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 AMBITION.
 
 AMBITION 
 
 IN 
 
 THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 Should auld acquaintance be forgot. 
 
 And never brought to mind ? 
 Should auld acquaintance be forgot 
 
 \nd the days o' lang syne ?" 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON . 
 PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND, 
 
 AND W. BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH. 
 M. DCCC. XXV.
 
 ?OPLETT, PRINTER, JEWIN-STREET, CRIPPLEGATE,
 
 
 8£^ 
 L58*7£ 
 
 AMBITION. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE FIRE. 
 
 Home keeping youths have, ever, homely wits. 
 
 Two Gentlemen of Verona, 
 
 Striving to better, oft, Tie mar what's well. 
 
 Macbeth. 
 
 IT was on a dark evening in the latter end of 
 the year eighteen hundred and odd, when 
 London was involved in one of those mists which 
 frequently occur in the city and its environs, 
 that a post-chaise drove up to the door of an 
 hotel in Holborn, and three persons stepped out 
 of it; whom the waiter ushered iuto a front 
 
 VOL. I. B 

 
 6 AMBITION. 
 
 parlour, where the blaze of a brilliant fire threw 
 warmth and cheerfulness over the scene. The 
 first that we shall introduce to the notice of our 
 readers, is the Earl of Castle Gwynne, returning 
 from the grand tour ; the others are his tutor, 
 and French valet. Lord Gwynne-Arthur, heir 
 to one of the finest estates in Wales, was now 
 proceeding to Castle Gwynne, a noble mansion 
 situated in the hilly district of a southern 
 county, to take possession of his patrimonial 
 property, and celebrate his coming of age ; an 
 event which had occurred some months pre- 
 viously, whilst his Lordship was on the Continent, 
 but the rejoicings on that festive occasion had 
 been deferred until the Christmas holidays, when, 
 being returned from his foreign tour, the pre- 
 sence of an object so dearly and generally he- 
 loved would add to the happiness and vivacity 
 of the scene. 
 
 The pressing entreaties of his mother, the 
 Countess of Castle Gwynne, had induced him 
 to journey with all possible speed from Paris, 
 but having some business to transact in London,
 
 AMBITION. 7 
 
 which required his personal attendance there, 
 he had, on his arrival at Dover, parted from his 
 retinue, whom he dispatched to his paternal 
 seat, and, with the two before mentioned 
 individuals, taken a post-chaise for town. 
 
 In compliance with the wishes of the 
 Countess, the Earl intended to proceed imme- 
 diately to Wales, for this reason he avoided the 
 fashionable part of the town, lest he should be 
 overwhelmed by a throng of acquaintances, 
 and detained even against his will ; he hated the 
 ceremony, inconvenience, and bustle, which, 
 in travelling-, his rank frequently occasioned, 
 therefore desired Mr. Jenkins ( his tutor ) to act 
 in every respect as the principal of the party ; 
 and that gentleman, being accustomed to the 
 humours and frolics of his pupil, was careful 
 in performing his wishes. 
 
 Lord Gwynne-Arthur was young, rich, noble, 
 elegant, and a man of fashion ; in his disposition 
 he combined many opposites, he was a man of 
 deep sentiment yet a humorist; proud, yet fond 
 of character, incident, and adventure ; possessed
 
 8 AMBITION. 
 
 of great talents, highly cultivated, though not 
 apparently applied to any purpose ; a mind so 
 firm, a judgment so mature, as to be capable 
 of making the greatest exertions, and deci- 
 ding instantly and accurately on subjects of the 
 utmost importance ; yet, a heart so unsuspicious, 
 a temper so violent and uncontrolled, as to hurry 
 him away with every momentary infatuation. 
 His person, ( must I describe his person ? ) wa9 
 certainly handsome, he was tall, and, as the 
 phrase is, proportioned with exaciest symmetry ; 
 his features were good, his hair was light brown, 
 and his eyes were blue ; not that brilliant dark blue 
 which is so often mistaken for black, but blue, blue 
 as the vault of Heaven, and apparently as 
 serene ; prominent, soft, yet expressive. If 
 T intrude on the patience of the reader, in thus 
 prolonging my description of Gwynne-Aithur, 
 I will beg him to remember that the most trifling 
 subject, connected with the hero of a Romance 
 or Novel, is of importance, even to the colour 
 and shade of the eye-lash. 
 
 Mr. Jenkins was a man of very respectable
 
 AMBITION. 9 
 
 birth and character, and though possessing bril- 
 liant talents, improved by all the advantages 
 which education can give, had been chosen by the 
 Countess to accompany her son in his travels, 
 more for the known purity of his morals, and 
 rectitude of his conduct, than for any other 
 qualifications which he possessed. His unas- 
 suming kindness to the Earl was returned with 
 grateful affection on the part of his pupil, who 
 well knew the value of the friendship of such a 
 man ; and, after the first month of their 
 acquaintance, they might have been considered 
 in the light of intimate friends and associates, 
 rather than of tutor and pupil. Mr. Jenkins 
 held much influence over the Earl, more, per- 
 haps, than he was himself aware of; but, as it 
 had been acquired, so it was retained : by means 
 the most tender and conciliating. He never 
 ventured on a word of downright disapprobation, 
 but hinting what, in his opinion, he imagined 
 to be best, generally ensured the Earl's full 
 acquiescence, unless, indeed, some previous act 
 had put this compliance totally out of his power. 

 
 10 AMBITION. 
 
 And now, having introduced each individual, we 
 beg leave to speak of them collectively. At an 
 early hour they retired to their respective apart- 
 ments, which they did not leave till late on the 
 following morning. Breakfast being over, Mr. 
 Jenkins set out to execute the business which 
 had called his pupil to town, and the Earl was 
 left to talk French to his valet, to sit by the fire 
 and yawn over a stupid author, or to amuse 
 himself in any other interesting pursuit which 
 the apartments afforded. I lament 'that I am 
 not competent to state in what manner the Earl 
 did contrive to wile awav the time, but certain 
 it is that three o'clock came, and with it Mr. 
 Jenkins ; he had performed his commission to 
 his pupil's satisfaction, and as they proposed 
 retiring at an early hour, that they might be able 
 to set off betimes in the morning, dinner was 
 ordered at four. 
 
 Gwynne-Arthur turned to a side window 
 which looked into the Inn-yard, and whilst the 
 waiter was laying the cloth, Mr. Jenkins conti- 
 nued sitting near the fire, until attracted to the
 
 AMBITION. 11 
 
 window by a loud laugh from the Earl, accom- 
 panied by the following exclamation, " There 
 goes a noble countryman of ours, as stiff and 
 as spruce as it is possible to imagine." 
 
 " Who is he?" said Mr. Jenkins, advanc- 
 ing. 
 
 The Earl pointed to a tall, stiff Welchman, 
 plodding about the yard, with the grave and 
 steady air of one who well knows his own 
 importance. 
 
 " Do you mark the conceited gesture with 
 which he addresses the ostler? " continued 
 G wynne- Arthur, " I am sure he is a monied 
 man, that serious look — that significant shake 
 of the head declare him such. Observe, what; 
 a polish his boots bear! and how his brown coat 
 stands off from his body, as though unused to 
 the wearer ! his hat, too, seems infected with 
 the same strange malady; and his white cravat 
 forms a most striking contrast to the black chin 
 which it supports, for you perceive his beard is 
 newly shaven, and the cropped feature of his
 
 12 AMBITION. 
 
 countenance presents an admirable likeness of 
 a stubble-field ! 
 
 u Neat, trimly dress'd ; 
 
 Fresh as a bridegroom, and his chin, new reap'd, 
 Shews like a stubble land at harvest home ;" 
 
 Here Mr. Jenkins joined in the mirth of his 
 pupil, for certainly the description was not 
 overcharged. 
 
 " In the name of Heaven !" exclaimed the 
 Earl, when his paroxysm had subsided, " what 
 can have brought this Cadwallader to town? 
 Pity that he cannot command that attention and 
 respect which he seems to consider his due, in 
 order to obtain it he should let his pedigree 
 hang out of his pocket, I dare say it would 
 trail full three yards behind him ! " 
 
 " I suppose," said Mr. Jenkins, " he is some 
 country dealer." 
 
 " Ay," returned the Earl, " some country 
 shopkeeper, come up to buy " some liddle mat- 
 ters for the shope;" but more of him when I 
 have more time for amusement,"
 
 AMBITION. 13 
 
 At an early hour the travellers repaired to 
 their sleeping apartments, intending to take 
 the benefit of sound rest, ere their departure on 
 the morrow. 
 
 From sleep the gentlest, the most refreshing 
 that ever fell on human eyes, — for it was the 
 sleep of virtue and a good conscience, — the 
 gentlemen were aroused in the dead hour of 
 night, by a sound which might have waked the 
 heaviest slumberer in Christendom. It was the 
 cry of fire which now struck upon the affrighted 
 senses, it was resounded through the house, and 
 echoed madly in the streets; whilst the vast 
 concourse of people which every moment 
 increased, running to and fro, and proclaiming 
 the danger, presented an alarming scene of 
 confusion and distress. Mr. Jenkins was the 
 first to be aAvakened by this tumult ; but, having 
 perceived from his window that their habitation 
 was not in immediate danger, he did not think 
 it necessary to disturb the Earl. 
 
 He, however, still continued to watch the 
 progress of the flames, and the activity of the
 
 14 AMBITION. 
 
 surrounding multitude, when his attention was 
 arrested by a new species of alarm ; it came 
 upon his ear like the shrill blast of the rude 
 north wind, or, rather, like thunder to encrease 
 the horrors of the lightning', which already 
 glared before him. There was a noise of 
 screaming, kicking, and bawling, as lie 
 imagined, upon the landing-place ; and, rushing 
 thither to discover the cause, he found that it 
 proceeded from an apartment adjoining his own. 
 The door was shut, and apparently locked, 
 for the person within the room was endeavouring 
 with all his strength to force it open, accom- 
 panying his exertions with loud and repeated 
 exclamations of alarm, now a groan, now 
 a scream, and then a vehement denunciation 
 against those who had locked him up. It was 
 some time before Mr. Jenkins could make this 
 unruly person listen to him, so much was he 
 taken up with the unremitted exertion of his 
 own powers, and so incapable was he of 
 hearing any other sounds than those of 
 his own voice, and the reiterated shouts of
 
 AMBITION. 15 
 
 alarm in the street. At length, with a loud rap 
 at the door, and the aid of stentorian lungs, 
 the good gentleman prevailed on him to name 
 the cause of his distress. 
 
 " Oh, Dieu! " cried he, on finding that some 
 one was without, " oppun the door for God 
 Almighty's sak, oppun the door, or I shall be 
 burnt in my bed ! " 
 
 ™ Why cannot you open it?" exclaimed Mr. 
 Jenkins, astonished at this appeal, and guessing 
 from the dialect in which it was delivered, that 
 the applicant was no other than his own coun- 
 tryman, who had afforded them so much amuse- 
 ment in the morning ; " why cannot you open 
 it I you are inside, and, therefore, have the 
 key." 
 
 " Xo, no, no! she have log the door, and 
 tak away the kay. Oh, Dieu ! oppun it un 
 therecily, I am burn ! I am burn ! " 
 
 From these vehement exclamations, Mr.Jen- 
 kins began to imagine, that the fire had really 
 communicated to that apartment, and going 
 back to his own room, he brought thence the
 
 16 AMBITION. 
 
 key of the door, and, applying it to the lock, in 
 a moment the prisoner was at large. 
 
 As the door opened, he rushed forward, ha- 
 bited as he was, in rather grotesque costume, 
 his robe de chambre and bonnet de nuit not being 
 of the newest fashion; and, without noticing his 
 liberator, made for the first place of refuge that 
 met his eyes. 
 
 In the meantime the Earl had been roused 
 from sleep, by the alarm in the streets ; in the 
 first moment of confusion, he had imagined that 
 the fire was in the house, and, unlocking his 
 door, he rushed to the stair-head to satisfy his 
 doubts ; there, however, they were agreeably 
 relieved; and, returning to his apartment, he 
 threw up the sash, and put his head out of the 
 window to enquire, of the passing watchman, the 
 situation and extent of the fire. He had been 
 for some moments engaged in viewing the move- 
 ments of the crowd, and listening attentively to 
 the reports that were detailed by the groupes 
 beneath his window, when he was astonished, if 
 not alarmed, by seeing a red worsted night-cap
 
 AMBITION. 17 
 
 thrust out at his side, and hearing the following 
 exclamation delivered in the broadest dialect of 
 his native country. 
 
 " In the nam o' God, in where is the fire I 
 If I shall but get saf home, I think I will never 
 come into shute a place again ; something 
 or 'nother to 'larm one every minute in the day, 
 and the night too ! Can not you tell now, in» 
 where is the fire ? " 
 
 " I really can not" said the the Earl, whom 
 this appeal had roused into curiosity, and who 
 was now taking an attentive survey of his visitor, 
 for, though it was a dark night, the street lamps 
 threw sufficient light into the apartment, for 
 Gwynne- Arthur to recognize him as the indi- 
 vidual whom they had remarked in the Inn-yard 
 on the previous morning. 
 
 " I really cannot say where the fire is, but 
 you need not be under any apprehension; I dare 
 say, that proper means will be taken to extin- 
 guish it before it can have time to reach this 
 house : but may I beg leave to know where you 
 come from ?"
 
 18 AMBITION. 
 
 " Where I do come from, Sir, is it ? I do 
 come from Waals, so good a country as any in 
 England, Sir;" was the reply, given in a tone 
 of voice which seemed to express all the 
 consequence of his nation. 
 
 " So I perceive," said the Earl, " but I did 
 not mean that — how came you hither I " 
 
 " Oh, for that I cannot say, somebody or 
 'nother is unlog my door, and so I come to see 
 if I cant mak some good upon the fire." 
 
 " I would advise you," said the Earl, " not 
 to risk dimmer : there are as manv round the fire 
 as will do good, and, if you go thither, you may 
 very possibly, get into some unpleasant affair." 
 
 " Well, I think you do say true, sure enough, 
 and if there is no danger, I will go back to my 
 bed ; I don't like to be 'sturb 1 in the middle of 
 the night 'out any 'casion." 
 
 " I assure you there is no danger," replied 
 Gwynne-Arthur, wishing to get rid of bim, " if 
 there should be any, I will take care to waken 
 you."
 
 AMBITION. 19 
 
 " Um — thankee sure, Sir, good nightee, Sir, 
 and thank you kindly." 
 
 " Good night," said the Earl, when he was 
 out of the room, " and thank you kindly for 
 going." 
 
 Having thus dispatched this untimely visitor, 
 he locked his door, and returned to the slumbers 
 he had so recently been roused from. 
 
 During this conversation between the Earl 
 and his countryman, Mr. Jenkins had been 
 viewing the disorder without, from a window iu 
 the gallery ; and having continued there long 
 enough to ascertain that the fire was extinguished, 
 he closed the sash, and turned towards his own 
 room. A strange noise attracted his attention, 
 which he at length discovered to be the sonorous 
 breathings of some sweet sleeper; the door of 
 an apartment, from which the music proceeded, 
 stood open, stretched to the uttermost extent of 
 its hinges; and Mr. Jenkins marched into the 
 room, where the formidable appearance of the 
 red night-cap, and dark features of the Welch- 
 man, once more met his view.
 
 20 AMBITION. 
 
 " Are you not afraid of sleeping thus, with 
 your door open?" exclaimed Mr. Jenkins, 
 " you may be robbed before you are aware 
 of it." 
 
 " Oh good!" cried the Briton, jumping up 
 in his bed, and rubbing his eyes, " fur what you 
 wake me now again, 'fore, I have gone to 
 sleep?" 
 
 " Your door is open," cried Mr. Jenkins. 
 
 " Iss Sir, well Sir, my door is open, well, 
 very well, Sir, — um — what d'vou please to have, 
 Sir?" making an effort to shake off the lethargy 
 which was fast creeping upon him. 
 
 " Your door is open," vociferated Mr. 
 Jenkins, " are you aware of the danger of 
 sleeping in a public Inn with your apartment 
 so insecure ?" 
 
 " Oh iss, sure, Sir, there is young gentleman 
 in next room will wake me when the house is 
 catch fire, and so I have lave my door oppun 
 for him to find me out." 
 
 This being the only answer which Mr. Jenkins 
 could obtain to his solicitous admonitions, he
 
 AMBITION. 21 
 
 departed, and, very compassionately, closed 
 the door after him. 
 
 When the gentlemen met at breakfast on the 
 following" morning, the conversation turned on the 
 recent fire ; the Earl related the unceremonious 
 visit which he had received in the dead hour of 
 night, and Mr. Jenkins informed him of the queer 
 situation in wbich he had first discovered the visi- 
 tant. They laughed at their adventures, and the 
 Earl suddenly exclaiming, " I should like to see 
 my noble countryman again," started up, and 
 rang the bell. Tbe waiter appeared. 
 
 " Is that gentleman in the house, who slept 
 last night in the room opposite mine V 
 
 « Yes, Sir." 
 
 " Present my compliments, and say I shall 
 be glad to speak with him." 
 
 The waiter flew, and in a short time re-ap- 
 peared, ushering in Mr. Morgan-ap-Iiarry-ap- 
 Daniel-ap-Simon-ap-Hughes. In short, Mr. 
 Morgan Hughes doffed his hat, and scraped his 
 foot at the door ; the Earl returned the saluta- 
 tion, placed a chair for him ; begged him to be
 
 22 AMBITION. 
 
 seated ; and hoped he had recovered from the 
 fright and fatigue of last night. 
 
 " Why I he pure, and tliankee, Sir," replied 
 Mr. Morgan Hughes, still standing, and smooth- 
 ing down his shining dark hair with his left 
 hand, whilst his hat dangled to and fro in the 
 right. 
 
 " Pray sit down," said the Earl, setting the 
 example, " I am sorry the fire should have 
 caused you so much alarm, being a stranger 
 in town, it must have been more disagreeable 
 for you ; but may I ask how you came to be 
 involved in that unpleasant situation in which 
 this geutleman found you? — your door locked 
 and the key not in your possession ! " 
 
 " Indeed to good," replied Mr. Morgan 
 Hughes, squeezing himself upon one corner of 
 the chair, and placing his hat between his knees; 
 " I cannot say how it was I come to do shute 
 foolish thing as have my door logged, and send 
 away the kay. — I do keep shope in the country 
 and I did come up to Loondon for some liddle 
 things ; some tay, and some groshery, and
 
 AMBITION. 23 
 
 some Jiabdashery, and something or 'nother; 
 and I did bring some liddle monies with me 
 for pay. Now my wile his brother, Billy 
 Rees o' Pen Mawr, (Billy Pen Mawr we do 
 call him) is know the town all over, and he 
 have tell to me, 'fore I have come off, to mind 
 in where I did go, and to tak care upon myself, 
 and keep from the pig-pockets, and log my 
 shamber door in the night; now the landlady is 
 look a very decent sort of 'ooman, so when the 
 shambermaid is give my candle, I tell to her to 
 come and fetch it away soon, for I was 'fraid of 
 mak some harm with it; and, when she have 
 come, I did say, "Log my door, will you, and 
 tak the kay to your missis, then I'm saf !" the 
 girl is laugh, sure enough, but she is log the 
 door and tak the kay ; I s'pose she dint think o' 
 me when the fire is come, and so that is the way 
 Sir, it did happen ; but good now ! never will 
 I come to Loondon again !" 
 
