and with the 
 chilly October breeze, he re-entered the 
 carriage, and as soon as he was re-seated 
 he resumed the air and manner so offen- 
 sive to the dignity of Lady Helena. « So 
 you would not come out and mess with 
 us?" said he to Mrs. Spence. " Painful 
 pre-eminence!" 
 
 " Oh, my dear countess, you know not 
 what you lost— such a fine round of cold 
 beef— plenty of pickled onions too, but I 
 would not eat any," as smirking in Mrs. 
 
264 
 
 Spence's face, " I did not know what 
 might take place before we parted." 
 
 " Impudence ! " cried Mrs. Spence, at 
 once pleased and offended. 
 
 " Impudence ! — I have said nothing to 
 deserve so harsh a term/' said he ; " you 
 must have given my words an improper 
 meaning. If we should be overturned, 
 and you fall into my arms, it would be 
 doubly hard for you to run the risk of 
 breaking your limbs, and being poisoned 
 too ; there was nothing impudent in that 
 — was there ? " ^ 
 
 "Dear me, no! — but I thought you 
 meant — *' 
 
 " There, there," said. Lady Helena, im- 
 patiently and proudly ; " it is not necessary 
 you should explain what you thought." 
 
 " No, to be sure," observed the sim- 
 pering Mrs. Spence; " but do you really 
 think there is any likelihood of our being- 
 overturned? — if there be, what would be- 
 come of the poor lame girl by the coach- 
 man?" smiling in his face, as she spoke. 
 
265 
 
 " Poor thing ! " replied he ; " but how 
 did you know there was such a person 
 there?" 
 
 " Oh, we know all about it," said 
 Julia, looking at him, with approving 
 kindness. 
 
 V 
 
 rt You do ! — oh the curiosity of women! 
 I see you have been making enquiries." 
 
 " Yes, to be sure we have," cried Mrs s 
 Spence, turning towards Lady Helena, 
 whose cheeks glowed with blushes. 
 
 " Well, ladies, I hope your curiosity 
 was satisfied ? " 
 
 " At least your vanity ought to be, for 
 we heard high praises of your good- 
 nature and generosity," answered Mrs. 
 Spence. 
 
 " Pshaw ! — what a sarcasm it is on 
 human nature that the most ordinary 
 piece of humanity, and the performance 
 of even the most unavoidable duty should 
 be thought worthy of notice and praise. 
 If I were a writer instead of a tradesman, 
 I would write a book against the perni- 
 cious custom of lauding a man for any 
 
 VOL. I. N 
 
9.66 
 
 kind action, especially one which he could 
 not help performing, till there is danger 
 of his vanity going hand in hand with his 
 benevolence, or being the only prompter 
 to his good deeds in future. That smile, 
 which I have just received from that corner," 
 looking at Julia, " and the encouraging 
 and laudatory nod from' you, my vis- 
 a-vis, are enough to make me vain for life ; 
 and I am happy that their power is coun- 
 teracted by the cold silence and almost 
 frowning brow of the young lady in the 
 other corner." 
 
 Lady Helena was about to reply, 
 when the coach stopped to change horses, 
 and Julia, looking out of the window, ex- 
 claimed, in a tone of vexation, " Oh, there 
 is Mr. Mansfeldt, and he sees me." 
 
 « Mansfeldt ! " cried Lady Helena, 
 turning pale. 
 
 " Mansfeldt ! " cried the stranger ; and 
 in another moment they heard him in his 
 hypocritical tone, approaching the door, 
 and exclaiming — " What ! the Julia here ! 
 oh! all ye gods, is it possible!" On 
 
267 
 
 which Lady Helena pushed Mrs. Spence 
 to the window, that her head and Julia's, 
 united, might prevent his looking into 
 the coach ; then throwing herself back 
 in the corner opposite the stranger, she 
 put a shawl over part of her face, and 
 waited, in trembling anxiety, the result of 
 the ensuing conference; but from beneath, 
 the shawl she could observe \he stranger, 
 who seemed eager as herself not to be seen 
 by Mansfeldt, and was listening as atten- 
 tively to the conversation. 
 
 " If you are going to London, or 
 whithersoever you are going, I shall go 
 with you, to protect your bright excel- 
 lence," said Mansfeldt. 
 
 9 Sir, I am sufficiently protected." 
 
 ? Oh, no! more than one flaming 
 cherub guarded the gates of paradise ; I 
 must come in : — Coachy, open the door ! " 
 
 " Pray, Mr. Coachman, do not," vocife- 
 rated Julia. 
 
 " There is no room, sir," screamed Mrs. 
 Spence. 
 
268 
 
 " The coach holds six!" screamed 
 Mansfeldt in return, imitating her voice. 
 
 " Impudent rascal!" muttered the 
 stranger ; " but the coachman dares not 
 let him in, after what I said." 
 
 " Oh, what shall I do ? " murmured 
 Lady Helena, encouraged by the stran- 
 ger's manner, though she scarcely knew 
 why, and looking imploringly in his face, 
 while Mansfeldt's mean and vindictive 
 mind led him to be the more determined 
 on coming in, because he saw that his en_ 
 trance would displease Julia, and leading 
 the coachman aside, he said to iier, " I 
 will soon bring him to terms, believe me, 
 and the coach holds six." 
 
 " Oh, do you hear him?" cried Julia to 
 Lady Helena; " and see ! I do believe the 
 man is giving way." 
 
 " What shall I do? — his very sight is 
 poison to me, now," cried Lady Helena, in 
 the greatest agitation, " and to be seen by 
 him here !" 
 
 " He shall not come hither, I assure 
 
269 
 
 you," cried the stranger ; " I will take 
 care to prevent that;" so saying he jumped 
 out, and Mrs. Spence following him, with 
 her eyes, exclaimed — ' ' There, he has taken 
 him by the arm, and how the fellow 
 started at seeing him ; and, there he has 
 led him away yonder ; and how he looks 
 at him, as if he would eat him alive. Oh, 
 he is a fine young man, and his eyes look 
 as fierce and bright as live coals ; and now 
 he has let him go, but with such a fling, I 
 thought the fellow would have fallen ; but 
 he is not coming back with him — no not 
 he !" The stranger was in the coach in 
 another moment, the driver on the box, 
 and the ladies relieved from their fears. 
 
 " And we are off, and freed from his 
 odious presence," cried Lady Helena, 
 clasping her hands in joy; " a thousand 
 thanks to you." 
 
 " But how did you manage that un- 
 manageable man ? " said Julia. 
 
 " Oh, easily enough ; I knew he would 
 not persist when he saw me, and heard 
 what I had to say." 
 
270 
 
 "He knows you, then?" 
 
 " Yes ; I know him, and I have told 
 him that I do so ; nor will he soon venture 
 to cross my path again." 
 
 " Well ; I cannot think how you could 
 gain such power over him ! " 
 
 <f You forget that Mansfeldt is said 
 to be deep in his tradesmen's debt, and 
 that there are such things as writs and 
 bailiffs." 
 
 " Oh, dear, I had forgotten you were 
 a tradesman," said Lady Helena, blushing. 
 
 " And I had almost forgotten it 
 myself," he replied, smiling and blushing 
 also; " the sight of that fellow, and 
 certain looks and tones put a lion's heart 
 in me, and a knight errant's daring." 
 
 " But how strange it was," cried Julia, 
 " for Mr. Mansfeldt to want to come in to 
 protect me, as he said." 
 
 "He protect you! — the wolf so protects 
 the lamb." 
 
 " Insolent ruffian! but I told him I 
 wanted no protection." 
 
 a Nor would you, except from a wretch 
 
271 
 
 like him; your modest dignity, your 
 purity, and propriety of manner would be 
 always sufficient protection to you in the 
 eyes of a rightly feeling man : you might 
 go over the world in safety, a Una without 
 her lion. Good heavens! to think that there 
 exists a man, who could have the heart to 
 wound and injure a creature like that." 
 As he uttered this rhapsody to the as- 
 tonished and blushing Julia, he fixed his 
 eyes on her with an expression of tender 
 pity, and a gaze as fixed as it was affec- 
 tionate; then heaving a deep sigh, he 
 begged her pardon for the liberty he had 
 taken in speaking as he had done, but that 
 she was so like a lady whom Mansfeldt 
 had used ill, that he fancied he was speak- 
 ing to her. 
 
 This apology a little comforted Lady 
 Helena, who was now nearly convinced 
 that the unknown was much superior to 
 his apparent rank in life, and, spite of her 
 better judgment, was envious of his evi- 
 dent preference of Julia, or rather of the 
 superior respect which he seemed to en- 
 
272 
 
 tertain for her, and who feared that he, in 
 his high-blown speech, meant to contrast 
 Julia's propriety with her own impro- 
 priety of conduct." 
 
 " However ill Mr. Mansfeldt might 
 behave to your friend, sir," said Julia, " I 
 am not conscious of his ever having used me 
 ill, except as far as teazing me, and saying 
 rude things to me, was using me ill." 
 
 ° No! — and did you never say any 
 thing severe to him ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, very — I must own that." 
 
 " And can you suppose he ever forgave 
 it ? — depend on it he never did ; and that 
 he hates you cordially, and would injure 
 you to the utmost of his power." 
 
 " How well you know him, and how 
 right you are?" cried Lady Helena, sig- 
 nificantly. 
 
 " And how well you know him," replied 
 the stranger, with an arch smile, " else you 
 would not have been so afraid of being 
 seen by him in a stage-coach. Aye, poor 
 thing ! all your hopes of future distinction 
 from him would have been at an end ; 
 
273 
 
 no more dancing with him at an election- 
 ball, even though your father carried 
 twenty votes to the candidate, whom 
 Mansfeldt deigned to patronize. I say at 
 an election-ball, for ladies who travel in 
 public coaches cannot, I apprehend, meet 
 Mansfeldt at any other description of ball, 
 even though they proudly boast of being 
 sufficiently protected." 
 
 " My friend, there," replied Lady He- 
 lena, proudly, " has a footman, on the top 
 of the coach, to protect her, sir." 
 
 " But could he have prevented that 
 vile man from coming in ? — now do deign 
 to own, that but for me he would have 
 been here." 
 
 " I do own it, and with deep thank- 
 fulness, and for the sake of your affectionate 
 kindness forgive all your — your — " 
 
 " Impertinence, you would say, I believe, 
 and I thank you for your pardon, however 
 ungraciously worded; but what is the 
 hour?— I expect to be met before we reach 
 London. I am going to dine with my 
 mamma ; as to day is Saturday, there is 
 
 N 5 
 
274 
 
 no opening shop to-morrow, I shall, there- 
 fore, partake of her Sunday dinner — toad 
 in a hole, and plumb-pudding," 
 
 " And a very good dinner too," cried 
 Mrs. Spence ; " and I should not care if I 
 was going to eat it with you." 
 
 " Well, what say you, will you go? — 
 my vehicle will hold two ; but I forgot, 
 you must stay where you are, to protect 
 these young ladies." 
 
 " To protect me you mean," said Lady 
 Helena, in a tone of pique ; ff my friend, 
 you know, needs no protection but her 
 own." 
 
 " True," he replied, " she is not likely 
 to provoke warfare from any one but a 
 Mansfeldt ; if she had a whip in her hand, 
 she would be careful not to let it strike a 
 tort et a travel's ; and then her eyes are 
 not eyes to hold inquisitive parley with 
 those cf a stranger" — fixing his own on 
 Mrs. Spence as he spoke, as if he only 
 meant to point her out as the object of his 
 sarcasm — " yes, indeed, a young lady like 
 thatis to be trusted alone any where,however 
 
Q75 
 
 unbecoming her the situation in which the 
 fault of others has placed her : — securely 
 she smiles on the forward and bold." Here 
 he paused and . looked at Lady Helena, 
 who, in spite of her pride, in spite of her 
 conviction hitherto, that it was an inferior 
 who addressed her, was now convinced she 
 had been mistaken,- and felt almost awed 
 by the soundness of his remarks on Julia, 
 and by the wise severity of the reproof, 
 which she could not but feel was directed 
 at herself; she listened, therefore, with 
 downcast eyes, and a burning cheek, 
 unable to rally under his oppressive glance ; 
 she then took off her hat, and busied her- 
 self in adjusting her hair, in order to 
 escape from the awkwardness of her 
 feelings. Julia, surprised and flattered, 
 was silent, from an indistinct conscious- 
 ness that there was a meaning in the 
 stranger's words which implied censure 
 on her friend, while it complimented her, 
 and also from a strong but vain wish to 
 say something in her defence. He, mean- 
 while, had folded his arms, and was gazing 
 
276 
 
 on the subdued and humbled Lady Helena, 
 with evident admiration, and as if absorbed 
 in contemplation of her : — " And yet," 
 said he, bursting from his reverie, " though 
 one admires and reverences the woman 
 whom her own qualities protect, still it is 
 most delightful to bestow protection on a 
 trembling female, especially when the 
 beautiful bully, turned into a confessed 
 and conscious coward, requires to be 
 assisted, and looks up beseechingly in one's 
 face ; such a moment as that in a man's 
 life is worth a million, even though it may 
 cost him the peace of the remainder of 
 it." At these words, uttered in a tone 
 softened almost to tenderness, Lady He- 
 lena ventured to look up, almost doubting 
 the evidence of her ears ; but she looked ' 
 down again, when she saw the admiring 
 expression with which the strange person 
 was regarding her; nor did she look up again 
 till she saw he was looking out of the 
 window, and heard him exclaim, " I wonder 
 where my vehicle is ! — we are within 
 twenty miles of London." 
 
9.77 
 
 At this moment Mrs. Spence cried out, 
 " Dear me, what a handsome carriage, 
 with two servants in fine liveries, is standing 
 at the bottom of that lane ! " 
 
 " Indeed ! " said the stranger, " but, 
 my good lady, do you see an ordinary 
 looking gig also, just big enough to 
 hold your humble servant and one other 
 person ?" 
 
 u No, not yet ! " 
 
 " Well, well, I shall see my vehicle 
 soon, I dare say ; so I may as well stop 
 here." 
 
 Accordingly, while Mrs. Spence ex- 
 pressed her sorrow at losing such a funny 
 companion, he called to the coachman to 
 stop ; then bowing gracefully and respect- 
 fully to Julia, and nodding adieu to Mrs. 
 Spence, he suddenly seized the ungloved 
 hand of Lady Helena, and while she an- 
 grily struggled to withdraw it, he pressed 
 it to his lips, and jumped out of the coach ; 
 he then gave money to the coachman and 
 throwing his cloak-bag over his shoulder, 
 
278 
 
 ran out of sight in an instant. Lady 
 Helena almost sobbing with mortification, 
 and offended pride, could not help venting 
 her feelings in exclamations of insolent, 
 presumptious creature ! to bow so respect- 
 fully to you Julia, and to take such a 
 liberty with me ! what could he mean by 
 it ? altogether his behaviour was most ex- 
 traordinary, and really, Julia, much as I 
 love you, I cannot see why you should be 
 so much extolled above me, and be taken 
 for such a superior person, while I was not 
 allowed to look like a lady at all. 
 
 " Nor I neither, I am sure, dear Lady 
 Helena ; — and he could not be a man of 
 any penetration," Julia replied with great 
 simplicity." 
 
 " Dear, candid, generous girl !" cried 
 Lady Helena, — " but you are — you are 
 my superior, and the man's penetration is 
 admirable; — but, oh, that ever I should 
 have exposed myself to the mortifications 
 and alarms of this day !" 
 
 " Oh ! my patience !" now screamed 
 
279 
 
 out Mrs. Spence, " there he goes ! as sure 
 as life ! and that fine carriage was his, 
 and he is a great man." 
 
 " Are you mad ?" cried Lady Helena, 
 changing colour, and following the direc- 
 tion of Mrs. Spence's eyes, " and of whose 
 are you talking !" She said no more — she 
 saw a gentleman who looked like the 
 stranger driving himself in a most elegant 
 phaeton, two servants in splendid liveries, 
 following him on horseback. Still Lady 
 Helena could not, would not believe the 
 evidence of her own eyes, because she 
 dared not believe it — as she thought she 
 saw a coronet on the carriage, and dreaded 
 lest the stranger should turn out to be the 
 being whom she most wished to behold, 
 and whom she most wished should see her to 
 the greatest advantage. It was therefore 
 with agony that she grasped the hand 
 of Julia, exclaiming, 
 
 " Oh ! if it should be so, if it should 
 be he, I am a wretch indeed! but we 
 shall soon pass him again, he is stopping 
 while the servant adjusts the harness :— oh ! 
 
280 
 
 'tis he, he has taken off his hat ; yes, yes 
 'tis his fine profile, I shall go distracted ! 
 oh ! it is evident that he knew me all the 
 time by my likeness to Marcus, and wished 
 to mark his disapprobation ; — but we are 
 passing him, — I will sit back : yes, yes, it is a 
 viscount's coronet, and I know the motto !" 
 
 Julia wondering, and speechless at 
 Lady Helena's mysterious words, . now 
 turned to the window to convince herself 
 of the identity of the stranger with the 
 driver of the phaeton, and to salute him as 
 he passed; but he did not look off the 
 reins which he had now resumed, and was 
 adjusting ; however, she saw that beyond 
 dispute the stranger and the driver were 
 one. 
 
 " Did he not deign to look in ?" cried 
 Lady Helena." 
 
 " Deign ! no not once ; but, do pray 
 tell me who this person is, that agitates 
 you thus, my dearest friend ? surely, surely 
 it is not Lord Restormel !" 
 
 " It is, it is ; and I am so miserable ! 
 so very miserable !" Here she gave way to a 
 
281 
 
 violent burst of tears, unrestrained even 
 by the presence of Mrs. Spence ; nor could 
 Julia say any thing to console her, though 
 she felt the most sincere desire to do so, 
 as she remembered his character, for even 
 fastidious delicacy in his ideas of the con- 
 duct of woman ; and could now only too 
 well understand the pointed manner in 
 which he had praised her, evidently mean- 
 ing at the same to reprove her friend. 
 
 Julia was now certain that he had 
 been awake when Lady Helena entered 
 the carriage, and had known her from her 
 likeness to her brother, and from other 
 circumstances, and had guessed who she 
 herself was. 
 
 The effect his presence and interference 
 had over Mansfeldt was now explained, 
 and Julia's kind heart bled for Lady 
 Helena's distress, because she had often 
 heard her declare her wish to charm 
 Lord Restormel, and she could not but 
 fear that his rigid judgment would be up 
 in arms against her, from the circum- 
 stances in which he had just beheld her. 
 
282 
 
 Still Julia remembered with pleasure that 
 he was Lord Restormel, and knew the 
 real rank of the party ; the familiarity, and 
 even the rudeness of which Lady Helena 
 complained, lost much of their offensive- 
 ness ; for it was evident that he so pre- 
 sumed, in order to shew her the disagree- 
 able consequences of the situation in which 
 she had placed herself; she also recalled, 
 with joy, what he had said concerning the 
 pleasure of protecting '■ a beautiful bully/ 
 when turned into a ' confessed coward;' 
 and the looks still more tender and flatter- 
 ing than the words which accompanied 
 what he said. Nor could Julia be easy 
 till she had tried to impart to Lady He- 
 lena the comfort she had herself received 
 from these recollections ; but she com- 
 municated them in vain. To be made 
 acquainted with Lord Restormel, whom 
 she had learned to consider as the noblest 
 of human beings; to conduct herself so as to 
 ensure his esteem, and make esteem the 
 ground work of a warmer passion, had 
 long been the darling object of her hopes 
 
283 
 
 and her desires ; nor, while meditating on 
 the conquest of his valuable heart, had 
 she any intention of withholding her own ; 
 on the contrary, her own might be said to 
 be prepared for an instant surrender as 
 soon as the conqueror should be disposed 
 to demand it. To him, and to him alone, 
 she used to imagine that the sacrifice of 
 her bad habits, and of her own will, would 
 be sweet and salutary ; and she never 
 thought of her introduction to Lord 
 Restormel without a resolution to model 
 her thoughts, her looks, and her actions, 
 according to his ideas of feminine pro- 
 priety. But now that meeting, so long 
 desired and so long unexpectedly delayed, 
 had taken place, in a situation in which 
 she ought not to have been seen, and which 
 an unbecoming disregard of the niceties 
 of filial duty had prompted her to seek. 
 She had conducted herself in it with a dis- 
 regard of decorum that had called forth 
 the disapprobation of that man, whose ap- 
 proval she had taught herself to believe 
 necessary to her happiness, and if it were 
 
284 
 
 indeed possible that Lord Restormel had 
 beheld her with eyes of personal admira- 
 tion, she well knew from the account she 
 had heard of his self-command, and the 
 power of his judgment over his feelings, 
 that he would not allow his heart to yield 
 to an attachment which his understanding 
 disapproved. In the meanwhile, what was 
 the effect of this interview on her ? He 
 had excited in her even an uncontrollable 
 interest, when she believed him to be in an 
 inferior station of life, by the uncommon 
 graces of his person, the remarkable va- 
 riety and expression of his countenance, 
 and the traits of just thinking, of fearless 
 benevolence, and energy of character, which 
 circumstances had elicited, an interest of 
 which she was ashamed, but yet found it im- 
 possible to control ; and now that she dis- 
 covered, in this bold reprover, the very man 
 she most wished to behold and to please, 
 and felt that in all probability she had 
 now lost him for ever, a sorrow, as roman- 
 tic as her attachment, took possession of 
 her soul, and unused to govern her sensi- 
 
285 
 
 bility, she wept in uncontrollable anguish 
 on the shoulder of Julia. The well mean- 
 ing Mrs. Spence was at first awed into 
 silence by the sight of a distress which 
 was so violent, and to her so incomprehen- 
 sible ; but at last she took courage, and 
 said by way of consolation, « If Lady 
 Helena had taken a fancy to the young 
 man, surely she ought to be glad to find 
 that his rank was equal to her own ; and if 
 he liked her the worse for a bit of fun, 
 such as riding in a stage-coach for once, he 
 must be a cross patch, and he was not 
 worth thinking about at all ;— but she was 
 very sure that was not the case, and that 
 he was ready to devour her with his eyes." 
 
 To the former part of this speech, whose 
 officious daring she would in a happier 
 moment have haughtily reproved, Lady 
 Helena listened without interest, and with 
 little attention ; but she now eagerly 
 started up, and desired to know what Mrs. 
 Spence meant by devouring her with his eyes. 
 
 " Oh, that when your ladyship did not 
 look at him, he looked at you, with such 
 
286 
 
 looks, I cannot exactly say how, but as if 
 he thought you very handsome, and did 
 not know how to take his eyes off you." 
 
 "Can I believe this, Julia," said Lady 
 Helena, smiling, through her tears, " after 
 all the marked homage to you, and his 
 countenance while gazing on you?" 
 
 " If this gentleman be, indeed, Lord 
 Restormel," replied Julia, blushing deeply, 
 and with a faltering voice, " the strange and 
 strong interest he seemed to take in me is 
 only too well accounted for ; pity often 
 looks like love they say, and if he knows 
 all, no doubt he pities me." 
 
 " True, true, if he knows all ; but who 
 should tell him? — not Marcus; but I re- 
 memember that papa wrote to him after 
 that sad rencontre." 
 
 " Did he ; however, even if he does 
 know all, I am sure, by his manner, that 
 he does not despise me, and I can bear it." 
 
 " Despise you! — no, Julia, no! — would 
 to heaven I were as sure that he does not 
 despise me." 
 
 " Dear, my lady, how you talk ; how 
 
287 
 
 could any young gentleman despise you ? 
 and as to him, poor dear, I am more afraid 
 he should love you too well, and break his 
 heart if you do not love him too." 
 
 Lady Helena was now sufficiently her- 
 self again, to feel, that degraded as she was 
 in her own eyes before, she was sinking 
 still lower by the indelicate publicity which 
 she was giving to her fears and her morti- 
 fications in the presence of such a witness ; 
 and shrinking alike from her wonder and 
 her soothings, she coldly said, that she was 
 afraid the gentleman would tell her 
 brother where he had met her, and that he 
 would be very [angry with her; she then 
 declared her resolution of banishing him 
 and his impertinence from her mind. 
 
 " No, no," cried Julia, eagerly, " I am 
 sure, quite sure, he will not tell — tell 
 him? 
 
 "And why so?" 
 
 " Oh, because— because — oh, because 
 it is not likely he should betray you to any 
 one." 
 
 " I see what you mean, but are too 
 
288 
 
 generous to utter, Julia; you mean that 
 he is too kind to expose me." 
 
 Julia did not reply, and as Lady He- 
 lena threw herself back in her seat to me- 
 ditate on what had passed, Julia's last 
 words added bitterness to her contempla- 
 tions, for even Julia felt that to mention 
 having met her would be to expose her. 
 She did not long remain quiet, but starting 
 up, she begged that Mrs. Spence would 
 call the coachman, who was then off the 
 box, to ask him if he knew who their 
 fellow-traveller was ? The coachman re- 
 plied, that he only knew he was as generous 
 as a prince, but he believed he was only a 
 lord. "I suspected," said he, " he must be 
 a great man, by the way in which he 
 looked and talked to that queer chap that 
 wanted to come in, but I would not have 
 let him. Why, bless your heart, the gen- 
 tleman when he first got out paid me the 
 fare of the other two places inside, and 
 told me he would on no account suffer the 
 ladies already in to be incommodated by 
 another passenger." 
 
289 
 " Well now, really that was quite gen- 
 teel, indeed," cried Mrs. Spence, as she sat 
 down again. " Did not choose us ladies to 
 be incommoded." 
 
 " Oh, he is a charming man." 
 Julia said it was very kind, but Lady 
 Helena said nothing; she felt it to be an- 
 other proof how much Lord Restormel dis- 
 approved of what he saw, and she spoke 
 no more during the journey. 
 
 At the inn, to their joyful surprise, 
 they found Sir George Villeroy's carriage 
 and servants waiting for them. And had 
 the coach not arrived as soon as it was ex- 
 pected, the servants had orders to add 
 leaders to the carriage, and go to meet 
 their young lady; for when Sir George 
 heard how his daughter was to return, he 
 positively denied having given the consent 
 which had been surprised from him when 
 he was nearly asleep, and had sent off the 
 chariot with the above-mentioned order. 
 But Lady Helena, however, desired her 
 father's servant to accompany her, as she 
 vol. i. 
 
290 
 
 was not sure she should be received by her 
 friends, and should not require his atten- 
 dance. 
 
 As Mrs. Seebright's house was in the 
 way to Gloucester Place, Lady Helena 
 desired to be driven thither immediately. 
 Before they drove off Lady Helena was 
 excessively annoyed by the very natural 
 vanity of Mrs. Spence, who was met by the 
 friends she came to visit, and who, eager 
 to shew she had had a lady of quality for a 
 travelling companion, wished her ladyship 
 good evening, in an audible voice, as soon 
 as she had hoped Miss Villeroy would find 
 Sir George and Lady Villeroy well, adding, 
 with an arch smile, and a significant nod, 
 to shew the familiar terms on which she 
 was with an earl's daughter — " I think, 
 my lady, you will not soon forget your 
 journey in a stage-coach, your ladyship." 
 
 " No ; I shall never, never forget it, 
 indeed," exclaimed Lady Helena, as the car- 
 riage drove off, after she had bowed in 
 proud silence to the grinning Mrs. Spence. 
 I have heard it said," continued Lady 
 
c 29\ 
 
 Helena, "that it is not the situation in which 
 one is, but one's conduct in it, that can 
 disgrace one ; I was, through my own folly, 
 in a vehicle where I should not have 
 placed myself; but it was my trumpery 
 egotism, my restless desire for notice and 
 adventures, that caused my situation to 
 disgrace me. Had I been contented to 
 remain quiet and unobtrusive as you did> 
 Julia — had I been easy to sit still like a 
 modest gentlewoman, without making so 
 improper an effort to rouze the attention 
 of my fellow-traveller, even he, with his 
 rigid ideas, could not have been displeased 
 with my behaviour, but might have ad- 
 mired me as he did you." 
 
 " But after all you did nothing so very 
 offensive, and he must have thought that 
 you did not mean to touch him with your 
 whip." 
 
 " Indeed he thought quite the contrary, 
 he was certain the touch was intentional." 
 
 " But it will be easy to assure him that 
 it was not." 
 
 " No, Julia, no— not at the expense of 
 truth." 
 
292 
 
 " How ! did you really mean to give 
 him a stroke with your whip ?" 
 
 " I did ; nay Julia, pray do not look so 
 horror struck ! I did, but I can no more 
 deny than I can defend my conduct ; and 
 were it to make Lord Restormel abhor me 
 for life, were he to say, ' to be sure you 
 struck me by accident,' I should reply, 
 no, it was by design." 
 
 " That I am sure you would ! But how 
 glad I am, Miss Brightwen was not pre- 
 sent ! she would have been so vexed !" 
 
 " And I am so sorry she was not ! for had 
 she been there, her reproving eye, or rather 
 that eye looking at me, ' more in sorrow 
 than in anger,' would have kept me in order 
 even by the wish of not afflicting her. 
 Julia, happy girl ! had Miss Brightwen 
 been my governess I might have been like 
 you, and Lord Restormel might have 
 approved instead of scorning me." 
 
 " Do not talk of his scorning you — I 
 am sure he admires you in spite of " 
 
 " Yes, in spite of his judgment ; but I 
 will see if I cannot bend that haughty 
 judgment before the throne of love, and if 
 
293 
 
 I can but subdue that arrogant and rebel- 
 lious heart, why then — " 
 
 « Then what !" 
 
 " I cannot exactly tell," replied Lady 
 Helena, (many rebellious, contending, and 
 proud feelings passing in rapid succession 
 over her beautiful face, not one of which 
 was understood by Julia), and their conver- 
 sation was interrupted by their arrival at 
 Mrs. Seebright's door, at which stood a fe- 
 male servant, then the only inhabitant of 
 the mansion, for the family had left town 
 suddenly only the day before, as Mrs. See- 
 bright had been ordered to Cheltenham by 
 her physician at a few hours notice. This 
 put the finishing stroke to poor Lady 
 Helena's vexation, as she found herself un- 
 der the necessity of taking possession of her 
 friend's empty house, or of forcing herself 
 on a woman whom she disliked and despised, 
 an unexpected c*nd unwelcome guest. She 
 could not however hesitate to comply with 
 Julia's earnest request, that she would ac- 
 company her to Gloucester Place, where, 
 from her father at least, however unwell 
 
294 
 
 he might be, she was certain of a warm 
 reception. 
 
 " At all events," replied the humbled 
 Lady Helena, " I can return home to- 
 morrow, or the next day, when I expect 
 my own maid ; I desired her to follow me *, 
 and I can keep the footman in town, there- 
 fore I can return in a more proper way than 
 I came ; and as for the little mortifications 
 I may meet with from your maratre, Julia, 
 I have deserved them all by my foolish ex- 
 ploit, and must bear them with all due 
 meekness : however, I hope to grow wiser 
 from this experience, and to remember that 
 it is impossible to calculate on the conse- 
 quences of one wrong or foolish action." 
 
 " How often I have heard Miss Bright- 
 wen say that," exclaimed Julia !" oh! how 
 I shall miss her in Gloucester Place ; but 
 here we are, and I declare there is dear 
 papa at the window." 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 T. White, Printer, Johnson's Court, London. 
 
MUCH TO BLAME. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 I shall now go back to Lord Restormel. 
 This young nobleman having lost his 
 father at a very early age, was educated by 
 his mother, a high born, proud, but pious, 
 virtuous, intellectual woman ; — her pride, 
 however great, led in her to excellent re- 
 sults, for she thought it incumbent on those 
 whom it had pleased their Creator to ele- 
 vate in station above their fellow-men, not 
 to disgrace that exalted station by vice or 
 ignorance ; she laboured, therefore, to en- 
 sure to her elder son, who was entrusted 
 to her care, the utmost purity of morals, 
 by giving him the soundest principles of 
 religion, the best and surest foundation for 
 outward conduct, and at the same time she 
 
 VOL. II. b 
 
caused his rare talents to be cultivated to the 
 utmost, by masters judiciously chosen for 
 that purpose. The seed thus sown fell not on 
 stony ground, but sprung up to a plentiful 
 harvest ; and while her younger son, who 
 had been adopted by a weak and profligate 
 uncle, became notorious for his idleness 
 and his vices, Lord Restormel was the 
 pride of his preceptors, the happiness of 
 his mother, and the blessing of his neigh- 
 bourhood, His brother meanwhile, re- 
 gardless as such a man was likely to be of 
 the principles and manners of the woman 
 he married, chose for his wife the beauti- 
 ful and notoriously indiscreet daughter of a 
 beautiful and notoriously frail mother, 
 who soon forsook him for another man, 
 and before the passion was over which her 
 loveliness had excited. The consequence 
 was, that not contented with the usual re- 
 paration afforded him by the law, he took 
 revenge into his own hands, followed the 
 offending parties abroad, and forced his rival 
 to meet him in a duel ; the result of which 
 was fatal to himself only, and Lady Res- 
 
tormel mourned over him as the victim not 
 only of his own rashness and ungovernable 
 passions, but also of the error of his choice 
 in marriage. Deeply, therefore, did she 
 endeavour to impress on the mind of her 
 only surviving child the necessity of pre- 
 ferring to every other charm or quality in 
 woman, sound principles of piety and vir- 
 tue, exhibiting themselves in a strict out- 
 ward attention to the dictates of decorum, 
 and a quiet sobriety of manner, which seemed 
 to avoid rather than to court observation ; 
 and while she exhibited in her own person 
 and conduct a model of feminine propriety 
 and graceful dignity, which at once grati- 
 fied the taste, and satisfied the judgment of 
 Lord Restormel ; he could with a safe 
 conscience assure his mother that he be- 
 lieved himself incapable of selecting a 
 woman for his wife, who did not in all 
 essentials at least resemble her ; — nor had 
 his heart rebelled against his judgment, or 
 suffered itself to be impressed at all by the 
 witchery cf female loveliness, when during 
 his travels abroad he became intimately 
 
acquainted with Captain Fortescue, and 
 heard him descant on the charms, the 
 talents, and the character of Lady Helena. 
 Fortescue was not blind to the defects of 
 his sister, or the rigid ideas of his friend 
 on the subject of female conduct ; still he 
 could not help owning to Lord Restormel 
 his earnest desire to introduce him to his 
 sister, and to see him united to her, accom- 
 panied by an assurance, that a nature, 
 generous and impressible as her's was, 
 would be easily moulded to the pleasure 
 and opinions of a husband ; and that 
 Lady Helena, if her heart was once his, 
 could soon be fashioned into all that he 
 approved. 
 
 " But suppose that, on being intro- 
 duced to her, I should lose my heart in 
 defiance of my judgment, and not be able 
 to obtain her's in return ? " 
 
 * But that is an impossible supposition 
 — you must charm any woman whom you 
 wish to charm." 
 
 " I thank you for your flattery, but it 
 cannot overcome my caution; I would 
 
rather not know Lady Helena Fortescue, 
 as I am very sure that, admirable as she is, 
 she would not satisfy my mother's judg- 
 ment, though she might hoodwink mine — 
 and I never will marry to give pain to the 
 parent to whom I owe so much." 
 
 Fortescue was mortified, and pride for- 
 bade him to renew the subject ; but he 
 continued to shew his friend Lady Helena's 
 letters, and Lord Restormel soon became 
 interested in the arrival of the post from 
 England, for whatever she herself might 
 be, Lady Helena's letters were all the 
 heart and the mind could desire, and dis- 
 played a precocity of intellect, a shrewd- 
 ness of observation, and a playful wit, 
 which made her a desirable correspondent 
 to any one. This conviction of her powers, 
 however, made him more resolved against 
 accompanying his friend to Laurel Grove, 
 especially as Lady Restormel had said— 
 
 " What a strange, forward, eccentric, 
 self-willed girl is that Lady Helena 
 Fortescue ; her weak grand-mother, Lady 
 Stanmore, with whom she has always 
 
lived has quite ruined her ; I never saw 
 her, indeed, but from what I hear of her, 
 I would not on any account renew my 
 early acquaintance with her mother." 
 
 Lord Restormel made no reply, though 
 he earnestly wished to say something in 
 palliation of this harsh censure, and to 
 hint that a girl of extraordinary talents 
 might excite envy, and be liable to misrepre- 
 sentation ; but he knew his mother would 
 observe that she hated extraordinary talents 
 in woman, and he did not desire to in- 
 crease her dislike to the sister of his 
 friend ; still he was mortified to find how 
 much his mother's severe expressions con- 
 cerning Lady Helena had wounded him, 
 and how much her evident intention in 
 marking these observations had increased 
 his wish to see, and know Lady Helena — 
 reminding him perhaps of the couplet in 
 the fable. 
 
 " I ne'er had been in this condition, 
 " But for my mother's prohibition." 
 That year Lady Restormel went to 
 Leamington, where Lady Stanmore and 
 
Lady Helena had recently been, and she 
 heard of nothing but the latters eccentric 
 daring, and what she termed indecorous 
 exhibitions. At a sort of public private 
 masquerade given at the rooms, Lady 
 Helena, though only fifteen, had person- 
 ated several characters and filled them all 
 to the life ; nay one of them was a man's 
 character, and her indelicacy in exposing 
 her person in men's clothes, filled Lady 
 Restormel with horror and indignation ! 
 But poor Lady Helena in that case suffered 
 from the misrepresentations of the gossip- 
 ing and the inaccurate — and perhaps of the 
 malignant ; her character was that of a man, 
 but not her dress, for she had represented 
 an astrologer — and under his flowing 
 robes, she had worn her usual habiliments 
 — but having used to the utmost the privi- 
 lege of a mask, she had not spared the 
 vices or follies of those whom she knew, 
 and had therefore laid herself open to all the 
 malicious animadversions that mortified 
 self-love could dictate. She had also gone 
 about at night in disguise with a hurdy- 
 
8 
 
 gurdy and a mandoline, accompanied by 
 her cousin, Miss Notherby, and a young 
 lady who sang excessively well, and they 
 had, while unknown, gained large contri- 
 butions from the passers-by, or those under 
 whose windows they performed; — but 
 though the money so gained was sent, 
 according to its original destination, to a 
 poor widow, left with a large and starving 
 family, the daring manner in which it had 
 been obtained, and the notoriety which it 
 gave to the young ladies, insured to them 
 censure, rather than respect, as vanity the 
 love of singularity, and a contempt for de- 
 corum were supposed to be the prompter 
 of their exertions, not the benevolent 
 wish to assist distressed fellow -creatures. 
 Such was the judgment which Lady 
 Restormel passed on their conduct — but 
 perhaps she would have been more candid 
 towards Lady Helena, had she not early 
 imbibed a terror lest her son should know 
 and admire her, as her own talents and 
 powers of mind had taught him to value 
 mental superiority in a woman, and she 
 
knew that in Lady Helena Fortescue the 
 sister of his new but intimate friend Cap- 
 tain Fortescue, they were united to excel- 
 ling loveliness. The next year, she was at 
 Malvern just after Lady Helena and her 
 grand-mother had quitted it, and at first 
 her terror-motived dislike of the former 
 had nothing to feed it, for she heard only 
 of her attention to her sick parent and of 
 her charity to the poor ; but from some 
 families who had smarted under the lash of 
 Lady Helena's wit, and with whom on her 
 first coming Lady Restormel had made no 
 acquaintance, she soon heard sufficient to 
 gratify her spiteful feelings towards the 
 beautiful offender. 
 
 " Yes ! Lady Helena, and her cousin 
 had ridden a race together. They had 
 staked their ponies against each other, and 
 ridden them themselves in jockey caps and 
 dresses ! — nay, in complete maris attire, 
 and as men ride according to the report of 
 some, and also on a public race-ground! 
 but even Lady Restormel refused to 
 believe the former representation, though 
 b5 
 
10 
 
 she gave implicit credit to the latter. But 
 the account was nearly all false ; it was 
 true that the young ladies, on an appointed 
 day, rode their own ponies against each 
 other, but it was on side-saddle and in 
 habits, though they did wear different 
 coloured jockey caps ; and the scene of 
 their performance was not in a public race- 
 ground, but the park of a mutual friend, 
 where no one was admitted but the 
 acquaintance of both parties. These sto- 
 ries, with many additions, were told to 
 Lady Restormel, and by her repeated to 
 her son when he joined her at Malvern, 
 and it was with indignation that she heard 
 him reply — 
 
 " But, remember, dear madam, she is 
 only sixteen !" 
 
 " But if she is so fearless and daring at 
 sixteen, what will she^e at one and twenty 
 my lord ?" «• 
 
 He could have said, sobered, and im- 
 proved, perhaps, but he forbore, and he 
 even renewed his promise never to accept 
 any invitation to Laurel Grove. 
 
11 
 
 About a year after, and when Lady 
 Helena, having lost her grandmother, had 
 taken up her abode with her parents, Lord 
 Restormel was induced to go to Drury 
 Lane Theatre, to see Kean in one of his 
 best characters ; and though Lady Restor- 
 mel was in a private box, he chose to go 
 into the pit, because the box was too high 
 for him to see all the varying expression 
 of the actor's countenance; for some time 
 his attention was fixed on the performance, 
 but at length it was attracted to a young 
 lady in the stage-box, whose audible 
 though instantly suppressed sob struck 
 upon his ear, and by that means caused his 
 eye to dwell, with a degree of fascination, 
 on a face and form of most uncommon 
 loveliness; her eyes were, meanwhile, 
 rivetted on the scene, and she seemed 
 wholly absorbed in what was going for- 
 ward, while her expressive countenance 
 formed a marked and correct comment on 
 all that was passing before her, for her 
 cheek was now pale with anxiety— now 
 flushed with indignation ;— her lip varied in 
 
12 
 
 its beautiful contour, with all the variety 
 of the passions represented, and her dark 
 eye was now suddenly dimmed with tears^ 
 or flashing with anger or delight. Lord 
 Restormel could scarcely help smiling at 
 his own enthusiasm, while, as he gazed on 
 her, he said to himself, why should I look 
 at the stage? — I see all that is passing 
 there, reflected in that countenance ; and 
 some minutes elapsed, before he also said 
 to himself, but should 1 like a sister of mine 
 to be so wholly abandoned to her feelings* 
 so wholly regardless of observer's eyes ? 
 However, he did say so at last, and he 
 resolved to look wholly on the stage in 
 future ; but when the act ended, the ful- 
 filment of his wise resolution was deferred, 
 as for want of something else to look at 
 he was forced to continue to observe this 
 young lady. He fancied her some years 
 older than she was, for she was not quite 
 seventeen, but she looked twenty, from the 
 strong marks of intellect, and the already 
 decided character visible in her counte- 
 nance ; her cheek too was rather pale than 
 
13 
 
 blooming, and except when emotion 
 mantled her ever-varying complexion, the 
 deep vermilion of her lip entirely eclipsed 
 the delicate tints of her cheek ; the shape 
 of her head, and her bust, appeared to him 
 the most perfect he had ever seen, and the 
 whiteness of her skin was set off by the 
 simple black gown which she wore ; and 
 when she rose he saw that she united the 
 most finished grace of motion to beauty of 
 person. He now found that her counte- 
 nance was as fascinating in mirth as it had 
 been in anxiety — in smiles as it had been 
 in tears — for she was surrounded by men 
 of various ages, and the eye was now 
 beaming with laughter, which had lately 
 been suffused with sorrow ; he also saw 
 that the scarlet shawl was now drawn — 
 now withdrawn from the exposed and ivory 
 shoulder, with, as he feared, coquetish art, 
 and that* this gifted creature knew that 
 she was the observed of all beholders, and 
 enjoyed the consciousness. Lord Res- 
 tormel sighed while he saw this, and 
 wished the curtain would draw up again; 
 
14 
 
 it did so, but his attention still wandered 
 from the stage, though the object of it 
 kept her's again fixed on the perfor- 
 mance. 
 
 At length came the catastrophe, and 
 her face hidden in her handkerchief, her 
 heaving bosom, and a sort of faintly mur- 
 mured sobbing expressed her deep sense of 
 the author's — the actor's merit. What ! 
 no self-control ! — none at all, thought he; 
 poor thing! how her education has been 
 neglected ! Had my mother brought her 
 up, she might have been a paragon : poor 
 thing! he repeated again and again, and 
 each time he became more deeply absorbed 
 in gazing on her. But now she was again 
 surrounded, and ■ her dark eye smiling 
 through forgotten tears/ she seemed to 
 deal out repartee on repartee to some men, 
 who, though men of fashion, he knew to be 
 unworthy of the notice of any delicate 
 woman. 
 
 The farce now begun, and Lord Res- 
 tormel staid on, though he did not origi- 
 nally intend to do so; but he knew Lady 
 
15 
 
 Restormel did not need his attendance, 
 and he could not conceal from himself that 
 he wished to see the last of the young 
 lady; hut she certainly di-d not gain fur- 
 ther on his admiration, by her behaviour 
 during the after-piece, for her laughter 
 was as loud as her grief had been, 
 and called the attention of the house to 
 her box. To express mirth thus loudly, 
 though it was in the sweetest tone possible, 
 was more indelicate, he thought, than to 
 express sorrow; and again, he regretted 
 the bad manner in which the poor thing 
 had been educated ; nay, he began to 
 wonder whether his mother had ob- 
 served her and her behaviour. As this 
 passed his mind, he looked up at her box, 
 and saw her leaning over, and trying, he 
 thought, to discover him. At this moment 
 their eyes met, and Lady Restormel beck- 
 oned to him accordingly, with a farewell 
 glance at the incognita, whose features 
 were now still, and whose fine countenance 
 was beaming with intellect and thought ; 
 
16 
 
 he left the pit, and proceeded to his mo- 
 ther's box. The instant she saw him, she 
 exclaimed — " Oh, Restormel! did you ob- 
 serve that girl in the stage-box ? " 
 
 " To be sure I did," he replied, blush- 
 ing as he spoke, for he knew that he could 
 have added, I scarcely observed any thing 
 else. 
 
 " Well, but do you know who it is ? " 
 
 " No ; but I mean to enquire, for she 
 is very beautiful." 
 
 " Beautiful ! she beautiful ! " replied 
 Lady Restormel, changing colour, " wel* 
 you have mortified me, I thought your 
 sober judgment would have been as dis- 
 gusted with her as I have been — a forward, 
 fine-eyed, actress-like girl, dressed for 
 effect, and evidently manoeuvring to 
 divide the attention "of the audience with 
 the actors — and to call her beautiful ! " 
 
 " Beautiful she is in person and face, 
 however defective in manner, for I saw her 
 very near." 
 
 " Near, very near Restormel! — well, 
 
17 
 
 but you own you did not like her manner ; 
 and to think that forward, assured looking 
 miss is not yet seventeen ! " 
 
 " I took her for twenty ; but who is 
 she ? " 
 
 " The very girl I have so often talked 
 of — Lady Helena Fortescue." 
 
 Lord Restormel at this name felt a 
 strange sensation come over him, and with 
 difficulty he faltered out — " Indeed! that 
 Lady Helena Fortescue!" 
 
 " Yes, that is she ; and then, for a girl 
 of rank to be in an open box, as if she 
 wished to be as much seen as possible ; I 
 really am quite sorry to think so respect- 
 able and high-bred a lady, as my old 
 friend, should have a daughter so unworthy 
 of her." 
 
 " Surely, surely, dearest mother," said 
 Lord Restormel, in spite of himself, " you 
 judge this young lady rather hastily, not 
 to say severely." 
 
 " Restormel ! " cried she, laying her 
 hand on his arm, and lowering her tone 
 still more, for she had spoken from the 
 
>' 18 
 
 beginning so as not to be heard by her 
 companions, " do not let me hear you 
 defend Lady Helena Fortescue ; I know 
 your intimacy with her brother, and — but 
 no — I know you, Restormel, and I cannot 
 distrust either your prudence or your 
 judgment." 
 
 Restormel bowed, as if in submission* 
 but he was not satisfied either with his 
 mother or himself; however, he even was 
 more resolved than before not to venture to 
 Laurel Grove, and he was also resolved he 
 would not let Fortescue know that he had 
 seen, admired, but disapproved his sister. 
 
 Not long after, Lord Restormel went 
 first to Ireland, then to France, and was at 
 Lyons, on his way to England, when he 
 received a letter there from Fortescue, 
 telling him that he hoped he could now 
 claim his congratulations for having at 
 length escaped, and for ever, from the 
 chaujs which he, Lord Restormel, had 
 always considered as unworthy of him, and 
 that he was on the eve of making pro- 
 posals to a most admirable girl, whom 
 
J9 
 
 even his rigid judgment would approve; 
 and then requested him to bring over some 
 pieces of Lyon's silk, as presents for his 
 mistress, his mother, and his sister. But 
 the next post brought a letter from Lord 
 Erpingham, describing the effect which 
 the sudden appearance of Mrs. Tyrawley 
 had had on his son, and adding, that Lady 
 Helena was sure that Mansfeldt, who had 
 taken an aversion to Miss Villeroy, because 
 she had once reproved his impertinences, 
 had thrown Mrs. Tyrawley in Fortescue's 
 way, on purpose to prevent the match ; as 
 it was likely that his observant eye had 
 discovered the partiality with which Miss 
 Villeroy, whose life his son had once pre- 
 served, had long regarded him. The earl 
 wrote, he said, to beg that Lord Restormel 
 would immediately hasten to England, 
 and be with Captain Fortescue as much 
 as possible, since no one had such power 
 over him as he had. He concluded, he 
 said, that he was in London, but had not 
 heard from him since he left home so ab- 
 ruptly in such an agony of mind. 
 
20 
 
 On receipt of this letter Lord Restor- 
 mel hastened to Dieppe ; and it was that 
 he might get to England for Fortescue's 
 sake as soon as possible, that he em- 
 barked in so rash and desperate a way. 
 When he landed at Bognor he sent a 
 messenger to ask for any letters at Brigh- 
 ton, directed to Lord Restormel, and 
 found one from Fortescue, announcing 
 his instant departure for Paris, and his 
 hope to see him there ; accordingly Lord 
 Restormel having written to his mother as 
 soon as he had landed, to desire his car- 
 riage to meet him at such a place on the 
 road, made the best of his way thither, 
 on or in coaches, as it was his custom to 
 travel in that manner, because he loved to 
 see life and character, and delighted in the 
 variety which this mode of travelling 
 afforded to the often monotonous state in 
 which he was forced to live with Lady 
 Restormel. That lady was far from ap- 
 proving the occasional laying down of his 
 rank and its accompaniments ; but she 
 always insisted that when he did emerge 
 from his obscurity, it should be into the 
 
21 
 
 fullness of his glory ; she therefore uni- 
 formly chose to send his usual equipage 
 for him, with the coronet, the liveries, and 
 the two servants; while on the journey in 
 which he met Lady Helena, he resolved, 
 after passing a few days with his mother, to 
 join Fortescue at Paris, and he was think- 
 ing very intently on his friend, his blighted 
 prospects, and the fatal consequences of 
 forming an attachment to an unworthy 
 object, when he was roused from the atti- 
 tude resembling sleep, by the stopping of 
 the coach to admit Lady Helena. The 
 moment he saw her he recognised her, 
 though he chose to resume his attitude, 
 and seem to sleep. He was soon an atten- 
 tive listener to all that passed, and had no 
 difficulty in convincing himself that the 
 young lady next him,who had been desired, 
 he found, by her parents to travel as he 
 saw her, but whom Lady Helena rejoined 
 unknown to her's, at the suggestions of her 
 own eccentric will, was the Miss Villeroy 
 whose prospects had been blasted proba- 
 bly by the vindictive artifice of a man 
 
22 
 
 whom he dispised. Chance had thus thrown 
 him into the presence of one woman, 
 whom on principle he wished the most to 
 avoid, and of another whom he most 
 wished to see — while his judgment im- 
 pelled him from the one and his compas- 
 sion and curiosity urged him to stay with 
 the other. Therefore, though at first he 
 resolved to leave the coach, as Lady Helena 
 was become an inmate of it, he satisfied 
 his conscience for rescinding this reso- 
 lution, by saying within himself, " I ought 
 to stay to protect this strangely exposed 
 Miss Villeroy ; her friend needs no pro- 
 tection, and deserves whatever disagreeable 
 situations her folly may expose her to." He 
 did not at first intend to be himself her 
 chastiser, and by his own behaviour shew 
 the unfitness of her conduct, but meant to 
 be a quiet listener and observer of what 
 passed. To remain so, however, was impos- 
 sible. Lady Helena forced him into the 
 arena, and for her sake he saw it was 
 necessary for him not to let her retire un- 
 wounded from the combat : but for his 
 
23 
 
 own he had better have remained inactive. 
 He had the heart to wound her, but not to 
 see her suffer under the pain he inflicted, 
 without feeling pity of a most dangerous 
 nature — pity to which an equally danger- 
 ous sensation of self-reproach was united, 
 for what right thought he have I to wound 
 the feeling of this amiable, though rash 
 and ill-educated girl ? Therefore, what- 
 ever Lady Helena's distress of mind might 
 be from the consequences of her ill-advised 
 journey, Lord Restormel's bore some degree 
 of comparison with it, and while wrapped in 
 painful contemplation he journeyed to- 
 wards his home, he caught himself fre- 
 quently exclaiming in the secret recesses 
 of his heart — " Thank heaven ! my mother 
 can never ljmow of this rencontre, nor the 
 impropriety of conduct which occasioned 
 it !" Yet, why should I, hitherto open and 
 ingenuous in my dealings with every one, 
 and particularly so to my mother, why 
 should I now not only wish to conceal 
 the adventures of to-day from her, but feel 
 an utter impossibility to disclose them? 
 
24 
 
 The reason was he thought obvious — it 
 was two-fold. In the first place, he had no 
 right to disclose to any one a secret which 
 he had only surprised, and ought, there- 
 fore, to respect Lady Helena's intended 
 incognita ; in the next place, it would, he 
 felt, be cruel and ungenerous in him to 
 mention to Lady Restormel a circum- 
 stance which could not fail to draw down 
 on her head the severe but just censure of 
 that unindulgent judge. 
 
 Accordingly, when he reached Green 
 Hills, his mind was made up to the neces- 
 sity of concealing his adventures in the 
 stage-coach; and Lady Restormel was too 
 much engaged by the delight of seeing 
 him again in safety and unhurt after his 
 perils at sea, on which he dwelt more than 
 he would otherwise have done, to turn her 
 attention from his unusual abstraction, to 
 put questions to him on his comparatively 
 uninteresting proceedings by land. 
 
 The next morning, however, he did not 
 escape without some trials, both to his 
 feelings and ingenuousness. He received 
 
25 
 
 by the post of that day a letter from For- 
 tescue, dated London, when he expected 
 that he was at Paris. In this letter he said 
 he had met Lord Aston on the road, he 
 being sufficiently recovered to proceed to 
 England, by slow stages ; and that his 
 brother was already on his way to Laurel 
 Grove, but that he was detained in London 
 by business, and earnestly wished to see 
 Lord Restormel there. 
 
 As he read this letter aloud, it gave 
 Lady Restormel an opportunity of ex- 
 claiming — " What a strange, capricious 
 young man ! you told me last night that 
 he had requested you to meet him at 
 Paris, and he is now flown back to 
 London ; I doubt he is an unsteady cha- 
 racter, Restormel ! — Poor, dear Lady Er- 
 pingham ! with an elder son in bad health, 
 and such a daughter, and such a younger 
 son, she is really much to be pitied ! " 
 
 " I doubt much whether Lady Er- 
 pingham considers herself as an object of 
 pity," he replied, deeply blushing, ". and 
 the world, in general, looks upon her, no 
 
 VOL. II. c 
 
26 
 
 doubt, as a very enviable mother : — Fortes- 
 cue's unfortunate attachment is not known 
 to every one." 
 
 " You do not mean to say, I hope* 
 that he is still attached to that woman, 
 who is now another man's wife ? " 
 
 " I mean that the consequences of that 
 attachment subsist still, namely, an im- 
 possibility to love and marry any other 
 woman." 
 
 " What imbecility of mind ! — what a 
 want of energy of character ! — well, 
 Restormel, Lady Erpingham is more to 
 be pitied than I though she was : I hope 
 you will not be prevailed upon by Captain 
 Fortescue to accompany him to Laurel 
 Grove ? " 
 
 ** No, madam; I give you my word of 
 honor that I will not." 
 
 " That is enough; Lady Helena For- 
 tescue is there, I conclude ?" 
 
 "No; I believe she is not there now." 
 
 "How should you know that? — does 
 her brother mention her in his letters to 
 you?" 
 
27 
 
 " Sometimes ; and Lady Helena is, 
 probably, now in London." 
 
 * In London ! — and shall you see 
 her?" 
 
 * I dare say not, for she is in all pro- 
 bability at Sir George Villeroy's — and — 
 and — " 
 
 " Why do you hesitate ? " 
 " Nay, it was unnecessary, as I may 
 venture to tell you that Fortescue has 
 been talked of for Miss Villeroy, and that 
 circumstances make it nearly impossible he 
 should visit his sister; therefore, it is 
 equally impossible that I should make 
 Lady Helena's acquaintance." 
 
 " I am glad of it — she looks artful — 
 and your poor brother's fate, and Captain 
 Fortescue's, have given me a distrust of 
 female artifice, and sorry should I be to 
 see you, my dear Charles, exposed to a 
 struggle between your affections and 
 your principles." 
 
 " Not more sorry than I should be," 
 replied Restormel, sighing involuntarily; 
 
28 
 
 " and I can readily believe, though I do 
 not think she looks artful, that Lady 
 Helena Fortescue is not to be approached 
 with impunity; therefore, I shall avoid, 
 rather than seek her acquaintance ; and I 
 will refuse to be presented to her if I can 
 do so without pointed rudeness." 
 
 Lady Restormel expressed herself 
 satisfied with this assurance, and tried to 
 be so, but she was not ; she saw that her 
 son had been greatly struck with the per- 
 sonal graces of Lady Helena, and she was 
 by no means sure that that man was not 
 already under the power of the woman 
 whom he felt it prudent to avoid; and 
 how her fears would have been increased, 
 had she known he had already seen her, 
 and had concealed the meeting from her ! 
 but she could do no more — she had warned 
 him : but never did mother more earnestly 
 desire a husband for the eldest of her 
 eight girls, than Lady Restormel for this 
 dangerous daughter of the house of For- 
 tescue, though not of her own providing. 
 
29 
 
 We left Lady Helena and Julia at the 
 door of Sir George Villeroy's house, and 
 there the former chose to remain, till Julia 
 had announced her unexpected arrival ; 
 but it was some minutes before she could 
 announce it, as she was so overpowered at 
 sight of the alarming change in her father's 
 appearance since she saw him last, that 
 she could only weep, and return in silence 
 the tearful caresses which he bestowed on 
 her. It was unnecessary, however, for in 
 the midst of this ebullition of parental and 
 filial feelings, Lady Villeroy not liking to 
 witness it, went to the window and saw 
 Lady Helena. 
 
 " Why, Julia," cried she, and in no 
 pleasant tone of voice, " what does this 
 mean, and why have you brought Lady 
 Helena with you ? — to be sure she is not 
 come to stay ?" 
 
 " I am sure I hope she is," answered 
 Sir George — " I shall delight to have my 
 old friend's child under my roof before I 
 die, for their going to a hotel, when last 
 here, preyed upon me sadly." 
 
30 
 
 " Stuff!" muttered Lady Villeroy, "but 
 speak, girl! — let me know the worst." 
 
 Sir George, meanwhile, was hobbling 
 down to invite Lady Helena in, and assist 
 her from the carriage, and her affectionate 
 heart was shocked to see how ill he 
 looked. 
 
 {t Dear, Sir George," cried she, spring- 
 ing out, u . how kind this is ! then Lady 
 Villeroy and you will admit me ! " 
 
 " Admit you ! to our home and our 
 hearts ; why did you stay at the door for 
 a moment? but how did you come ?— not 
 in that vile machine to be sure ?" 
 
 « Oh, yes I did." 
 
 " What ! did Lord and Lady Erping- 
 ham allow their daughter to travel in a 
 stage coach t — Impossible ! nor would I 
 have allowed mine, if — but I must not 
 think that way, or I shall misbehave ; but 
 do explain." 
 
 " What ! has not Julia told you every 
 thing ?" 
 
 " No, poor thing ! she has not spoken 
 yet," he replied, his voice faltering as he 
 
31 
 
 said it, " and you might have been at the 
 door till now, had not Lady Villeroy seen 
 you." 
 
 Lady Villeroy now advanced coldly 
 and stiffly to meet Lady Helena, saying, 
 " This was an honor I did not expect." 
 
 " But not the less welcome," said Sir 
 George, " and it was kind in you so to 
 come." 
 
 " No, no," replied Lady Helena, with 
 gentleness, as she was resolved to be very 
 good, " it was not kind, because 1 am 
 here, malgre ?noi.'" 
 
 She then explained the causes and 
 motives of her enforced visit to Gloucester 
 Place, and Sir George thanked her again 
 and again for having chosen to share the 
 enforced degradation of Julia. Lady He- 
 lena then assured Lady Villeroy that she 
 could take part of Julia's bed, and that 
 as Mrs. Seebright was absent, the naughty 
 girl would go back to papa and mamma 
 as soon as her maid should arrive in 
 London. 
 
32 
 
 " Your maid ! is she coming ? " asked 
 Lady Villeroy. 
 
 " Yes, and man too, I hope," cried Sir 
 George ; and, I assure you, the best bed 
 is up again, and shall not be taken down 
 again while I live," he added, nodding 
 significantly as he spoke. 
 
 1 You are . always harping on that 
 string, Sir George," cried Lady Villeroy, 
 " but I will appeal to Lady Helena, 
 whether she does not think that, ill as 
 you are, it is better not to be tempted 
 to have staying company, and therefore 
 the fewer beds the better." 
 
 * My dear madam," replied Lady He- 
 lena, but keeping under, with laudable re- 
 solution, her inclination to be saucy, in her 
 reply to this indelicate speech, '■ you are 
 a better judge than I, or any one can be, 
 of Sir George's ability to bear company, 
 and your plans are probably, therefore, 
 founded on experience ; consequently, I 
 hold myself ready to go away directly, 
 and return to my friend's empty house, if 
 it so pleases you." 
 
33 
 
 w Oh ! dear, no ! not on any account," 
 cried Lady Villeroy, subdued by her un- 
 expected courtesy, while Sir George seized 
 her by the arm lest she should escape. 
 In a few minutes the necessary directions 
 were given; Lady Helena was installed 
 in the best chamber, having privately de- 
 sired her servant to provide himself with a 
 lodging at the nearest hotel, and poor Sir 
 George, as the coffee was carried round, 
 declared that he believed the return of 
 Julia, and the visit of Lady Helena would 
 lengthen his life some years. But if Julia 
 was struck at the alteration in her father's 
 appearance, he was no less shocked at that 
 in her's ; her cheek had lost its bloom and 
 its fulness, and he feared that Captain 
 Fortescue's attentions, as they had meant 
 nothing, might have been fatal to her 
 peace ; still she was grown more beautiful 
 than he had ever expected, and he won- 
 dered what was become of her high shoul- 
 ders and narrow chest; then her dress, 
 what elegant simplicity! no bed-curtain 
 
 c 5 
 
34 
 
 gown disfigured her now ; and while he 
 surveyed her becoming apparel with ap- 
 proving delight, Lady Villeroy was eyeing 
 it askance, and trembling to think what a 
 bill would be sent in from Lady Helena's 
 milliner ! It was no wonder that Lady 
 Villeroy became more than usually elo- 
 quent on the distresses of the times, -and 
 the necessity for the strictest economy ; 
 at another time Lady Helena would not 
 have been able to resist this temptation to 
 play on the feelings of Lady Villeroy, and 
 work up her avaricious fears to agony, 
 but mortification and conscious error had 
 stolen her usual spirits, and when they 
 had retired for the night, Lady Villeroy 
 owned to Sir George, that she never saw 
 a girl so improved as Lady Helena. 
 
 " Yes, one still more so," he replied. 
 
 "Whom?" 
 
 "My own dear Julia! — do you not 
 think so ? " 
 
 rt She is very well," said Lady Villeroy, 
 unable to bear to own the improvement of 
 
35 
 
 which she was equally conscious, especially 
 to Sir George, of whose exclusive attach- 
 ment she was still tenacious. 
 
 " Very well ! — only very well ! — I 
 tell you, she looks like an angel, and 
 like one who is all angel already too !" 
 Here he heaved a deep sigh, and she who 
 was not all angel now, nor even yet in a 
 way to be so, felt that she would have 
 spared herself the present mortification had 
 she been more generous. 
 
CHAP. X. 
 
 The next morning' brought a letter for 
 
 Lady Helena from Laurel Grove, and 
 
 dreading the reproof which she deserved, 
 
 she trembled to open it, especially before 
 
 strangers ; she therefore withdrew with 
 
 Julia to her own room. It was, however, 
 
 some relief to her feelings to see that the 
 
 hand-writing was that of her indulgent 
 
 mother ; but when she read — ' Your 
 
 father is so highly irritated against you 
 
 that he dare not trust himself to write, and 
 
 has therefore given up the pen to me.' 
 
 She could scarcely read what followed, for 
 
 she Was almost blinded with tears. ' He 
 
 desires me to say that your disobedience 
 
 and assumption of independence in leaving 
 
 home without leave, and in so offensive and 
 
 improper a manner, and your rudeness in 
 
 doing so when old and respected friends 
 
37 
 
 were our guests, will, however, be punished 
 when you learn, that our dear and suffer- 
 ing Aston is arrived at Laurel Grove to be 
 nursed into health by his mother and sister 
 again if possible — that sister who — ' Here 
 Lady Helena threw down the letter, un- 
 able to read any more, her father's anger, 
 her brother's illness, and her absence at the 
 moment of the beloved invalid's return, were 
 too much for her already agitated spirits, 
 and it was some time before Julia's gentle 
 soothings could restore her to composure. 
 " But what of my return !" she sud- 
 denly exclaimed, snatching up the letter. 
 * I need not tell you Aston's disap- 
 pointment at not seeing you, — he must 
 have passed you on the road. I would 
 have sent off an express for you imme- 
 diately, but your father would not suffer 
 me, he said the post would reach you 
 time enough — and he desired I would 
 respect your assumed independence of the 
 duties, and tell you he did not presume to 
 wish you to come till it was your pleasure 
 so to do.' Here she was again over- 
 
38 
 
 whelmed. ' But my dear child, I speak 
 differently for myself ; I know you do not 
 wish to be independent of your duties, 
 and I say, Come ! come directly ! your 
 mother's arms are open to receive you, and 
 so are Aston's ! and when your father sees 
 the truant's dear face again, and a tearful 
 face too it will be I know Helena, all will 
 be forgotten and forgiven !' " 
 
 " That is so like my dear, dear indul- 
 gent mother !" sobbing as she spoke, " but, 
 what is next ?" ' Oh, Gibbs will not reach 
 London till hours after you receive this ; 
 therefore, you cannot set off till the next 
 day : I conclude you will keep John to 
 attend you, but that will be unnecessary if 
 Marcus, who is staying in London on 
 business, and is at his old quarters in Vere- 
 street, accompanies you back.' 
 
 " Marcus in London !" exclaimed Lady 
 Helena — " did you hear that Julia ?" 
 
 " I did," she replied, turning pale as 
 death, while a sort of convulsive emotion 
 passed across her face ; but she soon 
 recovered herself, and was able to say, 
 
39 
 
 " what else does dear Aunt Erpingham 
 tell you ?" 
 
 " Why she advises me to conceal from 
 Marcus my clandestine departure, and the 
 way in which I travelled, lest he should 
 blame me ! / stoop to conceal an action 
 lest it should procure me blame ! No, little 
 does she know me! I have deserved censure, 
 and I court it as a just and salutary 
 penance for my fault : / shrink from the 
 reproaches of Marcus ! no indeed — I can 
 even exist under my own, and dread them 
 much more ; besides, I shall not see him, he 
 would not like I should go to the hotel, 
 and I cannot ask him hither you know." 
 
 " And why not ; do you suppose I 
 shall dislike to see Captain Fortescue V 
 
 " That is not the question, but, whether 
 it is proper that you should see him, and 
 he visit here." 
 
 " And why should he not ?" 
 
 " Because I think he has not used you 
 well, and your father may be of the same 
 opinion." 
 
 " I can never admit that he used me 
 
40 
 
 ill ; he never said he loved me, though it 
 was evident that he thought he did, and he 
 must have more than suspected that I 
 loved him ; but as soon as he found that 
 he had deceived himself, he took care to 
 deceive me no longer ; therefore, my way 
 is clear before me, and so says Miss 
 Brightwen in her last precious letter. It is 
 a duty I owe myself to behave now as if 
 Captain Fortescue had never been any 
 thing to me but a friend, and as if I felt 
 for him nothing but friendship ; under the 
 present circumstances, female pride and 
 delicacy enjoin me not only to endeavour 
 to subdue my feelings, but to act as if they 
 were subdued. 
 
 " And can you do this ? and is not this, 
 (a lesson evidently learnt by heart I see, 
 and taught by that Christian philosopher 
 Sophia Brightwen) however proper in 
 theory, impossible in practice ?" 
 
 " I humbly trust not," replied Julia, 
 lifting her tearful eyes to heaven, " I have 
 now been studying it for many days as 
 I know the time must come when I must 
 
41 
 
 see Captain Fortescue again, and I believe 
 that I shall be able to meet the trial with 
 firmness." 
 
 " You are an admirable creature, 
 Julia," cried Lady Helena, embracing her, 
 " and I wonder with the man in the stage 
 coach, I cannot bear to name him ! that any 
 man could have the heart to wound you ! 
 Well, then, if Sir George does not forbid, 
 I may invite Marcus hither, may I ?" 
 
 " Yes, I will ask papa to invite him ; 
 and the sooner I do so the better." 
 
 Accordingly she went to his study, and 
 with a tolerably firm voice she told Sir 
 George that Captain Fortescue was in 
 London, and that she hoped he would 
 invite him to come and see his sister. 
 
 " His sister ! and only his sister ! but 
 how is this, Julia, did he not pay you 
 particular attention ?" 
 
 rt Yes, but he did not use me ill ; and 
 I shall see him with pleasure, and I trust 
 without emotion now. If you do not ask 
 him you know he will have reason to 
 believe that you are angry, and that I am 
 
42 
 
 love-sick, papa, and he must not be allowed 
 to think either the one or the other !" 
 
 " Dear, wise, forgiving girl ! why, 
 Julia, how you talk, like a little Solomon ! 
 well, my dear, do as you please — write to 
 him if you will, and ask him to dinner !" 
 
 Here Lady Villeroy, who had just 
 entered, cast no very kind glance on the 
 little Solomon, and exclaimed — 
 
 " Pray whom are you going to ask to 
 dinner ? No one with my consent." 
 
 " But, my dear, it is only Captain 
 Fortescue." 
 
 " He, of all people ! how indelicate it 
 would look, as if you wanted to force your 
 daughter upon him, and as if she wanted 
 it too." 
 
 u It is not my wish that he should 
 dine here, madam," replied Julia, coldly, 
 " I only want that he should be told he 
 may call here on Lady Helena." 
 
 ff Well, that may do for the present ; 
 but mark me, Lady Villeroy, dine here he 
 shall one day, and have a dinner fit to eat 
 too!" 
 
43 
 
 Julia now authorized Lady Helena to 
 write to her brother, and she appointed 
 him to call that morning. Never was 
 surprise greater than Fortescue's when he 
 received the note, and found his sister 
 was in London; and never had he felt 
 more embarrassed, than when he saw 
 where she was. How could he dare to 
 present himself before Julia ; however, she 
 probably would not appear; yet, that 
 was not likely, for his sister said Julia 
 desires me tell you Sir George hopes you 
 will call on me, and that he shall be well 
 enough to see you. 
 
 " What shall I do, Restormel," said he 
 to his friend, who was with him, and had 
 marked his varying countenance ? 
 
 " Go, to be sure." 
 
 " But I dread going ; the sight of 
 Julia, and the recollections of my feelings 
 when I saw her last, before that destroying 
 angel came across my path, will upset all 
 my recovered composure." 
 
 " Then you own that Miss Villeroy is 
 not an object of indifference to you V* 
 
44 
 
 " Certainly not ; and I thought I loved 
 
 her till Restormel, you must go with 
 
 me, and then I shall be less embarrassed ; 
 indeed, you must go, besides, I want to 
 present you to Helena, whom you never 
 saw, you know ; and I also want to hear 
 your opinion of Julia she is exactly the 
 girl to please Lady Restormel." 
 
 " And I suspect her son too." 
 
 f Do you say so, then I had better go 
 without you perhaps ?" 
 
 " Much better ; no, I cannot accom- 
 pany you," said Lord Restormel, with 
 emotion. 
 
 u Are you afraid of falling in love with 
 Julia, because she is dear to me ?" 
 
 " No, not at all." 
 
 " Then it is Helena whom you fear ! 
 I see how it is, you are prejudiced against 
 her, and I as her brother feel offended, my 
 lord; she is my sister, and you ought not to 
 allow yourself to believe ought against her 
 on the report of others. I have heard 
 that Lady Restormel is not very candid in 
 her strictures on Helena ; but do as you 
 
45 
 
 please, sir— I would not force my sister, 
 Lady Helena Fortescue, on the notice of a 
 prince !" 
 
 " Nor shall you force her on mine, 
 Marcus. I will willingly accompany you 
 to Gloucester Place, after what you have 
 said, I should not be easy to do otherwise." 
 
 " When shall we go ? 1 cannot go 
 till to-morrow, though they wish me to 
 call to-day, but I shall write, and say I 
 will be at Sir George's punctually at 
 twelve." 
 
 " Be it so, and I will be here in 
 time." 
 
 It was well, perhaps, for Julia that she 
 received a letter from Miss Brightwen by 
 that day's post, breathing her usual strain 
 of pious instruction, and renewing her ad- 
 vice to Julia how she was to behave in 
 case of her again being thrown in the way 
 of Captain Fortescue. But a letter which 
 she received from Sophia the next day was 
 equally efficacious in preparing her for the 
 dreaded interview, by overwhelming her 
 with a grief so severe and well founded, that 
 
46 
 
 every other pain faded before it ; Julia 
 learnt by this letter that Lady Villeroy 
 had written to inform her she was not to 
 return to Gloucester Place, as Miss 
 Villeroy had no further occasion for her 
 services. This was a trial indeed ! and 
 one which she had not expected, though 
 Lady Villeroy had darkly hinted at it, and 
 declared, that, such was the badness of the 
 times, they should be obliged to curtail 
 their expenses. While weeping over this 
 letter, Julia forgot even the approaching 
 visit of Captain Fortescue, nor did his 
 arrival when announced, call forth in her 
 any of those emotions which she had 
 feared to feel. 
 
 " I cannot come down to him yet," 
 said she, as Lady Helena left the room, 
 " but do not fear for me ! I am firm, and 
 when I have done weeping I will make 
 my appearance." 
 
 Little did Lady Helena expect, when 
 she entered the drawing-room, the sur- 
 prise that awaited her. Fortescue had 
 purposely omitted to inform her that he 
 
47 
 
 should be accompanied by the man whom 
 she had always declared herself so desirous 
 to behold. Lord Restormel, meanwhile, 
 awaited her entrance with a degree of 
 flutter at his heart, which it would have 
 gratified her wounded feelings to be as- 
 sured of: he had resolved to receive her as 
 a perfect stranger, and to leave it to her to 
 acknowledge him as an acquaintance or 
 not, according as her pride or other feel- 
 ings might dictate — when the door opened, 
 and Marcus said in a tone of evident 
 relief, for she was not accompanied by 
 Julia — " Oh ! here is Helena !" Lord 
 Restormel was looking out of the window, 
 nor did he turn round, till Fortescue said, 
 " Now, Helena, let me present my dearest 
 friend to you — Lord Restormel ! Lady 
 Helena Fortescue !" He then drew near, 
 bowing most respectfully and distantly, 
 and though he raised his eyes to her blush- 
 ing face, it was without one look of 
 recognition. 
 
 " Lord Restormel and I have met 
 before," said Lady Helena, assuming the 
 
48 
 
 utmost dignity, though trembling with 
 emotion and surprise; " nor can I flatter 
 myself that he has forgotten our meeting, 
 though he has been so considerate as not 
 to name it to my brother." 
 
 " How is this? — how strange it was 
 in you, my lord, not to tell me you knew 
 Helena; it is impossible you should have 
 met her where she ought not to be seen." 
 
 " Ne gagezpas" replied Lady Helena, 
 while Lord Restormel looked more and 
 more embarrassed ; " Lord Restormel will 
 not say so, and I own that his silence on the 
 subject of our meeting, while I feel the 
 kindness of it, mortifies me to the quick." 
 Here, spite of herself, tears rushed into 
 her eyes, while Lord Restormel vainly en- 
 deavoured to stammer out an explanation 
 to the wondering and impatient Fortescue. 
 But Lady Helena chose to give it herself, 
 and she did so with such truth and such 
 candour, that Lord Restormel forgot the 
 impropriety of her conduct, and even en- 
 tirely forgave it, for the sake of the 
 winning ingenuousness with which she 
 
49 
 
 avowed her^ault, and the generous seve- 
 rity with which she blamed it. 
 
 " Helena ! Helena ! " cried Marcus, 
 shaking his head, " you are a rash, daring, 
 incorrigible girl." 
 
 " No, no, not incorrigible, I trust, 
 especially when my error brought its 
 punishment along with it ; ask your friend 
 whether he did not know both me and my 
 companion all the time." 
 
 " I did ; for I had seen you before, 
 madam, and 1 easily guessed who your 
 companion was." 
 
 " Therefore, you — you resolved by your 
 behaviour, my lord, to show the rash girl 
 the folly of her daring." 
 
 " I did so ; and I now most humbly 
 request your ladyship's pardon for my 
 well-meant, though, perhaps, officious 
 presumption." 
 
 " My lord, I have long forgiven you, 
 though not myself." 
 
 ' What can this mean ; and pray what 
 presumption in your lordship's behaviour 
 
 VOL. II. ^ D 
 
50 
 
 to her, has Lady Helena Jfortescue to 
 forgive?" cried Marcus, colouring deeply. 
 
 " None, Marcus, but what a brother 
 must approve ; Lord Restormel acted the 
 part of a friend, and I only was to 
 blame." 
 
 " Well, good people, you deal in mys- 
 teries." 
 
 " No ; I dislike mysteries, brother. I 
 tell you a simple truth, that, in the wild- 
 ness of my ungoverned will, I chose to be 
 where I had no business to be ; that then 
 I chose to behave as I had no business to 
 behave, and that Lord Restormel, with 
 a kindness for which I shall be ever 
 thankful, made it his business to reprove 
 me, to the best of his power ; believe me, I 
 I have scarcely had a moment's peace 
 since, from the consciousness how ill you 
 must think of me, my lord — I have felt so 
 degraded in my own eyes." 
 
 " And, therefore, how exalted you 
 must be in mine, Lady Helena," cried Lord 
 Restormel. 
 
51 
 
 " Well^Jelena, Lord Restormel has 
 reason to b£ proud, '' observed Marcus, with 
 an arch smile ; ** all you have said proves 
 how highly you value his good opinion ; 
 and it also proves that you made your 
 confession with a view to recover it." 
 
 " I must desire," replied Lady Helena, 
 with her utmost haughtiness of manner, 
 her eyes flashing disdainfully, and her 
 cheeks reddening with indignation, " that 
 neither Lord Restormel nor yourself will 
 put so wrong a construction on my mo- 
 tives. I have been actuated simply by a 
 wish to regain my own good opinion, by 
 confessing my fault, and blaming it severely 
 and justly ; and having in a measure done 
 so, I am comparatively very indifferent to 
 what any one else may think on the sub- 
 ject." Then proudly curtsying, she was 
 going to leave the room, while Lord Res- 
 tormel, piqued, yet pleased, turned again 
 to the window to hide his conscious emo- 
 tion, when Julia entered, and Fortescue 
 hastened to meet her in no small agi- 
 tation ; on seeing that her eyes were red 
 
52 
 
 with weeping, as he attributed her tears 
 to the idea of meeting him;' faut as she 
 gave him her hand, her tears so evidently 
 redoubled, and she seemed so little desirous 
 to conceal them, that he begun to think 
 his self-love had deceived him, and he was 
 sure it had done so, when Julia exclaimed 
 — " Oh, Captain Fortescue, I am so miser- 
 able ! but I suppose Lady Helena has told 
 you all." 
 
 " Not I, indeed, my dear," said her 
 friend, coming down a little from her al- 
 titudes, " I have been too much engrossed 
 with my own miseries to think of your's. 
 Do you not see who is here ? — a forward, 
 impertinent youth, who loves * toad in a 
 hole.'" 
 
 " Amazement ! " cried Julia, with eyes 
 sparkling through her tears. " Lord Res- 
 tormei, welcome to Gloucester Place ; " 
 and as she extended her hand to him, 
 he pressed it respectfully to his lips. 
 
 " So then you are friends, I see," said 
 Fortescue : " I suppose it was not neces- 
 sary for Restormel to lecture you on the 
 
53 
 
 impropriety of your behaviour, Miss Vil- 
 leroy." 
 
 " No, Marcus, it was not ; on the con- 
 trary he complimented her, and by im- 
 plication at my expense, and compared 
 her to Una." 
 
 " Indeed ! Restormel was always 
 famous for discrimination." 
 
 " Your ladyship does my poor sayings 
 too much honor in remembering them," 
 said Lord Restormel ; " but why is Miss 
 Villeroy afflicted ? — again I must wonder 
 that any'one could have the heart to afflict 
 you." 
 
 " Has a true maratre a heart think 
 you?" asked Lady Helena. "Marcus, 
 the poor girl is broken-hearted, because 
 Lady Villeroy has forbidden Miss Bright- 
 wen to come hither again, and Julia 
 thinks this quite a trial." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, the greatest I have ever 
 known," said she. 
 
 Fortescue felt oddly while she said 
 this, and she said it with great simplicity, 
 for at that moment she fancied that she 
 
54 
 
 spoke the truth, and he tried to think that 
 his mind was relieved by this declaration, 
 while he rapidly assured Julia how deeply 
 he sympathised in her distress. 
 
 " Then, now, Marcus and you, my lord, 
 as you have my improvement so much at 
 heart, I call on you both to sympathise in 
 my joy on this occasion — d, quelque chose 
 malheur est bon, and I shall gain, I trust, 
 what Julia loses, and when I have Julia's 
 monitor with me, who knows but I may, 
 in time, become as proper and pretty be- 
 haved as Julia herself?"' 
 
 " You want no monitor but your own 
 excellent head and heart, Lady Helena," 
 said Lord Restormel. 
 
 " May be so; but as they are both 
 silent and sulky sometimes, and will not 
 speak, it may be as well for me to have a 
 monitor at hand, who is always ready to 
 speak, and speaks always wisely." 
 
 " Who is this paragon? — I should like 
 to know her." 
 
 " That you would, my lord, she is the 
 original of that fair transcript yonder; 
 
55 
 
 she is the real Una, believe me ; is not this 
 true, Marcus?" 
 
 "Quite true; and I shall be happy 
 and proud, for all our sakes, to see Miss 
 Brightwen, the constant inmate of our 
 house ; but will this ever be Helena ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, I am sure papa and mamma will 
 consent, for then they will be certain there 
 will be no more travelling in stage-coaches 
 for me, or any other improprieties ; then? 
 instead of being as I am now, a flaunting 
 honey-suckle, throwing about my luxuriant 
 branches here and there, and every where, 
 careless, uncut and unconfined, I shall 
 become a prim, modest, privet bush, 
 allowed to grow to a certain height, and 
 then kept down by rule. Indeed, my 
 lord, you have no idea what a lopper the 
 Brightwen is, and how I shall improve 
 under her shears." 
 
 " Prim ! — and am I prim, Lady Helena ?" 
 said Julia. 
 
 " You! oh no, my dear child, but 
 prim I shall be, as I am always in ex- 
 tremes, you know." 
 
56 
 
 " I only know that you are always 
 undervaluing yourself, and I wish I did 
 not want, dear, dear Miss Brightwen, more 
 than you do." 
 
 " Well, say no more, I am tired of 
 talking of myself, and all this time, Marcus, 
 you have told me nothing of our beloved 
 Aston." 
 
 Captain Fortescue now gave his opinion 
 of Lord Aston to Lady Helena, while Julia 
 and Lord Restormel talked together till 
 the entrance of Sir George and Lady 
 Villeroy interrupted both conferences. 
 
 Sir George received Captain Fortescue 
 even cordially, and pleased with his manly 
 countenance and manner, he not only in- 
 vited him to dinner the next day, as Lady 
 Helena was willing to defer her journey 
 in order to meet him, but gave him a 
 general invitation to the house while he 
 remained in London. Lord Restormel 
 was included in the invitation to dinner, 
 but he declined accepting it, as he was 
 going to leave London; and very soon 
 after the friends, having business to trans- 
 act, took their leave. 
 
57 
 
 Julia, as soon as they were gone, retired 
 to her own room, with a heart full of thank- 
 fulness that she had been able to subdue 
 conscious weakness, so as not to betray 
 any signs of still lurking attachment to 
 the object of it, and Lady Helena was 
 pleased that she had had an opportunity of 
 proudly disclaiming any intention on her 
 part to conciliate the good-will of Lord 
 Restormel. Still she had not entirely con- 
 vinced herself that her violence was any 
 proof of this indifference, or that Lord 
 Restormel would think it such, and when 
 she looked into her own heart, she saw 
 clearly that she was even more desirous of 
 pleasing him than ever. 
 
 Neither Fortescue nor his friend left 
 Gloucester Place more satisfied with the 
 morning interview than Lady Helena. 
 Neither man nor woman, as I said before, 
 loves to give up the power which either 
 has once possessed; and Fortescue saw, 
 with surprise and mortification, the unusual 
 self-possession with which Julia had ad- 
 dressed him, and that composure of man- 
 D5 
 
58 
 
 ner so little consistent with a conscious 
 attachment. She loves me no longer, I see, 
 said he to himself, then surely she never 
 did love me, or even my strange conduct 
 could not so soon have obliterated her 
 love — love, the result of gratitude too! 
 and spite of himself he felt dissatisfied 
 and uneasy, resolving to watch her every 
 look and tone the next day ; and making 
 himself believe that he wished to find her 
 cure was certain, since he was very sure 
 he should never love her well enough to 
 marry her. Sometimes, too, he fancied 
 that an attachment would spring up 
 between her and Lord Restormel, and 
 trying to be generous, he thought he 
 should rejoice to see it; but he sighed 
 when he imaged this union to himself, 
 for he felt what a happy husband Julia's 
 husband would be. 
 
 Lord Restormel was equally full of 
 reverie, and unpleasant reverie too! as 
 they walked down Gloucester Place, for 
 he had not only convinced himself that his 
 intercourse with Lady Helena would in- 
 
5* 
 
 evitably make him enamoured of her 
 charms, but also, that should she return his 
 love (and her want of repose of manner 
 when she conversed with him, might have 
 emboldened the most modest "of men to 
 hope) the decision of her character, and 
 loftiness of her spirit would always pre- 
 vent her from being on good terms with 
 his mother, as even love itself would, pro- 
 bably, not teach her submission; therefore, 
 an union between them would, he clearly 
 saw, be likely to destroy her happiness, his 
 own, and that of Lady Restormel, and that 
 he must more than ever avoid the presence 
 of Lady Helena Fortescue. Such were his 
 cogitations when Marcus broke from his 
 reverie, and abruptly asked him what he 
 thought of Miss Villeroy ? 
 
 " I think her very pretty," he replied, 
 " and a perfect model of feminine delicacy 
 and gentleness ; indeed, the man who gains 
 her must be a happy man." 
 
 " Yes, I thought she would just suit 
 you ; you had better propose to her.'* 
 
60 
 
 " I have no inclination to do it : — ad- 
 miration and approbation are not love." 
 
 " No, but they go some way towards it." 
 
 " Yes. but in this case they would halt 
 by the way, I suspect," 
 
 " Well, but how do you like my sister, 
 Restormel ? — you hesitate, and look as if 
 approbation here was entirely out of the 
 question." 
 
 " Oh no, not so, Marcus ! who but 
 must approve ,her candour, her honesty, 
 her ingenuous self-blame, and her form, 
 her countenance, the tone of her voice ?" 
 here he heaved a deep sigh, and was sud- 
 denly silent. 
 
 " Is that all ? what ! not one word of 
 her lofty bearing, and that proud, dis- 
 dainful brow, that high spirit which beamed 
 from every feature of her line face, when 
 she feared you should fancy that she 
 wished to charm you." 
 
 " Fortescue ! I wished only to praise 
 your sister ; therefore, I paused abruptly. 
 You know I do not admire high spirit in 
 
61 
 a woman, and yet, I must own, her pride 
 becomes her. How beautiful she looked at 
 that moment !" 
 
 Fortescue was satisfied ; there was a 
 heightened glow on his friend's cheek, and 
 a faltering of his voice while he spoke, 
 which made him flatter himself that the 
 first wish of his heart might not be so 
 difficult of accomplishment as he some- 
 times thought it ; but he was too wise to 
 say so ; he was, however, disappointed, 
 when he found Lord Restormel persist in 
 his intention of leaving London the next 
 day, though he might have dined in com- 
 pany with his sister had he been willing 
 to stay : he also found him firm, as before, 
 in his refusal to meet him at Laurel Grove; 
 and when they parted, spite of his desire 
 to believe that Lady Helena, with all her 
 faults, had made no slight impression on 
 Lord Restormel, his fears at least counter- 
 balanced his hopes ; Julia, meanwhile, had 
 made her own private remarks. The 
 state of her own heart had taught her 
 
6<2 
 
 quick-sightedness into the heart of others, 
 and being glad to escape from her uncom- 
 fortable feelings, she had endeavoured to 
 find out in Lord Restormel, during his visit, 
 some of those marks of strong interest in 
 Lady Helena, which she had observed in 
 the coach, and she had seen them : there 
 was an ease in his manner when he ad- 
 dressed and complimented her, which it 
 had not when he approached or spoke to 
 her friend, and Julia was through the rest 
 of the day, on which he called, and even 
 till the hour of dinner, expecting to hear 
 that Lord Restormel had written to say 
 he was still in London, and would dine 
 with them. But he did not come, and 
 Lady Helena, whom she had taught to 
 believe, and hope as she did, was, like her, 
 disappointed. However, Fortescue came, 
 and Julia saw with fearful pleasure how 
 delighted her father was with his company, 
 and how eagerly he promised to accept 
 Sir George's invitation, to come to them 
 whenever he was disengaged, even though 
 
63 
 
 the table was any thing but an attractive one- 
 Yet, though the hope of seeing that being 
 from time to time, if not from day to day, 
 to whom every faculty of her innocent 
 heart was devoted, gave a degree of secret 
 satisfaction to Julia, which tinted her 
 cheek with all its former bloom, and 
 beamed in every glowing feature ; parting 
 with Lady Helena, was even a greater trial 
 than she expected, and the prospect of 
 living with her unamiable mother-in-law, 
 uncheered, unsupported by a companion 
 that was congenial to her, threw a cloud 
 over her path, which scarcely the bright- 
 ness of love could penetrate and remove. 
 Lady Helena was still less able to say fare- 
 well with composure, though cheered with 
 the prospect of seeing her brother at the 
 end of her journey, and though sure not 
 only that her petition to her parents to 
 invite Miss Brightwen to reside with them, 
 as a sort of superintendent of her studies, 
 would be instantly complied with, but 
 that she too might possibly meet her 
 on her arrival. But it was not alone the 
 
64 
 
 idea of a long separation from Julia, which 
 overwhelmed Lady Helena with such sor- 
 row as caused her to sit back in the chaise 
 with her handkerchief at her eyes for 
 several miles after they drove from Glou- 
 cester Place ; it was the conviction that 
 she carried away, in her heart, the image 
 and remembrance of one who evidently 
 avoided her, and who, if attracted by her 
 personal graces, was repelled by her men- 
 tal deformities, as he would undoubtedly 
 call them, and one too whom her pride 
 vainly urged her to forget, because her 
 judgment and her taste united to prove to 
 her how much he deserved to be remem- 
 bered and admired ! How dearly was Lady 
 Helena paying for the rash indulgence of 
 her curiosity and eccentricity in accompa- 
 nying Julia to London ! Yet such are the 
 inconsistencies, such is the strange pleasure 
 attendant on the pain of a growing and 
 conscious attachment, that Lady Helena 
 could not regret that she had come as she 
 did to London, could not regret that Lord 
 Restormel had been the companion of her 
 
65 
 
 journey, even under such circumstances. 
 The desire of her heart had been granted ; 
 the image of her fancy was now clothed 
 in a real form, not less attractive than 
 that which imagination had so long por- 
 trayed, and though the consciousness of 
 being burthened with a secret anxiety 
 deluged her cheek with tears, and she saw 
 no prospect of beholding the object of it 
 again ; still life had acquired a new in- 
 terest in her eyes, and though she said 
 mentally — "Oh! I am very unhappy!'' 
 she had a satisfaction in saying so, which 
 she would have been sorry to exchange for 
 the late repose of her feelings. The 
 postillion having received no particular 
 directions, had taken a road entirelynew to 
 Lady Helena, though she was uncon- 
 scious of it, but she did not long re- 
 main so. 
 
 " What a beautiful house we are coming 
 to, my lady," said her abigail as they ap- 
 proached Burford Bridge! Lady Helena 
 looked up, and could not help desiring to 
 know to whom it belonged. 
 
66 
 
 " It is Lady Restormel's," was the 
 driver's answer. 
 
 In a moment Lady Helena's head was 
 out of the window, nor did she withdraw 
 her eyes from the beautiful scene, till she 
 could nearly behold it no longer ; not that 
 Lady Helena saw its classic architecture, 
 or its verdant lawns, so as to be able to de- 
 scribe them ; but it was his home! and Ae was 
 there ! nay, he might be wandering in its 
 neighbourhood, and perhaps she might see 
 him. The possibility startled while it pleased 
 her, and she suddenly drew in her head again, 
 conscious and ashamed, though the house 
 was still in sight. It was as well that she 
 did so, for its owner was now in sight also ; 
 not that he expected to see Lady Helena 
 pass, and was therefore watching for her, 
 but he was on one of his morning rambles 
 to his mother's cottages, and at the moment 
 that Lady Helena's post-chaise drew near, 
 he was cutting a hazel stick from a hedge ; 
 a little peasant boy who was accustomed 
 to receive a pat on the head, and some- 
 times a halfpenny from him, had just 
 
67 
 
 then ventured to ask of him this more 
 troublesome courtesy. He did not see 
 Lady Helena as soon as she saw him, and 
 she was able, half-timid, half-assured, to 
 gaze on him as he stood bare headed, for 
 his hat had fallen off when he ascended 
 the hedge, and he was smiling with the 
 complacency of satisfied benevolence, 
 while extending the twig to the stretched 
 out arms of the blooming and delighted 
 child. But on seeing the chaise, and 
 recognizing the servant who sat on the 
 driving box, he started ; his countenance 
 changed from one of calm pleasure, to one 
 of blushing emotion, and as his foot slipped 
 while he descended the hedge bank, it 
 seemed, as the road was very narrow, 
 to come in dangerous contact with the 
 wheel. Lady Helena screamed involun- 
 tarily — while Lord Restormel called to the 
 driver to stop, and in evident confusion, 
 and with almost incoherent courtesy, the 
 lady hoped he was not hurt, and the gen- 
 tleman replied to the question. The con- 
 ference was very short, though each wished 
 
it longer ; but they were both painfully 
 conscious, though equally pleased ; and 
 when Lady Helena gave the command to 
 drive on, Lord Restormel did not urge her 
 to stay, though when she was gone, he re- 
 gretted his want of sufficient self-posses- 
 sion to do so, and she said within herself — 
 " how silly it was in me to seem in such a 
 hurry to go — who knows when we shall 
 meet again !" While he consoled himself 
 by thinking — " Well ! it is better as it is, 
 perhaps, for if my mother had happened 
 to come up ! shall I tell her I saw her ? 
 no, if I do she will think I expected her. 
 It is better to say nothing about it, she 
 knows I called on her with her brother, 
 and that information gave her so much 
 pain, I do not like to distress her again. 
 No — no, I had better say nothing about it. 
 But how interestingly beautiful she looked ! 
 the tone of her voice too was so subdued ! 
 so sweet ! and she had evidently been in 
 tears — tears were on her cheek." 
 
 Lady Helena, meanwhile, had her 
 pleasing reveries also; when she was de- 
 
69 
 spairing of seeing Lord Restormel again, 
 chance had thrown him in her way, and 
 he had seemed as confused, and as full of 
 blushes and pleasure as herself. In vain 
 did Gibbs point out another beautiful 
 house to her — she saw it not — she saw 
 nothing but a man in a hedge cutting a 
 stick — she recalled nothing but the beating 
 of her heart when he turned round ; and 
 she recognized him, together with all the 
 rapid, but to her distinct feelings, which 
 the sudden meeting occasioned in her 
 bosom, and which, the feelings of alarm 
 excepted, were, she believed, accurately 
 reflected in his. This was the happiest 
 recollection of her life, and she was so 
 absorbed in it, that she did not at first 
 hear what her servant said at the door 
 of the post-chaise, when she stopped 
 at the first stage, namely, that all the 
 horses were out, and would not be 
 back for half an hour at least. " Then 
 I will get out and walk," replied Lady 
 Helena, and being directed along the 
 road which she was to go, she desired 
 
70 
 
 to be taken up, and followed by Gibbs; 
 she ascended a hill, which commanded a 
 fine view of the adjacent country, at the 
 foot of which stood the mansion of Lady 
 Restormel; Lady Helena was glad to see 
 it again. It was the abode of him whose 
 image was then uppermost in her thoughts, 
 and glowing too with smiles and blushes, 
 which it required no great self-flattery for 
 her to impute to feelings in unison with 
 her own. But, alas ! while she gazed on 
 the fair scene beneath her, and thought 
 how delightful it would be to live there 
 with such a companion as Lord Restormel, 
 the fancied image of his frowning mother 
 presented itself to her startled view, and 
 clouded over her prospect. At this instant 
 Lady Helena heard a well-remembered 
 voice exclaim, just behind her, " I hope 
 you admire what you see, Lady Helena;" 
 and turning round, she beheld him of 
 whom she was then so intently thinking. 
 
 Lord Restormel had set off on his 
 usual ride soon after she left him, and, 
 whether unconsciously or designedly, had 
 
followed the track of her wheels, but not 
 expecting to see her again, when he beheld 
 her walking on the road before him. To 
 go back without speaking to her was 
 beyond his resolution, and giving his horse 
 to his servant, he accosted her as I have 
 mentioned above, and was not sorry, pro- 
 pably, to see what effect would be pro- 
 duced by his sudden appearance and 
 abrupt address. However, when she 
 turned round, radiant in beauty, and her 
 eyes, spite of herself, sparkling with joy at 
 sight of t him, he was so full of emotion 
 and pleasing confusion himself, that he 
 was unable to form an accurate judgment 
 of her's, and he gave a very incoherent 
 reason for being on that spot at that 
 identical moment. Lady Helena herself 
 did not talk, for the first minute or two, 
 with her usual precision, for he was there 
 — and she was caught by him contemplat- 
 ing his residence; she soon, however, 
 recollected herself sufficiently, to put on 
 her hat which she had taken off, and had 
 let her long black ringlets float unfettered 
 
. 72 
 
 orf the breeze ; and though the hat covered 
 these beauties, Lord Restormel was glad 
 she resumed it. He thought it was in- 
 decorous to walk bare-headed in a public 
 road, and if his mother had come by at 
 the moment, he knew what her opinion 
 would have been. He now asked why 
 Lady Helena was walking? — and when he 
 heard she would, probably, have to walk 
 an hour before she was overtaken, he 
 sighed with mortification to think that he 
 dared not invite her to Green Hills, 
 though there was a pathway down the 
 hill, which led to the park-gate, and he 
 fancied that as she glanced her eye towards 
 the house, Lady Helena wondered at his 
 want of attention and hospitality in not 
 urging her to await the horses at his 
 house ; nay, he wondered at his own 
 want of courage in not doing so, and it 
 was with great pain that he could not 
 help owning to himself, that had the lady, 
 so circumstanced, being any one but Lady 
 Helena Fortescue, he would have con- 
 ducted her thither instantly ; but he knew 
 
75 
 
 his mother, and he feared that if he thus 
 forced Lady Helena upon her, that her 
 reception of her would be such a one as he 
 dared not risk ; he knew her suspicious 
 nature on this subject, and he was very- 
 sure that she would suspect Lady Helena 
 of having contrived the circumstances, in 
 order to throw herself in his way ; and, 
 perhaps, she might also believe he was a 
 party to the contrivance. 
 
 As these disagreeable reflections were 
 passing in his mind, Lord Restormel was 
 silent, and his look disturbed, and Lady 
 Helena, who, as his eyes were fixed on 
 the ground, could venture to look at him, 
 saw his embarrassment, and suspected the 
 cause. Pride now resumed its ascendancy, 
 and she felt she ought not to be walking 
 thus with a man, who, though the friend 
 of her brother, and also known to herself, 
 dared not invite her to his house, under 
 circumstances which required this common 
 civility from him. Accordingly, she said 
 with an air of pique, which she vainly 
 endeavoured to conceal — " I beg, my lord, 
 
 VOL. II. fc 
 
74 
 
 I may not detain you from your ride ; I 
 hope you do not think there can be any 
 necessity for your staying with me ? " 
 
 ** Necessity! perhaps not," he eagerly 
 replied ; u but when you are thus so unex- 
 pectedly thrown in my way, no conside- 
 ration shall force me to relinquish the hap- 
 piness of being with you till I can be with 
 you no longer." 
 
 Lady Helena was wounded, though 
 pleased with this speech! — 'As she was 
 thrown in his way I he would not leave her. 
 It was evident, therefore, that he would 
 never seek her ; and wherefore not ? be- 
 cause as she had often been told she was 
 under the ban of his mother. But did not 
 his heart resist his mother's will, and would 
 c he not be justified in endeavouring, by ex- 
 citing all her powers of charming, to make 
 that heart still more rebellious. The temp- 
 tation was a strong one, but Lady Helena 
 resisted it ; she assumed a cold and distant 
 nanner ; she walked with folded arms, lest 
 he should offer her his arm, and though 
 she certainly was not studiously disagree- 
 
75 
 
 able, the usual playful charm of her man- 
 ner had disappeared ; the smile of fasci- 
 nation, the evident wish to please irra- 
 diated her countenance no more. No, 
 thought Lady Helena, that proud, severe 
 woman shall know I am as proud as she is, 
 and would enter no family unless my en- 
 trance into it was solicited, or considered as 
 a favor by every one in it ; I will not conde- 
 scend to charm the son of Lady Restormel. 
 But had Lady Helena intended to do so, she 
 could not have taken more effectual means ; 
 for he saw the secret pride, the lofty dis- 
 dain which gave new dignity to her carri- 
 age and her step; and, as he suspected 
 the cause, he could not but own that Lady 
 Helena's resentment proved her to possess 
 the self-respect becoming her rank in life, 
 and her conscious superiority in mind and 
 endowments. But what can I say to her? 
 thought he ; would I could apologize for 
 not inviting her to Green Hills ? — yet that 
 would be worse still; perhaps she does not 
 know that house is mine, yet to conceal it 
 
76 
 
 from her would be very mean — I must 
 name it to her at all risks. 
 
 Lady Helena, meanwhile, was on her 
 side vainly trying to summon up resolu- 
 tion to mention Green Hills to him ; for 
 would it not look like wishing to be in- 
 vited thither ? 
 
 Lord Restormel, however, had, at last, 
 courage to say, " That is Green Hills — my 
 mother's seat." 
 
 " So I am told," she replied ; " and it 
 seems a beautiful place." 
 
 "It is so, and I wish — " here he paused; 
 and Lady Helena making a great effort, 
 looked at him steadily, as she replied, 
 "Wish what, my lord?" 
 
 " That you could see it, and give me 
 your opinion of Lady Restormel's improve- 
 ments." 
 
 " As I never "saw the place before it 
 was altered, how could I judge of its im- 
 provements ? " she coldly replied. 
 
 " True, still I earnestly wish I could — " 
 
 She had not courage to say, " Could 
 
77 
 
 what my lord ?" for she feared he was going 
 to be more explicit than she liked, in 
 giving his reasons for not inviting her, and 
 she hastened forward in order to interrupt 
 him, exclaiming—" Oh, what a pretty reed 
 house that is before us ; what a fine view 
 it must command." 
 
 " That belongs to us," he replied, " and 
 I have the key of the gate that leads to it 
 in my pocket ; pray let me have the honor 
 of conducting you to it." 
 
 " Oh, no, my lord, I expect the car- 
 riage every moment now." 
 
 " Look ! we can see the road for some 
 distance, but there is no carriage." 
 
 " Well, if it must be so !" — and he con- 
 ducted her to the reed house. 
 
 " This is most fortunate," cried he* 
 "I was wishing that some one of un- 
 doubted taste would tell me where to leave 
 trees for effect, and where to cut them 
 down here ; and if your ladyship would 
 condescend to — " 
 
 " My lord, I can give you no opinion," 
 cried Lady Helena, hastily, " concerning 
 
78 
 
 aught belonging to another — I cannot, I 
 cannot, indeed — do not ask me." 
 
 " If you will not deign to oblige me," 
 replied he, dejectedly, " but it would have 
 been so pleasant to have been able to say, 
 * Lady Helena Fortescue suggested this 
 improvement — she pointed out that ! ' " 
 
 " And to whom, my lord, would you 
 have said this?" exclaimed she, with asto- 
 nishment. 
 
 " To myself; to no one else, believe 
 me ; it would have been a dear, a cherished 
 gratification — one too sacred to have been 
 whispered to any one else." 
 
 Lady Helena was disappointed, though 
 pleased; she hoped he meant to say so to 
 his mother, and that it proved she was not 
 as obnoxious to that lady as she thought 
 herself; but as she felt that if Lord Restor- 
 mel continued to look and talk thus, she 
 could not retain her cold dignity of man- 
 ner, she rose from her seat, and expressed 
 the utmost impatience for the arrival of the 
 chaise, and her determination to go and 
 meet it on the road. 
 
79 ■ 
 
 Lord Restormel was now wounded in 
 his turn ; he had, he knew, been betrayed 
 by his feelings into too warm an expres- 
 sion of them; still what he had said had 
 been so respectful that she needed not to 
 have been hurried away by it; but he 
 evidently was annoyed, and rising also, #he 
 coldly said, " Certainly, they make you 
 wait a long time for horses; if it be 
 your pleasure we will walk towards the 
 inn." 
 
 "We! — pray, my lord, pursue your 
 ride; I fear you have already staid with 
 me too long." 
 
 " I have, indeed, Lady Helena, if you 
 think I have; but I do not wish to force 
 my company on any one." 
 
 " Lord Restormel ! " 
 
 " Lady Helena ! you are offended." 
 
 " No ; hurt, not offended." 
 
 " You wish to get rid of me ! " 
 
 " No indeed ; I do not." 
 
 " Then may I stay to hand you into 
 your carriage ; surely, you can bear with 
 my tediousness till that moment comes, 
 
80 
 
 for, alas, it is very near — the carriage is in 
 sight." 
 
 " To be sure I can/' she replied, smiling, 
 in spite of herself; and presuming on that 
 smile, he timidly offered her his arm; she 
 could not refuse it, and he purposely stopt 
 her every now and then to point out pros- 
 pects and objects to her, in order to retard 
 her entrance into the carriage, which was 
 now rapidly approaching. Lady Helena, 
 now the time of their separation drew so 
 near, felt the kindness of her feelings to- 
 wards her companion increase every mo- 
 ment ; she feared she had been unjust, 
 repulsive, disdainful — and she could not 
 help trying to crowd into the few moments 
 which she had still to pass with him, some- 
 thing more pleasing to his feelings, and 
 more creditable to her own. At length 
 she said, with her usual gracious smile and 
 manners, " What neglectful, cold-hearted 
 friends we are, not once to have mentioned 
 Marcus or Julia during all the time we 
 have been together." 
 
 * All the time has been so very short a 
 
81 
 
 time, that I hope the neglect is excusable ; 
 but make it longer, and in order to make 
 amends for the neglect, we will discuss 
 them and their affairs at full length." 
 
 " Impossible! — I must go; but do tell 
 me what you think of the probability of 
 their being united ? " 
 
 " That it is very great, and that they 
 ought to marry ; I am sure Fortescue loves 
 Miss Villeroy more than he is conscious of, 
 and I suspect that he is still master of her 
 affections." 
 
 " Why then should they not marry? — 
 he may never see that dangerous woman 
 again, and when friends on both sides ap- 
 prove, when there is no 'opposing circum- 
 stance, no obstacle whatever, I cannot 
 bear that a weakness of which a man, like 
 Fortescue, ought to be ashamed, should 
 prevent a union which seems to promise so 
 much happiness; oh, how enviable they 
 are, if they did but know it." 
 
 "Enviable, indeed!" said Lady He- 
 lena ; " well, then you bid me hope that 
 they will be married at last — quick, quick! 
 
 e5 
 
82 
 
 here is the chaise, give me all the hope you 
 can." 
 
 " How unseasonable ! to expect me to 
 give you hope in return for the despair 
 you are giving me by hastening away 
 thus." 
 
 " I must go, I am impatient to get my 
 trial over ; nay, then I must get in with- 
 out your aid." 
 
 " Not for the world." 
 
 " Now, then, no more parleying ;— good 
 by Lord Restormel." 
 
 " Stop ! — what trial awaits you? " 
 
 "A father's just displeasure and re- 
 proof; you know I ran away t'other day, 
 and I am now going home for the first 
 time ; and, indeed, I fear to encounter my 
 father's frowns, for I know I deserve them ; 
 how shall I disarm them?" 
 
 " Only look at him." 
 
 Lady Helena did not dare to meet the 
 full force of Lord Restormel's look as he 
 said this; but kissing her hand to him, 
 without raising her eyes entirely to his, 
 she bade the postilion drive on; then 
 
83 
 
 throwing herself back in the chaise, she 
 closed her eyes, that she might see Lord 
 Restormel still — see nothing but him and 
 the parting look he gave her. 
 
CHAP. XI. 
 
 Lord Restormel could distinguish the 
 chaise that bore Lady Helena away no 
 longer, though he rode after it to some con- 
 siderable distance ; he turned towards 
 Green Hills, and alighting at the reed 
 house, dismissed his horses and servant. 
 What new and delightful recollections 
 now awaited him there ! There he had 
 seen Lady Helena Fortescue seated, and 
 she had admired the scene ! she had pro- 
 nounced it beautiful ! True, it would have 
 been more delighful to him had she 
 pointed out improvements which he could 
 now hasten to make, but there was a 
 becoming delicacy in her refusal to do so, 
 on which his memory dwelt with more 
 than equal pleasure ; for to a man like 
 him it was even more gratifying to dwell 
 on a moral beauty in the woman he ad- 
 mired, than on any kind of personal at- 
 
85 
 
 traction. On such a charm it is also more 
 wise to dwell, as the latter carries in it the 
 seeds of growing decay, and the former of 
 still encreasing durability. But while he 
 was engrossed in these pleasing recollec- 
 tions, his mother's frowning image forced 
 itself on his mind, and substituted a pain- 
 ful for pleasing consciousness. Could he 
 dare to tell her that Lady Helena Fortescue 
 had been with him where he then was? 
 that twice in one hour chance had brought 
 them together that day ? Yet, how mean, 
 how disingenuous it would be in him not 
 to tell her this ? He must, and he would 
 inform her of all that had passed, at all 
 risks, and however painful it might be to 
 do so. On this he was resolved, and for 
 fear she should hear of it from any one else, 
 he would tell her all as soon as ever he saw 
 her ; and he saw her sooner than he expected, 
 for she suddenly entered the reed house, 
 and exclaiming, with wonder, at his being 
 returned from his ride so soon ; she then 
 seated herself by him, but though he had 
 previously resolved to say — " Oh ! you 
 
86 
 
 little think who was with me in the reed 
 house this morning ! he could not prevail 
 on himself to mention that, or any other 
 subject ; but he sat in uncomfortable and 
 restless silence !" 
 
 u What is the matter, Charles ?" ex- 
 claimed his observant mother, " you are 
 strangely absent to-day ! have you met 
 with any thing in your walks or rides to 
 disturb you V 
 
 " Not to disturb me — no, certainly not,"' 
 was his embarrassed answer ; — and there he 
 stopped, saying to himself, " I will tell 
 her presently." 
 
 Lady Restormel looked earnestly at 
 him, and seeing that his cheek was flushed, 
 and that his countenance had a peculiar 
 expression, she exclaimed — " I am sure 
 something unusual has occurred— had you 
 any letters to-day ?" 
 
 * Yes, one, but it was of no conse- 
 quence, none at all." Then, in order to 
 divert his mother's attention from himself, 
 and give him the time which he fancied 
 necessary to enable him to make the 
 
87 
 
 formidable disclosure, he pointed out to her 
 peculiar notice the view to the left, and the 
 beautiful catching lights on a tower at a 
 distance. Lady Restormel looked that 
 way — but she did not see, she saw nothing 
 but with her mental eye, and that still 
 beheld her son's absent perturbed expres- 
 sion — she heard nothing but his unsatisfac- 
 tory answers. It would have been well 
 for Lord Restormel if her bodily eye had 
 continued thus blind — but while again 
 turning to study his countenance, she saw 
 something glittering at the foot of a sweet- 
 briar bush, beside the reed house, and ex- 
 claiming — "What shining thing is that! she 
 eagerly stooped down before her son could 
 prevent her, and took up a brooch of hair 
 with a diamond cypher on it! — that cypher 
 was M. F. 
 
 " Whose brooch is this," cried Lady 
 Restormel, * and how could it possibly be 
 dropt here ?" 
 
 " Oh !" replied Lord Restormel, " I 
 had no idea it was there ! forcing a laugh, 
 
88 
 
 and looking very silly ; but I was going to 
 tell you when — " 
 
 " Going to tell me, were you ?" said 
 his mother with a tone of indignant sar- 
 casm. u Admirable, though tardy, inge- 
 nuousness! but what do I see engraven 
 on the reverse ? ' Marcus Fortescue to his 
 beloved sister, Helena Fortescue!' An- 
 swered me, sir," she continued, her whole 
 frame trembling with indignation — " has 
 Lady Helena Fortescue been here ?" Her 
 manner restored Lord Restormel to his 
 self-possession, and he coolly replied — 
 
 " She has, and has not been gone 
 above an hour." 
 
 " And are you not ashamed to own it, 
 for your own sake as well as her's ? what 
 should she do here? Oh ! heaven !" she cried, 
 clasping her hands convulsively, " is it 
 possible that my son should be carrying on 
 a clandestine intercourse with the only 
 woman on earth that his mother dislikes, 
 and wishes him to avoid ? Speak, my lord ! 
 on your duty I command you to explain !" 
 
89 
 
 " I will, when you are calm, madam." 
 
 " I cannot be calm — why thus put the 
 finishing stroke to her effrontery ! to meet 
 a man on his own premises ! not even to 
 have the decency to insist on his coming 
 to her's ; I cannot stay here, the place is 
 become odious to me !" 
 
 Here she rushed from the reed house, 
 and in such agony as her son would at 
 any other time have beheld with tender 
 alarm. She threw herself on a bank that 
 was near, but starting up again^ she ex- 
 claimed — " But, perhaps, she has been here 
 also ?" 
 
 " I fear not," said Lord Restormel, 
 folding his arms, and looking at her, with 
 no pleasant expression of countenance, 
 u fear not ! I have said it, I should 
 have loved that bank still better had it 
 been so honoured by Lady Helena 
 Fortescue ! " 
 
 This was too much, tears and sobs 
 of the most violent nature now burst from 
 the labouring bosom of his mother, and 
 agitated to a very painful degree the heart 
 
90 
 
 of Lord Restormel, and the more so, 
 because he felt that this suffering was all 
 occasioned by his want of resolution, a 
 weakness which had not only painfully 
 shaken the nerves of Lady Restormel, but 
 had also exposed Lady Helena to unjust 
 suspicion. While this was passing in his 
 mind, he still remained silent, feeling the 
 more unable to speak, the more he felt 
 the necessity of speaking ; but at length 
 he with great difficulty said — " Indeed, 
 dear mother ! I earnestly regret that my 
 folly has exposed you to this agitation." 
 
 " Folly ! then you own it to be folly !" 
 she faintly articulated, — " but, oh ! the 
 greater pang still is occasioned by your 
 breach of promise, and your dishonorable 
 disingenuousness." 
 
 " I am sorry, madam, you know so 
 little of your son, as to suppose him capa- 
 ble of either. Really, were it not for the 
 duty which I owe an innocent and injured 
 lady, I should be too proud to exculpate 
 myself." 
 
 ic An innocent and injured lady! — to 
 
91 
 
 call a girl innocent, who meets a man in a 
 reed house on his mother's grounds ; that 
 mother a stranger to her also !" 
 
 " Lady Helena did not meet me here — 
 I saw her by accident walking on the 
 road, and prevailed on her to visit the spot 
 she so much admired." 
 
 " But she consented ; what decent 
 woman would have done that ?" 
 
 " Not when her attendant was in sight 
 all the time ?" 
 
 Lady Restormel was silent, and Lord 
 Restormel went on to describe his two ren- 
 contres with Lady Helena that morning ; 
 but there was so much confusion in his man- 
 ner, such a faltering in his voice, and he felt 
 evidently such strong interest in his narra- 
 tion, such eagerness to exculpate Lady 
 Helena from blame, that he only made her 
 more odious and formidable to his appre- 
 hensive parent ; and when he said Lady 
 Helena sat on the seat, and declared the 
 view was most beautiful just there, 
 Lady Restormel started from the bank, 
 and hastening out of sight of the building, 
 
92 
 
 declared, that to her all pleasure in it was 
 now destroyed for ever, and that she 
 had a great mind to take the reed house 
 down ! 
 
 rt Not spoken or felt like Lady Res- 
 tormel," indignantly exclaimed her son — 
 " and for the first time in my life I am 
 ashamed of my mother !" 
 
 " It will not tend to reconcile me to 
 your paragon, my lord, that she has occa- 
 sioned the only harsh and cruel word, the 
 only reproof I ever heard from the lips of 
 my son !" 
 
 Tears more in sorrow than in anger 
 now burst from the eyes of his mother, 
 and Lord Restormel could not behold 
 them unmoved. 
 
 " Forgive me ! " he eagerly exclaimed, 
 " and do me the justice to listen patiently 
 and candidly to what I have further to 
 say." 
 
 When he had ended his explanation, 
 even Lady Restormel could not blame, 
 she could only lament what had passed 
 between him and Lady Helena ; but there 
 
93 
 
 was one thing could not be explained away, 
 that was, his evident confusion, absence of 
 mind, and unwillingness to disclose what 
 had passed; and the painful conviction which 
 this occasioned her, it was not in her son's 
 power to remove. True, his answer was 
 ready, and it was sincere also — " But why, 
 Restormel, did you not tell me all this the 
 moment you saw me ! why put it in the 
 power of chance to make the discovery 
 and agitate me thus ?" 
 
 * Because I could not utter it." 
 " And why could you not ?" 
 " Because I knew it would vex and 
 agitate you, and make you suspicious." 
 
 M What ! suspicious without any cause ? 
 as you have related the story, both the 
 meetings were wholly unpremeditated, 
 and as short as possible." 
 
 " They were so ; but had the lady 
 been any other than Lady Helena For- 
 tescue, I should have insisted on pre- 
 senting her to my mother, and shewing 
 her Green Hills. This you know I could 
 not do." 
 
94 
 
 " And had it been any one else you 
 would, I conclude, have instantly told me 
 of the rencontre." 
 
 " Certainly ; but knowing your pre- 
 judices and your suspicions, I felt a re- 
 luctance which I could not immediately 
 conquer." 
 
 " Suspicious again! what should I 
 suspect ? answer me that ?" 
 
 « That I felt ; that I admired ; that—" 
 
 " Oh, Charles ! say no more, I cannot 
 bear the subject ! let us drop it, and never 
 let us talk again of Lady Helena For- 
 tescue, she has been the cause of our first 
 quarrel, but I fear it may not be our last 
 on her account ; however, I rely on the 
 promise you gave me." 
 
 " Which I h&vor kept faithfully, and 
 will ever keep." 
 
 " I believe you, still ; but no matter 
 now, let us talk of something else." 
 
 They did so ; but, as I before observed, 
 the remembrance of Lord Restormel's 
 avowed incapability of naming his ren- 
 contres with Lady Helena, and of his em- 
 
95 
 
 barrassment while doing so, haunted her 
 whatsoever she said or did, and though 
 resolved to banish the images from her 
 thoughts, they were continually recurring 
 to them. 
 
 " By the by," said she, suddenly stop- 
 ping in her walk, * what have you done 
 with that brooch ?" 
 
 " It is in my pocket." 
 
 ? And what do you mean to do with 
 it?" 
 
 " Send it off express to its owner, to 
 be sure !" 
 
 " But how could she contrive to drop 
 it ; perhaps she did not mean it should be 
 returned — she would be better pleased if 
 you were to keep it." 
 
 " Lady Restormel, such suspicions are 
 unworthy of you !" 
 
 " Again, my lord, how I hate this 
 girl!" 
 
 Lord Restormel darting an indignant 
 glance at his mother, for the first time in 
 lis life, now left her silently and abruptly. 
 ( I am wrong, unjust, impolitic ; I know I 
 
96 
 
 am," said she to herself, " but I am miser- 
 able, for I clearly perceive that my son 
 has not seen this dangerous girl with im- 
 punity ; for her sake he has dared to re- 
 prove me ! " Lord Restormel was not 
 absent long, his heart smote him for the 
 anger against a parent into which he had 
 been betrayed, and having dispatched a 
 messenger with the brooch, enclosed in a 
 paper, on which he simply wrote — ci With 
 Lord Restormel's compliments !" he re- 
 turned to his mother, and seeing her in 
 tears, he drew her arm under his, which 
 he affectionately pressed as he did so, and 
 silently, though not sullenly, they walked 
 towards the house. Fortunately they had 
 company to dinner that day, and by the 
 next morning the painful occurrences of 
 the preceding morning seemed to be for- 
 gotten both by the mother and the son ; — 
 but were they so ? no ; Lord Restormel 
 remembered Lady Helena's propriety of 
 conduct, as well as her beauty, during her 
 short stay with him, and he felt her en- 
 deared to him the more by the cruel in- 
 
97 
 
 justice which his mother had done her; 
 while Lady Restormei, when she recalled 
 all that had passed, gave credit, spite of 
 her wishes, to the accuracy of the relator, 
 and was ashamed and sorry for the violent 
 indulgence of her feelings into which she 
 had been betrayed, for she was conscious 
 that resentment of the wrong she had 
 done Lady Helena, would endear her the 
 more to Lord Restormel. When Lord 
 Erpingham beheld his offending child, his 
 reproof was severe as well as just ; though 
 the tears which Lady Helena shed, softened 
 his heart at length into forgiving tender- 
 ness. She found that her mother and 
 Lord Aston were gone to the pavilion, but 
 would probably return again directly, as 
 the wind had changed from a mild to a 
 cold quarter; but, to make her amends 
 for her disappointment, Lord Erpingham 
 said he would introduce her to his new 
 housekeeper ; then throwing open the door 
 of the inner drawing-room, Lady Helena's 
 delighted eyes beheld Miss Brightwen ! 
 " Now, Miss Brightwen," cried the 
 
 VOL. II. F 
 
98 
 
 earl, " to you I delegate my authority, 
 and my right to reprove this rebellious 
 girl! you know that she feels and fears 
 the power of your eye, and I only hope 
 that you will keep its power exclusively 
 for her, as it must serve her, but might 
 injure me." 
 
 " What ! gallant to Miss Bright wen 
 already, papa ! " said Lady Helena, " oh 
 fie, and after I had so resolutely asserted, 
 that you would never make mamma 
 jealous even of her ?" 
 
 " What do you mean, Helena ?" 
 " I will tell you." 
 
 " Lady Helena," said Sir George Vil- 
 leroy to me when we were alone, " what 
 do you think of the dismissal of Miss 
 Brightwen ; — is it not a very silly busi- 
 ness?" 
 
 " Very ; because no one can believe 
 that you can no longer afford to pay Miss 
 Brightwen's salary." 
 
 * No, to be sure not, but that was not 
 the true reason." 
 
 " Then what was ?— and here, papa, 
 
99 
 
 your old friend looked so silly, that I really 
 felt for him, while he replied that the 
 truth was, Lady Villeroy was apt to be 
 jealous ; she knew his admiration of pretty 
 women, and she had fancied she had seen 
 certain looks and attentions, which made 
 her resolve never to admit so dangerous 
 a woman into her family again." 
 
 " Lady Helena, you are joking !" cried 
 the blushing Sophia. 
 
 " No, indeed, I am not; and I am not 
 sure that Lady Villeroy was not right, 
 for I have seen certain squeezes of the 
 hand, and heard such a parting salute ! 
 and then the contrast between her age 
 and your youth ! your e milk of human 
 kindness, and her gall and bitterness!'" 
 
 " True, Helena, I rejoice that my old 
 friend is now safe from such dangers, 
 even though his safety may be my de- 
 struction." 
 
 " Again, papa ! and after what I said." 
 
 " But what did you say ?" 
 
 " Why, I hoped that Miss Brightwen 
 would live with us in future, as I knew 
 
100 
 
 mamma would not be jealous, for that you 
 were not such a Lothario as he was ; and, 
 would you believe it, papa, I saw that Sir 
 George was flattered, and not offended at 
 his wife's suspicions of him, and at my 
 remark; nay more, that wishing to save 
 the expense of a governess, she had art- 
 fully pretended the jealousy she did not. 
 feel, in order to please the poor old soul's 
 vanity, and carry her point." 
 
 " Is it possible ? " cried Sophia. 
 
 " It is certain ; and what a Lothario ! 
 an emaciated figure, the mere wreck of a 
 very fine person, and both hands and one 
 leg swathed in flannels! while the only 
 finger that was visible was furnished with 
 a chalk-stone, which might have saved Lady 
 Villeroy the expense of buying chalk for 
 the servants to keep their milk-tally with." 
 
 <l Helena, Helena! have mercy on the 
 poor baronet's infirmities ! " 
 
 " But, dear papa, I am only bringing 
 his bodily to illustrate his mental infirmity ; 
 now was it not lamentable to see that a 
 being so grievously afflicted in body, could 
 
101 
 
 be so weak in mind as to fancy that his 
 wife could be jealous of him?" 
 
 * Yes, it was very possible that he 
 should believe so, she might be jealous of 
 Miss Brightwen's mental superiority and 
 attractions." 
 
 " But then, why be jealous of certain 
 looks ? and, I assure you, Sir George 
 talked of looks, papa ; and when I vouched 
 for your correctness of conduct, and that I 
 believed not even naughty Miss Brightwen 
 could corrupt you, Sir George said, you 
 were always a pattern of propriety, and 
 that you were nick-named Sir Charles 
 Grandison — but that he, though he ad- 
 mired, could never imitate you. And why 
 not," cried I, pertly enough, " if you had 
 really admired and wished to follow such 
 an example V 
 
 " And what did he say to that ?" 
 
 « Why, he looked oddly, and laughed ; 
 and in short, papa, I saw very clearly 
 that he was pleased to be thought un- 
 worthy to be trusted in the same house 
 with a Sophia Brightwen, and that in de- 
 
102 
 
 daring she believed him a gay deceiver, 
 and what I should call a profligate ; Lady 
 Villeroy knew she was paying court to 
 him, and I, sick and sorry at heart, began 
 to moralize, though not allowed, like the 
 melancholy Jaques." 
 
 " And, pray what thought my moraliz- 
 ing daughter ?" 
 
 " Why, I wondered how old a man 
 must be before he can be secure from 
 being the dupe of an artful woman, and a 
 dupe on the score of vanity too ? " 
 
 " I will endeavour to guess, Helena, if 
 you will tell me at what age a woman 
 is secure from being the dupe of an artful 
 man, and on the score of vanity too ? " 
 
 " I fear," replied Lady Helena, shaking 
 her head, " that our respective questions 
 must remain unanswered till the philoso- 
 pher's stone is found ; and now, my newly- 
 acquired treasure, I beg to see you alone 
 in my dressing-room." 
 
 The next day the brooch (which Gibbs 
 but not Lady Helena had missed) arrived 
 in safety, with Lord Restormel's compli- 
 
103 
 
 ments on the direction : perhaps Lady 
 Helena was disappointed, but she did not 
 own it even to Sophia ; however, the piece 
 of his hand-writing was carefully locked 
 up. She then wrote to Julia* giving an 
 account of her journey, and of her delight 
 at seeing Miss Brightwen ; she concluded 
 thus : — " Our friend looks very pale and 
 very thin, but prettier than ever : how 
 anxiously she enquired after you, and how 
 rejoiced she was to hear the account I 
 had to give her of your marvellous self- 
 command ! marvellous is the only term I 
 can use when thinking of it. I declare to 
 you, Julia, it almost deceived me, and 
 made me think you had really conquered 
 your attachment to Marcus ; true, your 
 eye was downcast, but then so it always 
 is ; there is the advantage of an habitually 
 modest countenance ; I could never so dis- 
 guise my feelings ; a downcast eye would 
 really be the most immodest thing pos- 
 sible in me, it would tell every one when 
 I was in the presence of the beloved ob- 
 ject, how much in love I wa,s.— Heigh ho! 
 
104 
 
 we expect mamma and Aston to-morrow, 
 and then I, who am always in extremes 
 you know, am going the next day to 
 commit an act of penance, and a work of 
 supererrogation both in one. I find that 
 I mortified and hurt those good, tiresome 
 souls the Magnals, by going away during 
 their visit, and have, therefore, written to 
 invite myself to stay two days with them 
 after I have seen Aston and mamma ; they 
 receive me, and papa commends me. — 
 Write fully to me, dearest girl, often, or I 
 shall be jealous of Miss Brightwen." 
 
 The next day she wrote as follows : — 
 " I tell you what Julia, I am resolved 
 to turn author and' write novels — what 
 with my own adventures in a stage-coach! 
 and those of other persons well known to 
 me, I have already materials sufficient — 
 only ' le vrai 4&.nest pas toujours le vrai 
 semblabkl and I have such a romantic and 
 improbable incident to relate ! en atten- 
 dant, let me warn you to expect to see 
 advertised, Romantic Incidents ! a tale, in 
 1 wo volumes, by a lady of high distinction. 
 
105 
 
 Now for my story : — but to make you 
 believe it possible, I must premise, that my 
 father has not been Earl of Erpingham 
 more than twenty years, that he was 
 originally Lord Stanmore, that Aston's 
 name is not Fortescue, though ours is, as 
 he bore the name of Elmont from his 
 birth, being heir to the estates of his god- 
 father, Mr. Elmont, and was to bear his 
 name. Now, Julia,keeping this in mind, let 
 me beg you to figure me to yourself lead- 
 ing Aston into the drawing-room, when I 
 could bear to forego the dear ttte-a-tite I 
 had had with this beloved brother, and 
 telling him I would now shew him the 
 new treasure our family had lately ac- 
 quired, presenting him, at the same mo- 
 ment, to Miss Brightwen. When I said 
 ' Lord Aston,' Sophia's countenance re- 
 mained unmoved, and she smiled and 
 curtsied with her usual sweetness and 
 grace ; but Aston no sooner heard me 
 say * Miss Brightwen !' than, starting and 
 turning pale, he darted on her penetrat- 
 ing and enquiring glances, and, seizing 
 f 5 
 
106 
 
 my arm, exclaimed — ' Brightwen ! what 
 Brightwen, and is her name Sophia ?' 
 1 My name is Sophia/ she replied, look- 
 ing as much surprised as I was. Aston 
 then, after an earnest and agitated survey 
 of her features, grasped her hand, heaved 
 a deep sigh, and suddenly quitted the 
 room; I followed him, conjecturing that 
 our friend's name and herself were con- 
 nected with a dreadful affliction in poor 
 Aston's life, and one which he has never 
 entirely overcome. I was right in my con- 
 jectures, for thus it was : — Miss Bright- 
 wen's mother was a widow, with one son, 
 the delight of everyone who knew him, and 
 more especially of his half-sister, Sophia, 
 and of his father-in-law, who really doted 
 on him. Edward Everard possessed an 
 independent fortune, and at the age of 
 two and twenty he went abroad, where he 
 became intimately acquainted with my 
 brother, then called the Honorable Augus- 
 tus Elmont, the son of Lord Stanmore. 
 These young men were soon inseparable, 
 and Sophia Brightwen was as well known 
 
107 
 
 by character to my brother as to her own ; 
 nay, by face also, for Mr. Everard had her 
 picture, and Augustus, a romantic youth of 
 twenty, took in something like love at his 
 eyes from her looks, and in his ears from 
 hearing her letters read — at least I con- 
 jecture this, and not without reason. Well ? 
 two years passed on happily to the friends, 
 when Augustus became the object of jea- 
 lously to a Neapolitan nobleman, and with 
 the thoughtlessness of presumptuous youth, 
 scorned the menaces which he knew were 
 uttered against him. In vain did his wise 
 and pious friend tell him that the ap- 
 pearance of evil was sinful, and that as he 
 seemed in the eyes of the world, and 
 especially of the offended husband, to be 
 carrying on a criminal pursuit, he ought 
 to quit the place, and never see the lady 
 more. Pride made him persevere, for he 
 could not, he said, bear to have ir thought 
 that fear of consequences could influence 
 his conduct, and persevere he did ; the con- 
 sequence was a challenge — the place the 
 sea-shore — the time midnight — the light 
 
108 
 
 that of the moon ; in vain did Everard try 
 to obtain leave to negociate a reconcilia- 
 tion with the offended husband — in vain 
 reprobate the wicked practice of duelling ; 
 all, therefore, he could then do, he did — 
 he accompanied Augustus to the place of 
 rendezvous. My heart bleeds while going 
 on, but go on I must. The marquis came 
 apparently alone ; therefore, Everard was 
 obliged to retire, after having tried in vain 
 to prevent the combat. They fought, and 
 the marquis fell ; but scarcely was he on 
 the ground, when three men hitherto un- 
 seen, but no doubt prepared by him, 
 rushed forward, and while one of them 
 bore the marquis away, the others stabbed 
 Augustus with their stilettos, then, before 
 Everard could prevent them, they raised 
 him between them and flung him into the 
 sea— one of them having previously 
 wounded Everard in the arm. They then 
 disappeared and left Everard at liberty to 
 follow the impulse of his noble heart; 
 he plunged, therefore, into the sea, which 
 at that place was full and deep; swam, 
 
109 
 
 spite of his wounded arm, after the body of 
 my brother, and at length caught hold of 
 it, when with inconceivable difficulty he 
 had nearly dragged it to shore; a boat 
 filled with revellers, amongst whom was 
 poor Everard's servant, appeared in sight, 
 and they beheld by the light of the moon 
 on the water one man floating as if dead, 
 upheld by one who was evidently near 
 sinking ; but Everard's now fast-closing 
 eye, saw that a chance of life for his 
 friend, at least, was at hand, and Everard 
 struggled a few moments longer till the 
 boat had reached him, when Richard with 
 a scream of agony recognised his master 
 and Augustus ! In another moment my 
 brother was in the boat, and when they 
 again turned to take up his generous 
 friend, they saw him no more ; he had 
 sunk, had gone under the boat, and 
 all with him was over on earth ! He had 
 died the victim of friendship and disin- 
 terested humanity. The body was not 
 found for days after ; but Augustus, was 
 saved ! he recovered for his wounds, 
 
110 
 
 though many, were not mortal. But what 
 a recovery was his, when the whole truth 
 which his friend's servant told him in all its 
 sad details was presented to his view ; 
 months of illness and of sorrow succeeded; 
 months of delirious anguish, during which 
 time he was an object of interest and 
 anxiety to many, and the marquis when he 
 recovered was forced to quit Naples ; but 
 Aston was most indebted for kindness and 
 care to a widow lady older than himself, 
 who lived in the same hotel, with him, and 
 who nursed him with a sister's affectionate 
 attention. Meanwhile, Mr. Brightwen on 
 receiving the sad tidings was so excessively 
 distressed as well as the mother of Everard, 
 that they both declared they never could 
 bear to see my brother, or to hold any inter- 
 course with him ; and they agreed never to 
 ask any information relating to the affecting 
 circumstance ; but though it was a subject 
 forbidden, it never ceased to be dearly 
 remembered, and the poor mother at 
 length sunk under her grief. Lord Stan- 
 more, therefore, and his son, were objects 
 
Ill 
 
 neither of interest nor curiosity to the 
 Brightwens ; but, on the contrary, they 
 avoided the slightest remembrance of 
 either; consequently, they knew not that 
 the one was become Earl of Erpingham, 
 and the other Lord Aston. My father, 
 meanwhile, concluded that Everard's father 
 bore the same name as himself, suspected 
 not that the Mr. Brightwen at whose house 
 in Norfolk he was so hospitably enter- 
 tained some years after, was the father of 
 the youth, who had given his life to save 
 that of his son ! nor had Mr. Brightwen 
 the slightest suspicion that the nobleman 
 whom chance had led to his house was 
 the father of him who had deprived him of 
 one of the beings dearest to him on earth. 
 But to the ear of poor Aston the name of 
 Brightwen was tenderly and awfully fami- 
 liar — and till gratitude led him to repay 
 Mrs. Scroope's evident love and affec- 
 tionate and watchful nursing by the offer 
 of his hand, Aston had ] cherished in his 
 heart the image of his Sophia, and an 
 earnest wish to see, and perhaps to woo 
 
112 
 
 her, if she could endure the sight of one 
 who had caused the death of her brother ! 
 Judge then what must have been his feel- 
 ings when I presented him to her ? Judge, 
 also, what her's must have been when she 
 found that she had beheld in my brother 
 the being so long to her an, object of 
 abhorrence, however unintentionally the 
 injury he had done her ! But I was not 
 prepared for the effect which this know- 
 ledge had on her in one respect! I was 
 hurt beyond expression when I heard her 
 declare, and with a wildness that startled 
 me, that she .could not stay a moment 
 under the same roof with the destroyer of 
 her beloved Edward ! at first I was shocked 
 and speechless, but I did not long^remain 
 so, as I felt, that for the first time, and 
 probably the last, I had the vantage ground 
 of Miss Brightwen ; and firmly, but ten- 
 derly, I told her, that I did not expect 
 mjustice, and its consequences, ungenerous 
 actions from her ; nor did I expect to see 
 her at once forfeit her long acknowledged 
 claims to respect on the ground of her un- 
 
113 
 
 common self-command and well-regulated 
 feelings. This expostulation produced a 
 good effect immediately — she struggled 
 violently with herself, burst into tears, and 
 begged me to forgive whatever she had 
 uttered in the first violence of her emotions. 
 When she became more calm, I told her 
 that Aston had suffered more from the 
 results of a calamity of which he had been 
 the unintentional cause, than most persons 
 from the evil actions which they had in- 
 tentionally] performed : that his health 
 and his spirits had been utterly destroyed 
 by the sorrow which he had experienced, 
 and the memory of her brother was even 
 yet green in his soul. — ' No wonder,' she 
 exclaimed, 'so it must be in that of every 
 one who knew him — and in his ; but indeed, 
 indeed, I pity Lord Aston, though I 
 cannot, cannot see him ! ' * Not see him, 
 whom your brother loved as his own soul • 
 he for whom he risked his life, and, 
 I doubt not, was contented to loose it !' 
 she remained silent, and shuddered vio- 
 lently ; ' would your beloved Everard be 
 
114 
 
 pleased at such a decision? — would it not 
 soothe his spirit, if it could be hovering 
 over you, to see himself the bond of union 
 between the two beings he loved so very 
 dearly, and to know that you bewailed his 
 loss together with sympathizing tears?' 
 still she was silent. At this moment my 
 mother entered the room, with her face 
 disfigured with excessive weeping: — 'He- 
 lena!' said she, 'your poor brother asks 
 for you ? Miss Brightwen, the sight of you 
 has opened all my sons anguish afresh, 
 and I never saw him so wretched.' ' Then 
 let me go away directly,' cried Sophia^ 
 starting up. ' No/ replied I, taking her 
 hand, ' it is a justice due to poor Augustus, 
 after all he has suffered, to see him before 
 you go, and soothe him with a word of 
 kindness. Any other conduct were un- 
 worthy of Miss Brightwen — unworthy of 
 her whom I have hitherto been proud to 
 look up to as an example of Christian 
 energy and Christian resignation.' ' You 
 are right, Lady Helena,' she meekly re- 
 plied, ' only leave me to myself for an 
 
1 15 
 
 hour, and then do with me as you please.' 
 I then led her to her own chamber, left 
 her, and hastened to my poor brother, who 
 was, I found, comforted by the idea of 
 seeing her, and with the faint hope that she 
 would, in time, feel a mournful pleasure in 
 his company. At the end of an hour she 
 sent for me, and said she would see Lord 
 Aston, if I desired it; but he was too 
 unwell then to bear the interview. To- 
 morrow, he means to see her. The rest of 
 the evening has been passed in explaining the 
 almost improbable concurrence of circum- 
 stances which had made us remain in igno- 
 rance of the claims which Miss Brightwen 
 and her family have upon ours; claims 
 which, in the day of their distress, we 
 should have eagerly and thankfully ac- 
 knowledged. I cannot find words to ex- 
 press to you Aston's excessive agony, when 
 he heard what difficulties Sophia had un- 
 dergone, and to think that she, whom un- 
 known, he had almost adored, should also 
 have experienced pecuniary hardships, and 
 have been forced to work for her bread — 
 
116 
 
 the thought was frenzy ! — then to find her, 
 too, a sort of dependant in his own family; 
 but dependant she should, he said, be no 
 longer — that he was determined upon. In 
 short, the consequence of this trying scene 
 will be, I trust, a happy one in some res- 
 pects. But Lord Erpingham, not Lord 
 Aston, must make Sophia Brightwen in- 
 dependent ; Lord Aston may assist the 
 father, but you and I know, Julia, that 
 Sophia would not accept pecuniary favors 
 *rom a young man, if, indeed, she accepts 
 them at all ; but whether she does or no 
 she must, in future, feel that her residence 
 under our roof is a favor done to us. It 
 enables us to repay a small portion of the 
 debt of gratitude, which we owe to the 
 memory of Edward Everard. Aston says 
 she is so like her brother, and so like her 
 own picture. Poor fellow ! I wish him 
 safe back again with his disagreeable wife. 
 I will now send this letter off, and write 
 to you again, when the interview is over» 
 Show or send this letter to Marcus." 
 
117 
 
 The next day Lady Helena wrote as 
 follows : 
 
 " Our prospect brightens! The meet- 
 ing went off to admiration, and I see that 
 Aston was right in thinking that, in time, 
 Miss Brightwen would have a melancholy 
 pleasure in being with him ; all I now fear 
 is, that he will have too lively a pleasure in 
 being with her. He gazes on her so in- 
 tently, and so fondly ; she says, ' Poor 
 man ! I see that he compares my features 
 with those indelibly impressed on his 'me- 
 mory.' That may be true ; but in the 
 meanwhile I fear that the former may 
 become indelibly impressed on his heart. 
 My mother, who thinks Aston incapable of 
 any human weakness, has built a very 
 pretty frabric on a foundation suggested 
 by Aston. He has heard us all extol Miss 
 Brightwen's power in forming the female 
 mind for a woman's best and dearest 
 duties, by instilling Christian principles, 
 and he exclaimed — ' Oh, that she could or 
 would live with us, and educate Everard 
 and Edwardina!' (for so they are christened 
 
118 
 
 after poor Mr. Everard). f Why should he 
 not ?' cried my mother eagerly. ' But do 
 you think she would?' he replied; ( then 
 you know I could, without any difficulty, 
 offer her an independence.' My mother 
 told him she would feel his way for him, 
 and she wishes my father and her father to 
 have a meeting. I find Mr. Brightwen is 
 living in one of the Midland counties, and 
 she thinks that if my father could recon- 
 cile him to the idea of his daughter resi- 
 ding under the roof of the man who was 
 the cause of his son-in-law's death, that 
 then Sophia's scruples would cease, provided 
 she has any, and provided, which I think 
 would be very likely, her only objection 
 would be founded on his probable aversion 
 to such a plan. She is at this moment 
 mentioning the subject to Sophia; but, 
 I am sure this plan will be relinquished 
 very soon, for I know Aston. I do not 
 think with my mother, that Aston is in- 
 capable of human weakness, but I do think 
 and know that he is capable of struggling 
 with and rising superior to it ; time will 
 
119 
 
 discover whether I am right or no. More 
 changes since I wrote yesterday ; my mo- 
 ther and Aston are going for a month to 
 Hastings, because it is warmer there than 
 at the pavilion, and my mother's appre- 
 hensive tenderness, fancies Aston worse 
 though every one else think him better ; 
 she wishes him to be with her alone, be- 
 cause she sees that he is often agitated 
 when with Sophia. Papa is going to see 
 Mr. Brightwen, and, as I suspect, to find 
 out if he can be of any service to him. 
 When he returns, Miss Brightwen and 
 myself are to go with him to Hastings. 
 While in Derbyshire he means to pay one 
 or two visits, therefore his return is un- 
 certain. They set off on their different 
 journies next week. I thank you for 
 your letter ; but I wish you would com- 
 plain a little and murmur at your lot. 
 What a dull and trying life you are now 
 leading. Marcus is, however, a comfort 
 to you, I hope ; he writes to me in such 
 raptures of your meek and uncomplaining 
 spirit, and I really believe the patient 
 
120 
 
 sweetness with which you endure the 
 joyless tenor of your existence, and the 
 pain inflicted by the crossness of your 
 maratre, have forged for the poor man's 
 heart a stronger fetter than your beauty 
 and your talents ever did; for the one 
 was snapped as soon as made, the other, 
 I believe, will last for life ; but I may be 
 mistaken, therefore I am glad to see by 
 your letters, that you continue to regard 
 Marcus only as a friend, and as likely to 
 remain so. I have been to the Magnals, 
 and I trust that I behaved very prettily 
 on the whole ; to be sure I was once 
 wicked enough to own to the old lady 
 that I was a friend to reading and writing, 
 and thought that an educated popu- 
 lation was more likely to know wrong 
 from right than an ignorant one ; and I 
 gently insinuated a fear to the old gentle- 
 man, that his descent from Charlemagne 
 was not quite made out in a direct line, 
 for that I had heard the reputation of his 
 great, great, great, great-grandmother was 
 not quite intact, which heresy if I had 
 
121 
 
 been a man, would certainly have cost 
 me my life, or the risk of it at least in a 
 duel, with slugs in a saw-pit; for the tone 
 in which he said, \ Lady Helena, give me 
 leave to tell you,' was one . of fierce de- 
 fiance, till his wife saw the corners of my 
 mouth work with ill-suppressed laughter, 
 and exclaimed—' my dear Heronimus! do 
 you not see that Lady Helena is only 
 .joking with you ;' but, 'pon honor, Julia, 
 this was the very height and front of my 
 offending ; in the whole two days I passed 
 there, and I was called kind, and sweet, 
 and delightful, and good, till I began to 
 believe I was so : yes, good was their 
 word — no, I can't be good, because I 
 am not happy ! But why am I not 
 happy ? I do not exactly know — oh yes, 
 I do, but I will not tell why. Cannot 
 you guesSj Julia ? Promise me you will 
 never go in a stage-coach again as long as 
 you live. I never will, I assure you ; the 
 remembrance of my journey in one, will, 
 I fear, last through my life.'" 
 
 VOL. II. g 
 
122 
 
 I shall now give an extract from one 
 of Julia's letters. 
 
 * What shall I do, dearest Lady He- 
 lena ? Captain Fortescue is here every day, 
 and for hours at a time ! and he has re- 
 sumed that manner which I once thought 
 meant so much ! I now never dare, never 
 can raise my eyes to his ; and I do assure 
 you, that I rejoice in papa's having per- 
 mitted Lord Clanross to visit here, be- 
 cause it gives me an opportunity of di- 
 viding my attention ; and, as I have begged 
 papa to tell him he has nothing to expect, 
 I hope that coming will do him no harm ; 
 papa thinks him so handsome, and Lady 
 Villeroy says he is quite an Adonis ; and 
 she praises him so much ! but I think some- 
 times she does it to vex me, because she 
 knows I prefer your brother ; yet it is 
 very uncandid in me to think this ;— would 
 Miss Brightwen were here ! I am so afraid 
 of betraying the weakness of my heart! 
 so afraid he should despise me for it ! 
 but, how selfish I am ; how unkind not to 
 
123 
 
 tell you sooner what will interest you so 
 much more! — Lord Restormel has been 
 here; he called alone, and I saw him 
 alone ; he came very early, he said, in 
 hopes of finding me at home; your last 
 letter came in while he was with me ;— 
 from dear Lady Helena, cried I ; he 
 blushed excessively, and tried to look 
 unembarrassed, but could not. ' I hope 
 she is well ! ' said he, in a hoarse voice, and 
 blowing his nose as if to hide his emotion. 
 ' Oh, quite well!' I replied, * but she has 
 been very anxious—' ' Anxious ! is Lord 
 Aston worse ? ' * No, but his feelings have 
 been much tried lately ;' and then I could 
 not help shewing him your interesting 
 letter on that subject, even though there 
 was at the beginning and end of it an 
 allusion to adventures in stage-coaches. 
 It seemed to me, that for some time, he 
 read and saw nothing but those words,, 
 and read them over and over again, for 
 he was a long time before he turned over 
 the leaf, and then, as if not able to think 
 of any thing but you, he said, * Did Lady 
 
124 
 
 Helena tell you of our rencontre on the 
 road ? ' '. She did.' ' And did she not say 
 she thought it very odd, that, being so 
 near my mother's house, I did not ask her 
 to stop and take some refreshment ? ' • No,' 
 said I, f she did not, but, as I believe, she 
 is aware that she is no favourite with 
 Lady Restormel, she could not wonder at 
 your not asking her to the house ; and it 
 is very certain if you had, my lord, that 
 she would have refused your invitation.' 
 ' Miss Villeroy,' said he, in great con- 
 fusion, 'are you' not aware that my mother 
 never saw Lady Helena, except across a 
 theatre, how then should she — ' here he 
 paused, unable to proceed with what he 
 knew was a falsehood. ' Lady Restormel's 
 prejudice against my friend, is a sufficient 
 proof that she does not know her,' said I, 
 ' and Captain Fortescue himself informed 
 both me and his sister, that Lady Res- 
 tormel had spoken unkindly of her.' 
 ' Well, madam, well ! I cannot consistently, 
 with truth, deny this ; therefore, as it is a 
 most painful subject to me, I must beg 
 
19,5 
 
 leave to drop it, assuring you that the son 
 shares not the feelings of his mother on 
 this point.' * I see that very clearly,' re- 
 plied I, with great simplicity, and for- 
 getting myself entirely. ' Miss Villeroy, 
 what do you see?' cried he, changing 
 colour. I was then embarrassed in my 
 turn, and with difficulty replied, ' I see, 
 that is, I see you do my friend more jus- 
 tice, because you know her better.' * True/ 
 said he, sighing, and as if relieved ; ' but, 
 let me proceed with the letter;' and, as 
 he did so, he became deeply interested ; 
 still he paused to praise you and your 
 admirable expostulation with Miss Bright- 
 wen. When he had finished the letter, 
 he sighed deeply, and said nothing ; then 
 folding it up, he looked some time at the 
 address, and I really expected every minute 
 he would have pressed it to his lips, but 
 he did not, he only said, ' What a beau- 
 tiful hand-writing !' thanked me, and re- 
 turned it to me. Soon after he exclaimed, 
 * Poor Aston ! I am told he is not happy 
 with his wife ; she knows he did not marry 
 
126 
 
 her for love, and is therefore jealous of 
 every woman he meets, though hitherto 
 without cause. I am really inclined to 
 wish, with Lady Helena, that he were 
 safe home again ! ' He then relapsed into 
 reverie, and soon after took his leave, 
 telling me he was going to set off for a ram- 
 ble in the Highlands the next day. ' I am 
 a restless mortal,' cried he, 'as he opened the 
 door, and never so restless as now ; my 
 mother has great forbearance with me, and 
 bears my absences well ; however, though 
 frequent, they are not long, and I leave 
 her now in excellent health. God bless 
 you ! I shall hear of you from Fortescue — 
 who if, as report says, Lord Clanross is to 
 be the happy man, comes hither much too 
 often for his peace.' I wish he had not 
 said this ; but it was in one respect com- 
 forting without being dangerous ; as it 
 proved that he did not see I loved his 
 friend. ' Your brother comes hither too 
 often for his peace if I marry another !' 
 those were his words ; but I must not 
 dwell on them ; however, it is very certain 
 
127 
 
 that he is jealous of Lord Clanross's 
 visiting here. The first time he saw him, 
 he turned pale, and scarcely returned his 
 salutation ! Will you be very angry if I 
 say that I cannot help thinking of the 
 dog in the manger. Now, is not that more 
 like you than me ? You see I grow 
 saucy — do you not therefore suspect that I 
 am growing happy ? How much easier is it 
 to be amiable and proper when one is 
 miserable than when one is happy ! Well, 
 then, ought we not to be even more 
 thankful for a state of trial, than a state of 
 happiness ? I know Miss Brightwen would 
 say yes. — Oh ! that she were but here to 
 teach me to bear trials with fortitude and 
 blessings (should any be in store for me) 
 with calm and thankful equanimity ! 
 
 w Ever your affectionate, and faithful 
 ft Julia Villeroy." 
 
CHAP. XII, 
 
 Lady Helena replied thus — " Indeed, 
 Julia, if your happiness encreases in pro- 
 portion to your sauciness, you are in a fair 
 way of being intolerably happy ! and to 
 punish you I send you the following rabat- 
 jole. — Our dear Miss Brightwen is again 
 summoned to her sister, whose life of toil 
 and woe seems about to end. — Still Sophia, 
 whose love for her encreased with the con- 
 sciousness of the good she was able to do 
 her (the grand secret of all attachment), 
 shrunk from the idea of a final separation 
 from her, and though she bears it with re- 
 signation feels it as a trial. For my own 
 part I selfishly rejoice at this her removal 
 from a life of care, as I flatter myself that 
 now Miss Brightwen will be suffered to 
 remain stationary here, for I am very sure 
 that Aston will find some excuse for giving 
 up the plan he named to my mother. He 
 
129 
 
 has been over from Hastings once since he 
 went thither, and staid here two days, 
 which two days he spent almost exclu- 
 sively (except when engaged on the busi- 
 ness for which he came) with Sophia. He 
 shewed her her picture too, which was found 
 amongst her brother's things — and which 
 he has never parted with. The sight of 
 it overcame her excessively, and she wept 
 over it, pressed it to her heart and her 
 lips repeatedly, while a thousand dear and 
 tender recollections thronged over her 
 mind, and then she was depositing it in 
 her work-bag, as if she thought it was her 
 own property, when Aston snatched it 
 from her, exclaiming — " What are you 
 doing? it is mine!"' and instantly quitted 
 the room with it to her excessive amaze- 
 ment — for said she, its value must be 
 greater to me than to Lord Aston; but 
 perhaps he was afraid to seem willing to 
 part with it, lest I should think it a slight 
 to poor Edward's memory ; therefore, I 
 dare say I shall have it in time. — ' I dare 
 say you will (I dryly replied) but not yet.' 
 g 5 
 
J 30 
 
 My mother writes word that Aston re- 
 turned in very low spirits to Hastings, and 
 that he becomes more absent, and more 
 gloomy every day, and talks of going- 
 back to France very soon, and then pro- 
 ceeding directly to Nice with his family — 
 but not one word of taking Miss Bright- 
 wen with him, to my mother's great sur- 
 prize, but not to mine. 
 
 Now let me desire your congratula- 
 tions on the encrease of my importance. 
 Here I am, in solitary but supreme domi- 
 nion ! I, the rash, eccentric Lady Helena 
 Fortescue, aged only eighteen, and a few 
 months am reine regnante of Laurel Grove ! 
 My father went on his tour four days 
 ago, and I cannot learn that he desired 
 Sophia to take care I did not fall out of 
 the window, or into the lake, but I verily 
 believe he did desire her to keep a sharp 
 look out after me — for they were closeted 
 before he went, and he said with great 
 significance — " Helena ! I leave you un- 
 der excellent care, and in excellent com- 
 pany ! therefore I can feel no anxiety con- 
 cerning you !" 
 
131 
 
 " Poor deceived man ! for the excellent 
 care left me to my own devices three days 
 after, and the excellent company became 
 entire solitude ; but no matter — what 
 says the poet, 
 
 ' Oh ! lost to virtue ! lost to manly thought, 
 Who think it solitude to be alone ! ' 
 
 Now, lost to virtue, I certainly am not, 
 in the common sense of the expresion, nor 
 am I lost to manly thought, if thinking of 
 some more particular man, such as Aston, 
 and perhaps one other explains that phrase ; 
 and I think it no solitude to be alone, on 
 the contrary, I enjoy the novelty of my 
 situation, and I was really so child-like 
 the other day as to receive the good old 
 Magnals, who came to call on me, sitting 
 on the raised ottoman in the drawing- 
 room, en reine, like the penny prints of 
 Queen Anne, with a melon in one hand 
 for a globe, a poker in the other for a scep- 
 tre, and a red shawl thrown royal-mantle 
 fashion over one shoulder. The poor old 
 lady thought me mad at first, but her hus- 
 
132 
 
 band understood the joke, went down on 
 one knee, and kissed hands ; you may sup- 
 pose they would gladly have taken me 
 home with them, but I would not go; I 
 told them Lady Helena Fortescue was 
 delightful company, and that at present I 
 could not bear to part with her ; this was a 
 fact, which they could not be so uncivil as 
 to contradict ; so here I am — and I go 
 singing all over the house like Alexander 
 Selkirk in the song, 
 
 ' I am monarch of all I survey !' 
 
 I have began a course of reading, and 
 I have refused to join my mother at 
 Hastings yet, especially as I could not 
 have a bedroom to myself, for Lady 
 Aston's sister and niece are on a visit to 
 Aston, but when they go away, I mean to 
 succeed them. Your letter, dearest girl, 
 is just brought in ! and I grieve over its 
 contents ! your poor, suffering father ! It 
 must be dreadful to see a parent suffer ! 
 but it must be a comfort to you to see Sir 
 George so cheered by the presence and at- 
 tentions of my brother ! and also to know 
 
133 
 
 that every pang you feel is met by the man 
 you love best, with the most tender sym- 
 pathy ; but pray, pray take care of your 
 own health ! Marcus says he is anxious 
 and wretched about you ! * Strong terms 
 those ! and I repeat them, that on one sub- 
 ject you may be anxious and wretched no 
 longer. Shall I come to you ; T dare come 
 without asking leave on an occasion like 
 this ? Say the word, and I abdicate my 
 throne directly. 
 
 " Thine, more than my own, 
 
 « H. F." 
 Julia refused to accept Lady Helena's 
 kind offer, from a regard to the feelings of 
 Lady Villeroy to whom she saw the visit 
 would be unwelcome ; and to say the truth, 
 in the constant society of Fortescue, who 
 shared her attendance in the sick-room 
 during the day, she had now every possi- 
 ble alleviation of her sufferings which she 
 could receive ; for Marcus, whose heart 
 had been deeply impressed by the sterling 
 worth of her character, as shown by her 
 quiet, unpresuming performance of some 
 of the dearest and most sacred duties of 
 
134 
 
 life, had now requested permission of Sir 
 George to pay his addresses to her ; and the 
 delighted father had declared, that could 
 he but live to see his daughter the wife of 
 Fortescue, he should not have a wish un- 
 gratined. This joyful news was instantly 
 communicated to Lady Helena by Julia 
 and her lover ; but though welcome and 
 ever precious as the communication was 
 to the heart of that affectionate sister, it 
 reached her at a moment when a strange, 
 unexpected, embarrassing and distressing 
 circumstance nearly engrossed every fa- 
 culty of her soul, and had awakened these 
 various and contending emotions. 
 
 When Lord Restormel set off on his 
 journey to Scotland, his mother went on a 
 visit to a friend in Sussex ; but her waiting- 
 maid who accompanied her, was seized 
 with an alarming illness, which was soon 
 pronounced to be a fever of a very danger- 
 ous and probably a catching nature. Lady 
 Restormel had her, therefore, instantly re- 
 moved to a farm-house in the neighbour- 
 hood inhabited by her own sister, and sent 
 for her mother also to attend on her ; and 
 
135 
 
 having waited on the spot till assured that 
 the poor woman was out of danger, she 
 set off on her return home, feeling ex- 
 ceedingly unwell herself, and unable to 
 endure any society. On her road, one of 
 the leaders fell, as the heavily laden 
 carriage was coming rapidly down a steep 
 chalky-hill, very near the lodge at Laurel 
 Grove ; the consequence was an imme- 
 diate overturn down a small hollow on the 
 side of the road, from which Lady Restor- 
 mel received a severe blow on the head, 
 and was taken up insensible ! 
 
 " What a comfort it is ! " cried one of 
 the servants, " that we are so near a 
 gentleman's house." 
 
 " Who lives there ? " and on being 
 told it was the seat of Lord Erping- 
 ham, the man exclaimed with great joy — 
 " Why, that is Captain Fortescue's father, 
 and he is my young lord's particular 
 friend! let us take her thither directly :" 
 accordingly, she was driven, still insen- 
 ble, to the door of Laurel Grove, and 
 Lady Helena, who remembered the liveries, 
 
136 
 
 though she had only beheld them once, 
 saw, from the balcony in which she was 
 sitting, the carriage with the Restormel 
 arms slowly driving up to the door, and a 
 lady, apparently dead, inside of it ! What 
 could this mean ? but impulsive humanity 
 does not pause to think. In an instant, 
 Lady Helena was at the door, and in 
 another, the story was told, the intrusion 
 explained, and Lady Helena Fortescue, 
 with a sort of bewildering emotion, a sort 
 of half conscious consciousness, a painful 
 pleasure, saw the woman who disliked and 
 feared her, admitted as a guest under 
 her roof, and thrown upon her hospitality 
 and humanity for relief and assistance — 
 that woman, too, the mother of Lord 
 Restormel ! oh, how rapidly did her heart 
 beat, and how impeded was her breathing, 
 while she said within herself, how happy 
 I am, to have an opportunity of returning 
 good for evil ? 
 