 " Your kinsman's advice was by no means to be 
 neglected," said the Earl, " the most unlucky 
 part of the business was, that you went further
 
 24 AMBITION. 
 
 than its dictates, in giving- the key out of your 
 possession, for had this house really been on 
 fire, I scarcely think that either the mistress or 
 servant would have remembered that you could 
 not escape without assistance. 
 
 " Um, goodness well ! I cannot tell what 
 was the matter on me, I never will do shute 
 thing again, sure. Good ! Billy Rees will be 
 angry enough to me, to think I have put myself 
 in shute danger : he's clever fellow, now, and 
 'ood know better than to do shute thing." 
 
 " Mr. Billy Rees," observed Gwynne- 
 Arthur, " must be of infinite service to you on 
 some occasions." 
 
 " What! Billy Rees o' Pen Mawr? he's my 
 right hand, and is more service to me nor all 
 the loyers in the world. Ay, Billy Rees is 
 know the book well, he is understand the lo too, 
 and will mak a good coonsloj*, if somebody 
 'ood give it a liddle etercashoon, and tak 
 him up." 
 
 Here the Earl and Mr. Jenkins could no longer 
 restrain their risible faculties, but ascribing it
 
 AMBITION. 25 
 
 to the justice and wittiness of Mr. Hughes's re- 
 mark, it passed off without giving offence ; 
 which it would have done, had he conceived 
 that it was occasioned by the awkwardness of 
 his speech, for no Welchman, when he can 
 speak six words of English, can brook a smile 
 at his mode of expression. 
 
 " I be much obleechtee, Sir, indeed," con- 
 tinued Mr. Morgan Hughes, resuming the con- 
 versation, " for tak the trouble to unquire upon 
 me. I 'ont forget it too : now, if you shall come 
 to the country, some time or 'nother, I will be 
 glad to see you, I do live in Cwm ( a ) G wynne, 
 close by Castle Gwynne, and you shall have the 
 good bed. and the good table, so good as the 
 countrv will 'ford, for I be so well to do as no- 
 body there. Indeed, to good, you shall be 
 kindly welcome." 
 
 " You are very kind, Mr. Hughes," replied 
 the Earl, admiring the generous though proud 
 hospitality which dictated the offer, "when I 
 come into that neighbourhood, depend on it,
 
 26 AMBITION. 
 
 I shall not forget you. Do you reside quite 
 close to Castle Gwvnne ? " 
 
 " I do leeve in the cwm, Sir, and, if you 
 will inquire for Morgan Hughes o' shope, you 
 will sure to find me out. We do spect the Yarl 
 there now, every day ; there will be a great 
 row all over the country, when he do come ; 
 indeed to good, if you will come down just now, 
 mah be you will have a bit o' pleasure with 'em ; 
 there is a nice liddle bet-room to you, so clane 
 and so comfortable it is; and since I bin in 
 Loondon I ha' bot a new bet-stick, and a garbed 
 to the liddle parlour; and my brother -in- lo, 
 Billy Rees o' Pen Mawr, is got a pawny and a 
 new sattle, what is all at your sarvice, if you 
 will only come and sbend a liddle time with us. 
 Indeed, to good, you shall be as happy as a 
 king, my wife will mak the good cup o' tay to 
 you, and you shall have nice warm blankets, 
 what we have mak ourselves, so clane a>id so 
 whide as a lily." 
 
 " You are exceedingly kind, Mr. Hughes," 
 said Gwynne-Arthur, " it is likely I shall visit
 
 AMBITION. 27 
 
 Wales soon, and I certainly shall not fail to 
 call on you." 
 
 " Well, thankee kindly, Sir ; and will you 
 please to sense me now I I got some liddle bu- 
 siness at the tay-shope, and see um pack up my 
 habdashery, and something or 'nolher, and so, 
 if you please, good bye fee, and I'll be very 
 glad to see you soon again, and so good morn- 
 ing to you both, Sir, and thank you kindly." 
 
 " Ha! ha! ha! a real Welchman!" ex- 
 claimed the Earl, as soon as Morgan Hughes 
 had quitted the apartment, " as liberal in 
 sharing his good things, as he is proud in dis- 
 playing them. Generosity and pride seem to 
 be prominent features in our character, for, 
 when we do a good action, or make a great dis- 
 play of hospitality, both these qualities have 
 their share in the instigation ; and it is difficult 
 to say, which is the prevailing motive ; but, 
 since historians give us credit for the former, 
 we should be the last to speak disadvantageously 
 of ourselves."
 
 28 AMBITION. 
 
 In a short time the chaise was in attendance, 
 and the travellers getting into it, commenced 
 their journey to Castle Gwynne.
 
 AMBITION. 29 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE PEDIGREE. — THE WILL. 
 
 He may not, as unvalued persons do, carve for himself. 
 
 Hamlet. 
 
 Augustus George, Lord Arthur, was a 
 Welsh nobleman of high family, great pride, 
 and an extravagant turn of disposition, whom 
 a continued run of ill luck at play had induced 
 to stake his last acre, when the unexpected 
 death of a distant relation, the Earl of Castle 
 G wynne, put him in possession of a princely 
 fortune; which not only enabled him to redeem 
 his forfeited estate, but to retreat from the cam- 
 paign with honour. The lands of Arthur lying 
 contiguous to those of Gwynne, they were 
 united under the name of the Gwynne- Arthur 
 Manor, and Lord Arthur assuming the joint 
 
 vol. I. c
 
 30 AMBITION. 
 
 title of Lord Gwynne- Arthur, Earl of Castle 
 Gwynne, in a short time took possession of 
 his newly-acquired rights. From him the title 
 and estates descended, as unsullied in reputation 
 as they were unimpoverished in wealth, through 
 two or three generations, until they came into 
 the possession of the father of our present hero. 
 
 This nobleman had lived a bachelor till the 
 age of forty, when, subdued by the force of 
 beauty and accomplishments, he married the 
 portionless daughter of Sir Charles B — , a girl 
 not more than eighteen years of age. The 
 young countess possessed many good qualities, 
 but she, as well as her father, was ambitious ; a 
 good match had been their object, and they had 
 succeeded. 
 
 Lord Gwynne- Arthur loved his wife tenderly, 
 a single look from her might have commanded 
 him from east to west, aye, to the utmost limits 
 of honour, but beyond those limits he never 
 stepped. The countess was generous where 
 private interest and private affections were not 
 immediately concerned; the aggrandisement of
 
 AMBITION. ' 31 
 
 the other branches of her family was spee- 
 dily projected and accomplished, and when the 
 hero of this work made his appearance, which 
 he did at Castle Gwynne, whither the earl and 
 countess had retired to spend the Christmas 
 holidays, amongst their neighbours and tenants, 
 she begged her husband to yield to her the 
 management of their son's education. 
 
 None ever possessed greater advantages, and 
 few, perhaps, ever profited more by them, than 
 young Lord Anthony: elegart in form and 
 manners, accomplished in mind and person, 
 the future Earl of Castle Gwynne, and the 
 centre of the hopes and dignities of the 
 Gwynne-Arthur name and property, was looked 
 upon with a wishful eye by many a noble duke 
 and marquis, or right honourable dowager, who 
 would have desired no higher honor than to call 
 him son-in-law. But his young lordship had 
 not yet been violently affected by the tender 
 passion ; his heart was his own, and he 
 determined that, when he did surrender it, it 
 should be to the keeping of a less effeminate,
 
 32 AMBITION. 
 
 and more strongly-gifted creature than the 
 peiirile, artificial things that were daily pre- 
 sented to his notice. He was on the point of 
 commencing the grand tour, when his father, 
 who was now advanced in years, was suddenly 
 called from this sublunary world, to the extreme 
 distress of his affectionate wife and son. .This 
 melancholy event necessarily detained him; and 
 after the splendid but solemn rites were 
 performed, he retired with his mother and 
 a few friends to Castle Gwynne. The 
 countess had ever possessed strong feelings, 
 and the death of her husband threw her into 
 such a state of mind as rendered change of air, 
 and change of scene, necessary for the recovery 
 of her health. 
 
 On opening the late earl's will, this curious 
 codicil was found ; " that the present earl 
 should not marry without his mother's consent, 
 nor against her inclinations, until he had attained 
 the age of twenty-live ; that if he did so, the 
 title would still be his, but the estates, ( except 
 such as were entailed, of which the greater part
 
 AMBITION. 38 
 
 were not ) on the death of the countess, would 
 devolve to a distant branch of the family." 
 
 The earl scarcely gave this a moment's consi- 
 deration, grief for his father's death absorbed 
 every other emotion, yet when he did think of 
 it, he deemed it a strange whim, but it was of 
 no consequence; he was now eighteen, it was not 
 likely he should marry at least these ten years, 
 or that he should fix his choice on a person so 
 entirely disapproved by the countess, that she 
 should withhold her consent; such were his senti- 
 ments at eighteen, when youth and freedom 
 of inclination taught him to think so ; the 
 course of our narrative will develope whether a 
 tour on the continent had any power to change 
 them. But his mother had a deeper scheme in 
 hand : she knew from experience that it was pos- 
 sible to love at a much earlier age than her son's ; 
 to love, too, without a hope of it being suc- 
 cessful ; for, at the time when she gave her hand 
 to the Earl of Castle Gwynne, her heart was in 
 the possession of a younger and a dearer object, 
 far more congenial to her feelings, but rather
 
 34 AMBITION. 
 
 below than above her own station in life, and 
 with an effort of mental strength, which, in any 
 other instance would have been admirable, but 
 in this certainly unamiable, she severed the 
 chain that bound her, and, at the shrine of 
 ambition sacrificed all her hopes of exalted 
 domestic bliss. When the earl, some years 
 previous to his death, had proposed making a 
 will, the countess's influence had brought him 
 to this determination, hoping by it to preserve 
 the young lord from forming a connection in 
 any degree inferior to himself. 
 
 In the wife of her son, a woman of rank was 
 Lady Gwynne-Arthur's object, no matter 
 whether rich or not; if her blood was noble the 
 countess would look no further.
 
 AMBITION. 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE CASTLE. 
 
 With thy brave bearing I should be in love, 
 But that thou art so fast mine enemy. 
 
 Shakespear. 
 
 We will not fatigue our readers with the 
 description of a journey, the conclusion of which 
 was to bring the young earl to his native home,, 
 but merely state, that in a reasonable space of 
 time they arrived within sight of it. 
 
 His heart bounded rapturously in his bosom, 
 as he looked from the chaise-window and 
 beheld the high turrets of his own domain, 
 which seemed to announce a welcome at his 
 approach ; every object which now met his eye 
 appeared to have a charm for him, for in their
 
 36 AMBITION. 
 
 vicinity, had hours of happiness been spent; 
 and every step they travelled brought him nearer 
 to the embrace of an adored parent. In a short 
 time they passed the cwm or village. The 
 earl looked around him, every habitation which 
 the encreasing shades of a dark winter evening 
 permitted him to behold, was also well remem- 
 bered, and he could almost have named the 
 humble individuals who occupied them. He 
 turned his eye to the left, and the upper 
 part of a neat white cottage, detached from the 
 others, and scarcely visible through a thick row 
 of trees, which grew in front, met his view ; 
 hastily averting his glance the earl leant back 
 in the chaise, a poignant emotion rushed across 
 his heart, but however transient the feeling, 
 however imperfect the glance, it had sufficient 
 power to bring, in the most lively colouring, to 
 his mind's eye, the past — the present — and 
 every intervening circumstance. As they 
 turned an abrupt angle in the road, the castle 
 burst upon their view, in all its frowning gran- 
 deur. A blaze of light streamed from the
 
 AMBITION. 37 
 
 upper windows, and shades of persons were seen 
 moving to and fro in the illuminated apartments 
 above. A large bon-fire sparkled on the heath 
 adjoining, around which had assembled a joy- 
 ous and expectant crowd, who, for the last three 
 hours, had been anxiously waiting the arrival of 
 the " Yarl" in order to have the honour and 
 gratification of drawing his carriage to the 
 castle gates; whilst here and there a solitary 
 individual was seen loitering upon the road, 
 eager to catch the first tidings of his approach, 
 and bear it triumphantly to his fellows. The 
 sound of the chaise-wheels must have struck 
 upon the acute sense of one of these faithful 
 sentinels, for although the crowd seemed deeply 
 engaged with their occupations, quick as thought 
 they dispersed, and rushed in detached groups 
 to meet the travellers. 
 
 Immediately the chaise was stopped, the cry 
 of welcome was set up, and they were preparing 
 to disengage the horses, when, perhaps, observ- 
 ing the appearance of the chaise, (for Mr. 
 Jenkins and the earl kept out of sight) they
 
 38 AMBITION. 
 
 suddenly desisted ; their Yarl in such a miser- 
 able-looking equipage, no crest, no liveries, no 
 attendants, save the single postilion ! the thing 
 was impossible, it must be some London trades- 
 man, or agent come down to assist in, or look 
 over the repairs and alterations at the "great 
 house." The chaise was suffered to proceed, and 
 the weary steeds were permitted the honour of 
 conducting it ; but still the crowd followed with 
 repeated huzzas and cheers, not intended for 
 those within the carriage, but offered with the true 
 spirit of loyal dependants, to the respected memory 
 of their absent master. These ebullitions of 
 public feeling lasted until the vehicle had entered 
 the castle gates, when with one loud cheer the 
 crowd departed : and thus was the young earl 
 ushered by his warm-hearted peasantry into the 
 noble mansion of his forefathers. 
 
 Castle Gwynne was a specimen of the ancient 
 architecture of Wales ; it was rather a low 
 building, but very extensive, and displaying 
 much of the elegant taste of former days. The 
 site was remarkably high, the park in which it
 
 AMBITION. 39 
 
 stood was well stocked with wood and water, the 
 upper windows might command a distant view of 
 the Bristol Channel, the cwm was situated on the 
 slope which stretched from the back of the castle 
 to the high road, and, altogether, it had a noble 
 appearance from the carriage-way that wound 
 round the bottom of the lawn. The prospect from 
 the castle was grand and romantic ; rivers, forests, 
 and mountains, met the view without intermission, 
 interspersed here and there with the ruins of an 
 ancient monastery or fortress, it seemed, indeed, 
 as if here the genius of Wales had taken up her 
 abode, and, enthroned amid her native hills, 
 had called around her the spirits of departed 
 heroes, whose unearthly presence shed a strange 
 and solemn influence over that portion of the 
 world they deigned to look upon; for amongst 
 the wild and solitary scenes which surrounded 
 Castle G wynne, the dark shadows of its waving 
 forests, the intricacies of its thickly wooded 
 glens, the aspiring eminence of its blue moun- 
 tains, its spacious halls, the richly carved marble 
 figures which adorned its stately apartments, its
 
 40 AMBITION. 
 
 numerous and ancient corridors, dark aisles,, and 
 venerable monuments of family greatness — 
 amongst scenes and objects like these one migbt 
 almost fancy that the shade of the departed 
 warrior was stalking in our path, and bending a 
 stern eye on the insignificant pursuits which 
 engrossed all the powerful faculties of his 
 degenerated descendant. 
 
 None, perhaps, more strongly felt the 
 influence of the delusion which these scenes 
 created, than Valentine y the Bard of the 
 Castle. Proud of adhering to national customs, 
 and anxious to preserve those relics of antiquity 
 which had assisted to give his country a charac- 
 ter of consequence in the eyes of others, the 
 late Lord Gwynne- Arthur had always retained 
 this man in his family, in the capacity of minstrel ; 
 Valentine was of an excessively tender disposi- 
 tion, his mind was very elevated, and his 
 musical and poetical genius great ; early in life 
 he had been left an orphan, and that circum- 
 stance gave a tincture of melancholy to his 
 temper, which a disappointment in love had
 
 AMBITION. 41 
 
 encreased. He was now advanced in years, 
 bat the same pensiveness of character remained 
 with him; he had had the advantages of educa- 
 tion, he had read the history of his country, 
 and his harp and his memory were stored with 
 the legends of its chieftains and princes. He 
 would roam through the halls of Gwynne- 
 Arthur, he would sigh over the blasted hope of 
 his youth, he would muse over the deeds of the 
 heroes who slept within its vaults, and, mingling 
 these images together, he would sometimes 
 produce a strain so sweet, so holy, and so 
 impressive, whilst his countenance displayed all 
 the melancholy heaven of his feelings, that the 
 common people said he was either more or less 
 than human ; they feared him, they looked upon 
 him as a gifted man, and gifted the minstrel cer- 
 tainly was — but not with supernatural powers. 
 
 It was through one of those ancient corridors 
 which I have just spoken of, though now 
 brilliantly illuminated by a number of wax-lights, 
 that Lord Gwynne- Arthur hastened, with all 
 the impatience of joyful expectation, to the
 
 42 AMBITION. 
 
 dressing room of the countess, and in a few 
 moments he was locked in the fond embrace of 
 his mother. Her happiness was extreme at this 
 re-union with her son, and, after the first 
 mutual enquiries had passed, she again clasped 
 him in her arms, and wept tears of joy upon his 
 bosom. Gwynne-Arthur had the advantage 
 of appearing full five years older than he 
 really was, which gave an air of firmness 
 and dignity to his carriage, that he could 
 not otherwise have been expected to possess ; 
 and, as his mother gazed upon bis fine graceful 
 form, now matured and ripened into manhood, 
 she thought of him as of the darling object 
 in whom all her ambitious hopes were 
 centred, and saw, in perspective, the fulfilment 
 of every wild scheme and aspiring project. 
 
 Mr. Jenkins, who had remained behind for the 
 purpose of giving his noble friends an oppor- 
 tunity of meeting in private, now entered the 
 apartment, and received the countess's polite 
 and sincere welcome. 
 
 " Mr. Jenkins," exclaimed her ladyship,
 
 AMBITION. 43 
 
 " how much I owe you for the fidelity with which 
 you have discharged your trust, you have brought 
 back my son, safe, and uncorrupted, and, to a 
 doating parent, what can be a greater happiness Vf 
 
 " Have you company to day, mother?" asked 
 the earl, anxious, perhaps, to change the theme. 
 " I observed lights in the saloon as I passed 
 along, and the shades of persons moving 
 about." 
 
 " A few fashionable friends," replied the 
 countess, " who have kindly repaired hither 
 to enliven our seclusion, and 1 think they will 
 form a pleasing contrast to the ancient Cambrian 
 gentry we shall presently be mixing with. 
 I have not yet fixed on the day for a grand fete, 
 at which we must entertain all our neighbours, 
 tenants, and dependants, but as I know you are 
 fond of character, you will of course receive 
 much amusement." 
 
 The earl now proposed retiring to dress for 
 the purpose of joining the company in the 
 drawing-room, which the countess at first 
 objected to, alleging that he must be fatigued,
 
 44 AMBITION. 
 
 and requesting that he would retire for the night ; 
 but, on this point, the earl over-ruled her 
 scruples ; the gentlemen withdrew to make 
 their toilettes, and Lady Gwynne-Arthur 
 returned to the saloon- 
 There are many emotions connected with 
 a return to the home of our youth, which, 
 in a heart too keenly alive to every sensation 
 of pain and pleasure, may create for a moment, 
 at least, a dubious feeling between happiness 
 and sorrow ; and it is little wonder, if the 
 emotion which glows in the bosom, should 
 speak also in the countenance. 
 