 When the surgeon who had been sent 
 for arrived, he pronounced his patient to 
 be in great danger, and feared there was a 
 
137 
 
 concussion of the brain; but his fears 
 were removed when she recovered her 
 senses entirely, and demanded to know 
 where she was. On hearing she was at 
 Lord Erpingham's, and that Lady Helena 
 Fortescue, the only one of the family at 
 home, begged leave to pay her respects to 
 her, she tried to rise from her chair, and 
 exclaimed with a tone of aversion — " Lady 
 Helena Fortescue ! no, no ; take me away 
 for mercy's sake — take me away any 
 where else directly ! / see Lady Helena 
 Fortescue — odious ! no, no — no Lady He- 
 lena Fortescue shall come near me." The 
 surgeon and attendants saw in this symp- 
 toms of impending delirium only ; but 
 Lady Helena, who stood behind her sofa 
 and heard it all, considered it as the immedi- 
 ate impulse of her heart, and understood its 
 cause, and felt its importance, only too, too 
 well. But her line of conduct was clearly 
 marked out to her, and beckoning the sur- 
 geon out of the room, she desired to know 
 whether Lady Restormel could be moved 
 with safety. He declared it was impossible. 
 
138 
 
 " Then," said she, "assure her of this yourself, 
 and tell her also, that as she must be kept 
 perfectly quiet, Lady Helena Fortescue 
 must not be allowed to see her, nor must 
 any one — but tell her, likewise, that the 
 servants, and all the house contains, are at 
 her service, and that she is absolute in 
 command here." The surgeon obeyed, and 
 Lady Restormel ungraciously said, " Well, 
 as I must stay here, it is a comfort to know 
 I can't see Lady Helena, and the house is 
 not hers, and her mother was once my 
 intimate acquaintance." The surgeon was 
 now convinced that dislike and not de- 
 lirium spoke, but though he was surprized, 
 he thought it right to ask no questions. 
 
 Lady Helena's feelings were now un- 
 definable even to herself, she was glad 
 and she was sorry, she was mortified and 
 yet she was gratified. She was enabled to 
 do good to an enemy — and perhaps she 
 might convert an enemy into a friend, 
 hatred into affection. But would it not 
 be mean in her to wish to do so ? " No, let 
 her hate me still!" was the whispered reply 
 
139 
 
 of her proud heart ; and while she busied 
 herself in every possible preparation to ac- 
 commodate the sufferer, and saw her- 
 self rendered as comfortable as her sad 
 state would admit of, Lady Helena turned 
 faint with strangely contending feelings, 
 while she almost murmured aloud — " And 
 yet she hates me ; however, she hates me 
 without a cause ; but she shall continue to 
 hate me, I will not bribe her into loving 
 me ; no, no, not even though she is Lord 
 Restormel's mother ! but he ! oh, where is 
 
 he ? what he will feel if " here she ran 
 
 to the surgeon to ask if she had not better 
 send for her son directly. 
 
 " By all means," was the answer. 
 
 " Where is your lord," said he to 
 Lady Restormel's gentleman ? 
 
 " In Scotland !" 
 
 Lady Helena burst into tears as she 
 exclaimed — " In Scotland ! and his mother 
 thus ! Poor! poor Restormel ! but what is 
 his address ; and could he not be over- 
 taken ?" 
 
 That was impossible ; and he had 
 
140 
 
 given no orders but that his letters should 
 be directed to the post-office, Edinburgh. 
 
 " Then eight days must elapse before he 
 could arrive, and what may not happen in 
 that eight days !" said the surgeon de- 
 spondingly. 
 
 " But write, write directly !" cried 
 Lady Helena, " and do not, do not tell 
 him all you fear ! think what a journey he 
 would have !" 
 
 " Do you know Lord Restormel ?" he 
 replied, struck by her strong emotion. 
 
 " Very little, but I well know his love 
 for his mother." 
 
 He then wrote as she desired, and was 
 going to seal the letter when he thought it 
 would only be kind in her to add a few 
 lines, and she took the pen with trembling 
 ringers, but delicacy and pride resumed 
 their power over her, and she forbore, 
 returning the pen unused. The surgeon* 
 however, seemed inclined to add some- 
 thing, but did not, and proceeded to fold 
 and direct the letter. — " I thought," said he, 
 •" of telling Lord Restormel, that though all 
 
141 
 
 the family here were out, except your 
 ladyship, that he might be sure all would 
 be done for the good lady that could be 
 done, as you were very kind." 
 
 " And why did you not T 
 
 " Because your ladyship knows the 
 old lady dislikes you so, I thought it would 
 make the young lord more uneasy to know 
 that her friend the countess was not at 
 home, and that you were." 
 
 Lady Helena said nothing, but turned 
 away, shocked and disappointed ; and she 
 wished that she had written, for she was 
 sure the son did not dislike her, though 
 the mother did ; and she fancied that he 
 would have been pleased to know she was 
 under her exclusive care — but it was now 
 too late : and, after all, whatever feelings 
 might urge to the contrary, judgment ap- 
 proved her not having written. As the sur- 
 geon had said all that was necessary, it was 
 more delicate,more dignified ! more what La- 
 dy Restormel herself would have approved, 
 and a degree of retenue of which she would 
 have thought Lady Helena incapable. To 
 
142 
 
 one person, however, Lady Helena thought 
 it necessary to write directly — and that was 
 to her mother ; though she could not but 
 wish that the task of providing for the 
 necessities of her reluctant guest should be 
 her's, and her's alone ; she was, therefore, 
 pleased to find, by her answers, that Lady 
 Erpingham fancied it impossible for her to 
 leave Lord Aston. Still, though her ser- 
 vants were very attentive, she felt a degree 
 of painful responsibility when the surgeon 
 declared that Lady Restormel grew more 
 alarmingly ill every day, and that he was 
 convinced she was labouring under fever — 
 not the result of the accident, but which 
 was lurking in her veins when the accident 
 happened — fever, probably the result of 
 her being so much with her sick servant ; 
 " However," said he, " she may, with 
 medicine and care, struggle through ; but 
 I must beg for further advice." 
 
 Lady Helena instantly sent off for the 
 nearest physician, who confirmed the opi- 
 nion of Lady Restormel's danger. " Gen- 
 tlemen," said Lady Helena, in a faltering 
 
143 
 
 voice, " with your leave, I will do in Lady 
 Restormel's case what I should do in that 
 of my own mother. I will have a con- 
 sultation of physicians, if she grows worse. 
 Poor Lord Restormel shall have the com- 
 fort of knowing all was done that could 
 be done." 
 
 Lady Restormel did grow worse, and two 
 of the first London physicians were sent 
 for by Lady Helena. They approved the 
 treatment already pursued — prescribed 
 medicines to be given, with a degree of 
 regularity and attention, which it required 
 the most careful and attentive of nurses to 
 administer — but declared their opinion, 
 that the case was one of the most imminent 
 danger! " Your ladyship may venture 
 in," said the surgeon to Lady Helena, one 
 day, * the poor lady will not know you ; 
 she knows no one, her delirium is so high ! 
 — she takes your Gibbs for her own wait- 
 ing maid, who, by the bye, and between 
 ourselves, is not the best of nurses ; for I 
 see she can't bear sitting up, and I found 
 her dozing last night when she ought to 
 
144 
 
 have given the medicine." Lady Helena 
 was shocked : for on strict attention to the 
 orders given, the life of the patient might 
 depend ! What was to be done, and whom 
 could she trust, as neither the surgeon nor 
 physician could stay at night ? But a ray 
 of light broke in upon her ; — Lady Res- 
 tormel could not know her, and the surgeon 
 should not see her; she would swear 
 Gibbs to secresy, and she herself would 
 be the nightly watcher by the bed of the 
 sufferer*. In vain did Gibbs refuse to let 
 her lady perform her difficult duty. Lady 
 Helena having sworn her and the other 
 attendant on the Bible, never to betray the 
 secret, put on a bed-gown like that in 
 which Gibbs nursed, wrapped the same 
 shawl round her, and having heard the 
 directions given by the medical attendants, 
 she gave the medicine and the nourish- 
 ment herself to the fevered lips of the 
 invalid, met the frenzied glance, full of 
 strange hallucinations, secure of being un- 
 recognized, and had the proud and gene- 
 rous delight of trying to save the life of 
 
145 
 
 that being, in a state of helpless uncon- 
 sciousness, from whose repulsive eyes she 
 would have fled with resentment, when 
 that eye possessed the power of distin- 
 guishing ; and who, had she been con- 
 scious, would have rejected her kindness 
 with contemptuous coldness ! — certain it is 
 that during the hours which Lady Helena 
 passed by the bedside of Lady Restormel, 
 she experienced some feelings of finer and 
 more exalted satisfaction than she had ever 
 experienced in her life, and never, never 
 did her lips breathe out addresses so full of 
 fervour and of thankfulness to her Creator. 
 But no human being, except Gibbs and 
 one other servant equally sworn to secresy, 
 knew of the risk which she was running, 
 or the fatigue she was undergoing ; and 
 when the medical attendants learnt from 
 Gibbs every day on account of that atten- 
 dance, which she had not given, (for she 
 had usually slept in an adjoining room 
 while Lady Helena watched) it was with 
 inconceivable delight that the latter found 
 her skilful and attentive nursing extolled, 
 
 VOL. II. h 
 
146 
 
 and heard Mr. S. and Dr. L. declare that 
 if Lady Restormel lived, it would be owing 
 to the excellence of the attendance which 
 she received. * But, surely, surely she 
 will live !' cried the agitated girl. They 
 would still only reply, • we hope so, but 
 this continued delirium under her circum- 
 stance is alarming !' In this state of anx- 
 iety and fear, slightly alleviated by glim- 
 merings of hope, passed seven days and 
 nights, during which Lady Helena took 
 scarcely any rest but in the day. At 
 length, on the night preceding that on 
 which Lord Restormel could with any 
 certainty be expected, the pulse fell, the 
 head seemed clearer, the patient swal- 
 lowed with less difficulty and more willing- 
 ness, and when Dr.L. came in the morning, 
 he pronounced the crisis to be over. 
 
 " Thank God!" cried Lady Helena, burst- 
 ing into tears, " what good news for her son 
 when he arrives, and surely now he must 
 be very near if the letter reached him !" 
 
 " When he comes, if he loves his 
 mother as much as he is said to do, so as to 
 
147 
 
 see only through her eyes/' replied Dr. L., 
 " he ought to settle a pension for life on 
 your Gibbs, who did all the night-nursing I 
 find ; what an accurate account she has 
 kept of what was given, and so on; one 
 would think no one but a person deeply 
 interested could have taken such pains, 
 and really, any negligence might in this 
 case have been fatal ; I shall take care to 
 let Lord Restormel know this." 
 
 A sob so full of pleasure as to be into- 
 lerably painful for a moment now burst 
 from the bosom of Lady Helena, and she 
 was forced to leave the room. 
 
 " Well, then ! I have been the means of 
 saving her life— her's!— I, that odious Lady 
 Helena Fortescue, whom she would not 
 allow to approach her ! What a secret, but 
 precious consciousness shall I carry in my 
 heart through life! — what pangs I have 
 saved to Lord Rostormel ! — what over- 
 powering feelings I shall have when I see 
 him !— but why, why is he not here ?" 
 
 It was near noon before Lady Helena 
 saw, from a gazebo in the park, a post- 
 
148 
 
 chaise and four just appearing on the top 
 of a hill, and driving at full speed. V It is 
 he, no doubt!" she exclaimed, and hastened 
 to meet him at the lodge-gate, to curtail 
 his dreadful suspense by telling him his 
 mother was declared to be better ; and she 
 very naturally concluded this assurance 
 would be more satisfactory from her than 
 any one else. That done, thought Lady 
 Helena, to him, in future I shall resign my 
 task of watching, and I shall also avoid 
 meeting him in the day. I am sure Miss 
 Brightwen, were she here, would say my 
 determination to avoid him was strictly 
 proper. Lady Restormel shall never have it 
 in her power to saythat Lady Helena For- 
 tescue took advantage of existing circum- 
 stances, and her helpless unconsciousness, 
 to try to entrap the affections of her son. 
 
 While these thoughts were rapidly 
 passing in Lady Helena's mind, the chaise 
 almost as rapidly had reached the gate of 
 the park, where Lady Helena was stand- 
 ing in a state of indescribable emotion. It 
 contained Lord Restormel, who had tra- 
 
i49 
 
 veiled day and night from Edinburgh on 
 receipt of the letter ; and now, worn out 
 with anxiety and fatigue, had, with a 
 beating heart and trembling frame, dis- 
 covered the house where he might learn 
 tidings which would convulse his soul with 
 agony. At this moment he beheld Lady 
 Helena, and saw she was pale and in 
 tears. In an instant he was by her side, 
 and grasped her hand, but could not say, 
 'How is she!' Lady Helena was silent 
 too ; but she smiled through her fast 
 falling tears, and at length faltered out, 
 " She is better." 
 
 "My God, I thank thee!" cried Lord 
 Restormel, sobbing convulsively ; when he 
 recovered himself, he exclaimed — " How 
 good it was of you to meet me ! but in — 
 in—" trying to help her into the chaise 
 as he spoke. 
 
 Lady Helena, however, refused com- 
 pliance ; she said she wanted to walk, and 
 begged him to proceed on his road without 
 thinking of her. He obeyed in silence ; 
 but he was no sooner out of sight, than 
 
150 
 
 Lady Helena thought she might as well 
 have accompanied him. By not doing so, 
 however, Lady Helena saved herself many 
 a pang, as she did not witness Lord Res- 
 tormel's heart-rending agony at finding 
 that his mother did not know him, and 
 had relapsed into that total unconscious- 
 ness so agonizing to the feelings of affec- 
 tion — that blindness to the form which it 
 loves the best — that deafness to the voice 
 which it once most delighted to hear, and 
 that insensibility to the caresses of the ap- 
 prehensive and anxious tenderness which 
 challenges recognition and welcome — but 
 challenges them in vain. 
 
 Such was the trial which awaited Lord 
 Restormel on his arrival, and for which the 
 agitated Lady Helena had omitted to pre- 
 pare him. The consequence was, that 
 overcome with misery, and previous 
 fatigue, he fainted on the bed of his mo- 
 ther ; and when conveyed to another 
 chamber, Mr. S. insisted on his not leaving 
 his bed again till he had had some hours of 
 needful rest ; and he obtained it, for how- 
 
151 
 
 ever ill she was, he was assured the danger 
 was over ; and when Lady Helena quitted 
 his mother's chamber, at dawn the next 
 morning, she pushed a note under his 
 door, which would, she trusted, meet his 
 eye on waking, to let him know that she 
 had slept during the night, and was cer- 
 tainly much better. Then Lady Helena 
 went to her bed, and sweet were her 
 slumbers. They also seemed very long to 
 Lord Restormel, for he had hoped to see 
 her before he took his breakfast in his 
 mother's room; but he was told Lady 
 Helena had a bad head-ache and was not 
 up ; nor did he see her through the course 
 of the day — what could that mean ? was it 
 accident, or was it design ? but that the 
 next day would determine. To-morrow 
 came, Lady Helena was gone out in the 
 carriage ; when dinner was served, he found 
 he was to dine alone ; Lady Helena had 
 dined early. 
 
 " She avoids me I see," said he, deeply 
 sighing, u and she is right perhaps ; but I 
 think she might as well have told me 
 
162 
 
 herself, and not by her maid only, that I 
 was to consider myself as master here, and 
 order whatever I liked." At this moment 
 when he had just sent away the nearly 
 untasted meal, Lady Helena entered ac- 
 companied by Mrs. Magnal, whom she 
 thought it right should be in the house with 
 her, now Lord Restormel was come. 
 Never before did Lady Helena pay such 
 regard to propriety and the opinion of 
 others ; but she was not conscious of the 
 power of that feeling gradually increasing 
 in her heart, which taught her this lesson, 
 and yet, had such attention to decorum 
 been other than her own act and deed, had 
 it been required of her, even by those 
 whom she was most solicitous to please, she 
 would have been impelled, probably, into a 
 scornful disregard of it, and set the daring 
 monitors at defiance. One day and night 
 made now a striking improvement in the 
 state of Lady Restormel's health ; her de- 
 lirium suddenly subsided, and she knew 
 her son! what joy to the affectionate heart 
 of Lord Restormel! what comfort to her 
 
153 
 
 own ! to see him whom she had thought far 
 distant, watching with unwearied tender- 
 ness by her fevered and restless bed ! but 
 she was conscious that he had not always 
 been her attendant, and that her nurses 
 had been women ; but one woman more 
 especially haunted her recollection, who 
 seemed to have been with her all night. 
 Lord Restormel said her recollections were 
 correct, and he had understood from Mr. 
 S. and Dr. L. that they owed her unpaya- 
 ble obligations for her care and assiduity, 
 as they had probably been the means of 
 saving her valuable life. 
 
 " Unpayable !" said the proud invalid, 
 f have we received unpayable obligations ? 
 I trust not, Restormel ; but that we must 
 think about hereafter. At present my first 
 wish is to be removed hence as soon as 
 possible, for I must have given great trou- 
 ble, and where I wish to owe no favors." 
 
 " Yet, surely, you have received them 
 here — surely Lady Helena has been kind." 
 
 " I have not seen her." 
 
 " Not seen her ! how could that be ?" 
 n 5 
 
154 
 
 " Why to say the truth I refused to 
 see her when first I came, and I am afraid 
 in the hurry of my spirits then, I spoke 
 harshly and repulsively while I so refused." 
 
 " But she was not conscious of that." 
 
 •' Not that I know of— but I thought 
 I saw a lady's figure reflected in the glass, 
 which then suddenly disappeared, and 
 perhaps the servants might repeat what I 
 said, for certainly I have never received 
 any such application since." 
 
 Lord Restomel was at first too much 
 hurt to reply ! Lady Helena, whose kind 
 attentions were even full of ingenious 
 contrivances for the comfort of the invalid, 
 were, he found, the constant theme of praise 
 with his mother's servants and her own ! she, 
 to have had her feelings wounded by being 
 harshly refused his mother's admittance 
 to her presence ! the thought was insup- 
 portable ! nor did she seem, as he ardently 
 hoped to find her, kindly impressed any 
 way towards Lady Helena — though to her 
 alone, and her directing kindness, she must 
 have been indebted for all the alleviations 
 
155 
 
 of her situation ! At length he said that, 
 " no doubt Lady Helena had done her duty 
 by the stranger so thrown on her care ; 
 no doubt she had seen that her ser- 
 vants had done theirs." 
 
 " Oh ! I dare say she authorized all 
 that was done ; but the house-keeper here 
 is a very clever woman I understand, and, 
 Restormel, I cannot feel burthened with 
 obligation to Lady Helena, or to any one 
 for performing the common dues of hos- 
 pitality, and for not turning out a poor 
 woman hanging between life and death ; 
 I should have done as much for Lady 
 Helena had she been overturned at my 
 gate, and ill in consequence of it." 
 
 " No doubt," replied Lord Restormel ; 
 but he was grieved to see how little his 
 mother's illness, and even her danger had 
 tended to soften her dislike, and dislike of 
 whom ? a highly-gifted being whom she 
 did not know — and in whom, after all, he 
 was sure she feared her charms more than 
 she disapproved her faults. But why did 
 she fear her charms ? and why did she dis- 
 
156 
 
 like to know Lady Helena ? was it not 
 from apprehensive tenderness for him, 
 and regard for his happiness ? was it not 
 because she was afraid that if he loved 
 and married Lady Helena, she would not 
 make him happy ? Lord Restormel, as 
 these questions occurred to him, felt his 
 temporary indignation against his mother's 
 prejudices entirely subside since love of 
 him occasioned them ; beside, how could 
 he long resent any thing in that beloved 
 parent whom he had so lately been on the 
 point of losing.— Poor- Julia, meanwhile, 
 was beholding the latter end of her father, 
 surely, but slowly approaching, and it was 
 well for her affectionate nature that she 
 was soothed and supported by the pre- 
 sence of the man she loved. At one time 
 Sir George wished their union to take 
 place immediately ; but he suffered so 
 much arid grew so evidently worse, that he 
 owned he was incapable of enjoying the 
 consciousness even of their being united, and 
 he did not wish the bridal hours of Julia 
 to be clouded over by filial sorrow. But 
 
157 
 
 the gloom of Marcus and Julia was cheered 
 by the hopes they entertained that Lady 
 Restormel's detention at Laurel Grove 
 would produce an intimacy between the 
 families, and bring about the union Marcus 
 had so long desired between his friend and 
 his sister; yet, even from them Lady Helena 
 concealed the exertions she had made, and 
 the claims she had in consequence on the 
 love of Lady Restormel — and to the best 
 of her belief, she had put it out of the 
 power even of chance to reveal her secret 
 to any one ; and while she looked at her 
 pale cheek and sunken eye, the result of her 
 watchfulness, she felt a degree of triumph 
 and of satisfactory consciousness which her 
 beauty in all its splendor had never be- 
 stowed on her. Lady Restormel's own 
 maid was now well enough to come to 
 Laurel Grove; and when she arrived, her 
 Lady declined all other attendance, besides 
 that of her son. Lord Restormel, spite of 
 himself, remained unsatisfied with his mo- 
 ther's feelings towards Lady Helena, and 
 ventured to hope that she would request to 
 
158 
 
 see her before she went away, in order to 
 make her personal acknowledgments and 
 apologies for the trouble given, and the 
 accommodations received. 
 
 " Certainly, Lord Restormel," she 
 proudly replied, " high-breeding and deco- 
 rum require no less ; but has Lady Helena 
 asked you when we mean to go ?" 
 
 He was glad that he was able to 
 reply — " I never see Lady Helena ! I have 
 seen her only twice since I came." 
 
 " Amazing ! how is this ?" 
 
 " You must ask that of Lady Helena — 
 whenever I have requested leave to pay 
 my respects to her, the answer has been — 
 ? My Lady, sir, is gone out with Mrs. 
 Magnal,' who has, you know, been staying 
 here ever since I came ; e or my lady is too 
 unwell to see you ;' or { Mrs. Magnal is 
 unwell, and she cannot leave her ;' then 
 sometimes it is, ' but she hopes Lady 
 Restormel continues to mend, and that your 
 lordship and her ladyship have every thing 
 you want.'" 
 
 " Very cold, and very correct, and very 
 
159 
 
 civil, observed Lady Restormel thought- 
 fully." 
 
 " Very," he replied, in a tone of pique, 
 and almost of sarcasm, " as much so, I 
 think, as even your ladyship could require. 
 Then, as I dine in compliance with 
 your wishes, in your dressing-room, and 
 breakfast also, I have no opportunity 
 or chance of seeing Lady Helena at 
 meals ; but, I dare say, if I were to dine 
 or breakfast below, she would be gone out 
 with Mrs. Magnal, or her terrible head- 
 aches would be returned." 
 
 " You are piqued, Restormel !" 
 
 " I believe I am." 
 
 " You have no reason to be so, I 
 suspect! indifference neither courts nor 
 avoids any one." 
 
 " Do you think so ?" he replied, his 
 countenance lighting up with pleasure. 
 
 * But we avoid sometimes what we dis- 
 like, Restormel." 
 
 " But why should Lady Helena For- 
 tescue dislike me ?" 
 
 " You are my son." 
 
160 
 
 " What then ? she cannot be so unjust 
 as to dislike me on your account, nor is 
 she capable I am sure of disliking you; 
 she cannot be so unjust as to hate any one 
 she does not know, on the mere report of 
 others." 
 
 " Ptestormel! that praise of Lady 
 Helena was blame of me." 
 
 " Indeed, I did not mean to censure 
 you ; but if I am your son, I am also her 
 brother's friend." 
 
 " Well, well ! have it your own way," 
 replied Lady Restormel pettishly, " and 
 fancy she avoids you because you are too 
 charming, and she is afraid of you ; all I 
 require of you is to avoid her, lest she 
 should be too charming also — and let us 
 get away from hence as fast as we can. I 
 shall be able to go, I believe, the day after 
 to-morrow ; but I will not go till Lady 
 Erpingham, who is, I understand, expected 
 soon, arrives, as Lord Aston is better — and 
 also some Miss Brightwen is coming 
 home, who is, Warren tells me, a great 
 favorite here ; she was governess to Miss 
 
]<Sl 
 
 Villeroy, and is now a something to Lady 
 Helena, but what I cannot make out." 
 
 " A friend only, I believe, and a woman 
 of rare qualities ; she was a blessing indeed 
 to poor Miss Villeroy, and formed her 
 "heart to excellence, and her manners to 
 gentleness'and propriety." 
 
 " She is come then, I hope, to form 
 Lady Helena's manners to the same. I 
 wonder whether she will ever succeed !" 
 
 ": Your ladyship called Lady Helena 
 coldly correct just now — could Miss 
 Brightwen have taught her more propriety 
 than she has displayed ?" 
 
 " I dare say Miss Brightwen did teach 
 it — I dare say it was not self-taught !" 
 
 Lord Ptestormel was about to reply 
 with some severity, when the sight of his 
 mother's pallid cheek and emaciated form 
 disarmed him, and he turned away in 
 silence. Lady Helena was now informed 
 by Lady Erpingham that she would be at 
 Laurel Grove in two days time, when she 
 hoped to take on herself the welcome 
 task of doing the honors of her house to 
 
162 
 
 her old acquaintance, and making herself 
 amends for her enforced absence at a time of 
 such interest. Miss Brightwen announced 
 her return for the same day. Lady Res- 
 tormel desired Lady Helena to be informed, 
 that, though able to go away before her 
 mother arrived, she should make a point of 
 staying to thank Lady Erpingham in per- 
 son for the hospitality and kindness she 
 had received under her roof. This mes- 
 sage appeared to Lady Helena to imply 
 that Lady Restormel was still resolved not 
 to see her if she could possibly avoid it, 
 and meant to pay all her acknowledg- 
 ments to her mother ; and she was still more 
 pleased that she had made Mrs. Magnal 
 promise to take her home with her as soon 
 as she had seen Miss Brightwen, who was 
 expected at an early hour ; she also insisted 
 on setting off before her mother arrived, 
 in order to avoid questions and explana- 
 tions between Lady Erpingham and her- 
 self, which it would be difficult to answer. 
 Mrs. Magnal who resented Lady Restor- 
 mel's not desiring to see her young friend, 
 
163 
 
 the very instant she was able to see and 
 know any one, thought she only acted with 
 proper spirit in leaving the house, as its 
 real mistress was expected and she could 
 do so with propriety. Sophia arrived by an 
 early stage, and in deep mourning for her 
 sister, who, having survived all her chil- 
 dren, and being married to a man un- 
 worthy of her, had long found life a 
 burden, and felt death a relief. Her affec- 
 tionate sister, therefore, was at once afflicted 
 and comforted, when she committed her to 
 her grave and to her God. Sophia was 
 shocked when she saw Lady Helena's 
 changed appearance, and evidently languid 
 frame. The frequent head-aches which 
 had offended Lord Restormel's pride, were 
 realities, not pretences ; for, with all her 
 heroism, and the support which her pride 
 afforded her, Lady Helena's feelings were 
 wounded— she felt herself injuriously 
 treated by a woman whom she knew that 
 she had not only never injured, but 
 greatly served. True Lady Restormel 
 knew not all she had done for her, but 
 
164 
 
 she knew that she was the temporary mis- 
 tress of the house in which she had been 
 so kindly treated ; and then, instead of an 
 earnest desire to thank her in person, to 
 receive a message importing that she 
 wished to stay to thank Lady Erpingham, 
 without naming herself! — this was such 
 treatment as the petted girl, the beloved 
 and spoiled of all hearts, as Marcus called 
 her, knew not how to bear, and yet vainly 
 tried to rise above. 
 
 " What can I have done ! in what 
 light can I appear to the world and to 
 Lady Restormel, that I am thus judged 
 unworthy to be admitted into the presence 
 of this severe woman, even when she must 
 consider herself as indebted to my cour- 
 tesy ? have what are called my eccen- 
 tricities done this ? and what then ? what 
 right has she to punish them ? and then, 
 to think that this is Lord Restormel's 
 mother!" Such were the hourly cogita- 
 tions of Lady Helena ; and, alas, she was 
 well aware that the greatest sting of all 
 was, that the rerson who thus wounded 
 
165 
 
 her was Lord Restormel's mother! At 
 that idea tears deluged her pale cheek, 
 and that cheek became still paler. To 
 Sophia she unburthened her full heart, 
 in some degree, and owned, indisposition 
 alone had not casued the change she 
 saw. 
 
 " But you have a tired, fatigued look, 
 Lady Helena, and as if you had not had 
 your usual quantity of rest lately." 
 
 " Can an uneasy and a mortified spirit 
 rest ?" was the evasive reply. t( I go to 
 my bed now even earlier than my usual 
 time, but I own it is not to sleep there. 
 However, I am going away not to re- 
 turn till the Restormels are gone, and 
 when they are off the premises, per- 
 haps I shall rally again — till then, God 
 bless you !" 
 
 Mrs. Magnal staid some minutes after 
 Lady Helena was in the carriage, to tell 
 Sophia how much she abominated Lady 
 Restormel's strange want of propriety in 
 not desiring to see and thank Lady He- 
 lena, and how much she admired her 
 
\66 
 
 young friend's spirit ; she then drove off, 
 and, as she put her head out to give Sophia 
 another nod, she saw Lady Restormel, 
 whom the sound of a carriage had drawn 
 to the window, and who howed to the old 
 lady, recognizing her as having seen her 
 once at a party in London — but she 
 haughtily drew back and would not 
 return the salutation. At this moment 
 Lord Restormel, who had vainly endea- 
 voured to get to the door time enough 
 to hand the ladies into the carriage, was 
 looking at Mrs. Magnal, and saw the 
 angry, disdainful expression of her face, 
 as her eyes were raised to his mother's 
 window, and he was so confounded by it, 
 that he omitted to request the postilion 
 to stop, as was his intention, that he might 
 speak to Lady Helena; in another mo- 
 ment they were out of sight. He, there- 
 fore, entered his mother's room in no 
 pleasant frame of mind, for he was going 
 to leave Laurel Grove immediately, that 
 he might see every thing prepared for his 
 mother's accommodation on the road, and 
 
167 
 
 also at home ; and he wished to have had 
 some communication with Lady Helena be- 
 fore he set off; nor was disappointment his 
 only feeling, he feared that Lady Helena 
 was gone away from a determination to 
 avoid an interview with his mother, whose 
 conduct she had so much reason to re- 
 sent ; and this fear was confirmed by the 
 look which Mrs. Magnal had directed to 
 his mother's apartment, at the window of 
 which he now saw that she herself was 
 standing. 
 
 " That impertinent old lady would 
 not return my bow, Charles !" cried Lady 
 Restormel as he entered, " what could she 
 mean by it ? and who is the lady with 
 her ? she is a fine, elegant figure ?" 
 
 " It was Lady Helena Fortescue," re- 
 plied Lord Restormel. 
 
 " Lady Helena ! and gone out, though 
 her friend is just come, her mother com- 
 ing, and I am going away ! How strange ! 
 but I suppose she is only gone out for a 
 drive." 
 
 H I conclude, madam, that you do not 
 
168 
 
 think it was necessary for Lady Helena to 
 stay in order to take leave of you." 
 
 " No, sir, I do not — still I assure you I 
 was just going- to request the honor of 
 waiting on her." 
 
 " Indeed ! then I am sorry she is gone !" 
 
 " So am I, especially as I suspect from 
 Mrs. Magnal's marked slight to you just 
 now, as if she resented something, that 
 Lady Helena has left the house to avoid 
 seeing us, and will not return till we are 
 gone." 
 
 " I hope you are mistaken," replied 
 Lady Restormel, " I should be really sorry 
 to have offended Lady Helena, and still 
 more to have compromised my character for 
 good-breeding ; but what business has 
 Mrs. Magna! to resent Lady Helena's 
 supposed injuries ?" 
 
 " None but what affection gives. She 
 loves Lady Helena, I suppose, and I believe 
 all who know her love her." 
 
 " Again! a bye blow at me, my lord, and 
 Lady Helena the cause of it ? that is not 
 the way to make me love her, Restormel I" 
 
169 
 
 ? But I only want you to do her justice." 
 
 " Your seeming to do her more than 
 justice is not the way to make me do 
 that." 
 
 " Well, well, let us drop the subject ! 
 I shall enquire whether Lady Helena is 
 expected back ; if she be, I shall wait her 
 return." 
 
 He left the room, but re-entered im- 
 mediately, saying, that Lady Helena was 
 gone to stay at Mrs. Magnal's ; he then im- 
 mediately ordered his horses, declaring his 
 intention of waiting on Lady Erpingham 
 and Lady Helena, when he had seen his 
 mother settled in her own house again. 
 
 " Be it so ;" Lady Restormel coldly 
 replied, " but in the meanwhile let us 
 fulfil still nearer duties. I must see and 
 reward the servants who waited on me, 
 particularly that young woman who sat up 
 with me, and to whom I owe, I believe, 
 what money cannot pay ; however, I must 
 do all it can do." 
 
 " I have already seen her, and paid 
 vol. n. i 
 
170 
 
 her, and thanked her, and blessed her for 
 myself." 
 
 " But that is not enough, I must see 
 her and do the same. Let her be desired 
 to attend me — nay I wish to see both my 
 attendants and the house-keeper also ; the 
 other servants you will remunerate for 
 me." 
 
 Lord Restormel then took leave of his 
 mother, and having imparted her wishes 
 to the groom of the chambers, he begged 
 permission to see Miss Brightwen, who as 
 much in her heart desired to see him, and 
 was very glad to receive his visit. When 
 strangers meet with a prepossession in 
 each other's favor, it is rarely that they are 
 dissatisfied with the interview ; and Miss 
 Brightwen and Lord Restormel parted with 
 feelings of mutual admiration and good 
 will. The former, too, was pleased at 
 being charged with such heartfelt and 
 gratifying regrets, and acknowledgments 
 to Lady Helena, and still more so at the 
 faltering voice and blushing cheek with 
 which they were uttered. 
 

 
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THE UNIVERSITY OF 
 
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 LIBRARY 
 
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 PRESENTED BY THE 
 
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 FOUNDATION 
 
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 This BOOK may be kept out ONE MONT* 
 unless a recall notice is sent to you. A bool 
 may be renewed only once; it must be brouglv 
 to the library for renewal. 
 
 Form No. 470 
 
MUCH TO BLAME, 
 
 A TALE. 
 
 BY A CELEBRATED AUTHOR. 
 
 " Lessons of wisdom have never so much power over us a* 
 when they are wrought into the heart through the ground- work 
 of some story which interests our passions." — Steiin' . 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. II. 
 
 LONDON: JOHN TEMPLEMAN, 
 
 39, TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD. 
 MDCCCXXIV. 
 
T. White, Printer, 2, Johnson's Court, London. 
 
CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Lord Restormel was scarcely gone, when, 
 according to her request, the female ser- 
 vants waited on his mother. The house- 
 keeper was thanked and remunerated 
 first, and then took her leave. 
 
 " To one of you," said Lady Restormel, 
 to those who remained, " I am told that I 
 owe obligations which no money can re- 
 pay, for that, to your skilful care and atten- 
 tions, I probably owe my life — therefore, 
 I wish to give you more than money now, 
 and thanks ; I wish to tell you that if at 
 any future time you want a friend to 
 settle you in the world, or serve you in 
 any way, I will be that friend. It is you 
 Mrs. Gibbs I think to whom I am more 
 particularly indebted." 
 
 " Oh ! my lady," she replied, with 
 some embarrassment, " you owe me very 
 little, and his lordship has done so hand- 
 
172 
 
 somely by me, I cannot think of having 
 any thing more." 
 
 " My son has done his part, but I 
 must do mine now — I must not, cannot 
 die in any one's debt." As Lady Restor- 
 mel said this, she approached Mrs. Gibbs, 
 and taking her hand, looked kindly in her 
 face — " How strange this is !" cried she* 
 " I was so sure your eyes were dark, large 
 and dark, and I see they are neither. 
 But your fellow-servant's are dark — surely 
 it was she then who sat up with me ?" 
 
 " No, indeed, my lady, it was not me, 
 I can assure you !" 
 
 " No, my nurse seemed very tall. How 
 delirium must change objects !" continu- 
 ed Lady Restormel, still fixing her eyes 
 on the conscious Gibbs, who shrunk from 
 her earnest gaze — " and beautify also — 
 for so beautiful did my night nurse ap- 
 pear to me that I fancied my poor Warren 
 was dead, and that her spirit came to 
 attend on me, arrayed in heavenly beauty ! 
 and then, the tones of her voice were so 
 sweet, and her white hands so soft ! and 
 
173 
 
 she raised me in her arms so gently, yet so 
 powerful ! I shall never forget it;— it was 
 quite soothing, quite delightful sometimes ! 
 and I thought how merciful heaven was 
 to let her come to watch over me !" As 
 Lady Restormel spoke, her voice faltered ! 
 she continued, "I can never pay the value of 
 the feelings I then had while enjoying that 
 pleasing delusion; but what I can do 
 I will." Here she put notes in the hand of 
 the under-servant, but a pocket-book in 
 that of Mrs. Gibbs, which she would fain 
 have returned, but Lady Restormel grasped 
 her hand to hold it there, and started on 
 feeling that one of her fingers was bent, 
 and all were large and bony. — " This is 
 very strange !" she cried — " but then, so 
 are delirious fancies! In my wanderings 
 you seemed so much, so very much 
 younger, and so very much taller than 
 -you are, and then your hands were so 
 handsome, so soft !" 
 
 " Oh ! as for the hands— Yes my lady," 
 replied Mrs. Gibbs rather pettishly, w v j 
 prided herself on her youth, and the 
 
174 
 
 elegance of her figure ; " but, indeed, ray 
 young lady is not so much younger and 
 taller than I am !" 
 
 " Your young lady !" exclaimed Lady 
 Restormel— " what has she to do with 
 this business ?— I was not talking of 
 her !" 
 
 " No, to be sure, my lady," answered 
 Gibbs, blushing and trembling — " oh, no, 
 
 nothing, only I thought ." Here her 
 
 fellow-servant gave her a look of great 
 meaning, which did not escape the pene- 
 trating eye of Lady Restormel ; and see- 
 ing that both the servants were going 
 towards the door, she seized an arm of 
 both, and commanded them to stop, say- 
 ing— 
 
 " There is something which I do not 
 comprehend — are you, or are you not 
 the persons who sat up with me V 
 
 " No, my lady, not I," said the under- 
 servant, " but it was Mrs. Gibbs here." 
 
 " Let Mrs. Gibbs answer for herself — 
 was it you then ?" 
 
 " To be sure, my lady," she replied, 
 
175 
 
 turning now red, and now pale — " who 
 should it be if not me ?— but pray take 
 back the book, I really cannot take it 
 after this, as you doubt who I was." 
 
 « Have I not reason to doubt ? Good 
 heaven! could it be? was it possible?" 
 Here she gazed earnestly on Gibbs again, 
 turned her round, examined her hands 
 again, and then desired her to speak as 
 softly as she used to do. 
 
 " I, I cannot speak softly, my lady, 
 indeed I cannot." 
 
 " No ! nor your voice is not that 
 which still dwells on my ear ; I am now 
 convinced it is not, but then who was it ? 
 answer me woman," she cried, grasping 
 Gibbs's arm as she spoke, " are you not an 
 impostor ?" 
 
 u Impostor ! my lady, not I, I would 
 not have taken a farthing of you." 
 
 " And wherefore not, if you deserved 
 it ; but did you deserve it ? did that girl 
 deserve it ?"' 
 
 " Oh, yes, my lady, that is, I am sure 
 I was with you in the day." 
 
176 
 
 " But was Mrs. Gibbs with me in the 
 night ?" 
 
 f 1 To be sure she was — who should it 
 be else ?" 
 
 a That is what I want to know ; but I 
 know it was not you Mrs. Gibbs, your 
 cheek and manner give the lie to your 
 words." 
 
 " Lie ! my lady ! I am sure I am no 
 liar." 
 
 " Come then ! here is a Bible, will you 
 swear that you nursed me during every 
 night ?" 
 
 " No, my lady, not, not every night, and 
 all night ; I cannot swear that, but I will 
 swear that — " here the other servant caught 
 her arm, as if apprehensive that she was 
 going to perjure herself, and Gibbs paused- 
 
 " What will you swear ? will you swear 
 that the being who did watch by me all 
 and every night, (and scarcely could Lady 
 Restormel now find power of utterance) 
 was not your young lady ?" 
 
 " No, n-n-o my lady, I cannot swear 
 again, I have sworn not to— I will not 
 
177 
 
 perjure myself, my lady — we are both 
 sworn already my lady, and my young 
 lady would be so angry !" 
 
 " Oh, yes, my lady." 
 
 " Then ! it was Lady Helena Fortes- 
 cue who — " 
 
 " I am sure I did not tell you so my 
 lady, you cannot say that I am sure, I 
 have not perjured myself." 
 
 " No, nor I neither !" 
 
 "So then! it was she herself; and 
 then, she swore you to secresy !" 
 
 " Swore ! yes ; that is ! oh ! no!" 
 
 " Leave me!" cried Lady Restormel — 
 " go !" then throwing herself back in her 
 chair, she gave way to emotions so vio- 
 lent that they almost shook her yet weak 
 frame to dissolution — " Generous ! noble- 
 minded girl !" was all she could articulate, 
 when she recovered herself, " and this is she 
 whom I reviled — I slighted ; I ! oh ! insup- 
 portable! and then to go away lest I 
 should see and recognize her, and find out 
 the secret. But perhaps it is not an abso- 
 lute secret ; perhaps she told it to others — 
 i 5 
 
178 
 
 told what I owe her; I wish I could find out. 
 I will question her mother when she comes 
 however, at all events. I owe her obliga- 
 tions so great, as to be painful — over- 
 whelming!" 
 
 Thus felt, thus spoke Lady Restormel, 
 as she lay across her bed almost suffocated 
 with contending feelings ; and from this 
 state she had scarcely recovered, when she 
 was told that Lady Erpingham was ar- 
 rived, and begged to see her. 
 
 " Admit her instantly ! was her eager 
 reply. The greeting of the two ladies was 
 affectionate, and on Lady Restormel's side 
 full of tears ; but even emotion could not 
 long prevent Lady Restormel from speak- 
 ing on the subject now nearest her heart. — 
 " Yes !" cried she, " I have received such 
 kindness here, as I feel I can never repay ; 
 but Lady Helena has used me cruelly." 
 
 " Impossible ! it is not in her nature." 
 
 "Yes, it is; after loading me with 
 obligations* she went away to avoid my 
 thanks, or from some other motive." 
 
 " Well, I own I was quite surprised 
 not to find her here." 
 
179 
 
 " But why did she go ? cannot you 
 guess T 
 
 u Not I !" 
 
 " But do you not know that Lady 
 Helena condescended to nurse me during 
 the night? that her care and attention 
 saved my life, and that then she swore the 
 servants to secresy ?" — here Lady Restor- 
 mel burst into tears. 
 
 " No, I did not know it — but I can 
 believe it ; it was so like Helena ! and yet, 
 to risk her precious life ! but that was so 
 like Helena also ! aye, and then to con- 
 ceal what she had done !" 
 
 " But are you sure she told no one ?" 
 
 " I dare say not, except it was Miss 
 Brightwen." 
 
 " May I see and interrogate Miss 
 Brightwen ?" 
 
 " Certainly!" 
 
 " And may I see her alone ?" 
 
 " If you desire it ; Helena might tell 
 her what she would not tell me, for she 
 would know how the idea of the danger 
 she had incurred would terrify me, even 
 
180 
 
 when I saw her safe and well. — But is 
 she so, for I hear she looks dread- 
 fully." 
 
 " God forbid !" cried Lady Restormel, 
 clasping her hands convulsively together. 
 Sophia now sent word that she was ready 
 to attend Lady Restormel's summons, and 
 Lady Erpingham having staid to present 
 her to her guest, left them together. 
 
 As soon as Lady Restormel put the 
 intended questions to Miss Brightwen, her 
 surprised and delighted countenance an- 
 swered them sufficiently even before she 
 exclaimed — " Is it possible ? dear, admira- 
 ble Lady Helena!" 
 
 " Then she never told you of her kind- 
 ness T 
 
 u Certainly not ; though I was with 
 her an hour, at least, this morning, before 
 her departure, and expressed the surprise 
 and anxiety which her sickly, tired look 
 occasioned me." 
 
 " Sickly ! oh do not tell me she is 
 sick, and I the cause ! oh, how my heart 
 reproaches me! but now, Miss Bright- 
 
181 
 
 wen, I would fain presume to question you 
 on another subject ; can you, and will 
 you, tell me all you know of the length 
 and extent of my son's acquaintance with 
 Lady Helena ?" 
 
 Sophia paused for a few moments, but 
 hating concealment, and ever consistent 
 with herself, she resolved to reveal all that 
 ever passed between Lord Restormel, and 
 her young and noble friend ; of the jour- 
 ney up to London together, and all that 
 happened on the road, she now gave an 
 accurate account, and also of the conver- 
 sation in Gloucester-place afterwards 
 when he called on Lady Helena with 
 her brother, and when he called on Miss 
 Villeroy ; and she did this, because she 
 wished Lady Restormel to see and know 
 that her son had evidently declined to 
 pursue his means of forming an intimacy 
 with Lady Helena, spite of his admiration 
 of her, from deference for his mother's 
 opinion, and regard for her happiness ; and 
 that Lady Helena had followed his lead, 
 and even at the risk of appearing rude and 
 
182 
 
 inhospitable, had avoided his presence 
 while under her own roof. 
 
 " If," thought Sophia, " this woman is 
 of the noble and generous nature which 
 her countenance speaks her to be, she 
 will, especially after Lady Helena's con- 
 duct, be impressed by this narration in 
 the manner I wish, and good must be the 
 result." 
 
 But whatever Lady Restormel felt or 
 thought, she said little ; she only listened 
 in tearful silence, and shook her head 
 when Sophia related the scene in the stage 
 coach. Still, after a silence of strong 
 emotion, Lady Restormel suddenly ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Then you think no one, except the 
 servants, knows that Lady Helena sat up 
 with me, and they necessarily knew it; 
 what, not even Miss Villeroy and Captain 
 Fortescue !" 
 
 The quick-sighted Sophia instantly 
 saw the distrust, the suspicion prevailing 
 in Lady Restormel's mind; she disco- 
 vered that she suspected Lady Helena of 
 
183 
 
 having only acted a part, and of having 
 given herself the appearance of concealing 
 her kindness, well knowing all the time 
 that she had put it in the power of some 
 one to disclose her generosity, and be the 
 means of gratifying her vanity, and pro- 
 bably her affection. With the blush and 
 tone of indignant feeling, Sophia, there- 
 fore, instantly replied — 
 
 " From what I know of the generous, 
 honest nature of Lady Helena, madam, I 
 assert that she is incapable of meanness or 
 artifice." 
 
 " Did I accuse her of either ?" 
 
 <( No, not directly, but I saw what 
 
 was passing in your ladyship's mind, and 
 
 to that I reply. Chance has put it in my 
 power to do more — to destroy or confirm 
 
 your suspicions directly." 
 
 " What can you mean ?" cried Lady 
 
 Restormel, too conscientious to say that 
 
 she had no suspicions. 
 
 " Lady Helena desired me to read if I 
 
 chose, and then to add to a letter which she 
 
 had been writing to Miss Villeroy. I have 
 
184 
 
 not yet even looked for this letter, but it 
 is in her writing-desk ; with your lady- 
 ship's leave I will send for the desk here." 
 
 She did so ; and having herself pe- 
 rused it first, she gave it to Lady Restor- 
 mel with triumph beaming in her tearful 
 eyes. 
 
 *f But let me make one request, ma- 
 dam," she said. "- Read the beginning of 
 the letter, which cannot interest you, as 
 well as the end, which must." 
 
 " Why so ?" 
 
 ** Because they both equally develope 
 the character and mind of Lady Helena. 
 The first will show you, I trust, that her 
 nobleness of nature is above the artifice 
 with which, excuse me, J saw that you 
 were inclined to charge it." 
 
 Lady Restormel was a proud woman, 
 proud of her high birth, proud of her 
 rank, proud of her intellectual superiority, 
 and also of that lofty deportment, that 
 dignity which had so often awed her in- 
 feriors, and even her equals, into distant 
 respect and flattering fearful deference. 
 
185 
 
 But there is something in the fearless 
 firmness of a mind confident, from the 
 consciousness of rectitude, and in the bold 
 frankness, the unshrinking dignity of a 
 being whose consequence is derived from 
 mental powers and unblemished virtue 
 alone, which excites, in even pride, how- 
 ever great, a respect and admiration equal 
 to what it claims itself on clearer grounds, 
 in the eyes of vulgar judges ; and while 
 Miss Bright wen thus dared to read her 
 inmost thoughts, to reply to those thoughts* 
 and to defend with the voice of truth that 
 noble creature whom she saw unjustly ac- 
 cused, Lady Restormel felt awed by a 
 spirit as undaunted as her own, and won- 
 dered how the governess of Miss Villeroy 
 could acquire such an influence over her. 
 Lady Restormel took the offered letter, 
 and mildly expressed her readiness to do 
 what Miss Brightwen desired. The letter 
 was as follows : — 
 
 " You and Marcus need not be anxi- 
 ous concerning the state of my health. 
 Fever has certainly been in the house, but 
 
186 
 
 I caught it not ; and when Lord and Lady 
 Restormel are gone, who, I must own, 
 affected me with a sort of disagreeable in- 
 fluenza, I shall be very well, I dare say, 
 and regain my roses and my sauciness. 
 At present, I own that the anxiety I felt 
 when my poor guest was in danger, the 
 terror lest any thing should be omitted 
 which was of consequence to her recovery, 
 and another painful consciousness, have 
 made me look the colour of a melting 
 cream cheese ; and my pleasantry is like 
 that of a beaten child, who pretends to 
 laugh, and says ' I do not care,' but the 
 laugh ends in a sob. I wish that dear, 
 kind, busy being, Mrs. Magnal, had not 
 written to Marcus ; but she is so loving, 
 and fancies that I have lately been acting 
 from attachment and preference to her and 
 her society, when, in reality, wounded 
 conscience prompted my first attentions, 
 and necessity my latter ones. I thought 
 that I was rude, and had hurt their feelings 
 by going off after you, Julia, when she and 
 her Heronimus were staying at our house ; 
 
187 
 
 therefore, you know, I volunteered a visit 
 to them on my return, and I invited her to 
 stay with me when Lord Restormel came, 
 from a sense of propriety, and because 
 there was no one else at hand. But, alas ! 
 the deceived Mrs. Magnal fancies she is my 
 dearest friend, and I feel my sense of in- 
 tegrity wounded by the grateful tender- 
 ness which she, in fancied return for mine, 
 bestows on me. Yet how can I undeceive 
 her? for surely my strict love for truth 
 will not authorize me to wound her feel- 
 ings, by telling her she is certainly only 
 third or fourth best at most in my list of 
 the beloved,— what think you, my dear 
 Julia ! still I fear I must undeceive her, 
 and quarrel with her at all risks, for she 
 has hinted to me, and pretty broadly too, 
 that as she has no children, and Mr. Mag- 
 nal is very rich, she shall leave me a hand- 
 some sum when she dies, if he survives her, 
 and all her fortune at his death, as she dis- 
 likes her own relations. Now, this must 
 not — shall not be. I have a horror of all 
 dislikes, and still greater of vindictive ha- 
 tred to relations carried beyond the grave, 
 
188 
 
 and thence, in my opinion, fixing the con- 
 demnation of the dying, as no one can de- 
 serve to be forgiven who does not forgive. 
 Therefore, I shall try to reconcile her to 
 those relations; but should I fail, I will 
 not be her heir, for rather than be so, I 
 will erect an every day or a Sunday-school 
 in her parish, and write a pamphlet in 
 praise of educating the poor ; and I will 
 write another to make it appear that the 
 sixth Heronimus Magnal from the pre- 
 sent was not born in wedlock, and that the 
 preux chevalier, whose valour shed such 
 lustre on their race, was said, from un- 
 doubted authority, to have died of a 
 wound received in his back. But why 
 should I, even in confidence to you, pre- 
 sume to ridicule the weaknesses of these 
 -excellent people ? Let me look at home ! 
 Oh, the mote and the beam ! However, 
 in all seriousness I say, that I must quar- 
 rel with them, if they persist in consider- 
 ing me as the heiress of one of them." 
 
 Here Lady Restormel ceased to read, 
 and with some coldness said — 
 
 " Miss Brightwen, I own that what I 
 
189 
 
 have hitherto read does honor to Lady 
 Helena, and establishes her claim to be 
 considered ingenuous ; but if there be no- 
 thing more to the present purpose, I — " 
 
 " If your ladyship goes on," hastily in- 
 terrupted Sophia, " you will find much to 
 the point in question, and perhaps I ought 
 to solicit your pardon for the liberty Lady 
 Helena gives herself in speaking of you." 
 
 Lady Restormel did not answer, but 
 while a deep blush overspread her cheek, 
 she resumed her perusal of the letter, 
 
 " But though I have not vowed eternal 
 friendship to good Mrs. Magnal, I own 
 that my intimacy with her is increased 
 and is increasing in a marvellous degree, 
 because she enters so warmly into my 
 wrongs and my resentments — or rather 
 I should say her resentments are strong, on 
 account of my wrongs, and it is very certain 
 that intimacies which are founded on the 
 indulgence of the angry passions, are, 
 while they last, (but that is not long, as 
 their foundation is but a sandy one) as vio- 
 lent, or more so than any other ; and she is 
 
190 
 
 so angry with Lady Restormel for her 
 conduct to me ! To be sure it would have 
 been more dignified in me to have kept 
 silent with regard to the affront she 
 passed on me in the presence of the sur- 
 geon, Mr. S., and my own and her ser- 
 vants, in refusing to see me, and I was 
 willing to impute it to the as yet undisco- 
 vered powers of delirium ; but, my heart 
 was burthened, and I had no one to un- 
 load it to but Mrs. Magnal, who entered 
 deeply into my wrongs, but who, like 
 myself, was willing to hope that what 
 she said was the result of illness ; but 
 when she recovered her senses we both ex- 
 pected that she would have sent some 
 kind message to me, wishing then to see 
 me, or expressing her regret that she 
 could not yet bear to receive me. Mrs. 
 Magnal, therefore, was indignant when 
 she found that I was still unnoticed, 
 though my servants had well performed 
 their duty by her, and though the medical 
 men had declared when they heard Gibbs 
 had attended on her night and day, that 
 
191 
 
 she owed her life to her exertions— ex- 
 ertions which I certainly must have com- 
 manded. Indeed, she was so angry that I 
 believe if she had not recollected that I, 
 like Mrs. Malaprop, pique myself on my 
 parts of speech, she would have exclaimed, 
 ' this comes of her reading and writing — 
 an excuse for my poor friend's errors, 
 which certainly no one would even think 
 of making.'" 
 
 " I believe, madam," said Sophia, cast- 
 ing her eye over the letter, " that you have 
 now read enough to shew you that neither 
 Miss Villeroy nor Captain Fortescue are 
 in Lady Helena's secret, and therefore you 
 need not read any more." 
 
 " I shall certainly read the whole now, 
 as you thought proper to give it to me for 
 that purpose," replied Lady Restormel, in 
 a tone of pique, " though it is very certain 
 that Lady Helena when she wrote it little 
 thought it would ever meet my eye." 
 Sophia bowed and sat watching with no 
 small emotion what effect the rest of the 
 letter would have on her companion. 
 
192 
 
 " Mrs. Magnal wonders," continued 
 Lady Helena, "why Lady Restormel should 
 be so prejudiced against me — but I do not : 
 I know I have often done foolish eccentric 
 things, and these things may have been re- 
 lated with exaggerations to Lady Restor- 
 mel ; but I do wonder that a lady whom I 
 never offended, a lady who does not know 
 me even personally, should condescend to 
 lend herself so much as I find she has done 
 to the malice and gossip of others, as to pro- 
 pagate idle stories against me, and taking it 
 for granted that all she has heard of me is 
 true, should, under my own roof, refuse 
 to admit me into her presence, as if I 
 were unworthy of her acquaintance, an 
 outrage I could scarcely have believed 
 possible, had not my own ears witnessed 
 it!" 
 
 Here, darting an angry look at Miss 
 Brightwen, Lady Restormel rushed into her 
 own room in evident agitation, not choosing 
 to have a witness of her emotion while she 
 read what followed. 
 
 " Proud ! injurious woman ! but how did 
 
193 
 
 he who loves not the proud of heart, humble 
 and bring her down, even in that moment 
 of arrogance and assumed superiority ! for 
 he threw her, for the necessary assistance 
 and the offices of kindness, on the mercy 
 of that being, on whom she had had no 
 mercy ! and Helena Fortescue was chosen 
 to act the part of the good Samaritan to 
 her severe, unindulgent censor ! Julia! what 
 a lesson to my own pride, and to my own 
 arrogance and loftiness of spirit was this 
 humbling of her's ! To see that high-born 
 and high-gifted woman, who held her 
 head so loftily, thankfully to have that 
 head repose on the bosom of a stranger, 
 and indebted for her comfort to the atten- 
 tions of menials ! To see her helpless and 
 dependent, and all her infirmities of body 
 and of mind exhibited to the vulgar gaze 
 and comment of inferiors, and hear her, 
 the intellectual and the eloquent, as I 
 passed the door of her apartment, uttering 
 the ravings of a distempered fancy, and 
 exhibiting weakness, which, while in pos- 
 session of her reason, she would have con- 
 
 VOL. II. k 
 
194 
 
 cealed if possible, even from herself! To 
 fear that she who had been so unindul- 
 gent to my failings was now probably 
 about to answer for her own ! Oh ! Julia, 
 while I heard this, I felt the emptiness of 
 all worldly pride, the presumption of all 
 who censure the errors of others, and fancy 
 they alone are the wise and the discreet ; 
 and while I raised my hands in heart-felt 
 supplication for her, I also breathed a 
 prayer for myself, that I might never 
 forget the lesson taught me by the hum- 
 bling of that haughty and distinguished 
 woman; and that I might henceforward 
 go on my way corrected, warned, and im- 
 proved. But spite of the deep impression 
 which, as you see, Lady Restormei's con- 
 duct has made on me, I still am happier on 
 reflection than I ever was before ! I feel 
 that I have performed a Christian's duty 
 towards her, and that though she dispises, 
 she ought to love me. I have also great 
 pleasure in recollecting the conduct of her 
 admirable son — and mine to him. He 
 sought me to express his thanks, but I 
 
]95 . 
 
 avoided him and them. I took no advan- 
 tage of the mother's unconscious state to 
 inveigle, as she would have called it, the 
 affections of the son, though sure that he 
 shares not her dislike of me. Dear, dear 
 Restormel ! Julia, forgive the boast, but 
 I feel that I now have reason to be proud ; 
 surely he must have blamed Lady Restor- 
 mel for not asking to see me ; perhaps she 
 meant to see me to-day before she left the 
 house, therefore, I am going home with 
 Mrs. Magnal to avoid the interview. I 
 never would have seen her, I had as strong 
 reasons to avoid her, as she could have to 
 avoid me, and I should always have con- 
 trived to be ready with an excuse for not 
 seeing her, still I wish she had desired to 
 see me ! yet it is very weak in me to feel 
 thus. I resume my pen to tell you that I 
 fear I must put a stop to my intimacy 
 with the Magnals. Lord Clanross called 
 just now on Mrs. Magnal, and as the 
 Magnals patronize his evident devotion to 
 me, they are always contriving means to 
 throw him in my way. Methinks I see your 
 
196 
 
 surprise, to hear that your lover has so 
 soon recovered his disappointment ; but I 
 always knew Clanross would never take 
 any harm from love; I caused him to 
 transfer his love to me by listening pa- 
 tiently to his love for you, and pitying its 
 hopelessness ; and, when I discovered the 
 harm my pity had done, and that the 
 balsam I gave had cured one complaint, but 
 made another, I should have taken the 
 first opportunity of saying no, and all 
 would have been well ; but these good 
 people will not let the youth disclose his 
 love yet, but advise him to try the effect 
 of time and assiduity ; in the meanwhile 
 they beset me with praises of the boy and 
 his riches : I really thought they valued 
 me at a higher rate than to deem such 
 a fickle creature worthy of me, a boy 
 whose heart, young as it is, is already full 
 of the marks of images effaced— like the 
 drawing-board of a school girl; I could 
 never like such a man as that ! I value not 
 the passion that can be drawn on and 
 off like a glove, which made of a certain sort 
 
197 
 
 of leather, can be stretched to suit all sizes 
 and shapes— no, no, Lord Clanross avaunt ! 
 and ye also, ye Magnals, if you try to 
 force him upon me. Probably I shall 
 never marry ; I would not marry a man who 
 could not love and marry me with all my 
 faults, and I fear that with all my faults, 
 love and marry me no man will. Hark, I 
 hear a carriage ! it is our dear Miss 
 Brightwen ! Now then for an hour's con- 
 versation with her, and then have with 
 you Mrs. Magnal, and farewell to Laurel 
 Grove till to-morrow. 
 
 Your own Helena F . 
 
 It was with swelled, flushed cheeks and 
 eyes, disfigured with weeping, that Lady 
 Restormel returned to the anxious Sophia. 
 " Miss Brightwen," said she, taking her 
 hand, u I thank you ! you have adminis- 
 tered a powerful and trying medicine to 
 me, but it has, I humbly hope, done me 
 good. I have now a favor to ask of you — 
 I would not on any account burthen these 
 poor women's consciences with the idea of 
 having perjured themselves, but I earnestly 
 
198 
 
 wish, telling them at the same time that 
 you know Lady Helena was my chief 
 nurse, that you would draw from them 
 some particulars of what passed." Miss 
 Brightwen promised compliance and went 
 in search of Gibhs and the other servant ; 
 she found them in great distress of mind, 
 from the terror of having violated their 
 oath ; but she contrived means to quiet 
 their fears and convince them that they 
 had not betrayed the secret ; and then she 
 gained from them many interesting details, 
 which she hastened to disclose to Lady 
 Restormel and Lady Erpingham. Gibbs, 
 who lay in the next room, had often 
 heard Lady Helena praying by the bed of 
 the sufferer ; had also gone in and seen 
 her lying with her head on the bosom of 
 Lady Helena, as she lay on the bed beside 
 her, and she owned she had often said to 
 herself, ' how can my lady be so good to 
 that cross woman who seemed so queer 
 about seeing her when she first came.' So- 
 phia related all she heard with great ac- 
 curacy, and while Lady Erpingham wept 
 
199 
 
 4he sweetest maternal tears over the evi- 
 dences of her child's worth, Lady Restor- 
 mel's tears also flowed, but in bitterness as 
 well as thankfulness. 
 
 " I thought so !" said she ; " I thought 
 my recollection was not a deceitful one! 
 I remember to have seen that graceful 
 being on her knees, her arms raised, and 
 her beautiful hands clasped, while that 
 sweet voice murmured out prayers for me ! 
 and well do I remember how pleasant it 
 was to me to be supported on her bosom, 
 while I often fancied her long, full sleeves 
 were her wings that overshadowed me ! 
 but, I must go— I can stay here no longer 
 now — Restormel will be uneasy if I am 
 late when he expects me ; but I shall not 
 be happy till I return again, and have 
 seen and blessed Lady Helena !" Lady 
 Restormel then took an affectionate leave 
 of the countess — and kissing Sophia's 
 cheek, said — " I never before, on so short an 
 acquaintance, left any one with such senti- 
 ments of respect and esteem as I do you 
 Miss Brightwen, and I earnestly hope we 
 
200 
 
 shall meet again, and often." As soon as 
 Lady Restormel was at the gates of the 
 park, she desired to know of the keeper of 
 the gate where Mr. Magnal lived, and 
 how far his house was out of her road. 
 She was told it was full ten miles round. 
 
 " No matter," said she, u drive to Mr. 
 Magnal's." 
 
 "Dear, my lady !" cried Warren, "surely 
 it will fatigue you to go such around !" 
 
 " My mind will be more fatigued if 
 I do not go, and will wear out my 
 strength more." 
 
 When the postilions drove into Mr. 
 Magnal's park, and approached the house, 
 Lady Restormel was very near fainting, and 
 almost gasped for breath. It so happened 
 that Lady Helena was in the hall waiting 
 for the carriage to drive up, which was to 
 take her to make a call in the neighbour- 
 hood, therefore, on hearing the sound of 
 wheels, she ran to the door, and conse- 
 quently could not be denied, else, Lady 
 Restormel might have been disappointed 
 in the object of her visit. 
 
201 
 
 " There is Lady Helena at the door, 
 my lady," cried Warren. Lady Restormel 
 instantly looked out of the window, and 
 clasping her hands convulsively, as she 
 gazed on that pale, but lively face, she ex- 
 claimed—" Yes, yes 'tis she !" but she saw 
 with pain — that Lady Helena's impulse on 
 recognizing the liveries was to hasten back 
 into the house. 
 
 " Tell Lady Helena Fortescue," said 
 Lady Restormel, in a faltering voice, 
 " that my business is with her, and I 
 intreat to see her alone." To retreat, and to 
 deny the request were impossible ; there- 
 fore, Lady Helena full of wonder and 
 alarm, came forward, and as Lady Restor- 
 mel alighted, and was supported under 
 both arms into the hall, she curtsied in 
 dignified silence, and led the way into a 
 room, in which was a couch— to which she 
 pointed, as desiring that Lady Restormel 
 should be conducted to it. During this 
 time she felt herself confused and embar- 
 ressed by the earnest gaze of Lady Restor- 
 mel's expressive eyes, which were swim- 
 K5 
 
202 
 
 ming in tears, and when the servants left 
 the room, it was with a beating heart that 
 Lady Helena awaited Lady Restormel's 
 communications ; but finding that she re- 
 mained silent as if expecting her to speak 
 first, and knowing that her voice could not 
 betray her more than her appearance must 
 already have done, if Lady Restormel's 
 memory retained any of the impressions 
 made during her delirium, she ventured to 
 say — u I await the honor of your lady- 
 ship's commands." 
 
 " Oh ! that voice !" cried, Lady Restor- 
 mel, rising and attempting to approach 
 Lady Helena, bu* her strength failed her, 
 and she would have fallen to the ground 
 had not Lady Helena caught her by the 
 arm, and assisted her to the couch again. 
 She would then have retreated, but Lady 
 Restormel threw her arm round her, and 
 as she held her, she exclaimed in a voice 
 broken by sobs, " nearer ! nearer yet !" 
 then straining her forcibly to her bosom, 
 she imprinted a kiss on her reluctant cheek. 
 Lady Helena now still more surprized 
 
203 
 
 and alarmed, struggled in her grasp, 
 exclaiming—" Your ladyship is ill again ! 
 I am sure you are ill !" 
 
 " Unkind Lady Helena !" replied 
 Lady Restormel ! I understand the re- 
 proach ; you believe that I must be de- 
 lirious so to caress Lady H-.lena Fortescue j 
 but have I sinned beyond forgiveness? 
 Oh ! if I thought it right to kneel to any 
 one but my God ! I would so humble my- 
 self before you Lady Helena ! but believe 
 me, I am humbled enough in spirit, and 
 I conjure you not to reject the tribute I 
 thus render to your excelling worth, and 
 the proof I now give you of my deep and 
 grateful sense of it !" 
 
 By these words, inarticulate nearly 
 with emotion, yet full of the touching elo- 
 quence of the awakened heart, Lady 
 Helena could not remain unsubdued, but 
 throwing herself into the arms of Lady 
 Restormel, she wept there some moments 
 in silence : then recovering herself, she 
 exclaimed — " But what does this mean ! 
 and what has thus affected you ?" 
 
201 
 
 " Do you not suspect that your secret 
 is known ?" 
 
 "What! have those women betrayed me?" 
 
 " Yes, but not voluntarily ; my sus- 
 picions were awakened, I saw in neither 
 of them the angel whom I had seen in my 
 delirious hours, and I questioned them till 
 my suspicions became certainties; there- 
 fore I could not rest till I had expressed 
 to you in words the gratitude which can 
 end only with my life." 
 
 Lady Helena had fancied herself suffi- 
 ciently rewarded before, for the labour of 
 love, which she had performed to one who 
 deserved it not from her, in the approba- 
 tion of her own heart; but the gratification, 
 which she was now experiencing, was in- 
 finitely greater, and she listened to the 
 grateful and touching eloquence of her 
 noble visitor, with her head leaning against 
 her shoulder, and tears of pleasing emotion 
 trickling down her cheeks. At this mo- 
 ment Mrs. Magnal entered the room, who, 
 having seen with astonishment the Restor- 
 mel liveries at their door, could not rest 
 
205 
 
 till she had learnt why her house was 
 troubled with a guest so hateful and so 
 unwelcome ; nor was she more disposed to 
 perform the dues of hospitality when she 
 saw Lady Helena pale and in tears, lean- 
 ing, as if for support, against Lady Res- 
 tormel. " Grant me patience," cried she ; 
 " what does this mean, and what could 
 your ladyship mean by coming hither to 
 afflict that dear girl — what have you been 
 saying to her ?" 
 
 " What has made me very happy," said 
 Lady Helena, smiling through her tears, 
 while Lady Restormel was endeavouring 
 to rise, in courtesy to the lady of the 
 house, but finding that her limbs trembled 
 under her, she reseated herself, saying, 
 " Excuse me, madam, I cannot stand; but, 
 as I see that I am an unwelcome guest, I 
 will only indulge myself with a few more 
 words with your young friend here, and 
 then take my departure." 
 
 " But may I venture to ask why your 
 ladyship came at all ?" 
 
206 
 
 " To pay a debt of heartfelt gratitude, 
 as far as words can pay it — a debt which 
 I was not conscious of till a few hours 
 ago." 
 
 " No ; you knew you had been the 
 guest of Lady Helena, I conclude, and — " 
 
 " I knew," interrupted Lady Restor- 
 mel, " that I was indebted for the common 
 dues of hospitality, but not for benevolence 
 so exalted, and services so vast." 
 
 " Dear, dear madam, forbear," cried 
 Lady Helena. 
 
 Mrs. Magnal looked at them both in 
 bewildered silence and amazement. 
 
 " I see," said Lady Restormel, smiling, 
 " that I have to tell you all Lady Helena 
 did for me ;" and having done so, Mrs. 
 Magnal exclaimed — " Well, was ever the 
 like of that heard — come hither to thank 
 and bless Lady Helena — no wonder in- 
 deed ; your ladyship ought to fall down on 
 your knees and kiss the very ground she 
 treads upon ; but, my dear girl, how could 
 you be so mad and so desperate as to risk 
 
207 
 
 your own precious life, and go through so 
 much, and all for what and for whom — 
 not for a friend but an enemy ; what 
 could Lady Restormel be to you — what 
 could you care for her, and you could not 
 have done more for your own darling mo- 
 ther ; what could your motive be ?" 
 
 A burning blush now dyed the cheek 
 of Lady Helena. Such is, I fear, the ob- 
 liquity of human nature, that Lady Res- 
 tormel beheld what she considered as a tell- 
 tale blush with great satisfaction, because 
 it lowered her sense of obligation to Lady 
 Helena, and made her suspect that it was 
 secret attachment to the son which had 
 impelled her services to the mother. 
 
 u I am sorry, Mrs. Magnal," replied 
 Lady Helena, rather indignantly, " that 
 you are surprised at finding me capable of 
 doing good offices towards an enemy, 
 which is a duty expressly enjoined us; but 
 I beg you to forget that this lady ever was 
 ought but my kind friend, as I see that she 
 now is." 
 
208 
 
 " And ought to be ; nay, ought always 
 to have been, in my opinion." 
 
 " And always will be her faithful, her 
 devoted friend," said Lady Restormel, em- 
 bracing Lady Helena ; " and now I must 
 take my leave, or poor Restormel will be 
 uneasy ; but whatever anxiety my delay will 
 occasion him, it will be all made amends 
 for and forgotten when he learns the cause 
 of it. Oh, Lady Helena, that you would 
 but accompany me home," she continued, 
 in the kindest and most caressing manner ; 
 " what say you — remember that I may 
 relapse, and then how I shall want and 
 miss my nurse — do, do go with me, I long 
 to open my house to you, as I have done 
 my heart." 
 
 " I am grateful to you for the pro- 
 posal and the wish," replied Lady He- 
 lena, blushing, " but it is impossible for 
 me to comply with it." 
 
 " Comply with it— no, to be sure not," 
 screamed out Mrs. Magnal ; " Lady He- 
 lena Fortescue, indeed, to be invited 
 
209 
 
 merely as a nurse ; really your ladyship's 
 presumption, I had almost said, astonishes 
 me." 
 
 " You did not so misconceive and mis- 
 understand me, I trust," said Lady Res- 
 tormel to Lady Helena, after darting a dis- 
 dainful glance at Mrs. Magnal. 
 
 "No, certainly not; but I consider 
 you as at this moment in a state of 
 intoxication, that of strong emotion, and 
 I am very sure that the proposal which 
 your excited feelings urged you to make 
 to-day, your cooler judgment would 
 disapprove to-morrow, and not only so, 
 that judgment would censure me for ac- 
 cepting it." 
 
 "You are right, quite right; surely, 
 surely, dear girl, I have hitherto strangely 
 misjudged you." 
 
 " Perhaps not ; but the line of my duty 
 is here so clearly marked out I could not 
 mistake it." 
 
 " Why, really," said Mrs. Magnal, " it 
 was very clear that Lady Helena Fortescue 
 
210 
 was not to go with any one as a nurse ; 
 that line of duty was marked out plainly 
 enough, and I can only wonder such a 
 thing was ever thought of, much less pro- 
 posed." 
 
 " On that subject, madam, I shall 
 allow you to wonder still," said Lady 
 Restormel, haughtily ; " and now, Lady 
 Helena, God bless you, and I hope I may 
 tell Restormel that you will allow him to 
 endeavour to express to you, for an en- 
 deavour it can only be, his sense of the ob- 
 ligations you have conferred both on the 
 mother and the son — obligations, too, 
 which, but for circumstances, we should 
 never have discovered." 
 
 " Certainly, certainly we shall be happy 
 to see Lord Restormel, whenever he 
 chooses to come to Laurel Grove," replied 
 Lady Helena, with as much indifference 
 as she could assume ; and after having re- 
 ceived and returned Lady Restormel's 
 parting embrace, she assisted her to the 
 door of the hall, and when the carriage 
 
211 
 
 drove off, instead of going out to pay her 
 intended visit, Lady Helena returned to 
 her own apartment, full of thankfulness, 
 of gladness, and of reverie. 
 
CHAP. XIV. 
 
 In the meanwhile Lord Restormel was 
 passing anxious and restless hours, for he 
 feared that some accident had retarded 
 his mother on her journey, or that she had 
 had a relapse, and he had resolved to return 
 full speed to Laurel Grove, when just as 
 he had ridden up a hill, which commanded 
 two roads, and a considerable tract of 
 country, he saw the carriage at a distance, 
 and hastened to meet it, full of anxiety 
 and alarm. But his first glance at the 
 countenance of Lady Restormel reassured 
 him, and surprised him at the same time ; 
 for it was a look of such quiet, benevolent 
 cheerfulness as he had not seen on it for 
 some time ; it seemed indicative of a heart 
 at peace with itself, and with all the world, 
 even though she must have been conscious 
 that her delay had made him uneasy. 
 This was so singular a disregard to his 
 
213 
 
 feelings in so fond and attentive a mother, 
 that, in a feeling of pique and momentary 
 resentment, he stopt the carriage, and 
 asked what had so long delayed her? 
 
 "Oh!" she replied, with a smile of 
 great meaning, "I made a visit on my 
 way." 
 
 " A visit ! then why not tell me such 
 was your intention; I have been so 
 anxious. And were you in a fit condition 
 to pay visits ? " 
 
 " No ; especially one that lay ten 
 miles out of my way." 
 
 "Ten miles! — amazing! — how could 
 you think of going ? " 
 
 V I would have gone if it had been 
 ten times as far ; but let me drive on, I 
 am now nearly exhausted." 
 
 Lord Restormel, distressed at his mo- 
 ther's rashness, and wondering what its 
 cause could be, was very impatient till 
 she arrived at the inn, and was able to 
 satisfy the curiosity she had excited. 
 " Now, then, dearest mother, explain, for 
 
214 
 
 I am on the rack of curiosity ; where can 
 you have been ?" 
 
 " To Mrs. Magnal's," she replied ; and 
 Lord Restormel started with joyful sur- 
 prise and emotion, but by his looks only 
 interrogated her further ; " yes," continued 
 she, but retaining her calmness no longer, for 
 her voice became nearly inarticulate, from 
 tears ; M yes, Restormel, I could not have 
 slept to night, if I had not gone in person, 
 at whatever risk to myself, to thank and 
 bless that noble and admirable girl ; and 
 even to humble myself before her. What 
 will you say and feel, Restormel, when you 
 hear that the being who watched over my 
 delirious nights, and preserved the life of 
 your mother, and whom I fancied my 
 guardian angel, was no other than Lady 
 Helena Fortescue ! " 
 
 A feeling too mighty for expression 
 now throbbed in the heart of Lord Res- 
 tormel, while sinking back in his chair he 
 murmured out a blessing on her and burst 
 into tears ; but the next moment he started 
 
 
215 
 
 forward, and clasping his mother in his 
 arms, laid her head on his bosom, and held 
 her there for some moments in silence. 
 Happy Lord Restormel ! the wound that 
 had so long rankled in his heart was 
 healed. The mother whom she adored, 
 and for whose sake he had been willing to 
 sacrifice his consciously encreasing attach- 
 ment to the being whom she had proscribed, 
 had avowedly relinquished her prejudice 
 against that beloved being, and had even 
 taught him new motives for love and ad- 
 miration for her; — the woman whose influ- 
 ence he had vainly endeavoured to escape, 
 had conferred on his mother and himself 
 everlasting obligations, and the duties 
 dearest to his heart now sanctioned the 
 indulgence of its tenderest inclinations. 
 There are moments in life which are worth 
 years of suffering, and Lord Restormel felt 
 that these were some of them. But such 
 are often transient as they are sweet, and 
 so were these. 
 
 Lady Restormel, now the violence of 
 
216 
 
 the excitement was past, felt how much 
 she had dared, and how much she was 
 exhausted, and she fell into a deep, 
 long, swoon, which banished from her 
 son's mind all the delightful consciousnesses 
 and pleasant visions which had floated 
 there, and substituted affectionate terror 
 and alarm in their stead. But during the 
 night of watchfulness on his part, which 
 succeeded, Lord Restormel found that his 
 mother's slumbers, though short, were 
 tranquil and refreshing, and the next day 
 he had the happiness of conducting her, 
 though by slow stages, to that house which 
 she had once expected never to behold again! 
 still, however, she had made exertions, and 
 undergone emotions too great for her 
 strength ; and when Lord Restormel hoped 
 he should have been able to return to 
 Laurel Grove to express the grateful feel- 
 ings of his heart to Lady Helena Fortes- 
 cue, duty, he found, would still confine 
 him to the sick couch of his mother ! 
 
 " But, dear Charles, if you will not 
 
217 
 
 leave me to go to Laurel Grove," said 
 Lady Restormel, " you must write to 
 Lady Helena." 
 
 " To be sure I must," he replied ; and 
 a letter was written, but soon destroyed 
 again ; another, and another shared the 
 same fate, some were too cold, some too 
 warm ; and not one even of those which 
 he most disapproved, could he bear to 
 shew to Lady Restormel. At length he 
 forced himself to be contented, and a letter 
 was sent express to Laurel Grove ! Lady 
 Helena, when she left home, had intended 
 to return thither if possible, as soon as 
 she was certain that her guests were gone ; 
 but Mr. and Mrs. Magnal were so desirous 
 of her staying till the next day, and she 
 was so averse to treat them as if she 
 made a mere convenience of their house^ 
 that she deferred her departure. Nor did 
 she feel this to be the sacrifice which she 
 would certainly have considered it, had not 
 the interview with Lady Restormel taken 
 place — for the evening did not appear long 
 and tedious to her ! the recovered sunshine 
 voi II. l 
 
218 
 
 of her soul shed a radiance over every 
 thing! not only had Lady Restormel's 
 dislike of her faded away, before the con- 
 sciousness of her kind and endearing ser- 
 vices, hut she felt that she was become the 
 object of that lady's grateful affection, 
 that the son would be called upon to 
 share in the warm and thankful feelings of 
 his mother ! Lady Helena allowed herself 
 full time to indulge in the reveries inci- 
 dental to such feelings before she joined 
 her host and hostess at their tea-table ; she 
 was therefore able and willing, when she 
 did so, to endeavour to make them as 
 cheerful as herself; and she, whom they 
 had seen all the morning pale, absent, 
 languid, low, and silent, now appeared to 
 them with a flushed cheek, a sparkling eye* 
 that eye "begetting" occasions for her wit — 
 
 (t Which her fair tongue, conceits expositor 
 Did turn into a laughter-moving jest." 
 
 Mr. Magnal was delighted, so was 
 his wife ; but she was also surprized, till 
 unable any longer to restrain her astonish- 
 
219 
 
 ment she threw her spoon down, as if 
 in angry defiance, on the board, and ex- 
 claimed—" Well, I protest Lady Helena 
 you are inexplicable to me ! what is be- 
 come of all your sighing and moping, and 
 where is that eternal head-ache which you 
 said would last your life ? Why, child ! you 
 are not the same [person you were in the 
 morning ! pray tell me what has wrought 
 this change ; but do not tell me it is all 
 because that proud, disagreeable woman has 
 been here and kissed you, and cried over, 
 and said fine things to you, which was the 
 least she could do for you after all you did for 
 her !" Lady Helena scarcely knew how to 
 reply to this interrogatory, as she was con- 
 scious that to Lady Restormel's visit the 
 change was solely to be attributed, for she 
 felt that it had drawn aside the veil that 
 had lately hid every thing, which was 
 fair in the prospect of creation, from her 
 view, and had removed the weight that sat 
 like the night-mare on her breast; yet 
 answer it she must, and she could only 
 reply with sincerity—" I must own that 
 
220 
 
 Lady Restormel's visit has wrought this 
 change, as her unfounded dislike of me 
 weighed heavily on my spirits." Mrs. Mag- 
 nal was silent from angry surprise — but 
 her husband said — " No doubt it must 
 have been very trying to you to be dis- 
 liked and slighted by her, for she is Lord 
 Restormel's mother !" Lady Helena start- 
 ed, and blushed deeply at this assertion 
 coming from a man so wholly devoid of 
 penetration, and feared that the secrets of 
 her heart were not so well concealed as 
 she had believed them to be ; but before 
 she could reply, her mind was set at ease on 
 this subject, as Mr.Magnal went on to say 
 that if Lady Restormel derived no dis- 
 tinction and consequence from her own 
 qualities, she did from being the mother of 
 Charles de Mowbray, Baron Restormel, 
 whose family was most ancient and 
 respectable, and who was almost lineally 
 descended from Thomas de Mowbray, 
 Duke of Norfolk, who, when banished from 
 England by Richard the Second, went 
 to the Holy Wars and did great deeds 
 
there. " Grant me patience," cried Mrs. 
 Magnal, who had none of her husband's re- 
 verence for pedigree, " what does Lady 
 Helena care for the dead Thomas de 
 Mowbray, she is more likely, I think, to 
 admire the living Charles de Mowbray 
 himself, though he is, I fear, as proud and 
 as positive as his mother, and quite as 
 wrong headed, for I am told all the poor 
 in his neighbourhood can read, owing to 
 him and his mother, and that they are 
 reading their Bibles when they ought to 
 be in bed and asleep." 
 
 " Shocking !" said Lady Helena, laugh- 
 ing, ** and I wonder Lord and Lady 
 Restormel are not ashamed of themselves 
 to teach their poor to prefer reading their 
 Bible to lying in bed, and if Lady Restor- 
 mel were not the mother of the man who 
 descends from Thomas de Mowbray, and if 
 he himself did not descend from the same 
 stock, I should certainly not be pleased at 
 being reconciled to the mother, nor glad at 
 never having quarrelled with the son." 
 
222 
 
 The next evening Lady Helena returned 
 home, and her return, with a face dressed 
 in smiles, and with no traces of languor in 
 her appearance, was a joyful surprise to 
 her anxious mother and brother, and to 
 Miss Brightwen, whom her ill looks and 
 depressed spirits had alarmed ; nor were 
 they sparing in questions concerning the 
 cause of a change so sudden and unex- 
 pected. But it was easier for them to 
 ask than for Lady Helena to reply, and it 
 was with considerable difficulty and evident 
 embarrassment that she informed them of 
 Lady Restormel's visit to her, and of the 
 interesting conversation which passed be- 
 tween them. 
 
 " Then I suppose, Helena, you will 
 have a visit from Lord Restormel soon V* 
 said Lord Aston. 
 
 " Very likely," replied Lady Helena, 
 unguardedly. 
 
 " Oh, you expect one, do you ?" 
 
 " For shame, Aston ! you make your 
 sister blush !" said his mother, " and I am 
 
223 
 
 sure she has no occasion — for she ought to 
 be very proud of the cause of both visits, 
 as they are tributes to her worth." 
 
 " No, dear mother, not exactly so. 
 Helena may be proud of the one, but she 
 must be pleased with the other — the one 
 gratified her pride, the other will gratify 
 her " 
 
 Lady Helena left the room before he 
 had concluded his speech. 
 
 H So, so," continued he to Sophia, " I 
 see how it is — and I now hope that the first 
 wish of my brother's heart will be grati- 
 fied ; but whither are you going my dear 
 mother T 
 
 '* In search of Helena ; I have not yet 
 told her all that is on my heart concerning 
 her rash exposure of her own precious life 
 in nursing Lady Restormel ; but I could 
 not bear to name the subject to her except 
 in private. It is too painful !" 
 
 * It was rash certainly," said Lord 
 Aston, after a short silence, the result of 
 his finding himself alone with Sophia, " it 
 was rash, but who can wonder at and 
 
224 
 
 blame her. Helena would probably have 
 done the same for any one so endangered 
 and afflicted, but so to dare for the mother 
 of a man whom I now suspect was by no 
 means indifferent to her, and to serve her so 
 effectually too, must have been a gratifica- 
 tion of the highest order ! I declare I 
 should like to see the meeting between her 
 and Restormel ! Happy Helena ! happy 
 Restormel ! now there can be no obstacle to 
 the indulgence of their wishes ! and happy 
 indeed are those who can give way unop- 
 posed by any external or internal barrier 
 to a virtuous attachment. Oh ! how I 
 envy their fate and pity my own !" he 
 added in a low voice, then suddenly 
 quitted the room. 
 
 " That dear, amiable being is not 
 happy," said the unconscious Sophia to 
 herself; " I am afraid his wife is not all 
 that she should be !" The next morning 
 Lady Helena rose very early, and sat read- 
 ing at a window that commanded the road 
 along which Lord Restormel must come ; 
 not that it was probable he would come 
 
225 
 
 <early, still it was pleasant to look out of 
 the window, and fancy some distant ob- 
 ject was the one she expected; but hour suc- 
 ceeded to hour, and yet she saw neither 
 horseman nor carriage in the distance. At 
 length, and as early as he or any messen- 
 ger from his village could ^rrive, she de- 
 scried a man on horseback coming full 
 speed. He brought a letter from Lord 
 Restormel: Lady Helena was disap- 
 pointed—still, to receive a letter was some- 
 thing, and while with a trembling hand 
 she broke the seal, she was very glad that 
 she was alone. Whatever were its con- 
 tents, and however little they had satisfied 
 the writer, they were certainly gratifying 
 to Lady Helena — for she read them over 
 and over again, with blushes and trepida- 
 tion ; and with an absent look, an embar- 
 rassed manner, and with a voice whose 
 tones betrayed considerable emotion, while 
 answering the morning enquiries after her 
 health, she took her seat at the breakfast 
 table ; but in vain did she try to inform 
 her mother that she had had a letter from 
 l 5 
 
226 
 
 Lord Restormel ; she had not said so 
 when she entered the room, and while 
 Lord Aston was absent; therefore, now 
 that Lord Aston had joined them, her 
 difficulty was increased, though if Lady 
 Helena had not been too much absorbed 
 in herself to possess her usual penetration, 
 she would have seen that her brother was 
 not in a humour for pleasantry — she would 
 have observed as great a change in him, as 
 had been noticed in herself, but of an op- 
 posite nature — she would have heard her 
 mother say — " Aston ! there is your usual 
 seat by Miss Brightwen left for you !" and 
 would have wondered that he did not 
 take it, but seated himself at the bottom of 
 the table. She would also have been sur- 
 prised to hear her mother say — " Aston, I 
 thought you would have resumed your 
 morning walks with Miss Brightwen, but I 
 find she looked for you in vain to-day at 
 the accustomed spot ;" while, in reply to 
 Sophia's observation of * indeed I was 
 quite disappointed at not seeiiag you there," 
 he simply and rather coldly said that he 
 
227 
 
 was busy in his own room; but Lady 
 Helena was wholly engrossed with her 
 own feelings and perplexities, and was 
 wondering how to introduce the subject 
 of the letter, when the butler came in and 
 said, " The messenger from Lord Restor- 
 mel's begs to know, my lady, whether 
 there is any answer?" 
 
 " Oh, no ; he need not wait," replied 
 Lady Helena, blushing, and expecting, but 
 in vain, to be the object of some good- 
 natured raillery from her brother. 
 
 Her mother, as was to be supposed, 
 only asked, with unaffected surprise, why 
 she had not told her she had a letter from 
 Green Hills ; and begged to know what 
 Lady Restormel said of her own health ? 
 
 " The letter is from Lord Restormel,'' 
 replied Lady Helena. 
 
 " Indeed! — and what does he say ?" 
 
 " Nothing particular of his mother's 
 health, except that she is too unwell still 
 for him to be easy to leave her." 
 
 " But did he write only to say that ?" 
 
 " No ; to thank me —that is all." 
 
" May I not see the letter ? " 
 i "No; it would not interest you, 
 mamma." 
 
 " Then it does not contain an offer, I 
 conclude ?" said Lord Aston, trying to be 
 cheerful. 
 
 • " Certainly not; if it did, I should 
 have carried it to mamma." 
 
 " What, for her to answer it as she 
 chose — obedient excellence! — but perhaps 
 it contains a preparation for an offer; do 
 let me see it?" 
 
 " Not for the world, after what you 
 have said, Aston." 
 
 u Not for the world!— a strong ex- 
 pression !" But it was scarcely too strong 
 for Lady Helena's feelings at the moment, 
 as she not only considered Lord Restor- 
 mel's letter as too sacred to be shown to 
 any one, but she feared that another should 
 not discover in it the meaning which she 
 delighted to fancy and to brood over, and 
 should, therefore, destroy the delusion 
 which she had a pleasure in encouraging: 
 she therefore made no reply to her bro- 
 
229 
 
 ther's remark on the force of her words' 
 but observed that she did not choose to 
 expose the letter to his comments, or those 
 of any one, as commentators were apt to 
 obscure the meaning which they pretended 
 to illustrate, and which but for their com- 
 ments would have remained perfectly clear. 
 " So, then, there is a meaning in Res- 
 tormel's letter, is there, which is now clear 
 to you, and which you are afraid should 
 not appear so to other people ; is that the 
 case, Helena ? " 
 
 It was the case ; and she knew not how 
 to reply, but, in great confusion, she re- 
 proached Lord Aston for his saucy re- 
 marks, adding, " Do, pray Miss Brightwen, 
 keep Aston in order, for if you do not, I 
 am sure no one else can. 1 ' 
 
 " Indeed, you overrate my power," 
 said Sophia, " I find I have no influence 
 over Lord Aston." 
 
 Scarcely had she uttered these words, 
 when, having now recovered her powers of 
 observation, Lady Helena almost started 
 to see the effect they produced on her 
 
230 
 
 brother. That before laughing eye be- 
 came downcast, and the arch smile was 
 succeeded by a compression of his lips, as if 
 in suppressed agony ; then darting a 
 mournful glance at Sophia, whose head 
 was turned towards Lady Helena, he rose, 
 and hastily quitted the room. 
 
 " Aston is certainly ill to-day, or his 
 letters from abroad have distressed him,' 
 said Lady Erpingham ; " 1 must go after 
 him." 
 
 " Poor man ! " cried Sophia, " I began 
 to fear I had unconsciously offended him, 
 there is such a marked change in his man- 
 ner to me to-day ; but I now see that he 
 is only unhappy ; I fear his wife is not all 
 he could wish." 
 
 " You are right there, Miss Brightwen ; 
 but really could you, did you attribute the 
 coldness which you say you observe in 
 Aston's manner to-day to your having un- 
 consciously offended him?" 
 
 " Yes, I did," replied Sophia, with great 
 simplicity, and with every appearance of 
 sincerity. 
 
231 
 
 Lady Helena sighed, but said nothing ; 
 she was too wise, and too delicate towards 
 her brother ; too considerate towards Miss 
 Brightwen to draw aside the veil which 
 hid the truth from her eyes, and she only 
 observed, that Lady Aston not only did 
 not make her husband happy, but was not 
 happy herself, as she knew very well that 
 he married her from gratitude, not love. 
 
 " But how is it possible that any wo- 
 man can live with Lord Aston, and not try 
 to make him happy?— Oh, since I have 
 known him," cried Sophia, in a faltering 
 voice, " I have not wondered that my 
 poor brother was so ready to die for him ; 
 and I have felt more reconciled to that 
 terrible event." 
 
 Lady Helena surprised at words like 
 these, from a woman of such exemplary 
 self-command, looked at her with a piercing 
 eye, and arch expression of countenance, 
 exclaiming — u This from you ! if Aston 
 were not a married man I should think 
 that you were in love with him." 
 
 " But he is a married man," replied 
 
232 
 
 Sophia, coldly and proudly, " and I nei- 
 ther forget that, nor myself. Had Lord 
 Aston not been married, I should not have 
 allowed myself to feel for him what I do, 
 much less should I have thought of expres- 
 sing my feelings. The strength of what I 
 said is a sufficient proof of its inno- 
 cence." 
 
 " Quite sufficient," said Lady Helena ; 
 " but, my dear friend, why wonder that 
 Lady Aston torments her husband ; you 
 know little of the human heart if you do 
 not know that we always torment those 
 most whom we love best." 
 
 "I never did — I never do." 
 
 " But you are a nonsuch, and the 
 silly man who called Julia Una, would 
 with greater propriety call you Unique; 
 by-the-by I wish he would fall in love 
 with you, as I once said before." 
 
 " Do not fib, Lady Helena." 
 
 " No ; you are right, it is a bad cus- 
 tom; well, but to resume what I said con- 
 cerning poor human nature, Lady Aston 
 is and must be jealous." 
 
233 
 
 " I dare say she has no cause to be 
 so." 
 
 " Humph ! — ne gagcz pas." 
 
 " Lady Helena, how can you thus ca- 
 lumniate your noble brother," said Sophia 
 eagerly, and with a blushing cheek. 
 
 " Bravo ! — friendship !" — replied Lady 
 Helena, laughing; "however, I have no real 
 indisputable grounds for the calumny, as 
 you call it, and I will say no more; but this 
 I know, Miss Brightwen, that the woman 
 is rash and foolish, indeed, who accepts 
 any thing in lieu of love for love from the 
 man she marries. It were as wise to accept, 
 in return for possessions in the genial cli- 
 mate of Italy, an estate in Nova Zembla. 
 Such a marriage would to me be like the 
 grasp of the statue's hand to Don Gio- 
 vanni ; I should die of it, and so perhaps 
 will my sister-in-law, if she does not wear 
 out her husband first." 
 
 " Poor woman! I pity her any way, 
 but most, if having helped to kill, she 
 should survive her husband." 
 
234 
 
 " Then the kindest wish would be, my 
 dear friend, to wish her to die first." 
 
 " I do not think it right to have a wish 
 on the subject." 
 
 " Nor I ; yet I own that it is one on which 
 I have many wishes, but I shall keep them 
 all to myself, and now to my studies." 
 
 Lady Helena then retired to her own 
 room, after she had heard from her mother 
 that Lord Aston was only rather depres- 
 sed, and her chief study was the letter of 
 Lord Restormel. The next day, and the 
 day after, Lady Helena would sit to work no 
 where but in the room, which commanded 
 the road to Green Hills, and never before 
 had she been tempted to draw the prospect 
 from that window, but now she declared 
 it was irresistible, and there she sat at her 
 pencil. It is true that she frequently 
 looked off to see if she could discover a 
 horseman or a carriage in the distance ; 
 still she was so interested in her drawing, 
 that it was with great reluctance she left 
 it to dress for dinner. On the third morn- 
 
235 
 
 ing of her industry, she saw an open car- 
 riage, and with two out-riders in crimson 
 and silver liveries. Then his mother is 
 better, she mentally exclaimed, and here 
 he is at last! Lady Helena having ascer- 
 tained this fact, tried to resume her draw- 
 ing, but her touch was ill-assured, and all 
 was mist before her eyes. Pshaw ! cried 
 she, throwing down her pencil, in a pleas- 
 ing pet, — then going to the glass, she ad- 
 justed her hair, was vexed to see her lip 
 nearly as pale as her cheek ; peeped out 
 to see how near the phaeton was, and 
 trembled, with emotion, when she saw it 
 approaching fast. Oh! thought she, 
 clasping her hands in thankfulness, with 
 what different eyes and feelings do I gaze 
 on that carriage now to what I did when I 
 saw it last; then the sight of it overwhelmed 
 me with shame and regret, and now it 
 gives me a sensation of triumph and joy. 
 
 While these thoughts were passing in 
 her mind, Lady Helena looked out of 
 the window, and met the eyes of Lorji 
 Restormel ! instead of stopping to receive 
 
236 
 
 and return his salutation, the conscious 
 girl started back, full of blushing con- 
 fusion, and had not recovered herself 
 when the servant announced him. He 
 was more agitated though not so confused 
 as herself; he had meant to say a great 
 deal when he first saw her, but he was 
 unable to utter a word ; he only pres- 
 sed her hand repeatedly to his lips, 
 then turned to the window in silence 
 and evident emotion. 
 
 Again Lady Helena felt thankful, for 
 what different feelings did his kissing her 
 hand occasion in her now, to those she 
 experienced when he had so presumed 
 before; and scarcely could she forbear 
 to press to her own lips the hand which 
 his had touched. But when Lord Res- 
 tormel had recovered his first emotion, 
 he also recovered his power of speech* 
 and he became so eloquent, that Lady 
 Helena was very sorry when the entrance 
 of Lady Erpingham and Lord Aston 
 interrupted his conversation. Lord Res- 
 iormel was the bearer of a letter from 
 
237 
 
 his mother, in which she entreated the 
 whole family at Laurel Grove to be- 
 come her guests, as soon as she was well 
 enough to receive them, and that Lord 
 Erpingham should be returned from his 
 tour, which had unexpectedly been of 
 a longer duration than he had originally 
 intended. A ready consent was granted, 
 and a day of enjoyment succeeded, un- 
 clouded over, except by Lord Aston's 
 refusal to be of the party to Green Hills ; 
 he had made preparations for leaving 
 England directly, and had written to tell 
 Lady Aston she might expect him every 
 day. He made this unexpected disclosure 
 in the presence of his whole family and 
 Lord Restormel, as if he wished to avoid 
 individual interrogations, as to the cause 
 of his sudden departure; and he made 
 it in a hurried, uncomfortable manner, 
 which did not escape the observant Lady 
 Helena, but she said nothing ; and she was 
 still silent though tears were in her 
 eyes, when her mother and Sophia ex- 
 pressed their surprise and disappointment 
 
238 
 
 on hearing of his determination ; and 
 Lord Restormel earnestly requested him 
 to postpone his journey ; but she was not 
 able to remain so, for Lord Restormel 
 conjured her to use her eloquence to 
 prevail on her brother to delay his de- 
 parture, that he might come to Green 
 Hills. 
 
 " Aston," she replied, in a voice which 
 deep feeling made rather tremulous, " is 
 the best judge of the necessity there is 
 for his departure ; if he were to stay 
 here for months longer, I should equally 
 think his stay was too short; but now his 
 health is re-established, I feel that Lady 
 Aston and his children have their claims, 
 and I do not wonder that he is resolved 
 to hasten to them, nor can I urge him 
 to give up his intentions." It seemed as 
 if Lord Aston understood what was pas- 
 sing in the heart of his sister, as she said 
 this, for he did not look at her, as if 
 surprised at her refusal to importune 
 him to stay; but he said in a hurried 
 manner, while the others exclaimed against 
 
239 
 
 Lady Helena for sanctioning his imme- 
 mediate departure— " Helena has only 
 spoken like a sensible woman, I must go, 
 I ought to go," and then left them. Lady 
 Helena now turned her penetrating eyes 
 on Sophia, to see whether she seemed to 
 feel any emotion or consciousness which 
 she wished and endeavoured to hide; 
 but on the contrary, she told her regret 
 for Lord Aston's resolution, warmly and 
 openly, and her unembarrassed expression 
 of countenance while she spoke, showed 
 that all was at peace within. " I am glad 
 of it," thought Lady Helena, " glad to see 
 that well-regulated mind remains con- 
 sistent with itself. It would be unworthy 
 of her even to suspect that a married 
 man loved her." 
 
 Lord Restormel was easily persuaded 
 to pass the whole day at Laurel Grove, 
 though, as his mother would expect to 
 see him the next day at breakfast in 
 her dressing room, he must travel all 
 night to enable him to be home in time. 
 
 * Had we known that you would not 
 
240 
 
 sleep here, and sleep no where to night, 
 my Lord I should not have pressed you 
 to stay the. day with us, for the nights 
 are very cold." 
 
 " I now regret the pleasure we have 
 enjoyed in your company," said Lady 
 Erpingham ; " do not you Helena V — 
 She wished she could have said yes, but 
 could not ; and while Lord RestormePs 
 eyes were fixed on her countenance as 
 if he were curious to hear what her answer 
 would be, she said, " But if he wraps him- 
 self up, very, very warmly, Lord Res- 
 tormel will not catch cold I dare say." 
 
 "At least, I can assert that I shall 
 not regard the inconvenience if I do ; for 
 so many happy hours would still have 
 been cheaply purchased, and for the suf- 
 fering from the sensation of — cold itself — 
 that I shall be too much absorbed in think- 
 ing over the joys that are past, to be at all 
 conscious of — especially as I may, I hope, 
 expect a renewal of them soon." 
 
 How strange, yet hovy common is 
 that tendency which men and women 
 
241 
 
 have, at all periods of a conscious attach- 
 ment, to torment themselves ! When Lady- 
 Helena retired for the night and recalled 
 all that had passed, she thought Lord Res- 
 tormel's words, which I have recorded 
 above, were too studied, too courteous for 
 a man who felt any deep feeling at the 
 moment ; and she worked herself up into 
 a fixed resolution to forget him, or at least, 
 to behave distantly to him at their next 
 meeting ; when the sound of violent rain 
 alarmed her fears for his health, and the 
 excessive darkness of the night made her 
 apprehensive for his safety, she could not 
 help exclaiming, as she tried to compose 
 herself to sleep towards morning — " Poor, 
 dear Restormel ! how could I ever think 
 of behaving coldly towards him !" The 
 next day Lady Helena rose as much in- 
 clined as she had been the preceding one, 
 to indulge in musings, recollections, and an- 
 ticipations ; and all the day, dreams which 
 float round the fancy of those who are 
 conscious of an ever-growing attachment 
 in their own hearts, and have reason to 
 
 VOL. II. m 
 
242 
 
 believe that the attachment is mutual! 
 But she ceased to think of herself and her 
 own prospects when Lord Aston informed 
 her that he should leave Laurel Grove the 
 next day ; and when she saw his manly 
 brow was clouded over by a gloom which 
 he evidently tried to conceal. 
 
 " This is a very sudden resolution, 
 Aston, I was not prepared to lose you so 
 soon !" she cried, " and this is indeed an 
 affliction to me !" 
 
 " How kind in you, Helena, to regret 
 parting with me when the prospects of 
 happy love are evidently opening upon 
 you ! I fear if mine were such, that my 
 heart would not be capacious enough for 
 any regrets." 
 
 ie Do not so judge a passion, you have 
 never experienced, Aston ! love perhaps is 
 not so selfish and exclusive a feeling as you 
 imagine." While she said this, the agitated 
 silence of her brother seemed to contra- 
 dict her assertion, that the passion of love 
 was unknown to him ; but he was silent, 
 and Lady Helena continued — " I am not 
 
243 
 
 speaking now from my own experience, for I 
 fear my prospects are by no means so 
 bright and certain as you imagine them, 
 but from the experience of others; and I be- 
 lieve that your happy lover's heart is made 
 so universally benevolent by his agreeable 
 sensations, that he is disposed to love every 
 one and care for every one — and every 
 object that he looks at is charming ; just 
 as when one looks into a piece of cut glass, 
 one sees beautiful prisms before us, and on 
 every side, and all are the creations of the 
 medii, through which one is looking, while 
 the more broken the glass, the more 
 bright and numerous are the beautiful 
 rays." 
 
 * Yes, Helena ; but on- the contrary, 
 the more broken the heart, the more dark 
 all surrounding objects appear." 
 
 " I was not Ihinking or talking of a 
 broken heart, dear brother !" 
 
 " But I was," he replied, deeply sigh- 
 ing, " let us change the conversation, I 
 want to talk of things, not feelings— of per- 
 sons, not personations." Here he turned 
 
244 
 
 away to conceal . the evident agitation 
 which now shook his frame. Had the 
 cause of Lord Aston's emotion, and that 
 broken-heartedness to which he alluded, 
 been caused by any other circumstance 
 than a sudden, but deep-founded attach- 
 ment, and one which his being married 
 rendered a criminal one also, Lady Helena 
 would eagerly and tenderly have in- 
 terrogated the interesting speaker, and by 
 prevailing on him to disclose his cause of 
 suffering, would have tried to soothe it. 
 But principle forbade her to encourage 
 such a passion, and it would have been 
 doing so, had she tempted Lord Aston to 
 dwell on it, by talking of it. The love 
 which it was criminal in the brother to feel, 
 however deserving the object of it, it would 
 be, she felt, improper for the sister to seem 
 conscious of — she therefore awaited in 
 silence Aston's further communications. 
 At length he took a letter from his poc- 
 ket, which he begged Lady Helena to give 
 his father when he returned, after having 
 first read it herself. It contained, he told 
 
245 
 
 her, his wishes, that Lord Erpingham 
 should settle whatever sum of money he 
 thought fit on Miss Brightwen, for which 
 sum he himself would be answerable — 
 but that the father, not the son, must be 
 the ostensible giver. * My object," he said, 
 " is to make her independent." No money 
 can repay what Edward Everard did for 
 me, even though the life he saved is one of 
 misery and suffering ; but I cannot bear 
 that she should, for want of money, be 
 dependent in any way on the kindness of 
 others ; and could her brother know her 
 present situation, he would, I am sure, be 
 pleased at seeing her removed from the 
 necessity of it by my hand." 
 
 " I agree with you, but I fear Miss 
 Brightwen will not condescend to accept 
 pecuniary obligation !" 
 
 " How ! not when I must still remain 
 the obliged person !" 
 
 " Yes, as you are not paying her in 
 kind. If Lady Aston had been poor, would 
 you have thought of giving her money in 
 return for her tender care of you V 
 
246 
 
 " No, certainly not." 
 
 " Well, then, how can you even offer 
 to repay the service prompted by the 
 heart which the brother rendered you, by a 
 pecuniary service to the sister ?" 
 
 " Helena, Helena, have mercy on me ! 
 I cannot endure that Miss Brightwen 
 should remain dependent even on my own 
 family, and if she has any generosity in 
 her nature, she will not render an unhappy 
 man still more unhappy, by refusing what 
 can alone alleviate his sense of suffering : 
 will you be my advocate ?" 
 
 " I will." 
 
 " Now then, to give you another com- 
 mission." He then took a sealed parcel 
 from his pocket ; it was Sophia's picture. 
 " Take this picture," said he, with as 
 much firmness as he could assume, " and 
 when Miss Villeroy marries Marcus, let it 
 be my wedding gift to her, for I know she 
 will value it, and of all my presents she will 
 value that the most." 
 
 " Yes, if it be Miss Brightwen's ; but 
 I thought you would never — " 
 
247 
 
 " Helena 1" he replied, seizing her hand, 
 " I have been rash and presumptuous, 
 but I cannot be deliberately unprincipled. 
 Take away that picture ! I have looked at 
 it too long !" 
 
 He then left the room, but soon re- 
 turned, calm and with a look of mournful 
 resignation, which Lady Helena saw with 
 more sympathizing emotion than she 
 thought it right to express ; but she could 
 not help seizing Lord Aston's hand, and 
 affectionately pressing it; his returned 
 the pressure, and both felt that the heart 
 of each was understood by the other. 
 But Lord Aston was not to go till the 
 next day, and Lady Helena had a strong 
 curiosity to know before he went what 
 Sophia's determination would be with re- 
 gard to the offered donation. Accordingly 
 she sounded her on the subject as deli- 
 cately as she could, and at length informed 
 her of her father and brother's wishes 
 on the subject. To Lady Helena's great 
 surprise and satisfaction Sophia betrayed 
 no signs of impatience while she spoke, 
 
248 
 
 and no blushes, as if of wounded pride, 
 mantled on her pure pale cheek ; her 
 eager questioner therefore thought the 
 point was gained, and that she should 
 make her brother easy before he went. 
 But the opposition and resistance of prin- 
 ciple are always calm and dignified. It is 
 only that of the temper or feelings which 
 is angry and impatient, and Sophia's was 
 the former. When Lady Helena had 
 ended, Miss Brightwen calmly replied, that 
 she was deeply sensible of the intended 
 kindness, and begged Lady Helena would 
 repeat her words, but declared her fixed 
 resolution not to profit by it; and this kind- 
 ness is the result, in my opinion, of erroneous 
 views of my past and present situation ; 
 your brother cannot bear that I should be 
 dependent on any one, and exposed to the 
 caprices and temper of any one. Now I 
 shall begin my reply by asking you what 
 is being dependent ? you do not I suppose 
 call the tradesman dependent on you of 
 whom you purchase goods ? You give him 
 money, for which he gives you money's 
 
249 
 
 worth ; that is he barters his possession 
 for yours, and you never look on him 
 as your dependent. — I do the same for 
 a certain salary, I give my time, and the 
 use of my poor abilities to a young lady, 
 in order to benefit her in the way re- 
 quired ; that is, I give what I have and 
 she wants for her parent's money, that 
 money I fairly earn therefore, and this 
 is no dependence. Indeed Lord Aston is 
 frightened at a word. But then you tell 
 me he connot bear that I should work for 
 my living — I, born to higher prospects. 
 That is kind, but if there be any state of 
 mind more desirable than another, it is 
 that of complete resignation to the will of 
 Providence, and to whatever trials it has 
 been pleased to ordain. Such, after some 
 human struggles, I obtained — such I 
 feel still, and believe me that, while I have 
 been earning my pittance, cheered by the 
 consciousness which I have mentioned, I 
 lay my head on my pillow at night with 
 feelings I would not exchange for any the 
 world could give me. No, no, I cannot 
 
 5 M 
 
250 
 
 sacrifice my independence, and why should 
 I do it ? — the service of love that my poor 
 brother rendered Lord Aston, no pecuniary 
 service to me or mine can repay." 
 
 " So I said !" eagerly exclaimed Lady 
 Helena ; " and I should incur odious pecu- 
 niary obligation, and yet Lord Aston be 
 in debt still to one whom he can never re- 
 munerate, — I should lose all I value, and 
 he would not be benefitted by it." 
 
 " Yes, he would be benefitted in his feel- 
 ings, but I should be injured in mine ; and 
 much as I esteem Lord Aston, I feel that 
 I am not called upon to make this sacrifice 
 of my own feelings to his ? " 
 
 " Certainly not." 
 
 " Then, as to the misery of being ex- 
 posed to the caprices and tempers of other 
 persons ; this again is starting at a name. 
 Those only are great sufferers from the 
 temper of others, who cannot command 
 their own ; and this cannot be my case, 
 for, remember, I have lived with Lady 
 Villeroy." 
 
 " Yes, and you are going to live with 
 
251 
 
 that capricious young person, Lady Helena 
 Fortescue; and depend on it you will 
 not earn your living too easily with her. 
 I profess myself convinced by your 
 reasoning, and seeing clearly that you, on 
 principle, court trials, I shall, on principle, 
 give them to you, that you may depend 
 
 on/ 
 
 " Do not calumniate yourself, dear 
 Lady Helena ; I doubt not but I shall be 
 quite happy with you, though I assure you 
 that I do not mean to accept money, even 
 here, without earning it by the perfor- 
 mance of some duties. I know I feel that 
 I can be of service to you, and if I can but 
 break you of one bad habit, I shall have 
 deserved my reward." 
 
 " Certainly ; but suppose I marry, as 
 papa and mamma are too old to improve, 
 what will you do then ?" 
 
 " I dare say I shall easily find a situ- 
 ation, as I flatter myself I can have a good 
 character from my last place." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I shall be exhibited as a 
 proof of your sfavoir /aire — and only see 
 
252 
 
 and hear Lady Helena Fortescue ! — what 
 a pattern of propriety she is become ! and 
 all since her eccentricities were cut off and 
 pared away by the Brightwen's scissars. 
 Oh, dear, what a happy man her husband 
 will now be; — but how can I laugh thus, 
 when our poor, dear Aston is going away 
 to-morrow." 
 
 " To-morrow ! " 
 " Yes." 
 
 " But not early?" 
 
 " We shall see him again after to- 
 night." 
 
 " He says so." 
 " And he did say so ! " 
 But Lord Aston finding that he could 
 not take leave of his family, and Sophia, 
 without betraying emotions, which he 
 wished to conceal, resolved to depart early 
 the next day, without taking leave. Lady 
 Helena's quick eye, however, discovered 
 the secret ; and when they parted, at night, 
 she threw herself into his arms, and while 
 she received his affectionate embrace, she 
 was convinced that it was a final one. 
 
253 
 
 The next morning, when Lady Er- 
 pingham asked where Lord Aston was, as 
 they assembled at breakfast, she heard 
 that he had departed at day-break, and 
 her grief was excessive ; nor was Sophia 
 less loud in her expressions of regret, so 
 loud that Lady Helena was still more con- 
 vinced her brother suffered alone, and that 
 no shade of forbidden tenderness darkened 
 the spotless purity of Sophia Brightwen's 
 character. 
 
CHAP. XV. 
 
 A maternal change now took place in 
 Sophia's prospects. Her father wrote to 
 inform her that her mother-in-law was 
 dead ; she, therefore, expected that he 
 would soon summon her to superintend his 
 family. 
 
 Lady Erpingham regretted her son's 
 departure, the more because he would now 
 sail without seeing his father again, for if 
 he had waited only two days longer Lord 
 Erpingham would have been home. 
 
 The earl's tour had been extended far 
 beyond his expectations ; and circumstances 
 had delayed his return, but they were of 
 so pleasant a nature to his benevolent 
 heart, that he did not regret the delay, and 
 he now came home with tidings to impart, 
 which would, he knew, be received with 
 joy by every member of his family. 
 
 When Lord Erpingham sought and 
 
255 
 
 found Mr. Brightwen, to whose abode he 
 directed his steps as soon as he set out on 
 his journey ; he felt great anxiety at the 
 idea of seeing him, from expectation of the 
 emotion he should excite in him. But the 
 Mr. Brightwen whom he now saw was 
 quite a different person from the man he 
 had once beheld ; he was ;then an opulent 
 country gentleman, with feelings unchilled, 
 and prospects unblighted ; since then he 
 had been a ruined man, had been forced 
 to sell his estates ; had married merely to 
 procure the means of living ; had been 
 obliged to let one child leave his home to 
 earn her own livelihood, and another 
 contract a bad marriage to procure a 
 maintenance ; and, lastly, he had become a 
 speculator. Alas ! the heart that has once 
 been put in the exhausted receiver of that 
 air-pump— commercial speculation, has its 
 affections in a measure dried up, and withered, 
 for ever. A series of selfish anxieties make a 
 speculator wholly engrossed in himself and 
 his own concerns, while tenderness and con- 
 sideration for others fade away before the 
 
256 
 
 constant gnawings of alarmed and craving 
 self-love. Hence the name and recollection 
 of Edward Everard, once so sacred, so 
 fresh in his mind, and so overwhelming to 
 his feelings, were become matters of indif- 
 ference to him. Hence Sophia, that child 
 whose virtues were once his pride, was 
 now rarely remembered by him with pride 
 or pleasure, and he had almost ceased for 
 some time to write to her; therefore it 
 was only in consistency with this state of 
 mind that Mr. Bright wen should receive 
 the disclosure of Lord Erpingham's being 
 the father of Lord Aston, the man who 
 had been the means of depriving him of 
 Edward Everard, with the most perfect 
 sangfroid, and hear with no uncommon 
 pleasure his eulogy on his daughter. 
 
 Interests of a nearer and dearer kind 
 evidently engrossed him ; and as Lord 
 Erpingham had heard on enquiry con- 
 cerning him that he and his partner were 
 great speculators in trade, he suspected 
 that Mr. Brightwen was then undergoing 
 the consequent anxiety of such ventures, 
 
257 
 
 but he was mistaken. Mr. Brightwen was 
 indeed every day expecting to hear the 
 result of one of these risks, but he was 
 also on the eve of learning whether his 
 claims to the very large fortune a relation 
 of his mother's, who was recently dead 
 in Russia, would be acknowledged without 
 a law-suit or not, and he and his daughter 
 be not only restored to the situation in life 
 from which his imprudence had driven 
 them, but be possessed of much greater 
 opulence than they had ever known before. 
 When he communicated these expecta- 
 tions to the earl, and showed him the 
 clear and convincing documents on which 
 they were founded, he exclaimed — " Is it 
 possible, sir, that you never communicated 
 this welcome intelligence to your daugh- 
 ter?" 
 
 " My lord, I am not much in the habit 
 of writing to her now." 
 
 " But it must have given her such 
 pleasure to hear of it on your account, if 
 not on her own !" 
 
 " But why excite in her hopes which 
 might end in disappointment V 
 
258 
 
 " True, and your forbearance, when I 
 consider its motive, is exemplary. Still, it 
 is so natural for a parent to confide his 
 hopes to a beloved child ! I could not my- 
 self have had such self-denial." 
 
 Nor would Mr. Brightwen in earlier 
 days ; his heart was narrowed in its inte- 
 rests, and its affectious and aversion to 
 write letters was become stronger in him 
 than his wish to make his child the sharer 
 of his hopes. Thus sluggishness of feeling, 
 not consideration for her, was the true 
 cause of his silence. 
 
 " And when, sir, do you expect a final 
 answer from the gentleman to whom you 
 have applied ?" 
 
 " In a month possibly." 
 
 " But you will, I conclude, go to Lon- 
 don to receive it." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Then, as I shall return home by Lon- 
 don I will see you there, if you name your 
 hotel, as I should like to be myself the 
 bearer of the welcome news to your ad- 
 mirable daughter ; in the meanwhile I will 
 keep the secret." It was so settled, and the 
 
259 
 
 earl having had the benevolent pleasure of 
 finding when he reached London, that Mr. 
 Brightwen's claims were acknowledged 
 without litigation, was now returned to 
 enjoy the delight of imparting it to Sophia 
 herself. But when, after receiving the wel- 
 come of his wife and daughter, he turned 
 to speak to Miss Brightwen, his power of 
 utterance wholly failed him, his under lip 
 quivered with emotion, and seizing her 
 hand, he imprinted a kiss in silence on her 
 cheek. 
 
 " Dear me ! papa !" cried Lady Helena, 
 " if mamma is not jealous, I am !" 
 
 " Why, I declare the sight of Miss 
 Brightwen has brought tears into your 
 eyes." 
 
 " What is the matter ! what has hap- 
 pened dear Augustus !" cried the countess, 
 " anything unpleasant concerning Miss 
 Brightwen ?" 
 
 " What of my father, sir ?" said Sophia, 
 turning very pale. 
 
 " My dear, young friend, forgive me," 
 replied the earl ; " I have nothing but 
 
260 
 
 good news to impart ; — your father will 
 be here in a few days, and would take you 
 away with him, but I will not allow it, and 
 so I have told him." 
 
 •* But he wishes to do so." 
 
 * That is not all, nor the best of my 
 news. You are become a great heiress !" 
 
 " What !" screamed out Lady Helena, 
 seizing his arm, while Sophia replied, 
 shaking her head mournfully, — 
 
 " Aye, some fortune speculation I sup- 
 pose has elevated us to-day, for us to be 
 thrown down by another to-morrow." 
 
 " No, not so, nor will I part with your 
 father till I have prevailed on him to 
 put your fortune out of the reach of 
 contingencies/' 
 
 " What can you mean, my Lord ?" 
 
 He then told her the circumstances, and 
 while Lady Helena pirouetted round the 
 room, with as much sylph-like agility as she 
 did before she was in love, Sophia, in 
 tearful silence, glided out of it, and did 
 not return again for some time; when 
 she did, her countenance was serene and 
 
261 
 
 her manner as composed as usual — not 
 so Lady Helena ; she enjoyed Sophia's res_ 
 toration to her rank in society, with even 
 agitated delight, and not on her own ac- 
 count only, but because she knew the 
 pleasure which it would give Lord Aston 
 and Julia ; nor can I help owning, that 
 when Lady Helena's benevolent and affec- 
 tionate feelings had exacted their dues 
 her less amiable ones exulted in the mor- 
 tification which Miss Brightwen's great 
 opulence would occasion Lady Villeroy. 
 
 The next day, for the first time, Lady 
 Helena called her Sophia — a liberty which 
 she had never hazarded in her adversity. 
 Miss Brightwenhad always felt the delicacy 
 which had caused her to address her with 
 guch formal respect ; and now equally felt 
 the affectionate kindness which dictated 
 this unusual familiarity ; for it proved at 
 once how eager she was to consider her as 
 an equal in worldly point of view, having 
 always been fond of acknowledging her in 
 higher points as her superior. 
 
 " You are a noble creature, Lady 
 
262 
 
 Helena," said Miss Brightwen, smiling to 
 see by her countenance, that, after she 
 had hazarded the appellation of Sophia, 
 she was afraid she might have given 
 offence, " and I conjure you never to call 
 me Miss Brightwen again." 
 
 " Thank you ! dear Sophia ; but when 
 will you call me Helena ? " 
 
 " Never, except when we are quite 
 alone ; I am too proud to seem to value 
 myself so much on my intimacy with per- 
 sons of rank, as to take liberties with 
 them in order to prove that intimacy. 
 In private you shall be and always, have 
 been in my heart, my dear Helena ; but 
 before the world, self-respect will always 
 make me call you Lady Helena. 
 
 " No, no, not always, should you come 
 to call on me at Lady Villeroy's in Glou- 
 cester Place, and drive up to the jAoor in 
 your own barouche and four, and two out 
 riders, I hope you will enter the room 
 looking at me, if Lady Villeroy be present, 
 with unpetit air de protection, and holding 
 out your forefinger to my eager grasp, [say 
 
263 
 
 in a drawling voice, like Mansfeldt — Helena, 
 dear, how are you V 
 
 * Well," replied Sophia, " when you 
 imagine an improbable situation for me, it 
 is only right to imagine an impossible con- 
 duct for me in that situation. You staying 
 in Gloucester Place at Lady Villeroy's ! 
 what should carry you thither ?" 
 
 " Not a stage coach again, believe me." 
 " But a carriage with a viscount's co- 
 ronet on it will perhaps." 
 
 " Hush ! hush ! what an image ! Visions 
 of glory spare my aching sight ! But here 
 comes papa with two open letters in his 
 hand." 
 
 The Earl now entered to inform them 
 that Lord Restormel wrote to request the 
 company of them all at Green Hills that 
 week, and Mr. Brightwen to say that he 
 would be at Laurel Grove in two or three 
 days. " Therefore," said he, " I shall tell Lord 
 Restormel that our visit to him must be 
 delayed." 
 
 Sophia however begged it might not, 
 as she could receive her father; but as 
 
£64 
 
 Lady Helena made a point of her accom- 
 panying them to Green Hills, the Earl 
 wrote as he at first intended. 
 
 Lord Restormel could not however be 
 easy till he had come over in person, to 
 ascertain the real causes of the delay, and 
 to pay his compliments to the earl, from 
 whom he met a reception equal to his most 
 ardent wishes, while he saw in Lady He- 
 lena, whenever she conversed with him, a 
 degree of lively effort, and happy emotion, 
 and want of ease of manner, which made 
 him hope that he was very far from being 
 an object of indifference to her, and he was 
 easily induced to prolong his visit till the 
 next evening. 
 
 Mr. Brightwen in his letter to the earl, 
 informed him that his late commercial spe- 
 culation had totally failed, and that he had 
 now forsworn all such speculations for ever : 
 but that with part of the personal property 
 which had devolved on him, he should pur- 
 chase a large estate, and farm it himself ; 
 and that, said the earl laughing, he 
 calls having forsworn speculation ! But I 
 
265 
 
 shall try to prevail on him to secure to you, 
 Miss Brightwen, a sum of money which he 
 cannot risk ; and Sophia owned that for 
 his sake such a step would be desirable. 
 The meeting between the father and the 
 daughter was an affecting one. They had 
 last met beside the corpse of Sophia's 
 sister. She had written to him, conjuring 
 him to come without delay, or he might 
 not see Louisa alive. But business still 
 kept him away, and when he did arrive, all 
 was over. This meeting, therefore, re- 
 newed for a short time the painful remem- 
 brance of the last ; but present joy, with 
 Mr. Brightwen at least, soon banished the 
 recollection of past sorrow ; and he had 
 now still further good news to impart to 
 Sophia. The gentleman who had bought 
 his Norfolk estate had emulated, or rather 
 exceeded him in thoughtless profusion and 
 extravagance, and the estate being again 
 on sale, Mr. Brightwen had bought it, and 
 was then returning to the abode of his an- 
 cestors, and himself a much richer, and he 
 hoped a wiser man than he was when he 
 
 VOL. II. N 
 
266 
 
 lived there in splendour before ; of the 
 former assertion there could be no doubt, 
 of the latter there was more than a little ; 
 but Sophia, on principle, looked on the 
 bright side, and was delighted at the pro- 
 spect of returning to dwell in those scenes ' 
 endeared to her, even by mournful recollec- 
 tions. Her father had, however, the con- 
 siderate delicacy to tell her, that if the idea 
 of living at Rosewood was painful to her, 
 for certain reasons, he would give up his 
 purchase ; but she assured him, that certain 
 reasons made her wish still more to return 
 thither, as she had not only she believed 
 entirely conquered her attachment to the 
 person, to whom he alluded, but was de- 
 sirous of convincing herself and others that 
 she had done so. Before they set off for 
 Norfolk, whither Sophia chose to accom- 
 pany her father, it was agreed that after a 
 few days residence there, she should return 
 to Laurel Grove, and accompany the family 
 to Green Hills, and Lady Helena being 
 curious to witness Sophia's return in opu- 
 lence, to the abode which she had left in 
 poverty, and to a neighbourhood where 
 
267 
 
 she, as well as her father, had been so ten- 
 derly beloved, gladly acceded to their 
 request that she would go with them. 
 
 " Do you remember Mr. Brightwen," 
 said Lady Helena, " what Sterne says on 
 being, as he assures us, at Rennes when the 
 Marquis d'E — reclaimed his sword ?" 
 
 * Not exactly." 
 
 " It was an incident of good fortune 
 which will never happen to any traveller 
 but a sentimental one, that I should be at 
 Rennes at the very time of this requisi- 
 tion! And I shall insert in my life, when 
 I write it, that it was an incident of good for- 
 tune which could only happen to a senti- 
 mental traveller. Miss Brightwen knows 
 what a sentimental traveller I am, and 
 how choice in my choice of vehicles, that I 
 should be with the Brightwens when 
 being enriched, (not by trade I think, 
 there the Marquis had the advantage of 
 you Mr. Brightwen,) by an unexpected 
 circumstance, they returned to resume 
 possession of the abode of their ances- 
 tors ! what a fine paragraph that will 
 
268 
 
 make ! I really think it would be worthy of 
 a person of my notorious benevolence, 
 when I have finished my written life, to 
 shorten my natural life, that I may the 
 sooner gratify and edify my fellow-creatures 
 by the sight of the former." 
 
 "I cannot bear," cried the countess, 
 " to hear you talk of shortening your life, 
 Helena, even in joke." 
 
 " Nor I to hear any one joke on such 
 a subject," observed Mr. Brightwen, shud- 
 dering as he spoke; " nor could any one 
 whom the chances of life had even caused 
 one moment to deliberate on the expedi- 
 ency of committing such an action." 
 
 Lady Helena was shocked and silenced, 
 and looking at Sophia, she saw she was of 
 the paleness of death, while she involunta- 
 rily drew near her father and grasped his 
 hand in her's. He smiled affectionately, and 
 instantly changed the conversation: yes, 
 changed it to the improvements he medi- 
 tated in Rosewood, and the experiments in 
 agriculture which he intended to make. 
 
 Experiments, thought Sophia, as she 
 
"269 
 
 sighed deeply ; to think that the man who 
 had just owned how desperate past rash- 
 ness of the same kind had made him 
 should so little have profited by experience 
 as to be meditating an equally dangerous 
 course. 
 
 " That man is incorrigible," observed 
 Lady Helena afterwards to her father; 
 " and do you not see, papa, that he has 
 acquired such a habit of looking to the 
 future, that he is at times quite regardless of 
 the present ; he sits absorbed in reverie, and 
 of nails he has left his poor fingers none. 
 Mem. to put down in my common-place 
 book that speculators have no nails, and 
 that they never say what fine weather it is 
 to-day, let us enjoy it, but ' I wonder whe- 
 ther it will be fine to-morrow.'" 
 
 When the day arrived on which the 
 travellers were to set off for Rosewood, a 
 very elegant carriage, with four post-horses, 
 drove up to the door, which Mr. Brightwen 
 had purchased for the occasion; and as he once 
 more handed his daughter into a coach of 
 her own, no unpleasing tear trembled in his 
 
270 
 
 eyes. Lady Helena was the only one of the 
 party who was inclined to talk; her com- 
 panions naturally enough were disposed to 
 silence and reverie, while the past and the 
 future so completely absorbed them, that 
 the present passed almost wholly unheeded. 
 The sight of London was, however, equally 
 welcomed by all three. — Lady Helena and 
 Miss Brightwen knew that they should 
 there have the happiness of passing a few 
 hours with Julia and Captain Fortescue,and 
 Mr. Brightwen had business to transact 
 relative to his new possessions. 
 
 When her friends were announced, 
 Julia flew with delighted eagerness to 
 their arms ; but the change in her ap- 
 pearance alarmed them both, and they 
 wondered either her father or her lover 
 would allow her to continue her atten- 
 dance on the former till it injured her 
 health ; but Julia assured them that her 
 health was not at all impaired, and they 
 both very soon discovered that her malady 
 was of the mind rather than he body. 
 Yet Fortescue was there — was an attentive 
 
271 
 
 and evidently devoted lover! and Julia 
 made no complaints, nor could Miss 
 Brightwen directly or indirectly obtain 
 from her any clue to the secret something 
 which preyed on her damask cheek. Lady 
 Helena and Sophia, therefore, left London 
 again uneasy, but they could not tell why, 
 while Fortescue persisted to assure them, 
 that her ill looks were wholly caused, he 
 was convinced, by anxiety concerning her 
 father. " As to her coldness of manner to- 
 wards me," added he, sighing deeply, " that 
 I believe is owing wholly to the coldness 
 of her nature, for though she does me 
 the honor of saying that she loves me, 
 their are times when, by her manner, I 
 should think that her heart was closed 
 against the admission of any feeling as 
 glowing as that of love." 
 
 " This is strange ! and very unlike the 
 Julia we formerly knew!" said Lady 
 Helena to Sophia. 
 
 " It is indeed !" she replied, " and 
 something has occurred to occasion the 
 change which Julia, from some mistaken 
 
272 
 
 principle, conceals in her own bosom. In 
 time, however, I hope she will be more 
 communicative, but I, while I see her thus 
 deperir de jour en jour, as the phrase is, I 
 shall feel my own brightened prospects 
 sadly overcast." 
 
 Poor Sir George insisted on seeing 
 Lady Helena and Sophia for a short time, 
 and Lady Villeroy had the mortification of 
 hearing him declare that he was glad 
 before he left the world to know that 
 Miss Brightwen was at length as pros- 
 perous even in a worldly point of view, as 
 her charms and her virtues deserved. As 
 they left London very early, they reached 
 Norfolk while it was yet light, and as 
 their arrival was expected, they found 
 most of the inhabitants of the village of 
 Rosewood awaiting their approach. In 
 spite of his lately acquired apathy, Mr. 
 Brightwen's heart swelled almost to chok- 
 ing when he beheld the well-remembered 
 scenes, and many a well-remembered face, 
 while his eyes filled with tears, and his nod 
 and bow of recognition were hurried and 
 
273 
 
 embarrassed. Lady Helena soon caught 
 the contagious emotion, and short sobs 
 betrayed her sympathy with the feelings of 
 her companions ; but Sophia, on first reach- 
 ing the village, clasped her hands expres- 
 sively together ; then hiding her face in her 
 handkerchief, seemed employed for a few 
 moments in prayer and thanksgiving. 
 
 " I never," wrote Lady Helena to Julia 
 the next day, " beheld a countenance so 
 radiant with a sort of holy satisfaction, or 
 with such smiling benignity as our loved 
 and revered Miss Brightwen's exhibited 
 when she took the handkerchief from her 
 face, and while in her sweetest tones she 
 said — * Little did I ever think I should 
 see this place and these poor people again, 
 under such happy circumstances as the 
 present ! Oh ! Lady Helena ! my grati- 
 tude to the giver of all good is even over- 
 whelming!' Her father did not speak, 
 but he took her hand, and held it in his 
 for some time, while the carriage at his 
 desire went slowly through the village, and 
 welcome, spoken and looked, met them 
 n 5 
 
£74 
 
 on every side, for the late possessor was 
 deservedly unpopular, and Mr. Bright- 
 wen and Sophia had even been as de- 
 servedly beloved. As the carriage had 
 nearly reached the park gates, we saw a 
 gentleman in the dress of a clergyman, 
 with a short, thick, dowdy-looking woman 
 on his arm, stand up to make way for it, 
 and Mr. Brightwen mutter between his 
 closed teeth — ' That scoundrel there !' 
 while he turned round, and looked at 
 Sophia, with an anxious enquiring, and 
 particularly affectionate expression of coun- 
 tenance. It instantly occurred to me that 
 this ' scoundrel/ as he called him, was 
 Sophia's false and mercenary lover, the 
 man who forsook her when fortune did the 
 same, and married for money a woman he 
 did not and could not love ! ' Bravo !' said 
 I to myself, * here she is, returned splendid 
 in fortune, scarcely impaired in beauty or 
 in youth, and this odious man, with, no 
 doubt, his ugly bargain on his arm, is here 
 to witness her triumph, and feel his own 
 punishment !' But how, I wonder, does 
 
275 
 
 Sophia feel, and is she as heart-whole as 
 she fancies herself? I instantly looked at 
 her, and to my astonishment I heard her 
 desiring the servant to tell the postilions 
 to stop. Then, leaning out of the win- 
 dow, she said in her pretty manner to 
 the reverend gentleman, who certainly 
 looked very pale, and trembled from head, 
 to foot ! * How are you Mr, Sumner ? I 
 hope all your family is well ?' While the 
 man bowed, stammered out something 
 almost inaudible, and was too much thrown 
 off his guard by her unexpected courtesy, 
 and still more, perhaps, by her perfect com- 
 posure of manner, so indicative of in- 
 difference, to remember to introduce 
 dowdy Sumner his wife to her ; but not 
 one word of recognition, or one look but 
 of disdain and aversion would Mr. Bright- 
 wen bestow on the man who had so basely 
 deserted his child in her adversity ; and I 
 honored him for the parental feeling : how- 
 ever, on reflection, this feeling might not 
 have been without a considerable alloy of 
 selfish resentment, as his falsehood had 
 
276 
 
 made Mr. Brightwen feel more acutely 
 the injury he had himself done Sophia, as 
 he by his extravagance had involved her in 
 the poverty which deprived her of her 
 lover. Be this as it may, I enjoyed and 
 respected the gruff voice and haughty air 
 with which papa Brightwen cried, ' Drive 
 on postilions !' and obliged Sophia to give 
 a parting bow to the unworthy object of 
 her forgiving sweetness. ' Sophia ! my 
 dear ! I am really quite astonished at you ! 
 What could you mean,' said Mr. Bright- 
 wen, ' by speaking to that fellow V ' To 
 prove to him and to myself that I have 
 forgiven him ; and also to shew him that 
 he is now an object of such perfect indif- 
 ference to me, that even the sight of him, 
 after so many years absence and of suffer- 
 ing on his account, could not occasion any 
 emotion in me ; surely I was therefore right 
 in doing what I did.' ' Perfectly so I think,' 
 said I, ' and Mr, Brightwen when he con- 
 siders how coolly and calmly you looked, 
 and talked to the trembling, conscious 
 wretch, will think so also.' * Sophia ! ' 
 
277 
 
 cried her father, t I can only admire you — 
 imitate you I cannot — and indeed I never 
 can bear that fellow in my sight.' ' Oh, 
 but you must, indeed !' replied she, ' my 
 father must not resent even my injuries. 
 It would be wicked as a Christian, it would 
 be beneath him as a man.' ' Well put !' I 
 observed, and unanswerable ; ' and it would 
 be making this person of too much conse- 
 quence even to seem to remember what 
 had passed. Depend on it his avaricious 
 soul will be more punished and tortured by 
 seeing you living in splendour at Rose- 
 wood, and Sophia in her unimpaired love- 
 liness presiding there, while he is forced 
 to drag the little dowdy about, for whose 
 golden sake he gave up youthful love and 
 happiness with it, than he could be by 
 being forbidden your house.' ' I believe 
 you are right, Lady Helena,' answered he 
 after a pause, ' and the fellow shall visit 
 us, that he maybe tormented as he deserves 
 to be.' Sophia shook her head at hearing 
 such motives for admitting the man sug- 
 gested, and followed ; but she could not 
 
278 
 
 utter what she thought, for we were now 
 arrived at the house ; and overcome with 
 innumerable recollections and emotions 
 she threw herself in an agony of feeling 
 into the arms of her father, and he, though 
 scarcely able to stand himself, lifted her 
 out of the carriage, and laid her down on 
 the first sofa he saw ; after a pause of 
 strong emotion he exclaimed — ' How un- 
 changed every thing appears in this room ! 
 (It was his library, and his own books, 
 for every thing had been purchased as it 
 stood) I declare that I can scarcely believe in 
 the lapse of years, and could fancy that I had 
 been dreaming ever since I saw these be- 
 loved objects last, and that we parted only 
 last night ! But what fine improvements I 
 can make in this room ! and in the park 
 too ! I am really impatient to begin !' He 
 then, seeing Sophia was restored to com- 
 posure, left the apartment to go over the 
 house and speculate on those changes 
 which he already meditated, and the con- 
 ception of which had power to annihilate 
 almost instantly, those honorable sensibili- 
 
279 
 
 ties which, but a moment before, had 
 endeared him to his daughter and me! 
 The servants of the late possessor were 
 still in the house, and we found every 
 thing prepared for us, and in the most 
 comfortable order. Sophia, therefore, pro- 
 posed our retiring instantly to our apart- 
 ments, and having put me in possession of 
 mine, she begged me to excuse her for an 
 hour or two, as she wanted to be alone ; and 
 when we met at a late dinner I saw that, 
 though her countenance was then com- 
 posed, her eyes were swelled with excessive 
 weeping. The day after to-morrow I shall 
 write again, dearest Julia, but for the 
 present farewell ! " H. F." 
 
 Lady Helena kept her promise, and 
 wrote as follows : — 
 
 " Yesterday and to-day we have been 
 visiting the poor, and the rich have been 
 visiting us; but Mr. and Mrs. Sumner 
 were not amongst them. I hope the man 
 is too self-judged to volunteer the visit. 
 The visits from the rich were very unin- 
 teresting ; those to the poor delightful. I 
 
280 
 
 may call them, many of them, Sophia's 
 poor ; for it is the very young alone who 
 know her not, either by her bounties or her 
 instructions, and they were so delighted to 
 see her again ! What an admirable wife for 
 a parish priest she would have been ! The 
 man was a fool as well as a knave, my 
 dear. I conclude, you knew that this 
 Sumner was waiting for orders when 
 Sophia and he first met, and that he has 
 the living of this place ; all things consi- 
 dered, I believe, he does his duty well, and 
 is so eloquent and popular a preacher, that 
 whenever a charity or other particular 
 sermon is to be preached in the city, near 
 this place, he is the bespoken preacher. 
 Of his wife's merits we have heard but 
 little. The cottagers are not much ac- 
 quainted with them ; they say they know 
 
 her to see to but she is a poor sickly 
 
 body, and has had a large family, and lie a 
 good deal in bed. — A charming description! 
 I fear my vindictive feelings against the 
 husband were gratified by it. But let me 
 describe him to you for Sophia's sake ; I 
 
281 
 
 know you will be glad to hear, that only of 
 the man has she reason to be ashamed. 
 His person is tall and manly, but his face 
 is not handsome enough to make one 
 suspect that our friend was captivated by 
 exterior only ; he is sallow, a little marked 
 by the small pox ; has good teeth, and an 
 intelligent countenance; his greatest charm 
 to me is his voice, that is sweet and clear, 
 and I should call it insinuating ; a voice 
 full of inflections, and I dare say a most 
 dangerous engine in the power of an artful 
 man. No wonder, innocent unsuspecting 
 sixteen as Sophia then was, could not with- 
 stand it, especially as it breathed forth no 
 mean poetical effusions of the owner's brain, 
 said, not sung I mean. So much for exte- 
 riors, if I may call a voice an exterior, and 
 you will wonder how I can know so much 
 of them — I will tell you : yesterday was 
 Sunday, and we went to the parish church, 
 that is Sophia and I, not her father; he de- 
 clared it would make him abjure Christi- 
 anity to hear that fellow preach it, and that 
 his prayers would turn to curses on his lips. 
 
282 
 
 * Then stay at home, good man ; no, 
 naughty man/ said I, * and we will pray to 
 your Maker to turn your heart.' ' Dearest 
 father, for your own sake, forgive ! ' said 
 Sophia. ' Well, well, in time, perhaps, I 
 will.' * I was very curious,' said she, as we re- 
 turned home, • to hear Mr. Sumner preach, 
 I had heard so much of his powers, and 
 I remember how very ambitious he always 
 was to be what is called a fine preacher. 
 1 And is he one; said I, ' in your estima- 
 tion ?' ' He is exactly what the world 
 calls so, and what the earthly ambition to 
 be so, which he always expressed would 
 make him.' * But I suspect you are not 
 satisfied with his preaching ? ' * Oh, no, 
 there is no teaching of the Spirit there ; no 
 unction ; no preaching from the heart, it is 
 all of the head ; the action is graceful, but 
 studied ; the hand and arm are not raised 
 involuntarily, and from an involuntary im- 
 pulse as it were, but they rise because they 
 are bidden, andlfear the inquisitive eye looks 
 round to discover, not contrition, but admi- 
 ration.' Julia, this woman is quite cured ; 
 
283 
 
 no remains of first love here. ' How just,' 
 said I, ' is all you have observed : I did not 
 like to give my own opinion, because I 
 thought you might be mortified.' * Why 
 so ?' ' Because it was natural that, in order 
 to excuse your attachment to this man, you 
 should wish him to appear a superior per- 
 son in my eyes, and those of others.' 
 ' No,' she replied, calmly smiling, ' I feel 
 that at the time my attachment took place 
 it was quite excusable; he had been to 
 college, had distinguished himself there; 
 had a heart apparently full of love, and a 
 head full of learning and poetry : the 
 charm of his voice I need not describe, 
 you own you feel it. His manner I then 
 thought charming, but now it appears to 
 me artificial.' * Oh, very,' said I. ' My 
 father blames him,' she added, ' too se- 
 verely ; I can make great allowances for 
 him. When my fortune was wholly lost, we 
 could not expect to marry for many, many 
 years. This living was filled by a young 
 man, and Mr. Sumner had nothing; to be 
 sure he needed not to have married another 
 
284 
 
 woman directly.' ' And such a woman 
 too!' ' But I must own/ she replied, ' that 
 his falsehood pained me less on that ac- 
 count, as I was sure that he did not marry 
 from love, but avarice ; and though my 
 sense of right was shocked, my self-love 
 was gratified.' ' Natural, but wrong.' ' I 
 grant it, and bitterly have I reproached 
 myself for the unworthy feeling; however, 
 I had lost him, whatever were his motives 
 for marrying, and I was miserable ; but 
 why dwell on past misery ? I think you 
 will own that I am heart-whole now.' * I 
 do own it, and I think he must be con- 
 vinced of it also, spite of his vanity.'" 
 
 The day after Lady Helena wrote thus : 
 " As we were walking this morning, most 
 sudden and violent rain came on, and we 
 had no umbrellas, nor was any house, save 
 one, near us. ' Let us ask shelter at that 
 house,' said I, ( who lives there ?' ' Mr. 
 Sumner,' replied Sophia.' ' Pshaw! then 
 I had rather be wet,' cried I, peevishly. 
 1 As you please, and this tree will shelter 
 us, if not, here is a barn open.' In the 
 
265 
 
 barn we found a nurse-maid, with a baby in 
 her arms, and other children of different 
 ages taking shelter also. You know, my 
 love* I am very fond of babies. I was 
 instantly devouring the fat, fubby, beautiful 
 one before me ! and dancing it in my arms, 
 while Sophia was caressing and talking to 
 the others; but really I thought I should 
 have dropped the little love with loathing, 
 when I heard the nurse say to my com- 
 panion, * They are Mrs. Sumner's children, 
 madam.' I am afraid I did pinch the poor 
 thing involuntarily, for it began to squall, 
 and I was glad to get rid of it. Not so 
 Sophia, she continued to smile on the 
 bonny bairns most benignly, and even 
 hoped Mr. and Mrs. Sumner were well. 
 At this moment we heard a quick step, and 
 a gentleman throwing open the door ex- 
 claimed, * So here you are ! I was afraid 
 you would be wet, and therefore came to 
 meet you with umbrellas, my dears!' It 
 was Mr. Sumner. He started at seeing us, 
 and betrayed such excessive emotion, that I 
 could not but suspect he was not as heart- 
 
286 
 
 whole as Sophia, and when I recollected 
 his wife, I, even I pitied him. But Sophia 
 was as composed as I was, and was able 
 to compliment the poor man on his pro- 
 mising children ; on which, (it is a fact, 
 Julia,) I saw him turn away, with tears in 
 his eyes ! ' Well, now behold us leaving 
 the barn, Sophia and I arm in arm, and 
 Mr. Sumner carrying an umbrella over our 
 heads.' For him not to offer us the shelter 
 of his house would have been affectation, 
 and for Sophia to refuse it ; so behold us 
 next seated by Mr. Sumner's fire-side, the 
 lady in dishabille, and not in good humour, 
 evidently displeased at having such visitors 
 forced on her, and, I suspect, not a little 
 jealous of Sophia, from whose sweet face 
 poor Mr. Sumner, (see how rapidly I have 
 promoted him ! first the man, then the poor 
 man, and now poor Mr. Sumner ; he will 
 be poor, * dear Mr. Sumner next, I suppose ;') 
 where was I ? Oh ! from whose sweet face 
 poor Mr. Sumner could, I saw, with diffi- 
 culty remove his eyes. But, Sophia, I am 
 sure, was wholly unconscious of it, and be- 
 
287 
 
 lieved that he was as indifferent as herself. 
 It is a very true saying, though often used 
 by the profane in mockery, that " to the 
 pure, all things are pure ;" and so the said 
 Sumner to Sophia Brightwen, but not to 
 Helena Fortescue. < Ergo!' < None of your 
 ergos, if you please, Julia, but let me go 
 on.' Well, Mr. Sumner ordered sandwiches 
 and wine, and Mrs. Sumner looked dis- 
 ordered thereat, as if she said, < I shall 
 never get rid of them, if they get to eating 
 and drinking ;' however, we could not stay 
 for the eatables, for the man was forced to 
 come to mistress for the key of the wine, 
 and I heard the lad whisper something 
 about stale bread : while we did stay, and 
 that was merely owing to the pressing- 
 entreaties of the husband, for the wife 
 did not press us at all. We tried to con- 
 verse, when, lo! Mrs. Sumner found her 
 tongue, and looking at Sophia with an 
 expression of countenance which I cannot 
 describe, after having, I thought, with an 
 envious eye, surveyed the elegant mourning 
 which Sophia wore, formed a striking con- 
 
5288 
 
 trast with her own rusty black, she said in 
 a sort of spiteful falsetto— ' Pray, Miss 
 Brightwen, was not the last place you lived 
 in Lady Villeroy's family? I think you 
 were governess, or something there.' * I 
 was, madam,' coldly replied Sophia, colour- 
 ing a little, while a deep indignant blush 
 suffused my cheek, and shame (perhaps 
 indignation also,) that of her husband! 
 But, I suppose you were governess to this 
 young lady last, Miss Liddy something, I 
 think you called her ; but you did not intro- 
 duce us, nor Mr. Sumner neither, though 
 he piques himself so much on his breeding, 
 and I am told it is very ungenteel not to 
 name folks to each other.' ' My dear,' said 
 the poor man, looking as if he wished to 
 say my plague, ' Miss Brightwen did not 
 do me the honour to name her friend to 
 me.' \ I am ashamed of the omission,' 
 said Sophia ; ' allow me now then to present 
 you to Lady Helena Fortescue.' Oh ! that 
 you could but have seen her countenance, 
 when she found out the supposed Miss 
 Liddy something was a Lady Helena! 
 
QS9 
 
 and the awkwardness with which %she 
 wriggled on her seat, and drawled out, 
 < I beg pardon, I am sure for what I said ;' 
 but the poor man looked ready to faint, 
 not at finding out my rank, but at its effect 
 on his wife, and the contrast between her 
 insolence to Sophia, and her servile awe of 
 me. She now, then, was quite sure Sophia 
 had been my governess, and on her she had 
 not yet vented all her spite. < I suppose 
 then, my lady, Miss Sophia is your gover- 
 ness.' ■ No madam, I cannot boast of the 
 honor of having had Miss Brightwen for 
 my governess.' 'Honor, la!' ' Yes madam, 
 honor and advantage too :— had she been 
 so, I should have been a much better and 
 wiser person than I am.' ' Dear me !' cried 
 Mrs. Sumner, in a voice of incredulity. 
 ' Yes, you may well cry dear me,' said So- 
 phia ; ' but Lady Helena is apt to depre- 
 ciate herself and exalt her friends.' « You 
 know Miss Brightwen that I speak the 
 truth, and that I am more in awe of your 
 reproaching eye than of any thing in the 
 world.' < Well, really,' said Mrs. Sumner 
 
 VOL. II. ° 
 
290 
 
 tittering, '■ this is so odd ! but pray, my lady, 
 if not your governess, what was Miss So- 
 phy to you ? ' 'A friend and companion 
 whom I equally love and reverence.' * Aye, 
 companion! I thought she was in some 
 situation in the family.' I was beginning, 
 ( I tell you madam,' when the literal Sophia 
 interrupted me with one of her looks, and 
 said, ' I will tell Mrs. Sumner the truth 
 myself: when Lady Villeroy wanted my 
 services no longer, Lord and Lady Erping- 
 ham and Lady Helena, kindly wished me 
 to live with them, to read with Lady He- 
 lena, and make myself otherwise useful.' 
 * And this you call telling the truth, cried 
 I, indignantly. No, Mrs. Sumner, no, all 
 we required was, that she should be agree- 
 able, not useful, and give us her company, 
 not her services as she terms it. " Law ! a 
 cheap way of earning her living indeed. 
 I wish any one would pay me for my com- 
 pany, and I am sure they should have it : 
 pray what salary were you to have Miss 
 Sophia?' ' The word money or salary 
 was never mentioned between us, madam/ 
 
291 
 
 said I, ' and now Miss Brightwen need no 
 longer to be in any family in a situation 
 which, in the eyes of the vulgar, may seem 
 to degrade her, but which she has always 
 exalted and made in the highest degree 
 respectable. Miss Brightwen is now staying 
 with us, and will, I hope, stay some time. 
 ' Yes, she is rich now, they say.' ' But was 
 she pennyless, we should covet her society, 
 and respect her just the same. The loss 
 of wealth, in the eyes of those capable of ap- 
 preciating her worth, never could have de- 
 prived her of her value and her claims to 
 respect ; and the acquisition of fortune 
 adds not one tittle to the esteem and res- 
 pectful admiration which Lord and Lady 
 Erpingham and myself have always felt 
 for her ever since we beheld her, and have 
 even been proud to testify to others.' You 
 know me (and my manner, Julia, when my 
 moral feelings are offended), and you may 
 suppose that it had its full effect here. 
 The wife was mortified, but awed ; the hus- 
 band struck to the heart, for conscience 
 pushed the dart home, and he looked, 
 
292 
 
 while a deep sigh issued from his bosom, 
 as if he said to himself, ' And this was the 
 creature I forsook!' And there sat the 
 creature he married ! I thought of ihe 
 two pictures in Hamlet, and I had leisure 
 to think, for my long speech frightened 
 every one into silence ; nay, Sophia was 
 silly enough to shed a tear. I then, having 
 done my beloved friend justice, and re- 
 venged her on her enemies, rose up majes- 
 tically, and said as the rain was over, we 
 would intrude on them no longer ; no, not 
 even to eat what, I dare say, was only a 
 mutton sandwich after all, and which at 
 last made its appearance. Sophia now 
 approached Mrs. Sumner, and would have 
 taken her hand, but she contrived to with- 
 hold it from her. ' I hope,' said she, * that 
 we shall see you and Mr. Sumner at Rose- 
 wood before we leave it T ' Why, really, 
 I am no great visitor, so I can't say.' « Oh, 
 certainly, certainly, we will have the ho- 
 nour to wait on Mr. B. and you,' cried the 
 husband, with a flushed cheek and falter- 
 ing voice, for which I gave him credit, 
 
293 
 
 whatever his wife did ; but I was not so 
 satisfied with his evident endeavour now to 
 catch the eye of Sophia, while his own had 
 an expression full of former days, which 
 he wished her to see. It was in vain, she 
 did not look at him but with her usual 
 grace and courtesy. She took leave of the 
 children and the mother. One of the 
 little ones, who had never stirred from 
 Sophia's side, now put up her mouth to 
 kiss her, and said, ' Don't to it.' ' Come 
 away, and don't be troublesome,' cried 
 Mrs. Sumner, * that child is so fond of 
 all strangers !' ' Will you kiss me,' said I, 
 to the child ? ' No,' hanging back, and 
 clinging to Sophia. ' The child, then, has 
 her favorites, I see, notwithstanding,' ob- 
 served I, maliciously I own ; then added, 
 * perhaps you would like to go with the 
 lady V ' Jes.' ' And not with me ?' * No, 
 I sank you.' ' Come here when I bid you !' 
 cried the angry mother ; but the child ran 
 to its papa, who snatched her up in his 
 arms, and kissed her more warmly than I 
 approved, as it seemed to be in conse- 
 
294 
 
 quence of her fondness for Sophia. I felt 
 it was time we were away, and Sophia was 
 as silent as myself for some way on our 
 road home. At length she said, ' Did I do 
 right, Lady Helena, in asking them to 
 Rosewood V ' You could not do other- 
 wise. It would have looked as if you were 
 withheld by a certain consciousness.' ' So 
 I thought ; yet it is very sure that poor 
 Mrs. Sumner does not like me, because she 
 is jealous of her husband's having once been 
 my lover. Yet, how absurd this is.' I 
 did not agree with her, but I would not 
 make her uneasy by saying so, therefore I 
 said nothing. Sophia, when she resides 
 here, will find out that Mrs. Sumner has 
 some reason to be jealous, and then her 
 sense of right will teach her what is proper 
 to be done. What a long letter ! I wish 
 you would write to me hither as soon as 
 you receive it, and tell me how you are. 
 Your pale, pensive face haunts us ; we are 
 sure all is not right with you, and yet we 
 know not what it is that is wrong ! Shall we 
 never know, though we love you so dearly ? 
 
295 
 
 Unkind Julia! but no, your silence can 
 only proceed from mistaken kindness, as 
 you are a kind, good creature, and the be- 
 loved friend, 
 
 of your ever devoted, 
 
 H. F. 
 
 END OF VOL. II. 
 
 T. White, Printer, Johnson's Court, London. 
 
MUCH TO BLAME. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Again she wrote, and as follows: — 
 
 " One letter more from Norfolk, and 
 then, hey for home ! and one other place, 
 Julia ! I really think I am very amiable 
 in staying here so long without a murmur, 
 considering the visit I have in prospect, 
 and being so merry and cheerful too,— too 
 merry, for I, you know, am never merry and 
 wise. I am ashamed to tell you what I was 
 caught doing yesterday ; you must know 
 that I was standing at a gate in the park, 
 waiting for Sophia, when not supposing I 
 could be caught, I amused myself, as you 
 have often seen me, with jumping over 
 this gate ; not having been in practice 
 lately, as I really am eighteen and a few 
 
 VOL. HI. B 
 
weeks, I was awkward at first, but at 
 length I was as able as formerly to put 
 my hand on the top bar and vault over ! 
 Courage, said I to myself, I am not an old 
 woman yet ! and so, delighting in my reco- 
 vered agility, I went over and over, not 
 looking to the right or left, when, as I 
 alighted on my feet the last time, I beheld, 
 with shame and confusion of face, the Rev. 
 John Sumner, his curate, and the blushing 
 Sophia! — the said John's expression of 
 countenance I did not like, but then he is 
 a man of this world, not of the other. 
 His curate blushed celestial, rosy red, and 
 modestly walked on, and the rector's blush, 
 if he blushed at all, was any thing but 
 celestial ; but his words were a good lesson 
 to me. ' I am glad,' said he, 'that your 
 ladyship's exertions were not seen by any 
 of my fair and young parishioners, as the 
 example of a lady of quality is a seducing 
 one, and might lead to broken bones, un- 
 less the conciousness of not being able to 
 make so beautiful a display as Lady He- 
 lena Fortescue, might prevent such daring 
 
exploits.' Now the first part of his speech 
 was sensible, the second impudent : — what 
 right had he to insinuate that he saw my 
 ankles, and that they were good — but I 
 had drawn the impertinence on myself; I 
 therefore replied to the first part of the 
 speech only ; * I thank you/ said I, 'for your 
 reproof ! Lady Helena Fortescue ought to 
 set a good example only, and always, nor 
 will she in future do when alone, and as 
 she believes unobserved, what it would be 
 dangerous or improper for any one to 
 copy.' ' Indeed,' cried Mr. Sumner, ' I did 
 not presume to censure your Ladyship.' 
 ' But you ought to have done so, else why 
 do you wear that coat and that shovel 
 hat? their colour and shape invest you 
 with a privilege which you ought to use, 
 and admonish the giddy and the rash in 
 whatever class of society you meet them. 
 There, sir, there is my admonition in re- 
 turn for your's. He bowed gracefully, said 
 something flattering, and I changed the 
 conversation. Mrs. Sumner he said was 
 ill, and could not accompany him : — for ill 
 
I read sulky. He did not see the master 
 of the house, as lie was riding out ; but he 
 left his card, and I dare say the visit will 
 be for some time at least unreturned. But, 
 Julia, what have I done ? oh, if it should 
 ever be known at Green Hills that I was 
 caught jumping over a gate, what would 
 the consequence be ! why, that though 
 invited thither once, I should never be 
 invited again. — What demon whispered 
 in my ear, Helena, jump over that gate? 
 I wonder whether I should have obeyed it, 
 if I had not been sure of going to Green 
 Hills. — I cannot answer that question — but 
 this I know, that if I am not pretty be- 
 haved, and if I do not look at my Ps and Qs 
 as the saying is, I shall never get to Green 
 Hills a second time, spite of the obligations 
 which a certain viscountess thinks she owes 
 me. Heighho ! well, here end my adven- 
 tures in Norfolk. To-morrow we set off 
 for Surrey and its beautiful hills ; this place 
 is very pretty ; fine trees and water, but a 
 dead flat, and our own hills are so lovely ! 
 I long to see them again; also, certain hills 
 
which I saw the other day — can't you guess 
 where? I also long to see, and kiss once 
 more that dear, pretty, pale face, which I 
 have long loved, and shall, I trust, love to 
 my grave ; can you guess whose face that 
 is — not you, foolish child! — I have done. 
 " H. Fortescue. 
 " P. S. — Sophia writes for herself." 
 Oh ! my joy at having seen with my own 
 eyes that Sophia has quite conquered her 
 first love, and that first loves, therefore, can 
 be entirely conquered, when the feelings 
 are under proper regulation, and the regu- 
 lating voice of religion is allowed to be 
 heard in the soul. I have had a letter 
 from Aston ; he found his wife too ill to 
 be moved, so the journey to Nice is de- 
 layed. When the hour fixed for the de- 
 parture of the Brightwens and their noble 
 guest arrived, Mr. Brightwen had already 
 so involved himself in business, and plans 
 for improving his estate and: house, that he 
 declared to be unable to set off, and must 
 make his way to London alone, and as well 
 as he could. The ladies were, therefore. 
 
obliged to go without him, a change which 
 was not unwelcome to them, as the longer 
 Mr. Brightwen remained in Norfolk, the 
 longer was Sophia sure of staying with 
 Lady Helena, and of accompanying her to 
 Green Hills; for, till her father went to settle 
 his affairs finally in Derbyshire, he would 
 not require her attendance. 
 
 They found Julia as they left her, ex- 
 cept that whatever was her secret cause for 
 uneasiness, the sorrows of the daughter 
 were now uppermost, as Sir George was 
 declining fast, f But where is Marcus ?" 
 cried Lady Helena, 
 
 " I persuaded him to go to Laurel 
 Grove," replied Julia, deeply blushing. " I 
 thought the melancholy, monotonous life he 
 led here was not good for him; I therefore 
 sent him away," she added, forcing a smile. 
 