 The earl did not wish this to be perceived, 
 and turned from the earnest gaze that was bent 
 upon him by his young protege, whom 
 Mr. Jenkins had deposited in this apartment. 
 
 Valentine Meilheim, the French valet who 
 had accompanied the Earl and Mr. Jenkins 
 from Paris, was a poor friendless individual 
 whom Gwynne Arthur had met with in France; 
 tome pleasing traits of character had recom- 
 mended him to notice, and though he was of
 
 AMBITION. 45 
 
 little use to him in the capacity of servant, the 
 earl felt a happiness in affording him pro- 
 tection. 
 
 Valentine was seated near the fire, for his 
 master judging that he must be fatigued by his 
 journey, had dispensed with his services at the 
 toilette, and allowed his English valet to supply 
 his place ; his eye was fixed upon the earl, who 
 hastily turned away, and a blush stole over his 
 face as he reflected that possibly his thoughts 
 had been searched. When he raised his eyes 
 from the table, Valentine was at his side; he had 
 taken a comb from the toilette, and was preparing 
 to adjust a stray lock of the earl's fine auburn 
 hair; by this means Gwynne- Arthur found 
 himself wholly exposed to the intense scrutiny 
 which he had sought to avoid. 
 
 " Sit down, Valentine," said he, " Law- 
 rence will do that, you must be much fatigued, 
 sit down, 1 say, and rest yourself." 
 
 "Oh! my Lord," replied Valentine, in 
 French, " were I a young earl returning to all 
 the honours of a splendid heritage, with one
 
 46 AMBITION. 
 
 whom I had made happy by my affection, I 
 should feel as much pleasure in receiving his 
 services in my own country, as I had formerly 
 done in a foreign one ; it is the whole happiness 
 of my life to be near you, and to testify, by 
 unremitted attention, the grateful sense I have 
 of so much kindness." 
 
 "■ And have you perceived that kindness 
 falling off, Valentine 1 " asked the earl, " that 
 you speak thus reproachfully." 
 
 "Oh no, far from it ! your goodness has 
 encreased since the first moment I knew you ; 
 but you are returning to the acquaintances of 
 your youth, and, in a country which has produced 
 one noble creature, I caonot think but that there 
 are other objects of merit who will consider 
 me a usurper of the favour I enjoy, and enforce 
 their claims to it by arguments which your 
 lordship's feelings cannot withstand." 
 
 The earl raised his eye to Valentine's, but 
 met a look of so much meaning in that pene- 
 trating orb, that he instantly withdrew his gaze, 
 and only answered seriously, " you need not
 
 AMBITION. 47 
 
 fear me, but beware of this — anticipation some* 
 times half creates reality" 
 
 " Forgive my presuming thought," said 
 Valentine with humble dignity, "but, could 
 I lose your generous affection without a sigh, 
 the idea of losing it would never have entered 
 my imagination." 
 
 " My dear Valentine," said the earl, in a 
 soothing tone, " you shall not lose it." 
 
 The business of the toilette was now conclu- 
 ded, Gwynne-Arthur arose, cast a look of 
 much kindness towards the youth, and quitted 
 the apartment. 
 
 On entering the drawing-room, the earl was 
 introduced by his mother to the company assem- 
 bled there. They were, as she had said, prince 
 pally fashionables, and very few of them, for not 
 half of the visitants had yet arrived. 
 
 The first person he was called upon to notice was 
 Lady Frances Gw} 7 er, a very charming Welch* 
 woman, who had attained that period of life 
 when the ill-natured would term her an old maid; 
 she was very accomplished, and a conspicuous
 
 48 AMBITION. 
 
 figure in every fashionable circle in town. 
 Several others were now presented to him, 
 but, being totally unconnected with our story, we 
 will not trouble our readers with a description 
 of such, as, in Pope's words, — - 
 
 " have no character at all." 
 
 Yet there were two of this motley group. — 
 two who will and must command our attention ; 
 of these, Mr. William Percival is the first that we 
 shall introduce to the notice of the reader, and, as 
 he is destined to be of some importance in the 
 work, a trifling sketch may not be deemed altoge 
 ther unacceptable. He was tall — as tall as the 
 earl, — slight and elegant ; twenty-three summers 
 had browned his cheek, and added strength and 
 grace to his form, yet, unlike Gwynne- Arthur, 
 he appeared much younger than he was ; there 
 was a hoyishness about him, of which he could 
 not entirely divest himself. The expression of 
 his face was peculiar; his black eyes sparkled 
 with animation, and good humour ; his fair open 
 forehead appeared to be the index to an inge- 
 nuous heart ; and silken ringlets of a very dark
 
 AMBITION. 49 
 
 hue clustered thickly over his marble brow, 
 yet — strange contradiction! — his smile was full 
 of satire ! It was an equivocal movement, and 
 you could scarcely tell whether it was given in 
 derision or approbation. The earl could not 
 avoid being prepossessed with his appearance, 
 but, whilst they are exchanging the usual forms 
 of courtesy, we will pass on to the last. 
 
 Although the last in being spoken of, Sir 
 Richard Gordon should be neither the last, nor 
 the least in our remembrance, yet, Lord 
 G wynne- Arthur would as soon have met his 
 " dearest foe in Heaven," as encounter the 
 baronet in his own castle at this particular period. 
 He had not received the slightest intimation of 
 , his presence until he met him in the drawing 
 room, and the change which was then visible in 
 the earl's countenance might have been obser- 
 ved by many — had they stopped to remark it. 
 Sir Richard Gordon, however, did not appear 
 to do so, and the earl recovered his composure, 
 though a great portion of his cheerfulness had 
 fled. The reader will naturally enquire what
 
 50 AMBITION. 
 
 was so formidable in the appearance of the 
 baronet, that it should cause such a revolution, 
 iu the feelings of Lord Gwynne- Arthur ; I will 
 endeavour to describe him. His figure was 
 decidedly good ; he was rather above the middle 
 height, and, owing to the erect military air 
 which he possessed, accompanied by a certain 
 majesty of deportment, he looked much taller. 
 His age might be about thirty. He had a very 
 singular expression of countenance, though 
 handsome, it was stern and forbidding; there 
 was something repelling in his air, and proud, 
 but it was the pride of greatness, it was 
 
 * " The noble daring of the mind, which lent 
 Its lustre to each faultless lineament." 
 
 His complexion was darkened by a long 
 residence on the continent ; his eyes — were 
 neither black nor blue — they were grey, 
 but the most expressive grey I have ever 
 seen, and well shaded by long and thick 
 black lashes. His nose, really I have forgotten 
 * Tancred.
 
 AMBITION. 51 
 
 the shape of that, but it accorded well with his 
 other features, therefore the mouth and chin 
 must be the next subjects of consideration. Both 
 were beautifully formed, and, when he laughed 
 or spoke, the extreme brilliance of a very fine 
 set of teeth displayed the deep shade of his 
 countenance to the utmost advantage. 
 
 His voice in speaking and singing was 
 pleasing, and there appeared to be, at times, 
 much of humour and youthful gaiety in his dis- 
 position. 
 
 There was more of hauteur in his look than 
 in his manner; for wrapped up in the impene- 
 trable reserve of silence, few would venture 
 to approach him or risk a word of interruption ; 
 but whilst he conversed, his features were 
 lighted up by a smile the most radiant and 
 conciliating ; the transition was wonderful and 
 instantaneous, for from the sternest countenance 
 in the world, it became one of the most agree- 
 able. His smile was the smile of a woman,— 
 soft, beaming, and expressive ; his laugh was the 
 
 UNIVERSITY 6F 
 WJN01S LIBRARY
 
 &2 AMBITION. 
 
 laugh of a boy, — joyous, unrestrained, and from 
 the heart. Sueh was Sir Richard Gordon. 
 
 The earl could have esteemed him, could 
 have regarded him as a friend, but when he 
 remembered the circumstances under which 
 they had met, and subsequent events, he 
 turned distrustfully and fearfully away. A few 
 country gentlemen of the neighbourhood made 
 up the party. When the introductions had 
 passed, the eompany proceeded to the dining 
 apartment. 
 
 During the repast the conversation, as far as 
 depended on the principal personages, was 
 carried on with ease, sprightliness, and good 
 humour, and languidly partaken by the votaries of 
 ton, but not perfectly understood by the more 
 rustic part of the assembly. When the ladies 
 had withdrawn, the earl found a better oppor- 
 tunity of drawing his noble countrymen from 
 their taciturnity ; he spoke to them on subjects 
 which he thought would most interest their atten- 
 tion, and at length, succeeded in making them 
 converse with, at least, ease to themselves.
 
 AMBITION. 53 
 
 From the tenour of their discourse Gwynne- 
 Artkur learnt the characters of his new guests ; 
 they were, for the most part, rich freeholders, 
 who could trace their descent almost from the 
 time when the Trojans were supposed to have 
 taken shelter in Britain ; there were very few 
 but could reckon their lineage nearly to the 
 Roman invasion, and not one but had had some 
 great- great- grand- uncle, or cousin fiftieth time 
 removed, killed in the bloody wars of their Prince 
 Llewellyn. They were statesmen, generals, 
 and counsellors, in miniature; and could settle 
 the affairs of the nation over a bottle of wine, 
 with as much precision and self-satisfaction as 
 any senate-house in the United Kingdom. 
 
 The earl indulged this vein in them, as well 
 from motives of politeness, as for the sake of 
 better observing the shades of his own character, 
 for he knew that, notwithstanding his foreign tour, 
 he was still Welchman enough to be liable to 
 many of the errors and prejudices of his country. 
 The discourse therefore turned upon politics, the 
 motions of government, the heavy taxation, the 
 
 vol. I. D
 
 54 AMBITION. 
 
 state of the land, the situation of the farmers, 
 the great burdens they were obliged to bear, the 
 mines of wealth whence they drew their supplies, 
 (but these were touched on slightly, as if wishing 
 to give the hearers an idea of their importance, 
 without letting them know that themselves deemed 
 it of any consequence) ; and the regulations 
 which the ministry were about to make with 
 regard to corn ; whilst the latest speeches of both 
 houses of Parliament were quoted, to support 
 their arguments; until the effect of frequent liba- 
 tions threw a drowsy influence over their prolix 
 periods, and the earl, in the sound and graceful 
 conversation of the other gentlemen, found an 
 alleviation of the tedium till the hour for joining 
 the ladies in the drawing-room.
 
 AMBITION. 55 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE LUTE. 
 
 Her hair is like a golden clue, 
 
 Drawn from Minerva's loom, 
 Her lips, earnation dipped in dew ; 
 
 Her breath is the perfume. 
 
 Old Song. 
 
 On the following day fresh visitants arrived; 
 amongst them were Sir Wyndham "William 
 Vaughan, an ancient Welch baronet of sixty, 
 (as might be seen by his countenance and coat of 
 arms) and his daughter, Miss Winny Vaughan, a 
 blooming, blue-eyed, fair-haired girl of seven- 
 teen. A very lovely woman arrived in a superb 
 equipage, her name was Forrester, and she was 
 the wife of a very rich old man, who had resided 
 about two years in that part of the country.
 
 56 AMBITION. 
 
 Report said that at one period this lady had offi- 
 ciated in the humble capacity of housekeeper in 
 his family; he was a widower, without children, 
 she was remarkably beautiful, — and he had mar- 
 ried her. The lady's deportment did not at all 
 contradict this supposition, she seemed very 
 anxious to be fashionable, for she missed no 
 opportunity of mixing with polite society, whilst 
 her general line of conduct was the most ludi- 
 crous that can be imagined ; if silent, she 
 appeared impatient to be saying or doing some- 
 thing ; when she spoke she was in a continual 
 flutter, and, like Mrs. Malaprop, in " The 
 Rivals," with *•* a nice derangement of epitaphs " 
 she would salute one's ear without ceasing. 
 
 Mr. Forrester had just received a violent attack 
 of the gout, and when the countess's invitation 
 arrived, Mrs. F. alone prepared to embrace it. 
 
 At dinner the discourse turned principally upon 
 foreign subjects, and many were the questions 
 put to the earl concerning all he had seer; and 
 heard, his occupations, his amusements, and his 
 opinions ; and he sometimes felt a little embar-
 
 AMBITION. 57 
 
 rassed in his answers, especially as Sir Richard 
 Gordon took an active part in the conversation, 
 but not a single word fell from the lips of the 
 baronet which could create an uneasy sensation 
 in the bosom of the earl for a moment. When 
 the ladies had retired, the same subject was 
 continued. 
 
 " Have you been in Italy, my lord? " asked 
 some one near him. 
 
 The earl replied in the affirmative. 
 
 M How did your lordship like the Italian 
 women I v ' inquired Sir Wyndham William 
 Vaughan. 
 
 " Very well," was the reply, given in a 
 ludicrously- serious tone " I like all women." 
 
 Sir Richard laughed, seemed to be on the 
 point of making a quick remark, but checked 
 himself just as the words reached his lips. The 
 earl fixed his eye upon him in an enquiring man- 
 ner; there was nothing sarcastic, nor ill-natured, 
 in that laugh,, but there was, or seemed to be, a 
 concealed meaning in it, and that was Sufficient 
 to make the earl uneasy. Mr. Jenkins now took
 
 58 AMBITION. 
 
 up the conversation, and gave it a different 
 turn. 
 
 " I should be so happy," said Mrs. Forrester 
 to the earl, as she sat by him in the evening, "if 
 your lordship and the countess would honour me 
 with your company at Castle Carrig for a short 
 time ; the country around is very beautiful and 
 pictursk, and I am sure Mr. Forrester and 
 I would do every thing in our power to make you 
 happy." 
 
 " You are exceedingly kind, madam," said the 
 earl, " and if I stay in Wales for any length of 
 time, 1 shall certainly feel great pleasure in 
 accepting your invitation. Do you spend much 
 time at Castle Carrig ? " 
 
 f* O yes, my lord, a great deal too much, indeed 
 it is sometimes quite dull to be there so long with- 
 out seeing a soul ; Mr. Forrester bought it about 
 two years ago, and, I am sure, putting all the 
 time together, we have there full a year and a 
 half. I want Mr. Forrester to live more in 
 London, but he wont hear about it, although 
 there is but half of Castle Carrig fit to be inha-
 
 AMBITION. 5!) 
 
 bited, for the other part is in a most debilitated 
 state !— " 
 
 The earl would, perhaps, have laughed out- 
 right at this conclusion of the lady's speech, but 
 at that moment his ear caught part of a conver- 
 sation which was passing behind him, and which 
 gave a more serious tone to his feelings. 
 
 Sir Richard Gordon was seated on a sofa near 
 him, apparently abstracted, when William 
 Percival came up, and threw himself beside him, 
 exclaiming, "Pleasant visions to you, Sir Richard, 
 but I need not waste my breath in expressing a 
 wish which I see is already fulfilled, for those 
 visions must be pleasant indeed which can have 
 power to draw you from the enjoyment of this 
 brilliant scene. Awake ! look around, cast your 
 eyes upon the numerous lovely beings who sur- 
 round us ! there are not ten fashionable fellows in 
 the room, do you think we can spare a dashing 
 elegant man like you I " 
 
 " 'Pon my word," said the baronet, looking 
 round as he was desired, "I see no lack of
 
 60 AMBITION. 
 
 gentlemen, and if the ladies are satisfied, I know 
 not why you should complain." 
 
 " So, such are the thanks which I get for 
 wishing you to listen to a song from that 
 charming little girl with the great Welsh name ; 
 I always thought you had more gallantry in your 
 composition ; you, who profess yourself an 
 admirer of the sex ! " 
 
 " I profess?" 
 
 " No, that's the thing, you do not profess, 
 yet we know you to be a more devoted enthusiast 
 than those who do ; — but I now leave you for 
 a cold-hearted, unfeeling — " 
 
 " Not so fast !" 
 
 " If you were any thing but cold-hearted you 
 would not sit here alone, indulging in solitary 
 reflection, whilst a group of charming women 
 await your services, unless, indeed," and he 
 lowered his voice, " you have left some angelic 
 being abroad, whose image, ever cherished in 
 remembrance, hath power to create in the bosom 
 of a lover, a happier world than the one you 
 move in. — Tt was cruel to leave her, if vou loved
 
 AMBITION. 61 
 
 her it was cruel to yourself, if she loved it was 
 doubly cruel; — you have left her to sigh, to 
 mourn over " hopes destroyed ;" perhaps, to 
 perish of a broken heart !" 
 
 " My good friend!" exclaimed the baronet, 
 laughing, "will you now allow me to put in 
 a word I I have left no one to sigh over any 
 hopes that I have destroyed, nor to perish of 
 a heart which I have broken, I have left no one 
 abroad who will mourn over my departure, (if I 
 have left one there) or waste a thought upon me 
 when I am out of sight." 
 
 " Then you have left some one, it seems, upon 
 whom you waste many thoughts." 
 
 " If I thought at all, upon any individual 
 I ever knew on the continent, it would be waste ; 
 I have not known one worth a thought." 
 
 " By-the-bye," interrupted Percival, " what 
 brought you to England so much sooner than was 
 expected ? I had not the most distant idea of meet- 
 ing you here, and nothing could exceed the asto- 
 nishment which I experienced; yesterday morning 
 on seeing you alight at the gate ; I did not even
 
 G2 AMBITION. 
 
 know that you were acquainted with the 
 eountess." 
 
 " I did not know it myself five days ago, 
 I was introduced to her, received her invitation, 
 and in a fit of pique and spleen accepted it ; but 
 I was not aware whom I should meet here, or 
 I certainly should not have done so !" 
 
 f* Indeed ! do you dislike the society?" 
 
 " Not at all, I am not displeased with any 
 thing or any person, yet I shall take the earliest 
 opportunity of departing." 
 
 " You cannot go before the countess's fete, 
 having been invited to join it." 
 
 " lam afraid not, but immediately afterwards 
 I shall endeavour to do so." 
 
 " You astonish me! may I ask the reason?'' 
 
 " Go, and listen to your beautiful lady with 
 the great Welch name," exclaimed Sir Richard 
 Gordon, gocd-humouredly, " and don't pry into 
 my secrets ; to please you, I will come also." 
 
 " To please youself, rather," said William 
 Percival, " I knew you could not long resist 
 temptation/'
 
 AMBITION. 03 
 
 They now joined the ladies. The earl heard no 
 more, but he had heard sufficient to give him pain 
 and pleasure ; the latter feeling was created by 
 finding that the baronet intended shortly to 
 depart. 
 
 A graceful prelude, run over the strings of 
 the harp by a light and skilful finger, now 
 summoned all lovers of harmony to a distant 
 part of the room, where, with a blush of pleasure, 
 bashfulness, and coquetry, Winny Vaughan had 
 taken her seat at the instrument. 
 
 The earl handed Mrs. Forrester to a chair, 
 and stationed himself beside her. 
 