 "Amazing!" said Lady Helena, thought- 
 fully. " How could he be persuaded to 
 leave you at a moment like this ? and how 
 could you be so unjust to him as to suppose 
 he thought it otherwise than delightful to 
 be with the woman he loves in the hour of 
 
her affliction— to soothe and support her by 
 his presence ! — fie, Julia, fie ! he does not 
 deserve this from you." 
 
 Julia again tried to smile, but her lip 
 could not ; on the contrary it quivered 
 with uncontrollableemotion, and she faintly 
 replied, that she always dreaded becoming 
 burthensome even to those she loved best, 
 and she was very glad to send him to 
 Laurel Grove. 
 
 Sophia, while this conversation passed, 
 stood by silently and sorrowfully watching 
 her countenance and manner, and soon 
 after she led her into another room, in 
 hopes of drawing from her the reason of 
 the singular appearances which she ob- 
 served ; but she interrogated her in vain. 
 Julia expressed her surprise that either she 
 or Lady Helena should wonder at her low- 
 ness of spirits, when her father was so near 
 his end, and at her want of selfishness in 
 wishing the being she loved best to re- 
 move to a gayer scene, lest his health and 
 spirits should be injured by witnessing 
 daily her father's sufferings and her own ; 
 
8 
 
 and this was uttered with such a cold and 
 firm manner, as if her determination to pre- 
 serve a fixed silence was immoveable ; that 
 Sophia, conscious the attempt to obtain 
 her confidence was fruitless, forbore to 
 urge her further, and resolved to wait as 
 patiently as she could, till time, the great 
 revealer of secrets, should reveal this. 
 
 When Lady Helena and Sophia reached 
 Laurel Grove, they found Lord and Lady 
 Erpingham intended to set off in two days^ 
 time for Green Hills, and Marcus resolved 
 to accompany them. 
 
 "You accompany us!" cried Lady 
 Helena, when she was alone with him, 
 " when poor Sir George has so few hours 
 to live !" 
 
 " Is that certain ?" said he, starting. 
 
 " So Julia tells me." 
 
 " Then what could she mean by sending 
 me from her — I declare I cannot under- 
 stand her ; what does she mean — she 
 makes me miserable ; she seems to doubt 
 my liking to be with her, and is at times 
 so chilling in her manner, were I not sure 
 
9 
 
 that she sees no one, I should think some 
 one prejudiced her against me. Oh, He- 
 lena ! I have not been used to be loved in 
 this cold, repulsive manner." 
 
 " Perhaps not," replied Lady Helena; 
 " but remember, Marcus, that the love which 
 is so violent in its external seemings, is like 
 the wide blazing-out flame of those candles 
 you draw by, which soon burn out, con- 
 sumed by their own violence. Whereas, 
 a calm, gentle, pure love, like that of Julia' 
 like a wax light, burns with steady, though 
 bounded blaze, and will continue to burn 
 purely and brightly to the last. The vio- 
 lent love which you prefer to her mode st 
 coldness, was not famous for its constancy, 
 I think, Marcus ?" 
 
 - " I cannot bear any joking on that 
 subject, Helena; but is it necessary that 
 modest love should be cold?— would there 
 be any harm in a woman's showing, beyond 
 a doubt, that she returned the generous 
 warmthof the virtuous attachment professed 
 for her by an honourable man? besides, 
 she was not always so cold as she now is' 
 
 B3 
 
10 
 
 and I sometimes suspect that she is really 
 tired of me, and not afraid lest I shoirjd 
 grow tired of her." 
 
 " This is strange and mysterious," said 
 Lady Helena ; " and I cannot understand 
 it, but I do not approve of your going to 
 Green Hills, and I feel sure that you are 
 going more from pique than inclination." 
 
 " I believe so too." However, Fortes- 
 cue could not put his design into execution, 
 as he received a few hasty lines from Julia 
 that day, saying, that she feared her father 
 was dying, and conjuring him, as he wished 
 to see him, to come to them as fast as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 " Is that a cold note, Marcus?" said 
 Lady Helena, as she returned it to him. 
 
 " No ; but grief softens the heart ; how- 
 ever, I own, this note delights me, by the 
 tenderness of its expression. Dear girl! 
 I wish I could fly to her— horses are slow 
 animals on such occasions." 
 
 Sophia wished much to accompany 
 him to London, but could not, as she 
 knew she would not be allowed to be the 
 
11 
 
 guest of Lady Villeroy, and could not 
 force herself, even during the day, on a 
 woman who disliked her ; but she agreed 
 with Lady Helena, that it would be better 
 for Julia, under all circumstances, to be 
 thrown entirely on Fortescue for comfort 
 and support ; as nothing was so likely as 
 the consciousness of that dependence to 
 remove the coldness of which he com- 
 plained, and to produce that confidence so 
 necessary to the happiness, and continuing 
 attachment of lovers. Before the party 
 set off for Green Hills, they had the satis- 
 faction of learning, by a hasty letter from 
 Fortescue, that Sir George was better 
 again. 
 
 As Lady Helena approached Green 
 Hills, the vivacity which had amused her 
 companions during the journey, and had 
 delighted Mr. Brightwen and Sophia at 
 Rosewood, was totally vanished, and she 
 was silent, grave, and evidently absorbed 
 in her own reflection; no wonder! for she 
 who, when she last beheld that beautiful 
 valley, was not allowed to explore its beau- 
 
12 
 
 ties, because she was obnoxious to the 
 possessor of them, was now coming to re- 
 ceive from that severe and dreaded woman, 
 the tenderest welcome of an awakened 
 and grateful heart — a welcome earned by 
 her by the active and generous performance 
 of the most trying duties of Christian love. 
 Nor were her companions more inclined to 
 converse than she was, for reflections, like 
 her's, were in a measure present to their 
 mind ; and while a feeling of proud appro- 
 bation of her conduct, swelled consciously 
 in the bosom of her parents, they looked on 
 her with delighted tenderness : and the 
 tearful eye of Lady Helena fell under their 
 overpowering gaze. She had scarcely re- 
 covered the emotion which had deepened 
 the delicate tint of her cheek, when she 
 saw the impatient Lord Restormel coming 
 to meet them on horseback, every fine 
 feature beaming with pleasure, and illu- 
 mined by the blushes of triumph and 
 satisfied feeling. 
 
 Lady Restormel, too full of emotion 
 herself to preserve her usual state, came 
 
forward even into the hall of entrance, to 
 meet her noble guests, and while her arms 
 opened to receive and welcome Lady He- 
 lena, her full heart deprived her tongue of 
 utterance, and the meeting and the greet- 
 ing passed in expressive silence— a silence 
 which the heart of each understood and 
 enjoyed. 
 
 Lord Restormel, meanwhile, evidently 
 full of unutterable emotions himself, stood 
 looking on, unable to follow the earl, and 
 countess, and Sophia ; and when his 
 mother released Lady Helena from his 
 arms, he seized the hand of the latter, 
 and pressed it, unreproved, to his lips and 
 his heart. 
 
 " I know you will pardon our neglect of 
 the usual courtesy to guests," said Lady 
 Restormel, as she now followed Lady 
 Helena into the drawing room, " on account 
 of the feelings which could alone occasion 
 it; and you cannot doubt that you are 
 welcome to Green Hills !" 
 
 " The feelings to which you allude are 
 guarantees of that," replied Lady Erping- 
 
14 
 
 ham ; " and my lord and I are never sorry 
 to be neglected for Helena." 
 
 " How you flatter that girl," said the 
 earl, laughing : " I assure you I am not so 
 humble, countess. It is not so pleasant to 
 be neglected for any one !" 
 
 Lady Helena thought the same, for at 
 that moment she felt herself neglected for 
 Miss Brightwen, and she did not like it ! 
 
 The animated manner in which Lord 
 Restormel was now welcoming Sophia, and 
 the admiration with which his eyes were 
 fixed on her face, gave a jealous pang to her 
 heart, and she feared she had brought a 
 rival with her. She forgot that those who 
 are dear, or distinguished by the object of 
 our love, become instantly objects of in- 
 terest to us, therefore she failed to see that 
 if Lord Restormel welcomed her friend 
 with such eager pleasure, it was from 
 the charm that her being Lady Helena's 
 friend threw over her, and that even Sophia 
 shone to him with only a borrowed light ! 
 But the love which is not quite sure of be- 
 ing happy love, is always timid and dis- 
 
15 
 
 trustful, and by the time that the ladies 
 retired to dress, Lady Helena had con- 
 vinced herself that Lady Restormal, spite 
 of gratitude, would still never approve of 
 her for the wife of her son ; and that the 
 daily contemplation of a woman who ex- 
 celled in all the modest and feminine graces, 
 and who had, she knew, gained such great 
 power over her father, and her brother, was 
 very likely to obtain equal ascendancy over 
 Lord Restormel, and with the approbation 
 of his own judgment. It was therefore 
 with a heavy heart that Lady Helena re- 
 tired to her own apartments, nor could she 
 summon resolution to dress, but leaning 
 her head on her hands, she sat for some 
 minutes lost in painful contemplation : 
 while thus engaged, she heard herself called, 
 by a soft yet manly voice, beneath an open 
 window which led into a balcony. It was 
 Lord Restormel's voice ! and starting up 
 with agreeable trepidations, she hastily 
 brushed the gathered tears from her eyes, 
 and hastened into the balcony, whence she 
 saw him looking up at her, with eyes whose 
 
16 
 
 expression could not be mistaken, and hold- 
 ing up to her a nosegay of the choicest 
 flowers! " Will you deign to accept my 
 offering !" cried he. " I bade these flowers 
 bloom till you came, and for you ; that was 
 all I asked of them, and they have obliged 
 me." 
 
 " Oh, they are beautiful ! but how 
 shall I get them, I will send Gibbs down 
 for them." 
 
 " No, let me bring them to the door of 
 the dressing-room." 
 
 " I am sorry to give you so much 
 trouble." 
 
 " Trouble !" — The word was nothing — 
 but the tone, the look with which it was 
 said, carried peace and joy to Lady He- 
 lena's bosom. The nose-gay was brought 
 and received with blushing consciousness 
 on both sides. Lady Helena, all smiles 
 and bustle, now summoned Gibbs to com- 
 mence the work of the toilet directly ; 
 and when with her nose-gay in her bosom 
 she entered the saloon, and especially 
 when she saw that she alone was decorated 
 
17 
 
 with flowers, all her jealousy vanished, and 
 again, before her view — 
 
 " Hope enchanting smiled and waved 
 
 her golden hair !" 
 
 The enchantment was encreased when 
 
 LadyRestormel said, "How is this Charles? 
 
 you have neglected to give a bouquet to 
 
 Lady Erpingham and Miss Brightwen !" 
 
 " I fear," he replied, consciously blush- 
 ing, " that I have almost exhausted all my 
 best flowers for Lady Helena, but I will 
 see." Accordingly he disappeared in the 
 conservatory which joined the drawing- 
 room, and returned with some flowers like 
 those he gave her ; but, as if stiH resolved 
 that she should out-bloom the others, he 
 brought a scarlet camelia, which he begged 
 her to wear in her dark tresses. 
 
 " You might have brought one for 
 Miss Brightwen, my lord," said the earl, 
 " it would become her dark tresses also !" 
 
 u But Miss Brightwen, sir, is in mourn- 
 ing," was his reply : — and Lady Helena no 
 longer jealous, was satisfied that if Sophia 
 had not been in mc lining, no camelia would 
 
 i 
 
have been brought for her. The evening 
 was one of intellectual enjoyment, for 
 every one present enjoyed, and was formed 
 for intellectual conversation, and as Lady 
 Helena's vocal powers were inconsiderable, 
 and her instrumental ones not much be«- 
 yond them, and as Sophia had no musical 
 knowledge whatever, the conversers were 
 spared the pain of being interrupted in an 
 interesting conversation by the usually 
 unwelcome news that they were to be 
 favored with a song. The evening was 
 spent chiefly in the library— one of rare 
 books — and on the tables of which were 
 drawings by various masters, and portfo- 
 lios of the rarest prints — while on the top 
 of the books were ranged portraits by the 
 first masters of those time-honored men, 
 whose immortal minds were yet surviving 
 in the instructive and entertaining works 
 beneath them. It is delightful to turn 
 from perusing a splendid passage in an 
 author, to contemplate the face of him 
 who produced it ; and no one enjoyed this 
 delight and this opportunity more than 
 
19 
 
 Lady Helena. Innumerable sallies of 
 playful wit or deep feeling therefore were 
 elicited from her mind by the circum- 
 stances which surrounded her, and except 
 when Lord Restormel particularly ad- 
 dressed her, her conversational powers 
 never shone with greater brilliancy, till 
 suddenly observing Lady Restormel's eyes 
 intently and almost mournfully fixed upon 
 her, her animation fled, her power of ex- 
 pression failed, and drawing her chair close 
 to the table, she tried to hide her changed 
 feelings by looking over some engravings 
 from Vandyke. But why were her feelings 
 changed ? Because she fancied that Lady 
 Restormel thought her too brilliant, and 
 that, for her age, she came too forward in 
 society — was too ready to give her opinion, 
 and gave that opinion too positively, nor 
 could she help contrasting her own readi- 
 ness to harangue and to reply, with the 
 modest reluctance, to speak and to decide, 
 evinced by Miss Bright wen, whose judg- 
 ment was, she knew, a judgment to 
 rely on, and whose riper age and 
 
20 
 
 maturer character gave her a greater 
 right to do both with promptness and 
 self-complacency. Her ever tender and 
 watchful mother beheld her change of 
 countenance, and was alarmed at her si- 
 lence. Lord Restormel also observed both, 
 but he dared not remark or enquire into 
 the cause of either. He was therefore 
 glad when the countess said — " Helena 
 my love, what ails you on a sudden, are 
 you not well ?" 
 
 " Oh ! yes, quite well," she answered, 
 deeply blushing, f but it occurred to me 
 that I had talked too long and too much, 
 and that I had not been as much of a 
 listner as it becomes my years and acquire- 
 ments to be." 
 
 " I should have thought so too, per- 
 haps, to borrow the elegant words of our 
 late royal master to Dr. Johnson, if you had 
 not talked, so well," said Lady Restormel 
 smiling, and approaching Lady Helena as 
 she spoke, then leaning affectionately on 
 her shoulder, while she examined the print 
 before her. 
 
21 
 
 " But why, LordErpingham," she con- 
 tinued, " should not the young be encou- 
 raged to put forth their ideas? It is so 
 delightful to contemplate the fresh and 
 unsophisticated impressions of early 
 youth ! I declare to you that Restormel's 
 speeches in the House, are not more in- 
 teresting to me than his boyish and youth- 
 ful observations, and epanchcmens du cceur, 
 when nature and life were new to him, 
 and I encouraged him to express all that 
 he felt." 
 
 " But would this untaught eloquence 
 have pleased you so well if intruded upon 
 you by the child of another ?" 
 
 " Perhaps not — yet wherefore ?— The 
 sight of nature and It verd naissant is 
 equally lovely, whether it be seen in your 
 park or mine." 
 
 " True, and what is more lovely than 
 le verd naissant ? " replied the Earl. 
 
 " Aye, and equally lovely is le verd na- 
 issant or budding green of the mind, my 
 lord." 
 
22 
 
 " But its autumnal tints are richer and 
 more splendid!" 
 
 " Yes, but not so purely bright ; like the 
 consumptive cheek, they owe much of their 
 beauty to decay, and time, which has added 
 to their charm, has also injured their strength 
 and their vividness. No, give me that fresh- 
 ness of hue and feeling, over which, as yet, 
 the canker worm of care and sorrow has 
 never crawled, polluting and deadening even 
 where it does not gnaw and destroy ; give 
 me the heart-felt and glowing feelings and 
 sentiments of this dear may-morning girl, 
 she added, passing her hand over Lady 
 Helena's fine forehead as she spoke, I like 
 them far better than my own autumnal 
 ones, and I am content to listen while she 
 talks." Away fled Lady Helena's gloom 
 and silence! she kissed the caressing hand 
 as it glided off her brow, and with le verd 
 naissant for her text, she amused herself 
 and her auditors by her fancy and her 
 illustrations. When she retired to rest that 
 night, it was with feelings too full of ex- 
 
23 
 
 citement to allow her to sleep soon, but 
 when she did, her rest was sweet and her 
 dreams happy. 
 
 The next evening Lady Helena, though 
 allowed to talk as much as she pleased by 
 her hostess, was unusually silent, for her 
 heart would not let her converse — that heart 
 was full, and full of treasures, namely, con- 
 victions of the excelling worth of the man 
 she loved. Lady Restormel had driven Lady 
 Helena in a low chaise round the grounds 
 and the domain herself — a distinction of 
 which the latter felt the full force — and 
 while she admired the neatness and com- 
 fort of the cottages, and the admirable re- 
 gulations of the infirmary, and schools for 
 children and for adults, Lady Restormel 
 had a mother's pride in saying, " All this is 
 Retormel's doing ! when he came of age he 
 brought this addition to the property, and 
 ever since he has laboured till he has brought 
 every thing to the perfection which you see ! 
 Well, indeed, may I say of my son, in the 
 words of scripture, ( that when the ear hears 
 him, then it blesseth him, and when the eye 
 
24 
 
 sees him, it gives witness to him, because he 
 delivers the poor that cry, and the father- 
 less, and him that hath none to help him, 
 and causes the widow's heart to sing for 
 joy.'" Lady Restormel's voice faltered as 
 she uttered this eulogy on her son, and 
 Lady Helena could not speak a word. 
 
 " Now then," said Lady Restormel, 
 " that I have shewn you all these interesting 
 objects, and done that justice to Charles 
 which he would have been too modest to 
 do himself, I shall give you up to him for 
 the rest of the drive, and take his present 
 companions to see what I have shewn you. 
 Here Restormel," she added, as the ba- 
 rouche in which he was came up, " hand me 
 into your vehicle, and take my seat beside 
 Lady Helena ! " He did so, but they drove 
 for some time in almost unbroken silence. 
 Lady Helena wished to commend him, but 
 could not. He wished to ask how she liked 
 what she had seen, but dared not ; besides, 
 the conscious happiness each felt in being 
 with the other, was alone sufficient to dis- 
 pose them to silence, — till Lady Helena, 
 
25 
 
 ashamed of her tell-tale silence, forced 
 herself to speak of the pleasure she had 
 just enjoyed, and gave him an opportunity 
 of commending that admirable mother who 
 had gone hand in hand with him in all his 
 plans, and had ever given wise council, if 
 she had not superintended and executed 
 what he wished. But Lord Restormer.s 
 praises of his mother were not likely to 
 raise Lady Helena's spirits, nor provoke 
 her to converse ; on the contrary, they sub- 
 dued and appalled her ; for the stronger 
 and the more just she found his attachment 
 to that excelling woman, the less likely he 
 was to disregard her opinion in his choice 
 of a wife, or when married, to make the 
 woman happy who should not conform in 
 every thing to his mother's views of what a 
 wife should be. But at her time of life, 
 gloomy anticipations of the future have not 
 power long over the pleasures of the pre- 
 sent moment, and delighted with each other, 
 Lady Helena and her companion prolonged 
 their drive till there was only just time 
 enough to dress before dinner was on the 
 vol. in. C 
 
table. That evening Lady Helena and 
 Lord Restormel talked apart more than 
 they had yet ventured to do ; but as I be- 
 fore observed, the former could not con- 
 verse as she had done the preceding evening; 
 yet, though not so animated and -even pen- 
 sive, she went to rest happier than she was 
 the night before. 
 
 The next morning, Lord Erpingham 
 in no little agitation, brought a letter sealed 
 and bordered with black into the room 
 where Lady Restormel, the countess, and 
 Lady Helena were sitting, which he had 
 just read, and in which Lord Aston an- 
 nounced the death of his lady. Lady Er- 
 pingham instantly burst into a paroxysm of 
 tears ! and Lady Helena also betrayed 
 considerable emotion while the earl ex- 
 pressed his reluctance to shorten so agree- 
 able a visit, but was sure, he said, that 
 Lady Restormel would see the necessity of 
 their returning home the next day, to pre- 
 pare for the reception of Lord Aston and 
 his children, and the remains of the de- 
 ceased. From this imperious necessity 
 
27 
 
 there was no appeal, and Lord Erpingham 
 left them to go in search of Lord Restor- 
 mel and Sophia, who were walking toge- 
 ther ; when he was gone, the countess 
 loudly lamented the death of Lady Aston, 
 and worked herself into an agony at the 
 idea of the misery her poor, dear Aston was 
 feeling at that moment. 
 
 " No doubt," said Lady Restormel, * he 
 must feel a good ileal at first." 
 
 "She was the mother of his children," 
 observed Lady Helena. 
 
 "Aye, and a most tenderly beloved 
 wife too, Helena. I assure you, my dear 
 friend, there never was a better or a more 
 devoted husband than Aston, or a more 
 excellent wife than poor Emily ! Oh, he 
 will be so wretched!" 
 
 " Oh ! he will recover it," cried Lady 
 Helena. 
 
 " But when, Helena ? not for a very long 
 time I am sure ; he will take it so to heart!" 
 
 " He will not grieve very long, depend 
 on it, dear mamma," replied Lady Helena 
 smiling through her tears in spite of herself 
 
and with an archness of expression which 
 struck Lady Restormel as meaning more 
 than was uttered ; and taking her by the 
 arm, she led her into another apartment. 
 
 " What does that smile mean, thou dear 
 April-eyed being ?" said Lady Restormel. 
 
 " That mamma is mistaken, and that 
 Aston will even feel more relieved than 
 grieved." 
 
 " So I suspected ; for I never before 
 heard that Lady Aston was so amiable and 
 excellent as your kind mother describes 
 her to be." 
 
 " No, certainly not ; but to mamma's 
 indulgent and generous mind, all persons 
 and objects appear as through a camera ob- 
 scura ; and the most common-place per- 
 sons acquire a beauty they do not really 
 possess, from the medium through which 
 they are viewed." 
 
 " True, but this mode of viewing things 
 has its advantages ; for instance, if Lord 
 Aston should be as injudicious in a second 
 choice, as he was in his first, your mother 
 would not see the deficiencies of the 
 
29 
 
 lady — but fancy her all she ought to 
 be." 
 
 " If Aston marries, as he will, I think, 
 wish to marry," replied Lady Helena ea- 
 gerly, * there will be no deficiencies in the 
 lady whatever ; but she will adorn the co- 
 ronet, and not the coronet her." 
 
 * What!" cried Lady Restormel, "am 
 I to understand, that Lord Aston's second 
 choice was made before the death of his 
 wife?" Lady Helena was shocked, but 
 she had gone too far to recede ; she there- 
 fore gave Lady Restormel an account of 
 the circumstances relative to Lord Aston, 
 as before related." 
 
 " Then you really wish your brother to 
 form & mesalliance; do you, Lady Helena?" 
 cried Lady Restormel, as soon as she had 
 concluded. 
 
 " I do not consider it as a misalliance. 
 Miss Brightwen, on the mother's side, is of a 
 noble family, and on the father's descended 
 from a very old family in Norfolk. Your 
 ladyship knows that no fault of her own 
 degraded her from her rank in society, and 
 
so 
 
 that she is now restored to it by the ac- 
 quisition of an hereditary property, large 
 enough to make her an heiress worthy of a 
 ducal coronet. 
 
 " I did not know ; not but that I care 
 more for family than wealth, though the 
 world will only consider in this case the 
 wealth, and neither the rank nor the vir- 
 tues of the lady. I know you will believe 
 me when I say that I rejoice to hear Miss 
 Brightwen is so well born, as that removes 
 all my objections, and makes her the most 
 desirable of wives for a nobleman in my 
 estimation ; as there is no fear of her 
 disgracing the rank to which she is ele- 
 vated by any unbecoming eccentricity or 
 unfeminine daring in her conduct or mind, 
 but on the contrary her perfect manners 
 and well tried virtues will reflect lustre on 
 her station, and she will be what a British 
 peeress ought to be." Lady Helena, 
 though pleased to hear that her future 
 sister-in-law, as she delighted to consider 
 her, was approved by Lady Restormel, felt 
 her eye involuntarily fixed on the ground* 
 
31 
 
 and her colour change, for she feared that 
 her noble hostess meant obliquely to cen- 
 sure her, while she applauded her friend ; 
 however, she did not choose to apply the 
 censure to herself by noticing it, and she 
 forced herself to say, with tolerable calm- 
 ness, that after all Miss Brightwen might 
 refuse Lord Aston. 
 
 " She is not at all attached to him as yet, 
 of that I am sure," said Lady Restormel, 
 ** or I could not think so highly of her as 
 I do." 
 
 " No, nor is she at all conscious of his 
 attachment to her, even that consciousness 
 would, I feel, have impaired the spotless- 
 ness of her character." 
 
 " True and delicately felt ; but see, 
 here she is ! and has evidently been weep- 
 ing." 
 
 " Oh, poor Lord Aston !" cried Sophia, 
 as she entered, " I am so sorry for him ! 
 how he will suffer !" 
 
 " Who tells you so ?" 
 
 " Lady Erpingham ! she says he was 
 so attached to Lady Aston !" 
 
" But I told you the contrary, and you 
 know I see clearer in some respects than 
 mamma, as I have not her good nature to 
 blind me." 
 
 " Well, but he must feel her loss, and 
 the suddenness of her death." 
 
 " Yes, certainly, but he will recover it 
 much sooner than mamma thinks." 
 
 " However, Lady Helena I am very 
 glad he is coming immediately to Laurel 
 Grove." 
 
 ** So is he, I dare say." 
 
 " No doubt, for there he will be sooth- 
 ed and comforted." 
 
 " To be sure he will." 
 
 " We shall all do our best to support 
 him under his trials ; and I hope my 
 father will not call me away for some 
 months yet, on poor Lord Aston's ac- 
 count." 
 
 " You do ! that is very kind in you, 
 and I dare say Aston will find you a great 
 comfort to him." 
 
 " I shall endeavour to be so, for many 
 near and dear reasons," replied Sophia, 
 sighing. 
 
S3 
 
 " And no doubt you will succeed in 
 your endeavours/' said Lady Helena, in so 
 queer and comical a tone of voice, that she 
 made herself as well as Lady Restormel 
 smile, and they were both forced to turn 
 away to hide their countenances from the 
 unconscious Sophia. But this was almost 
 the last tendency to smile, experienced 
 by Lady Restormel that, day, on account 
 of the unexpected departure of her guests, 
 which was fixed for noon on the following 
 day. 
 
 Lord Restormel, next morning, was 
 dressed and ready to attend Lady He- 
 lena and Sophia, according to appoint- 
 ment, in a walk round the grounds 
 before breakfast. The weather was cold, 
 and the trees leafless, two disadvan- 
 tages of which poor Miss Brightwen was 
 fully sensible, but her companions saw only 
 each other, felt nothing but the delight of 
 being together, and when she assured them 
 it was, indeed, the breakfast hour, she 
 could with difficulty convince them that 
 she spoke the truth. 
 
 c 5 
 
34 
 
 After breakfast, and while Lord and 
 Lady Erpingham were writing letters to 
 meet Lord Aston in London, Lady Restor- 
 mel asked Lady Helena to accompany her 
 in a drive, as she was obliged to visit a 
 poor invalid, and wished to have her com- 
 pany part of the way. Lady Helena 
 gladly prepared for the drive, and having 
 handed his mother and her fair guest into 
 the chaise, Lord Restormel followed them 
 on foot. 
 
 Lady Restormel, who seemed absent 
 and agitated, now took the road which led 
 to the Reed House ; and when they reached 
 the well-remembered gate, the servant 
 unlocked it, and Lady Restormel said, 
 '* We will alight here, if you please." 
 They did so, and Lady Helena found her- 
 self sitting, by the invitation of the mother 
 on that very seat which not many months 
 ago, she had so reluctantly, and with such 
 conscious trepidation, occupied by the side 
 of the son. She was full of conscious trepida- 
 tion now, but it was of a pleasanter nature ; 
 she awaited with more hope than alarm at 
 
35 
 
 what the equally agitated Lady Restormel 
 was, she saw, about to say : " You have 
 been here before," she said, at length. 
 
 " I have ; but much against my will." 
 
 " Yes, and you refused to point out 
 certain desirable alterations, because you 
 never chose to give an opinion concerning 
 aught belonging to another." 
 
 " True ; but how strange that you 
 should know even the words I used." 
 
 " No ; not when you recollect to 
 whom they were spoken, and that the me- 
 mory was that of the heart. Now, there- 
 fore, that you may have no scruples to 
 prevent you from suggesting whatever 
 alterations your taste points out, I give 
 you this reed house; it is your property 
 henceforth, and so are the trees around it." 
 
 " Lady Restormel ! do I hear you 
 aright ?" 
 
 " You do, indeed ; and I have also to 
 say that there is an addition to, and an im- 
 provement in these scenes which you, and 
 you alone can give; but hither comes 
 Restormel, and to him I leave further 
 
36 
 
 explanations." All this was uttered with a 
 faltering voice and hurried manner, which 
 communicated equal emotion to Lady He- 
 lena ; but she little knew why Lady Res- 
 tormel had brought her thither, and in 
 order to speak what she did on that very 
 spot. It was to substitute in her own, 
 and in her son's mind, an agreeable asso- 
 ciation with that scene, for a disagreeable 
 one; she had there spoken slightingly and 
 unjustly of Lady Helena, and there she 
 had now made, she trusted, sufficient 
 amends to the beloved being whose feelings 
 she had then wounded; for she had now 
 contrived to make that very place the 
 scene in which he would probably exchange 
 the vows of mutual and happy love. 
 
 As soon as Lord Restormel entered the 
 Reed House, Lady Restormel told Lady 
 Helena she should call for her again in 
 half an hour, and proceed on her drive. 
 " May I not — should I not go with her V 
 said Lady Helena, scarcely knowing what 
 she said, but moving towards the door. 
 
 " Do you not see why my kind mo- 
 ther left you alone with me," said Lord 
 
37 
 
 Restormel, gently forcing her back again on 
 the seat ; " do you not guess the meaning 
 of her last words when I appeared ?" 
 
 Lady Helena did not attempt to reply ; 
 she could only look down, and tear into 
 numberless pieces the flower she held in 
 her hand ; no doubt she did not remain 
 silent till Lady Restormel returned, for 
 when that lady re-entered the Reed House 
 she found her sitting with her hand clasped 
 in Lord Rcstormel's, while he was looking 
 up in her blushing, but not averted face,, 
 with a countenance of happy and admi- 
 ring love. At sight of her they both rose, 
 and Lord Restormel leading Lady Helena 
 up to her, said, " Bless us, bless us toge- 
 ther, dearest mother ; if Lord Erpingham 
 consents, I am the happiest of men." 
 
 An involuntary sigh burst from the bo- 
 som of Lady Restormel as he uttered these 
 words, but a smile of heartfelt tenderness 
 succeeded it, while she folded them both in 
 her maternal embrace, and raising her 
 eyes to heaven vainly endeavoured, for 
 some moments, to give other^utterance to 
 
38 
 
 the blessing which her heart invoked, than 
 that evinced by the fast quivering lip. Yet 
 Lady Restormel had intended to be very 
 eloquent, and to address them in words of 
 solemn, affecting import — words not soon 
 to be forgotten, but her heart more eloquent 
 than her tongue, at once annihilated the 
 prepared address, and told its own impres- 
 sive dictates in tears, in silent prayer, and in 
 affectionate embraces. " Now, then, to drive 
 you home again," said she, when she had re- 
 covered her composure; but Lord Restor- 
 mel would not allow it; it was, he said, 
 their last walk together for some time, and 
 Lady Helena must return with him. 
 
 It may be supposed that Lady Restor- 
 mel had reached the house long before the 
 lovers did, but as soon as they did arrive, 
 Lord Restormel went in search of Lord 
 Erpingham, Lady Helena to the apart- 
 ment of her mother; the latter had no- 
 thing to reply to her beloved child's com- 
 munications but congratulations and ex- 
 pressions of sympathizing pleasure, min- 
 gled, however, with tender regret at 
 
39 
 
 thoughts of losing her. But different was 
 the reception which Lord Restormel's pro- 
 posals met from the earl; to the great dis- 
 appointment of the lover, he assured him 
 that though he and his offers were all the 
 tenderest, and most mercenary parent 
 could desire for his child, he had always 
 resolved that Lady Helena should not 
 marry till she was one-and-twenty, and 
 that all he could do to show how much he 
 approved the marriage now offered to her 
 acceptance, was to depart in some measure 
 from his resolution, and permit her to 
 marry at twenty. "You know, Restor- 
 mel," said he, " that Helena has not yet 
 been presented ; she has not had those op- 
 portunities of seeing and choosing for her- 
 self, which all young women, whose lot is 
 cast in the world, ought to have before 
 they settle for life, as it is called. I have 
 no doubt but the more she sees of other 
 men, the more she will feel your supe- 
 riority; but though I am her father, I 
 should not think I did her or you justice, 
 
40 
 
 if I suffered her to become a wife, till by a 
 longer collision with the habits of others, 
 Helena had lost some of her own bad habits, 
 the result of an erroneous education, or 
 rather in some points no education at all." 
 
 " Oh ! but her own fine understanding, 
 and my wishes surely would correct." 
 
 " My wishes and my authority, my 
 lord, have not entirely done so ; and be- 
 lieve me that a married life begins under 
 bad auspices, where the husband has a 
 prospect of being forced to [assume the 
 character of a censor with his bride. Trust 
 me, that I know Helena, and believe me 
 that you will hereafter bless me for insisting 
 on this delay, and that your present pain 
 will insure your future felicity." 
 
 " I am surprised, mortified, and disap- 
 pointed, my lord ; but you allow me to 
 consider myself as the engaged lover of 
 Lady Helena." 
 
 " Why, not exactly so ; I cannot, will 
 not admit of an engagement on either 
 side ; you shall meet, and on lover's terms, as 
 
41 
 
 often as you choose; but you shall both 
 be free, and either shall be permitted to 
 break off an intercourse which shall have 
 become undesirable to either." 
 
 " I do not like your conditions, Lord 
 Erpingham; but I am sure of my own 
 constancy, therefore I shrink not from ac- 
 cepting them, and if the most tender and 
 devoted attentions can make Lady Helena 
 
 constant at the end of how long is the 
 
 probation, my lord ?" 
 
 " Only a year and a half." 
 
 " Well, then, in a year and a half I 
 I hope to be the happy husband of your 
 daughter." 
 
 " I trust you will be so, but to use a 
 favourite phrase of Helena's, ' ne gagez 
 pasT" 
 
 " Do not lay a wager." 
 
 The two lords then went in search of 
 Lady Helena, whose countenance fell, as 
 if she was oppressed with secret forbodings 
 when she heard her father's conditional 
 consent to the marriage, and her lover was 
 consoled to find that the delay was as 
 
4<2 
 
 painful to her as to himself; but it was 
 from different reasons, for Lady Helena 
 knew herself, and could indeed have replied 
 to her lover's confiding hope as her father 
 did, ' ne gagez pas." 
 
 Lady Restormel, on the contrary, 
 highly approved the earl's decision in her 
 heart, though she contented herself with 
 saying, " There can be no appeal from 
 your authority and decision, my lord, and 
 I doubt not but the delay will be salutary." 
 
 Lady Erpingham murmured and won- 
 dered, but always inclined to yield her 
 judgment to that of her lord's, she did not 
 attempt to offer an objection, and Miss 
 Brightwen did not feel herself justified in 
 giving an opinion on the subject. Lord 
 Erpingham's resolution was strengthened 
 by his knowledge, how much and how 
 justly, in some respects, Lady Restormel 
 had been prejudiced against Lady Helena, 
 and by his conviction that though powerful 
 circumstances had converted her aversion 
 into affection, yet that his daughter was 
 too like her former self to make her sure 
 
43 
 
 of retaining the mother's affections, how- 
 ever she might continue to charm the fancy 
 of her son; and a mixture of pride and 
 principle, and a knowledge of human 
 nature, made him resolve to secure to each 
 of the lovers an opportunity of escaping 
 those fetters which might at length become 
 burthensome. 
 
CHAP. XVII. 
 
 As Lord Aston, with his melancholy train, 
 was expected so soon, Lord Restormel did 
 not accompany his departing guests to 
 Laurel Grove, though he was allowed to 
 drive Lady Helena the greatest part of 
 the way. With him vanished Lady He- 
 lena's vivacity ; not that she was subdued 
 in spirits by merely parting with him, 
 because she knew that they should soon 
 meet again either in town or country ; but 
 that she was then at liberty to indulge in 
 her own reflections — her own blighted ex- 
 pectations ; for though the beloved of Lord 
 Restormel's heart, and his acknowledged 
 choice, conscience whispered to her bosom 
 that she was not the wife which either his 
 own judgment or that of his mother would 
 have chosen, and dark undefined fears for 
 the future, clouded over, if they did not 
 absolutely annihilate her prospects. 
 
45 
 
 " Helena, my dearest child ! why are 
 you so absent and so sad?" said Lady 
 Erpingham. 
 
 " So reflecting, I trust, you should say," 
 observed her father gravely. " Helena has 
 to-day taken on herself new obligations ; 
 she has in her heart at least plighted and 
 accepted the most important of all vows 
 save one, that at the altar ; and the woman 
 who knows that an amiable and honorable 
 man has entrusted his happiness to her 
 keeping, ought to reflect, for she has 
 to weigh well her conduct in future, and 
 to take heed to her steps ; — am I not right 
 Helena ? are you not sad because you feel 
 deeply and properly the responsibility 
 which you have incurred ?" Helena's heart 
 was full — she could not answer, but she 
 pressed her father's hand, and inclined her 
 head in token that he was right. It was 
 fortunate for Lady Helena's peace, and a 
 fine trait in her character, that she was 
 always able to forget herself in the in- 
 terests of others ; and the next morning,her 
 own disquiets were swallowed up in the 
 
4t) 
 
 preparations she made for the reception of 
 Lord Aston and his children, and for their 
 future accommodation. Lady Helena was 
 the only person in the family whose ex- 
 pectation of Lord Aston was one of nearly 
 unmixed pleasure, for she knew the state 
 of his heart, and she had never liked Lady 
 Aston, because she had always thought her 
 unworthy of her brother, and she knew 
 also that she made him miserable. When 
 he arrived, however, and gave his mother- 
 less children to her arms, her awakened 
 feelings towards them, made her shed 
 unfeigned tears, though they were not 
 tears of tender regret for the deceased, 
 and without any hypocrisy on her part, she 
 appeared a mourner with the rest. Lord 
 Aston himself, from mixed feelings, and 
 various causes, betrayed considerable emo- 
 tion and agitation on his arrival, both of 
 which were attributed, by all observers but 
 his sister, to grief for the loss he had sus- 
 tained ; and Fortescue, who arrived just 
 before him to attend the funeral, but 
 returned to London again directly, was 
 
47 
 
 surprised to witness such evidences of 
 strong feeling, as if of regret in his widowed 
 brother, which the merit of the wife he had 
 lost did not at all in his opinion call forth. 
 But no subsequent violence of emotion in 
 Lord Aston's manner excited any observa- 
 vation, or wonder in those around him ; and 
 when the interment was over, no one but 
 Lady Erpingham could have remarked that 
 his countenance was more serious than 
 usual ; but as she over-rated the merits of 
 the deceased, it was natural that she should 
 over-rate the grief of her husband ; while 
 Miss Brightwen, from respect to Lord 
 Aston, because she thought that it was 
 wrong for the husband of so tender a wife 
 to be soon consoled, tried to see with the 
 eyes of the countess, and to impute Lord 
 Aston's occasional absence of mind, though 
 his eyes were often fixed on her the while, 
 to regret for the companion whom he had 
 lost. And she was confirmed in this 
 opinion, when, after Lady Aston had been 
 dead two months, she suddenly came upon 
 Lord Aston, in a bower in the garden, and 
 
48 
 
 found him gazing on a picture very in- 
 tently, and then saw him press it to his 
 lips. On observing this, Sophia instantly 
 retreated, unwilling to interrupt him in 
 these moments of tender recollection ; for 
 she naturally concluded that the picture 
 was that of his wife. She would, however, 
 have still more hastily retreated, had she 
 known whose picture it was. 
 
 Lord Aston was now eager to resume 
 his morning walks with Sophia, before 
 breakfast, in spite of the coldness of the 
 season, and his mother's fears for his health : 
 but, as his circumstances were now changed, 
 she was not often willing to indulge him, 
 even though the death of his wife was an 
 event too recent to make it possible that 
 there could be any great impropriety in 
 such walks, she was, however, much more 
 willing to oblige Lord Aston by taking 
 notice of his children, those children named 
 after her beloved brother, and whom that 
 circumstance tended to endear to her, and 
 she could not but observe that whenever 
 those interesting children were the objects 
 
49 
 
 of her attention and caresses, that the 
 father's countenance beamed with affec- 
 tionate delight, and that his eyes were 
 fixed on her with an expression which hers 
 were unable to meet. And yet, thought 
 Sophia to herself, I caught him caressing 
 his wife's picture ! To be sure it is my own 
 conceit alone that thus embarrasses me 
 when he looks at me ! But was it his 
 wife's picture ? Yet, if not, whose should it 
 be ? The truth was, that soon after the 
 funeral of his lady, Lord Aston asked Lady 
 Helena whether she had given the picture 
 he had intrusted to her care to Miss Ville- 
 roy. 
 
 " Certainly not," was her reply. " I 
 was only to give it to Fortescue's bride, 
 not Miss Villeroy." 
 
 " True, then give it to me again." 
 Lady Helena obeyed ; and restored it, 
 with no comment, but a smile of great 
 meaning and pleasure, accompanied by a 
 pressure of the hand, which was forcibly 
 returned, and which spoke all which cir- 
 cumstances then warranted. I need not 
 vol. in. D 
 
50 
 
 add, that it was on this picture Sophia 
 found Lord Aston gazing. Not long after 
 this circumstance had taken place, she 
 mentioned it to Lady Helena, as a proof 
 of Lord Aston's tender attachment to his 
 wife's memory ; and the ambiguous expres- 
 sion of the latter's countenance, embar- 
 rassed her exceedingly. 
 
 " You do not reply, Lady Helena, and 
 you look, I cannot say how." 
 
 " Very likely ; but my dear friend, 
 are you sure that it was Lady Aston's 
 picture?" 
 
 " If not hers, whose should it be ?" 
 " Aye, whose indeed ? You know I 
 told you he gave me yours to give to 
 Julia." 
 
 " Yes, and if not, it could not be ; that 
 is, no, surely not." 
 
 " I do not quite comprehend you, 
 Sophia ; you do not speak with your usual 
 clearness ; but, who knows but my brother 
 may have a picture we know not of. 
 Those Italian women are very charming." 
 " An Italian woman's picture ! and gaze 
 
51 
 
 on it so soon ! do you remember how re- 
 cently his wife died ?" 
 
 " Yes, and also how long she lived with 
 him too, — quite long enough, to make the 
 contemplation of another face very agree- 
 able to him." 
 
 " Fye, Lady Helena, you really do not 
 do your brother justice." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I do, and I am convinced, to 
 speak seriously, that the picture was that 
 of a virtuous English lady." 
 
 "Do you know, or only suspect this ?" 
 
 " I may say, I am sure of it." 
 
 " But so soon to form a new attach- 
 ment ?" 
 
 " I did not tell you it was a new at- 
 tachment." 
 
 " Worse and worse !" 
 
 " My dear Miss Brightwen, you are a 
 wise woman, but not at all quick-sighted ; 
 nevertheless, and I challenge you to walk 
 with me directly to yonder bower !" Sophia 
 consented ; and as Lady Helena had fore- 
 seen, there was Lord Aston with the pic- 
 ture in his hand. 
 
 " O! Brother! Brother! what arc vqu 
 
52 
 
 doing ?" cried Lady Helena, as she entered, 
 <c what idol are you worshipping there ? 
 see ! Miss Brightwen is shocked at your 
 heathenish, or catholic proceedings !" 
 
 Lord Aston, who had only smiled when 
 his sister first spoke, and had not tried to 
 conceal the picture, started and blushed, 
 when he saw by whom she was accom- 
 panied, — but still, he was so slow in re- 
 turning it to its hiding-place, that Sophia 
 had sufficient time to see that it was the 
 miniature of herself! and overwhelmed 
 with an embarrassment too mighty to be 
 concealed, yet one, which every feeling of 
 delicacy and propriety made her desirous 
 of concealing — she suddenly quitted the 
 bower, and luckily seeing Lord Aston's 
 children approaching, ran forward to meet 
 them — glad of such an excuse for leaving 
 her companions. From that hour, however, 
 Sophia ceased to caress the children in their 
 father's presence ; and Lord Aston would 
 have feared that she had lost the attach- 
 ment to them, which it had delighted him 
 to behold, had not he learnt from their art- 
 .1 ass communications, that, in his absence, 
 
53 
 
 she was as attentive to their wants and 
 wishes as ever. Then why this compari- 
 tive coldness to them before him ? Lord 
 Aston's heart sometimes answered the 
 questions in a manner satisfactory to his 
 feelings, especially when he found Sophia's 
 expressive eye, now, never responded to 
 his fixed and impassioned glance ; but her 
 embarrassment of manner was soon accom- 
 panied by increasing coldness and reserve ; 
 and while his hopes were'encouraged in one 
 way, they were utterly damped in another ; 
 he had also the mortification of hearing So- 
 phia frequently wish that her father's affairs 
 would allow him to settle quietly in Nor- 
 folk, and summon her thither. Why this 
 unkind haste to leave Laurel Grove? when 
 Lord and Lady Erpingham seemed to de" 
 i ight in her society, and to love her as a 
 daughter. To Sophia herself, there was a 
 very sufficient reason for it, as she thought 
 that Lord Aston's now evident attachment 
 to her would not be approved by his own 
 family ; and she knew, on examining her 
 own heart, that the longer she remained 
 
54 
 
 exposed to his attention, the less able she 
 should be to help returning the attachment- 
 But we have too long lost sight of Julia 
 Villeroy, who, when the hour at length 
 arrived, so long and so painfully anticipa- 
 ted, found herself obliged to meet it un- 
 supported by the hitherto soothing pre- 
 sence of her lover— as, only two days be- 
 fore her father breathed his last, Captain 
 Fortescue was obliged to join his ship, and 
 set sail to go against some pirates who 
 infested the North Seas ; — most reluctantly 
 did he leave Julia, and the more so, because, 
 during the parting hour, her reserve seemed 
 to vanish entirely, before the strong evi- 
 dences which he gave of his attachment, 
 and his sorrow ; and he was again convin- 
 ced, that whatever was the cause which 
 produced her coldness of manner, that her 
 affections were still warmly his. Yes, in 
 the presence of Lady Villeroy only, did 
 Julia undergo the terrible pang of seeing 
 those eyes for ever close, which had lately 
 looked on her with all a father's fondness ! 
 and spite of the prospects which seemed to 
 
55 
 
 await her, of wedded love and wedded 
 happiness, the unhappy girl felt to her 
 inmost soul that she was an orphan, and 
 desolate, and afflicted. But, even in the 
 first moments of bitter and tender anguish, 
 Julia was taught by her habitual piety 
 to remember that she had a father in 
 heaven, and while she cast all her cares 
 upon him, her mind acquired strength to 
 meet and overcome her trials, and the 
 burst of agony was met contented by the 
 heartfelt and involuntary prayer. But 
 even in the first moments of her tender and 
 bitter agony, the widow of Sir George 
 Villeroy, and the mother-in-law of Julia, 
 remembered, that during the last months 
 of the life of the deceased, the image of 
 Julia's mother — that woman of whom alive 
 and dead she had been incessantly jealous — 
 seemed ever present to Sir George's mind, 
 and that he had repeatedly declared, while 
 gazing tenderly on Julia, that she lived 
 before him again in her. It was, there- 
 fore, with vindictive aversion that Lady 
 Villeroy beheld the innocent Cause of the 
 
66 
 
 mortification which she had experienced, and 
 while she recollected that Sir George's last 
 look — last kiss — had been Julia's, she drove 
 her from her presence with ungovernable 
 rage ; and the terrified girl, when told that 
 Lord Erpingham and Lady Helena were 
 arrived, and desired to see her, flew for 
 refuge to their arms, as if to stay where 
 she was, was dangerous and impossible : 
 but it was impossible for Julia to remain 
 long under the dominion of her feelings, 
 and no sooner had the earl and her 
 sympathizing friend expressed their inten- 
 tion to take her instantly away, than she 
 became calm, and assured them that how- 
 ever ill Lady Villeroy might behave, she 
 was resolved not to insult the memory of 
 her father, by letting it be suspected that 
 his widow had driven her from the house 
 before his unburied remains were removed 
 to their last home. 
 
 t( But if she insists on your going ?" 
 " She will not do that, depend on it; on 
 the contrary, she has desired me to remain 
 with her some time, and it is only when 
 
57 
 
 she gives way to these paroxysms of 
 jealousy, that she cannot bear me in her 
 sight." 
 
 " But why, dear girl, should you be 
 subject to her temper, even for a mo- 
 ment ? " 
 
 " Because she was my father's wife, aud 
 he gave her authority over me by making 
 her his wife ; and, therefore, Miss Brightwen 
 always taught me that duty to my father 
 required me to obey her, and bear with 
 her infirmities." 
 
 " And as usual, my dear Julia," said the 
 earl, "Miss Brightwen taught you what 
 was right, therefore stay with Lady Ville- 
 roy as long as your own excellent head and 
 heart counsel you to do so. Poor woman! 
 I must own I feel for Lady Villeroy." 
 
 " I am sure, so do I, my dear Lord," 
 replied Julia, " for it must have been very 
 trying to hear my poor papa say that he 
 loved me, because I was so like my angel- 
 mother." 
 
 " No wonder she was jealous, I am 
 D 5 
 
58 
 
 sure I should have been so, should not you 
 Helena?" 
 
 " Indeed I should, and were Restormel 
 to tell me he loved me, because he fancied 
 me like his mother, I should certainly dis- 
 miss him ; still I fear I am not amiable 
 enough to pity your mara — , Lady Villeroy 
 I mean, but I will try. to do so if she will 
 let you come to us in a few days, as you 
 can't return with us, and Miss Bright wen 
 will not be allowed to come to you." 
 
 "When do you go back to Laurel Grove?'' 
 " To-morrow," said the earl, " but not 
 till the will is opened, as you tell me that 
 my poor friend ordered it to be read di- 
 rectly, audit may contain something which 
 I ought to be made acquainted with imme- 
 diately, but after that is over, for Helena's 
 sake, I shall make a point of returning, 
 as Lord and Lady Restormel are staying 
 with us, but Helena would not let me 
 come alone." 
 
 " How kind — to leave home for my 
 sake at such a moment," cried Julia, burst- 
 
59 
 
 and how comforting it 
 would be to me to be with such kind 
 friends at this time, but duty commands me 
 to stay, and to bear and forbear." 
 
 " A difficult task with some people." 
 
 " Yes, but when I reflect how terrible 
 a pang jealousy is, and how great an object 
 of jealousy I have been to poor Lady Vil- 
 leroy, I do not feel the task so hard an one : 
 — oh, she must hate me, I know she must!'» 
 Julia spoke with such excessive earnest- 
 ness, and with a countenance of such a 
 peculiarly painful expression, that Lady 
 Helena looked at her with alarm and sur- 
 prise. Could she — could Julia know the 
 pangs of jealousy herself — could she be 
 jealous of Fortescue ? But she could not, 
 dared not put this question to her. She 
 ventured, however, to ask her, suddenly, if 
 she had heard from Marcus before he 
 sailed ? 
 
 " Oh, yes," was her hurried reply, ut- 
 tered with deep blushes, and an averted 
 face. 
 
 " What a trial it was, Julia, for him to 
 
60 
 
 leave you, and for you to be left at such a 
 moment." 
 
 " It was, indeed, a trial to both, no 
 doubt." 
 
 " No doubt! — you cannot doubt it." 
 
 "No, certainly not," Julia gravely, nay 
 even solemnly, replied ; and Lady Helena 
 said within herself, then, surely, I was mis- 
 taken, and she is not jealous. " Besides," 
 resumed Julia, " he may be gone into 
 danger ; oh, I must not think that way I" 
 The conversation now took an interesting 
 and affecting turn, as it relieved the full 
 heart of Julia to converse on what had 
 occurred during the last hours of her 
 beloved father's existence, but they were 
 interrupted by a note from Lady Villeroy, 
 which was as follows : 
 
 " Lady Villeroy 's compliments to Lord 
 Erpingham and Lady Helena Fortescue; 
 she need not say that her present situation 
 makes it improper for her to receive 
 visitors, who are not near relations, but 
 Lady V. and Miss Villeroy will be glad to 
 see Lord Erpingham and Lady Helena 
 
61 
 
 Fortescue at a more proper and convenient 
 season." 
 
 " Excellent!" cried Lady Helena; 
 " fairly turned out, papa." 
 
 " I cannot deny it," replied the earl ; 
 " still, though not near relations, the friend 
 of her husband ; and the father-in-law and 
 sister-in-law, in future, of Miss Villeroy, 
 might, I think, have met with better treat- 
 ment; however, I shall take the hint, and 
 ring for the carriage." 
 
 Poor Julia was too mortified, too over- 
 whelmed to speak ; nor did she seem at all 
 cheered when Lady Helena said, that she 
 earnestly hoped and expected that Sir 
 George had left the earl her guardian, and 
 that he would have power to remove her 
 immediately from the hateful thraldom 
 she was then in. 
 
 When her noble friends took leave of 
 her, the earl said, that he should write a 
 note to Sir George's solicitor, who was 
 also his own, desiring him to let him know 
 the contents of the will, as his own pro- 
 ceedings must depend on them. 
 
62 
 
 They were no sooner gone than Lady 
 Villeroy summoned the weeping Julia to 
 her apartment, to inveigh against the in- 
 delicacy and indecorum of the earl and 
 Lady Helena, for having intruded them- 
 selves on Julia, and having come to her 
 house at so improper a time ; but, no 
 doubt, she said, the earl was impatient to 
 know what was likely to be the amount of 
 the fortune coming to his hair-brained son. 
 To these invictives, Julia was too prudent 
 to reply, and she took the first opportunity 
 of retiring to her own apartment. 
 
 The dinner hour passed much to 
 Julia's satisfaction, in gloomy silence on 
 the part of Lady Villeroy, and Julia again 
 retired; but she was not allowed, as she 
 usually was, to refuse drinking tea, and to 
 pass the rest of the evening in her own 
 room. On the contrary, she received an 
 express command to come down and make 
 tea, as Lady Villeroy was too busy to do 
 so herself. 
 
 " But for whom am I to make tea?" 
 asked Julia. 
 
 
63 
 
 The servant could not tell her, and 
 Julia reluctantly obeyed the summons. 
 There were, she saw, three tea-cups on the 
 board, but no guest as yet appeared; 
 however, her curiosity was soon gratified, 
 for a tall, fine looking man entered the 
 drawing-room, and bowing with an air of 
 great respect to Julia, expressed in a most 
 insinuating voice, and with a manner of 
 uncommon gracefulness, his hope that he 
 had not made Miss Villeroy wait tea for 
 him. 
 
 " Certainly not, sir," replied Julia, 
 coldly, and repulsively, though pleased in 
 spite of herself with the stranger's appear- 
 ance ; " I did not expect you or any one ;" 
 and she wished to add, but dared not, as 
 Lady Villeroy thought it improper to 
 receive my friends, and — I wonder she 
 receives you. 
 
 But the stranger as if he guessed 
 what was passing in her mind, said — " It 
 is an awkward thing to be forced to intro- 
 duce oneself, Miss Villeroy ; but as Lady 
 Villeroy is not here to present me in form, 
 
64 
 
 I beg leave to tell you in order to excuse 
 my presumption in appearing before you, 
 that my name is Aubrey, that I am the 
 cousin and nearest relation of Lady Ville- 
 roy, and I am just returned from a long 
 residence abroad, in consequence of being 
 summoned by her." Julia only bowed in 
 reply. — Mr. Aubrey's relationship to 
 Lady Villeroy certainly justified that lady 
 for receiving him so soon ; but it was 
 no reason for her being obliged to asso- 
 ciate with him during the hours of such 
 recent affliction. Therefore, though his 
 countenance and manners were of the 
 most prepossessing nature, Julia left Mr. 
 Aubrey as soon as ever her task of making 
 tea was over — but her doing so exposed 
 her to the severest reproaches from Lady 
 Villeroy, who followed her to her apart- 
 ment and expressed her resentment of 
 what she called her impertinence in having 
 presumed to treat her nearest relation and 
 herself with such disrespect as to leave 
 him alone when she had desired her to 
 stay and entertain him. 
 
65 
 
 " At a moment like this, madam," 
 replied Julia firmly, though gently, " I 
 should have thought that I might be 
 excused from seeing and entertaining a 
 stranger, even though he was a relation of 
 my own ; especially as you did not think 
 it proper to allow my dearest friends to re- 
 main with me long." 
 
 " You shall see and receive those 
 whom' I choose you to receive, and no one 
 else Miss Villeroy, for I know, what you 
 will know to-morrow, that I am your 
 whole and sole guardian." 
 
 " You ! madam V exclaimed Julia, 
 turning pale, " you !" 
 
 " Yes, I, I, therefore you had better pre- 
 pare your stubborn heart to obey me as soon 
 as possible, and I will leave you to make due 
 preparation ; but remember that you come 
 down to supper." Scarcely could the sur- 
 prised and agonised Julia controul her 
 feelings till this tyrant in perspective had 
 left her, but then she gave way to a burst 
 of uncontroulable sorrow. Lady Ville- 
 roy her guardian ! but surely it could not 
 
66 
 
 be — her father's kindness to her and evi- 
 dent estrangement towards Lady Villeroy, 
 were, she flattered herself, a guarantee to 
 the contrary ; and she now became as 
 anxious as Lady Villeroy herself for the 
 opening of the will : with a heavy but sub- 
 missive heart she obeyed the summons to 
 supper — to supper, a meal not usual in 
 that house, and which was, she doubted 
 not, given wholly in compliment to the 
 new guest, and an abiding guest he was to 
 be ; for on seeing trunks in the hall she 
 asked whose they were, and was told they 
 were Mr. Aubrey's. At sight of the sup- 
 per she was still more surprised, for it was 
 abundant and elegant, but as Mr. Aubrey 
 declared he had eaten no dinner, her sur- 
 prise in a degree vanished. But she 
 was astonished to think how great his 
 power over Lady Villeroy must be, to have 
 conquered her habitual parsimony, so as to 
 have wrung from it such a repast as she 
 now beheld. She was equally astonished 
 to observe the kindness and deference, 
 which Lady Villeroy's manner towards 
 
67 
 
 Mr. Aubrey evinced, though in any other 
 woman, such attention to such a man 
 would not have surprised her, as she could 
 not but own that he was facinating both 
 to the eye and ear, and had the power to 
 excite in any one all feelings but that of 
 confidence. But why he did not inspire 
 this feeling, she would have found it diffi- 
 cult to explain, except it was that his manner 
 was too soft, his tone too insinuating, and 
 as if they were softened, and harmonised 
 more by art than nature. However, he 
 was her mother-in-law's relation and guest, 
 and no more to her ; therefore, all that 
 she had to do was to behave to him with 
 civil respect. The next morning was one 
 of anxious expectation to Julia and Lady 
 Villeroy at least, for then the will was to 
 be opened. It was opened and read ! and 
 to the disappointment of Lady Villeroy, but 
 the joy Julia, there was a codicil found by 
 which the latter was put in immediate 
 possession of her fortune, and as she was so 
 soon to be married, was left meanwhile 
 under no guardianship but her own ! By 
 
68 
 
 the same codicil Lady Villeroy's expecta- 
 tions of wealth were more than equalled, 
 though her hopes of having still power 
 over Julia were frustrated, as Sir George, 
 conscious, no doubt, that he no longer 
 could bestow his affections on Lady 
 Villeroy, wished to make her amends by 
 giving her what she equally valued. He 
 therefore added a considerable bequest in 
 money to what she possessed under her mar- 
 riage settlement, and the fee of half of it ; 
 still leaving his daughter heiress to a very 
 large, and now unencumbered property. 
 In the codicil he also left legacies to all the 
 members of the family at Laurel Grove, 
 and twenty guineas for a ring to Miss 
 Brightwen. 
 
 " Well, then," said Lord Erpingham, 
 when informed of the contents of the will, 
 "you and I y Helena, have nothing to do but 
 return immediately to Laurel Grove, and 
 I trust that as Julia is her own mistress, 
 we shall soon see her there." Lady 
 Villeroy's expectations were similar to his 
 own, and following Julia into her apart- 
 
69 
 merit, she exclaimed -" So, Miss Villeroy, 
 I see very clearly that you must have 
 taken pains to misrepresent me to your dear 
 father, or he would never have altered his 
 intentions of leaving you to my care, and 
 I doubt not but you will be off to Laurel 
 Grove as soon as possible." 
 
 " You accuse me, madam, unjustly, in 
 both instances," she replied ; " I never 
 spoke of you but with respect to my father, 
 and I do not intend to leave you as long as 
 my remaining with you can be to you 
 either comfort or satisfaction." 
 
 " Comfort it cannot be -but satisfaction 
 it will ; not only because it will look well in 
 the eyes of the world for us to remain 
 together, but also, because as my Cousin 
 Aubrey is going to remain with me to su- 
 perintend my affairs, it would not be pro- 
 per for a woman like me, who is as yet 
 young enough to be admired and talked of, 
 to live in the house with a man like Aubrey' 
 without a female companion— so you must 
 stay while he stays, to guard my reputa- 
 tion." 
 
70 
 
 Could Julia have smiled at such a 
 moment, she would have smiled now at 
 hearing this speech ; but she could not 
 even reply to it : she, however, in general 
 terms, expressed her readiness to remain 
 with Lady Villeroy, and pleased at the 
 compliance, Lady Villeroy actually im- 
 printed a kiss on her forehead. Poor 
 Julia would fain have followed the remains 
 of her beloved father to the grave : but, as 
 Lady Villeroy did not follow, she was not 
 allowed to do so ; and the day of the fu- 
 neral was one to Julia of unmitigated 
 suffering : some days after that event had 
 taken place, Julia, who wrote constantly 
 to Lady Helena and Miss Brightwen, re- 
 ceived the following letter from the former : 
 " Laurel Grove. 
 
 " Did I not tell you, dearest girl, that 
 I could never be merry and wise ? did we 
 not agree, that it is safer to be in a state of 
 sorrow, than one of happiness ? And now, 
 having, like some writers, put my moral 
 first, I shall proceed with my story. Oh ! 
 how delightfully did the first days of Lady 
 
Restormel's visit here go off; she, delight- 
 ing in talking over the hours of her illness 
 and her danger ; and when she had drawn 
 from me some account of my attendance 
 on her, how eloquently, how affectingly, 
 and how flatteringly did she express her 
 gratitude and affection ! then, when Res- 
 tormel stole a few hours from his parlia- 
 mentary duties to come to us, all was 
 enjoyment, and I, as it now appears, was 
 in an unsafe state of blessedness. For, 
 mark the sequel — my evil genius made 
 her appearance at Laurel Grove, in the 
 shape of papa's great niece, and my cousin 
 the Honourable Norah Netherby, that 
 strange, daring, eccentric being, with 
 whom I almost constantly associated 
 while I lived with my grandmother, and 
 who, by means which I never could ac- 
 count for, acquired an irresistible and 
 pernicious ascendency over me ! I believe, 
 that in understanding I am her equal, if 
 not superior ; and in information and 
 acquirement, she is decidedly inferior to 
 me ; still, by dint either of fear or love, 
 
72 
 
 she could always weigh down my better 
 judgment, and carry her point with me: 
 whatever it was, all these scrapes, which 
 have made me so disagreeably talked of, 
 she drew me into, and she was the cause 
 of Lady Restormel's dislike of me. Such 
 are her powers of ridicule and of mimicry, 
 that she could always make me forego my 
 resolution, however wise, and comply with 
 her wishes, however foolish. However, as 
 I am now two years older than when we 
 met last, I had reason to hope that I was 
 grown wiser ; therefore, I did not absolutely 
 faint, when I saw her drive up to the door 
 by herself in a post-chaise, a few evenings 
 ago, and knew that Lady Restormel, to 
 whom she is a sort of buga-boo, was our 
 guest! but I felt myself turn pale, and 
 running to meet her in the hall, I ex- 
 claimed, I know in no very kind tone, 
 ' Norah, what can bring you hither, and 
 why are you come V She replied, with a 
 sarcastic look — 'If you had said, Norah, 
 why the deuce are you come, and the 
 deuce take you, you would only, I see, 
 
73 
 
 have done justice to the feelings of your 
 heart at seeing me, Nelly. What — neither 
 look, nor tone of welcome ! However, no 
 matter, welcome or not, here I must stay, for 
 I have nowhere else to go, and my uncle 
 will not turn me from his door — his poor, 
 friendless, houseless, pennyless niece!' 
 Here she brushed an involuntary tear 
 from her eyes and which went to my heart ; 
 clasping my arms round her, I said, ' You 
 are welcome ! but, what has happened to 
 you V ' Pay my chaise first, and dismiss 
 the man, and then I will tell you, for I 
 have not a sous.' I ordered the butler to 
 do so, and took her into the first room 
 near us, and then I learnt her pitiable 
 story, that her father had nearly spent the 
 remnant of his fortune, and was intending 
 to go from France to America, and take 
 her with him, but that he had fallen in 
 love, with a married woman, and had pre- 
 ferred taking her. He had, therefore, left 
 a letter for Norah, with a small sum of 
 money, desiring her to make the best of 
 her way to England, to her uncle at 
 
 VOL. III. b 
 
74 
 
 Laurel Grove : that her desolate state 
 had excited great pity ; that she had been 
 invited to travel to England, from Caen, 
 with an Irish family ; that she had con- 
 trived to quarrel with the wife and daugh- 
 ter before they sailed ; that she had, 
 therefore, parted from them at Dover, and 
 had come to us pennyless and unprotected, 
 by coaches as she could, till the last stage, 
 when she took a chaise, knowing we should 
 pay for it : with us, therefore, it was very 
 clear that she must remain ; but what 
 would Lady Restormel feel or say? and 
 while I put this question involuntar>l./ 10 
 myself, I could not help answering h A Hus 
 — * and pray what does that signify to us V 
 is not my father to receive his own niece 
 without consulting her ; and is she to ty- 
 rannize over our family, because I am to 
 marry her son !' As if Norah read what was 
 passing in my mind, she now observed — 
 combing her black crop with her lingers, 
 adjusting the Beipher handkerchief which 
 was tied round her throat, and with another 
 handkerchief dusting her boots, as a man 
 
75 
 
 would have done, in her usual masculine 
 way — ' Nelly, my dear, let me look at 
 your mouth. Is it very sore? for I am 
 told you wear the Restormel bit. Does it 
 sit easily, sweet coz V ' Nonsense !' re- 
 plied I ; but, consciously blushing, ' Lady 
 Restormel is staying here— and, and I own 
 that her son is my lover.' ' How ! what is 
 the empress herself here ? Bravo ! then I 
 will have fine sport with her ! I will pay 
 off old scores with a vengeance !' While I 
 listened with speechless consternation to 
 this threat, papa entered the room, and in 
 an instant, the strange girl, whom he loves 
 for her resemblance to her mother, was 
 hanging about his neck, and with tears, 
 usually strangers to her eyes, was telling 
 him her tale of sorrows. ' Enough,' cried 
 he, * my poor child ! you have an uncle 
 who will be a father to you ; and Helena, 
 I trust, will be a sister to the companion of 
 her early youth V ' Why did papa say 
 this ? did he fear that I had imbibed Lady 
 Restormel's prejudice against my cousin V 
 I suppose he did, and indeed he was not 
 much mistaken, for I had much rather 
 
76 
 
 have seen a ghost than Norah. To me she 
 was now like the Arminian to the poor 
 youth in the tale, and the sight of her 
 boded evil to me. Yet, was I not a free 
 agent ; and if I was just to myself, could 
 she make me behave improperly ? surely 
 not ; and I at length summoned up suffi- 
 cient courage to go and break Norah's 
 arrival to Lady Restormel. But I want 
 words to describe the effect which the in- 
 telligence had on her. She absolutely 
 changed colour, and opened her large eyes 
 to their utmost dimensions, while she ex- 
 claimed, ' She here !' then, shrugging up 
 her shoulders, she retired to her own 
 rooms, without deigning to say one word 
 more ; and as she shut the door, it was 
 with an angry violence, which grated 
 harshly on my feelings, and roused my 
 pride. When I returned in search of 
 Norah, I found her at her toilet, and be- 
 fore I went to mine, I tried to tell her that 
 I wished she would be as little eccentric 
 and indecorous in her dress as possible, 
 but I dared not ; and I consoled myself for 
 my weakness in not doing so, by the idea 
 
77 
 
 that I ought not to feel or act upon such 
 slavish fear of Lady Restormel. I am in- 
 terrupted, and cannot finish my relation 
 till to-morrow, my dear girl! How we all 
 rejoice with you at the news just received of 
 the safety and complete success of Marcus, 
 in the expedition with which he was en- 
 trusted ! and also in our expectations of his 
 speedy return ! I do not believe that you 
 can stay long with Lady Villeroy. This 
 Aubrey, whom she means, perhaps, should 
 fall in love with her, will fall in love with 
 you, and she will send you off at a mo- 
 ment's notice ; therefore, as Miss Bright- 
 wen tells you in her letter, we advise you 
 to choose papa for your guardian, then he 
 will be authorized to take you away 
 directly, as it is his will and pleasure you 
 should come hither, nolens xokns. Think 
 of this! only think of that dear Sophia 
 being gone ! but her father wanted her ; 
 however, she will return soon : but, when 
 she went, I felt that I had lost my guar- 
 dian angel, and so it proved. 
 
 ". Adieu ! till to-morrow. H. F." 
 
78 
 
 It was with great thankfulness that 
 Julia felt her fears for Fortescue's life 
 removed by a short but affectionate letter 
 from himself; but her secret cause for 
 uneasiness still remained, and she resolved 
 to choose any guardian rather than Lord 
 Erpingham. However, she was not as 
 yet called upon to make choice of any, 
 and while she mourned over the dangers 
 and trials to which she saw that Lady 
 Helena would now be hourly exposed — 
 trials which might in their result entirely 
 destroy her prospects of happiness, Julia 
 could not help feeling that trials, however 
 severe, which we do not bring upon our- 
 selves by any imprudence of our own, are 
 comparatively easy to endure. 
 
 The next day Lady Helena wrote 
 again : 
 
 " Now, dear Julia, to resume my tale. 
 Well, we were all assembled round the 
 dinner table, but no Norah appeared, and 
 the groom of the chamber* was again sent 
 to cause it to be announced to Miss Ne- 
 therby that dinner waited for her ; when, 
 just as the fish was going to be taken off, 
 
79 
 
 she made her appearance; but, oh, such 
 an appearance ! I looked, involuntarily, in 
 terror, at Lady Restormel, when my mo- 
 ther said, * Lady Restormel, Miss Netherby 
 my lord's niece.' Lady Restormel coldly 
 bowed ; but Norah, what do you think she 
 did ? — why, she gave her a sort of nod, 
 poking her hair up with her finger at the 
 same time. It was a declaration of war ; 
 but luckily one glance at her was enough 
 for the viscountess ; she did not see the nod. 
 You never saw Norah, therefore I will 
 describe her : nature has given her such 
 white and delicate feminine limbs, such a 
 pretty little person that art cannot make 
 her form masculine, let her try ever so to 
 do it ; but her manners and her hair, are 
 those of a man, not a woman. Her eyes 
 are black ; her nose large and Roman ; 
 her mouth wide, but her lips are of that 
 high scarlet which is often seen when the 
 complexion is as her's is, of a sallow and 
 colourless hue, and her teeth are fine. 
 This day, however, as if to make her ap- 
 pearance as fierce as possible, she had put 
 
80 
 
 on a profusion of high rouge, and her 
 person, that is her back and shoulders, and 
 her bosom were nearly without covering, 
 while her petticoats displayed the whole of 
 her fine feet and ankles ; in short, she 
 looked like an opera figurante who had 
 forgotten her head-dress. I declare, Julia, 
 I could not look at her ; but not so, a silly 
 young man, a sort of rich parvenu, a Mr. 
 Benson, whom papa is bringing as much as 
 he can into good society, to keep him out 
 of bad. This youth, knowing she is the 
 Hon. Miss Netherby, and papa's niece, 
 was disposed to admire her before she ap- 
 peared, and the first inviting glance of her 
 dark eye, an eye that always seems seeking 
 whom it may devour, fixed him her's, and 
 lie had a grin for all her observations, a loud 
 laugh for all her jokes, and I saw that, if 
 she pleased, the youth's thousands a-year 
 would soon be her's. This petit succh, 
 of which she was very conscious, embold- 
 ened her to engross the conversation, and 
 made her complaisant enough to wear the 
 shawl, which papa desired me to lend her, 
 
81 
 
 lest she should catch cold, a hint which she 
 was too politic not to take ; and papa fancy- 
 ing 'that her style of dress was French, not 
 her own, and pleased at her obedience, 
 gave himself up to the charm her vivacity 
 always has for him, and really forgot that 
 she talked more than any young woman 
 ought in the presence of her elders ;— while 
 Lady Restormel sat in proud if not sullen 
 silence. Then her eating! she began by 
 detaining the fish till she had filled her 
 plate with that, and when the second 
 course was going to be removed, she was 
 eating still and alone ; but for this she had 
 the grace to apologize, by declaring that 
 she had not eaten one good meal for days, 
 as she had not money to buy one : while 
 she said this, she had evidently tears in her 
 eyes, and Lady Restormel saw it, in whose 
 ear mamma was at that moment telling 
 the story of Lord Netherby's shameful and 
 cruel conduct. I instantly saw the change 
 the tale and the tears produced in that 
 noble being's feelings, that is, I saw pity 
 struggle with, and, for a moment, overcome 
 
disgust and aversion ; and with a look and 
 tone which ought to have gone to Norah's 
 heart, had not that heart heen of stone, 
 she courteously said, * Do not hurry your- 
 self, Miss Netherby, I have not done yet ; 
 I am going to eat one of those puddings.' 
 In reply, the strange unfeeling girl only 
 said, ? Oh ! I never hurry myself ; I always 
 take my time.' Then, soon after, she said, 
 ' Lady Restormel, shall I have the honour 
 to take wine with you!' and it was in so 
 mannish and brassy a manner, that I saw 
 my father was disgusted ; not so Benson, 
 for he laughed with delight, and I was in 
 terror lest he should clap her on the back 
 and call her a funny fellow, if not, a jolly 
 dog. Lady Restormel's aversion now re- 
 turned in its full force ; and, not deigning 
 to notice this masculine proposal, she 
 entered into conversation with the gentle- 
 man next her. ' If you want wine, Norah, 
 I will drink with you,' said papa, gravely ; 
 ' it is not the custom, in this country, for 
 ladies to challenge ladies to drink :' — but 
 enough of this odious dinner. The next 
 
83 
 
 day, as I expected, Lady Restormel said 
 she had altered her mind, and would go 
 and spend three or four days at the house 
 of a friend in the neighbourhood, and re- 
 turn to us against her son came. In the 
 meanwhile she studiously avoided being 
 alone with me, because, no doubt, she 
 dared not speak of Norah lest she should 
 be betrayed into the utterance of some- 
 thing severe ; her manner was, however, 
 very kind ; and when we parted, her kiss 
 was more than usually affectionate ; but 
 •she could not help saying, in a low voice, 
 ' take care ! ' and as this was overheard by 
 Norah, it did not escape a comment from 
 her. ' How much that kiss and manner con- 
 veyed, Nelly ! poor, unhappy child ! it 
 seemed to say, be of good cheer ! at pre- 
 sent I love you, and will continue to 
 patronise you, and you shall have the great 
 joy of being my daughter-in-law and slave ; 
 but, beware ! and behave prettily, or it is 
 all over with you ! ' then, with an oath, 
 yes, Julia ! with an oath, she added, that 
 the finest and best husband in the world U 
 
84 
 
 not worth the sacrifices of will and inde- 
 pendence, which Lady and Lord Restor- 
 mel would, she saw, exact and expect from 
 the wretched slave who entered their 
 family. This conversation did me no good, 
 and there was no Sophia near to counter- 
 act it ! By-the-by, 1 ought to have told 
 you that Aston left us the day Sophia did, 
 therefore, there was no one to keep this 
 imp in order. I must also tell you, that 
 papa seeing Sophia's evident uncomfort- 
 ableness and wish to leave us, began to 
 search about for a cause, and having found 
 one, he desired to see her alone. Sophia 
 returned from the conference with tears in 
 her eyes, and a deep flush on her cheek — 
 but so handsome, and, I suspect, so happy! 
 for she had taken it into her head that 
 papa would disapprove Aston's attachment 
 to her, and that, therefore, for his sake 
 and her own, she ought to go away ; he, 
 suspecting this, thought it right to tell 
 her that when decency allowed Aston to 
 propose to her, it would, he assured 
 her, be with his and Lady Erpingham's 
 
85 
 
 entire approbation. I suspect that he said 
 the same to Aston. Sophia will return to 
 us in a few days, and oh ! that you would 
 but meet her here, for she almost pines after 
 you, and surely no one has such claims on 
 you as she has (my brother Marcus ex- 
 cepted). Again interrupted, I must close 
 this, and write again to-morrow. 
 
 "II. F." 
 
CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 Lady Helena did write again as fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 " I hope to get through my disagreea- 
 ble recital to-day Julia— and then I wish 
 you to say something soothing in reply if 
 you can ; well, insensibly, Norah resumed 
 her ascendancy over me, but though she 
 resumed her usual sports, and went cours- 
 ing with the gentlemen, and rabbit hunting, 
 I did not accompany her on these occasions, 
 not from a regard to decorum, but simply 
 from humanity and a dislike to witness 
 the cruel sport of depriving animals of 
 life ; but I resumed with her one old amuse- 
 ment of jumping over hedges and ditches 
 with a pole, and also riding pony races 
 with her in the park. And why not ? un- 
 less convinced that such things were im- 
 proper ; I could only forbear from a ser- 
 vile fear of Lady Restormel, therefore, I 
 
87 
 
 had my own approbation of what I did. 
 But one morning, alas ! after an early 
 breakfast, as we were walking in part of 
 the park, called the paddock, and where 
 there was a leaping-bar, Norah challenged 
 me to jump over it as we used to do in 
 earlier days, and as I thought no one 
 would see us, I consented, a love of jump- 
 ing being, you know, one of my besetting 
 sins ; and I forgot the Reverend John 
 Sumner, and my assurance to him : — ac- 
 cordingly we jumped over this bar, height- 
 ening it as our power grew stronger, till 
 at last we both could clear it by a running 
 leap — * Aye,' said Norah ; ' but the diffi- 
 culty is to do it by a standing leap — you 
 cannot do that Nelly, but I can ;' accord- 
 ingly she prepared to do so, made the 
 attempt and failed, and in her fall she cer- 
 tainly did not fall as decently as Caesar at 
 the foot of Pompey's statue. Her failure, 
 and consequent personal exposure, ought, I 
 own, to have deterred me ; but emulation 
 was stronger in me than a sense of proprie- 
 ty, and summoning all my force and agi- 
 
88 
 
 lity, I leaped over the bar, and without 
 touching it! at this moment I heard a 
 shout from many voices as if of joy and con- 
 gratulation, and looking up I saw for the 
 first time that the roof of a barn near us, 
 which some men were thatching, was co- 
 vered with men watching the notable feats 
 and exertions of two right honorable young 
 ladies ! and as the lookers on were, I 
 concluded, some of my father's tenants, 
 and men, they shouted from joy to see their 
 young lady succeed where a stranger 
 failed ! Norah looked mortified, and I fear 
 I looked triumphant, though shocked and 
 ashamed of having been observed, even 
 though victorious, and I vowed I would 
 jump no more as we were overlooked ; 
 but my triumph was of short duration for 
 scarcely had the shout ceased when stand- 
 ing up in her barouche, which stopped 
 to let a cart pass at the entrance of the 
 lower park gate, I beheld Lady Restor- 
 mel! and she had witnessed the jump, and 
 heard the shout. No doubt her look and 
 mine were a scene for those who could en- 
 
89 
 
 joy them, and Norah laughed aloud — 
 while I, mortified and wounded to the 
 quick, ran off full speed to the house, and 
 never stopped till I reached my own room, 
 and there I threw myself on the bed in an 
 agony of tears. Lady Restormel's friends 
 were forced to leave home that morning 
 early, therefore she had returned some 
 hours sooner than she had expected to set 
 off, and she arrived just time enough to see 
 not only vaulting by the Lady Helena 
 Fortescue, but to witness the noisy sym- 
 pathy of k tiers ttat with my success ; yes, 
 she must suppose that my performance was 
 consciously made in their presence. Hor- 
 rible degradation ! yet one from which the 
 swelling pride of my heart forbade me to 
 clear myself! let the consequences be what 
 they might. I had not been long in this 
 state of contending and feelings, when my 
 mother tapped at my door, and said, 
 ' Helena, do you know that Lady Restor- 
 mel is arrived ?' I replied in so faint and 
 sorrowful a tone, that my mother instantly 
 entered the room, and I relieved my own 
 
91) 
 
 full heart, but tortured her's, by throwing 
 myself on her neck, and giving way to a 
 paroxysm of tumultuous feeling. But see- 
 ing her alarm I controlled my emotions, 
 and, soon as I could, told her the cause of* 
 them. ' And is this all, my love !' cried 
 she, ' heaven be praised ! and is this agony 
 occasioned only by fear of Lady Restor- 
 mel's disapprobation V Here her voice fal- 
 tered, and throwing herself on the bed she 
 wept for some moments in silence, while I, 
 attributing her tears to the terror mine 
 had excited in her, reprobated very loudly 
 my own want of self-command, as it had 
 so painfully affected her ; but gently dry- 
 ing her tears, she replied, ' No, no, it is 
 not that which thus affects me, it is to feel 
 how alive you are to the fear of displeasing 
 Lady Restormel, and of offending her ideas 
 of propriety, and that my disapprobation 
 seems a matter of perfect indifference to 
 you ! My dear child ! is Lady Restormel 
 alone a judge of what is right, and is the 
 disapproval of your father and myself a 
 
 you V I was 
 
91 
 
 thunderstruck ! but, I could with perfect 
 truth sooth and pacify her, by assuring her 
 that it was not a true, but an exaggerated 
 view of my offending, which I expected 
 and feared from Lady Restormel ; and 
 that if she were as candid as my beloved 
 mother, I should not fear her. This 
 assurance healed her tender, maternal 
 jealousy, and she left me to go and excul- 
 pate me from the worst part of the busi- 
 ness, that of jumping before witnesses. This 
 she insisted on being allowed to do — and I 
 could not disobey ; besides, in my heart I 
 was not sorry, spite of my pride, to be so 
 exculpated ; she soon returned to conduct 
 me to my dreaded judge. I saw by her 
 eye that Lady Restormel had been shed- 
 ding many tears, and I instantly concluded 
 that she had wept over my weakness and 
 fears of its results ; and when she opened 
 her arms to me, which she did as soon as 
 she saw me, my tears of regret and com- 
 punction redoubled, and I was going 
 to express my sorrow for my indiscretion 
 when she stopped me, saying — ' Enough ! 
 