 Of all who surrounded Miss Vaughan, none 
 appeared more attentive to her performance than 
 Gwynne- Arthur, and none was in reality less 
 so. With his eyes fixed upon the musician, and 
 his ear bent upon the " concord of sweet sounds," 
 his memory and his imagination traversed scenes 
 that were gone by — gone by for ever — gilded the 
 visions of the past, and brought, in animated co- 
 lours to the eye of recollection, forms which ab- 
 sence had rendered nearly indistinct ; and whilst
 
 G4 AMBITION. 
 
 the beholder might have fancied that he hung 
 eagerly on the silvery accents he listened to, and 
 gazed, with the rapture of newly-created passion, 
 upon the lovely form before him, his attention 
 was in fact rivetted on lang syne ; and the un- 
 usually brilliant glow of his countenance was 
 caused by the retrospection of events and objects, 
 which had once materially affected his happiness. 
 From this reverie he was awakened by the harp- 
 ist, as she concluded her task ; it had powerfully 
 increased in pathos and expression, and, though 
 he had totally disregarded it before, he now 
 listened eagerly and attentively to the last 
 stanza : 
 
 Ah ! who is e'er without a friend, 
 
 Whilst blessed by Fortune's gilded ray ? 
 
 But, let sorrow's gloom descend, 
 
 And proffered friendship fades away : — 
 
 And love 's a more unmeaning sound, 
 
 That 's form'd in fashion's heartless mould ; 
 
 For, when the ills of life surround, 
 
 Fi lends fly off, and love is cold ! 
 
 There was nothing peculiar in the words, nor 
 in the music, nor, perhaps, in the manner of
 
 AMBITION. 05 
 
 singing them ; but, there was a something in it 
 altogether, which could not fail of making an 
 impression : it contained an axiom of which ex- 
 perience had yet to teach him the reality. 
 
 The earl was solicited to sing, solicited, and 
 under his own roof, it was impossible to refuse ; 
 he sung, he scarcely knew what, but, of course, 
 received general applause. 
 
 A servant now entered, bearing a small lute ; 
 Gwynne-Arthur gazed in astonishment, first on 
 the instrument, and then on the man. 
 
 " Anthony," said the countess, in a low tone, 
 and bending towards her son, '« I have taken a 
 liberty ; I observed a lute this morning with 
 Valentine, your Valentine, — your French boy — 
 and as I understand that Miss Vaughan plays on 
 the instrument, I sent to borrow it of him ; have 
 I done wrong I " 
 
 " Certainly not," replied Anthony, in a half- 
 suffocated tone of voice, " but I am puzzled to 
 guess how Daniel made himself understood ; the 
 boy does not speak English." 
 
 " I was not aware of that, for I have not yet
 
 66 AMBITION. 
 
 spoken to him ; but I suppose Lawrence acted as 
 interpreter." 
 
 " It is most likely/' 
 
 Winny Vaughan commenced her performance ; 
 the lute was small, and being very beautifully 
 wrought and ornamented, was very much admi- 
 red. "Whilst she played, the earl was lost in con- 
 jecture as to why, and how, his mother had 
 already obtained so much information respecting 
 Valentine, and his pursuits ; it filled him with new 
 apprehensions and uneasiness, from which he was 
 not at all relieved by the conversation that ensued. 
 
 " Does your page play well on the lute, my 
 lord ?" asked Lady Frances Gwyer. 
 
 " I am not a sufficient judge of music to form 
 a correct opinion ;" replied the earl, " he pleases 
 me, and, I suppose, pleases himself, or he would 
 not pursue it ; if he should be so fortunate as to 
 please your ladyship, three good ends^will be 
 answered." 
 
 " The instrument, at any rate, is very beauti- 
 ful," she remarked, " if his performance should 
 equal that, no one can avoid being pleased."
 
 AMBITION. G7 
 
 " I have seen a lute like that, before," said 
 Sir Richard Gordon, who stood near them, 
 " and only one ; but the voice which I heard ac- 
 company it — the soul which breathed into those 
 notes, I shall never hear again ! " 
 
 Gwynne-Arthur cast his eyes towards the 
 baronet, who seemed more engrossed by private 
 recollections, than by any wish or attempt to play 
 upon the feelings of others. 
 
 " That voice was the voice of a woman, I will 
 conclude, Sir Richard," said Lady Frances, in 
 a tone of raillery. 
 
 " No, lady, it was the voice of & fiend V 
 
 Lady Frances was startled by this reply, and 
 by the seriousness of manner which accompanied 
 it ; he was not jesting, a slight glow tinged the 
 cheek of the baronet as he spoke ; but the blush 
 on the countenance of the earl deepened to a 
 dark crimson, rage flashed from his eyes, and his 
 bosom seemed ready to burst with some over- 
 whelming emotion ; but, happily, these hostile 
 symptoms were not perceived by the baronet ; 
 and, in a few moments, Gwynne-Arthur smoothed
 
 G8 AMBITION. 
 
 his brow, and calmed his ruffled feelings into 
 something like composure. 
 
 Every one acknowledged that Sir Richard 
 Gordon was a good singer, therefore, when Miss 
 Vaughan's performance was concluded, he was 
 called upon for the exertion of his talents ; in 
 vain he protested that he did not know a song 
 throughout, no excuse could be admitted, and, 
 with an air of gaiety, running over the strings of 
 the lute, he surprized his hearers by the know- 
 ledge which he displayed of the instrument, a 
 knowledge so unusual in a man, and the extreme 
 grace and brilliancy of his execution; for he 
 played even better than Winny Vaughan. 
 
 The baronet's voice was not excessively power- 
 ful, tut it was soft and musical ; and, in a low 
 and melodious tone, he commenced that beauti- 
 ful Spanish air, — 
 
 " Tu no sabes lo qu'es amor," * 
 
 "Good God!" exclaimed Gwynne- Arthur, 
 starting from his seat as he caught the first notes, 
 
 * " Thou knowest not what is lore."
 
 AMBITION. 69 
 
 and retiring to the recess of a distant window, 
 " will they drive me mad? 
 
 Conscious, perhaps, of his powers of amuse- 
 ment, willing to gratify those around him, and 
 pleased by the attention which was paid to his 
 performance, Sir Richard Gordon continued 
 singing, in the same deep and impressive tone, 
 unaware of the pangs it created in the bosom of 
 the earl, who watched every movement of his 
 countenance," and listened eagerly to every varia- 
 tion of his voice. The same turns — the same 
 cadences, — almost the same tone of voice, to 
 winch he had so often and so devotedly attended ! 
 A sickening doubt rose across Ins mind, and an 
 explanation with Sir Richard Gordon, was the 
 only means to dispel or confirm it. 
 
 That evening the countess contrived to attach 
 her son wholly to Miss Winny Vaughan ; besides 
 being a great heiress, Winny was of noble birth, 
 and not unlikely to be, at some period of her life, 
 a peeress in her own right ; for her father had no 
 other child, and was the only brother of a Welch 
 nobleman, who was also without children. Tins
 
 70 AMBITION. 
 
 weighed much with the countess, and though 
 Winny was but the daughter of a baronet, con- 
 sidering all things, she did not think her a very 
 bad match for the earl. Lady Gwynne- Arthur 
 had no serious intentions at present, she wished 
 to form a higher connection, if possible, but at 
 the same time resolved to keep Winny in hand, 
 lest nothing better should offer ; and as Anthony 
 appeared pleased with his lively countrywoman, 
 all things went on to her satisfaction. To her sa- 
 tisfaction, though not to that of every other per- 
 son, for Mr. William Percival had already fallen 
 desperately in love with Miss Vaughan, and did 
 not feel at all gratified by the goodwill which h§ 
 saw subsisting between her and the earl.
 
 AMBITION. 71 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE MORNING RIDE. 
 
 " Society is like a lawn, where every roughness 
 is smoothed, every bramble eradicated, and where 
 the eye is delighted by the smiling verdure of a 
 velvet surface ; he, however, who would study 
 Nature in its wildness and variety, must plunge 
 into the forest, must explore the glen, must stem 
 the torrent, and dare the precipice." 
 
 Sketch Book. 
 
 The morning rose clear and frosty ; the gen- 
 tlemen had gone out on a shooting excursion, 
 and the ladies proposed a drive round the 
 cwm. 
 
 The countess, Miss Vaughan, and Mrs. 
 Forrester, took their seats in her ladyship's 
 open carriage : and Lady Frances Gwyer, with
 
 72 AMBITION*. 
 
 some other ladies, followed in Mrs. Forresters 
 elegant equipage. 
 
 As the carriages passed a narrow, green road, 
 enclosed by high hedges, and bordered on each 
 side by a small rivulet that lay clear, and con- 
 gealed, within its rushy banks, the ladies per- 
 ceived an old woman limping along with much 
 difficulty, and making all possible haste from 
 the wheel-track ; having obtained a secure situ- 
 ation near the hedge, her wonder-struck gaze 
 became rivetted on the approaching equipages. 
 Lady Gwynne- Arthur commanded the coachman 
 to stop, and beckoned the old woman toward 
 her. 
 
 The individual thus honoured was curiously 
 but characteristically, arrayed ; she wore a dark 
 flannel gown and apron, and old and patched red 
 cloak, thick shoes, blue stockings, a cloth mob- 
 cap, beneath which her grey tresses were cleanly 
 and carefully tucked, and a round hat. As she 
 dropped a short and reverent curtsey she spilled 
 some water from a brown jug, which she held in 
 her hand, over the bright steel buckle of her
 
 AMBITION. 73 
 
 shoe ; in much alarm she wiped it off with her 
 flannel apron, then bobbed another curtsey and 
 patiently awaited her ladyship's commands. 
 
 " Well, Priscy," said the countess, " do you 
 not know me?" 
 
 '* Urn, God in heaven bless my latty ship ! 
 I dint remember ; I hope my lattyship is well 
 
 DOW." 
 
 " Very well, I thank you, Priscy, how are 
 you ; and how is Jackey?" 
 
 The poor old woman shook her her head, 
 " I be pure, and thank my lattyship, but riddle 
 Jackey is but middling." 
 
 " Poor boy ! " said the countess, "is he 
 quiet ? " 
 
 " Oh, iss, my lattyship, he is so quiet as a 
 lamb, but that do vex me worse nor if he wasn't, 
 for they do say 'tis no good sign upon him." 
 
 " Has he every thing that he requires I " asked 
 the countess. 
 
 "Iss, my lattyship, you dont let him want for 
 nothing, and God bless you ! " 
 
 " But are you quite sure he does not stand in
 
 74 AMBITION. 
 
 need of any thing at present ? " repeated Lady 
 Gwynne- Arthur, who feared that Priscy's mode- 
 ration would operate to the prejudice of her 
 son. 
 
 M Um, iss sure, my lattyship, he dont want 
 nothing now, but one thing, thank God; and 
 that is a coad to keep him warm in the winter, 
 he gotnt nerra thick one, worse luck." 
 
 " And why did you not tell me that before, 
 Priscy?" 
 
 " Indeed, to good, I be 'sheamed to trooble 
 my lattyship for every thing we have want ; but 
 God Almighty have sent you to us sure, or else we 
 must both have starve, 'fore now." 
 
 " You should not be ashamed, Priscy, to ex- 
 press your wants, you are not able to work, and 
 must therefore be provided for by those who have 
 plenty. Is your son able to go out 1 " 
 
 " Iss, and please my lattyship." 
 
 " Then bring him to the castle, to-morrow ; 
 mind what I say, Priscy, bring him to the cas- 
 tle ; there will be entertainment for every one
 
 AMBITION. 75 
 
 who chuses to come, the music may raise his 
 spirits, so be sure that you bring him." 
 
 " Um, God bless my lattyship, I will come 
 without fail." 
 
 The countess now drew forth her purse, gave 
 Priscy the contents, then kindly wished her a 
 good morning, and the carriage drove on. 
 
 " Um, God bless my lattyship," said Priscy, 
 as she looked at the gold in her hand, which to 
 her was a world of wealth, " um, God bless my 
 lattyship, I will get a nice warm coad to liddle 
 Jacko, poor fellow ! " 
 
 After this soliloquy, Priscy took her brown 
 jug and hobbled away to the stile, intending to 
 cross the fields, and take the shortest cut to the 
 village where she dw r elt. 
 
 As she limped along the meadow her reveries 
 continued, until her farther progress was stopped 
 by the appearance of a rude stone stile, which, 
 with her lameness, she found a very great ob- 
 struction to her joyful haste ; whilst she stood 
 revolving this difficulty, and wondering how she
 
 76 AMBITION. 
 
 should obviate it, a sweet voice accosted her 
 with — " Shall I assist you, Priscy?" 
 
 " Oh dear, is it my lattyship V cried Priscy, 
 turning and recognising the speaker, " indeed, 
 you he very good, and I shall thank you kindly." 
 
 The young woman gave her hand to Priscy, 
 and with little difficulty, assisted her over. 
 
 •' I went to your house, Priscy," she conti- 
 nued, " the neighbours told me you were gone 
 to the spring, and I have been walking about 
 this field intending to wait here until your return ; 
 but I did not suppose you would come this way, 
 there are so many stiles in the path that I am 
 surprised you should choose it." 
 
 " Iss, indeed, my lattiship, there is good many 
 stiles, sure, but I was in shute hurry to come 
 to Jacko, Oh ! dear, my lattyship, if you did 
 know how happy I be!" 
 
 " I am very glad to hear it, but what is the 
 cause ? is Jackey better ?" 
 
 " Oh no, * tisn that it is, indeed, worse 
 luck ! Look here what sight o'monies I did 
 have, 'tis to buy my poor boy a nice warm coad."
 
 AMBITION. 77 
 
 " A large sum, indeed, who gave it to you?" 
 
 " Indeed, to good, it was the Latty Gwynne, 
 I have mit my lattyship now just." 
 
 " Lady Gwynne ! where is she ? is she 
 coming this way ? " and the young giri looked 
 anxiously around, then quickened her pace, as if 
 wishing to escape observation. 
 
 " No, no, my lattyship, she is gone by now; 
 but she is geeve me all this monies, and is tell 
 to me to bring my Jacko in the feast to- 
 morrow." 
 
 They had now approached a small brook, 
 where a few loose stones, and a plank, served 
 for a bridge ; and the young girl, taking the jug 
 in one hand, and holding Priscy's with the other, 
 conducted them both safely over. In regard 
 to dress, she had the appearance of a farmer's 
 daughter ; but besides possessing a good figure, 
 there was a genteel ease in her carriage, an 
 expression in her countenance, which bespoke 
 a much higher rank and breeding. 
 
 When Priscy arrived at her own door her 
 interesting companion quitted her, having first 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 78 AMBITION. 
 
 bade her a good morning, and desired her to 
 send whenever she might require assistance. 
 
 " I am surprised, for my part, how your 
 ladyship can understand those people," said Mrs. 
 Forrester, as the carriage drove off, and left 
 old Priscy viewing her money in the road. 
 " I think I should not understand them, if I 
 were to live a hundred years amongst them ; 
 some people have such a way of speaking, quite 
 barbarous ! " 
 
 " Perhaps so," said the countess, " to ears 
 unaccustomed to the dialect, but I take a pecu- 
 liar delight in listening to them, their manner is 
 so truly national and characteristic, and there 
 are so many traits of originality about ihem ; 
 their principles, their freedom of opinion, their 
 courage, and their bold independence, form a 
 character, in my opinion, distinct and pleasing ; 
 and then the pride of blood glows so warmly in 
 the bosom of each individual, that I dare say, 
 old Priscy, who can scarcely remember any 
 thing, can trace her lineage through several
 
 AMBITION. 79 
 
 generations. Miss Vaughan, you are a Welch- 
 woman, is my sketch correct ? " 
 
 " Oh, it is all truth ! all life ! " exclaimed the 
 vivacious, the romantic Winny, " I love my 
 country, but I never feel so truly proud of it, as 
 when I have an opportunity of observing those 
 predominant features shine through the rugged 
 manners of her uncouth children ! " 
 
 " I am vexed to perceive," said the countess, 
 " that the national character is no where so well 
 preserved, as amongst the ruder classes. If we 
 look into the middling ranks, we shall find that, 
 from an intercourse with other countries, they 
 have caught just enough to alter their manners 
 without improving them; for, without imbibing 
 that solid knowledge which is the foundation of 
 refinement, they have obtained but a superficial 
 gloss, and scarcely that, to cover their deficien- 
 cies ; which is like gilding a piece of ancient 
 statuary : it wastes the gilt, and spoils the mar- 
 ble. Would they preserve their ancient manners, 
 their dignity, and their grandeur, or exchange 
 them wholly for the more useful and polite arts
 
 80 AMBITION. 
 
 of mixed society, they would appear to more 
 advantage than they do at present ; yet there 
 are some amongst us who still maintain the 
 genius of the country, with all that devoted en- 
 thusiasm which marks its character ; and, though 
 foreign fopperies have strangely tinctured some 
 classes, we can look with a kind of patriotic 
 pleasure, upon the more unpolished part of our 
 countrymen, and behold the national spirit 
 glowing in all its romantic beauty." 
 
 " Your ladyship's description is very warm," 
 observed Miss Vaughan, " and persuasive, but 
 is it not rather severe ? " 
 
 " I am afraid not, for I had rather err in mv 
 judgment than that my countrymen should de- 
 serve the opprobrium which I have cast upon 
 them. My remark is the effect of observation 
 and long experience, and to prove the truth of 
 my argument, I will bring forth instances upon 
 a smaller scale : amongst the middling class of 
 farmers, if a man has six or seven sons he sends 
 one to the university, to be made a gentleman 
 of, whilst the others are kept at the plough ; if
 
 AMBITION. 81 
 
 the youth has sense he improves by the advan- 
 tages set before him, which, in the end, fit him 
 for any profession better than that which he is 
 naturally intended for ; if not, the consequence 
 may be easily foreseen. It is the same with 
 their daughters, a chosen one is sent to a board- 
 ing school, where she acquires a smattering of 
 fashionable accomplishments, whilst her sisters 
 are kept at home, to do all the necessary house 
 and dairy work ; but when these children return 
 to their homes, and see the contrast which their 
 nearest relatives present to those whom they 
 have been accustomed to associate with, what 
 unpleasant feelings arise on both sides, the bro- 
 thers and sisters look with envy and contempt 
 upon the "fine gentleman" or, " lady" who, 
 totally unfit for their society, feels no pleasure in 
 it ; the unfortunate individual is perfectly useless 
 and uncomfortable in a situation, for which 
 education has only contributed to inspire a dis- 
 gust, and the disappointed parents, who proudly 
 thought they had done their duty by their off- 
 spring, are dissatisfied at reaping no benefit
 
 82 AMBITION. 
 
 from the favoured object, on whom they had 
 lavished such extraordinary paius and expense." 
 
 " I cannot deny," said Miss Vaugban, " that 
 such is the case, but their motive is good, and 
 it is evident they aim at refinement." 
 
 " Perhaps so," replied Lady Gwynne-Arthur, 
 " I blame them not for their intentions, but 
 would they descend a little more from their 
 stilts, experience would teach them that educa- 
 tion and knowledge of the world, are to be ob- 
 tained in other places than a university and a 
 boarding school." 
 
 " Does your ladyship know what is the matter 
 with that old woman's son, whom you gave the 
 money to, my lady?" interrupted Mrs. For- 
 rester, tired of the (to her) uninteresting con- 
 versation. 
 
 " He is a poor idiot," said the countess, 
 and, although his mother calls him a boy, he is 
 more than twenty years of age. They have no- 
 thing to depend on but the bounty of those whom 
 fortune has placed in a better situation than 
 themselves ; I have many such pensioners in the
 
 AMBITION. 83 
 
 village, but I never allow them more than is 
 absolutely necessary, for that sometimes encou- 
 rages idleness." 
 
 " I am sure it is very kind of your ladyship to 
 notice them at all, — but, as I live, there is the 
 earl, and Mr. Percival, and Sir Richard Gor- 
 don, coming across the fields ; does not your 
 ladyship see them 1 " 
 
 Lady Gwynne- Arthur looked in the direction 
 that was pointed out to her, and perceived them 
 with their guns in their hands, advancing to- 
 wards the road. Winny Vaughan blushed as 
 the names were pronounced, which the countess 
 hailed as a favourable omen. The coachman 
 was ordered to stop ; and, in a few minutes, the 
 gentlemen arrived at the side of the carriage. 
 After having paid their compliments, whilst Sir 
 Richard Gordon and Mr. Percival were chatting 
 with Miss Vaughan and Mrs. Forrester, the 
 countess looked at her watch, and informed the 
 party that it was time to return to dress for 
 dinner; then, bending towards her son, she
 
 84 AMBITION. 
 
 said, in a low voice, " Anthony, shall we take 
 you up ? " 
 
 " I thank you, mother," replied the earl, 
 " my horse is at a little distance." 
 
 " But you will oblige me more by coming 
 into the carriage," said the countess. 
 
 " Do, my lord, pray do ;" exclaimed Mrs. 
 Forrester, proud of riding with an earl and 
 countess at once, " there is plenty of room ; 
 and if either of the other gentlemen will do us 
 the same honour, we will endeavour to make 
 room for one of them also." 
 
 " Upon no account," said Sir Richard Gor- 
 don, " would I so far incommode you ; I will 
 accompany you on horseback, if you please, and 
 I dare say Mr. Percival will do the same." 
 
 The gentlemen now mounted their horses; 
 the carriage-door was opened, and the earl, 
 giving his gun to his attendants, leaped in, and 
 took the vacant seat by Winny Vaughan. The 
 countess was well pleased with this arrangement 
 of affairs, and the party proceeded. Mrs. For- 
 rester divided her voluble conversation between
 
 AMBITION. 85 
 
 the earl and Mr. Percival, whilst Miss Vaughan 
 seemed wholly engaged with listening to the 
 sprightly remarks of Sir Richard Gordon, and 
 though, by this conduct, the countess was at first 
 a little disappointed, she attributed it to some 
 small spice of coquetry which the young lady 
 might chuse to play off. 
 
 Passing through the cwm, the inhabitants 
 came out to make their awkward reverences, 
 and it was as much as the earl and countess 
 could do, to return the numerous salutations 
 with bows, nods, and wavings of the hand. 
 
 " I am in love with your charming country, 
 Miss Vaughan," said Sir Richard Gordon, 
 " there is so much naivete in the manners of its 
 inhabitants, and they appear such a faithful and 
 affectionate race." 
 
 " Affection ever follows wealth and power, 
 Sir Richard." 
 
 f* Ay, my sweet Winny, the semblance may, 
 but the reality never can ; and your countrymen 
 appear too proud to conceal their sentiments." 
 
 Winny was surprised at this familiar address
 
 86 AMBITION. 
 
 from one who was almost a stranger to her, and 
 replied, '< We are much obliged, Sir Richard, 
 by your good opinion of us." 
 
 " An opinion," continued the baronet, 
 " founded on an intimate acquaintance with one 
 of the most amiable natives of the country I am 
 speaking of, a being like yourself, Winny, brave, 
 generous, and sincere." 
 
 " How know you that I possess either of these 
 good qualities ? " exclaimed Winny, laughing. 
 
 '* I think so," was the reply, *' from report, 
 and from the observation which our short ac- 
 quaintance has allowed me." 
 
 " But who is this being, Sir Richard?" asked 
 Winny, " a woman, I should guess by the com- 
 parison." 
 
 " I allow it; but beware how you form a 
 hasty surmise, for I will answer no questions, 
 my charming confessor." 
 
 " Then I will ask none :" and, as they were 
 now near the castle, the conversation dropped. 
 
 The following day was destined for a grand 
 fete, and a suite of apartments, communicating w
 
 AMBITION. 87 
 
 with the banquetting-rooni, was thrown open 
 for the purpose of accomodating the numerous 
 guests. The public rejoicings were to last three 
 days, during which all chance visitors, as well 
 as those invited, were treated with the generous 
 freedom of Cambrian hospitality. 
 
 It was a costly entertainment which, on the 
 first day, graced the proud halls of Gwynne- 
 Arthur ; the banquetting-room was ornamented 
 in a superior style of elegance, and was, inde- 
 pendent of the luxurious board, a feast of 
 itself. Around the walls, already thickly orna- 
 mented with valuable pictures, shields, swords, 
 and other ancient relics, were disposed large 
 branches of holly and misletoe ; the floor was of 
 oak, and the ceiling was beautifully carved. At 
 about half the elevation of the room, a small 
 gallery ran along one side, and here, according 
 to custom, was placed a very efficient band of 
 musicians, amongst whom Valentine, the Bard of 
 the Castle, appeared the most conspicuous. The 
 room adjoining was also tastefully decorated, and 
 an elegant repast laid for the tenants and visitors
 
 88 AMBITION. 
 
 of a middling description ; and in an apartment, 
 still more remote from the grand circle, the 
 peasantry were feasted ; amongst the latter 
 appeared old Priscy, and her idiot son ; " liddle 
 Jacko," sported a new coat, the effect of the 
 countess's bounty, and Priscy was adorned in 
 her very best cap, and flannel gown. 
 
 The harper ran over a short prelude whilst 
 the guests made their entre ; and, as they took 
 their seats, the whole band struck up, in one 
 grand chorus, that fine old national air — 
 " Of noble race was Shenkin." 
 
 At dinner Miss Vaughan was placed near the 
 earl, and the elegant baronet enjoyed the amus- 
 ing society of Mrs. Forrester. Splendid as was the 
 entertainment, and gratified as were the donors^ 
 there was not one perhaps who felt so much de- 
 lighted with this noble display of Welch hospi- 
 tality, as Sir Wyndham William Vaughan : full 
 of the pride of blood, and of country, he looked 
 with satisfaction on the lively scene around him, 
 particularly as he saw his own daughter receive 
 marked attention from one of the noblest of his
 
 AMBITION. 89 
 
 noble countrymen. The earl did indeed pay 
 more than common civility to Winny Vaughan. 
 In the first place her agreeable conversation 
 relieved in some measure, the disquiet of his 
 mind, and, secondly, it prevented that embarras- 
 ment which he felt he should labour under by 
 entering into a discourse in which Sir Richard 
 Gordon might bear a part. 
 
 It was a strange medley which composed the 
 guests at Castle Gwynne : there were ancient 
 nobility, fashionables, huntresses, and esquires 
 fresh from the field ; scholars, and pedants ; — but 
 the lower order of visitants were the most 
 worthy of observation, and the most amusing. 
 As stiff as buckram in their holiday suits, their 
 broad countenances beamed with pleasure, and 
 were highly expressive of the delight which the 
 entertainment afforded ; but, oh ! it was ludicrous 
 to see them dining : from motives of a politeness, 
 we hope only practiced by themselves, each sat 
 at a great distance from the table, and then the 
 necessity of bending so far to the plate made 
 it sometimes likely that they would lose their
 
 90 AMBITION. 
 
 choicest morsels and spoil their new clothes 
 besides ; (for no one could think of appearing at 
 this entertainment in apparel that had been worn 
 before) whilst the jostling of elbows from being 
 obliged to sit so very near to each other, the 
 graceful handling of the knife and fork, (instru- 
 ments they were not over much accustomed to) 
 and the ceremonious nod of the head, and "good 
 health," at every draught, intruded upon right 
 and left neighbours, rendered their meal rather 
 precarious and tiresome ; but happily they did 
 not think so, they had come with the intention 
 of sharing the conviviality of their patron, and 
 felt, or fancied, a pleasure even in its inconve- 
 niences. 
 
 When the repast was ended, and the earl 
 conceived that his guests were in a state to pay 
 proper attention, he arose, and in a most ele- 
 gant, persuasive, and conciliating manner, 
 briefly but eloquently expressed the happiness 
 which he felt in coming amongst them, &c^ 
 with other sentiments proper and natural to 
 be expressed on similar occasions. When he
 
 AMBITION. 91 
 
 ceased, cast his eyes round the assembly, and 
 bowed, the signals of approbation were loud and 
 long ; and as the company reseated themselves, 
 and resumed the business of the bottle, the 
 band commenced in strong and lively notes — ? 
 
 •' O'er the chords with rapture sweeping, 
 Strike the harp to the race of Shenkin." 
 
 The fascinating manners and condescension of 
 the earl won the good opinion of all who had 
 this evening the honour of being visitors at the 
 castle ; and when they dispersed at night, many 
 were the observations expressed in language 
 similar to the following, " Such a nice gentle^ 
 man, not a bit of pride in him /" 
 
 On the next evening a concert took place, 
 and on the third day the apartments were newly 
 decorated for a ball.
 
 92 AMBITION. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE ACCIDENT. — THE APPARITION, 
 
 " I do but beg a little changeling boy, 
 To be my henchman." 
 
 Midsummer-night's Dream. 
 
 On the morning of the bail, the earl break- 
 fasted in his own apartment. As he seated 
 himself at the table he happened to look towards 
 the window, and perceived Sir Richard Gordon 
 bending his steps in the direction of the cwm, 
 but as the road wound round the side of the 
 mountain, in a few moments he was out of 
 sight. On entering the drawing room, he found 
 the ladies busily engaged in various modes of 
 amusement, and willingly joined them. The 
 gentlemen had gone out for a morning ramble,
 
 AMBITION. 93 
 
 and, except himself, Mr. Percival was the only 
 one in the room ; he was reclining on a sofa, 
 apparently intent upon a volume of Shakespear, 
 which he held in his hand, but in fact he was 
 only attentive to the looks and movements of 
 the earl and Winny Vaughan, (who were 
 looking over some prints which his lordship had 
 brought from Italy) whilst there would arise an 
 uneasy sensation on his brow, as he perceived 
 how deeply they seemed interested with each 
 other. 
 
 After an absence of some hours, Sir Richard 
 Gordon suddenly appeared ; though sufficiently 
 master of himself to conceal any violent emotion, 
 it was easy to perceive, at the first glance, that 
 all was not well with the baronet; the fire of 
 his eye, the fixed sternness of his countenance, 
 (a countenance well adapted to wear a look of 
 pride) and the increased majesty of his step, 
 told at once that he had been strongly and 
 recently agitated. 
 
 " What's the matter?" enquired William
 
 94 AMBITION. 
 
 Percival, as Sir Richard threw himself beside 
 him, " something has occurred to vex you." 
 
 " I hope not much," was the reply, ** but 
 I have been harrassed and alarmed this morning, 
 and cannot yet recover my natural feelings. 
 Really ! the stupidity of mankind is more than 
 one can endure ! I sent my servant to the 
 village upon a small errand, and the silly fellow, 
 to make the greater dispatch, instead of keepmg 
 to the road, attempted to cross a brook which 
 has been lately frozen over; the consequence 
 was that he fell down, and broke his arm. As 
 I was returning from a morning stroll, the first 
 object I beheld within the gates was Maurice, 
 borne between two of the countess's men. 
 I have been for some time in his bed-room, 
 witnessing the painful operation of resetting the 
 bones." 
 
 The ladies had now assembled round Sir 
 Richard, to learn the particulars of the accident, 
 and the extent of poor Maurice's danger. The 
 earl listened also to the detail, and the baronet, 
 smoothing his brow, and relaxing somewhat of
 
 AMBITION. 95 
 
 his frigidity of manner, endeavoured to gratify 
 them. 
 
 " Besides being a great evil to the unfortunate 
 man himself," he continued, " it also lays me 
 under an inconvenience, for I shall be much 
 annoyed without an attendant. I wish to heaven, 
 my lord," turning to the earl, with that radiant 
 smile which so well became him, and with an 
 expression of countenance the most agreeable 
 and conciliating, but singular from the contrast 
 which it presented to his former aspect, " I wish 
 to heaven, my lord, you would have the good- 
 ness to lend me your French valet." 
 
 The earl started as the request was made, 
 although it was not an unreasonable one, and 
 for a moment he gazed on the baronet without 
 speaking; at length, he replied, whilst the 
 momentary paleness of his cheek yielded to 
 a blush of the deepest crimson, " I — really — 
 I am very sorry that I cannot spare him — but 
 — Lawrence is entirely at your service." 
 
 " I would not deprive you of him," replied 
 Sir Richard, " his services are too valuable to
 
 96 AMBITION". 
 
 be dispensed with, but the boy can be of tittle 
 use to you, for that reason I beg him." 
 
 " But he is awkward," said the earl, " and 
 very ignorant, he has not been accustomed to 
 officiate for any one in this country but myself, 
 you would find him a greater hindrance than 
 any thing else ; therefore take Lawrence ; 
 Valentine will serve me well enough in the mean 
 time." 
 
 " Since you press him on me so earnestly, 
 my lord, I should be blind to my own interest to 
 refuse : I thank you, and wHl accept him." 
 
 The attention of the ladies was now called 
 upon by the countess and Winny Vaughan, 
 (who had retired from the group, and were 
 busily engaged, in a distant part of the room, 
 in looking over some foreign varieties,) and they 
 left the gentlemen to their own pursuits. 
 
 " This accident seems very much to have 
 discomposed you," said Mr. Percival, addressing 
 the baronet, " I am sorry that it should have 
 happened." 
 
 " Yes ;" was the reply, " but I have also met
 
 AMBITION. 97 
 
 with other things to discompose me. The 
 apparition that I encountered this morning — " 
 
 " Apparition !" exclaimed the earl. 
 
 •" Ay, my lord, such an apparition as Would 
 have shocked even your nerves." 
 
 " I do not know that my feelings are stronger 
 than those of other people, or that they are 
 formed to bear a supernatural sight better ; but 
 whence came this dreadful spectre, which has 
 alarmed you so much ?" 
 
 " Alarm was not the feeling it created," 
 answered the baronet. 
 
 " Something as unpleasant, I should gues~> by 
 its effect ;" observed Percival. 
 
 " Perhaps so," replied Sir Richard, " it 
 might have caused alarm in other bosoms, but 
 in mine only astonishment." 
 
 • • "YV hat shape or character did it assume ?" 
 continued his rattling friend, " was it an angry 
 spirit .'"' 
 
 " Oh, no, it was all gentleness and truth." 
 
 " Then by your account, Sir Richard, I will 
 conclude it to be a familiar."
 
 98 AMBITION. 
 
 " Not my familiar," answered the baronet 
 quickly, and his countenance instantly resumed 
 all its natural sternness ; " nor the familiar of 
 any other, I believe ; but, since yon press me 
 to a confession, I will acknowledge that this 
 spectre bore the form of -a woman !" 
 
 " A woman ! " exclaimed Gwynne- Arthur. 
 
 " A young and lovely woman;" repeated Sir 
 Richard Gordon. 
 
 " And yet have power to shock you so 
 much." 
 
 " It is even so." 
 
 " Her name ? her name ? " eagerly inter- 
 rupted William Percival. 
 
 '■ How can I tell the name of a being I did 
 not even speak to ? " 
 
 "But you seem to know her." 
 
 " She crossed my path, I say, once this 
 morning, the glance I caught of her counte- 
 nance was momentary, yet had you, or you, my 
 lord, obtained half as much, I think it would 
 have created scarcely less sensation." 
 
 " You speak in enigmas, Sir Richard, I can-
 
 AMBITION. 99 
 
 not thoroughly understand you ;" observed the 
 earl. 
 
 " I have no meaning but what my words ex- 
 press ;" replied Sir Richard, indifferently. 
 
 " And yet they seem insufficient," said the 
 earl, " to convey your whole sentiments, or 
 they express more than the subject seems to re- 
 quire." 
 
 Luckily no one observed the agitation of the 
 earl's countenance, the visible uneasiness that 
 was painted on his brow, except Sir Richard 
 Gordon, who, if he had any aim in speaking, 
 had fully accomplished it. 
 
 William Percival had suddenly become sta- 
 tioned at the side of Winny Vaughan, most 
 probably in order to keep off the attentions of a 
 young officer of the local militia, who had en- 
 tered during the conversation, and attached 
 himself exclusively to her ; therefore no one re- 
 mained to notice the discomfiture of Gwynne- 
 Arthur, who, seated in the recess of a project- 
 ing window, reviewed his late conversation with 
 the baronet, and found a secret meaning lurk
 
 100 AMBITION. 
 
 through every expression that gentleman had 
 uttered. 
 
 The earl had ever viewed him with suspicion, 
 
 which this incident encreased, and light as 
 
 the words were which had just passed, there 
 
 was a strain of irony running through them 
 
 • which rendered him far from comfortable. 
 
 " And pray, Sir Richard," he resumed with a 
 smile of gaiety, on finding no one was near 
 enough to overhear their conversation, " is there 
 any likelihood of seeing this spectre again ? does 
 it walk often ?" 
 
 " If I mistake not, my lord," replied the baro- 
 net, " it has crossed your path once already." 
 
 " Sir Richard," exclaimed the earl, much dis- 
 turbed, " I would know your meaning, some- 
 thing there is concealed in your words, and why 
 not give it vent, that I may answer for 
 mvself?" 
 
 " Do not start, my lord Gwynne- Arthur, as if 
 a serpent lay hid in them, I will have no reserve 
 with you, but tell you frankly that I have no 
 meaning but what my words express ; to go
 
 AMBITION. 101 
 
 further, if I viust deal candidly with you, 
 I perceive that you have a secret, and have 
 unfortunately (from what cause I know not) 
 imagined that I am in possession of it, which 
 I deny. In regard to what transpired this 
 morning, particular circumstances compel me 
 to be silent on that subject at present, but at no 
 very distant period I doubt not I shall be able 
 to give you a full and satisfactory explanation, 
 I see that I am become an object of suspicion 
 with you, and am sorry for it ; in our present 
 relative situations it is impossible that either of us 
 can act as feeling dictates ; but, though respect 
 to the countess will oblige me to remain here till 
 to-morrow, be assured, my lord, that at that 
 period, I will not fail to release both myself and 
 you from this troublesome restraint." 
 
 <s I am indebted to your noble frankness, Sir 
 Richard," replied the earl, " till then we will 
 reserve all further discussion." 
 
 " Be it so, my lord." 
 
 The gentlemen now bowed to each other, 
 
 vol I. F
 
 102 AMBITION. 
 
 and retired, as did the rest of the company, to 
 perform the business of the toilette. 
 
 "It was wrong" thought Gwynne- Arthur, as 
 he proceeded toward his own apartment, " to 
 suspect him, and foolish to let him see that I did 
 so ; yet, if he is not in possession of my secret, 
 how should he guess that I have one I I cannot 
 read him, but if he is what he now appears to 
 be, he would make a more desirable friend than 
 foe." On entering his dressing room he found 
 his two attendants there ; Lawrence was arrang- 
 ing an evening suit for his master, and 
 Valentine was seated at a table, writing. 
 