92 
 
 I had rather not talk on the subject, 
 you were, I find, unconscious you were 
 overlooked, and the pastime itself, however 
 absurd, is comparatively a trifle, and not 
 worth animadversion :. besides, you were 
 tempted by your companion, you would 
 not have jumped alone, Helena !' Ne gagez 
 pas ! cried I, smiling through my tears, and 
 then I honestly told her of my feats in 
 Norfolk, and of my promise then to do so 
 no more. ' Really, my dear friend,' said 
 the countess to my mother, * our Helena is 
 incorrigible, and a jump is to her the 
 Cleopatra, for which, like Marc Antony, 
 she would lose the world, and be con- 
 tent to lose it.' Yes, the world, but 
 not your good opinion, said I. 'Well 
 said, Hyperbole !' she replied, i thou art a 
 flatterer, Helena !' ' No, she is the most 
 honest of human beings,' cried my mother 
 eagerly, for she need not have told us 
 this last tale of herself.' ' Certainly not, 
 and being so ingenuous can never go very 
 far from the path of rectitude.' We then 
 talked of other things, but before I left 
 
her, she said, ' Helena ! would it not be 
 better to say nothing of this silly business 
 to Restormel when he comes V No, 
 indeed ! replied I, I will have no conceal- 
 ments from him ; he shall not be deceived, 
 but see me with all my faults, to love or 
 to leave as he chooses ! ' I thought you 
 would so reply,' she exclaimed, ' and you 
 have not disappointed me.' We expect 
 Restormel to-morrow, and I own to you 
 I dread seeing a frown on his face. If he 
 presumes to reprove me, and says he will 
 not have a jumping wife ! why then — but 
 farewell my dearest Julia ! you shall hear 
 how he behaves. H. F. 
 
 The following was the postscript to 
 the above letter : — 
 
 " Restormel came this evening unex- 
 pectedly, and no sooner were we alone 
 than I told him with a faltering voice that 
 I had a painful confession to make to 
 him. * Not that you find you do not 
 love me, any thing but that I can bear,' 
 was his reply. Indeed, cried I ; then 
 courage! and I told my tale, eagerly 
 
94 
 
 watching his countenance as I did so, but 
 he very soon turned his head away ; how- 
 ever, I went on, and when I came to the 
 shouting, and his mother's appearance, he 
 interrupted me by giving way to a most 
 immoderate burst of laughter, and it was 
 some minutes before he could speak. 
 ' Excellent/ cried he, at length — e oh ! 
 that I had been there, methinks I see my 
 mother's looks and thine Helena ! well, my 
 sweet vaulter ! all I wish is, that when 
 next you vault, I may be there to see !' 
 Dear ! dear Restormel ! never did I love 
 him before as I did at that moment ! Not 
 one rebuke ! one frown ! he only said, when 
 I expressed my regret for my folly — ' I 
 own I should not like to have my wife 
 amuse herself in this way ; but, really, con- 
 sidering the force of example, and the 
 animal spirits of eighteen, I can readily 
 excuse.' Excuse ! cried I, not quite liking 
 the word — ' I mean,' resumed he, blush- 
 ing, ' that I think it was natural for you to 
 jump ; and the being overlooked, uncon- 
 sciously by you at least, was no fault of 
 
95 
 
 your's ! But my mother ! methinks I see 
 my mother ! and would it were not then as 
 now in " my mind's eye," Helena !' I can 
 write no more, the post is going out. Oh ! 
 I am so pleased! so happy now !" 
 
 Lady Helena joined Lady Restormel in 
 her own apartment soon after she sealed her 
 letter, and in the same happy humour in 
 which she wrote it. Lord Restormel had 
 just left her apartment, and Lady Helena 
 was not only eager to impart to the latter 
 what her lover had said, but also to learn 
 what had passed between him and his 
 mother. Lady Helena expressed herself 
 in most animated terms respecting Lord 
 Restormel's kindness in judging what she 
 called her offence ; but Lady Restormel 
 interrupted her by saying, " My dear He- 
 lena, how could Restormel do or feel other- 
 wise ? as he very properly said to me — 
 ' Lady Helena blamed herself so severely, 
 and seemed so conscious of her faults, that 
 I could not have the heart to reprove her, 
 or make one displeasing observation. Had 
 she set my opinion at defiance, and 
 
96 
 
 defended what she had done, making light 
 of such a circumstance, and seeming re- 
 solved to act in opposition both to decorum 
 and my sense of propriety, then I certainly 
 should have felt and spoken differently.'" 
 
 " And Lord Restormel said this !" said 
 Lady Helena turning pale. 
 
 " He** did, and I thought he spoke 
 wisely— do not you think so ?" 
 
 Very wisely, was her reply ; and 
 soon after she left the room. So then, 
 thought she, it was to my submissive 
 contrite spirit I owed his forbearance. 
 Had I presumed to defend myself, and 
 have a will of my own, he would have 
 reproved me ! he my lover ! alas ! what 
 then will the husband do when I am in his 
 power ! and I had the folly to be so 
 pleased with his manner of receiving my 
 communications. At this unfortunate mo- 
 ment Lady Helena encountered Norah 
 Netherby. This young lady was not only 
 one of those persons who love fun and 
 mischief for their own sakes, but, like Mans- 
 feldt, she never forgave little affronts and 
 
97 
 
 mortifications, and was always on the 
 watch to revenge them in some way or 
 other ; not that she was generally envious, 
 she was only so on particular points— for 
 instance, she did not envy Lady Helena 
 her excelling beauty, her tall and graceful 
 person, and her various acquirement ; with 
 these she came into no competition, and 
 was moreover sure from experience, that 
 her little person, piquante physiognomie 
 and amusing talents enabled her often to 
 attract as much as her more highly-gifted 
 cousin ; but she valued herself upon her 
 personal feats, and her excessive agility, 
 and to be excelled by Lady Helena was an 
 insupportable mortification, and not to be 
 forgiven ! while the shouts which over- 
 whelmed Lady Helena with surprise and 
 confusion, but which she, aware that they 
 were beheld, had anticipated for herself, 
 filled her with envy and bitter regret, 
 and she longed to inflict some mortifi- 
 cation on her cousin in return for what 
 she had herself experienced. To Lady 
 Restormel she had vowed unceasing dis- 
 
 VOL. III. f 
 
98 
 
 like, for that lady's representations and ar- 
 guments had, she knew, prevented a gentle- 
 man whose attentions she valued from 
 making her his wife, as Lady Restormel 
 knew that Norah Netherby was very ill- 
 calculated to make a good mother to the 
 infants a first wife had left him. Nor did 
 she feel more good-will towards Lord 
 Restormel himself, as he had been once so 
 amused with her powers of mimickry 
 and art de raconter, that he had staid a 
 whole day longer at the house where he 
 met her to enjoy her society, she had flat- 
 tered herself that she had made such an 
 impression on him as would not soon be 
 effaced ; but the woman whose chief recom- 
 mendation, and whose prominent power is 
 that of amusing, rarely interests, especially 
 a man in the prime of youth ; and when 
 Lord Restormel ceased to see the arch 
 playfulness of Miss Netherby's counte- 
 nance, and to hear the queer croaking, but 
 laughter-moving tone of her voice, he 
 ceased to remember her, till he heard some 
 new instance of her eccentricity, and that 
 
99 
 
 of her more highly-gifted cousin, from his 
 apprehensive mother ; but Lord Restor- 
 mel had excited hopes in Norah Netherby, 
 which he had not fulfilled, and her vanity, 
 though not her heart resented it ; she was 
 eager now, therefore, to take advantage of 
 every opportunity to wound Lady Helena 
 and Lord and Lady Restormel, where she 
 knew them to be most vulnerable. 
 
 " Well, sweet Nelly ! what ails thee," 
 said she to Lady Helena, " there seems a 
 cloud on thy brow ? has thy lordly lover 
 been scolding thee, poor little dear, and 
 called thee jumping Joan ?" 
 
 * No, indeed," replied Lady Helena un- 
 guardedly, " he saw no occasion to reprove 
 me, as I was so self-condemned." 
 
 * And he presumed to say this to you ? 
 poor, humbled Nelly !" 
 
 " No, indeed, he did not say so to me — 
 only to his mother." 
 
 * And that was presumptuous enough ! 
 If a lover dared so to have spoken of me ! 
 I would have made him repent his pre- 
 sumption : no wonder thy brow is over- 
 
100 
 
 clouded, and this in all the first pride of 
 thy youth and beauty Nelly ! To use an 
 elegant expression, thou hast brought thy 
 hogs to a fine market coz !" These obser- 
 vations came only too home to the heart 
 of Lady Helena, as her own pride had sug- 
 gested to it the same feelings ; but she 
 was too wary to own this painful truth, and, 
 in order to avoid a direct reply, she inveigh- 
 ed against the excessive vulgarity of ex- 
 pression and allusion in which Norah in- 
 dulged herself, and before the dangerous sub- 
 ject could be renewed their conference was 
 interrupted ; but, its theme was not for- 
 gotten. — The next morning Miss Netherby 
 went out with the gentlemen of the hunt 
 in the neighbourhood, and by those stay- 
 ing in the house, having vainly endeavoured 
 to persuade Lady Helena to accompany 
 her. Her absence from the breakfast ta- 
 ble certainly encreased Lady Helena's com- 
 fort, as, spite of herself, she did not feel at 
 ease in Norah's presence, now that her 
 lever and Lady Restormel were part of 
 the family circle. A walk before break- 
 
101 
 
 fast with Lord Restormel, and a morning 
 spent with him and Lady Restormel in the 
 latter's dressing-room, had removed all un- 
 pleasant feelings, at least for a while, 
 from the mind of Lady Helena— a mind so 
 happily constituted that it had a power of 
 turning away from its disquiets, spite of its 
 power to create disquiet, for itself. But 
 Lady Helena saw that both her lover and 
 his mother felt towards her confidence as 
 well as love, and they inspired in her what 
 they themselves experienced. At dinner 
 she had to encounter Norah Netherby, but, 
 however, Miss Brightwen was now return- 
 ed again, and Lady Helena felt, therefore, 
 as if her good genius were come to coun- 
 teract her evil one. At table Miss Bright- 
 wen was seated opposite Miss Netherby, 
 but after the first introduction had taken 
 place, Norah was too much taken up in 
 mustering the mischievious jokes which she 
 meditated, to observe Sophia. 
 
 "So, Nelly," she begun, "you would 
 not hunt with us to day, we had fine sport i 
 
102 
 
 I was in at the death ! I wish you had 
 been there, it would have reminded you 
 of former times, and the days of ancient 
 granny's." 
 
 " Reminded me of former times !" 
 
 * Yes, to be sure, when you were a 
 Nimrod !" Here Lady Restormel and her 
 son exchanged looks. 
 
 "When was I a Nimrod ?" cried Lady 
 Helena, indignantly, "when did I ever hunt, 
 Miss Netherby ?" 
 
 "When? oh fie Nelly! to ask that 
 question, but I see you wish me to be mum 
 now, with a significant nod of her head, 
 and a significant look at Lord and Lady 
 Restormel, and I do not wish to tell tales." 
 
 " There are no tales to tell, Miss Ne- 
 therby," replied Lady Helena, " I never 
 hunted in my life !" 
 
 " She says true, I am sure my daugh- 
 ter never hunted," said Lord Erpingham, 
 " nor should my niece if I had any power 
 over her." 
 
 " How ! do you say so too, Uncle Erp ! 
 
103 
 
 this I did not expect, and pray how can 
 you assert this ? you did not live with us 
 at granny's ?" 
 
 " No, but notwithstanding, I trust that 
 Helena did not do there what I should 
 have disapproved her doing here." 
 
 " Oh ! you trust she did not, but if He- 
 lena took care you should not know it, you 
 could not disapprove, you know ; could you 
 forbid, if she did not ask your leave ?" 
 
 "What, I suppose Nelly never went 
 shooting either ?" 
 
 "Never, never!" exclaimed Lady He- 
 lena; "you could, you never could prevail on 
 me to accompany you. I always hated all 
 field-sports for women, as cruel and unbe- 
 coming." 
 
 " Always," she replied, with a mean- 
 ing emphasis, and a sarcastic sneer, " al- 
 ways!" During these questions and re- 
 plies, various changes of colour and emo- 
 tions her quick eye had discovered on Lord 
 Restormel's expressive face, and in the 
 speaking countenance of his mother ; and 
 she was stimulated to go on, but, at this 
 
104 
 
 moment, she felt that an eye as observant 
 and penetrating as her own, was upon her, 
 and spite of herself, she shrunk from the 
 searching, severe, yet calm and quiet fixed 
 look of Sophia Brightwen. However, she 
 persevered, and said, " what, then, Nelly, 
 you mean to deny do you," 
 
 " Deny ! I mean to deny, as if I could 
 deny a truth, however degrading to my- 
 self?" 
 
 " You are angry Nelly ; no proof 
 that of innocence, but let me go on. 
 What ! do you not remember going 
 out once, in January, and walking up to 
 your knees in long grass ; but, to the sur- 
 prise of all, bagging more than any of us, 
 till they called you in the field, Helena Hit- 
 all, and declared, that if you took equally 
 good aim at men with your eye, it would 
 be dangerous to be in your company." 
 
 " Miss Netherby," cried Lord Erping- 
 ham, indignantly, " I insist upon your 
 ceasing thus to calumniate your cousin." 
 
 ** Nay, my dear lord !" said the coun- 
 tess, " Nor ah is only joking." 
 
105 
 
 * Not I, indeed, Lady Erpingham. I 
 mean what I say ; I always am true, what- 
 ever else I am. I never hide my faults, 
 present or past ; and the man who marries 
 me will, at least, know what he marries !" 
 
 " Admirable !" muttered young Benson, 
 who seemed to hang enamoured on her 
 looks and words. 
 
 Lady Helena was now too shocked, too 
 much overpowered by this mischievous 
 insinuation, that she was telling falsehoods, 
 for fear of displeasing those whom it was 
 her wish to conciliate, that she could no 
 longer defend herself; and her father, also, 
 was at first confounded by this implied 
 charge, especially as he saw the effect it 
 had on his noble guests ; but, before he 
 could recollect himself sufficiently to 
 speak, the attention of every one was 
 arrested by a sweet-toned, but rather loud 
 laugh, from the usually silent and unob- 
 trusive Miss Brightwen, who, while she 
 laughed, fixed her eyes on Norah, with a 
 meaning so satirical and contemptuous, 
 
 F5 
 
106 
 
 that the bold, brassy girl, was at onee 
 nettled, and awed by it. 
 
 " Are you laughing at me, madam !" 
 said she, in a faltering voice. 
 
 " To be sure, I am !" was the reply, * or 
 rather at your ludicrous description of my 
 friend's astonishing feats in the field. I 
 only wonder you did not say she was 
 called Nelly Knock'em-down, Helena 
 Hit-all is too elegant, and the other would 
 have been more in your style ; and I am 
 sure the one would have been as true, and 
 as like Lady Helena, as the other." 
 
 " Do yo mean to say that I lie, ma- 
 dam r 
 
 " Why, lie is a vulgar word ; I mean 
 to say, that you are now romancing ; your 
 motives for so doing are best known to 
 yourself; you may do so merely to enter- 
 tain the company, but if you mean to be 
 believed, you should not have gone to such 
 improbable lengths in your assertions." 
 
 " Improbable ! I appeal to you, Ben- 
 son ; have not you heard Nelly called 
 
107 
 
 Helena Hit-all, on account of her killing 
 such numbers in a battu once ?" 
 
 "Certainly, certainly; it was a noto- 
 rious fact." 
 
 " There ! you may doubt my word, but 
 can you doubt his ?" 
 
 " Equally," replied Sophia, indignantly, 
 and with a look of contempt. * There is 
 not the word of any being living I would 
 take in preference to that of Lady Helena 
 Fortescue, who, so far from ever seeking to 
 hide her errors, is only too apt to publish 
 them unnecessarily ; and I believe that there 
 are those present who can corroborate the 
 truth of what I say." 
 
 " There are, indeed !" said Lady Res- 
 tormel, eagerly ; " and such is the good 
 effect of habits of ingenuousness, that suspi- 
 cion of the contrary habit can never long 
 attach to such a character, however ingeni- 
 ously it has been fastened on it. Therefore, 
 Miss Netherby, spite of your assertion, 
 and that of your bribed witness, bribed, 
 I see, by your smiles and your glances, 
 I believe Lady Helena never either hunted 
 
108 
 
 or shot ; not only because she is neither 
 cruel, nor unfeminine in her habits, but, 
 simply because she positively asserts that 
 she never did either." 
 
 ", Oh! but I own I have shot at a 
 mark," cried Lady Helena, struggling with 
 the tears which the kind interference of 
 Sophia had forced from her eyes. 
 
 "There!" cried Sophia, triumphantly, 
 " now that confession is so like Lady He- 
 lena ; and you, Baroness Munchausen, must 
 withdraw your charge." 
 
 "It cannot be admitted ; Miss Bright- 
 wen, dear respected friend ! I thank you," 
 said the Earl, " and you too Lady Restor- 
 mel. Helena's cause was, I saw, in such 
 good hands, that I did not think it neces- 
 sary to interfere before ; but now, I wish 
 to ask Mr. Benson, why he asserted what 
 he did, and made what he must know was 
 a false assertion." 
 
 " Oh! my lord, because I did not like 
 to spoil a good story. I thought Miss 
 Netherby was only joking." 
 
 " I am satisfied ; but what says Miss 
 Netherby herself?" 
 
J 09 
 
 " The contrary of the proverb ; she 
 says, Lord Erp, namely, not ? give a dog 
 an ill name, and hang him'— but ' give a 
 dog a good name, and save him.' I leave 
 you to make the application." 
 
 " You are still joking, I presume, 
 Norah," replied the Earl sternly, seizing 
 her arm and grasping it violently as he 
 spoke. 
 
 Norah was now alarmed, and readily 
 exclaimed, " Oh dear, yes, to be sure ! but 
 your gripe is no joke." 
 
 He then released her, and dropping 
 him a curtsy, she ran out of the room. Not 
 long after Mr. Benson made an excuse for 
 leaving it also. As there were no other 
 company at dinner that day than Benson, 
 Lord Erpingham was at liberty to speak 
 » as he felt concerning his eccentric niece, 
 and he could not help saying, " that he 
 was sometimes forced to remember her 
 houseless, fatherless condition, to prevent 
 his commanding her from his presence and 
 his house." 
 
 " But, my dear lord, remember," said 
 
110 
 
 the countess, " that poor Norah assured 
 you, in what she asserted to-day, she was 
 only in joke ; did she not, Lady Restor- 
 mel?" 
 
 " Miss Netherby has the honour of 
 being Lord Erpingham's niece," replied 
 that lady, her fine face suffused with crim- 
 son, " therefore, I beg leave to decline 
 making a single observation on her con- 
 duct." 
 
 " I am glad, my lord !" said Lord 
 Restormel, with eyes sparkling with indig- 
 nation, " that you asked an explanation of 
 that grinning puppy ; if not I should, and 
 not, perhaps, as mildly as you did. If he 
 does not take care, Miss Netherby may 
 get him into some difficulties which he 
 will not be able to get safely out of." 
 
 " I believe, Restormel, she will get him 
 into the worst of all difficulties for a man 
 to get out ; for, I suspect, she will get him 
 into the matrimonial difficulty, and I can 
 have no objection if she has not." 
 
 The ladies now left the table ; and as 
 Lady Restormel took Sophia's arm, the 
 
ill 
 
 latter said, in a low voice, " That young 
 lady is a very dangerous person, does not 
 your ladyship think so ?" 
 
 " Oh, most dangerous ! and I cannot 
 help remembering the saying, ' One cannot 
 touch pitch without being defiled', when 
 I consider how much Lady Helena has 
 lived with her." 
 
 " No wonder; but you should also 
 recollect, dear madam, that no stain ad- 
 heres long to a pure and fine skin ; and 
 the defilement, if there were any in this 
 case, must have been removed from our dear 
 friend, as soon as she ceased to associate 
 with Miss Netherby." 
 
 " I wish for all our sakes, to believe 
 you right ; but, believe me, that I saw with 
 pain how much Restormel writhed under 
 the conversation at table : and, I know him 
 so well, that I am sure he will now, that 
 all obstacles to his attachment are removed, 
 and that he considers this dear girl as his 
 own, be far more tenacious than I could be 
 on points that compromise in any way her 
 dignity or conduct : jealous, also, he will be 
 
112 
 
 of any influence over her, which can in- 
 fringe on her exclusive regard for his 
 opinions and even prejudices. She must, 
 if she values and wishes to retain his love, 
 be wary and circumspect." 
 
 " She is too ingenious to be the first/' 
 said Sophia, ' and too rash to be the 
 second, I doubt, in any great degree ; and 
 I shall never feel her happiness safe while 
 this dangerous girl remains here." 
 
 Norah, meanwhile, was ruminating in 
 the park on what had passed, and having 
 convinced herself that she had gone too 
 far, and had also failed of her object, that 
 of infusing suspicions of Lady Helena's in- 
 tegrity, as well as of her violation of what 
 discreet persons call propriety, into the 
 minds of Lord and Lady Restormel, she 
 resolved to try and convince Lady Helena 
 and her uncle and aunt that she was so 
 obviously joking all the time she was speak- 
 ing, that she was quite surprised at the 
 gravity with which she was heard, and the 
 angry violence with which she was con- 
 tradicted; for she saw by her uncle's 
 
113 
 
 manner, that on some subjects he was not 
 disposed to bear raillery, and that he might 
 send her away even before the conquest 
 she was meditating was secured. Ac- 
 cordingly, after she had kept her appoint- 
 ment with Benson, and walked round the 
 flower-garden with him, she sought her 
 justly-offended cousin, and had no diffi- 
 culty in appeasing her wrath, or making 
 her believe she was only in sport, and was 
 led on to shew the utmost of her talents as 
 an actress, by the unexpected conviction 
 which flashed in her mind, that her fiction 
 appeared reality. Lady Helena's generous 
 nature always made her hate to think ill 
 of any one, more especially of the com- 
 panion of her childhood, she therefore 
 readily forgave and believed her, and in- 
 duced Lady Restormel to do the same, 
 but not Miss Brightwen, as she came to 
 an examination of Norah Netherby's looks, 
 conduct, and manner, with an unprejudiced 
 as well as clear observation ; she had not 
 to distrust the probable justice of her own 
 convictions as the others had, but was 
 
114 
 
 justified in thinking her convictions true 
 and unbiassed ; she therefore still believed 
 that what she said was uttered with a 
 malicious intention, and prompted by bad 
 motives, and she resolved never to let her 
 vigilance in watching this dangerous girl, 
 cease for a moment ; but she was not 
 suffered to remain long where she was ; 
 her father, ever restless, and ever in search 
 of novelty to interest and occupy his mind, 
 came unexpectedly to take her with him 
 into Gloucestershire, to look at an estate 
 which he wished to purchase there, and 
 she felt it her duty to accompany him. 
 
 u Nelly," said Norah to her cousin 
 when Sophia went away, " though I am 
 glad she is gone, for her eye acts as a fetter 
 on me, I cannot hate Miss Brightwen as I 
 hate the Empress of Green Hills, and shall 
 I tell you why ?" 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 " Why the reason is, I believe, because 
 I see that she is above being governed in 
 her opinions of persons by what this person 
 says and the other person asserts. She 
 
115 
 
 judges for herself, and I see those search- 
 ing eyes are bent only on discovering 
 truth ; and if while looking at and lis- 
 tening to me, she could find aught to 
 commend, I should have the full benefit 
 of the discovery, and she would defend me 
 and give me my due, even in despite of 
 her imperial majesty, aye, and her stern 
 son too ; am I not right ? " 
 
 * Yes ; and I never heard you utter 
 any thing wiser in my life ; but why do 
 you hate Lady Eestormel ; she does not 
 look at you so stedfastly and severely as 
 Sophia does ? " 
 
 " No, she scarcely deigns to look at 
 me at all ; besides, if she did, I know she 
 would not look to see what was really 
 in me, but what she fancies in me; her 
 mind and her heart are steeled against 
 me, and nothing would ever induce her to 
 open them to me ; but come, let us go 
 into the billiard-room, you promised to 
 play with me when the Brightwens' were 
 gone." 
 
 It so happened that the billiard-room 
 
116 
 
 joined the library, whither Lady Restormel 
 had gone to search for a book, and, as the 
 library fire was out, she had seated herself 
 by that in the billiard-room, and was 
 earnestly engaged in reading when Lady 
 Helena and Norah entered ; they could not 
 see her, as a large folding-screen stood 
 between her and the table ; but she was 
 just going to announce her presence, when 
 she was kept back and confounded by 
 hearing Norah exclaim, " I tell you, I do 
 hate the empress of Green Hills, and always 
 will hate her ;" and before Lady Helena 
 could reply, Norah gave a striking repre- 
 sentation of Lady Restormel's mode of 
 talking, voce, manner, and action; as a 
 piece of mimickry it was perfect, but the 
 honourable mind of Lady Helena forbade 
 her to enjoy it ; on the contrary, having 
 vainly tried to stop her from proceeding, 
 she resolutely held her ears, and when 
 her mischievous companion had ceased, 
 she told her, if she ever again pre- 
 sumed to ridicule and mimic in her pre- 
 sence, a being whom she so loved and 
 
117 
 
 venerated, she would never rest till she 
 had prevailed on her father to send her 
 from the house, as one incapable of re- 
 garding the common claims and decencies 
 of social life. 
 
 " But hear me, Nelly/' cried the un- 
 abashed offender, " is it not like her ?" 
 
 " Not the least, not at all ; a faun 
 might as well try to look like the Apollo, 
 as you like her ; not one look, one word 
 like — let me pass — I will leave you ! " 
 
 " No — there, I have locked the door 
 and put the key in my pocket ! " 
 
 " Give it me directly, or " 
 
 " No ; you shall hear some more ; now 
 hear how she reads Milton." 
 
 " I will not ; — come, Norah, give me 
 the key, or you know I am stronger than 
 you, and I can take it by force." 
 
 But Norah resisted, and began to mimic 
 Lady Restormel again, when that lady 
 thought it high time to come forward ; 
 but, wishing to seem unconcerned, she chose 
 to give her appearance an air of pleasantry ; 
 she, therefore, mounted a footstool, and 
 
118 
 
 looking over the top of the screen, she ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Well done, Miss Netherby ! it is a 
 pity such talents as your's should be con- 
 fined to private life ; what think you of 
 rivalling Mathews, and having a public at 
 home of your own ! " 
 
 Even Norah was abashed at this un- 
 expected apparition, while Lady Helena 
 was pale and trembling with consternation ; 
 but, recovering herself a little, the daunt- 
 less girl pretended to struggle with un- 
 governable laughter, and unlocking the 
 door, was going to leave the room, as if on 
 purpose to hide it, when Lady Restormel 
 seized her arm and desired her to stop, for 
 she wished to thank her for the obligation 
 she had conferred on her. 
 
 " I am sure you are quite welcome," 
 replied Norah, trying to look bold, while 
 Lady Helena faltered out — 
 
 * Obligations ! did you say ?" 
 
 " Yes, dearest Helena, obligations ; for, 
 but for her degrading exhibition of me, I 
 should not have had the heartfelt joy of 
 
119 
 
 hearing myself defended by you, and know- 
 ing how dear I am to you ; is not this an 
 obligation ?— I, therefore, humbly thank 
 you, Miss Netherby, and believe me one 
 too who has not gone through the world 
 with closed eyes, that there is not a man 
 or woman whose good opinion is worth 
 having, that would not cheerfully consent 
 to be ridiculed, and even mimicked by 
 Norah Netherby if they were sure of being 
 defended, loved, and respected by Helena 
 Fortescue ! You may go now, madam, she 
 added, in her proudest manner." 
 
 " I do go, madam," she replied, imitating 
 the tone exactly. 
 
 " Excellent ape !" said Lady Restor- 
 mel as she did so. " Come come ! be just 
 Nelly ! the likeness is perfect !" And 
 Lady Restormel mimicked Norah as well ; 
 but added, " this was beneath me — was it 
 not Helena ?" 
 
 * I think it was," she replied, " yet not 
 so when I consider that you thus mortified 
 Norah by shewing her that you have as 
 great a power of mimickry as herself, but 
 
that you are above using the talent, on 
 which she values herself." 
 
 Norah was mortified; she felt the 
 power of Lady Restormel was equal to 
 her own, and in spite of all her assured 
 bravery, she was conscious that she retired 
 wounded from the field — while Lady He- 
 lena was more endeared to the heart of 
 Lady Restormel, and their happiness in 
 each other increased ; dear, indeed, to the 
 heart of Lady Helena were the moments 
 that succeeded, and when Lord Restormel 
 left Laurel Grove the next morning, the 
 renewed assurance which he felt of his 
 mother's confiding tenderness towards the 
 woman of his love, filled his whole soul 
 with happiness and thankfulness. Norah 
 again saw that she had lost ground with 
 her cousin, which it was for her interest to 
 keep, she therefore humbled herself before 
 her, intreated pardon of her for the liberty 
 she had taken with her and Lady Restor- 
 mel, and was again forgiven ; but unfor- 
 tunately Lady Helena's generous feelings 
 were apt to run away with her, and having 
 
121 
 
 cordially forgiven Norah all her offences, 
 she could not rest till she had proved her 
 forgiveness beyond doubt, by an entire 
 renewal of her wonted familiarity ; and 
 Norah was never so sure of carrying a 
 point with her rash, but noble minded 
 cousin, as after a recent reconciliation ; 
 a few days after this last disagreement, a 
 review of the regiment in which Mr. Ben- 
 son was a cornet, was to take place in the 
 neighbourhood, and as the colonel was to 
 give a breakfast after it, to which the 
 family at Laurel Grove as well as others in 
 the neighbourhood were invited, it was de- 
 cided that they should attend the review. 
 But, before the day arrived, Lord Erping- 
 ham was summoned to London by Lord 
 Aston on business, and took one carriage 
 away with him, and the riding horses were 
 either lame or in medicine when the morn- 
 ing of the review came. Suffice, to avoid 
 unnecessary details, that Lady Erpingham, 
 from these and other circumstances, saw 
 herself obliged to give up her kind inten- 
 tion of taking three young ladies to the 
 
 VOL. III. G 
 
122 
 
 review and the breakfast, who were, she 
 knew, invited, but had been forced to 
 decline going, because they had no convey- 
 ance thither— and they had been brought 
 up and accustomed to every luxury in 
 life, but had suddenly been forced to relin- 
 quish all by the ruin of their father and 
 his subsequent death. All the neighbour- 
 hood pitied them, and some beheld them 
 with respect, others saw with contrary 
 feelings the endeavours they made to con- 
 ceal their poverty and to hold their heads 
 as proudly as before ; but Lady Erpingham 
 and Lady Helena did more, they on every 
 possible occasion offered them the use of 
 their carriage, and in a manner as if they 
 felt themselves obliged by their acceptance 
 of it : greatly, therefore, did Lady Erping- 
 ham regret that she could at most offer 
 only one seat in her carriage to the Miss 
 Nanbys, when her difficulty was com- 
 pletely, though disagreeably removed. 
 Norah had been for two days trying to 
 prevail on Lady Helena to accompany her 
 to the review on an ass, as they had 
 
123 
 
 no riding horses, and as they had lately 
 procured capital asses, on which they had 
 amused themselves with riding races. It 
 so happened that Norah had just declared 
 her resolution to go herself on ass-back» 
 and had even with tears lamented that her 
 cousin now would never do any thing to 
 oblige her, when Lady Erpingham entered 
 the room, loudly lamenting her inability to 
 take the Miss Nanbys to the review and 
 breakfast, even though Lady Restormel 
 was willing to give up her seat, and stay 
 at home. Lady " Helena joined in her 
 lamentation ; and no sooner was she gone 
 again, than she told Norah she repented 
 her refusal, and would accompany her to 
 the field in the manner she wished ; ac- 
 cordingly she told the countess that 
 evening, when she retired for the night, 
 that she and Norah had provided their 
 own mode of conveyance, and that she had 
 written a note to the Mis-, Nanbys to say 
 that the barouche should call for them the 
 next morning. 
 
124 
 
 " But what conveyance have you pro- 
 cured Helena ?" said her mother. 
 
 " Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest 
 Ma, till you applaud the deed !" was the 
 evasive reply, and no other would Lady 
 Helena give. They were to be on the re- 
 view ground by ten, but before Lady Res- 
 tormel, who had had a bad night, had left 
 her apartment, Lady Helena and Norah 
 were mounted on their asses, which Norah 
 had, out of compliment to Benson, orna- 
 mented with ribbands and saddle cloths of 
 blue and red, the colour of his regi- 
 mentals. Indeed he himself had been at 
 the expense of these decorations. This 
 folly was committed unknown to Lady 
 Helena, but she did not think it necessary 
 to desire the colours to be removed : she 
 also thought that it would be more deco- 
 rous for her also to appear on an ass, de- 
 corated with Benson's colours, than for 
 Norah so to appear alone. Lady Erping- 
 Jiam saw them set off, but, though she did 
 not approve, she had not the heart to object, 
 
125 
 
 yet she was so sure that Lady Restormel 
 would be displeased at such an eccentric 
 excursion, that it was a long time before 
 she ventured to name it to her. 
 
 " This comes of association with that 
 bold girl," cried Lady Restormel angrily 
 and hastily. Lady Helena would never 
 have thought of doing such a thing her- 
 self—to make themselves the gaping stock 
 of the vulgar crowd !" 
 
 " Well, well, dear friend, I hope the 
 crowd will be too much engaged in look- 
 ing at other things to notice them — and 
 really I do not think poor Norah a bold 
 girl." The carriages came round, and 
 Sophia, who was just returned, went with 
 Lady Restormel and one of the Miss 
 Nanbys in her's, and the two others with 
 Lady Erpingham. 
 
 " There is one comfort however," whis- 
 pered Lady Restormel to Sophia, " Lord 
 Erpingham and Lord Aston intend to 
 meet us at the review, and then the asses 
 will be sent home no doubt." When they 
 reached the ground, as the weather was 
 
126 
 
 still cold, Lady Restormel chose to remain 
 in her carriage, while her young compa- 
 nions mounted the barouche seat. Lady 
 Erpingham, with her friends, were con- 
 ducted by a nobleman whom they knew 
 to the side of the reviewing general. 
 
 " But where are your young lady and 
 my niece," asked the former, of her ser- 
 vants ? 
 
 " They are there, amongst that line of 
 horsemen, on their asses, my lady." 
 
 " I see them now, but go and desire 
 them to dismount and join me or Lady Res- 
 tormel." The message was delivered, but not 
 obeyed. Lady Helena herself would have 
 dismounted immediately, but Norah would 
 not hear of it ; and I must own that as my 
 heroine is by no means' a perfect being, 
 she was influenced to this disobedience, not 
 only by Norah's persuasions, but her own 
 weakness. Benson's own servant attended 
 Norah and Lady Helena, as well as Lord 
 Erpingham's, and this man had contrived 
 on the road, to compliment Lady Helena, 
 without offending her, on her admirable 
 
127 
 
 management of so stubborn an animal, and 
 he declared his conviction, that Jack would 
 stand fire as well as any horse with such a 
 rider ; besides, he insinuated to Norah 
 that his master would be so proud, and so 
 pleased to see two such ladies amongst 
 the spectators, shewing off the saddle 
 cloths and ribbands, which matched his 
 uniform. They, therefore, instantly rode 
 up to the best spot for seeing and being 
 seen, regardless of fear, and perhaps not 
 sorry to be conspicuous. Lady Helena 
 indeed might be chiefly influenced by high 
 animal spirits, which often incapacitated her 
 from sober reflection ; besides, she wished 
 to shew she was not in the thraldom in 
 which Norah always declared that she was 
 held by fear of Lady Restormel, and, at all 
 events, this morning she was resolved to 
 prove to her she had still a will of her own, 
 and was resolved to act on it. But offend- 
 ing Lady Restormel was one thing, and dis- 
 obeying her mother another : and she 
 would have meekly followed the servant 
 had not Norah entreated her to stop, and 
 
128 
 
 muttered something about servile fear^-no 
 freedom of will — no energy of character; 
 all of which Lady Helena only too well 
 understood, and to the influence of which 
 she now weakly yielded. 
 
 * Tell Lady Erp," said Norah, " that 
 we are so well placed here, we cannot 
 possibly stir ; and that Jadk and Bob are 
 very tractable and pretty behaved." 
 
 This message, however, did not satisfy 
 the anxious mother, and she wrote a pencil 
 note to Lady Restormel, to beg her to in- 
 vite Lady Helena to come to her. 
 
 Lady Restormel, though not as much 
 alarmed, was more annoyed at Lady 
 Helena's refusal than her mother was, and 
 did as she was desired to do, but the 
 messenger could not get near her, for the 
 review was begun, and horsemen were 
 gathering before him in close ranks ; 
 amongst whom he now saw Lord Aston, 
 who had driven home, and had come on 
 horseback to the field : in another moment 
 he heard piercing shrieks, and saw Lord 
 Aston spur his horse to get to the foremost 
 
129 
 
 rank. The shrieks were from Lady 
 Erpingham ; and the action of Lord Aston 
 was a desperate effort to save his sister 
 from destruction; for the ass, though 
 hitherto governable, on the horses coming 
 forward full gallop in a charge, sprung 
 forward as if to meet them ; and the whole 
 troop would have gone over him and Lady 
 Helena, who could controul and turn him 
 aside no longer, had not Lord Aston forced 
 his way to the front, thrown himself off 
 his horse, and snatched Lady Helena off 
 the animal just as the danger seemed in- 
 evitable. He then sunk down on the 
 ground, and Lady Helena, nearly fainting, 
 lay beside him ! The poor animal escaped 
 with little or no hurt ; but Lord Aston, in 
 the jirk of throwing himself off, had dislo- 
 cated his left shoulder, and was scarcely 
 able (oppressed both with pain, and recent 
 terror), to desire to be taken to Laurel 
 Grove immediately — having said this, he 
 fainted : and when Sophia made her way, 
 even before the terrified mother, to the 
 scene of alarm, the first object she saw 
 
 g5 
 
130 
 
 was Lord Aston apparently dead. On all 
 occasions of alarm hitherto, Sophia had 
 been distinguished by presence of mind, 
 and power of salutary exertion — but now 
 she stood stony and motionless, with her 
 eyes wildly fixed on the death-like figure 
 before her, and unable to ask whether he 
 really breathed or not. At this moment 
 his senses returned, his eyes unclosed, and 
 they met those of Sophia, fixed in unutter- 
 able woe upon him; but, now bursting 
 into uncontrollable tears of joy, as she saw 
 him recover unto life, though into the 
 consciousness of bodily agony at the same 
 moment — but that he disregarded; Sophia's 
 look had betrayed to him the secret of her 
 heart, and while he grasped her offered 
 hand, he murmured — " I am too happy in 
 mind to regard my bodily pain ; I saved 
 Helena," — and his eyes only spoke the rest : 
 and when Lady Erpingham, Sophia, and 
 the sister and the brother were seated in 
 the barouche, and on their way to Laurel 
 Grove, Lady Helena was the only one 
 whose gratitude for the mercy vouchsafed, 
 
J31 
 
 was over-clouded ; but she was bowed to 
 the earth by the consciousness of her own 
 obstinate disobedience ; and though full of 
 pleasurable feelings, for having her life 
 saved, through the agency of her beloved 
 brother, she was full of remorse for having 
 endangered both his and hers by her own 
 headstrong folly. The shoulder was soon 
 replaced, but Lord Aston was desired to 
 go to his bed, and keep quiet, and when 
 he had seen Sophia, and once more received 
 from her an answering look to that with 
 which he beheld her, he was contented to 
 retire and allow the depressed and peni- 
 tent Helena to read him to sleep. Norah, 
 who had herself been unseated, and who 
 had reluctantly accepted a place on Lady 
 Restormel's carriage, when she was forced 
 in decency to follow her aunt and cousins 
 from the ground, now flattered herself, and 
 so did the Miss Nanbys, that all the party 
 who liked it would return to the breakfast ; 
 but Lady Restormel had been too much 
 alarmed and agitated to be their chaperon, 
 
132 
 
 and they had no other. Accordingly, the 
 carriages were dismissed ; but Norah set 
 off again, privately, on her ass, accompa- 
 nied by Benson's servant, who carried his 
 master's portmanteau before him ; and it 
 was hours before any one enquired what 
 was become of her. 
 
 When Lady Helena left her brother's 
 room, she repaired to that of her mother, 
 who was forced to lie down after the ex- 
 cessive fright which she had received. 
 There she found Sophia, who, as soon as 
 she saw her, begged to know how she 
 could ever think of going in such a style 
 to the review. 
 
 " I will tell you why," she replied, " as 
 I always wish to exculpate myself in your 
 eyes as much as I can, and in going as I 
 did, I am not much to blame. My fault 
 was, not dismounting in obedience to my 
 mother's will and common sense. I firmly 
 refused to go on an ass, till I found that if 
 Norah and I went in the carriage, the poor 
 Nanbys would be disappointed ; I there- 
 fore sacrificed regard of appearances to 
 
133 
 
 benevolence, and had I stopt there, all 
 would have been well." 
 
 " You were governed by a shewy, 
 plausible motive ; but, I suspect, your first 
 duty was to consider a more every-day duty 
 than that of benevolence, to the poor 
 Nanbys, namely, consideration for your 
 parents, and your lover's feelings." 
 
 " My parents' feelings, if you please, 
 Miss Brightwen ; but," she haughtily re- 
 plied, " I will not be a slave to a lover." 
 
 " No ! poor Lord Restormel, how glad 
 I am he did not see your danger ! how glad 
 I am he did not see you, as I saw your 
 brother! It would have been to him, 
 agony, madness !" 
 
 " Do you think so ?" said Lady Helena, 
 softened and affected. 
 
 " I know so ; I know his noble heart 
 dotes on you ; and, surely, even the preju- 
 dices of such a man are to be considered !" 
 
 " Sophia !" said Lady Helena, bursting 
 into tears, " my narrow escape from death, 
 has humbled me to the dust, spite of my 
 late haughty seeming, and I feel that I am 
 
134 
 
 not worthy the love of such a man as 
 Restormel. I not only am not capable of 
 always acting up to what he thinks right, 
 but I do not always see the harm of what 
 he disapproves, therefore there is uo hope 
 for me of permanent amendment." 
 
 Sophia shook her head mournfully, and 
 replied, "You know yourself best ; lean 
 only pray for you, and urge you to pray 
 for yourself." 
 
 She then returned to the drawing- 
 room, where she had left Lady Restor- 
 mel and the Miss Nanbys, the former 
 of whom, though more fit for bed than to 
 entertain company, made a point of staying 
 with these ladies in the absence of the rest, 
 lest in their fallen fortunes, they should 
 fancy themselves slighted. But had she 
 known their nature and temper, she would 
 not have been so kindly regardful of their 
 feelings. Never benevolent, but always, 
 even in prosperity, given to petty detrac- 
 tion ; disappointment and a narrow income 
 had not improved their characters, and they 
 were become less indulgent in their stric- 
 tures than ever. 
 
135 
 
 The youngest of them had once danced 
 with Lord Restormel, and had fancied 
 that his only common attentions had 
 been particular ones ; she, therefore, heard 
 with displeasure that he was engaged to 
 Lady Helena Fortescue, and even then 
 did not entirely believe it : she, however, 
 readily believed the common assertion, that 
 Lady Restormel disapproved the marriage, 
 on account of the eccentricity of Lady 
 Helena. She, therefore, weakly imagined 
 that she should gain that lady's good 
 opinion, by blaming Lady Helena s conduct 
 of that day ; and was in the midst of 
 sundry flings against uncommon people, ec- 
 centric geniuses, and the wisdom of the old 
 proverb, " that common sense was the best 
 of all sense," and that if Lady Helena had 
 been like other people, Lord Aston's arm 
 would not have been put out, and other 
 people would not have been disappointed, 
 when Sophia entered the room ; and in all 
 these remarks her sisters cordially joined, 
 especially commending this last. 
 
 " It really is A pity that with such 
 
136 
 
 fine qualities Lady Helena should so ex- 
 pose herself, and do such out of the way 
 things ; but, indeed, as I say, she has no 
 regard for the feelings of others ; why go 
 to the review on an ass at all ? How ec- 
 centric and uncommon!" 
 
 "Uncommon, indeed!" cried Sophia, 
 her dark eye beaming with resentment, 
 and her pale cheek became crimson with 
 emotion ; " uncommon, indeed, for her mo- 
 tive was purely a benevolent one; Lady 
 Helena Fortescue accused of having no 
 regard for the feelings and wishes of others, 
 and this by you, ladies!" 
 
 « And why not by us, Miss, I really 
 forget your name." 
 
 " Indeed, my dear friend," said Lady 
 Restormel, smiling, and wondering at a 
 violence so unusual in Sophia; " hitherto 
 I never saw you so moved before." She 
 then explained, and declared that the ec- 
 centricity of that day, for which they were 
 so severely blaming Lady Helena, arose 
 entirely from the benevolent wish of 
 giving them pleasure. 
 
137 
 The cheeks of the three sisters turned 
 pale with vexation, instead of glowing 
 with generous and grateful feelings, when 
 they heard this; and Miss Bridget Nanby, 
 observed, that she was really glad Lady 
 Helena Fortescue had so good an excuse 
 for her oddity ; for her part she was not 
 fond of owing obligations. 
 
 * No, indeed, nor we either," said her 
 sisters, both at once. 
 
 " And," resumed Miss Bridget, " had 
 we known that Lady Helena was exposing 
 herself for our sake, we would not have 
 accepted the offer on any account." 
 
 " As to the exposure of her life, by re- 
 maining on the ass, that, I conclude, was 
 to please herself, not us." 
 
 " Certainly ; but it was her wish to 
 oblige you which led her into the tempta- 
 tion." 
 
 «* Well, really, from any one but Lady 
 Helena, this would look so like an excuse 
 trumped up," resumed Miss Bridget. 
 
 " Yes, so it would," said Lady Restor- 
 mel, "but not from Lady Helena For- 
 
138 
 
 tescue — to her lips falsehood is a stranger, 
 Good morning, ladies." She then, with all 
 the haughty contempt in her manner, 
 which she so well knew how to assume, left 
 the room, leaning on the arm of Sophia. 
 
 Not long after a servant came in to 
 say that Lady Restormel's carriage waited 
 the orders of the Miss Nanbys if they 
 wished to return home, as Lady Erpingham 
 and Lady Helena were too unwell to enjoy 
 their company. 
 
 The mortified girls, conscious that they 
 had given their tongue too great a license* 
 and sure that if they ever came to Laurel 
 Grove again, it must be owing to the ge- 
 nerous silence of Lady Restormel and 
 Sophia, ordered the carriage round imme- 
 diately and drove home. 
 
 Poor Lady Helena had just dicovered, by 
 the violent pain she felt, and her inability to 
 raise it to her head, that she had strained 
 her left arm, by her resistance, as she sup- 
 posed, to the headstrong animal which she 
 rode, and her endeavours to rein him in 
 when he plunged forward on the approach 
 
139 
 
 of the troops, else she was too kind and 
 courteous not to have made an effort, how- 
 ever painful, to entertain the Nanbys, and 
 make them some amends for the loss of the 
 splendid breakfast. Lady Restormel and 
 Sophia, therefore, were almost glad of this 
 additional reason for obtaining leave to 
 send these ungrateful and back-biting girls 
 away, and found it rather difficult to keep 
 to themselves their conviction how little 
 they deserved the kindness of Lady He- 
 lena. 
 
 * Well, Miss Brightwen," said Lady 
 Restormel, when she was left alone with 
 Sophia, " I suspect that you are disap- 
 pointed at my not extolling Lady He- 
 lena's motives for going to the review on 
 an ass, especially as you know, and I know, 
 that but for the ill results of her folly she 
 would never have excused it by telling her 
 benevolent reasons." 
 
 " I own," said Sophia, " that I did ex~ 
 pect you would, though you must injustice 
 blame her refusing to quit the ass when 
 the purpose was answered." 
 
140 
 
 " My dear friend, I admire the motives, 
 and the secret unostentatious kindness of 
 Lady Helena as much as you do ; but alas ! 
 it is not on a power of performing out of 
 the way actions of kindness in the woman 
 he marries that a husband's peace depends, 
 but on a capability of performing common 
 unobtrusive actions, and making little sa- 
 crifices, especially of the will, that the hap- 
 piness of married life rests." 
 
 " Say no more, dear madam," said So- 
 phia, " I cannot bear to hear my opinion 
 on this subject so strongly confirmed by 
 your's; I, myself, have said something 
 equivalent to this, on the false and the 
 true duty, to Lady Helena, and she felt the 
 truth of what I said so strongly, and I am 
 myself so convinced of it, that I must ear- 
 nestly request you to drop the subject." 
 
 Lady Restormel sighed, and obeyed 
 her. But where was Miss Netherby all 
 this time — the original cause of all the 
 mischief ? At dinner time, and not before, 
 it was thought advisable to search for her 
 in the grounds, but no where could she be 
 
141 
 
 found. A letter was, however, brought 
 that evening from her to Lady Helena, in 
 which she said, that, as poor Benny, not 
 being of age, could not be married in 
 England, without consent of guardians, 
 and guardians were gruff old fogrums, he 
 and she had thought proper to ask the 
 aid of the kind blacksmith to rivet their 
 fetters ; that she had ridden the first stage 
 on the ass, that there Benny had joined 
 her, and before the week was at an end, 
 she and her hubby should throw them- 
 selves at her uncle's feet to crave his bless- 
 ing, and also his superintendence of the 
 draft of her marriage settlement. 
 
 This event was a source of satisfaction 
 to Sophia and Lady Restormel at least, 
 as it gave this obnoxious girl, or would soon 
 give her, a home of her own, and remove 
 her from Lady Helena ; but the countess 
 and her daughter could not approve the 
 manner in which the marriage took place, 
 nor believe that Norah could be happy 
 with a weak, thoughtless boy, for whom the 
 
142 
 
 next face he saw might have more at- 
 traction than that of his wife ; but the union 
 could not be prevented, and they could 
 only hope it would be a happy one. 
 
 At the end of the week Lord Restormel 
 was expected, and till the day he was 
 to arrive Lady Helena had worn her arm 
 in a sling, not, as she pretended, to keep 
 Lord Aston in countenance, but because 
 her arm required the support; however, on 
 the day on which he was expected she left 
 off the sling. 
 
 " Why is this Helena ? " said Lord 
 Aston, who sooner recovered the effects of 
 this accident than his sister did ; " surely 
 it would be for your interest to look as 
 suffering and interestingly invalidish in 
 Restormel's eyes as possible, in order to 
 soften his heart in your favor, and make 
 him readily excuse your foolish tricks." 
 
 " No, indeed," replied Lady Helena, 
 colouring with violent emotion ; " 1 shoidd 
 scorn to blind Lord Restormel's judgment, 
 by working on his feelings ; he shall acquit 
 
143 
 
 or condemn me by his unbiassed judgment, 
 and therefore it is, that I have left off my 
 sling — I am too proud to owe his lenity to 
 his pity." 
 
 "Bravo ! — thou art a noble girl," said 
 Lord Aston, " and I am really glad I was 
 able, at some risk to myself, to save thee." 
 "Oh!" cried Lady Helena, throwing 
 herself on his neck ; * do not bring back 
 to my mind a scene so horrible ; yet as a 
 proof of thy love, my brother ! so dear ! and 
 see the remembrance has made our Sophia 
 shudder, and her lip turn pale." 
 
 " Our Sophia," observed Lord Aston, 
 tenderly, rt I dared not have said so ; but 
 perhaps one day — " 
 
 In a moment Sophia left the room, but 
 evidently not in anger. 
 
 When Lord Restormel arrived, his 
 mother begged to see him in her own apart- 
 ment, that she might tell him what had 
 occurred at the review ; and so favorable 
 was the account which his mother gave 
 of the circumstances, that her son could 
 not help exclaiming — " Dear, generous 
 
144 
 
 though rash girl — oh ! had she been the 
 victim of her temerity, I think I could not 
 have survived it — it would have broken 
 my heart — but where is she ?" 
 
 At this moment Lady Helena entered, 
 and while her lover clasped her to his breast, 
 tears trembled in his eyes. " Then you are 
 not hurt my beloved — not hurt at all ?" 
 
 " Not much," she replied ; and as she 
 looked well and blooming at that moment, 
 Lord Restormel was satisfied; but assured 
 her he should presume to lecture her the 
 next day. 
 
 It so happened that Lord Restormel 
 sat next Lady Erpingham at dinner that 
 day, and on the opposite side to Lady He- 
 lena, who, spite of the pain she felt, per- 
 severed in not using her sling; till at last 
 Sophia, who had been watching her coun- 
 tenance, disappeared, and returned with 
 the sling, insisting on her wearing it im- 
 mediately. As soon as Lord Restormel 
 saw the sling, and also beheld the lip and 
 eye of Lady Helena, he started from his 
 seat, and supporting her in his arms, ex- 
 
145 
 
 claimed — " Then you have all deceived 
 me, and she is hurt ! — why this conceal- 
 ment from me, and why did she not wear 
 the sling ?" 
 
 Lady Helena, now too faint to remain 
 in the room, was led into the air by her 
 lover and her friend ; while the latter re- 
 peated in Lord Restormel's ear the reply 
 which Lady Helena had made to Lord 
 Aston. Lord Restormel ardently kissed 
 the cold hand which he held, as he heard 
 what she communicated, but he also sighed 
 deeply. Perhaps he thought what he dared 
 not even embody in words to himself, 
 namely, that the woman whose virtues 
 were so sure to throw her faults, however 
 prominent, into the back ground immedi- 
 ately, and could even make a fault the 
 means of bringing forth a virtue, was never 
 likely to be cured of her errors, but 
 would continue to be a source of alternate 
 pride and uneasiness to her lover, or her 
 husband. 
 
 VOL. III. h 
 
CHAP. XIX. 
 
 But to return to Julia, to whom Lady 
 Helena and Miss Brightwen wrote almost 
 every day, and who, therefore, knew all 
 Lady Helena's weaknesses, and their re- 
 sults ; she also knew, but not from Sophia, 
 that the attachment between her and 
 Lord Aston was now visible to every eye, 
 and that the family were as impatient as 
 Lord Aston for the arrival of the period 
 when he could, with propriety, plead his 
 suit, and Sophia listen to it. 
 
 Well, then, at last, said Julia to herself, 
 my best friend will be happy as she de- 
 serves to be ; but will my dear Helena be 
 happy— it will be her own fault if she is 
 not, and happy she might now be if she 
 would. 
 
 " Now, do not think I am romancing," 
 wrote Julia to Sophia, " when I say that I 
 am thankful for not being tried with such 
 
J 47 
 
 means of perfect happiness as Lady Helena 
 is, because I see that a state of prosperity 
 is one of danger. I am contented to suffer 
 while I know that I do not seek nor make 
 my own suffering, but that the painful 
 circumstances in which I am placed are 
 made for me by others." 
 
 But Julia deceived herself, some of her 
 trials she made for herself, by her want of 
 openness of character ; had she been in- 
 genuous — had she allowed the eye of 
 faithful friendship to see the bottom of her 
 heart, that heart would have been soon 
 lightened of its heaviest load. The evident 
 change in Aubrey's manner to her, when 
 they were tete-a-tete, and in Lady Ville- 
 roy's manner to him. The latter every day 
 assumed the appearance of tender attach- 
 ment, and the former also ; but though 
 her presence was no restraint to the ex- 
 pression of Lady Villeroy's fondness for 
 him, that lady's presence evidently re- 
 strained the expression of Aubrey's to- 
 wards her. Another circumstance also 
 occurred which worried though it did not 
 
148 
 
 afflict her ; in short, she saw so clouded a 
 future before her, that she felt more and 
 more anxious every day for Fortescue's 
 return, and was eagerly expecting the 
 letter which was to announce it. 
 
 One Sunday morning just as she came 
 from church, and had stopped in the dinner 
 parlour to rest herself before she ascended 
 the high stone stairs, she saw a hackney 
 coach stop at the door, and soon after heard 
 a voice, which she thought no stranger to 
 her ear, exclaim — " Pay my coach for 
 me, my fine fellow, I have not a sous, 'pon 
 honor !" 
 
 " I have no silver, sir," was the reply. 
 
 " No ; then ask Julia to give you some, 
 she's rich, so is the old one, but she is 
 stingy." 
 
 " Julia, sir ; who is that ?" 
 
 * Why the heiress, Julia Villeroy to 
 be sure ; is she not at home." 
 
 " Yes, sir, but—" 
 
 " No buts, my fine fellow, I will ask 
 her myself; where is she — we are old 
 friends." The door was now thrown open, 
 
149 
 
 and Mansfeldt appeared; " How do, do — 
 how do, do ?" said he, putting out his 
 hand, " glad to see you, pale and pretty 
 one." 
 
 Julia drew back from his offered hand, 
 and coldly curtsied in silence ; but nothing 
 daunted, he leered up in her face, and said, 
 " Lend me a handful of shillings, will you, 
 to pay my coach ?" 
 
 " I have no silver," she replied. 
 
 a No matter, a pound will do just as 
 well." 
 
 Julia now remembered what Lord Res- 
 tormel said of his embarrassments, and 
 pitying, perhaps weakly, his pecuniary 
 distress, she gave him a pound-note, and 
 saw, with a mixed feeling of compassion 
 and contempt, the eager and delighted 
 haste with which he seized it. He then 
 disappeared, leaving Julia full of wonder at 
 seeing him at Lady Villeroy's, as she did 
 not know he was acquainted with her in 
 his prosperous days, and Lady Villeroy 
 was not at all likely to seek acquaint- 
 ance with him in his adversity. 
 
160 
 
 When he returned she held out her 
 hand for the change, but he only raised it 
 forcibly to his lips, saying — " You and I 
 will settle some other time Julia, for I 
 trust we shall meet again and again, you 
 know we are very fond of each other, are 
 we not ?" Here he grinned with a look so 
 malicious and diabolical, that Julia almost 
 shuddered, < and was too uncomfortable 
 to reply. 
 
 Aubrey now entered the room, and, by 
 their manner of greeting Julia, saw that 
 Mansfeldt came to visit him, and that they 
 were old and intimate friends ; her good 
 opinion of Aubrey was not encreased by 
 the discovery, conscious too as she was that 
 Mansfeldt disliked her, and that Aubrey 
 had designs on her; a sensation of alarm 
 and in security came over her, which she had 
 great difficulty in concealing, and she took 
 the earliest opportunity of leaving the 
 room, but not before she had heard 
 Mansfeldt say in a low voice — 
 
 " Well, how get you on with the old 
 
151 
 
 lady ? will love conquer avarice think 
 you ?" 
 
 " Oh ! my poor father," said Julia, 
 mentally, when she reached her apartment, 
 throwing herself in an agony of tears 
 upon the bed. Is it thus your widow 
 honors your memory ! and will she squan- 
 der your bounty upon an unprincipled 
 man like this ! When she was summoned 
 to dinner her eyes bore evident marks of 
 the many tears she had shed, and on her 
 entrance Mansfeldt affectedly exclaimed, 
 " Lo ! here she is— like Niobe, all tears." 
 
 " Tears indeed !" cried Lady Villeroy, 
 " I cannot think Miss Villeroy what you 
 should be always crying for ; but I 
 suppose Captain Fortescue has told you 
 that you look prettiest in tears." At this 
 speech Julia saw Aubrey change colour, and 
 an expression which she could not define 
 passed across his brow. 
 
 " What ! Marcus, talk to her about 
 pretty looks now ? No, no — that is all off; 
 is it not Julia ?" said Mansfeldt. 
 
152 
 
 " I know not what you mean, sir," was 
 Julia's reply. " I had a letter from Cap- 
 tain Fortescue to-day.'' 
 
 " What, a love-letter ! no, no surely 
 not !'■ Then turning to Aubrey, he said — 
 " Why I thought Marcus was again after 
 you know whom." 
 
 " How can you be so indiscreet," re- 
 plied Aubrey in a low voice, colouring and 
 frowning at him ; then speaking as loud as 
 usual, he said— " I thought all the world 
 knew that Miss Villeroy was the betrothed 
 of Captain Fortescue, and he consequently 
 the most enviable and happy man in the 
 world." 
 
 " That I doubt, even if Julia be his 
 betrothed ; but let that pass." 
 
 " To describe Julia's secret agonies 
 while this conversation was passing is im- 
 possible ; but she forced herself to sit 
 through the dinner and dessert also, lest 
 she should seem to credit what Mansfeldt 
 said ; nor dared she trust her voice to 
 reply to it ; but she endeavoured to find 
 
153 
 
 amusement in watching her maratre's 
 countenance, while Mansfeldt was cutting 
 up and eating up some nice things intended 
 to be reserved for the dinner of next day* 
 and pouring down bumpers of Madeira,— 
 while Aubrey governing Lady Villeroy 
 with his eye, and seeming to forbid objec- 
 tions with an air of authority, desired a 
 fresh bottle when the first two were 
 finished. It was in vain that Mansfeldt 
 called his hostess Minerva, Juno, Venus, 
 grown becomingly fat, and lastly Queen 
 Elizabeth, and uttered all the comical ab- 
 surdities he could get together. His 
 attack on the cellar, steeled her heart 
 against his flattery, and when on her rising 
 to leave the room, he, in imitation of the 
 gallant Raleigh threw down his coat for 
 her to walk upon ; instead of being charmed 
 by the courteous action, she pettishly ex- 
 claimed— " Take up the coat, silly man, 
 directly, it is so dirty it will spoil my car- 
 pet !" 
 
 " Julia," said she, w 1 en they were alone 
 " I am really afraid there is some truth 
 
 h 5 
 
154 
 
 in what that queer man said, for I always 
 thought Captain Fortescue but a slippery 
 blade, so look after him sharply ! that 
 is my advice !" Julia did not. could not 
 reply, but hastening to her own room, 
 she laid the burthen of her sorrows at the 
 feet of him, " who heareth prayer ;" and 
 arose from her knees, comforted and 
 calm. Lady Villeroy herself came to 
 summon to tea, and seemed surprised 
 to see how composed her countenance was. 
 " Pray, madam," said Julia, " is it true 
 that Mr. Mansfeldt is likely, as he says, to 
 be your guest often ?" 
 
 " Oh ! dear me ! I am sure I hope not ; 
 did you not see what an appetite he has, 
 aiid then he drinks like a fish : I am 
 glad to find you paid this coach hire, I 
 was afraid it would be charged to me in 
 the bill. No, no, once a week will be too 
 often — and I am happy to say he cannot 
 come oftener, for he can only go out on a 
 Sunday for fear of being arrested." 
 
 " Is he very intimate with Mr. Au- 
 brey ?" 
 
155 
 
 " A very old friend of his indeed ; 
 therefore, I let him come ; I cannot dis- 
 oblige Mr. Aubrey. It is so convenient 
 for a rich widow to have a cousin in the 
 law — I get my law business done for 
 nothing." 
 
 " But is Mr. Aubrey a practising 
 lawyer ? Why not much ; as to that he 
 was brought up to the law, but the women 
 spoiled him, and he was abroad with a 
 mistress, a married woman, many years ; 
 but now he repents, and is quite reformed ; 
 and really if a woman does marry again, it 
 is proper and necessary that she should 
 choose for a husband, a man who knows 
 something of business, and can take care of 
 her affairs himself; for your lawyers, and 
 stewards, and agents, are rapacious 
 wretches, my dear, take my word for it." 
 Julia said nothing, she only sighed while 
 she thought of her father ; but she earnestly 
 wished that Fortescue was returned, and 
 she removed from the improper pro- 
 tection of this weak and narrow-hearted 
 woman. Nothing worth relating occurred 
 
\56 
 
 during the rest of the evening, but Mans- 
 feldt was so disagreeable, though meaning 
 to be otherwise, that Julia, spite of her 
 disinterestedness, " was very glad that he 
 was unable to visit more than once a week. 
 Still, how earnestly on many accounts did 
 she desire the return of Fortescue ! But her 
 removal from her present unsuitable resi- 
 dence was sooner effected than she even 
 hoped for. After giving her, when alone with 
 him, unequivocal marks of his evident de- 
 signs on her heart, short of making a positive 
 declaration, Aubrey one morning ventured 
 to seek her in her dressing-room, when he 
 thought Lady Villeroy was out, and there 
 he professed for her the most ardent and 
 devoted of passions, declaring that he 
 never truly loved till then, and till she was 
 irrevocably the bride of Captain Fortescue, 
 he never, never would give up the hope of 
 calling her his. Unknown to him, the door 
 was ajar, and while the distressed and 
 offended Julia was vainly struggling to 
 free her hand and waist from his bold 
 grasp, Lady Villeroy, who from her own 
 
157 
 
 room had watched him to Julia's apartment, 
 now threw open the door, and pale and 
 trembling stood in a paroxysm of passion 
 before them ; I will not stain my pages with 
 all the just abuse of Aubrey, and unjust 
 accusations of Julia, which the enraged 
 and jealous woman vented on the guilty and 
 the innocent offender ; I shall only state 
 that the vituperation ended in a command 
 that Julia should quit the house that very 
 day, or if allowed to stay, as she requested 
 to do, till she could write to her friends and 
 receive an answer, she was to do so only on 
 condition that she never exchanged a 
 word with Mr. Aubrey, who long before 
 the storm ended had quietly withdrawn 
 himself from its fury and left the house ; 
 fortunately Captain Fortescue arrived at 
 this very moment,and Juliajike a frightened 
 bird, flew into his arms for shelter and pro- 
 tection ! Fear makes every one fond, and 
 never before had Fortescue been so satisfied 
 with any reception which Julia had given 
 him. All her coldness, all her reserve was 
 gone, she seemed to cling to him as her 
 
158 
 
 only friend, her support, preserver, her 
 lover, and every tender name in one — her 
 husband ! and while he folded her meagre 
 form to his breast, and laid his glowing 
 cheek to her pale and tearful one, he 
 thought that though he might have loved 
 more passionately before, he had never 
 loved so sweetly and so tenderly ! But 
 Fortescue at length discovered that Julia's 
 emotion did not proceed entirely from joy 
 of his return, for she exclaimed at last — 
 " Oh ! take me away ! take me away from 
 hence directly ?" Julia could not have laid 
 on her lover a command which he was 
 more willing to obey, as he had always dis- 
 approved her resolution to remain with her 
 mother-in-law. 
 
 " Most gladly would I do so," he re- 
 plied — " but why this hurry, Julia ?" 
 
 u Oh ! I am turned out ! desired to go 
 by Lady Villeroy !" 
 
 " And wherefore ?" 
 
 " The cause is too absurd to relate," 
 replied Julia, blushing, " but do not leave 
 me here, take me with you !" 
 
\59 
 
 " I will not leave you, my beloved 
 girl," replied Fortescue, " but you shall 
 not go away with me, and me alone ; no 
 Julia, my mother, my sister, or our dear 
 Miss Brightwen— Aston's Miss Brightwen, 
 for such she now avowedly is, shall come 
 to fetch you away, and in a manner befit- 
 ting your situation in life." 
 
 * Oh ! no, I cannot remain here till they 
 
 come 
 
 " Yes you can, for they are in London ; 
 they arrived to-day, as the drawing-room is 
 a week sooner than was expected." Then 
 ringing for his servant, he wrote a few 
 lines, and desired him to take them in- 
 stantly to South Audley Street. " And then, 
 my own Julia, safe under the protection of 
 the best of women, you shall only leave her 
 protection for that of her most happy son !" 
 As he said this, Julia looked up earnestly, 
 searchingly, and touchingly in his face ; 
 then, as if overcome by some sudden and 
 overwhelming emotion, she fell back in his 
 arms as if in the embrace of death. The 
 violence with which the terrified Fortescue 
 
160 
 
 rang the bell, alarmed even Lady Villeroy, 
 and she rushed into the room, but seeing 
 what had happened, she coolly desired 
 Miss Villeroy 's maid would see after her 
 mistress, for that she did not understand 
 fits. 
 
 " What means this unnatural barbarity, 
 madam ?" cried Fortescue, as soon as 
 Julia was recovered, and the maid had left 
 the room, " what can that unoffending- 
 sweetness have done, for you to treat her 
 thus ?" 
 
 " Done ! I only found a cousin of mine 
 in her dressing-room making love to her — 
 that's all !" 
 
 " How !" he exclaimed, gasping for 
 breath, "but it is impossible ; I was to blame 
 to believe it even for an instant. Julia, 
 my love, speak and resent the infamous 
 charge." 
 
 " It is a true charge," replied Julia, 
 forcing a smile ; " but, as Lady Villeroy 
 knows the love was made against my will, 
 the scene was full as disagreeable to me as 
 it was to her." 
 
161 
 
 " Tis false ; my cousin is not a man to 
 have hazarded such conduct had he not 
 been led to suppose it would not be dis- 
 agreeable." 
 
 " Who is this gentleman, madam ?" said 
 Fortescue turning very pale ; " what is his 
 name, and where does he live ?" 
 
 " Do not tell him ! I conjure you not 
 to tell him," cried Julia ; " do you not see 
 what you have done ?" Lady Villeroy un- 
 derstood her, and being as much alarmed 
 for consequences to Aubrey as Julia was 
 for Fortescue, she declared that she would 
 not reveal the name of the gentleman, and 
 she hoped Julia would be equally discreet. 
 Fortescue, on the contrary, was resolved 
 not to let Julia rest fill he had heard on this 
 subject all that she could possibly tell, for 
 her concealment of the name might proceed 
 from regard for the unknown as well as for 
 himself, and jealousy is usually inseparable 
 from love. But in the midst of this un- 
 pleasant altercation, Lady Erpingham's 
 carriage drove up, and the countess sent in 
 her name. Lady Villeroy, however, refused 
 
to see her ; and leaving her maid to collect 
 her things together, Julia eagerly seized 
 Fortescue's arm, having vainly tried to 
 shake Lady Villeroy's hand in friendship 
 before they parted, and in another moment 
 she was seated by the side of her mother's 
 friend, and clasped to her maternal bosom. 
 Fortescue was in South Audley Street, 
 where they had hired a house for a month, 
 as soon as they were; he also found his 
 sister and Sophia just returned from a 
 walk ; they were mourning together over 
 the account he gave them of Julia's altered 
 looks, when Julia appeared ; at sight of 
 each dear familiar face, she felt herself 
 quite well ; nay more, quite happy ? When 
 the first emotions of meeting, and with the 
 added joy of knowing they were met not 
 soon to part again, had subsided, Captain 
 Fortescue with more perturbation than he 
 wished, desired leave to lay his case before 
 them, and to ask whether they did not 
 think he had great reason to be jealous, for 
 that, even by Julia's own confession, he had 
 a rival who was allowed to make love to her 
 
163 
 
 in her dressing-room. His audience, when 
 he had told his tale, were clearly of his 
 opinion, and called on Julia for her defence ; 
 and when she had given her statement, 
 beginning with Aubrey's first arrival in 
 Gloucester Place, then describing Mans- 
 feldt's visit, her conversation with Lady 
 Villeroy, and lastly, the scene in her dress- 
 ing-room, she was declared fully ex- 
 culpated, and Fortescue forbidden to be 
 jealous. He was also forbidden to know 
 the name of his rival, and Julia was pro- 
 nounced fully equal to defend herself from 
 his pursuit, and revenge her own quarrels. 
 Fortescue was obliged to submit to the 
 decision, nor could he be jealous with any 
 reason of this uknown lover, for he could 
 not be, as he at first was inclined to think 
 him, the cause of Julia's mysterious cold- 
 ness, as that existed long before, according 
 to her own account, she had ever seen this 
 man ; and certainly in Julia's reception of 
 him that day, there was every mark of the 
 fondest attachment ; therefore, he dismissed 
 his jealousy, but still he wished the cir- 
 
164 
 
 cumstance had not happened, and he 
 wished still more, that he knew the name 
 of the unknown. 
 
 The next day, when Julia, whose 
 spirits had been kept up the day before, 
 and her cheek flushed from the joy she 
 felt in being reunited to her friends, made 
 her appearance at breakfast, she excited 
 general alarm in all who beheld her. Lord 
 Aston had never seen her before, and he, 
 when he surveyed her thin form and pale 
 cheek, looked at his brother with a glance 
 expressive of the tenderest pity, while the 
 rest of the party, who had known her a fat 
 and blooming girl, could scarcely conceal 
 the anxiety which she occasioned them. 
 Marcus, indeed, was so distressed that he 
 suddenly left the room, and sent for the 
 earl out, to conjure him to let his mother 
 hasten with Julia immediately to Clifton, 
 or Hastings, or whithersoever the medical 
 men should advise them to go ; and beg- 
 ging him to suggest to Sophia the necessity 
 of urging Jnlia to have advice directly. 
 The equally affectionate and alarmed 
 
165 
 
 hearts of his mother, his sister, and Sophia, 
 had already suggested all he wished; and 
 Julia, though declaring her conviction that 
 she was quite well, but had been prayed 
 upon by the disagreeableness of her late 
 situation, consented readily to have advice, 
 and also to oblige Fortescue, though as- 
 sured by the physician that her complaint 
 was only nervous ; she as readily consented 
 to go to Clifton, as soon as Lady Erping- 
 ham and her other friends could accom- 
 pany her. 
 
 In the meanwhile she seemed to recover 
 her looks daily for many successive days, but 
 suddenly she drooped again ; and on asking 
 Lady Helena whose plan it was that she 
 should go to Clifton, and hearing it was 
 Fortescue's, she changed colour, and burst 
 into tears ; an emotion which Lady Helena 
 very naturally attributed to the proof 
 which the proposal was of her lover's 
 tender anxiety. 
 
 The next day Fortescue went down to 
 Bristol, where an old friend of his resided, 
 and on whose account he preferred Clifton 
 
166 
 
 to Hastings, in order to see if he could 
 find a convenient house or lodging in the 
 neighbourhood, for his mother and her 
 guests ; and having succeeded to his satis- 
 faction, he returned in high spirits, but was 
 evidently disappointed at the excessive 
 coldness with which Julia received his de- 
 lighted assurance, that he had hired an 
 excellent house, with a beautiful garden to 
 it, within a short drive of the Wells. 
 
 " I would rather have gone anywhere 
 than to Clifton," replied Julia, almost 
 pettishly ; and while Fortescue changed 
 colour, and stood speechless with painful 
 and almost angry surprise, Julia attributed 
 his change of countenance and silence to 
 other causes, and to conceal her agony 
 suddenly quitted him. 
 
 * That dear girl is very ill, Helena, 
 very ill, indeed !" said he to his sister, " for 
 her temper is changed, and she is grown 
 pettish, and difficult to please !" 
 
 " She must be ill indeed, then," replied 
 Lady Helena ; " where is she V but, with- 
 out waiting for his reply, she went to 
 
167 
 
 Julia's apartment, and found her in tears ; 
 but she persisted to declare that she had 
 nothing to reveal, as their medical attendant 
 and her friend believed they had their 
 source only in physical suffering ; but Lady 
 Helena lamented that the ceremony of her 
 presentation, which she would fain have 
 deferred till Julia could be presented with 
 her, would keep Lady Erpingham in 
 London some days, and prevent their 
 instant removal to Clifton. 
 
CHAP. XX. 
 
 If Julia's appearance at court was com- 
 paratively a time of indifference to Lady 
 Helena, it was one of positive anxiety to 
 Lord Restormel ; for, as yet, Lady Helena 
 had never been in the court circle ; and 
 few men besides himself and Lord Clan- 
 ross, who had pretensions to address her, 
 had been admitted in the circle of Laurel 
 Grove. But now she would be exposed 
 to the admiration and addresses of men, of 
 higher rank than himself, and also to all 
 the dangers and temptations of a London 
 life ; for it was the earl's intention to re- 
 main two or three months at least in 
 London, that Lady Helena might see 
 something of high life ; and (which he 
 earnestly desired) might see enough of its 
 emptiness and heartlessness, to settle down 
 cheerfully as a domestic married woman : 
 and though forced to live in the metropolis 
 
169 
 
 when her lord attended his parliamentary 
 duties, should only wish to enjoy the best 
 and only precious privilege of a residence 
 in London, namely, that of assembling round 
 her table, those persons, of both sexes, dis- 
 tinguished for their talents, their learning, 
 their conversational powers, and their 
 public and private virtues. 
 
 The earl also wished to give Lady 
 Helena an opportunity of being convinced, 
 that she preferred Lord Restormel to all 
 other men ; for, hitherto, she had only seen 
 him where he had none to compete with 
 him. But Lord Restormel himself, now 
 that the time for this opportunity of con- 
 viction to Lady Helena was arrived, 
 shrunk from it with all the timidity and 
 self-distrust of a man who truly loves ; 
 and when he heard that Mr. Seebright, 
 Lady Helena's cousin, told every one that, 
 though Lady Helena had accepted Lord 
 Restormel, it was only on condition that 
 they were quite free to part, if he or she 
 desired it : he felt himself a prey to jealous 
 apprehension, vague in its objects, indeed, 
 
 VOL. III. i 
 
170 
 
 at present, but looking forward to its 
 having only too soon an object and a par- 
 ticular cause. 
 
 I dare not analyze with accuracy the 
 feelings of Lady Helena, when the day of 
 her appearance at court arrived. Often, 
 during her intercourse with Lady Restor- 
 mel and her lover, her self-consequence and 
 pride had been wounded, and especially 
 since she had heard certain hints and insi- 
 nuations from Norah Netherby, by the 
 idea that the former, at least, thought her 
 inferior to her son in worth, and that it 
 was a great favour done to her to be ac- 
 cepted as the bride of Restormel ; while 
 her lover, she thought, valued his hand 
 and heart at so high a rate, that he ima- 
 gined a woman ought to make any 
 sacrifices, with cheerfulness, to ensure a 
 continuance of his favour, and a fulfilment 
 of his promises ; u but, surely," whispered 
 pride, " I, Lady Helena Fortescue, an 
 earl's daughter, with a large independent 
 fortune, and with no mean personal or 
 mental advantages, have a right to expect 
 
171 
 
 to require not make sacrifices ; therefore I 
 would not have Restormel too sure of ob- 
 taining me after all !" 
 
 But, what said love ? what said justice? 
 as Lady Helena looked on her lover's ex- 
 pressive countenance, gazed on his manly 
 form, and listened to the touching elo- 
 quence of his heart, breathed in the deep 
 and mellow tone of his persuasive voice, 
 and above all, when her judgment dwelt 
 on the long list of his public and private 
 virtues ; it told, indeed, a different story to 
 that of self-love ; it talked of the joy of 
 making sacrifices for such a man, and Lady 
 Helena, with a sigh, wished herself already 
 the wedded wife of Restormel. 
 