 " Lawrence,'' said the earl " you must wait 
 on Sir Richard Gordon this evening, for 
 Maurice, I understand, has broken his arm; 
 Valentine will attend me in the mean time." 
 
 Lawrence immediately obeyed his master's 
 orders, and repaired to the baronet's apart- 
 ment. 
 
 When Gwynne- Arthur appeared at dinner he 
 did not seem to have missed the aid of his
 
 AMBITION. 103 
 
 valet, and some of the company complimented 
 him on the subject. 
 
 " Yes," he replied " I doubt not my French 
 boy will make a good servant in time." 
 
 u He is not stupid, at any rate," said the 
 countess, " for I saw him once, and I think 
 I never beheld a more expressive face ! " 
 
 •' May I ask where you saw him, mother ? " 
 enquired the earl. 
 
 " In the garden," replied the countess " I 
 was walking there one morning, and passing a 
 shrubbery at the lower end, I heard a pretty 
 voice singing in a very low tone ; it was a 
 French song and I stopped to listen. I thought 
 at first that it was the voice of a girl, for it was 
 so gentle, so soft, and sweet, but whilst I stood 
 there the boy came forward ; he looked at me 
 in surprise, then touched his hat gracefully, and 
 hurried by as though he dreaded I should detain 
 him. But my dear Anthony, will you forgive 
 me when I say I really think you spoil him ? 
 He appears to be naturally effeminate, and the 
 manner in which you treat him will make him
 
 104 AMBITION. 
 
 more so ; he is closely confined to your apart- 
 ments, never mixes with the other servants, nor 
 enjoys the fine air of these healthy mountains. " 
 
 " The boy has known better days than those 
 of servitude," replied the earl, " it would be 
 wounding a blameless pride to herd him with 
 the vassals ; and as to the air of these moun- 
 tains, it is too bleak for a native of Tholouse, 
 for that is his birth-place." 
 
 The countess fancied she could read disap- 
 probation on the brow of her son, as he made 
 this short reply, therefore discontinued the 
 subject, 
 
 The dancing commenced at an early hour in 
 the evening; Winny Vaughan and the earl 
 opened the ball, and in truth they were 
 a charming pair, for both were handsome, and 
 well-selected dress had improved their natural 
 <• harms to the utmost advantage. The musical 
 instruments consisted of a harp and violin in 
 each apartment, it was their national music, and 
 they did not wish to spoil its characteristic 
 effect by introducing the aid of foreign instru-
 
 AMBITION. 103 
 
 ments. The rich dresses, and elegant movements 
 of one circle, contrasted strongly with the 
 appearance of the other, though each had tried 
 to the utmost extent of his ability to make 
 a grand and fitting appearance in the scene of 
 gaiety. Amongst the peasantry several of the 
 young men had come in new green coats, and 
 others in brown, (those being their favorite 
 colours,) whilst here and there a few, eager for 
 an innovation, thought proper to make their debut 
 in new top-hoots. The dress of the young women 
 corresponded with that of their beaux ; they wore 
 Spanish leather slippers, so tight that they could 
 scarcely move in them, white stockings, light 
 gowns, white handkerchiefs, and mob-caps 
 trimmed with rich lace, (the poorest were not 
 without this luxury ;) and then the surprising 
 activity and fire with which these young Adonises 
 bustled through the dance, elbowing their 
 partners, accompanying the music with suitable 
 motions of the head and arms, and beating 
 down the time with their heels; whilst the 
 affectedly-modest movements of the girls, who
 
 10G AMBITION. 
 
 were unusually slow and prim, required an 
 additional exertion of these rough animal spirits, 
 to encourage them to the exercise of that agility 
 they were by no means deficient in. The rooms 
 were crowded to excess, for, exclusive of the 
 actors in the scene, forms were placed around 
 each apartment to accommodate spectators, and 
 these were occupied by young and old ; etiquette 
 was a thing which the countess ever made 
 subservient to comfort, and as she could feel no 
 pleasure in excluding the poor people from any 
 part of the enjoyment which these festivities 
 afforded, benches had also been placed for them 
 in the grand apartment, and were already filled 
 by numerous observers. After a reasonable 
 space of time spent in the laborious exercise 
 of country -dancing, quadrilles, &c. commenced, 
 Winny Vaughan was again the earl's partner, 
 for so the the countess had ordered it ; and 
 G wynne- Arthur was gratified at being in 
 possession of the hand of an elegant and 
 graceful girl, who, with but one exception, was 
 the loveliest female in the room,
 
 AMBITION. 107 
 
 I know not whether it was the oppres- 
 sive heat of the apartment, the fatigue of 
 dancing", or any other circumstance, which 
 caused her sudden indisposition ; bat Miss 
 Vaughan had not concluded one set with the 
 earl before a sudden faintness overcame her; 
 her foot slipped, and she was falling to the 
 ground, when caught and supported to a seat 
 by her noble partner. The countess hastened to 
 the spot, and several others immediately 
 crowded round her. The earl begged them to 
 stand back, to allow the air a free passage ; then 
 removed the clustering curls from her brow, 
 and began to bathe her temples with lavender ; 
 whilst the countess, Lady Frances, and 
 Mrs. Forrester, were busy in applying other 
 restoratives. The countess was gratified by 
 observing the solicitude of her son, and 
 augured a favourable result from it. Amongst 
 those who were most anxious respecting Winny 
 Vaughan, and most attentive to her recovery, 
 William Percival was conspicuous; but the
 
 108 AMBITION. 
 
 earl seemed to have so completely monopolised 
 her, that he kept every other at a distance. 
 
 In a short time they had the pleasure of 
 seeing the object cf their anxiety revive, her in- 
 disposition she attributed to the excessive heat ; 
 but after a few sets had been danced, she again 
 took her place amongst the dancers, as the 
 partner of the earl. 
 
 Long before the close of the entertainment, 
 Sir Richard Gordon was missed from the 
 assembly ; his absence was the more remarkable 
 because during the early part of the evening, 
 he had attracted general observation by his 
 accomplishment in the art of dancing. None 
 moved more lightly than he did, none more 
 gracefully ; none looked more majestic, yet 
 none danced with more ease and less effort ; 
 none appeared more completely master of the 
 accomplishment, and none seemed more uncon- 
 scious of it. The earl and Percival were the 
 only individuals in the room who equalled him, 
 the others were far, very far, in the back' 
 ground. The company separated, but Sir
 
 AMBITION. 109 
 
 Richard Gordon did not make his appearance. 
 That night, on retiring to his apartment, the 
 earl formed resolutions in his mind which he 
 determined on putting into practice on the 
 morrow. Several circumstances had arisen 
 in the course of this day, which made him fix 
 on a line of conduct he now deemed it most 
 prudent to pursue ; and having revolved these 
 ideas in his mind, he opened the door of Valen- 
 tine's apartment, (a small room within his own, 
 having no communication with any other part of 
 the building, except through the earl's dressiug- 
 room) and pronounced his name. No one 
 answered, and Gwynne- Arthur entered the 
 room. It was deserted. The window opened 
 upon a terrace, and the sash was thrown up. 
 The earl stepped out and anxiously repeated 
 the name ; a footstep in his own room caught 
 his attention, and returning thither he beheld 
 his English valet, who had just entered. 
 
 " Lawrence !" said the earl, " I thought you 
 were attending Sir Richard Gordon, what 
 brings you here?"
 
 110 AMBITION. 
 
 "Sol was, my lord ; but he is not yet in his 
 apartment, perhaps by the time your lordship 
 has done with me, Sir Richard may have 
 returned-" 
 
 " Not in his room?" 
 
 " No, my lord, and imagining that Mr. 
 Valentine (without any disparagement to him) 
 would not be of much service to your lordship, 
 I thought it was best to come and attend 
 your lordship ; for without any offence to Mr. 
 Valentine, as I said before, I don't think he 
 is much cut out for a servant. His will is good 
 I'm sure, for he is as sweet tempered a lad as 
 ever I knew, but then, please your lordship, he 
 does n't seem to know exactly the right way." 
 
 " Valentine is a young man I esteem," said 
 the earl, " be careful that you shew him proper 
 respect " then declining his services, he dis- 
 patched him to the dressing-room of Sir Richard 
 Gordon. 
 
 Gwynue- Arthur returned to the terrace and 
 again called upon the name of his page ; a soft 
 voice answered him, and in a few moments the
 
 AMBITION. I'll 
 
 boy appeared, bearing a small lute upon bis arm. 
 Tbe earl gently cbid bim for being absent from 
 his apartment at this late hour of the night, 
 when the heavy dews were falling, and the 
 weather evidently portended a storm. 
 
 " I was low-spirited," said the boy, "and 
 I left my room because it was solitary." 
 G wynne- Arthur sighed. 
 
 " As I walked about the terrace," continued 
 Valentine " I endeavoured to catch upon my 
 lute some of those delicious notes which I heard 
 in the music-gallery. Strains of sweet harmony, 
 like memory of past days, my lord, will dwell 
 long in a breast which feels their value." 
 
 " And were you dwelling on the memory of 
 past days?" asked the earl, "are not the 
 present productive of sufficient happiness to 
 drown all remembrance of the past ? " 
 
 The boy answered not, he placed his lute 
 upon the table, and, with his hand upon his brow, 
 leant against the mantle-piece : his eye was fixed 
 pensively on the blaze. Gwynne- Arthur ap- 
 proached him, flung his arm across his shoulders,.
 
 112 AMBITION. 
 
 and the countenance of the page became 
 buried in the bosom of his master. 
 
 That night the earl and Valentine had a long 
 conference ere they separated, but the result 
 may not yet be known.
 
 AMBITION. 113 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE SHOWER. 
 
 Ah ! wherefore was that sigh ? ^ 
 The burning tear that trembled in the eye ? 
 The lip convulsed ? the anguish-tortured heart ? 
 That look which nothing from despair can part ? 
 Oh ! 'twas a thought that, o'er the feeling soul, 
 With misery fraught, unmercifully stole ; 
 And Memory drew aside the veil between, 
 O'er days, and hours, where pleasure once had been \ 
 
 Angus. 
 
 As soon as breakfast was over, the earl, 
 eagerly bent on the execution of his projected 
 plans, attired himself very plainly and repaired 
 unattended to the cwm. In his way he here 
 and there encountered a peasant, who slightly 
 touched his hat, and passed the customary 
 salutation of " How d'ye do?" By this he
 
 114 AMBITION. 
 
 rejoiced to find that he was not recognised ; for, 
 as his business was of rather a private nature 
 he wished to excite as little observation as 
 possible. 
 
 On ariving at the cwm he looked anxiously 
 for the object of his search. At length he 
 espied it, — a little shop with two windows, 
 one containing an heterogeneous mass of bread, 
 cheese, bacon, and grocery ; and the other 
 displaying a brave assortment of haberdashery. 
 A tall man in a red night-cap, a Joseph's coat, 
 (i. e. of many colours,) and a clean, coarse, 
 dowlas apron, was looking over the hatch, and, 
 by his head-dress, the contour of his features, 
 and bis grisly beard, the earl recognised his 
 Holborn acquaintance, Mr. Hughes. He 
 instantly made up to him. 
 
 " Um, goodness well!" cried the shopkeeper, 
 staring with eyes and mouth open, " um, good- 
 ness, well; who should think of seeing you 
 here ? 1 should so soon expect to see the king, 
 and sooner !" whilst he stretched forth his hand, 
 and, grasping the earl's, (to use a familiar
 
 AMBITION. 115 
 
 expression, common in Wales) "shook hands 
 up to the elbow" by which we mean to say, 
 that he gave it such a hearty shake, as would 
 make the sensation remain long after the action 
 had ceased. '• Come in, come in Sir," he 
 continued, ushering him into a little room 
 behind the shop, " I be so glad to see you, 
 I have often think upon you since I have come 
 from Loondon ; now sit down, Sir, sit down, 
 and tak a bit of something. I do sped my 
 brother-in-lo here every minute, Billy Kees 
 o' Pen Mawr. I have keep look out for him 
 all the morning, from the shop-door, but I can't 
 see no signs upon him ; well ! I spose he will 
 come present." 
 
 As he spoke he was busily employed in laying 
 a clean white cloth upon a small round table, 
 and setting upon it the very best cates that his 
 house afforded ; whilst the earl, who had not 
 sat down, though strongiy urged to do so, was 
 looking around the humble habitation, and 
 reviewing his own plans. 
 
 Morgan Hughes now assumed a much more
 
 116 AMBITION. 
 
 independant tone, and more familiarity, than 
 he had used in their first interview at the inn ; 
 for Mr. Morgan Hughes considered himself, as 
 every Welchman does, lord of his own territo- 
 ries, and felt a prodigal pleasure in behaving 
 liberally to his guests; therefore, used this 
 freedom to encourage them to partake his 
 hospitality, for he fancied that if he appeared 
 in the least constrained, they would think be 
 grudged their entertainment ; and it was with 
 this idea impressed upon his mind, that he 
 practised the most boisterous marks of cordiality, 
 to assure them of their hearty welcome. 
 
 " You will sleep here to night, Sir?" he 
 continued. 
 
 " I cannot, I thank you," replied the earl. 
 
 " Oh, indeed, to good, you must," said 
 Morgan Hughes, " come, sit down, now, and 
 mak so free as if you was at home, indeed, to 
 good, you be welcome. My wife shall be 
 in unthereclly y and she will mak a good cup 
 o' tay to you." 
 
 So saying, he drew forth his snuff-box, and
 
 AMBITION. 117 
 
 presented it to the earl ; then, suddenly remem- 
 bering that he was habited in his old clothes, 
 he stepped into a little back bed-room on the 
 same floor, and presently stood before his 
 lordship in his stiff brown coat, and best London 
 hat ! 
 
 The earl involuntarily smiled at this change 
 of dress, performed in compliment to himself ; 
 and, unwilling to distress the good-natured 
 man's feelings, by rejecting his civility, (as he 
 perceived that he was not recognized as the Earl 
 of Castle- G wynne) he took his seat at the lowly 
 board, and received the proffered cup of humble 
 ale which Mr. Morgan Hughes, after dancing 
 about in different directions to serve his guest, 
 at length sat down to partake of with him. 
 
 ' f Ate now, ate hearty, and don't mak any 
 tautology I beg, but mak so free as if you 
 was at home ;" were the first words he uttered, 
 "there is nice crame cheese, and white bread, 
 if you will please to eat." 
 
 " I thank you," replied the earl, " I do not 
 feel much appetite this morning, Mr. Hughes,
 
 118 AMBITION. 
 
 or, your fare is so good, it would certainly 
 tempt me." 
 
 "Oh dear! you don't like it, I be 'fraid ; 
 what shall I get to you, my wife have mak the 
 cheese herself, we do keep the five cow, and 
 the ten sheeps, and the pig, and we do leeve. 
 pretty comfortable here, thank God !" 
 
 " I am very glad to hear it, said Gwynne- 
 Arthur, " for you appear deserving of good 
 fortune." 
 
 "Um, thankee, sure, Sir." 
 
 " I hope you met with no more disasters in 
 London," continued his lordship, 
 
 " Oh dear!" cried Mr. Morgan Hughes, 
 thrusting his hands into his pockets, and looking 
 steadfastly at the fire, M I think I have met with 
 'nough to mak me never to go there again. 
 What you think Sir? After you go off, I think 
 I will try to see the king, if I can; so 1 did ax, 
 in where I should go for get a good view, they 
 tell to me 'tis better to go to the churdg Si. J earns 
 and unto the Chapel Ryal; so, one Sunday 
 morning, I did go there sure enough. When
 
 4MBITION. 119 
 
 I did go into the churdg, the sextoon is star at 
 me, and won't give me place to sit down till 
 I ax him ; then he is draw me down to the 
 bottom on the churdg, and is log me up in a 
 great high seat, where I cant see neither king 
 nor queen ! Nennor Dieu ! I think to myself, 
 what shall I do here ? Well! 'fore long, I push 
 the door, for try come out, but don't you think it, 
 I was logged in fast enough, so I think to my- 
 self " saf bind, saf find," and so it was, sure 
 enough, for when the sextoon is come for unlog 
 the door I am just where he put me ! Then I see 
 great many people coming out on the churdg and 
 all so grand, I did think I won't come here for 
 nothing, so I did only ax the sextoon to tell to me 
 which is the king, and what do you think he did 
 say, Sir I He did star at me first, then laugh in 
 my feace, and go away without answer a word ! 
 Oh ! shute Sais * uncivility ! shute ivqrrunce ! to 
 laugh upon a stranger for mak a civil 
 question ! " 
 
 " It was indeed," said the earl, laughing, 
 
 * English,
 
 120 AMBITION. 
 
 '* very unfriendly conduct, so much so, that they 
 do not merit a second visit." 
 
 " Well ! good now, never mind 'em," said 
 Morgan Hughes, in a tone of self-condolement, 
 14 but if that sextoon did come here, and ax 
 me for shew him the Lord Gwynne-Arthur, 
 I wont have mak shute rude behaviour to him, 
 and the Lord Gwynne is as good as their king 
 I warrant — " 
 
 " Do you know Lord Gwynne?" asked the 
 Earl, anxiously viewing his countenance. 
 
 H Iss, T think I do Sir, I cant say indeed, 
 that I shall know him therectly I see him, but 
 I was in the feast in the castella t'other day, and 
 did hear him mak a long speedg, and drink the 
 health o'the country, and since that time every 
 body have love him ; I wish to good you had 
 see him, Sir, shute nice young gentleman, with 
 not a bit of pride in him ! If a poor person will 
 speak to him, he will answer, now, so pleasant 
 as any thing. Every body do love him." 
 
 " Indeed !" exclaimed the earl, who was not 
 before aware of his own popularity,
 
 AMBITION. 121 
 
 " Oh iss, Sir, every body do love him. He's 
 going to be married, they do say." 
 
 " Married ! to whom ? " 
 
 " The young latly is now in the castella ; 
 Miss Vaughan, I think, they do call her." 
 
 " Is it possible that such a report exists } . 
 From whom did you get the information? " 
 
 " Every body in Cwm Gwynne do say it." 
 
 Morgan Hughes was now called to serve a 
 customer with tea and sugar, and the earl was 
 left to reflect on what he had heard. 
 
 " So, my good countrymen ! " he exclaimed, 
 " I find it is your custom here to marry folks 
 without consulting their inclinations ; I will an- 
 swer for the safety of my o^n heart, and I dare 
 say Miss Winny Vaughan's is equally secure." 
 
 A rosy faced little child now ran into the room, 
 and placing herself in a corner, held her little 
 apron half before her face, and stared, curiously, 
 at the earl. Gwynne- Arthur spoke to her, she 
 did not answer, he then addressed her in Welch, 
 but she still stood peeping at him, when the 
 shopkeeper returned.
 
 122 AMBITION. 
 
 " Mabel !" said he, " come out on the cornel 
 and mak your sarvant, and your coortchey, to 
 the gentleman !" 
 
 The child sprang from her retreat, and made 
 a kind of electric movement, something like the 
 bounding and rebounding of a ball, before the 
 earl, accompanied by the words " Sarvant, Sir," 
 pronounced with a quick Welch accent, the 
 meaning of which is, " I am at your service." 
 
 " Mabel !" repeated the earl, " drawing the 
 child towards him, and placing her upon his 
 knee, " is that your name, my dear?" 
 
 " Iss, indeed, to good, it is," replied Morgan 
 Hughes, "he is call after his godmother, 
 a very nice young latty what use to leeve in the 
 cwm, Captain Glendower, his daughter, but 
 the Captain is dead now, worse luck: Oh 
 dear, if any body did want a friend it was 
 only to go up to Captain Glendower, he will 
 tell us more nor all the loyers in the world ; 
 and Miss Mabel was sactly like Ids father, so 
 good to every body. The night before she have 
 leave me cwm she is go down to Griff Rees his
 
 AMBITION. 123 
 
 cottage, and is say, " Grif, my poor father is 
 used to give you something now and then, 
 I shant be here to give you nothing soon, and 
 you got large family, so tak this liddle bit 
 (/monies, 'twill be service to you." Then she 
 did shak hands with 'em all, and when she did go 
 away she did leave a purse upon the dresser ; but 
 it was n'a liddle bit o' monies was in it neither." 
 Though the earl made no reply to his host's 
 loquacity, he was by no means regardless of 
 
 what he had said, for his words had raised so 
 many powerful remembrances that it required an 
 effort to conceal their effect ; then as if anxious 
 
 to dispatch the subject, he exclaimed , 
 
 " Pray Mr. Hughes have you a spare bed with 
 
 which you could accomodate a friend for a few 
 
 nights I " 
 
 " Um, iss sure, Sir, and welcome, if you will 
 
 please to look at it f 
 
 He led the way, and the earl followed into 
 
 a neat back-room which served the joint purposes 
 
 of parlour and best bed room. A new tent 
 
 bedstead stood in one corner, with decent
 
 124 AMBITION. 
 
 furniture, which the owner recommended as 
 being " coortyons famoos' a\ias fa?nous curtains. 
 It held a good feather-bed, covered with a very 
 dashing, patch-work quilt, which Mr. Hughes 
 threw aside, to display his excellent blankets. 
 Some old family pictures, (for Morgan Hughes's 
 pedigree was good) with some good representa- 
 tions of the four evangelists, and other religious 
 subjects, hung around the walls, which the shop- 
 keeper observed had been placed there by his 
 wife for " antipathy's sake," meaning anti- 
 quity's. \ 
 
 The earl could not avoid Smiling at this 
 strange alteration of the word, and it is probable 
 he would have laughed outright, had not his 
 attention been called by his officious host to the 
 garbed that had been recently laid on the stone 
 floor, and which he assured his guest, was of 
 the real Kidderminster manufacture. 
 
 After having viewed the room and its embel- 
 lishments, and perceiving that it was clean and 
 comfortable, though not luxurious, the earl 
 proceeded to inform Morgan Hughes, that it
 
 AMBITION. 125 
 
 was not for himself he wanted it, but for a 
 friend. 
 
 " Not for yourself J" exclaimed Morgan Hughes, 
 " Um, goodness, well, I'd lather to have you 
 nor nobody else, you might so well come." 
 
 " I am engaged elsewhere," said the earl, "or 
 I would accept your offer, but I consider that you 
 will treat my friend as kindly, as if he were myself." 
 
 u Um, be sure I will, my wife will mak the 
 good dish o'tay to him, and he shall live like 
 a prince !" 
 
 " I do not doubt your kindness," was the reply ; 
 and having made some other necessary arrange- 
 ments, the earl took leave of his host and 
 departed, 
 
 Various reflections occupied the mind of 
 Gwynne- Arthur as he retraced his steps through 
 the cwm, for his late conversation with Morgan 
 Hughes, had brought a recurrence of old thoughts 
 which did not tend to make him a whit happier ; 
 and the past, the present, and future, were 
 beginning to rise in gloomy array before him, when 
 his cogitations were interrupted by the sudden 
 VOL. I. G
 
 1-26 AMBITION. 
 
 appearance of a horseman on the road, at a little 
 distance. At a second glance he recognized Sir 
 Richard Gordon, mounted upon his steed. The 
 baronet's face was turned from the earl, who for 
 that reason supposed he had not observed him ; 
 he was near a spot where two roads met, one 
 branching off to the high road, the other leading 
 towards the castle ; Gwynne- Arthur concluded 
 he would take the latter, and as an interview with 
 that gentleman was an event he was by no means 
 desirous of, he turned down a little green lane to 
 the left, and in a few moments passed the white 
 cottage, which had attracted his observation on 
 the evening of his return to Gwynne- Arthur. 
 The shutters were fast closed on the outside, 
 dock leaves and nettles grew before the door, 
 and the earl heaved a sigh of something like 
 regret, connected, perhaps, with other emotions, 
 as his eye glanced over the deserted dwelling, 
 and busy memory recalled scenes that were gone 
 for ever. He quickened his pace, it may be 
 that he wished to turn the current of his thoughts, 
 or, perhaps, the action was caused by a desire
 
 AMBITION. 1S7 
 
 to avoid the heavy shower of rain that now 
 began to descend in large drops upon the earth. 
 As he proceeded up the lane, the rain fell with 
 encreased violence, and there was no shelter 
 near, except a low cottage, towards which he 
 hastened. 
 
 A small porch enclosed the door of this clean 
 but lowly habitation, and the earl entered it with 
 the intention of craving shelter of the inmates 
 of the cottage. His hand was already upon the 
 latch of the door, which was half open, when 
 a sound fell upon his ear which rivetted him to 
 the spot. 
 
 " You should not thus despair under your 
 afflictions, Priscy," said the soft voice of a 
 female within, "there is an old saying which you 
 must often have heard, and, perhaps, often have 
 used in cases of distress amongst your neighbours 
 in the village, that " Every back is fitted to its 
 burden." Therefore do not imagine that you 
 will be oppressed with ills, without being endowed 
 with sufficient strength to support you under 
 them. I grant that your afflictions are trying,
 
 128 AMBITION* 
 
 but no age nor station is exempt from suffering, 
 and if you would but look on the bright side of 
 the picture, Priscy, you would find more to be 
 thankful for than otherwise." 
 
 " Um, iss indeed, my lattyship," replied 
 Priscy, "I do know that God is very good to 
 me, and I don't want for nothing, sure, for the 
 Latty Gwynne do tak care upon me ; but when 
 I do look at my poor Jacko, my heart is most 
 brak, for, look you, my lattyship, when I do 
 die who will tak care upon my poor Jacko, and 
 rnak his breakfast, and his dinner to him, like 
 his poor mother? Oh no, my lattyship, a 
 stranger will soon tire of sarve a poor boy that 
 can't help hisself, a stranger can't speak, nor 
 look, nor feel, same as a father and a mother." 
 
 " Oh! no, indeed !" exclaimed the other with 
 energy, " strangers cannot supply the place of 
 those dear relatives whose whole existence seems 
 wound up in the happiness of their offspring ! 
 Strangers cannot, or will not, soothe the feelings 
 of one who has no claims on their attention, one 
 they have no regard for ! — but the deceitful smile
 
 AMBITION. 129 
 
 of pretended affection, is sometimes used for the 
 purpose of destroying the happiness of that being 
 whom they might, in pity, have abstained from 
 injuring !" 
 
 A heavy sigh followed these words, and 
 it seemed as if the speaker had rather vented 
 her own feelings, than adapted her expressions 
 to the comprehension of her auditor. 
 
 " But do not despair, Priscy," she continued 
 after a pause, " I doubt not that you will yet 
 enjoy many years of happiness, with your Jacko ; 
 and you have friends, Priscy, great and noble 
 friends, who will never let you know the pangs 
 of poverty : the countess is very good to 
 you." 
 
 " Um, God bless my lattyship !" cried 
 Priscy, " and God bless every one o'the famly, 
 I hope there is nerra Gwynne in the world but 
 will be so happy as the day is long ! " 
 
 " May they indeed be happy, very happy," 
 ejaculated the former speaker, " as happy as 
 they deserve to be !" 
 
 " And that is n' a liddle, too," replied Priscy,
 
 130 AMBITION. 
 
 "goodness well!" she continued, in her usual 
 slow tone, " what fine young man is the yarll 
 Shute beautiful Jigoor, and shute pretty feace ! 
 and so good to every body ! — Ay, ay, he will 
 mak the good husband to Miss Winny Vaughan, 
 I warrant !" 
 
 A long drawn heavy sigh again reached the 
 ear of the earl ; perhaps it also reached his heart, 
 for the conversation which he had just heard, 
 had planted many a pang there. A cold dew 
 sat on his forehead, he had sunk on the stone 
 seat within the porch, and was listening atten- 
 tively to every word that passed, fearful even a 
 syllable should escape him.. 
 
 " He will mak the good husband to Miss 
 Winny Vaughan," repeated Priscy, " and the 
 Latty G wynne will be happy enough to have 
 shute daughter-in-lo," 
 
 " Is Miss Vaughan very beautiful, and very 
 charming V was asked, in a tremulous, low tone. 
 
 The answer was lost by the earl, but the 
 following observation proceeding from Priscy's 
 visitor, was distinctly pronounced.
 
 AMBITION. 131 
 
 " God bless them both ! their combined virtues 
 will make a paradise around them, and that heart 
 must be selfish indeed which can heave one sigh of 
 regret at such a union I" And yet the sigh which 
 followed, and which a third time pierced the soul 
 of Gwynne-Arthur, seemed more like that of 
 regret than of any other feeling. 
 
 " Heigho ! Priscy," she continued, "you have 
 knit almost half a stocking whilst we have been 
 talking ; come, change the theme, tell me one 
 of your pookha stories, you have a brave number 
 of them, but first I will shut the door, for a cold 
 draught proceeds from it." 
 
 A light footstep approached, the earl started 
 up, glided from the porch, and leaping over a 
 style by the side of the cottage, proceeded 
 towards the castle. He had heard sufficient to 
 make him miserable, and to solve the mysterious 
 conduct of Sir Richard Gordon, whom he now 
 felt scarcely able to encounter. The certainty of 
 having made one person unhappy was sufficient 
 to drive all happiness from Iris own bosom, and 
 the cheerful smile of Winny Vaughan, which
 
 132 AMBITION, 
 
 had before amused, he felt would now be parti- 
 cularly unwelcome ; but there was another in the 
 world whose rights demanded a suppression of 
 these emotions, and he determined to conquer 
 them. 
 
 On arriving at home, he hastened to his 
 dressing-room, where Valentine awaited his 
 return, and having acquainted him with the 
 arrangements he had made, the boy began to 
 make the necessary preparations for his removal 
 that night, to the house of Morgan Hughes. 
 
 As the earl approached the drawing-room, 
 with an agitated mind and a confusion of manner 
 he could not well disguise, he stopped a moment 
 at the door to recover himself. The thought of 
 meeting Sir Richard Gordon was not over agree- 
 able to him, for he had not now even the small 
 relief of doubting whither his allusions could 
 point ; but at length, with an effort at indifference, 
 and rather a constrained air, he entered the room. 
 Winny Vaughan was seated near the harpsichord, 
 instructing William Percival in the second part 
 pf that beautiful duet, '* Love in thine Eves,"
 
 AMBITION. 133 
 
 which he seemed extremely willing to learn from 
 her ; but she taught him only the plain air, whilst 
 he (such is the wonderful effect of music) was 
 bent on imparting to her both the theory and 
 execution of " Love in mine? 
 
 The earl gazed upon the lively girl with admi- 
 ration, but love partook not of the feeling with 
 which she had inspired him, for it was that of a 
 friend, or brother. He turned towards the 
 performers, listened to them for a moment, then 
 crossed the room and took a seat by the 
 countess. 
 
 "Anthony, you are ill!" exclaimed Lady 
 Gwynne- Arthur, in a tone of tender solicitude, 
 as she observed the agitation of her son ; " your 
 appearance alarms me, pray consult Mr. Evans, 
 or Doctor Jones who lives in the village." 
 
 "Jones!" exclaimed the earl, in a tone of 
 sudden recollection, "ay, that is the man !" His 
 elbow rested on the arm of the chair, and his 
 forehead sunk slowly upon his hand. 
 
 " Anthony !" cried the countess, and touched 
 him gently, " you seem bewildered, for heaven's
 
 334 AMBITION. 
 
 sake tell me what has discomposed you ! Are 
 you seriously ill ? " 
 
 " My dear mother ;" said the earl, looking up 
 with an affectionate smile, "nothing ails me, but 
 are you not almost tired of Castle Gwynne I 
 When do you propose returning to town ? " 
 
 " Do you wish to leave it already?" enquired the 
 countess "It is strange that you should so soon 
 get tired of Gwynne- Arthur ; but I will go when- 
 ever you think proper.'' 
 
 " No," replied the earl, "you shall not 
 sacrifice your inclinations to mine. I have no 
 reason for wishing it, but the supposition that 
 you will be dull and melancholy in this gloomy 
 place when our visitors depart, as perhaps they 
 shortly will." 
 
 " Yes," answered Lady Gwynne- Arthur, 
 " Mrs. Forrester will leave us to-morrow, Sir 
 Richard Gordon went this morning/' 
 
 '" What ! is he gone?" 
 
 " He is ; no persuasions could induce him to 
 stay, though I repeatedly pressed him to do so. 
 Sudden business, I believe, called him away ;
 
 AMBITION. 135 
 
 he bade me a most polite adieu, craved my 
 hospitality and protection for his sick attendant, 
 until he should be in a situation to join his master, 
 and departed at rather an early hour. He has 
 left a note for you, which, I suppose, contains 
 Ins compliments and farewell. To alleviate the 
 tedium of our retirement, I had proposed a short 
 tour, if you have no objections, to view some 
 magnificent ruins which are situated a few miles 
 distant, and whatever may be worthy of obser- 
 vation on the way thither; we shall return in time 
 to give our tenants a Christmas dinner, and then 
 to town as soon as you please." 
 
 " My dear mother, you are very kind ; who will 
 accompany us ?-" 
 
 " Lady Frances Gwyer, Winny Vaughan, 
 whom Sir Wyndham has placed expressly under 
 my care, and Mr. Percival. Our party will not 
 be the less agreeable for being small." 
 
 "Oh! certainly not, perhaps it will be more 
 so ; and when do you propose setting out ?" 
 
 " In the course of three or four days J*
 
 ^36 AMBITION. 
 
 " Thank you for the information, then I will be 
 ready to accompany you." 
 
 On retiring to dress for dinner, the earl re- 
 ceived a note from the hands of Lawrence, which 
 had been left in his charge by Sir Richard Gor- 
 don. It contained, as the countess had pre- 
 dicted, his farewell compliments ; mentioned 
 something about having freed both himself and 
 the earl from the constraint which they had 
 laboured under; slightly adverted to the con- 
 versation which had recently passed between 
 them ; and ended with stating, that in a few 
 days he should be ready to give his lordship the 
 satisfaction which he desired, and at that period 
 the earl would hear from him again. A post- 
 script stated his intention of remaining at F 
 
 a town about twenty miles distant, until after his 
 interview with the earl, and till his servant, 
 whom he had left a dependant on the countess's 
 bounty, would be able to join him. 
 
 He closed the note, and mused upon its 
 contents. " Satisfaction ! — explanation !" — he 
 exclaimed, " why should I covet either, the latter
 
 AMBITION. 137 
 
 I have already obtained, the former cannot 
 be mine !" 
 
 As the reader may now, very reasonably, deem 
 it almost time to be made acquainted with the 
 cause of the strange behaviour of Lord Gwynne- 
 Arthur, his agitation at beholding the white 
 cottage on the evening of his arrival, and on 
 the present morning ; — his evident apprehension 
 of Sir Richard Gordon, his emotion on hearing 
 him sing — 
 
 " Tu no sabes lo qu'es amor ; — " 
 
 His confusion at sudden and early remem- 
 brances ; — his astonishment, and regret, at the 
 conversation which he had overheard in Priscy's 
 cottage, and the whole tenour of a conduct so 
 mysterious and cautious — we will, in the following 
 chapter, commence our narrative of events 
 which happened previous to this period.
 
 138 AMBITION. 
 
 CHAPTER VI II. 
 
 THE EVENING RAMBLE. 
 
 " Oh ! if there be an Elysium on earth, 
 It is thii ! It is thifi ! " 
 
 Moore. 
 
 It was on a fine April evening, during that 
 melancholy season of retirement, passed at 
 Castle Gwynne by Lord Anthony and his mother,, 
 immediately after the death of the earl, and 
 previous to the young nobleman's departure for 
 the continent, that Lord Anthony (then Lord 
 Gwynne- Arthur) quitted the castle to enjoy in 
 his favourite walk, by the river's side, (at a little 
 distance from the park) beneath a row of golden- 
 chain and lilac trees, the beauties of a new
 
 AMBITION. 139 
 
 production from the pen of his favorite poet, Lord 
 Byron. 
 
 His feelings, and the full flow of animal spirits 
 usual at his age, had now become tranquillized, 
 but tinged with the deep shade of sadness, which 
 recent events had occasioned. The yellow and 
 lilac boughs above, gently agitated by the softly - 
 moving zephyr, imparted fresh odour from 
 having been newly washed in a fragrant shower ; 
 the clear blue sky peeped out at intervals from its 
 fleecy covering of white, and looked like so many 
 sapphires set in silver, the birds sang merrily as 
 their little wings bore them from spray to spray ; 
 — the river floAved on in silence, and every 
 thing appeared so soothing and serene, that all 
 nature seemed to be wakening into health and 
 happiness. 
 
 Lord Gwynne-Arthur at this moment expe- 
 rienced a tranquillity he had not for some time 
 tasted, and confident of having his admiration 
 excited, and his attention deeply engaged, he 
 opened the book with a determination to be pleased . 
 (happy resolution ! would that every one would
 
 140 AMBITION. 
 
 adopt the same !) His eye glanced over the 
 following beautiful lines which he read and re-read 
 with all the intense avidity of a youthful poet, — 
 all the enthusiasm of a soul capable of feeling and 
 appreciating its beauties. 
 
 " But when the sun was sinking in the sea, 
 
 He seized his harp, which he at limes could string, 
 
 And strike, albeit with untaught melody, 
 
 When deem'd he no strange ear -was listening : 
 
 And now his fingers o'er it he did fling, 
 
 And tuned his farewell in the dim twilight, 
 
 While flew the vessel on her snowy wing, 
 
 And fleeting shores receded from his sight. 
 
 Thus to the elements he poured his last "Goodnight !" 
 
 As he slowly took his eyes from the fascinating 
 page, a strain of distant music reached his ear. 
 For a moment he believed it an illusion, created 
 by his present state of mind, and the delightful 
 sensations which a perusal of the exquisite 
 author in his hand, had occasioned ; it could be 
 neither more nor less, he thought, than the 
 " Farewell !" of the noble Childe still sounding 
 upon the ear of his imagination ; but as his mental 
 faculties opened to a comprehension of external
 
 AMBITION. * 141 
 
 things, he plainly distinguished the swelling notes 
 of a flute. The instrument seemed touched by 
 a masterly hand, and played one of the sweetest 
 martial tunes he had ever heard. The earl was 
 surprised : he did not believe that any one had 
 left the castle but himself, yet this was not the 
 performance of a peasant, and not to his know- 
 ledge did any person of respectability dwell so 
 near the castle as to be able to repair hither for 
 such an amusement. 
 