 Not long before the expected day ar- 
 rived, Lady Helena received the following 
 letter, dated from Restormel's house in 
 Berkely Square : 
 
 " Here I am, dear girl, come to Lon- 
 don, and I want your assistance and 
 advice. You must go with me to my 
 milliner's, for, spite of age and approaching 
 infirmities, I am going to the drawing- 
 room. One of my motives, my wish to 
 
172 
 
 pay my duty to my sovereign on his ac- 
 cession to the throne ; but there is yet 
 another and a dearer motive, Helena, the 
 wish to see my son's future bride presented, 
 and enjoy the admiration which she cannot 
 fail to excite. I go also to do her the honor 
 and pay her all the respect in my power, 
 and prove my approbation of Restormei's 
 choice. Yes, Helena, not only your own 
 real mother shall emerge from her long 
 years of retirement, and struggle with in- 
 disposition, in order to introduce her child, 
 but she who is your mother only in heart 
 and prospect, will once more make an 
 effort to overcome illness, and distaste 
 to such scenes, and enjoy the expected 
 triumph of the child of her affection, and 
 the son of her bosom. But you must come 
 and choose a dress for me worthy the oc- 
 casion, and of you. 
 
 " Your affectionate 
 
 " Olivia Restormel." 
 
 When Lady Helena read this letter 
 
 the first time, it was with unmixed feelings 
 
 of delighted and grateful surprise ; but on 
 
 the second and third reading she fancied it 
 
173 
 
 was intended to impress her with a sense of 
 obligation for the great honor she meant to 
 do her, and was an ostentatious, offensive 
 claim on her gratitude. Besides, it seemed 
 as if she wished to show the world that Lady 
 Helena was really property, and that Lady 
 Restormel, by appearing at court, in her 
 party, after an absence of many years from 
 such places, meant to mark out that Lady 
 Helena was the betrothed wife of her son, 
 and, flattering condescension! with her 
 entire approbation. But the next moment 
 Lady Helena chid herself for ingratitude 
 and waywardness of feeling, and was really 
 ashamed of herself when Sophia, to whom 
 she showed the letter, saw in it nothing 
 but what the affectionate writer meant, 
 and wondered Lady Helena could be so 
 long putting on her hat and shawl, when 
 she'was to see Lady Restormel, after having 
 received such a letter from her. 
 
 Lady Helena went and found the wel- 
 come all her best feelings could desire, and 
 her bad ones for awhile, at least, slum- 
 bered, and she forgot what she now too 
 often remembered, namely, that Lord Res- 
 
J 74 
 
 tormel loved her against his judgment, and 
 Lady Restormel permitted his addressing 
 her against her will. 
 
 At length the hour of presentation ar- 
 rived, and Julia and Sophia, almost wishing 
 they could have been of the party, saw the 
 earl and countess accompanied by Captain 
 Fortescue and Lady Helena set off for 
 court. Lord Aston had attended the levee, 
 but was unable to attend the drawing- 
 room, as his little boy was very ill, and he 
 was forced to go to Laurel Grove. Lady 
 Restormel went with her son; her expec- 
 tations that Lady Helena would be gene- 
 rally admired were fulfilled to their utmost 
 extent ; but while Lord Restormel beheld 
 with fearful pleasure the evident triumph 
 of his mistress, he was equally proud of the 
 marked respect and welcome admiration 
 with which his still lovely mother had been 
 received ; and, as he led her through the 
 rooms, dividing his attention between her 
 and Lady Helena, the latter overheard 
 two young men say to each other. "Look, 
 there's Restormel; no eyes, as usual, but 
 for his old mother; and really she is a 
 
175 
 
 noble and beautiful looking ruin ; it is a 
 pity he cannot marry her, I am sure he 
 will never marry, for he can never cor- 
 dially love or admire any other woman, for 
 he thinks her a paragon, and the only 
 woman therefore worthy him." 
 
 This was poison to the feelings of Lady 
 Helena, and when Lord Restormel ap- 
 proached her, after having procured a seat 
 for his mother till her carriage could get 
 up, she received him with such coldness, 
 and turned with such eagerness to resume 
 her conversation with a young marquis 
 jus-t .returned from abroad, who had not 
 rested till he was presented to her, so fas- 
 cinated had he been with her appearance, 
 that all the anticipated pangs of jealousy 
 were, he found, nothing to what he at that 
 moment experienced, and he almost re- 
 gretted that his necessary attention to the 
 parent whom he idolized, forced him to 
 leave Lady Helena to the services and 
 attentions of the marquis. 
 
 As they drove home, Lady Restormel, 
 unconscious of what had happened to dis- 
 tress her son, complimented him on the 
 
176 
 
 complete success which had attended the 
 woman of his heart, and wondered at his 
 cold replies. "During the little time," 
 said she, " that I stayed in the rooms, I 
 observed a little circle of admirers had 
 gathered round her; but who was that 
 tall, elaborately dressed young man, who 
 seemed so particularly attentive to her ?" 
 
 " That travelled coxcomb," replied Lord 
 Restormel, changing colour; "oh, that was 
 the Marquis of L. ; so you observed his 
 attention, did you ? " 
 
 " Yes, but not with pain ; " then laying 
 her hand expressively on his arm, she 
 added in the words of Iago, smiling as she 
 did so, " Oh, my lord, beware of jealousy !" 
 
 Lord Restormel forced a smile, but was 
 glad to be prevented replying by their 
 arrival in Berkeley Square, whence he was 
 going to South Audley Street to learn if 
 Lady Helena was returned, when he was 
 summoned to his mother in her dressing- 
 room, avIio, having at the impulse of affec- 
 tion, made an effort beyond her strength, 
 had fallen into a long and deep swoon, and 
 had, on her recovery, desired to see her 
 
177 
 
 physician and her son. The latter when 
 he saw her, and heard what had happened, 
 forgot his jealousy , and even his love, in 
 terror for his mother's life. 
 
 Lady Helena returned home in high 
 spirits ; her vanity hacf been gratified to 
 the utmost, and her heart also, for she 
 saw how devoted to her the heart of her 
 lover was, spite of the remark she had 
 overheard by his change of colour and 
 countenance, when she received him so 
 coldly, and talked with Lord L. ; and all her 
 best feelings led her to glory in having sub- 
 jected the guarded heart of such a man. 
 Lady Helena's filial love also led her to enjoy 
 the openly avowed pleasure which her 
 parents felt from her reception from roy- 
 alty, and the sort of sensation which she 
 excited, while Fortescue bluntly exclaimed, 
 " On the word of a sailor, my mother and 
 you, Helena, were the most beautiful 
 women at court." 
 
 " For shame, Marcus," cried the coun- 
 tess, " what gross flattery to name me with 
 your young sister." 
 
 15 
 
178 
 
 " He only speaks the truth of you," 
 said the earl affectionately ; " and even 
 while 1 recalled the pride and pleasure with 
 which I first led you, Augusta, into that 
 circle, I gazed on you at that moment with 
 equal, if not greater pleasure, from feeling 
 how much the wife was dearer than the 
 bride. As to Helena she is young and 
 new, else — " 
 
 "What else?" said Helena; "some- 
 thing meant in paternal prudence to mor- 
 tify my vanity, I dare say; but, oh, those 
 precious tears ! " she exclaimed, seeing that 
 her father's observation had affected her 
 mother. " What a happy woman shall I 
 be, if, after being five and thirty years a 
 wife, I may be able to shed them, and for 
 such a cause !" 
 
 c< They are sweet and precious tears, 
 indeed," said the countess. " But, my dear 
 lord, I cannot allow you to think that He- 
 lena is not quite as handsome, if not hand- 
 somer than I am." 
 
 Julia and Miss Brightwen smiled with 
 heartfelt, though transient pleasure, at the 
 
m 
 
 account given by Fortescue of the praises 
 he had heard of his sister's beauty and 
 grace; but the joy of the first was soon 
 clouded again by some unknown causes? 
 and that of the latter by a letter from Lord 
 Aston, stating, that he had carried down 
 his own travelling physician with him, 
 who had known his son from his birth, 
 and that he had declared that he believed 
 his only chance for life was being removed 
 into his native air— that of Nice; that he 
 must therefore take him thither immedi- 
 ately, and that his friend thought his own 
 health would also be benefitted by the 
 change. 
 
 This letter distressed the whole party, 
 as well as Sophia, especially as Lady Er- 
 pingham was not strong enough to under- 
 take the care of a sick child ; and though 
 Lady Helena was willing to accompany 
 her brother, and even give up the society 
 of her lover, and the as yet untasted 
 delights of London for his sake ; her pa- 
 rents themselves, and Lord Aston, they 
 were very sure, would not accept such a 
 sacrifice. 
 
180 
 
 Lord Aston soon followed his letter, 
 and in such evident dejection that Sophia 
 could scarcely bear to witness it, and could 
 not grudge him the consolation of hearing 
 her confess the misery the sight of his 
 occasioned her. As soon as ever Lord 
 Aston thought that decorum could not be 
 violated by his confession of his love to 
 Sophia, he had disclosed it to her, and re- 
 ceived from _her an avowal of mutual at- 
 tachment — an attachment as tender as his 
 own. " Ah, no!" replied Lord Aston, 
 " that is impossible Sophia, you were ten- 
 derly attached to another ; but I never 
 really loved any woman but you." 
 
 " But he whom I loved," she replied, 
 " was not the friend of one whom I doted 
 on, and doted on by him. Oh, Lord Aston ! 
 when I remember how many ties bind me 
 to you, and reflect what joy our union 
 would give to him we have lost, if he were 
 permitted to witness it, I feel a tender- 
 ness and a nearness of union with you, 
 which I could not have, and never could 
 have had with any other man." 
 
181 
 
 " I believe it," replied he, " and that 
 makes me hope, and emboldens me :" but 
 he suddenly quitted her, leaving the sen- 
 tence unfinished ; and Sophia was depressed 
 and absent the whole of the ensuing day, 
 though she tried to interest herself in 
 Lady Helena, and her vicissitudes of feel- 
 ing. " Why do you keep your court 
 head-dress on, Lady Helena," said she. 
 
 " Oh ! because Mrs. W. is at home 
 this evening, and Mrs. Seebright and I are 
 going thither." 
 
 " Is Lord Restormel going also ? " 
 
 " I declare I never asked him," was 
 the answer ; " but I know Lord L. will be 
 there, for he told me so." 
 
 " And who is Lord L ?" 
 
 " Oh, the Marquis of L., such a sweet 
 creature!" 
 
 " I do not like the term, Lady Helena." 
 
 " Pretty prude, why not ?" 
 
 " Would Lord Restormel like to hear 
 you call any man a sweet creature." 
 
 " Perhaps not; but he must learn to 
 like many things he does not like now, or 
 
182 
 
 I may like Lord L., who knows ? — it is 
 very evident that he likes me, and has no 
 paragon mother." 
 
 " Lady Helena!" 
 
 " Miss Brightwen!" 
 
 "Where is Lord Restormel?" 
 
 " Aye, where indeed — petting his 
 mamma, I dare say, and can't spare time to 
 pet me." 
 
 " So, so, it is only pique then, and I am 
 easy." 
 
 " No, indeed, it is not pique only ; I 
 am in earnest, and Lord L. is in earnest, 
 and only think it is almost time to dress 
 for dinner, and no Restormel I declare ; I 
 will go to Mrs. W.'s whether he does or 
 not." 
 
 Soon after Lord Restormel entered, 
 and Lady Helena was going to show him 
 by her manner that she was displeased at 
 his long absence, when one glance at his 
 pale cheek and altered mien substituted 
 tender alarm, for resentment, in her bosom, 
 and she asked him what had happened ? 
 
 Lord Restormel could only answer, 
 
183 
 
 " My mother, my poor mother! the exer- 
 tion has been too much for her." He then 
 told her that she was ordered to a foreign 
 climate instantly. Away fled every feel- 
 ing but those of pity, sorrow, and self- 
 reproach from Lady Helena's heart. 
 " And she wishes to see you, Helena," he 
 added, " if not inconvenient to you, but 
 I fear by that head-dress — " 
 
 " Fear nothing," she replied, tears 
 streaming down her cheeks, as she hastily 
 quitted him. She returned with her hair 
 divested of its ornaments, and in a plain 
 evening dress. " Now, then," said she, 
 " take me to your dear mother instantly." 
 
 Sophia on hearing this, suddenly rose 
 and kissed her cheek. 
 
 "Why was that?" said Lord Restor- 
 mel. 
 
 " Lady Helena understands it," said 
 Sophia, " and that is enough ; so go, and 
 ask no questions ;" but a servant now came 
 to say that Lady Restormel was too ill to 
 see any one, she had evidently broken a 
 blood vessel. Lady Helena's visit was con- 
 
384 
 
 sequently delayed, but every feeling 
 dearest to her heart made her refuse to go 
 to Mrs. W.'s. assembly. It was well for 
 her companions that she did so, as spite of 
 her great anxiety for Lady Restormel, 
 Lady Helena was able, from her powers of 
 active love, and benevolent wish to for- 
 get her own cares in those of others, to 
 keep up the painfully depressed spirits of 
 every one in her family circle. Lord 
 Aston had left them early to go and meet 
 his children and their nurses on their road 
 to London, and conduct them to the house 
 of a friend of his, where they were to remain 
 till every thing was ready for their setting 
 off for the continent ; but Sophia's spirits 
 did not rise when she ceased to see his de- 
 jected countenance, and it was evident 
 that she had something unusual weighing 
 on her mind. That evening, before they 
 separated for the night, Lord and Lady Er- 
 pingham requested to have a few moments 
 conversation with her in her dressing- 
 room. The conference was shorter, much 
 shorter than they expected. The earl 
 
185 
 
 was the speaker, and he began by begging 
 Sophia to forgive him and the countess, if 
 they, as parents, anxious for a child's happi- 
 ness, ventured to say what Lord Aston 
 could not, and would not presume to ask 
 for himself. 
 
 " He could not ask what it is my duty 
 to deny, my lord," was Sophia's eager 
 reply. 
 
 " Heaven bless you for saying so," 
 exclaimed the countess. 
 
 " But hear why Aston hesitates to do 
 what we are going to do, it is, because he 
 feels he has no right to cast the least shade 
 on a character and conduct hitherto so 
 spotless, by requesting you, in defiance of 
 the world's censure, to let him lead you to 
 the altar before the usual time has elapsed 
 since the death of his wife, that you may 
 be the companion of his journey, and the 
 sharer of his duties ; he has told you, per- 
 haps, that poor little Everard is always 
 saying, i But where is dear, dear Miss 
 Brightwen ? she would make me well.'" 
 
 " No, indeed, he was too delicate to do 
 
186 
 
 so under the existing circumstances," re- 
 plied Sophia, struggling with her tears, 
 " but let me hasten to say, that though I 
 think under most circumstances it is one of 
 the first duties of a woman to avoid the 
 censure of the world if possible, it is not so 
 in my case, and my first duty is to the ob- 
 ject of my love and his dear children." 
 
 " Oh, welcome hearing !" cried the earl. 
 
 " Yes, my lord, I am only an obscure 
 individual, scarcely known, and certainly 
 not much valued out of your own circle 
 and that I once filled in Norfolk, and if 
 Lord Aston is willing to brave the censure 
 he may incur by marrying me so soon, I 
 have no right to shrink from it, and it will 
 be his wife whom he exposes to it, not the 
 humble Sophia Brightwen ; and believe me 
 that the cloud you witnessed on my brow 
 this evening proceeded from my wish to 
 offer to accompany Lord Aston as his wife, 
 and the attached, affectionate nurse of 
 his child, and struggling with the con- 
 sciousness that delicacy forbade me to 
 express that wish. Oh ! my dear lord, you 
 
m 
 
 have removed such a weight from my 
 heart." 
 
 " And so have you from ours, ingenu- 
 ous, right-hearted, sound-headed woman,'' 
 replied Lord Erpingham ; " happy will the 
 man be who calls you wife, and the chil- 
 dren that call you mother ! all then that we 
 now wait for is your father's consent, for 
 that I will apply to-morrow." It was with 
 a heart even more than usually grateful 
 that Sophia that night offered up her 
 thanks to the being who had created, and 
 had so bountifully blessed her. Lord As- 
 ton came to breakfast the next day, little 
 imagining what his father had done for 
 him, and what happiness awaited him ! It 
 was then settled that at the end of a week 
 he should receive the hand of Sophia from 
 her father, who was to come to town for the 
 purpose, and then set off for Dover with his 
 bride and family : on the evening of the morn- 
 ing, which blessed Lord Aston with the pros- 
 pect of calling Sophia his before he left Eng- 
 land, Lady Restormel, who had a previous 
 conference with Sophia, requested to see 
 
188 
 
 Lady Helena, and with a beating heart the 
 latter obeyed the summons. 
 
 " They are positive and peremptory with 
 me my dearest girl," said she, as she ten- 
 derly welcomed the weeping Helena, " and 
 they insist on my leaving England directly." 
 " But who is to go with you ?" hastily 
 interrupted Lady Helena. 
 
 " Oh ! kind friends, but not Restormel ; 
 he is eager to acompany me, though at a 
 sacrifice which would, I know, tear his 
 heart— that of leaving you, but I will not 
 accept it ; besides, he has public duties to 
 perform. I did for a moment think of 
 asking Lord Erpingham to allow your 
 union to take place directly, if you were 
 not averse to it, that you might both 
 accompany me abroad ; but this would 
 have been mere selfishness, and I also felt 
 that all the objections to Restormel's being 
 united to you now, and all your father's 
 wise reasons against it, remain in their full 
 force, therefore I am contented to go with- 
 out him and you ; but if it pleases the dis- 
 poser of events to spare my life till I can 
 
189 
 
 embrace you as my daughter in the place 
 of my exile, I shall indeed think I have lived 
 long enough, and shall depart in peace ?" 
 Here she threw herself on Lady Hele- 
 na's neck, who wept in agitated silence. 
 ■' But it will not be," she continued, 
 recovering her composure, " we must part, 
 Helena, and I feel that we shall part for 
 ever in this world." 
 
 " Do not, do not say so." 
 
 " I must, for it is the truth, but do 
 not tell Restormel so ; I therefore wish to 
 perform the duty I owe you before I go, 
 as we go very soon, and my companions on 
 the journey, that is those with whom I tra- 
 vel in company, will be Lord Aston and his 
 bride." 
 
 " I am so glad to hear it ! Sophia will 
 do for you all I could, and better too." 
 
 " No, not better, I have an excellent 
 memory, and 'till this warm heart is cold, 
 there will you be enthroned, Helena !" 
 
 " Oh ! I am not worthy, I am not 
 indeed of such." 
 
 " Hush ! I will not hear you on such 
 
190 
 
 a theme ; and now hear me, Helena, had I 
 remained here, you would, strange as it 
 may seem to you, have found a more 
 indulgent judge of your actions in me 
 than in Restormel. The gratitude I owed 
 you, and the knowledge I obtained of your 
 noble qualities, conquered all my prejudices 
 against you, and I gave my heart to you 
 without reserve ! But having done so, I felt 
 myself pledged, even by my self-love, to ex- 
 cuse or overlook your faults if ever they 
 should force themselves upon me, and if I, 
 the severe Lady Restormel, approved you, 
 who should dare to question the propriety 
 of my son's choice ? Yet I believe I am 
 not doing justice to my heart either, for 
 you have so twined yourself round that 
 heart, that my affection alone was suffi- 
 cient to make me excuse you however you 
 might err, and when you lose me, you will 
 lose the firmest and most indulgent of 
 friends." 
 
 rt When I lose you ! talk not so, I 
 cannot listen to it." 
 
 " Bear with me a little longer : I must 
 
J91 
 
 repeat, if you love Restormel be on your 
 guard — he is proud, not more perhaps 
 than becomes him ; yet now, on the verge 
 of the grave and of eternity, I feel the 
 folly and the presumptuous daring of all 
 pride, even the pride of virtue ; but proud 
 he is, and rigid he is in his ideas respecting 
 the conduct of women, and spite of your 
 charms, and of his consciousness of your 
 power, the latter heightened no doubt by 
 the obstacles which I opposed to his ever 
 thinking of you as a wife, I am very cer- 
 tain that he would have struggled with 
 his passion whatever it had cost him, had 
 not your virtue made me also your con- 
 quest, and that the saviour of his mother 
 became more lovely in his eyes than ever, 
 and he was your's without one struggle, 
 and without one evidence of your being 
 changed in any one respect ; but now the 
 circumstances are materially altered — he 
 has given you his invaluable heart, and 
 you have given him your's in exchange. 
 Now, then, Restormel considers you as 
 bound by duties, and so far he is right ; a 
 
192 
 
 betrothed mistress is bound by ties nearly 
 as much as a wife, and I am much de- 
 ceived if Restormel will not expect little 
 surrenders of your will to him now, as 
 much as if you were his wife ; and, if you 
 really love him as much as he deserves to 
 be loved, you will make them, Helena." 
 
 " But if he loves me, will he not be 
 willing to make surrenders of his will to 
 me ? is not the obligation mutual ?" 
 
 " In some cases, and in some points 
 certainly, but not in those trifles in which 
 a lover is tenacious, and which tenacity is 
 often caused by a degree of delicate jea- 
 lousy and holy admiration which a woman 
 ought to delight in and to respect, even 
 though it be often troublesome!" 
 
 " But how can one delight in what 
 is troublesome, and often, perhaps, frivo- 
 lous and vexatious ?" 
 
 " What a lover exacts can never seem 
 frivolous and vexatious in the eye of a 
 woman who is really in love. I shall leave 
 your heart to answer that question for 
 me." 
 
193 
 
 " But to what trifles do you allude ? 
 Can those who love quarrel about trifles?" 
 
 " Yes, and commonly about trifles 
 only ; yet, trifles having serious results — 
 dress, for instance, a handkerchief too open, 
 a tucker too low, a petticoat too short, a 
 manner too flirting with other men, dancing 
 with other men — waltzing I know you never 
 indulge in ; but should Restormel, justly 
 or not, venture to find fault with your 
 dress or your manner, I earnestly hope 
 you will not let your woman's pride induce 
 you to disregard what he says, but that 
 you will think that noble heart worthy the 
 surrender even of your better judgment 
 on some points. If you are capable of this 
 high-minded sacrifice, you will, you must 
 be a happy woman, and my son a happy 
 man ; if not, you will never be ? ippy 
 united, for I foresee that you will part 
 and be unhappy ; but this is too horrible 
 a prospect for me to dwell upon, it kills 
 me. Now, farewell ! dearest, dearest girl ! 
 I never loved woman as I love you ! and 
 to part with you is such agony, that I 
 
 VOL. III. K 
 
194 
 
 cannot endure it again ! Helena,, think 
 that you have heard me speak as if it was 
 a voice from the tomb, and respect it 
 accordingly ! Heaven bless you ! I can, 
 and will pray for you long after I cease to 
 see you, but I can bear to see you no 
 longer ! one more embrace, and then fare- 
 well for ever!" 
 
 Lady Helena again and again pre- 
 cipitated herself into those arms which now 
 resigned, and now recalled her again, as if 
 she foreboded that they indeed were never 
 to meet more ; and on Lord Restormel's 
 entering, who came to announce the phy- 
 sician, she was led from the room by him 
 in an agony of tender and overwhelming 
 emotion. 
 
 " Why are you thus agitated, my be- 
 loved girl ? " cried he, " I never saw you 
 thus before ; what has my mother said to 
 you?" 
 
 " She has spoken like herself, but do 
 not ask me to repeat what she said — I 
 cannot ; all I now wish is to ^go home and 
 to bed." 
 
195 
 
 Lord Restormel dared not enquire 
 further, for he feared to hear that his 
 mother had said that they should never 
 meet again. While Lord Aston, and Sophia, 
 and Lady Restormel, remained in London, 
 Lady Helena devoted herself entirely to 
 them, but she never was allowed to see 
 the latter alone again, nor to take leave of 
 her ; with these precautions, Lady Res- 
 tormel was better when she set off for 
 Dover, whither her son accompanied her; 
 Lord Aston the same morning received the 
 hand of Sophia, and set off on his journey. 
 The parting between Sophia and Julia 
 was a very melancholy one, and the former 
 could scarcely have been easy to leave her 
 pupil, and one so long, one of the dearest 
 objects of her affections behind her, even 
 with friends so near and so beloved, had 
 she not hoped that when seas rolled be- 
 tween them, distance and absence might 
 open Julia's now closed heart to her en- 
 treaties, and that she would disclose to her 
 at length the cause of that uneasiness which 
 was evidently preying on her health, and 
 
}96 
 
 clouding over her prospects. Lord Aston 
 had, to the joy of Sophia, invited Julia 
 to accompany them abroad, but she had 
 positively refused to do so ; Captain For- 
 tescue had also objected to it, but had 
 promised, when Julia was his wife, to join 
 Lord and Lady Aston at Nice, and to this 
 arrangement Julia seemed to consent by 
 her silence. At the earnest entreaty of 
 Fortescue, Lady Erpingham and Julia 
 went to Clifton the day after the travel- 
 lers left London, and Lord Erpingham 
 and Lady Helena remained in South Aud- 
 ley Street ; but as London did not agree 
 long with Lord Erpingham's health, he 
 frequently went to Laurel Grove, leaving 
 his daughter to partake of the pleasures of 
 London under the protection of Mrs. See- 
 bright. 
 
CHAP. XXI. 
 
 It is not my intention to follow Lady 
 Helena to Almack's, and to all the various 
 scenes of fashionable gaiety into which her 
 dissipated friend led her, and in which the 
 admiration she excited, and perhaps en- 
 couraged, gave many a jealous pang to 
 the heart of her lover, and I may say, 
 offended his sense of propriety, and mili- 
 tated in his opinion against his rights; but 
 the attentions of Lord L. were so marked, 
 that Lord Restormel thought, as a woman 
 of honour, and one whose affections were 
 already engaged, Lady Helena ought to 
 discourage them. Lady Helena reasoned 
 differently, and wrote thus to Lady Aston 
 on the subject : — " I own that I am greedy 
 of admiration, but not for its own sake, but 
 Restormel's, ungrateful wretch as he is ; 
 and I wish, I confess, that Lord L. may 
 
198 
 
 lay his strawberry-leaves and balls at my 
 feet, that I may say to my dear lover, ' See 
 what I refuse for your sake! a marquis, 
 and the best dressed man in London ;' but 
 he says, ' As you know you never mean to 
 marry Lord L. you are making him un- 
 happy by seeming to encourage his suit.' 
 I reply, ' He will be so angry at any 
 woman's being able to refuse him, that he 
 will be heart-whole again in a minute ; 
 besides it would be conceited and indelicate 
 in me to act as if I supposed a man was in 
 love with me, till he had really told me 
 so ;' on which he shakes his wise head ; we 
 quarrel, and make it up again ; but the 
 other evening, just as I had almost pro- 
 mised Lord L. to waltz with him in came 
 Lord Restormel, and, pale as death, said 
 in a low voice, ' What are you going to do, 
 Lady Helena, surely not to join the walt- 
 zers I but, forgive me ! I affronted you by 
 believing it possible, even for a moment.' 
 I could not deceive such generous con- 
 fidence ; I therefore gave him my hand, 
 and desired him to lead me to a seat, feeling 
 
199 
 
 a little nervous at the possibility there was 
 that when Lord L., who had been called 
 away, should return, he would come and 
 claim me as one who had promised to 
 waltz with him. I was right, for he ex- 
 claimed, * Come, Lady Helena, the waltz 
 is begun !' ' What, then, my lord ! I am 
 not going to join it.' ' But, you promised 
 you would.' ' No, not absolutely pro- 
 mised, I am sure; and your wishes de- 
 ceived you.' ' One's wishes often deceive us, 
 I own,' he replied, with a sigh which he 
 meant to be tender, but only looked affected, 
 « but, are you in earnest now V ' Posi- 
 tively, I will not waltz!' He bowed, 
 looked piqued at me, and I thought queerly 
 at Restormel, and taking his brother 
 by the arm, went into another apartment. 
 ' Lady Helena !' said Restormel, ' an- 
 swer me. If I had not come in when 
 I did, would you not have waltzed with 
 that coxcomb ?' ' I am not quite sure, but 
 I think I should.' ' Then it was fear 
 of me, not a principle against the dance 
 itself, that now withheld you V < Love 
 
200 
 
 of you, not fear, my lord! I did not 
 like to give you pain ; when fear influ- 
 ences my actions, in any thing relating 
 to you, I shall have ceased to love you, for 
 perfect love, you know, casteth out fear.' I 
 was not conscious of the strength of my 
 own words, till I saw their effect on him ; 
 but I saw that he forgot every thing, but 
 the assurance from my lips — ' guileless 
 lips,' he calls them — that my love for him 
 was perfect, a truth the poor man is often 
 inclined to doubt, and so am I too. But, 
 he is a darling ! and I wish I had dukes 
 and princes at my feet, to sacrifice to him ! 
 Mem. Do you not think dukes and princes 
 are much obliged to me ?" 
 
 In reply Lady Aston wrote — " Foolish 
 Helena ! Lord Restormel would esteem the 
 sacrifice of one eccentricity, one wrong 
 habit to his wishes, of far more value 
 than the sacrifice of dukes, princes, and 
 marquisses. You are wrong, my dear 
 sister ! it is not honourable in an engaged 
 woman, for such you know yourself to be, 
 whatever pretty, prating Mrs. Seebright 
 
-201 
 
 may choose to tell your danglers, ever to 
 wish to make conquests, and the motive in 
 you, does not sanction the deed. Is the 
 poor father or mother excused from pu- 
 nishment, who steals a loaf only to save a 
 child from starving ? No ; and yet the 
 motive is a natural and amiable one. My 
 sweet girl, what is become of your under- 
 standing ? what guardian of your princi- 
 ples, lost in the whirl of London I suppose ; 
 and your principles, for want of this 
 guardian are running riot: pray get out 
 of the whirl as fast as possible." 
 
 Lady Helena was self-condemned long 
 before this letter reached her, for Lord L. 
 was going to give a grand ball, at Al- 
 mack's rooms, and it was known to be 
 given in honour of Lady Helena Fortescue. 
 
 This news irritated Lord Restormel so 
 much, that he reproached Lady Helena 
 more justly than discreetly, and demanded 
 her leave to call on the marquis, and tell 
 him that he was her accepted lover ; but 
 this permission she dared not give him, 
 
 k5 
 
202 
 
 lest a duel should be the result of the 
 meeting, according to the heathenish laws 
 of modern honour. 
 
 " Then tell him so yourself." 
 
 " What ! before he gives me a proper 
 opportunity. Impossible ! how indelicate !" 
 
 " It is better to act indelicately, than 
 dishonourably, madam ! You mean to 
 lead Lord L. on to propose to you, and 
 then to refuse him !" 
 
 " Are you sure I mean to refuse him ! 
 my lord." 
 
 " Distraction ! do you put that ques- 
 tion to me seriously ?" 
 
 " Lord Restormel, I may refuse Lord 
 L., but can I, dare I marry a man who 
 is so jealous and so violent as you are ?" 
 
 " Jealous ! I am only jealous of your 
 good name in this case. I would wish 
 you to act as becomes an honourable 
 woman, and if you go to this ball, you are 
 not an honourable woman ; and my objec- 
 tion to marry you, would be as great as 
 yours you say is to marry me." 
 
203 
 
 w Do you threaten me, my lord ? and 
 do you mean to say that I know not right 
 from wrong, honour from dishonour, as 
 well as yourself? My lord, I will be in no 
 man's leading-strings. I am myself the 
 guardian of my honour, and do not need so 
 insolent a monitor ?" 
 
 " Lady Helena ! Lady Helena ! do you 
 remember who says the words you now 
 quote 1 are her words befitting your pure 
 lips ?" 
 
 " It was a fair penitent, so called, who 
 spoke them, and so far they suit me ; for I 
 shall be one soon, I dare say, but I am not 
 now, so leave me : the longer you stay, the 
 wider the breach will be ; but, take notice, 
 I will go to Lord L.'s ball." 
 
 Lord Restormel instantly snatched his 
 hat up and departed, closing the door with 
 violence. 
 
 Lady Helena had been angry, because 
 she suspected she was wrong ; but she 
 could not bear to see how easily Lord 
 Restormel could think her so, and how 
 deeply he resented her rebellion to his 
 
204 
 
 wishes ; but she felt as he did, that she 
 ought not to go to Lord L.'s entertain- 
 ment, and she knew not how to reconcile 
 her offended pride, tenaciousness of her 
 own will, and her sense of duty. At this 
 juncture she received a letter from For- 
 tescue, urging her to come down to them, 
 if it were only for a few days, as he thought 
 Julia grew worse and worse ; colder and 
 colder to him she certainly did. 
 
 " In short," added he, " to own the 
 truth, I suspect that she repents of her 
 engagement to me, and wishes to break 
 it off; and this prospect, which would 
 have agonized me a few weeks ago, is 
 now not very painful to me— for her 
 coldness does tend to chill my love ; but 
 nothing else, believe me, Helena, could have 
 done it." " A quelque chosb malheur est bon" 
 says the proverb, and so Lady Helena 
 found it. Here was an opportunity of 
 avoiding going to the ball, without impro- 
 priety, and without seeming to do so in 
 deference to her lover's opinion, or out of 
 regard for his feelings ; and thus principle 
 
205 
 
 and pride would both be satisfied. Accord- 
 ingly, she ordered the carriage and post- 
 horses to come round directly, and instead 
 of going to Mrs. Seebright's, where she 
 was expected, as her father had left London 
 early that morning, she wrote that lady a 
 note to desire her to make her apologies to 
 Lord L. and sent another to Lord Restor- 
 mel to tell him she was gone to Clifton, 
 and should not return to London, being- 
 sick of it and gaiety, and then departed for 
 Clifton to clear up, if possible, the strange, 
 mysterious cause which seemed likely to 
 prevent a union very near her heart, or at 
 least to watch over the declining health of 
 the friend most dear to that heart. But 
 I wonder how soon Restormel will follow 
 me? was a question which she frequently 
 asked herself on the journey, and she some- 
 times bitterly regretted that she had not 
 condescended to ask to see him before she 
 set off. Though her note, announcing her 
 departure from. London, at such a moment, 
 conveyed a balm to the wounded feelings 
 of Lord Restormel, he was excessively 
 
206 
 
 hurt and piqued at her not having desired 
 to see him before she went ; and resent- 
 ment of this proof of indifference, as he 
 thought it, made him resolve, with weakness 
 equal to her own, to delay following her 
 to Clifton, much longer than he needed 
 to have done, and strongly against his 
 inclinations, which made him long to see 
 her, and forget, in a fond welcome, the 
 painful manner in which they last parted. 
 But I must now go back to Julia, and 
 describe what had been passing at Clifton. 
 A short time after her arrival, as she was 
 sitting in a shop, a lady in a widow's dress 
 passed the window ; on seeing her Julia 
 started up and ran to the door to look 
 after her, she then wrung her hands to- 
 gether, as if in agony, and fainted away. 
 Lady Erpingham, who was present, saw the 
 swoon, but had witnessed nothing else, as 
 she was making purchases, she therefore 
 only attributed Julia's fainting to encreased 
 weakness, and was glad her poor anxious 
 Marcus had not seen it. But from that 
 moment Julia's spirits were more depress 
 
207 
 
 ed than ever; soon after, as she was 
 with Lady Erpingham, Julia looked out of 
 the window and starting back, grasped 
 her companion's arm convulsively and ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " See ! see ! is not that he ? quick, tell 
 me, tell me." 
 
 " Yes, it is Marcus certainly, and walk- 
 ing with a widow : but, what then ? it is 
 only some messmate's widow I dare say ; 
 she is not in handsome mourning : dear 
 me ! you are going to faint ! shall we stop 
 and ask Marcus to come in ?" 
 
 " Not for the world, and I hope he does 
 not see us." Nor did he, for he was too 
 much engrossed by his companion : from 
 that moment Julia's manner to her lover 
 grew colder and colder. 
 
 " Marcus," said his mother to him that 
 day, but not in the presence of Julia, 
 " we saw you walking with a widow lady 
 this morning ; who was it ? do I know 
 her ?" 
 
 " No," he replied in a hurried manner, 
 
208 
 
 " she is an old acquaintance of mine, who 
 is come hither to die I fear, but no one 
 you know." 
 
 The truth was this :— As Marcus was 
 one day walking in the country by himself, 
 painfully ruminating on Julia's altered 
 manner, and fancying that the lover in 
 Gloucester-place might have alienated her 
 affections from him, he suddenly, on turn- 
 ing into a lane, met the very woman whose 
 avowed and passionate tenderness he was 
 now only too often contrasting with Julia's 
 coldness, namely, Mrs. Tyrawley herself, 
 and in a widow's dress ! He started at 
 seeing her, in evident agitation, and would 
 have passed on ; but she, apparently over- 
 come by the suddenness of the meeting, 
 and being too ill and weak from her ap- 
 pearance to bear any surprise, would, he 
 saw, fall to the ground, unless he sup- 
 ported her ; and catching her in his arms, 
 she lay pale, motionless, and, he believed, 
 insensible on his bosom while kneeling on 
 one knee; he held her there for some mi- 
 
c 209 
 
 nutes, vainly endeavouring to revive her. 
 Unconsciously his heart was touched, and 
 re-awakened to former feelings, by this 
 proof what deep emotion his unexpected 
 presence excited in this being, so passion- 
 ately beloved in the first glow of youthful 
 and unblighted hopes ; and as he gazed 
 on that perfect form, and that face which 
 not even sickness and insensibility could 
 rob of its loveliness, he could not help 
 pressing the unresisting beauty to his 
 heart, and imprinting once more a kiss 
 upon those beautiful lips which had so 
 often timidly shrunk from the pressure of 
 his. Mrs. Tyrawley at last thought pro- 
 per to revive, covered with becoming 
 blushes— nay, something like delirious 
 wandering attended her recovery. She 
 called him her own dear Marcus, beloved 
 in misery, in poverty, and despair, and 
 asked him why he had been away so long ? 
 Marcus was terrified, for he thought her 
 senses were gone ; but her eye gradually 
 lost its wildness, and exchanged it for a 
 look of such touching tenderness, that he 
 
210 
 
 dared not meet it : and having found that 
 she was quite recovered, he would have 
 taken his leave, but she detained him, and 
 reproachingly asked if he could not spare 
 a few moments longer to a dying and once 
 most dear friend, from the society of the 
 fond and youthful Julia ? The woman 
 who spoke looked the fond being whom 
 the youthful Julia was not, and a feeling 
 of resentment towards that innocent girl, 
 led him to stay with more willingness than 
 he would have felt but for the words 
 she used, and which applied so. And, alas ! 
 he stayed to hear, that ever since he had 
 fled from her with such apparent abhorrence 
 at the Pavilion, Mrs. Tyrawley had been 
 broken-hearted ; that the sight of him had 
 rekindled all her former fires— that her 
 husband had suspected the cause of her 
 dejection — had become jealous, and had 
 never forgiven her, and had made her life 
 wretched. That he had died suddenly, 
 leaving, to the surprise of every one, little 
 property ; and that having artfully pre- 
 vailed on her trustees to lend him the 
 
211 
 
 money settled on her, to vest it in a very 
 advantageous purchase, he had never re- 
 newed the settlement, and that she was 
 left with only a hundred a year, which re- 
 mained of her own fortune, to live upon ; 
 and that, worn down by various miseries* 
 she was ordered to Clifton, apparently 
 given over by her physicians. It was na- 
 tural, and, perhaps, excusable, in a man 
 smarting under the chilling return made 
 to his fondness by one woman, to be flat- 
 tered and attracted by the avowed attach- 
 ment of another, and that avowal wrung 
 from an apparently broken heart. He 
 therefore now no longer offered to leave 
 her, on the contrary, he consented to walk 
 further into the country; he even owned 
 that he wished Julia had her warmth of 
 heart and tenderness of nature, and the 
 arm that rested within his, was ever and 
 anon pressed against his side ; he did not, 
 however, promise to call on her when they 
 parted, but he found out where she usually 
 walked, and scarcely a day passed but 
 they met in that spot, where the manner of 
 
212 
 
 his first love was a direct contrast to that 
 of his second ; at last it became necessary 
 to see her, if it was only to complain to 
 her of. Julia's coldness — and then, how 
 soothing was the ill-restrained fondness 
 which shone in Lucy's eyes, and lighted 
 up her pale cheek with its accustomed 
 bloom ! At sight of Lucy, looking as she 
 did in former days, something of his former 
 feelings returned, and it was not long 
 before Fortescue, though still the engaged 
 lover of Miss Villeroy, was almost on 
 lover's terms with the beautiful, and, as 
 she said, dying, Mrs. Tyrawley ; and this 
 beloved being was poor, destitute, forlorn! 
 and jealousy of him had induced her hus- 
 band, in revenge, to contrive to leave her 
 as destitute as he could ; and for whom 
 was he going to sacrifice this woman ? for 
 one who evidently loved him no longer, 
 and whose wealth would soon enable her 
 to procure another lover, if one was not 
 already procured ! so thought, so felt Cap- 
 tain Fortescue, and it was soon visible, 
 therefore, to Julia, that his coldness was 
 
213 
 
 become equal to her ow;; ; that he now as 
 much avoided being alone with her as she 
 had avoided being alone with him, and 
 that therefore the crisis of her fate was 
 fast approaching : things were thus cir- 
 cumstanced when Lady Helena came down 
 to Clifton ; her quick eye soon discovered 
 that there was as great a change in her 
 brother's manner to Julia, as in her's to 
 him, though even in both she still saw, at 
 times, looks, stolen looks, which seemed to 
 say that their separation was more forced 
 than natural, and that love still lurked at 
 the bottom of each estranged heart — 
 estranged she knew not why — but Lady 
 Helena was soon so uneasy at Lord Res- 
 tor mel's neither writing to her, nor coming 
 to see her, that even her watchful eye 
 slumbered, and she ceased to importune 
 Julia and her brother, as she had hitherto 
 done, to explain the appearances which 
 surprised her ; time, however, began to 
 hang less heavy on her hands, for Colonel 
 Netherby, her cousin, arrived at Clifton 
 with Mr. and Mrs. Benson, whom Lady 
 Helena had not seen since their flight to 
 
214 
 
 the blacksmith, though Lord Erpingham 
 had met them in London soon after that 
 event, and had taken care of his niece's 
 interest ; but as she then no longer wanted 
 a home, he did not feel it necessary, and 
 he certainly did not deem it desirable to 
 invite them to Laurel Grove. On the 
 arrival of the Bensons at a large villa 
 which they took near Clifton, they gave it 
 out, that they meant to keep a sort of 
 open house, and Colonel Netherby, who 
 danced even too well for a gentleman, 
 was busily employed in collecting at 
 his sister's house all the best quadrille 
 and waltz dancers in the viciuity and 
 at the Wells ; and amongst the dancers 
 of the former, Lady Helena shone con- 
 spicuous ; she had often danced waltzes 
 with Netherby in her own family circles 
 but though he pronounced her to be the 
 best waltzer he ever beheld, and he wished 
 her to shew off in the balls which his sister 
 gave ; and though, as she loved him dearly, 
 she loved to oblige him — one thought of 
 her lover made her refuse him decidedly, 
 and feel it no hardship to do so ; nothing 
 
215 
 
 else would she willingly refuse Colonel 
 Netherby ; she walked with him, rode with 
 him, drove out with him, talked with him 
 in preference to dancing with other men, 
 in short, as they were, and seemed much 
 attached to each other, and Netherby was 
 so handsome and so graceful, that he was 
 the " observed of all observers ;" it was 
 not long before the Clifton gossips gave 
 the cousins to each other, declaring that 
 they would be the most beautiful couple 
 in Christendom. One of the cousins would 
 have been very glad to realize this pre- 
 diction, for Netherby had long secretly 
 loved Lady Helena, and as he had lately 
 had a large fortune left him, which, but 
 for his profligacy, would have been left to 
 his father, he could have aspired to her 
 hand without any presumption, had not 
 that hand been promised to another. 
 But where was this lover ? strange neg- 
 lect ! could I have so neglected such a 
 creature as you Helena ! he used to say ; 
 and Lady Helena, on such occasions, be- 
 trayed so much mortified feeling that No- 
 
216 
 
 rah used to tell him to take courage, for if 
 he played his cards well he might win the 
 game yet. Such was the state of affairs 
 when Lord Restormel arrived, and he had 
 nattered himself that if he came upon 
 Lady Helena suddenly, her heart would 
 speak in his favour, and that whatever ill 
 will there had remained between them 
 from his sudden departure in anger from 
 her, and her's from London, would all be 
 forgotten in the first moments of unex- 
 pected re-union. But Lady Helena had 
 seen him coming from a stair-case window, 
 which overlooked the road, and had there- 
 fore time to compose herself, and still the tu- 
 multuous and glad beating of her heart. 
 She therefore met him with a degree of 
 calmness, which he was far from being 
 able to imitate, and he was trying to sum- 
 mon up courage to demand a private inter- 
 view with her when Colonel Netherby en- 
 tered, and the sort of familiar fondness 
 with which she received him, and led him 
 up to Lord Restormel, declaring he was 
 one of the beings whom she loved best in 
 
217 
 the world, had such a painful effect on his 
 before irritated feelings, that he resolved not 
 to demand the conference he before sought, 
 and that if Lady Helena chose to forget 
 his rights as a lover, he would not remind 
 her of them ; in the meanwhile, he deter- 
 mined to watch her conduct to this uncom- 
 monly handsome man, who was avowedly 
 so dear to her. In the evening Mr. and 
 Mrs.Benson came, and with them, as usual, 
 a fiddle ; and Lady Helena, to complete 
 his disgust, appeared in the dancing cos- 
 tume which Mrs. Benson had invented, and 
 insisted that her set should wear. It was 
 a sort of Swiss corset cut very low in the 
 back, and the petticoat was very short and 
 very scant ; in short, the whole dress was 
 contrary to Lord Retormel's opinion of 
 what the dress of a gentlewoman should be 
 on all occasions, and he mourned to see 
 Lady Helena give in to follies and impro- 
 prieties, to which she ought to have risen 
 superior ; but his horror encreased when 
 he saw Captain Netherby and Mr. Benson 
 also, equip themselves in a sort of theatri- 
 
 VOL. III. L 
 
218 
 
 cal Swiss costume, and it was with some 
 difficulty that he forbore to affront the 
 latter when he told him he must adopt the 
 same costume, or his Norah would not ad- 
 mit him into her quadrille set. But he 
 could not help saying — " I own I am sur- 
 prised at what I see, for I thought I was 
 coming to visit ladies and gentlemen, and 
 I find them turned into opera dancers." 
 This speech was, with sundry embellish- 
 ments, repeated to Lady Helena, and just 
 as her heart was softening towards her un- 
 happy lover, as she gazed on his fine, 
 manly, though perturbed countenance, and 
 she was longing for a complete reconcilia- 
 tion with him : but this communication 
 closed her heart again, and in revenge, she 
 obeyed the usual summons to the waltz, 
 and allowed her cousin to lead her to the 
 circle. She waltzed her best, but it was 
 without pleasure, for her heart was heavy, 
 as that heart reproached her ; when she 
 paused for breath, she looked round, but 
 Lord Restormel was gone ! and sick to the 
 very soul, Lady Helena sat down, and 
 
219 
 
 danced no more that evening, for her lover 
 returned not, and her night was as sleep- 
 less as his. On rising she resolved to send 
 him a conciliatory note, and was going to 
 write it when Lord Restormel was an- 
 nounced, and her heart lightened of its 
 load. She went down to him and found him 
 alone. His manner" was calm, but cold ; 
 he said he had brought her a letter from 
 his mother, and that he was happy to say, 
 she was rather better for her arrival at 
 Nice. Aston said he writes for himself I 
 find ; at any other time this news and a 
 letter from Lady Restormel would have 
 interested Lady Helena beyond measure » 
 but now the estranged terms she was upon 
 with her lover were uppermost in her 
 mind, and tears were in her eyes. 
 
 " Why did you leave us so abruptly," 
 said she, " I have scarcely slept all night 
 on account of it V 
 
 " Why did you waltz ? I have not 
 slept all night on account of that and other 
 things." 
 
 " What harm could there be even in 
 
220 
 
 your rigid eyes in my waltzing with my 
 first cousin, the companion of my child- 
 hood ? he is like a brother to me." 
 
 " True, and he therefore might be 
 your lover — you might marry him." 
 
 " True again, but what is that to the 
 purpose f 
 
 " Every thing." 
 
 " Well ! I see no harm in waltzing 
 with Ernest, and I never waltz even with 
 him except in our own circle." 
 
 " Waltzing is waltzing, wherever it 
 is performed, and in my opinion equally 
 indelicate everywhere, especially for a 
 woman under under your circumstances — 
 Lady Helena." 
 
 " And pray what are my circum- 
 stances?" said Lady Helena, blushing deep- 
 ly, then with one of her most bewitching 
 smiles, she said — " I had a lover once, 
 but I really believe I have lost him. Do 
 you know where he is Restormel ?" 
 
 " In my heart, Helena," he replied, 
 " if you would deign to seek for him 
 there." 
 
221 
 
 u Well then, we are friends again, are 
 we V cried she, wiping a tear from her 
 eyes, and no questions asked. 
 
 " Friends ! lovers I trust," 
 
 " Aye, so do I, and I declare I am 
 happier than I have been for many days, 
 and now I can read and attend to dearest 
 Lady Restormel's letter ; but first, I have 
 news for you — between you and me, and 
 from you I ought to have no secrets. Lord L. 
 has proposed to me, and I said strawberry- 
 leaves and balls avaunt. I am contented 
 with plain balls ; now was not that heroic T 
 " Naughty girl ! how I pity poor Lord L. 
 LordErpingham has much to answer for in 
 not having allowed us to marry long ago." 
 
 The next evening Lady Helena walked 
 till a late hour with Lord Restormel, and 
 peace seemed quite restored between them. 
 But the night after Mrs. Benson was to 
 give a grand ball, for which she had in- 
 vented another costume for her own set, 
 and had invited all who chose to come in 
 a fancy dress. 
 
 " Only promise me, said Lord Res- 
 tormel, that you will not wear that 
 
222 
 
 odious costume you wore the other night, 
 at this ball, Helena." 
 
 " I do promise, I shall certainly not 
 wear that." 
 
 " Nor any, I hope, it is so operatic ; — 
 but, to be sure you will not, 
 
 " Ne gagez pas" was the reply ; and 
 Lord Restormel was hurt, and disap- 
 pointed. However, Lady Helena tried 
 to prevail on Norah to excuse her com- 
 ing in costume, but as she was so weak 
 as to shrink from the charge of being 
 afraid of her lover, and dreading to lose 
 him, she resolved to wear it, at all risks, 
 and prove that she was not the slave her 
 cousins thought her. This conference 
 with Norah had given her such a jaun- 
 diced view of every thing, that she fancied 
 Lady Restormel's kind letter, which had 
 at first delighted her, was dictatorial, and 
 she resolved that her lover should, himself, 
 obey, and not expect obedience from her 
 to his whims, or she would never marry 
 him, even though she loved him ever so 
 much. Lady Helena sat down to dinner 
 in her morning dress, and Lord Restormel 
 
223 
 
 tried to be cheerful ; and while he looked 
 in her face to forget her faults, at the 
 usual hour for going to a ball, Lady He- 
 lena sent word down, that she begged the 
 gentlemen to go in the first carriage, and 
 that she would follow with her mother. 
 Julia was gone to bed more than usually 
 ill, but she insisted on Lady Helena's 
 leaving her, and would not allow the 
 Countess to give up chaperoning her 
 daughter. Fortescue, having paid his ac- 
 customed visit to Mrs. Tyrawley, was re- 
 turned, and accompanied the gentlemen ; 
 all but Captain Netherby, who stayed to 
 escort the ladies at, as he said, Lady 
 Helena's particular request, and Lord 
 Restormel was too proud to intrude him- 
 self where he might not be welcome, 
 he, therefore, went in the first coach. 
 Lady Helena, meanwhile, was busily em- 
 ployed in heightening every excelling 
 beauty which nature had so lavishly be- 
 stowed on her, by all that art and the most 
 skilful coquetry could suggest ; and the 
 charms of her person were displayed to the 
 
224 
 
 utmost advantage, even at some expense 
 to her delicacy ; and why did Lady Helena 
 do this ? from the hope of fascinating Lord 
 Restormel, and subjugating his senses in 
 spite of his reason and his will : she had 
 heard, she had read of the sovereign, the 
 resistless power of attractive beauty, but she 
 had never yet seen its empire in her own 
 case, for Lord Restormel seemed always to 
 have the use of his judgment and power 
 over his heart, even in his fondest moments, 
 and never to love so impassioned as to blind 
 him for an instant to any error in conduct 
 or sentiment to which she happened to 
 yield ; and this was the devoted and wild 
 homage which Lady Helena sighed for, 
 therefore her lover's adorating mortified 
 her, even when it was at its height. Infa- 
 tuated girl ! and what would be the admi- 
 ration and the devotion which she now, 
 therefore, was endeavouring to excite in 
 this* noble heart, even if she succeeded in 
 exciting it ? feelings and emotions which 
 the most unprincipled and despicable of the 
 sex, if possessed of consummate beauty, and 
 
226 
 
 displaying meretricious attraction, might 
 equally, perhaps, succeed in inspiring as her 
 spotless, virtuous self. But Lady Helena 
 would have started to hear, what she might 
 with justice have been told, that she her- 
 self had in a measure ceased to be virtuous 
 when she wished to inspire in her lover a 
 passion superior to his sense of propriety, 
 and his value for the decorous graces and 
 attire of a modest gentlewoman. But 
 vanity, and the taunts, flatteries, and insi- 
 nuations of Norah and her brother, had 
 turned her head, as the common expression 
 is, and she was resolved to touch and 
 humble Lord Restormei's heart, through 
 his senses, and bring him bound and obedi- 
 ent to her feet. Perhaps, thought she, I 
 can even prevail on him to waltz with me ! 
 then surveying herself, for the last time, 
 in her glittering and captivating costume, 
 with almost agitated pleasure, she de- 
 scended full of joyful expectation to the 
 drawing-room, received with affectionate 
 delight the praises of her mother on her 
 appearance, tried not to heed the gentle 
 l5 
 
226 
 
 hints which that mother gave, at the same 
 time that she feared her person was too 
 much exposed, and then bounded into the 
 carriage, going to exhibit in her appear- 
 ance, to the nicely judging eyes of Lord 
 Restormel, not the dignified daughter of a 
 noble house — the modest virgin, whom he 
 hoped to change into the equally modest 
 wife — the intellectual companion of his 
 dearest hours, and the gifted mother of 
 his chiidren, but a being whose dress and 
 appearance seemed to qualify her to dance 
 in voluptuous graces before a sultan in his 
 seraglio ! However displeased Lord Restor- 
 mel was with Lady Helena, he was restless 
 and impatient till she appeared, and was 
 watching for her entrance; but, notwith- 
 standing, something had diverted his eyes 
 from the door at the moment when she did 
 enter, leaning on the arm of her cousin, 
 whose costume answered hers, but the buz 
 of universal admiration which the graceful 
 couple excited caused him to turn quickly 
 and anxiously round. He did turn, and he 
 beheld Lady Helena ! he gazed on her 
 
227 
 
 fixedly, for one short moment, then sighed 
 deeply, turned abruptly away, and re- 
 treated to the farthest part of the room, 
 without even giving her a look, or bow 
 of recognition ! Lady Helena was disap- 
 pointed, piqued, mortified ; she expected 
 that he would eagerly have approached 
 her, and by his impassioned looks, if 
 not his words, have told her how much 
 he felt the radiance of her beauty, and 
 how eager he was to claim her promise to 
 dance the first dance with him ; but she 
 felt, at once, that she had failed, and for 
 ever, in the attempt for which she had 
 been so zealously preparing ; she saw her 
 lover was more susceptible of moral dis- 
 gust, than of female captivation, and she 
 retreated to the seat near her, vexed, pro- 
 voked, and almost abashed and repentant. 
 The ball began with a country dance, 
 to which Lady Helena saw, with astonish- 
 ment, that Mrs. Benson was led by the 
 Marquis of L., whose presence was most 
 unexpected to her, and unwelcome to 
 Norah herself, as she wished her brother 
 
228 
 
 to profit by what she foresaw would 
 happen— a rupture between Lord Restor- 
 mel and Lady Helena; and not the 
 marquis but Lord L., who had not yet 
 given up his pursuits of Lady Helena, had 
 come down to Clifton on purpose to 
 attend this ball, knowing that a friend of 
 his, who resided near, would gladly intro- 
 duce him. 
 
 Lady Helena's rank required her to 
 stand next her cousin in this dance, but she 
 was obliged to keep her seat, and let her 
 place be occupied. The dance began 
 without her, for Lord Restormel came not 
 to claim her hand. 
 
 " Helena ! why do you not join the 
 dance ?" said Fortescue. 
 
 " Because Lord Restormel does not 
 come to lead me to it." 
 
 " Where is he ? I will go and seek him. 
 Restormel," said he, when he found him, 
 leaning against a pillar, and his eyes half 
 hidden by his hand, " what ails you ? Is 
 that an attitude for a ball-room? Helena 
 is expecting you to lead her to the dance." 
 

 229- 
 
 " Indeed !" he replied, in a tone of bit- 
 terness : " where is she ? I do not see Lady 
 Helena Fortescue !" 
 
 " Then you are blind ; why, there she 
 is!" 
 
 " What she ! " that prima donna of a 
 ballet ? that Lady Helena Fortescue, the 
 daughter of a noble race, of whom it may 
 be said that, all the men were brave, and 
 all the daughters virtuous ?" 
 
 A blush of indignation came over the 
 cheek of Fortescue, at the beginning of 
 this severe observation ; but it changed to 
 one full of kinder feeling towards his friend 
 at the end of his speech, and casting an 
 enquiring look over his sister, he ex- 
 claimed — " You are right, quite right, 
 Restormel, and Helena has disgraced her- 
 self." 
 
 " Hold !" said the latter, " make my 
 excuses to your sister, and tell her I resign 
 the honour of dancing with her, this even- 
 ing, to a partner more suited to her." 
 
 " I will tell her, depend on it," he re- 
 plied, hastening to Lady Henlena : he 
 
230 
 
 then whispered in her ear, * Helena, He- 
 lena! Restormel declines dancing with you 
 this evening. He is ashamed to dance with 
 you in that indecent opera dance-like 
 dress. I wonder you are not ashamed to 
 wear it. You and Netherby are only fit 
 to dance together ! What fools you have 
 made of yourselves ! Shame on your, 
 dresses !" 
 
 " I wonder you are not ashamed of 
 your conduct, Captain Fortescue ; look at 
 home, before you censure me," she angrily 
 and bitterly replied. " Hark ye, brother ! 
 Mrs. Tyrawley is at Clifton, and you visit 
 her every day, stern moralist !" 
 
 Fortescue was thunderstruck, and si- 
 lenced, while Lady Helena added, " If 
 Lord Restormel will not condescend to 
 dance with me, Netherby will. Here, 
 Ernest, lead me to the dance." 
 
 The delighted Netherby gladly obeyed 
 the summons. Lady Helena laughed, 
 flirted, was brilliant! but her heart was 
 sad, her feelings wounded. The first dance 
 was succeeded by a quadrille, and that by 
 
231 
 
 a waltz. At first Lady Helena was re- 
 solved not to join in the latter, not only 
 because she did not wish further to alienate 
 Lord Restormel, but because she never yet 
 had waltzed, except in private family 
 parties. But, alas ! the set now waltzing 
 was not Mrs. Benson's chosen set ; it was 
 one of a more mixed description, and com- 
 posed of persons who were not skilful in 
 the art ; and their want of grace in the 
 slow waltz, and of lightness in the 
 sauteuse were quite unbearable to the 
 correct taste of Norah and her brother, 
 and not only they, but Lady Helena's 
 own vanity whispered. — rt Helena, shew 
 these awkward creatures what good 
 ^waltzing is." 
 
 But still she hesitated, when Lord 
 Restormel passed her without speaking, 
 and looking on her with no complacent 
 expression, went into another room. That 
 was decisive ; he had now openly thrown 
 down the signal of hostility, and she was 
 determined to take it up. 
 
 u Yes, I will waltz," said she, to the 
 
232 
 
 secretly exultingly Netherby, and he led 
 her to the set. It certainly was the per- 
 fection of the art of waltzing, and the con- 
 summate beauty as well as grace of the 
 waltzers attracted the attention and eli- 
 cited the admiration of all who gazed on 
 them. Even the couples who had at first 
 revolved with them in the circle, stood still, 
 at last, to admire what every one else did ; 
 when Lord Restormel, restless and un- 
 happy, came into the dancing-room, he 
 saw Lady Helena's cheek flushed with 
 gratified vanity, and her beautiful eye 
 downcast, as if wishing to hide what she 
 felt, gracefully leaning against the encir- 
 cling arm of the evidently enraptured Ne- 
 therby, and her hand grasped in his as 
 they flew or glided round the room in quick 
 or slow revolutions. At that moment 
 Lord Restormel experienced that most ter- 
 rible of all sensations, the fancied hate of 
 love ; yes, at that moment he fancied that 
 he hated that Helena, so long adored. 
 But whatever was the feeling of his bosom, 
 it gave him calmness, and taught him self- 
 
233 
 
 control ; and while he stood at the door, 
 Lady Helena, tired with her exertions, 
 was led past by him, by her lover. He 
 made way for her, and forcing a smile, 
 said, " I think you must be tired." 
 
 Lady Helena, agreeably surprised, yet 
 fluttered at his speaking to her, replied, 
 she knew not what. 
 
 " Tired of giving pleasure, my lord," 
 said Netherby, " oh, no, Helena cannot 
 be that, and I think you will own you 
 never saw such waltzing before." 
 
 " Really, sir," said Lord Restormel, 
 coldly, " I did not look at it, I was busily 
 engaged in looking at that modest, inno- 
 cent-looking girl, in slight mourning, who 
 is sitting yonder by her mother, I con- 
 clude ; who is she, Lady Helena, I must 
 know, she is very pretty and interesting." 
 This was said so naturally, and as if with- 
 out any intention to pique her self-love, 
 that Lady Helena was surprised and 
 alarmed; she would have preferred the 
 bitterest sarcasm, the severest reproof; 
 and she could not conceal her mortifi- 
 
234 
 
 cation, for she replied hastily, " Yes, she 
 is pretty, and I dare say your lordship 
 wished to add to your eulogy, and she 
 never waltzes." 
 
 " I dare say her mother, who looks 
 very discreet, would not allow her." 
 
 " Nay, my lord, my mother is equally 
 discreet, no implied censure of her I desire, 
 she hates waltzing, I assure you." 
 
 For a moment Lord Restormel looked 
 at Lady Helena, and kindly, as she defended 
 her mother at her own expense, but it was 
 only for a moment. " And yet you waltz," 
 was the severe reply. 
 
 Lady Helena only bowed her acqui- 
 escence. 
 
 " If you bear this, you will bear any 
 thing," whispered Netherby ; « let us sit 
 down, if I stay I must quarrel with him." 
 
 " Stop ! your ladyship has not an- 
 swered my question," said Lord Restormel, 
 observing her perturbation ; " who is that 
 sweet creature ?" 
 
 " She is an heiress, my lord, and 
 daughter of Lady Dalberry, the lady sit- 
 ting beside her." 
 
235 
 
 " Lady Dalberry, oh! I must get presented 
 directly/' he exclaimed, looking pleased for 
 the first time that evening ; " her son, who 
 is in India, was my dear friend both at school 
 and college ; but why not go and introduce 
 myself?" He then hastily brushed past 
 Lady Helena, and she saw him with a 
 grace, peculiarly his own, give himself the 
 introduction which he sought ; she also saw 
 the blushing joy which glowed in the face 
 of both the mother and daughter as he 
 spoke, and the affectionate pressure with 
 which he grasped the hands tendered to 
 him with flattering readiness. Lady Helena 
 felt a pang at her heart unknown before, 
 but she forced herself to rise superior to 
 such weakness, and just then Lord L. came 
 up to her, and earnestly intreated that he 
 might enjoy the honor and happiness, 
 hitherto so cruelly denied, of waltzing with 
 her. Certainly, was now the hasty and 
 desperate reply, and he led her to the set. 
 
 Lord Restormel, though charmed with 
 his new acquaintances, was not unmindful 
 of Lady Helena's movements, and he 
 
236 
 
 beheld her on the arm, and then in the arms 
 of Lord L., of him an avowed lover too, 
 with a feeling which no words can describe. 
 This is decisive ! here ends our engagement, 
 and I believe I really hate her now! For the 
 rest of the evening he had no eyes or ears 
 but for Lady Dalberry and her daughter. 
 The latter, though he asked her to dance, 
 had no opportunity of dancing with him, 
 as she was too timid, her mother said, to 
 dance quadrilles, and no more country 
 dances were allowed. " But, indeed, my 
 lord," said the artless girl, " I had much 
 rather sit still, and talk with you about 
 our dear Philip." 
 
 With what a kind, approving glance Lord 
 Restormel now beheld her. Lady Dalberry 
 saw it, and was delighted. Lady Helena 
 saw it also, while pausing to take breath, 
 and certainly she was not delighted ; but 
 impelled her on again, in her course and 
 she ceased not till she could stand no 
 longer. When supper was announced 
 late, Lord Restormel, with Lady Dalberry 
 on one arm, her daughter on the other, 
 
237 
 
 walked close behind her and the marquis, 
 without noticing her, into the supper-room, 
 then seated himself between his compa- 
 
 nions. 
 
 u How entirely Lord Restormel neg- 
 lects you and me, Helena," whispered the 
 countess, as the ladies left the table. 
 " Have you quarrelled ? I hope not, but 
 he could not approve your waltzing any 
 more than myself." 
 
 . " If you desire me to waltz no more, I 
 will obey you, mamma ;" she replied. 
 
 " And him too, I hope, for his object- 
 ing is a proof of love, Helena." 
 
 Lady Helena sighed, and was silent. 
 The gentlemen did not sit long, and while 
 Lady Helena, chilly, sad, self-reproving 
 and absent, was lounging on a seat, her 
 whole person wrapped up in a large black 
 India shawl, Lord Restormel entered, fol- 
 lowed by other gentlemen, with shawls on 
 his arm. As he : passed Lady Helena, he 
 smiled, and said — 
 
 " I am glad to see you so properly 
 . clothed, the night is chilly." 
 
238 
 
 He then went in search of Lady Dal- 
 berry and her daughter, and soon returned 
 with them equipped for departing. 
 
 " Are you going, Restormel ? " said 
 Fortescue. 
 
 " Yes ; I am going to conduct these 
 ladies to their carriage, and shall return 
 no more. I am no dancer you know." 
 
 " You breakfast with us to-morrow, I 
 conclude ?" 
 
 " No, I am to have the honour of 
 breakfasting with Lady Dalberry, and 
 then—" 
 
 Here his voice faltered ; he said no 
 more, for he had not courage to say, " and 
 then I return for London." 
 
 Lady Helena overheard the conversa- 
 tion with a sickness at her heart, which 
 made every object swim around her, and 
 now she haughtily threw aside " the pro- 
 per clothing" which Lord Restormel had 
 presumed to command, and then she 
 fondly wrapped it round her because he 
 had commended it. But whatever feeling 
 predominated, the pleasure of the evening 
 
239 
 
 was gone, nor could she be prevailed upon 
 to waltz or dance again ; but she, too, re- 
 tired earlier than the rest of the party did, 
 and pronouncing, in her inmost soul, that 
 the ball had been to her, on the whole, 
 spite of the general admiration she had 
 excited, all " vanity and vexation of spirit." 
 
CHAP. XXII. 
 
 To Lord Restormel, that evening had been 
 the destroyer of every prospect most dear 
 to his heart ; for to think of marrying 
 Lady Helena, after she had given such 
 convincing proofs how little she valued his 
 opinion, or considered his feelings, was im- 
 possible, and he determined, as the house 
 was up, to quit England directly, and join 
 his mother at Nice. With this determi- 
 nation he went to bed, and fell into a per- 
 turbed sleep, from which he very soon 
 awoke. And oh ! what a change had that 
 sleep made in his feelings ! There irrita- 
 tion had subsided, and in his dreams he 
 had beheld Lady Helena as in the happiest 
 days of their courtship. The sight had 
 softened his heart towards her, and while 
 he reflected on his own conduct of the 
 preceding evening, he could not help sus- 
 pecting that he had treated her with un- 
 
becoming neglect, and that her conduct 
 might in some measure be prompted by a 
 wish to retaliate ; he therefore determined 
 to write a conciliating note to her, and if 
 she answered it, and answered it kindly, 
 he would hasten to her, and endeavour to 
 heal the breach which their respective folly 
 had occasioned. He then fell asleep again, 
 but the noise in the hotel, as well as the 
 anxiety of his mind, did not allow him to 
 sleep long, and he rose to write to Lady 
 Helena. Many notes were written and 
 torn, but by the time that he was to go to 
 Lady Dalberry's lodgings, he had pretty 
 well satisfied himself; but as he had sent 
 his own man to Bath on business, he was 
 obliged to send the note by one of the 
 waiters, charging him to go with it imme- 
 diately, and deliver it to Lady Helena 
 Fortescue's own maid. The man pro- 
 mised obedience, and he set off for Lady 
 Dalberry's. But no sooner was he gone, 
 than the waiter gave the note to another 
 waiter to deliver, who went to a public- 
 house in his way, who in his cups threw 
 
 VOL. III. M 
 
242 
 
 the letter by mistake into the fire, and had 
 only just sense enough left to go back to 
 his employer and tell him what he had 
 done. The waiter, conscious of having 
 neglected his duty, and unwilling to lose 
 the money which he was sure of receiving 
 from Lord Restormel if he concealed what 
 had happened, resolved to do so. Lord 
 Restormel left his new friends as early as 
 he could do so with civility, and returned 
 to his inn to enquire for an answer to his 
 letter, but none had arrived ; and as he 
 had said in it that if he did not receive an 
 answer in a few hours he should conclude 
 that Lady Helena intended that all should 
 be at an end between them, he was not a 
 little distressed when he found no answer 
 had arrived. Two move long hours passed, 
 and still no answer ; he then desired to 
 see the waiter, and the usual questions 
 took place. 
 
 " But are you sure you carried the 
 letter yourself?" 
 
 " Quite sure." 
 
 " And that you saw Lady Helena's 
 own maid and gave it to her ?" 
 
243 
 
 " Quite sure, my lord." 
 
 * Then you know her ? " 
 
 " Perfectly, your lordship ; a taliish, 
 thin, tight-laced, light-eyed woman, and 
 has a bent finger." 
 
 " The same ; I see you know her — you 
 may go." 
 
 There could then be no doubt of the 
 safe delivery of the letter ! but he would 
 wait till evening. For some time he won- 
 dered that he had not received a visit from 
 Fortescue, but he, at last, recollected that 
 he was to go out that day with Mr. Ben- 
 son and Netherby to look at an estate 
 which had been offered to the latter ; still 
 he wondered that Lady Erpingham had 
 not sent to invite him to dinner, but how 
 could she if Lady Helena had resolved to 
 break with him entirely. Thus passed 
 away several miserable hours, day closed 
 in, and night came, and no letter from 
 Lady Helena ! perhaps she was ill, too ill 
 to write ; he, therefore, inquired if Lady 
 Helena Fortescue and Miss Villeroy had 
 been past that day. 
 
244 
 
 " Lady Helena, sir, but not Miss Vil- 
 leroy ; Lady Helena went past about three 
 o'clock, my lord, and on horseback, with a 
 gentleman and a lady attending her, the 
 Honourable Mrs. Benson, I believe, and 
 then the Marquis of L." 
 
 Then, that hope had failed, and he 
 went to bed endeavouring to repay scorn 
 with scorn, and again believing that he 
 ought to hate, and did hate Lady Helena. 
 In the morning, though his night was 
 sleepless, it was comparatively quiet, for 
 his mind was made up, and one of the 
 worst of all states is a state of indecision. 
 After breakfast he delayed still to write 
 his final farewell ; but no letter arrived, 
 and he hesitated no longer ; he then or- 
 dered horses to his carriage, and in a state 
 of feeling which he could not exactly 
 define to himself, he set off on his return 
 to London. . His letter was as follows : — 
 
 " All is then decided, and we meet no 
 more ! I am going off to Nice directly ; 
 and as every tie is now broken which 
 bound me to England— broken, I beg leave 
 to add, with the fullest approbation of my 
 
245 
 
 judgment, I shall not return till duty, or 
 painful necessity obliges me to do so- 
 Farewell ! I earnestly wish you every pos- 
 sible happiness with a husband more suited 
 to you than I am. 
 
 " t am, your ladyship's 
 
 " obedient humble servant, 
 
 u Restormel." 
 The waiter took care to deliver this 
 letter in person, therefore the important 
 letter, the one on which the happiness of 
 two persons depended was not delivered, 
 and that calculated to ensure to them 
 hours of sorrow, was delivered only too 
 punctually !— on what slight incidents 
 sometimes depends the happiness or misery 
 of a life. Lady Helena had stayed at home 
 the whole of the morning after the ball, 
 till three o'clock, expecting to hear from 
 or see Lord Restormel ! but as he neither 
 came nor sent, and she was ashamed of 
 owning why she stayed within, she was 
 prevailed upon to take a ride as she had a 
 very bad head-ache, the result of heart- 
 ache and a sleepless night. She returned, 
 hoping to find that Lord Restormel had 
 
246 
 
 called during her absence, and was pain- 
 fully disappointed ; but, the next morning, 
 before she had quitted her room, the fatal, 
 final note was put into her hands, and as 
 there was no allusion in it to his first 
 letter, Lady Helena could only think this 
 was all which his heart had dictated, and 
 that he was indeed lost to her and her 
 hopes for ever ! It was well for her that 
 she was alone, for she gave way to such a 
 delirium of hopeless agony, when she 
 found that her folly had broken a tie so 
 dear, on reflection to all her best and ten- 
 derest feelings, as she would not on any 
 consideration have had beheld by any 
 earthly being ; it was only by deep and 
 humble supplication to that heaveny Being, 
 whom in the thoughtless gaiety and pride 
 of her heart, she had but too much for- 
 gotten, that she could obtain strength to 
 support this overwhelming blow, or to 
 bear the affectionate regrets of her mo- 
 ther and Julia, when she gave Lord Res- 
 tormel's farewell into their hands. 
 
 " However," said the countess, " I am 
 
247 
 
 sure all is for the best, and you both have 
 done wisely, for I dare say you would not 
 have been happy together." 
 
 " Lady Helen sighed and shook her 
 head; for, with her conduct, she was 
 very sure that wisdom had nothing to do, 
 and that it was all on Lord Restormel's 
 side. But, alas! cried she, "how well 
 does his dear mother know him. How 
 truly did she say that I should find him 
 less indulgent than herself !" As soon as 
 Lord Restormel reached London, he 
 wrote as follows to Lord Erpingham : — 
 " My Dear Lord, 
 
 a Truly sorry am I to be obliged to in- 
 form you, that circumstances have led 
 Lady Helena and myself to consider our- 
 selves as betrothed lovers no longer ; like 
 a truly honourable woman, she convinced 
 me that such was her wish, as soon as it 
 was known to herself, and for this ingenu- 
 ousness, I cordially thank her. 
 " I am, my dear lord, 
 
 " Your's, most truly, 
 
 " Restormel." 
 
248 
 
 " P.S. — You will be sorry to hear 
 that, by to-day's post, I learn that my mo- 
 ther is worse — I am, therefore, going off 
 for Dover instantly." 
 
 Having dispatched this letter, he has- 
 tened his preparations for his departure, 
 and with a desperate calmness of feeling, 
 which looked like indifference, he began 
 his melancholy journey — a journey, at the 
 end : of which he could look forward with 
 nothing but dismay,— as the misery of 
 seeing the only being expire whom he 
 now most loved on earth, in all probabi- 
 lity, too certainly awaited him ! But 
 Lord Restormel was a believer, and the 
 reliance of the Christian enabled him to 
 support the sorrows of the man. Those 
 who are actively and habitually benevo- 
 lent, have this marked advantage amongst 
 others over the rest of their species in 
 times of affliction, and that is, a power of 
 forgetting themselves in the joys or sor- 
 rows of those whom they love, and of go- 
 ing out of themselves to rejoice or mourn 
 with them. This truth was made manifest 
 
249 
 
 in Lady Helena's experience ; her habi- 
 tual and active benevolence was, luckily 
 for her, called to powerful and necessary 
 exertion, by the situation of the close, re- 
 served, and suffering Julia. 
 
 Marcus returned from his short tour on 
 the evening of the day on which Lord Res- 
 tormel departed ; but he left the family 
 party very early, and went to Clifton, where 
 he lodged, on pretence of having a bad 
 head-ache. The news of the rupture be- 
 tween his friend and his sister did cer- 
 tainly not tend to raise his spirits, and he 
 was so out of humour with all the world, 
 because not satisfied with himself, that he 
 was almost sorry Lady Helena's self-blame 
 deprived him of all excuse to follow Lord 
 Restormel, and demand satisfaction for 
 her injuries. But he did not venture to 
 echo Lady Helena's severe censure of her- 
 self; he dared not, lest she should reta- 
 liate as she had done before ; and he 
 shrunk from the severity which he could 
 not but feel that he merited. But, before 
 his departure, Julia, so full of emotion, 
 m 5 
 
250 
 
 that she would have appeared calm and 
 indifferent, except to the quick-sighted 
 eye of anxious and observant friendship 
 or love, timidly approached him, and said, 
 in a low voice — " Captain Fortescue, I 
 wish you would come hither before the 
 breakfast hour to-morrow, as I wish to 
 speak to you alone." 
 
 " Can you not speak to me now ?" said 
 he, hastily, and turning very pale. 
 
 " No, not now ; I am not well 
 enough ; good night ! God bless you !" 
 she replied, hastily withdrawing herself 
 from his detaining hand. But, why did he 
 detain her with that fond and earnest grasp ? 
 There is no accounting for the caprices of 
 feeling ; for he whose heart at the mo- 
 ment beat tenderly at sound of that fal- 
 tering voice and those beautiful though 
 averted eyes, was in a few moments 
 more in the presence of her rival, and en- 
 joying the unrestrained fondness of her 
 well-acted welcome. 
 
 " Julia ! what is the matter with you 
 to-night?" cried Lady Helena, whom no 
 cares of her own could long render un- 
 
251 
 
 mindful of others 1 " You are more than 
 usually depressed and agitated ! How 
 cruel ! how very cruel is this reserve ! 
 and to me too, who have no reserves to 
 you, but tell you all my secrets and my 
 weaknesses." 
 
 " Have patience with me — I shall be 
 better to morrow ! much better ; and then 
 — yes ; one day, perhaps, you shall know 
 all. But good night now ; I think if I 
 go to bed I shall sleep." 
 
 " As she spoke, her feet tottered ; she 
 fell into Lady Helena's arms, and was car- 
 ried to bed too weak even to sit up for a 
 moment, but perfectly conscious to all 
 that was passing. Lady Helena and the 
 countess were so much alarmed, that they 
 sent for their physician, who, as usual, 
 declared that Julia's "disorder was wholly 
 on the spirits, and that her present state 
 proceeded from nervous weakness." 
 
 "Be that as it may," said Lady Helena 
 when he was gone, " I will not leave the 
 dear girl to-night." Nor did she leave her 
 
2.52 
 
 till, at day break, she had read her into a 
 tranquil slumber. 
 
 M She suffers," said Lady Helena to 
 herself, " and the worst of all pangs, 
 those of jealousy ; but still she is enviable, 
 she has not, like me, brought her sufferings 
 on herself, but is afflicted through the 
 faults of others. Oh, Julia, how I envy 
 you !"' The next day, though Marcus was 
 true to her appointment, Julia was not, 
 for she slept beyond the appointed hour- 
 However, when she awoke she insisted on 
 rising, and Lady Helena allowed her to 
 do so. 
 
 " Now, then," said Julia, " tell Captain 
 Fortescue that I wish to see him in the 
 di'ning-parlour." Lady Helena delivered 
 the message, led the trembling girl to the 
 place of meeting, and left her alone with 
 her brother. It was some minutes before 
 Julia, whose tongue seemed to cleave to the 
 roof of her mouth, could articulate what 
 she came to speak. But, as if a power 
 superior to herself enabled her to perform 
 her painful task, she was at length able to 
 
253 
 
 say — " Is it, indeed, true, Captain Fortes- 
 cue, not only that Mrs. Tyrawley is at 
 Clifton, but that you visit her every day ?" 
 
 " Who could tell you this ? did He- 
 lena r 
 
 " Oh ! no, she was too kind to do so — 
 no matter who told me ; but, is it a fact 
 or not ?" 
 
 " It is a fact, for your coldness during 
 such a length of time, has really so chilled 
 my affection, and so convinced me that 
 your's for me is " 
 
 " It is enough," replied Julia, coldly 
 and proudly interrupting him, " I have 
 now heard what I wished to hear, and in 
 reply, I beg leave to say, that you must 
 henceforth consider our engagement as at 
 an end for ever.- I resign my claims to 
 you, and earnestly, heartily wish you to be 
 happy with Mrs. Tyrawley !" She then 
 left the room before Fortescue could re- 
 cover his surprise, and I may add, the 
 shock of what she said. Then he was 
 free ! and at liberty to marry Mrs. Tyraw- 
 ley ; he had lately sometimes wished to be 
 
254 
 
 so. Then, now that he* was so, why did 
 he not feel happy and elated ? was it that 
 Julia was really dearer to his heart than 
 the woman he had first loved ! He feared 
 to analyze his feelings, for should he find 
 that he loved Julia best, he must humbly 
 sue to be received again into favour, and 
 again at that his pride at present rebelled. 
 Lady Helena now hastily ran into the 
 room, exclaiming — " Do tell me, Marcus, 
 what has passed between you and Julia ? 
 She fainted away as soon as she left you, 
 and is only now recovering." 
 
 " But she is recovering ?" 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 u Then tell her I beg, I entreat to see 
 her again," he replied, with great and glad 
 emotion, for he believed that she resigned 
 him merely through woman's pique and 
 jealousy, and that she would repent and 
 forgive him. But he solicited an inter- 
 view in vain. 
 
 " Helena," said Julia, firmly and calmly } 
 " this swoon will be the last proof of 
 weakness, which on this subject you will 
 
265 
 
 ever see in me. ; Tell Captain Fortescue 
 that I have not lightly and inconsiderately 
 resigned him, but from a deep conviction 
 that I should be miserable if I married 
 him, for I should have no confidence in his 
 affection." 
 
 " Resigned him ! have you resigned 
 him ? oh ! poor, lost Marcus ! then he will 
 be Mrs. Tyrawley's !" 
 
 " To be sure he will, I have given him 
 to her. I have wished him happy with 
 her, and from my heart." 
 
 " Oh ! Julia ! what have you done ?" 
 cried Lady Helena, bursting into tears ; 
 rt you have made me more wretched than 
 I was, and that was needless, and you have 
 enabled Marcus to break all our hearts and 
 his own too, if he marries that woman !" 
 But Julia remained firm, and Lady Helena 
 was forced to go to Marcus, and relate all 
 she had said. 
 
 " It is enough," replied he, proudly, " I 
 will condescend to supplicate no woman. 
 I am glad she knows her own mind at last, 
 and I know mine! — good morning!" 
 
256 
 
 Lady Helena would fain have detained 
 him to remonstrate with him, but he would 
 not listen to her, and he left the house in 
 excessive anger and perturbation, and also 
 wondering how Julia could have been so 
 well informed of his movements. He in- 
 stantly repaired to Mrs. Tyrawley, who 
 gave way to a violent expression of delight, 
 which she modestly pretended to check, 
 when she heard that his engagement was 
 at an end." 
 
 "Oh, Marcus," cried she, fondly leaning 
 on his shoulder ; " then I shall at least be 
 spared the agonizing pang of envy, and 
 you will not be another's." 
 
 He could not, as she expected he 
 would say, " No, and I will be your's ! " 
 for the time was not yet come, nor would 
 it ever, she feared, unless she contrived to 
 hasten it. Accordingly she told him now 
 what she said she would never, have told 
 him if this rupture had not happened, 
 namely, that Julia was said to have long 
 repented her engagement to him, as she 
 had conceived an attachment to a very 
 
257 
 
 charming man, a relation of Lady Vil- 
 leroy's ; and as she saw that Fortescue 
 writhed under this intelligence, exclaim- 
 ing, when she had ended, " I believe it, I 
 believe it, on my soul!" She went on to 
 invent a number of corroborative circum- 
 stances, which maddened him so much, 
 that, spite of her blandishments, he rushed 
 from the house, meaning to go and re- 
 proach the innocent Julia ; but he thought 
 better of it, and returned to his own apart- 
 ments to compose his mind, and soothe his 
 irritated feelings. 
 
 The next day pride was the predomi- 
 nant sensation, and he tried to feel happy in 
 the recovered power of marrying the first 
 idol of his youthful heart, and rendering 
 her happy, while with pleased alacrity he 
 repaired to her lodgings. But she was too 
 ill to see him; a note from her, however, 
 was given him in which she said, that his 
 cruelty in leaving her as he did had 
 brought on all her worst symptoms, and 
 she could not see him then; but if she 
 
258 
 
 grew worse she hoped he would allow her 
 the happiness of dying in his arms. 
 
 Terrible was the day which Fortescue 
 passed after reading this note — Julia 
 false, and Lucy dying! — He mounted his 
 horse instantly and rode about the coun- 
 try all the day like a madman, only re- 
 turning every hour to Clifton to enquire 
 how Lucy did. 
 
 The next day she owned herself better, 
 and dressed in most becoming night- 
 clothes, received his visit, in the presence 
 of her maid, in her bed. She told him 
 that she felt she had not long to live, and 
 was thankful that what remained to her of 
 life would be spent with him, for she said, 
 she disregarded the cruel reports to which 
 their renewed intimacy had given rise, and 
 thought his presence was a full equivalent 
 for loss of reputation, as she knew her own 
 innocence. 
 
 Fortescue's generous nature was 
 shocked to find that her fame was injured 
 by his visits, and he found that he must 
 
°259 
 
 in justice and in honor save her reputa- 
 tion, even against her will, and not take 
 advantage of the blindness which the in- 
 toxication of love threw over her eyes to 
 indulge himself in an intercourse which 
 was, in the eyes of the world, injurious 
 to her. He must, therefore, he saw, cease 
 to visit her, or make her his wife. 
 
 It is easy to conclude which alternative 
 he preferred ; her beauty, her softness, her 
 passionate attachment to himself, together 
 with the pity which her ill health, endan- 
 gered life, and destitute situation excited, 
 made him resolve to marry her. But as 
 soon as he had offered, and been accepted, 
 he left Clifton for the house of a friend 
 near Reading, determined not to return 
 thither till he came to receive the hand of 
 Lucy, as he wished to avoid seeing any of 
 his family, since he knew that he could with- 
 out much pain defy their letters of expos- 
 tulation and entreaty, but not their per- 
 sonal solicitations, not to marry Mrs. Ty- 
 rawley. He did not, however, make 
 
260 
 
 known his intention to marry her till the 
 day was fixed. 
 
 He then wrote to his father, who was 
 visiting a dying friend in Suffolk, and* to 
 Lady Helena, to desire her to break his 
 intentions to his mother. To Julia he also 
 wrote, telling her he did not mean to up- 
 braid with her falsehood, an the contrary, 
 he wished to bless it, as it had enabled him 
 to do justice to the only woman who ever 
 truly and faithfully loved him, and that he 
 thanked her for having resigned him when 
 she did. As Julia expected this event, she 
 was tolerably well prepared for it, and the 
 now recovered calmness of her manner was 
 not at all disturbed. Not so Lady Helena 
 and her mother ! they suffered dreadfully, 
 but at length, after writing repeated let- 
 ters, and making fruitless attempts to see 
 Fortescue, they were obliged to submit 
 quietly to this painful stroke, especially as 
 the earl, who had more power over his son 
 than any one, was unable to leave his 
 friend, and try to expostulate with him in 
 person. 
 
261 
 
 " Yet after all, what could we say, and 
 why should we object?" said the countess 
 at last : " Marcus is convinced Mrs. Ty- 
 rawley is a virtuous woman, or he would 
 not marry her. The world is very scandal- 
 ous, therefore she may always have been 
 virtuous, especially as she has always loved 
 Marcus you hear, and such an attachment 
 is a great shield to the honour of a wo- 
 man." 
 
 " She says she always loved Marcus !" 
 said Lady Helena. 
 
 " Well, my dear child, and why should 
 we not believe her? She may be, after 
 all, a very respectable woman, nay, I dare 
 say she is a very respectable woman, and, 
 with your father's approbation, I shall re- 
 ceive her as soon as she is the wife of my 
 son." 
 
 Lady Helena smiled mournfully at her 
 mother's consistency of feeling and charac- 
 ter, and went in search of Julia, to whom 
 she imparted what had passed, and who 
 instantly saw, that as she must not expose 
 herself to association with Fortescue till 
 
262 
 
 she had conquered her attachment to him, 
 she must choose a guardian and another 
 residence as soon as possible, till she had 
 an opportunity of joining Lord and Lady 
 Aston abroad. Julia answered Fortescue's 
 letter the day after she received it, and the 
 misery which she endured while writing 
 it, convinced her that her peace of mind 
 could only be restored by an entire cessa- 
 tion of intercourse between them. It was 
 with an anxious heart that Fortescue ex- 
 pected, and with a beating one that he 
 opened, the letter of Julia, which, by some 
 accident, he did not receive till on the eve 
 of his wedding-day, and when he was try- 
 ing to recal those feelings of ardent love 
 which he had once felt towards Mrs. Ty- 
 rawley, and which he expected to feel, 
 whenever he should lead her to the altar. 
 But it was impossible, she was no longer 
 the woman he once adored. She had been 
 the property of another man, she had — no 
 matter what the motive was — sold herself 
 as it were for wealth, and he also knew 
 that the breath of scandal had not spared 
 
9.63 
 
 her fame. Nay, was her conduct towards 
 himself absolutely correct 1 Ought she to 
 have received his visits as she did, when 
 she knew him to be the engaged lover of 
 another? But then, he remembered, on 
 the other hand, her beauty, her attractions, 
 and her tenderness, and he at last worked 
 himself up to believe that he should feel 
 more like an impatient lover the next day, 
 especially as she loved him, and Julia did 
 not. But Julia's letter caused another re- 
 vulsion of feeling, for she wrote thus : — 
 " I know not what you mean by my 
 * falsehood,' as you must know my ' false- 
 hood,' as you call it, was only the result of 
 yours, and with yours I have been long, 
 very long acquainted, though I dared not 
 tell you, for reasons which even now I 
 cannot give. But believe me, I never 
 blamed, I only pitied you, for I know, 
 by my own feelings, the resistless and un- 
 alterable power of a first and early attach- 
 ment ; I therefore readily understood and 
 felt for your's. I felt that I could never 
 love any other man than yourself, even if 
 
264 
 
 time, absence, and, above all, supplication 
 to the power who has afflicted me, should 
 enable me to rise superior to my love for 
 you. But should they not, I trust that I 
 shall not live long, for now Ihave lost you, 
 what have I to live for ? No, dear Per* 
 tescue, as I venture to call you for the last 
 time, not even the happy woman for whom 
 I am forsaken, loves you better, or more 
 faithfully than I do. But I almost blush 
 to own this, as you will so soon be the hus- 
 band of another! Yet I cannot endure 
 that you should accuse me, or think me 
 guilty of falsehood. I wonder that I can 
 bear to write this ; but see, a tear has 
 nearly blotted out the words ' husband of 
 another !' How weakly I delay to bid you 
 adieu ! and sign myself to you, for the 
 last time, and with the truest wishes for 
 your happiness, 
 
 your affectionate 
 
 Julia Villeroy. 
 It was with sensations almost amount- 
 ing to frenzy, that Fortescue read this. 
 Julia still loving him and never having 
 
265 
 
 ceased to love him ; Julia never able, pro- 
 bably, to conquer her attachment! what 
 then could make her so strangely cold to 
 him ? and what could she mean by having 
 long been aware of his falsehood ? his false- 
 hood had been of a very recent date ; was 
 it possible that treachery had been at work 
 to separate them ? but who could have a 
 motive to do so ? who was the man that 
 made love to Julia ? and could Lucy ? but 
 it was wicked to suspect her, and the 
 lover was the person who had done the 
 mischief if any was done : but how could 
 he know ? how enquire ? it was too late to 
 demand an audience of Julia, and he must 
 now keep the promise he had made and 
 marry Lucy : he could not, however, but 
 think he had been too precipitate ; then 
 the next moment, with something of Lady 
 Helena's generosity, he comforted himself 
 with the idea that he should derive hap- 
 piness from making another happy, and 
 that, in the faithful tenderness of his wife, 
 he should lose all regret for the loss of the 
 affectionate but mysterious Julia. The 
 
 VOL. III. n 
 
266 
 
 next day, notwithstanding, rose only too 
 soon for Fortescue, and he almost trembled 
 when he recollected, what solemn and 
 binding vows he was about to make— vows 
 certainly destructive to the peace of one 
 beloved being — vows hateful to his parents 
 and his sister, and if he were weak enough 
 to mind forebodings, vows as likely to 
 ensure his own misery, as his own hap- 
 piness. But it was too late to go back, he 
 therefore dressed, ordered his horse to 
 come round, and was preparing to go and 
 conduct his bride to church, when a man, 
 whose horse was covered with foam, rode 
 up to the house at full gallop. Fortescue's 
 friend, who was to have accompanied him 
 to the altar, though he disapproved of his 
 choice, came instantly running up to him, 
 with a small parcel in his hand, on which 
 was written, ' For Captain Fortescue, to be 
 delivered and opened immediately ; and to 
 be sent to him wherever he is.' Fortescue 
 eagerly broke the seal, and beheld with 
 sensations, impossible to describe, the as- 
 tonishing contents. But I must now take as 
 
267 
 
 brief a review as I can of what had been 
 passing in Gloucester Place, at the house 
 of Lady Villeroy : Aubrey, the relation, 
 and intended husband of the infatuated 
 Lady Villeroy, was the man so long adored 
 by the equally infatuated Mrs. Tyrawley : 
 he was and he always had been the arbiter 
 of her fate ; she had loved him, and him 
 only, from the first dawn of her youth, and 
 though with a passion unreturned, except 
 by avowed scorn and contempt for her 
 weakness, she had continued to love him, 
 as I have before stated ; she had, in early 
 youth, sacrificed nearly all her little 
 fortune ' to pay his debts, and had con- 
 tracted debts herself for him, and it was 
 jealousy of him, not of Fortescue, which 
 had led her husband to leave her desti- 
 tute ; for they had met Aubrey abroad while 
 he was living there with a mistress, and 
 the devoted Lucy could neither control 
 nor conceal her misery and her jealousy. 
 Mr. Tyrawley died not long before Sir 
 George Villeroy, and just as Aubrey had 
 resigned his frail companion to another, 
 and was awaiting Lady Villeroy's summons 
 
26$ 
 
 to England, Lucy wrote to tell him she 
 was a widow : his reply was " Well, what 
 then ? I will never marry you, but I advise 
 you to try and regain Fortescue ; I have, 
 by means of my cousin Mansfeldt, who has 
 a mind to the heiress himself, contrived to 
 give Miss Villeroy suspicions of her lover's 
 being still devoted to you, and wishing to 
 marry her only from interested motives, 
 and because he has promised to marry 
 her. I will tell you more when we meet, 
 and remember I am poor and Fortescue 
 rich." It was indeed true that Julia had 
 received anonymous letters, which she was 
 desired to name to no one, because For- 
 tescue would suspect who wrote them, and 
 might endanger his own life and that of 
 the writer, whose only motive was to save 
 Miss Villeroy from a marriage unworthy 
 of her, as he had a great regard for the 
 memory of her angel mother. Had Julia 
 known more of the world, she would, re- 
 gardless of the pretended consequences, 
 have shewn these letters to Fortescue, or 
 at least to his sister or Sophia ; but her 
 youth and inexperience made her an easy 
 
269 
 
 prey to these designing persons, and the 
 reserve of her nature completed their suc- 
 cess. Mansfeldt had deceived Aubrey as 
 to his motives ; no persons like to own a 
 base motive when they can assume a good 
 one, and Mansfeldt chose to impute to 
 love the conduct which was, he knew, in- 
 stigated by hate, as well as by the wish to 
 prevent Fortescue's marriage with a woman 
 who he knew disliked him ; nor could 
 Aubrey, however inclined he might be to 
 doubt Mansfeldt's word on some occasions, 
 be slow to believe that he loved a beau- 
 tiful girl of eighteen, and wished there- 
 fore to prevent her marrying a rival. On 
 the death of Sir George Villeroy, the 
 three confederates extended their plans of 
 operations, and as it was soon known in 
 the neighbourhood that Miss Villeroy 
 would want a waiting-maid, they con- 
 trived to introduce a tool of their own, 
 who, after Julia's removal from Gloucester 
 Place, was always acquainted with the 
 hour at which an anonymous letter would 
 arrive by the twopenny-post, and was there- 
 
270 
 
 fore in the way to receive it, and convey it 
 unseen by any of the family to Julia, as 
 they well knew that if Lady Helena had 
 seen twopenny-post letters frequently ar- 
 riving directed to her friend, she would 
 have enquired who her correspondent was. 
 To complete her distrust of Fortescue, 
 Julia was informed that, at such an hour, 
 he would be walking in Dorset Street 
 with, a tall lady in weeds, and that that 
 lady would be Mrs. Tyrawley, who was 
 recently become a widow ; and as Julia's 
 dressing-closet looked into Dorset Street, 
 she might, with her own eyes, the writer 
 said, convince herself that her anonymous 
 friend told the truth. Accordingly, in his 
 way from his lodgings to Gloucester Place, 
 Fortescue, as usual, went through Dorset 
 Street ; when, just before he reached the 
 above-mentioned window, he was accosted 
 by a tall lady in weeds, who told him 
 she was the widow of a lieutenant who 
 had once served under him, and begged 
 t.o know if he could do any thing for a 
 son of his who wished to enter the service. 
 
271 
 
 Fortescue walked up Dorset Street, con- 
 sequently listening to this tale, which was 
 told by a woman dressed for the purpose, 
 and he did so in sight of the deceived 
 and wretched Julia ; yet further, when 
 Julia was ordered to quit London by the 
 physicians, she was informed that For- 
 tescue would certainly propose that she 
 should go to Clifton, because Mrs. Tyraw- 
 ley was going thither by order of her 
 physicians, and as Fortescue did urge her 
 to go thither in preference to any other 
 place of the kind, because he had a friend 
 residing in the neighbourhood, her con- 
 fidence in her anonymous correspondent 
 was fatally confirmed ; but, alas ! it was 
 strengthened still more when she saw the 
 real Mrs. Tyrawley pass the shop where 
 she was sitting, that is, she saw a tall lady 
 in black, who looked like the one she had 
 seen in London, and the confederates had 
 taken care to employ a woman on that 
 occasion, who in height and figure re- 
 sembled Mrs. Tyrawley ! no wonder, 
 therefore, that the poor Julia was com- 
 
272 
 
 pletely deceived, and that her spirits 
 and her health yielded to the pressure 
 of secret anxious suffering, which she 
 could not, dared not, reveal to any one, 
 especially as her true and generous love 
 made her shrink from exposing the error 
 of Fortescue, even to Sophia. But Au- 
 brey's motives were changed when he 
 beheld and become acquainted with Julia. 
 Before, he had laboured to prevent her 
 union with her lover, merely that his slave, 
 Mrs. Tyrawley, might regain Fortescue to 
 herself, and he, as usual, receive pecuniary 
 aid from her, while Mansfield would have 
 a chance for winning the heiress ; but 
 when he saw youth, beauty, purity, and 
 wealth united, in the unsuspecting victim 
 of his arts, a feeling of virtuous attachment, 
 such as he had never experienced before, 
 took possession of his heart : he loathed 
 the golden fetters, which Lady Villeroy, 
 he saw, meant to impose on him, and he 
 resolved to exert on Julia those powers of 
 captivation which he had hitherto found 
 resistless to other women. But, blinded 
 
273 
 
 by vanity, and led by his impetuous pas- 
 sions, he made a premature discovery of 
 his love, and the result I need not repeat : 
 he still persevered, though he in the mean- 
 while allowed Lady Villeroy to look 
 forward with certainty to be his wife, 
 when the first year of her mourning 
 should expire ; and that Mrs. Tyrawley 
 might not be jealous of Julia, he told her 
 if he ever married, he would marry Lady 
 Villeroy. But these wicked conspirers 
 against the peace of innocence, were not 
 allowed to triumph, ultimately, in their 
 wickedness ; for Lady Villeroy was ena- 
 bled to detect and expose them. Aubrey 
 had been for some days so unwell that he 
 was forced to keep his room and have 
 advice. One afternoon, while busy in ar- 
 ranging a cabinet of letters and trinkets, 
 an anodyne, which he had unconsciously 
 taken, operated so powerfully that he fell 
 back in his chair in a deep sleep. At this 
 moment Lady Villeroy entered the room ; 
 seeing him in this situation, she started 
 forward to ascertain whether he was in a 
 
 n 5 
 
27i 
 
 swoon or a slumber ; and having convinced 
 herself he was only in the latter, she had 
 sat down to watch beside him, when her 
 eye rested on a letter, dated the preceding 
 day, and written in a woman's hand, signed 
 " the fond and faithful Lucy Tyrawley :" 
 she instantly snatched it up, and read with 
 horror and fierce indignation, the following- 
 lines : — 
 
 " Clifton. 
 " Cruel, arbitrary, but ever most dear 
 and only beloved Aubrey ! I have for your 
 sake made a complete dupe of that fond 
 fool Fortescue ! That Miss V.'s coldness 
 mortified his vanity, and my ardour grati- 
 fied it so much, that I should soon be sure 
 of him, I told you before. I have now to 
 tell you that the poor girl, being entirely 
 convinced that our anonymous letters 
 told her the truth months ago, and that 
 Fortescue was bound to her only by honor 
 and avarice, and to me by love, broke with 
 him suddenly, and kindly desired him to 
 marry me. I took advantage of this, when 
 he related it to me, feigned to be near 
 
275 
 
 dying a feint which real illness assisted, 
 and the consequence has been, that the day 
 after to-morrow I shall be his wife! But, 
 oh! I am very wretched! for I hear, no 
 matter from whom, that you love Miss 
 Villeroy ! I shall not be very jealous, if 
 you marry that old miserly tigress, Lady 
 Villeroy, though you tell me you loath her, 
 and are only making a fool of her ; but, 
 mark me, sir, if you dare to make love to 
 Julia, I will, at all risks to myself, expose 
 you to her in your true colours. Julia your 
 wife ! — the idea drives me mad ! I ear- 
 nestly wish you would tie yourself, in- 
 stantly, (however odious she is to you) to 
 that doting old woman, who is, you say, so 
 nauseously fond of you. Farewell ! I must 
 write a tender note to Fortescue, after all, 
 he is a fine, handsome creature ! and I 
 wonder I do not love him passionately, 
 perhaps, I shall one day. I wish I could 
 make you jealous ! but, oh ! he is not, he 
 never can be you in my eyes — you, be- 
 loved by me from earliest youth ! and still 
 the only being, as you well know, whom I 
 
276 
 
 ever did, or ever can love ! On you I la- 
 vished my little wealth ; for you I cheer- 
 fully injured my reputation ; and with you 
 I would now gladly fly to the end of the 
 world ! and what have you uniformly given 
 me in return for this self-devotion ? Your 
 cold contempt, barbarian ! But I must, to 
 oblige you more than myself, complete my 
 work, and give myself again to another." 
 
 It was with great difficulty that Lady 
 Villeroy could contain herself, and forbear 
 to vent her indignation in loud reproaches, 
 while reading this letter ; but, cunning, 
 the result of her wish for revenge, and 
 perhaps better feelings, a wish to do justice 
 to Fortescue and Julia, taught her forbear- 
 ance, and she left the room softly, taking 
 the letter of Lucy with her. This letter, 
 she instantly sent off by an express to 
 Clifton, charging him to find Fortescue, 
 wherever he was, and give the packet into 
 his own hand : a feeling of jealousy uncon- 
 sciously, perhaps, prompted this resolution ; 
 for, if Julia was once Fortescue's, she never 
 would be Aubrey's. She enclosed the letter 
 in the following one. 
 
277 
 
 Sir—" Read the enclosed, and thank 
 heaven and me for your escape, for I trust 
 these will reach you time enough to pre- 
 vent your marrying that vile woman, and 
 give you back to poor Julia, to whom my 
 love. I send this by an express. Pray 
 pay all charges. 
 
 " Your servant, 
 
 " Elizabeth Villeroy." 
 
 These were the letters delivered to Cap- 
 tain Fortescue on the morning of the day 
 designed for his marriage. There are few 
 feelings of agony in the catalogue of 
 human miseries so bitter, for the moment at 
 least, as the sudden conviction forced with 
 irresistible clearness on the mind, of the 
 utter worthlessness of the object of a long 
 and tender attachment ! Fortescue at first 
 reeled and staggered under the blow thus 
 inflicted on him, and felt contempt as 
 great as his once adored Lucy ex- 
 pressed for the fond weakness and baby 
 vanity which had made him her easy 
 dupe. But the next moment his soul 
 seemed almost bursting with gratitude to 
 
278 
 
 heaven for the mercy vouchsafed him ! and 
 while he sunk devoutly on his knees, his 
 brave and manly heart was not ashamed to 
 vent its thankfulness in tears, which stream- 
 ed from his uplifted eye over his clasped 
 hands, and hung upon his quivering lip ! 
 That duty over, he desired his servant 
 to pay the express whatever he demanded ; 
 and then, throwing himself into the 
 carriage designed to convey him and his 
 bride to the altar, he desired to be 
 driven to Mrs. Tyrawley's lodgings. On 
 the way thither, he remembered, with 
 remorseful tenderness, how often he had 
 complained of Julia's coldness, a coldness 
 now so well accounted for, a coldness 
 which did not as he now found proceed 
 from her heart, and he longed to throw 
 himself at her feet, and renew there every 
 vow of the most ardent love ! for in 
 proportion as Lucy fell in his esteem for 
 ever, the injured and virtuous Julia rose 
 with bright and added beauty ! Still, spite 
 of his injuries, Fortescue trembled to be- 
 hold that being once so dear, who would 
 
279 
 
 soon be forced to shrink humbled and 
 abashed before tbe terror of his reproach- 
 ing eye. Lucy, herself, was not without 
 her painful feelings ; she had her com- 
 punctious visitings,and she had also jealous 
 fears that Julia might be induced to love 
 and marry Aubrey, as she believed him ca- 
 pable of winning the affections of any 
 woman. If so, thought she, I shall have 
 deceived the noble Fortescue, only to make 
 myself a greater wretch than ever, for 
 Aubrey will be rich, and rich independent 
 of me and my fond aid ! But it was too 
 late to retreat, and pale and ill assured 
 she awaited the arrival of Fortescue ! He 
 came, he rapidly mounted the stairs, and 
 forcing a smile, she advanced to meet him, 
 assuming as she did so, an air of timid 
 bashfulness. This artful seeming steeled 
 his heart, and fixing his fine eyes upon her, 
 he said, opening her letter at the same 
 time—" Mrs. Tyrawley, do you know that 
 hand-writing V She looked, she recognised 
 it, and sunk nearly fainting into a chair ; 
 Fortescue rung for assistance, then" coldly 
 
280 
 
 said — " I am now going to that injured 
 angel ! Farewell ! farewell for ever !" 
 
 " There is still one comfort !" cried 
 Lucy, after he was gone, " he will be 
 reconciled to Miss Villeroy, and she will 
 never be Aubrey's." 
 
 While these events were passing, Lord 
 Erpingham arrived at Clifton, and with a 
 heavy heart — for what awaited him there 
 was not likely to afford comfort to him in 
 any way ; as he knew that his son was on 
 the eve of forming a marriage, which he 
 detested, after having, as he feared, endured 
 Miss Villeroy to break her engagement to 
 him ; and his daughter had also separated 
 herself from the lover under whose honorable 
 protection he had hoped to see her placed ; 
 moreover, he feared that he should on 
 inquiry find the fault of the rupture was 
 more on Lady Helena's side, rather than 
 on Lord Restormel's 
 
 " Never, Augustas, did I return to you 
 so reluctantly as now," said the earl, " for 
 never before were my paternal pride and 
 comfort so entirely over-clouded before. I 
 
281 
 
 do not ask you where Marcus is, he is, 
 I doubt not, with that odious woman." 
 
 '* I hope not odious, my dear lord ; I 
 dare say she has been much slandered, and 
 Marcus respects as well as loves her, or he 
 would not marry her." 
 
 " Kind and candid as usual," he re- 
 plied, " but where is Helena ? how is 
 she." 
 
 " She is at-home, dreading, I believe, 
 to see you, and as usual blaming herself." 
 
 " So, so, then it is as I suspected, but 
 let me see her directly." Lady Helena 
 came, and with such a countenance of ha- 
 bitual woe, as her father could not behold 
 unmoved ; kissing her pale cheek with 
 affectionate warmth, he gazed earnestly and 
 anxiously in her face, and seating her on 
 his knee, allowed the overcharged heart of 
 his child to unload itself in tears on his 
 shoulder. 
 
 « Oh ! this is so kind," said the sobbing 
 girl at last! "and I merit only re- 
 proaches !" 
 
 " I wish to judge for myself," replied 
 
282 
 
 her father kindly, " and I know you ' will 
 a plain, unvarnished tale deliver,' Helena 
 not at all sparing yourself: come, tell me 
 all that has happened." Lady Helena, did 
 so, and Lord Erpingham, who was indeed 
 a just and honorable man, declared that 
 he could not blame Lord Kestormel for his 
 severity of reproof to a young woman, 
 who not only wore a costume unbecoming 
 her rank in life, but wholly in opposition 
 to the wishes of her lover, and I doubt not, 
 said he, to those of her mother. His resent- 
 ment was honorable to himself, but what 
 I doubt is, whether the provocation was 
 sufficient to justify his leaving you as he 
 has done, without sending you any other 
 notice than this cold, heartless note. Had 
 he loved you as a man ought to love the 
 woman he marries, he could not have left 
 you without a more feeling farewell. Alas! 
 little did the earl or Lady Helena think 
 that a letter, a touching letter had been 
 written by Lord Restormel, and just 
 such an one as Lady Helena and her father 
 would both have cordially delighted in, and 
 
283 
 
 which would, had it been received, have 
 rivetted the union which the note had bro- 
 ken! As it was, Lady Helena could not 
 acquit Lord Restormel of want of kind and 
 generous indulgence ; and Lord Erping- 
 ham decidedly blamed him. " However," 
 said he, " as he is so cold-hearted, and so 
 little disposed to make allowances for the 
 pride and vanity of lovely and admired 
 nineteen, I am glad you are separated, for 
 you would never have been happy together. 
 I declare I wish Julia and he could meet 
 and fall in love with each other, he would 
 be happier with her than with you, and she 
 would be happier with him than with that 
 strange capricious Marcus." 
 
 Poor Lady Helena had often said this 
 herself, and she shuddered and turned pale 
 when her father's opinion thus positively 
 confirmed her's ; how earnestly did she 
 hope that Lord Restormel and Julia might 
 never be thrown in each other's way ! yet, 
 if Julia joined Lord Aston abroad, they 
 would meet in scenes of sorrow calculated 
 to endear them to each other. The idea 
 
284 
 
 was insupportable, and she, even she, the 
 generous and disinterested Lady Helena, 
 could not help wishing that something 
 would occur to prevent an intimacy be- 
 tween Julia a«nd Lord Restormel. While 
 Lady Helena was weeping over the bare 
 possibility of an event so destructive of all 
 her future happiness, for neither Lord L. 
 nor Netherby had for one instant weak- 
 ened, by their attentions, the power of 
 Lord Restormel over her heart ; her foot- 
 man announced the arrival of Marcus, who 
 instantly followed him to her room. 
 
 " You here, Marcus ! you here ! " she 
 exclaimed, " the bridegroom, I conclude, 
 of Mrs. Tyrawley ; do you not know that 
 my father is in the house ?" 
 
 " I do know it ; but I care not. I am 
 no bridegroom, nor ever shall be," he re- 
 plied in a hurried manner, " except that 
 injured angel — but where is she 1 I must 
 and will see Julia directly ! " 
 
 " Impossible ; she will refuse to see 
 you! but what has happened ?" 
 
 " Happened ! I have been saved from 
 
2S5 
 
 destruction, from the snares of that despi- 
 cable woman, Mrs. Tyrawley!" 
 
 " Oh, joyful tidings ! well then, I hope 
 Julia will see you, and I will go to her." 
 
 She did so ; but scarcely had she 
 opened the door when Marcus rushed into 
 the room after her, in a frenzied manner, 
 and threw himself at Julia's feet, and con- 
 jured her to listen to him, in order to save 
 him from destruction ! He then put Lucy's 
 letter into her hands, and desired her to 
 read it. With what sensations she did 
 so I need not attempt to say, but long 
 and most satisfactory to the heart of Julia, 
 and Fortescue was the explanation that 
 followed ; and, as Julia was no longer 
 afraid of exposing the life of Marcus, or 
 of any one, by the disclosure, as his ene- 
 mies were beneath his resentment, she 
 brought all the wicked letters which had, 
 during so many months, preyed on her 
 peace, and blighted all her prospects ; she 
 had preserved them carefully, she said, 
 that they might justify her strange, mys- 
 terious coldness when she was no more ; 
 
286 
 
 but the agitation even of recovered hap- 
 piness was too much for her weak frame ; 
 and as soon as Lady Helena had prepared 
 her father to receive her brother, Marcus 
 left her to the tender care of his sister. 
 The earl received his son with a cold, 
 resentful manner, for he considered him 
 as culpable in having so entirely set his 
 opinion and wishes at defiance, in engaging 
 to marry Mrs. Tyrawley ; he also told 
 him that he should think it his duty as a 
 friend, to advise Julia not to receive him 
 again as a lover, till he had undergone a 
 long probation, especially as the rupture 
 between them, and his being on the eve 
 of marriage with another woman were 
 well known ; therefore, an immediate re- 
 newal between him and Julia would ex- 
 pose the latter to well deserved censure ; 
 and if Julia was wise, he thought she 
 would not even allow him to correspond 
 with her, but would prove his fidelity 
 before she ever trusted him again. Julia, 
 meanwhile, for the same reasons, and this 
 additional one, that she did not feel at all 
 
287 
 
 sure that Mrs. Tyrawley would not, by 
 some means, or other, again separate them, 
 had resolved to refuse to accept a renewal 
 of Captain Fortescue's addresses, and even 
 if he left England, to refuse to correspond 
 with him. Fortified in her resolution by 
 the honourable advice of the earl, she, 
 therefore, positively declared that she 
 would neither see him nor correspond 
 with him for twelve months, and should 
 consider herself at liberty to accept the 
 addresses of any other man ; but it was so 
 evidently an effort to her to do this, that 
 Marcus hoped he should be able, through 
 the influence of Lady Helena, to prevail 
 on her to see him, or write to him long 
 before that time elapsed, and Marcus set 
 off on a tour to the Highlands, to which 
 was to succeed a tour entirely round Ire- 
 land ; full of hope, though also full of grief 
 and mortification, but pre-eminent over 
 every other sensation, was that of grati- 
 tude to Heaven for his preservation from 
 a fatal marriage, and even of gratitude to 
 its agent, Lady Villeroy. 
 
288 
 
 " But can I inflict no punishment on 
 those wretches ?" said Marcus, " the men 
 are beneath my sword, and for using my 
 horsewhip they could indite me for an 
 assault." 
 
 " The wisest, as well as the most 
 Christian way," replied the earl, " is to 
 take no revenge, and let the matter die 
 away in silence. Depend on it, some re- 
 tributive justice attends bad actions here, 
 and you will be revenged, without the 
 guilt of revenging yourself." 
 
 " Oh, if this Aubrey marries Lady 
 Villeroy, Marcus, you will be sufficiently 
 revenged on him." 
 
 " Nay, Helena! remember the express." 
 
 " I do, and that she desired you to pay 
 for it too." This was said with something 
 of her former spirit, but it was only a flash 
 of lightning through a dark cloud, for gene- 
 rally speaking, Lady Helena's countenance 
 and manner bespoke a mind absent, joy- 
 less, restless : and the only expression of 
 joy, which ever irradiated her dim eye, was 
 called into it by seeing Julia gradually. 
 
289 
 
 but surely recover her bloom and her em- 
 bonpoint, now her mind was relieved of its 
 burthen. 
 
 " If we remain any longer here, my 
 dear child, it must be on your account 
 Helena, for you are the invalid now," said 
 her anxious mother. 
 
 " It is only my mind that suffers, and 
 I am contented to suffer," replied Lady 
 Helena, " as I was the author of my own 
 miseries." 
 
 " With a little help," replied her mother, 
 " but I believe you and Lord Restormel 
 were both right, and that you will both 
 be happier separated." Lady Helena still 
 thought differently, but she was silent. 
 
 " Yes," resumed the countess, " I have 
 said this in my letter to Lady Restormel." 
 
 " Have you written to her and told her 
 all," cried Lady Helena turning pale : " Oh ! 
 I hope not ! " 
 
 ■" Yes I have, and why not, my dear ?" 
 " Oh ! I hoped, I hoped she would die 
 without the pain of knowing that." Here 
 Lady Helena, too painfully affected to say 
 
290 
 
 more, suddenly quitted the room, she had 
 believed Lord Restormel would, if possible, 
 not inform his mother that their union was 
 at an end, if her death was as near as was 
 apprehended, and it was agony to her to 
 reflect that her own image, whieh was 
 now so precious and bright in the memory 
 of Lady Restormel, would become, pro- 
 bably, odious and overclouded. " Now 
 then," said she to herself, " I had better an- 
 swer her letter, which, hitherto, I have not 
 been able to do ; but I will throw myself 
 on my feelings and what comes from 
 my heart, will go, I flatter myself, directly 
 to her's. She was confirmed in this reso- 
 lution by a letter from Lady Aston, in 
 which she said, ' Lady Restormel grows 
 rapidly worse ; but, I trust, Lord Restor- 
 mel will arrive to night. She loves to 
 speak of you, and does so with the tender- 
 est affection. She admires as well as loves 
 you, spite of your faults. ' Tell her,' she 
 says, * that though my nurses are kind and 
 diligent, and one of them is the dear friend 
 of my youth, I miss and pine after that 
 
291 
 
 bright vision which soothed and saved 
 me at Laurel Grove.' * After this can I 
 hesitate to write ?' exclaimed Lady Helena. 
 Still, delicacy and pride suggested objec- 
 tions to her writing ; for if she wrote de- 
 spondingly as well as affectionately, and 
 she could only write as she felt, it would 
 seem, and perhaps to Lord Restormel him- 
 self, as if she wished to gain his mother's 
 interference in her favour, that she might 
 be restored to his affection and his con- 
 fidence. But she at last found out a method 
 of satisfying the claims which the dying 
 mother had on her attention, without 
 forcing herself on the recollection of her 
 son, and that was sending her letter en- 
 closed to Lady Aston, and conjuring her to 
 deliver it privately to Lady Restormel, and 
 only on promise that its being written and 
 delivered should be kept a secret from 
 Lord Restormel. Lady Helena was sure, 
 that not only Sophia's own delicacy would 
 lead her to take every proper precaution 
 to save her's, but that Lady Restormel 
 herself would be honorably careful not to 
 
29 l 2 
 
 lower her dignity even in the eyes of her son ; 
 accordingly she did venture to throw herself 
 on her feelings, and to write a letter, which 
 would, she trusted, be acceptable to those of 
 the beloved and honored being- to whom 
 she wrote. As Lady Erpingham had in 
 her letter disclosed that painful fact which 
 she had wished concealed, Lady Helena 
 thought it best to give Lady Restormel an 
 accurate detail of all the circumstances, 
 that she might do Lord Restormel that 
 justice which he would be likely not to do 
 himself. When she had finished, and sent 
 this letter, her mind was considerably re- 
 lieved, and it seemed as if her now habi- 
 tual despondency had given way to hope — 
 yet she would have found it difficult to say 
 on what this hope was founded. When 
 Lord Restormel arrived at Nice, his mother 
 was a little revived, and she eagerly and 
 tenderly enquired how he had left Lady 
 Helena, generously regretting, at the same 
 time, that his affection for her had forced 
 him to leave England and the woman he 
 loved. The hurried, evasive manner in 
 
293 
 
 which Lord Restormel replied to these 
 questions, soon made her suspect that all 
 was not right ; and not long after she re- 
 ceived Lady Erpingham's letter, saying, 
 that their engagement was dissolved. But 
 Lady Erpingham gave no details ; she 
 only expressed her belief that the separa- 
 tion was for the happiness of both parties, 
 and proved their wisdom. Lady Restor- 
 mel, therefore, could not help naming the 
 subject to her son, though she saw that he 
 wished to avoid discussing it. Accord- 
 ingly she showed him Lady Erpingham's 
 letter, and begged him to give her all the 
 explanation which she could not now be 
 easy without receiving. 
 
 " Oh, spare me, spare me, dearest mo- 
 ther," was his agitated reply, " I am not 
 the wise philosophical being that your 
 friend seems to think me. Let it suffice 
 that we are separated, and for good rea- 
 sons, and that I do not blame Lady He- 
 lena." 
 
 He then quitted the apartment in evi- 
 dent distress, and Lady Restormel had not 
 
the heart to resume the subject. In two 
 or three days after, Lady Aston, obeying, 
 in all respects, Lady Helena's injunctions, 
 gave her letter privately to Lady Restor- 
 mel. 
 
 " Dear, rash, but generous girl ! " cried 
 she, melting into tears as she read it, 
 " truly have you said, that the mother 
 would have been more indulgent than the 
 son, and that had I been near him, that 
 cold note, dissolving the engagement' 
 would not have been written." 
 
 " I shall leave this letter with you," 
 said Lady Aston, " as you mean to answer 
 it ; but I rely on your burning it as soon 
 as your answer is written." 
 
 a You may trust me," she replied ; " I 
 will guard the delicacy and pride of Helena 
 Fortescue as carefully as I would that of 
 my own daughter ; and as soon as you 
 leave me, my answer shall T)e written, and 
 her letter destroyed, though I own" she 
 added, in a faltering voice, " it is most pre- 
 cious to me, and I should like to have kept 
 it till all was over." 
 
295 
 
 Lady Aston left her to fulfil her task, 
 even sooner than she intended, for she was 
 summoned to the little Everard, who was 
 alarmingly worse, and in a few hours the 
 unhappy father and Sophia were, by desire 
 of the physicians, on the road to the baths 
 of Pisa, as the only possible chance to save 
 his wasting life. 
 
 " Admirable woman !" said LadyRestor- 
 mel, as Sophia, having pronounced a hur- 
 ried, but agonized adieu, had left her alone, 
 et we shall meet no more in this world ! " 
 
 She then wrote the kindest letter to 
 Lady Helena, assuring her she had not 
 over-rated the indulgence with which she 
 would have viewed her errors, even had 
 their most secret source been revealed, 
 that source which she only hinted at, with- 
 held by shame, as she said, from the dis- 
 closure. She also declared her fixed in- 
 tention to write to her son, conjuring him 
 to reflect on his hasty decision, and to re- 
 tract it, assuring him that he would repent 
 the surrender of this first and heartfelt at- 
 tachment, and that he did not make suffi- 
 
c 296 
 
 cient allowances for a young, beautiful, and 
 admired woman. This letter, she said, he 
 shall not receive till I am no more, and then 
 it will come with added force, as an admo- 
 nition from the grave. If then, as I suspect, 
 my beloved girl, you still love Restormel, 
 he will soon be with you, and my death will 
 be the means of cementing that union, which 
 it would have gladdened my life to behold. 
 Oh, how welcome will this idea make 
 death to me ! But vain, alas, was the ge- 
 nerous hope she thus so feelingly ex- 
 expressed ; she had scarcely written, seal- 
 ed, and sent off her letter to the post, and 
 burned Lady Helena's, when all her worst 
 symptoms returned, and when her son 
 came back from a short excursion into 
 the country, he found her last moments 
 rapidly approaching. It was, therefore, 
 impossible for her to write, even one line, 
 as she had kindly intended ; and what was 
 still more trying to her, she felt her pow- 
 ers of speaking forsaking her, while her 
 mind retained its consciousness. Warm 
 
9,97 
 
 and uppermost in that mind was the wish 
 to bring about a reconciliation between 
 her son and Lady Helena ; but the desire 
 she felt to do this, defeated its end, by the 
 over-eagerness which it excited. " And 
 hear me, Restormel," she could only say 
 with difficulty, and at intervals. * Obey 
 your dying mother; I know all the faults 
 Lady Helena has committed; I conjure 
 you to ask to see my letter to her — that's 
 enough; and promise me you will no more 
 think of—— oh! no — make my last mo- 
 ments happy by promising me you under- 
 stand me. I am dying — speech fails — 
 promise, promise— life — promise;" as she 
 spoke she eagerly grasped his hand, and 
 hung about his neck. 
 
 (i I do promise solemnly — I promise 
 to obey your will implicitly," was his faint 
 and agitated answer. His mother fixed her 
 eyes on his with a look of joy, while a sweet 
 and benevolent smile played about her lips. 
 The next moment her hands were clasped, 
 and her eyes raised in prayer: "1 shall die 
 
 o5 
 
298 
 
 happy now," she articulated, with great 
 difficulty, and then fell back a corpse on 
 the bosom of her son. 
 
 At first, that most affectionate of chil- 
 dren was alive only to the bitter anguish of 
 his loss ; but when the earliest agonies of 
 bereaved affection had a little subsided, he 
 reflected with insupportable agony, that, 
 in her care for his happiness, his mother 
 had wrung from him a promise, in her 
 dying moments, that he would never re- 
 new his engagement with the faulty Lady 
 Helena; for thus he unfortunately, but 
 naturally, misunderstood the meaning of 
 what she said. And he knew how fondly 
 his heart still yearned towards that erring, 
 but tenderly-beloved being — and how 
 carefully his memory recalled every proof 
 of her love to him. Now, then, said he 
 to himself, I am indeed desolate and alone 
 in the world; I am no longer a son — I can 
 never be a lover or a husband — and I care 
 not how soon my spirit, my broken spirit, is 
 required at the hands of him who gave it. 
 
299 
 
 What a journey, what an agonizing- 
 journey was that of Lord Restormel, while 
 he followed the corpse of his mother to 
 England and to the vault of his ancestors. 
 
CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 Lady Helena, meanwhile, received, with 
 delighted gratitude, and with a renewal of 
 her fondest hope, the letter of Lady Res- 
 tormel, though she at the same time" wept 
 with affectionate agony over it, as she 
 thought that the generous heart which had 
 dictated it, might, at that very moment, 
 have beaten its last. Nor was it long- 
 before her worst fears were confirmed by 
 a letter from Lady Aston ; but her best 
 hopes were excited at the same time, and 
 she fully expected that as soon as Lord 
 Restormel had performed every duty to 
 his mother, and her memory, he would 
 either by letter, or in person, renew his ad- 
 dresses, provided he yet retained any feeling 
 of attachment to her. In the meanwhile the 
 pleasure of her home was greatly impaired 
 by the removal of Julia to another residence, 
 as it was evident that propriety required she 
 should do so, since her remaining in Lord 
 
301 
 
 Erpingham's family would expose her 
 to the charge of being on the watch to 
 regain, if she could, the heart and hand of 
 a lover, who appeared in the eyes of the 
 world to have forsaken her for another 
 woman. This was an apparent surrender 
 of her dignity and delicacy, to which no 
 member of Fortescue's " family could wish 
 to expose her. She, therefore, chose Mrs. 
 Magnal, who was now a widow, and 
 wanted a companion, for her guardian, and 
 became an inmate of that lady's house, 
 with her own establishment of servant^ 
 and carriage. 
 
 During her town residence, Julia's be- 
 nevolent nature had prompted her to seek 
 out objects on whom she might, with pro- 
 priety, bestow some of the vast wealth, 
 which she could not, and wished not to 
 spend upon herself: and very often ac- 
 companied by her own woman, one whom 
 she hired of Mrs. Magnal, on discovering 
 the turpitude of the first attendant, she 
 used to visit the poor in the neighbourhood 
 of Portman Square, where she resided, and 
 
302 
 
 bestow on them Bibles and good books, as 
 well as pecuniary favors. In one of these 
 charitable walks she visited a lodger in the 
 second floor of a green-grocer's house, and 
 on her re-entering the shop, the mistress 
 of it, said, " If I may make so bold, ma- 
 dam, I wish to say, that the person you 
 have just visited is not the greatest object 
 of charity in f my house. The lodger on 
 the first floor, being a reduced gentle- 
 woman, is far more so." 
 
 " But what can I do for her V replied 
 Julia ; " how can I assist a reduced gentle- 
 woman, without wounding her feelings; if 
 I can, I will ; but tell me how ?" 
 
 " Really, madam," said the good wo- 
 man, " if the want of proper nourishment 
 will not pull down pride, nothing can, and 
 this poor lady is gone, I assure you; for 
 when I told her I knew a rich young lady, 
 who was very kind and charitable, she 
 sighed, and said, ' Well, really, I feel so 
 ill and so hungry, that I am willing to ac- 
 cept medical advice, and food from any 
 one now ;' and then, if you did but see her, 
 
503 
 
 madam, she is so beautiful, 'and seems so 
 unhappy, so penitent-like." 
 
 " Penitent ! " cried Julia, starting, for 
 the word sounded unpleasant in her ears, 
 but her Christian feelings conquered the 
 involuntary reluctance to see her, which 
 she at first experienced, and Mrs. Tibbs 
 eagerly ran to inform the poor invalid, that 
 the good young lady was coming to visit 
 her. 
 
 " I am glad of it," replied she, in a 
 faint voice, " for I am so sunk, so faint for 
 something I could like." 
 
 " Then pray walk in directly," said 
 Mrs. Tibbs to Julia, who now entered the 
 room, " you came at the right moment to- 
 day, Miss Villeroy." 
 
 " Miss Villeroy !" wildly screamed out 
 the trembling invalid ; " Miss Villeroy ! 
 no, no, let me rather die, than be obliged 
 to Miss Villeroy." 
 
 As she said this, she tried to escape 
 into the next room, but Julia caught her 
 arm, and forcibly detained her, while Mrs. 
 Tibbs said — 
 
304 
 
 " Dear me, Mrs. Tyrawley, why should 
 you not he obliged to Miss Villeroy ?" 
 
 " I suspected this," said Julia, nearly 
 as pale as the wretched woman whom she 
 held : " Leave us, if you please, Mrs. 
 Tibbs, I find Mrs. Tyrawley does not know 
 me." 
 
 As soon as they were alone, Mrs. Ty- 
 rawley fell at Julia's feet, and earnestly 
 besought, not her aid, but her pardon. 
 
 " You shall have both," Julia replied ; 
 a sweet, complacent feeling, struggling 
 with, and overcoming the power of sad 
 and bitter recollections over her heart, and 
 that heart full of thankfulness to Heaven 
 for being thus permitted to have an oppor- 
 tunity of returning good for evil. 
 
 Long and affecting was the conversa- 
 tion which now took place, Lucy, won by 
 the gentle kindness and Christian benevo- 
 lence of Julia, told her the whole of her 
 sad story. That, expecting to marry For- 
 tescue, she had ran in debt, and having 
 strong reasons to wish to avoid selling any 
 of her principal, she had been forced to 
 
305 
 
 pay her debts by instalments out of her 
 small income, and had, therefore, not 
 enough to procure herself advice or suffi- 
 cient food ; but she had nearly resolved to 
 sell some of her few remaining hundreds, 
 when Mrs. Tibbs had declared she would 
 procure her assistance : " But little did I 
 think," said Lucy, M that the good young- 
 lady was one whom I had endeavoured so 
 cruelly to injure !" Julia found that what 
 she had heard (but did not like to believe) 
 was true. That Lady Villeroy had been 
 convinced by Aubrey that he had spoken 
 of her as he did only to blind the jealousy 
 of Mrs Tyrawley — that she had married 
 him secretly, having, however, taken care 
 to tie up the greatest part of her fortune, 
 and secure even her income to herself; 
 that they had then gone abroad, and a few- 
 weeks afterwards Aubrey had left her, and 
 was living on that part of the income which 
 he could call his own, with a beautiful 
 French girl, whom he had met on the 
 continent, and that Lady Villeroy, almost 
 
506 
 
 broken-hearted, was on her way to Eng- 
 land. 
 
 " Does he know of your distress ?" 
 
 " Oh, yes." 
 
 " And has he not sent you any relief V 
 
 " No ; he is too much engrossed with 
 his new love to think of me." 
 
 Here she begged leave to change the 
 conversation, as it brought on her difficulty 
 of breathing. I shall only add, that Julia 
 procured the wretched woman advice, and 
 a nurse, and provided her with all she 
 wanted. She also was unremitting in her 
 visits to her, and by the time that Mrs. 
 Tyrawley took to that bed from which 
 she was never to rise again, it was with 
 feelings of spiritual comfort such as she 
 had never expected to experience, and 
 which she owed to the kindness of Julia, 
 and to the attendance of the amiable 
 clergyman whom she prevailed upon to 
 visit the penitent and dying sinner. 
 
 " What has happened to you, Julia ?" 
 said Lady Helena to her one day. " There 
 
307 
 
 is an expression in your countenance every 
 now and then, a sort of Heavenly expres- 
 sion, even though your eyes fill with tears, 
 which I never saw in it before. Have you 
 had a vision to tell you you are soon to be 
 removed to Heaven ?" 
 
 " No, Helena ; but I have reason to 
 think that I have been chosen as the hum- 
 ble instrument to send another sinner thi- 
 ther, and that makes me weep, though I 
 am a fool to weep for what I am glad of." 
 
 " And pray whio is this brand plucked 
 from the burning ?" 
 
 " Go with me to visit her, and I will 
 tell you, most willingly." They instantly 
 set off for Mrs. Tyrawley's lodgings. 
 
 " Oh ! Miss Villeroy, I am so glad you 
 are come," cried Mrs. Tibbs, " the poor 
 soul has been so bad! poor Mrs. Tyrawley, 
 I thought she was gone ! " 
 
 " Mrs. Tyrawley," cried Lady Helena, 
 " is it she ?" bursting into tears, while she 
 gazed on the benign and touching counte- 
 nance of Julia, as she said, " Will you not 
 see her Helena ?" 
 
308 
 
 * Oh, yes," was her reply, as she caught 
 Julia's hand to her lips, and followed her 
 in silence to the chamber. 
 
 " Here is Lady Helena Fortescue come 
 to visit you," said Julia, kindly ; " will you 
 see her ?" 
 
 " Oh ! how good she is ! see her ! yes, 
 did I not bear to see you ?" Lady Helena 
 now stood at the foot of the bed, and 
 almost started at seeing the wreck of what 
 she had once known as consummate beauty! 
 
 " Lady Helena ! can you forgive all 
 the uneasiness I have given your family ?" 
 said Lucy, clasping her hands together. 
 " And will you prevail on your noble bro- 
 ther to pardon all my wicked conduct to- 
 wards him r 
 
 " He has pardoned it, I dare say, 
 already." 
 
 " But, where is he ? if I could but see 
 him ! but as he is not in England I know 
 that would be impossible; besides, I am 
 not worthy to inflict such pangs as the 
 sight of me would occasion him." She 
 then told Lady Helena, what she had be- 
 
309 
 
 fore told Julia, that, spite of appearances, 
 she had never really transgressed the 
 bounds of chastity ; but not, she owned, 
 from either moral or religious restraint, 
 but from the dread of lowering herself 
 still more in the eyes of that man whom 
 she had loved with such fatal and ill- 
 requited tenderness. " He scorned my 
 weakness in loving him," said she, " and 
 despised my fidelity ; but I could bear it 
 all while I knew that he never did, nor 
 ever should reproach me with any criminal 
 indigencies, and one day I hoped that 
 my persevering, and I may say pure love, 
 would have touched his heart, and that he 
 would have married me ; but he is now 
 the husband of another, and I, I am on 
 my death-bed ! " Lady Helena and Julia 
 were both excessively affected at this proof 
 of the persevering nature of woman's love ; 
 though, as Lady Helena afterwards ob- 
 served, where the affections are not under 
 the regulation of religion and moral re- 
 straint, this faithful love is little better 
 than a bad habit ; they were also relieved 
 
3 10 
 
 to find that the poor invalid was not as 
 guilty as she might have been. 
 
 " We will see you again to-morrow/' 
 said Julia, when they rose to take leave. 
 
 " To-morrow ! there will be no to- 
 morrow here for me," replied Lucy. 
 
 " Then I will return again to-night." 
 
 " Blessings on you," said Lucy, " I shall 
 then depend on seeing you ; I know you 
 would not leave your work of mercy un- 
 completed." 
 
 " You shall not return alone Julia," 
 said Lady Helena, " I will accompany 
 you." At night, just as the friends were 
 setting off on their task of Christian love, 
 a message arrived from Mrs. Tibbs to 
 hasten their arrival. Lucy was sensible 
 when they came, and her dying eyes lighted 
 up with pleasure at sight of them, the 
 clergyman, Julia's friend, was only just 
 gone, and Lucy declared her mind to be 
 freed of its terrors from the conviction 
 that He, who died for man, was mighty 
 to save, even to the uttermost. Julia 
 threw herself on the bed beside her, and 
 
311 
 
 raised her in her arms, and Lady Helena 
 grasped her cold hand in her's, while the 
 weeping Mrs. Tibbs stood at the foot of 
 the bed ; the struggle was not long, and 
 a deep silence succeeded the last groan, 
 broken only by the sobs of the kind- 
 hearted landlady ; Julia had fallen on her 
 knees, and had hidden her face with her 
 hands, while Lady Helena stood in silent, 
 tearful contemplation of that being re- 
 posing in death, who was once so beau- 
 tiful, and once so dear, so perniciously dear 
 to the heart of her brother, and who by a 
 singular ordination of retributive justice, 
 was doomed to owe the comforts of her 
 last days, hours, and moments, to the for- 
 giving excellence of the woman whom she 
 had most injured. 
 
 " The poor thing, I found, had no near 
 relations in England, and no friends," said 
 Julia, as she perused a paper given her by 
 the dying woman, " therefore I shall not 
 be sorry to have to execute her will; see," 
 said she, " and if any thing can touch that 
 
312 
 
 hard heart, this must ; she preferred re- 
 ceiving alms to selling her little remaining 
 property, that she might leave it entire to 
 Mr. Aubrey, the interest to accumulate 
 in my hands till he is in want, which she 
 says he will be she knows, some time or 
 other, so great is his extravagance ; and 
 here is a letter to him to tell him what 
 she has done. Tell me, Helena, is there 
 not something that one respects in this 
 power of forgiving love ?" 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " I am glad you say so ; for I rejoice 
 to be able to admire any thing in one so 
 dear to your brother ! " 
 
 " But if you admire this forgiving love 
 in her, how much more must Marcus 
 admire your's, which is of a much higher 
 nature — your pure Christian love, Julia! 
 what think you will Marcus say of that ! " 
 
 (f Nay, nay, talk not of weak earthly 
 love in a scene like this, and while gazing 
 on that poor, pale victim of it, for she told 
 me Aubrey's cruelty at length broke 
 
313 
 
 her heart — but there is yet another duty 
 to perform :" as she said this, she gently 
 closed the eyes of the dead. 
 
 " Julia," said Lady Helena, with efforts 
 and broken accents, as she led her away 
 from the chamber, her eyes blinded with 
 no unpleasant tears, " I have been told 
 that that is an office Which it is soothing 
 to the hand of fond affection to perform ; 
 but I am inclined to believe that your 
 feelings, on reflection, for having performed 
 it to a departed enemy, will be far more 
 soothing, more enviable still." 
 
 Sweet and tranquillizing that night 
 were the slumbers of both the friends, 
 though they rose the next day to a re- , 
 newal of tender and secret anxieties, but 
 more particularly Lady Helena, for Julia 
 knew Marcus was well — that he loved her, 
 and longed earnestly for the time when he 
 was again to be admitted to her presence ; 
 she also felt that, now the poor Lucy was 
 no more, one obstacle to her complete 
 happiness, as the wife of Fortescue, was for 
 ever removed ; but Lady Helena, too rest 
 
 vol. in. p 
 
314 
 
 less to remain long in a place, returned 
 that day to Laurel Grove, yet not before she 
 was provoked to some of her usual smiles, 
 by Mrs. Magnal's comically expressed asto- 
 nishment, at finding that the object of 
 Julia's kindnesses and visits, and of Lady 
 Helena's attendant sympathy, was that 
 vile hussy who had used her so wickedly *- 
 
 " This surprise comes of your aversion 
 to reading," said Lady Helena, " you never 
 look into a book, I believe." 
 
 " Indeed but I do ; I read my Testa- 
 ment and my Prayer-book every Sunday," 
 she replied. 
 
 " Indeed ! then did you never read the 
 Lord's prayer in them, and that forgiveness 
 of injuries was a Christian's duty ? " 
 
 * Lady Helena," cried the old lady, 
 angrily, " I'cannot argue with you, you 
 are so wise and learned, child ! but, I am 
 sure it was almost wicked in Miss Villeroy 
 to be so good to a vile hussy, whom the 
 Almighty had so properly punished, as if 
 she knew better than he." 
 
 Well, indeed, might poor Lady Helena 
 
315 
 
 be restless and uneasy, for months suc- 
 ceeded to months, and no Lord Restormel 
 came or wrote; she therefore naturally 
 concluded that he had disregarded his 
 mother's dying letter, because he loved 
 her no longer. At this period, Lady Vil- 
 leroy arrived in England, miserable, for- 
 lorn, and ill ; and it was not long before 
 she was indelicate and selfish enough to 
 request that Julia would come and stay 
 with her, and help to nurse her into health. 
 Julia obeyed the summons in spite of a 
 repetition of Mrs. Magnal's theological 
 objections to such kindness to such a 
 woman; and a friend of : Mrs. Magnal's 
 came to stay with her in Julia's absence. 
 But, to return to Lord Restormel ; when 
 he had followed the remains of his beloved 
 mother to the grave, he found Green Hills 
 so desolate that he resolved to travel, but 
 his mind had been so incessantly preying 
 on his health, that he was seized with an 
 alarming illness, and had several relapses ; 
 as the cause of his illness still continued, he 
 ' was for months confined to his own house, 
 
316 
 
 and during this enforced solitude, one 
 single flash of light shone on the darkness 
 of his mind. — Had he not misunderstood 
 his mother's dying words ? could so gene- 
 rous a woman have died with such a gleam 
 of satisfied benevolence in her countenance, 
 when she must have seen how reluctantly, 
 and with what agony he gave the promise 
 she asked ? What could be the nature of 
 her letter to Lady Helena, which she de- 
 sired him to ask to see ? and if he was not 
 on terms with Lady Helena, how could he 
 hope to see it ; but then, the next minute, 
 he concluded that this letter was one be- 
 queathing, as it were, her prohibition of 
 the union to Lady Helena, and shewing 
 her how wisely she had acted in giving 
 him up and not answering his letter, and 
 that his mother thought Lady Aston could 
 procure him a sight of it. Unfortunately, 
 he did not see Lord and Lady Aston 
 before he left Italy, and since then Sophia 
 had been too much taken up with the 
 dying Everard to write to or think of 
 him ; but whether this hope came to cheer 
 
317 
 
 or to deceive him, he was resolved to go 
 to London and see Miss Villeroy. 
 
 On the evening of his arrival he went 
 to a coffee-house, which was opposite to a 
 house lighted up, and crowded with bril- 
 liant company. As the evening was warm, 
 the windows were thrown up, and some of 
 the ladies came into the balcony. There 
 were gentlemen at the door of the coffee- 
 house, commenting on the ladies, as they 
 appeared in sight, and one gentleman said 
 to the other, " I declare, there is that 
 once beautiful girl, Lady Helena Fortes- 
 cue ! How she is gone off! It is quite a 
 wonder to see her at a party ! but I see 
 she is out of mourning." 
 
 " Who was she in mourning for ?" 
 
 " For a cousin, it is said ; but the 
 mourning was so deep, that every body 
 suspected it was froi#a feeling of respect 
 for that haughty duchess Lady Restormel ; 
 for, they say, she pines after Restormel 
 still." 
 
 " Indeed ! well, perhaps so, for I find 
 she has again refused Lord L., and Nether- 
 
318 
 
 by also, but Lord Clanross is allowed to 
 dangle after her ; and it is said she will at 
 last marry him if Restormel does not 
 come forward again." 
 "Why did that go off?" 
 
 " I will tell you what I have heard as 
 we walk along, for it is time to go over the 
 way, and I wish to get there before Lady 
 Helena goes, as I love to look at her." 
 
 So do I, thought Lord Restormel, 
 hastening to the door, his heart agitated 
 and softened to an almost unbearable de- 
 gree by this conversation. She was still in 
 the balcony, but alone there ; and as the 
 moon shone on her pale face, he thought 
 he had never seen her so touchingly beau- 
 tiful, so interestingly lovely ! 
 
 And was such a woman to be re- 
 signed without an effort, and for why ? 
 on account of a mysterious, dying re- 
 quest of his mother, which he probably 
 had misunderstood. Impossible ! as she had 
 worn mourning for his mother ; and after 
 staying to look at Lady Helena, till she 
 disappeared leaning on the arm of Lord 
 
319 
 
 Clanross, he went home, resolved to call 
 on Miss Villeroy the next day. 
 
 In the meanwhile Lady Helena, who 
 had come to London merely for that 
 party, which was held at the house of a 
 near relation, returned the next day to 
 Laurel Grove, little thinking her lover had 
 been so near her. 
 
 Lord Restormel kept his resolution, 
 and called, though with a beating heart, 
 on Julia at Lady Villeroy 's. Julia received 
 him with a warmer welcome than he 
 expected, and than perhaps his treatment 
 of her friend warranted ; but she was then 
 living where she was much tried in every 
 respect, and the sight of Lord Restormel 
 brought with it tender and dear recollec- 
 tions which warmed her heart towards 
 him. She had just heard also some plea- 
 sing intelligence of Marcus, and of his 
 feelings on hearing of Jier conduct to Mrs. 
 Tyrawley, which Lady Helena had com- 
 municated to her in a letter that day ; and 
 her heart was so opened, that on Lord 
 Restormel's venturing to ask if she could 
 
320 
 
 tell him where Marcus was, and whether 
 their engagement was renewed, he led 
 her to give him some particulars of the 
 whole affair ; but, as Lady Villeroy sum- 
 moned her away, she was forced to put off 
 telling him the rest till the next evening, 
 when she wished him to call, as then Lady 
 Villeroy would be gone to bed. He came ; 
 and Julia, attended by her servant, walked 
 with him in the Pvegent's Park. Again and 
 again he came, both in the morning and 
 evening; and again Julia and he walked 
 in the same scene, but still he dared not 
 name the subject nearest his heart, with- 
 held by the dread of having his fears 
 confirmed ; and Julia was withheld by 
 delicacy from naming her friend to him. 
 But these walks and meetings had been 
 observed and talked about. Mrs. Seebright 
 wrote word to Lady Helena that Lord 
 Restormel was in town, and there was no 
 doubt but that he was courting Miss 
 Villeroy, as they were always together. 
 At this intelligence — at the idea that the 
 intimacy and attachment which she always 
 
dreaded, had taken place, Lady Helena 
 felt that she had never suffered till now ; 
 for now jealousy, and well-founded jea- 
 lousy too, had taken possession of her 
 heart ! — to remain at Laurel Grove, was 
 impossible ; and as Mrs. Magnal was not 
 well, and missed Julia, she had a sufficient 
 excuse for hastening to London. When 
 there, she made a desperate effort, and 
 called directly on Julia, who seemed, she 
 thought, embarrassed and hurried in her 
 manner, and did not name Lord Res- 
 tormel. 
 
 Before they parted Lady Helena said, 
 " Have you nothing interesting to com- 
 municate to me ?" 
 
 " Not now, but I very soon may have," 
 was Julia's blushing reply, " and some- 
 thing you little think of." 
 
 " Indeed !" was Lady Helena's answer, 
 as she hurried into her carriage. When 
 there, she gave way to an agony of feeling, 
 for were not Julia's words confirmatory of 
 her apprehensions ? 
 
 That evening she consented to accom- 
 p5 
 
322 
 
 pany Mrs. Seebright in a drive to the Re- 
 gent's Park, to enable her to detect (as 
 that lady said,) her perfidious friend at 
 once. They did, and saw Julia and Lord 
 Restormel, who were so engrossed with each 
 other, that the carriage passed unheeded 
 by them ! Oh! the surpassing agony of that 
 moment to Lady Helena. But her trials 
 had taught her a lesson of humility ; and 
 while she humbled herself that night, be- 
 fore the being who thus chastised her, she 
 reflected that both Julia and Lord Res- 
 tormel were free to love and to marry ; 
 that Julia was not aware she still loved 
 Lord Restormel, as she had forbidden her 
 even to name him to her, and she knew 
 that she had been prevailed on to let Lord 
 Clanross try his chance of success with 
 her. Julia was, therefore, not to blame ; 
 and, perhaps, she meant to confide in her 
 the next time they met. 
 
 " Well, then, let me go to her, and end 
 my suspense at once," said Lady Helena ! 
 " for to live thus is impossible !" 
 
 It so happened, that Lord Restormel 
 
323 
 
 had mentioned the long dreaded subject to 
 Julia, on the morning on which Lady He- 
 lena had called ; and though Julia had 
 been summoned away very soon, he went 
 home relieved, and "almost happy ; he 
 was to return in the evening, to walk in 
 the Park, as usual, and he did so ; and 
 was so engrossed by the joy of hearing 
 what his mother's letter was, and Julia, 
 in witnessing that joy, that neither he 
 nor Julia saw or heard any thing. 
 
 " I will get my copy of the letter and 
 show you," said she. 
 
 f. Not for the world," he replied — 
 " she shall not suppose that aught but my 
 own heart carries me to her ;" and he called 
 the next day to ask Julia to accompany 
 him to Mrs. Magnal's ; Julia had promised 
 to go with him, and prepare Lady Helena 
 to receive him with such prompt kindness, 
 that, in a transport of grateful joy, as he sat 
 by her on the sofa, he raised her hand 
 passionately to his lips. 
 
 At this moment Lady Helena, who had 
 walked to Gloucester Place, and had found 
 
324 
 
 the door open, and no servant to announce 
 her, entered the room! At sight of this ten- 
 der familiarity, she started, staggered, and 
 exclaiming, " Then it is so !" would have 
 fallen to the earth, had not Lord Restormel 
 caught her and carried her to the sofa. 
 When she recovered, and found where her 
 head reclined, she started up ; but, making 
 a great effort, she seized a hand of each, 
 and joining them together, lifted up her 
 eyes to heaven, faintly saying, " Heaven 
 bless you together!" and attempted to 
 leave the room ; but Julia quitted the 
 room before her, and she felt she was de- 
 tained by the grasp of Lord Restormel, 
 who, bearing her back to the sofa, ex- 
 claimed, " Oh, Helena ! my own Helena ! 
 my only love! could you, for a moment, 
 suspect that I loved another woman V 
 
 Surprised, gratified, overpowered, Lady 
 Helena leaned against the bosom of her 
 lover ; and when Julia returned to them 
 at the end of two hours, all was explained ; 
 past misery made amends for ; and pre- 
 sent happiness, encreased by the conscious- 
 
ness that more was now in store for 
 them. 
 
 " Oh, Miss Villeroy !" cried Lord Res- 
 tormel, " how hard it was that my second 
 letter should be received, and not my first:" 
 " I, on the contrary, believe, that on all 
 occasions, every thing is for the best." 
 
 " My dear Lord," replied Julia, (t this 
 enforced separation has proved the con- 
 stancy of you both ; and the misery which 
 my dear friend has experienced — misery, 
 self-inflicted, as she has always humbly 
 called it, has taught her a lesson, by which 
 she will be benefitted in future." 
 
 " But then, had my letter been received, 
 my dear mother would have died happy in 
 the conviction that we should be united !" 
 
 " She did die happy then," cried Lady 
 Helena, " for she certainly believed that 
 you understood her, and that you promised 
 to reconcile yourself to me. Oh! dear 
 Restormel ! presume not for one moment 
 to question the mercy and the wisdom of 
 him who over-rules all events for our good, 
 if we could and would but think so !" 
 
326 
 
 " I do feel it, and I own that I have 
 great pleasure in flunking that the misery 
 which some undetected carelessness in my 
 agent, to whom I gave my letter, inflicted 
 on me, gave me an opportunity of prov- 
 ing my obedience to the will and wishes of 
 the best of parents, at even the very last 
 moment of her consciousness ; she deserved 
 such submission from me, and this recollec- 
 tion will cheer me to the last hour of my 
 existence." 
 
 " After all," said Lady Helena, trying 
 to turn Lord Restormel's attention from 
 the recollection of a scene which even yet 
 had power to unman his filial heart, " I am 
 the only person who have reason to repine, 
 because what I have endured has made me 
 so ugly. When we parted, Restormel, I 
 was in the pride of my beauty." 
 
 "Yes, and also in the pride of your heart, 
 Helena! and that pride destroyed the 
 power of your beauty over my heart. 
 Foolish girl ! you treated me as if I were a 
 mere sensualist ! and as if my moral sense 
 was not superior to my other senses ! Oh> 
 
327 
 
 Helena, what dependence could you or any 
 other woman have on the love and fidelity of 
 a man who could be fascinated by the 
 charms of a woman into a comparative dis- 
 regard of her mental and moral qualities ! 
 and my resentment of what you did, and 
 looked at Clifton, was a homage to your 
 real worth, which was worthy your accept- 
 ance ! but I am sure you feel on this 
 subject as I do, and I shrink from any 
 renewal of it as a degradation to you, 
 which you have risen above." 
 
 " Generous and kind, and like your- 
 self ! but come, let us give our high-flown 
 feeling a little set down by going to my 
 present hostess, good Mrs. Magnal ; I am 
 sure she will pull down all our heroics," 
 said Lady Helena. Accordingly they set 
 off for Grosvenor Square; when they arrived 
 there, Lady Helena feelingly exclaimed— 
 " Oh how much happier do I return than 
 when I left this house !" Mrs. Magnal 
 eagerly pressed forward to tell Lady He- 
 lena how glad she was to see her returned, 
 and how long she had thought her absence, 
 
328 
 
 as she had promised to return soon ; but 
 her welcome died away on her lips when she 
 saw Lord Restormel, and she sunk back 
 on her seat in amazed silence ; at last, 
 however, his kind enquiries after her health, 
 wrung from her some gracious enquiries in 
 return ; but after earnestly regarding him 
 and Lady Helena, she exclaimed — " Grant 
 me patience ! what two fine-looking young- 
 persons, I remember you ! but now, I de- 
 clare my lord, you look with your black 
 dress and pale face just like an undertaker, 
 and Lady Helena — " 
 
 " Like an undertaker's wife, I hope," 
 he replied, raising Lady Helena's hand to 
 his lips. 
 
 " Dear me ! well is it possible, after 
 such strange doings ! but T know that 
 young people will have their own way, and 
 strange ways they often are. Oh ! poor, 
 dear Lord Clanross ! but I conclude, Lady 
 Helena, you mean to consult your father." 
 
 " To be sure, and I too," said Lord 
 Restormel. 
 
 " Well, luckily Lord and Lady Er- 
 
329 
 
 pingham are coming to town to-day, and 
 are to dine enfamille with me." 
 
 " En famille ! then I fear I must not 
 expect to be admitted, but after dinner I 
 trust I may request an audience of the earl. 
 
 " Nay, before I trust, and if my father 
 invites you, I trust our dear friend here 
 will not exclude you from our table." 
 
 " No, certainly not, if he invites you 
 my lord ; but if he does, he is more for- 
 giving than I am," replied the ingenuous 
 old lady, and Lord Restormel withdrew. 
 It is almost unnecessary to add that Lord 
 Erpingham received Lord Restormel's com- 
 munications with complacency, and that the 
 latter dined en famille at Mrs. Magnal's ; 
 but nothing could induce Lady Villeroy to 
 allow Julia to join the party. She declared 
 that she should die if she were to leave her, 
 as she felt herself so decidedly worse that 
 any contradiction would kill her. In vain, 
 therefore, did Julia's friends try to con- 
 vince her that she was weakly forging un- 
 necessary fetters for herself in thus in- 
 
330 
 
 dulging the tyrannical caprice of one who 
 had no claims either on her love or her 
 duty ; and who had, on the contrary, done 
 all in her power to imbitter to her the 
 hours of childhood and of youth ; and what, 
 said they, could you do more for a fond, 
 excellent, and beloved parent. 
 
 " Oh, much more !" she replied, " for I 
 should love such a parent, and then the 
 sacrifice would be no sacrifice, but a plea- 
 sure ; but the less poor Lady Villeroy de- 
 serves of me the more I feel it right in me 
 to oblige her, especially as, if I do not, no- 
 body else will." 
 
 Happy are those who are habituated 
 to make a little surrender of their own 
 will, convenience and pleasure, from con- 
 sideration for the comfort, or even caprice 
 of others. They have a secret satisfaction 
 in so doing, and in so having done, far be- 
 yond any gratification which the pleasure 
 they surrender could have imparted ; and 
 Julia, while engaged in administering to 
 the comfort of her unamiable mother-in- 
 
331 
 
 law, felt, I doubt not, more heartfelt satis- 
 faction than she would have enjoyed in the 
 society which she loved. 
 
 But Fortescue now ventured to return, 
 and Julia consented to see him ; nor was it 
 long before she also consented to be his 
 bride on the day that should unite his 
 friend to Lady Helena; but Lady Villeroy 
 hoped they would wait till she was no 
 more ; and Julia felt the sense of her duty, 
 therefore, tired to the uttermost, when the 
 unexpected return of Aubrey — returned, 
 he hypocritically said, to nurse his dear, but 
 injured wife himself — made it imperative 
 on Julia to leave Gloucester Place, and 
 with the full approbation of the flattered, 
 duped, and jealous mistress of the house. 
 Aubrey did stay with her, and did nurse 
 her in order to regain, if possible, posses- 
 sion of her confidence, and thereby of her 
 money and valuables ; and having done so, 
 in a degree, he took advantage of her first 
 quarrel with him to leave her again. The 
 consequence to her was fatal, she broke a 
 blood-vessel by the violent paroxysm of 
 
332 
 
 rage to which she gave way, and died soon 
 after, but not before Julia reached the 
 house, whom she was very desirous of 
 seeing, and to whom she expressed the 
 most affectionate gratitude for all her kind- 
 ness, imploring, at the same, time her for- 
 giveness for all that she had ever done to 
 wound or distress her. " I have not de- 
 served such goodness from you, and to die 
 here," she faintly murmured, as Julia ten- 
 derly raised her in her arms. She spoke 
 no more, but with her head on Julia's bo- 
 som she gently breathed her last. 
 
 To the joy of every one, her vile hus- 
 band was not named in her will, which was 
 of recent date, but, with the exception of a 
 few legacies, she left every thing to Julia, 
 who feelingly observed, " You see this poor 
 soul had a heart alive to kindness, and how 
 glad I am that I was not prevailed upon to 
 leave her, or to refuse to indulge even her 
 caprices." 
 
 "Mercenary wretch! no doubt you are 
 glad," cried Lady Helena, " for I see now 
 you were legacy-hunting — there's a dear 
 
333 
 
 girl; do not say what you have just said to 
 any one but me, all things considered." 
 And Julia, who was amused herself by her 
 own equivocal observation, promised to say 
 no more. 
 
 Lord and Lady Aston returned to 
 England, having lost the dear object of so 
 many months of anxious solicitude; but 
 the little Everard had not long been buried 
 when Lady Aston gave birth to a son, an- 
 other Everard ; and Lord Erpingham could 
 not help owning, that much as he loved 
 and regretted the first heir, he was not 
 sorry to have the future representative of 
 his house born of a woman who had moral 
 and mental qualities of the first order to 
 transmit to her descendants, and who would 
 be able to form their infant minds to vir- 
 tue—for he well knew that, generally 
 speaking, where men or women are distin- 
 guished for mental and moral excellences, 
 they have had, for the most part, a wise 
 and virtuous mother. It may be as well 
 for me to notice the fate of the other cha- 
 racters named in these pages, and to say 
 
334 
 
 that Mansfeldt was at last thrown into the 
 King's Bench, where he formed an acquaint- 
 ance with a widow lady, and which he in- 
 tended to break off as soon as he and she 
 should, by an act of grace, obtain their 
 liberty : but as a marriage was become ne- 
 cessary to save the lady's reputation, he 
 was forced to marry her by a bullying bro- 
 ther. The consequence was, that when 
 by an unexpected legacy he was able to 
 shew his face in some of the second-rate 
 circles in which he had been formerly 
 known, he soon found, that though he was 
 willing enough to leave at home a wife 
 who was too ignorant and too vulgar for 
 him to take abroad with him, she was not 
 willing to be left, and that in order to 
 enjoy any sort of domestic peace he must 
 quit England, and drag his chain in a fo- 
 reign country. There he resumed his 
 habit of gaming, was again a beggar, and 
 was likely to end his days in a foreign 
 prison. 
 
 Aubrey soon realized those fears, for 
 his pecuniary embarrassments which the 
 
335 
 
 affectionate fears of Mrs. Tyrawley had 
 anticipated, and her careful affection had 
 provided against ;— and on a certification 
 of his poverty, Julia paid into his hands, 
 by means of her agent, the principal and 
 interest of the sum left him by that un- 
 happy woman. But they were soon squan- 
 dered like the rest of his property, and, in 
 a fit of despair, his own rash hand deprived 
 him of that life which the gallows had 
 spared. 
 
 Mrs. Benson soon contrived nearly to 
 ruin her husband, and on what remained 
 of their property they were forced to re- 
 side in a foreign country. 
 
 Netherby, on Lady Helena's marriage, 
 joined his declining and destitute father 
 in America, and sought the best rernedy 
 for any affliction — the fulfilment of a sacred 
 duty ; and by administering to the comfort 
 of his erring parent, he, no doubt, ulti- 
 mately secured his own. 
 
 Lord Clanross fell in love with a new 
 beauty, and at length made her his wife. 
 And soon after the arrival of Lord and 
 
336 
 
 Lady Aston in England, Lady Helena was 
 united to Lord Restormel, and Fortescue 
 at the same time received tlie hand of 
 Julia Villeroy. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 In the Press, 
 
 WALTHEOF, 
 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHIEF. 
 
 By the Author of ' Sketches in India.' 
 
 T. White, Printer, Johnson's Court, London, 
 
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