 He hastened toward the spot from whence the 
 sound proceeded ; at a little distance the river 
 joined the canal, and his walk was confined to 
 a narrow irregular path along its banks, termi- 
 nated by a high arch, under which the path 
 continued, and where the canal again commu- 
 nicated by a lock, with the river. 
 
 Passing under the arch, he found himself at 
 the foot of a green knoll. At the distance 
 of about twenty yards stood a gentleman, with 
 a flute at his lips; he was not above the middle 
 height, but his youthful figure, and noble and 
 commanding air, gave a degree of majestv to
 
 142 AMBITION. 
 
 his person which well accorded with the full 
 sounds of the march he was playing. 
 
 The stranger's back was towards Lord Gwynne- 
 Arthur ; but his appearance struck the earl as 
 very much resembling that of an old intimate ; 
 and, springing forward, he exclaimed, " Linden! 
 my dear Frank Linden, is it you?" 
 
 The gentleman turned; and discovered a 
 countenance he had never seen before, but hand- 
 some and conciliating. 
 
 The earl stepped back ; " I ought to apologise, 
 sir, for this intrusion," said he, " but attracted 
 by the sound of music, a circumstance most 
 unusual in this unrefined district, I followed to 
 learn whence it proceeded ; and, on seeing you 
 thought I recognised an old friend. I beg par- 
 don for my error," he was retiring. 
 
 " Pray stay, sir," exclaimed the stranger, 
 with vivacity, " your presence, though unex- 
 pected, is by no means unwelcome, indeed I feel 
 pleasure in beholding a countenance so much 
 more congenial to my feelings than those which 
 I usually see."
 
 AMBITION. 143 
 
 The earl again approached, and returning a 
 polite answer, entered into an agreeable and 
 general conversation with his new acquaintance. 
 
 " What a delightful evening it is," exclaimed 
 G wynne- Arthur, " The unusual fineness of the 
 weather had allured me to the river side, where 
 I sauntered until the sound of your flute drew 
 me hither." 
 
 " It is indeed a lovely evening ;" replied the 
 stranger, " often on this spot, and at this hour, 
 or sometimes later, music and books afford me 
 a very pleasing recreation." 
 
 " Do you never extend your walks further !" 
 asked the earl, " I wonder we have not met 
 before." 
 
 " Never beyond the arch." 
 
 " I am surprised at that, there is an agree- 
 able walk a little lower down." 
 
 " Yes, but I prefer this spot for many rea- 
 sons ; it is more retired, and, I think, affords 
 a better echo than more exposed walks." 
 
 i( It is a pleasant place, certainly," said the
 
 144 AMBITION. 
 
 earl, " and," as he looked around him, " very 
 retired. Perhaps you are fond of solitude ? " 
 
 " Sometimes;" returned the gentleman, " I like 
 society too, much as I admire seclusion I would 
 not quit the world for the pleasures of 
 retirement. I should be tempted to sing, with 
 Robinson Crusoe, 
 
 " Oh! Solitude, where are the charms 
 That sages have seen in thy face? 
 Better dwell in the midst of alarms, 
 Than reign in this solitary place !" 
 
 The eyes of the stranger beamed with warm 
 affection as he spoke, and told that he thought on 
 objects dearer to him than his existence. " By 
 the world," he continued, "I do not mean 
 the circles of fashion, but the society of those 
 dear beings whom affection and the ties of 
 consanguinity teach us to cherish — " The expres- 
 sion of his auditor's countenace changed, from 
 animated delight, occasioned by the amiable and 
 interesting appearance of his new associate, to 
 a sudden gloom as the shadow of late melancholy 
 circumstances passed across his memory ; and the
 
 AMBITION. 145 
 
 stranger, as his eye glanced over the sable garb 
 and altered aspect of Lord Gwynne- Arthur • 
 perceived he had touched on some too susceptible 
 chord.] Raising the flute to his lips he commenced 
 a lively joyous air. 
 
 a How sweet! — how delightful that is!'' 
 exclaimed the earl, catching at any thing to turn 
 the current of his thoughts ; " you must be fond 
 of music, you play so well." 
 
 " Yes," replied the other, " I am an admirer 
 of music, but I have had little time for practise ; 
 I play to please my ear, if it pleases yours also 
 I am fortunate." 
 
 There was something new and uncommon 
 
 in the manners of the stranger, which could not 
 
 fail to please : without being at all impertinently 
 
 forward, or overstepping the bounds of that 
 
 distant politeness, which is expected from a 
 
 stranger, he conversed with the ease and freedom 
 
 of an old acquaintance ; and, though living in 
 
 this retired hamlet, evinced all that good 
 
 breeding and thorough polish, attainable only 
 
 by an intercourse with the world.
 
 14G AMBITION. 
 
 " Tis strange," said the earl, " that I did 
 not discover this spot before." 
 
 " Perhaps," observed the gentleman, " you 
 have not long resided in the neighbourhood." 
 
 " Not very long, it is true, but surely long 
 enough to become acquainted with the village 
 and its environs. From the situation of this 
 meadow, I fancy it must be at the back of the 
 castle." 
 
 " It is, the bridge under which you just now 
 passed leads to the village, but on a fine evening 
 like the present, when I am disposed for exer- 
 cise, I generally walk round the road." 
 
 " I am totally unacquainted with this part of 
 the grounds ;" said the earl. " indeed I was not 
 aware that the castle boasted of any view half 
 so romantic." 
 
 " If you will allow me," replied the stranger, 
 " to point out to your observation some of the 
 most prominent, and what I consider the most 
 beautiful features of the country, I shall feel 
 a pleasure in the office."
 
 AMBITION. 147 
 
 The earl thanked him, and politely accepted 
 his offer. 
 
 The meadow sloped on either side towards the 
 river, and they walked on the margin of the 
 stream beneath a row of waving- poplars ; the 
 ground gradually ascended, and the stream 
 becoming wider and deeper, wandered majestic • 
 ally between two luxuriant hills, dashing here 
 and there over pieces of rock and loose ground ; 
 and forming cataracts and whirlpools in minia- 
 ture. 
 
 The strangers face was, handsome, but far 
 more indicative of age than his figure ; from his 
 countenance one would have judged him to be 
 about forty, whilst his martial step and buoyant 
 air gave a juvenile appearance to his form, with 
 which he might have passed for at least ten years 
 younger. He now directed the attention of the 
 earl to the surrounding scenery ; hills and vallies, 
 softened by distance, shining with one rich hue 
 of fine light green, and here and there the 
 wood-crowned summit of a mountain, peeping
 
 148 AMBITION. 
 
 above a rich plain speckled over with cows and 
 sheep. 
 
 The young earl eagerly listened to the stranger, 
 as he spoke with animation on the different 
 subjects that occurred, until admiration of the 
 country became absorpt in admiration of his 
 companion. 
 
 Winding up a steep acclivity, they reached the 
 top of a hill which overhung the river; a 
 rustic bridge, formed from the trunk of an oak, 
 stretched to the opposite eminence ; it was 
 guarded on each side by a low iron railing, and 
 so narrow as to allow only one person to pass 
 at a time. 
 
 " This is a curious bridge," said the earl " are 
 there many such in the country ?" 
 
 " Oh no, this is the only one, I believe ; it was 
 contrived in haste, and as it answers the purpose 
 of a better, no one has cared to have it removed ; 
 in my opinion it improves the aspect of the 
 country, by lending it an additional romantic 
 feature."
 
 AMBITION. 149 
 
 B v this time they had crossed the bridge, and 
 going through two small fields, found themselves 
 in the village, " what a delightful place this is, 
 I think every thing appears more charming to day 
 than ever it did," exclaimed the earl, whose 
 satisfaction arose from the pleasure he felt in the 
 society of the stranger ; who, regarding him as 
 he spoke with a look of affectionate compla- 
 cency, replied, " yes, the view is very charm- 
 ing, but when the mind is pleased every object 
 wears an agreeable aspect" 
 
 The earl was silent for a few moments, lost 
 in a pleasing reverie ; they turned down a small 
 green lane, overshadowed by lofty elms and se- 
 cluded from observation by thick and bushy 
 dwarf trees of various descriptions, the entrance 
 of which was scarcely perceptible through the 
 luxuriant foliage of a laurel that grew near it ; 
 the person walking here could neither see nor 
 be seen ; the other end led to the main road. 
 Gwynne-Arthur's contemplations were inter- 
 rupted by the stranger stopping, when he was 
 about half way down the lane, before the door 
 
 vol. I. H
 
 loO AMBITION. 
 
 of au elegant small house, inclosed within a 
 little garden, and saying " this is my home, sir, 
 if you will deign to enter I shall consider myself 
 obliged." 
 
 " On me the obligation will be conferred," 
 replied the earl, "as it will procure me your 
 society a little longer ;" and as the stranger 
 passed up the gravel walk to ring the bell, 
 O wynne- Arthur had leisure to view the external 
 appearance of the cottage. 
 
 It was but one story high, yet had a genteel 
 and modern appearance ; a wild vine and jessa- 
 mine had overrun the front, the ivy also crept 
 along its walls, which altogether lent not an 
 unpleasing shade to the small sash-windows. 
 The grass-plot before the door was tastefully 
 ornamented with pots of the sweetest flowers, 
 and a bed of violets, immediately under one of 
 the windows, threw its delicious fragrance into 
 the apartment. 
 
 The earl followed his conductor into a hand- 
 some parlour, communicating by folding-doors 
 with a richly furnished back-room^ which, from
 
 AMBITION. 151 
 
 a large bow window, commanded a delightful 
 view of a fine pleasure-ground and garden ; the 
 river, the fields, the woods, the mountains, and 
 the pale blue sky beyond. This house was 
 evidently the residence of a gentleman; if the 
 outside of the building had the appearance of 
 gentility, and neatness, the inside bore that of 
 elegance and liberality. Every thing in the 
 apartments was handsome, every article of the 
 furniture was elegant and modern ; nothing 
 seemed studied, yet all things were exactly 
 what they should be, and all this ease and regu- 
 larity were purely the effect of one simple 
 quality, — genuine taste. Taste seemed to have 
 formed and decorated the cottage, taste was 
 visible in its most trivial arrangements, it was 
 the hand of taste alone which had bestowed on 
 it that polish and superiority it so eminently pos- 
 sessed ; and, withal, there was an air of fashion- 
 able ease and unassuming nobleness, which 
 seemed to run equally through the embellish- 
 ments of the habitation and the manners of its 
 master.
 
 152 AMBITION. 
 
 The stranger (though it is rather an impolite 
 thing to call a man a stranger in his own house) 
 placed a chair for the earl, then drawing up 
 the Venetian blinds, which partially shaded the 
 apartment, and throwing up the sash, he seated 
 himself on a sofa, and wiped large drops of per- 
 spiration from his forehead. 
 
 " Good heaven, you are ill !" exclaimed the 
 alarmed earl, starting from his chair, and 
 approaching the sofa. 
 
 " No," he replied, "I am sometimes taken 
 thus, they are but the symptoms of the disorder 
 which is creeping fast upon me. I shall be 
 better in a few minutes." Then pointing to a 
 brown-paper parcel which lay upon the table, 
 half unpacked, he remarked that it contained some 
 new and popular publications which he had just 
 received from Bath. Gwynnc- Arthur glanced 
 towards the object alluded to, and perceived that 
 the packet was directed to " Captain Glendower," 
 which he at once, and justly, concluded to be 
 the name of his amiable host. In the course of 
 a few minutes the captain's animation returned,
 
 AMBITION. l->o 
 
 and, with his usual vivacity, he spoke again on 
 general and interesting topics. After two short 
 hours spent in pleasing conversation, perceiving 
 that the yellow tints of the setting sun had begun 
 to give place to those of a more sombre hue, the 
 earl arose to depart. 
 
 Captain Glendower seemed to regret their 
 separation, and begged him to repeat his visit. 
 
 " I certainly shall avail myself of your kind 
 invitation," replied Lord Gwynne- Arthur, "but 
 as the distance from the castle seems to be 
 considerable, I fear I shall see you seldom." 
 
 '* You then reside at the castle? " 
 
 " At present I do," and he blushed, and 
 almost hesitated, as he asked " do you know the 
 earl?" 
 
 " I have never had the honour of seeing the 
 young lord, but I have heard his character and 
 admire it ! " 
 
 " Oh!" cried Gwynne-Arthur, laughing to 
 conceal his confusion, ft great men are sometimes 
 cried up for virtues which they do not possess, or
 
 154 AMBITION. 
 
 reprobated for vices which they never dreamt 
 of." 
 
 " Nor do little men always escape," replied 
 the captain, " but in regard to the distance 
 between the castle and my habitation, if that is 
 the only obstacle it must not separate us ; in the 
 mean time, before you go, take a peep at my 
 little garden, but do not imagine that I shew it 
 you for the sake of its beauty." 
 
 This garden was situated at the back of the 
 cottage. 
 
 u What is this I see?" exclaimed the earl, 
 as he followed Captain Glendower along the 
 gravel walk, an exact resemblance of the spot 
 where we met ! the meadow, — the arch, — the 
 river, and the row of poplars ! " 
 
 " Do you not perceive," said the captain, 
 laughing, "that it is the very place ? I made 
 you walk two hours long, when, by crossing 
 that little bridge, we might have been at home 
 in less than five minutes. So, when you have 
 an hour to throw away upon a worthless acquain- 
 tance, you may with ease reach my cottage,"
 
 AMBITION. 155 
 
 " How kind you are," exclaimed Gwynne- 
 Arthur, " to permit me to visit you!" for, 
 euchauted by the stranger's manner, he already 
 felt for him a degree of esteem superior to that 
 which one generally feels for a person on a first 
 introduction. 
 
 Captain Glendower drew a key from his 
 pocket, and, unlocking the little gate which 
 separated the garden from the bank of the river, 
 they both proceeded towards the arch. 
 
 " Here we met," said the captain, as he 
 stretched forth his hand towards the earl, " and 
 here we shall part for the present; you will 
 excuse me from accompanying you further?" 
 
 " Certainly I shall, good evening," was the 
 earl's reply ; and, as he warmly pressed his hand, 
 he left his card within it. 
 
 " Farewell J" cried the captain. 
 
 The earl flew over the bridge, and descending 
 about half a dozen stone steps at the side, 
 passed under and reached the gravel walk on 
 the bank of the canal, when looking back he
 
 lo(3 AMBITION. 
 
 perceived the captain still standing on the 
 bridge, and attentively surveying the card which 
 he had left with him.
 
 AMBITION. 157 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A RETROSPECTION. 
 
 il Woman ! Thy vows are traced in sand ! " 
 
 The merits of a brave soldier must create 
 interest and admiration in every loyal, every 
 feeling breast, and it is only by those, whose 
 bosoms are divested of each spark of patriotism 
 and affection, that the man who has passed " all 
 his best days, the morning of his life," at the 
 cannon's mouth, can be viewed with indif- 
 ference. 
 
 Captain Glendower was the son of a gentle- 
 man of respectable, of even noble birth ; for 
 be was a lineal descendant (from a daughter of
 
 158 AMBITION. 
 
 that chief) of the great Owen Glendower 
 himself; but as the dignity of the family "was 
 of rather an early date, and many a muddy 
 stream and obscure rivulet had contaminated the 
 purity of the once mighty current, his nobility 
 of extraction had long ceased to be acknow- 
 leged by any except his own countrymen ; (who 
 ever pay more respect to the branch of a 
 withered oak, than to a whole field of mushrooms;) 
 and by the English with whom he associated, he 
 was recognized as simply a respectable, country 
 gentleman. 
 
 Owen, the subject of the present pages, 
 (so named out of respect to the memory of their 
 gallant ancestor) had the misfortane to lose his 
 mother at an early period of life, and ere many 
 years had elapsed his father married again. 
 Unhappily, the second Mrs. Glendower was 
 too deserving of the stigma which is generally 
 attached to the title of step-mother. Owen 
 knew it and was miserable. The aspect of his 
 home was changed, when absent he was no 
 longer anxious to return to it, the cheerful,
 
 AMBITION. 159 
 
 maternal smile of welcome beamed not for 
 him. The conduct of his father, indeed, was 
 unaltered, but perceiving that the kindness 
 bestowed on him by that parent offended his 
 step-mother, he resolved on a separation. At 
 the age of eighteen, his father procured for him 
 a commission in the army, and he went, " to 
 seek his fortune in a foreign land." 
 
 Joined to one of the sweetest dispositions in 
 the world, Glendower possessed a firm under- 
 standing, acute perception, and strong judgment, 
 with all the amiable qualities of the heart. 
 
 It was whilst his regiment was stationed at 
 Brighton, awaiting orders for the Continent, 
 that he was introduced to a young lady, whose 
 brilliant attractions, in a short time, completely 
 captivated his young heart. He had soon an 
 opportunity of disclosing his passion, and, to his 
 unspeakable delight, found that the preposses- 
 sion was mutual. For a little while all was 
 heaven before him ; but, " in the very height 
 and torrent of" his bliss, he received a summons 
 to depart. The separation was agony, bnt the
 
 160 AMBITION. 
 
 voice of honour called him to the field, a voice 
 he never disobeyed. 
 
 Returning, at the end of two years, from a 
 furious engagement, wounded, and wasted by 
 fatigue, on landing at Portsmouth, wishing to 
 give his Clementina an agreeable surprise, he 
 hastened to town; and, in a military undress, 
 with his arm in a sling, was about to proceed to 
 the square where she resided, when his servant 
 entered his apartment, with the intelligence that 
 the Earl of Castle Gwynne had that morning 
 
 married Miss Clementina B -. The news 
 
 came upon his ear like a thunder-stroke, and 
 soon as the footman had retired, he gave vent 
 to the anguish which oppressed him. His Cle- 
 mentina was married to another, and all his 
 hopes of happiness were blasted ! 
 
 Soon as he had ascertained the truth of the 
 report, and that the newly-inarried pair had de- 
 parted for their country seat, he resolved on 
 visiting his father, hoping that it would, in some 
 measure, alleviate his grief. 
 
 He arrived at his father's house, amid all the
 
 AMBITION. 1G1 
 
 gloom and despondency of a breaking heart ; 
 the faithless Clementina was still the object of 
 his thoughts ; and, on enquiring of the servant 
 if Mr. Glendower was at home, he heeded not 
 his reply, but following him into the drawing- 
 room, awaited in silence, the appearance of his 
 beloved parent. 
 
 As he stood, deeply musing, opposite a large 
 looking glass, he happened to cast his eyes to- 
 wards it, and almost started at his own reflected 
 form, and the ravages which sorrow had made 
 in the course of two short days ; so thin, so pale, 
 his cheek colourless, his eye sunken, he seemed 
 but the shadow of his former self, and under an 
 aspect so wan and cheerless, it was almost im- 
 possible to recognize the blooming and spirited 
 youth who had left his home two years ago. It 
 was the first time he had taken particular notice 
 of his countenance since his arrival in England, 
 and then, though his frame was harassed by fa- 
 tigue, his features were lighted up by the smile 
 of pleasing anticipation, which, for a while dis- 
 guised the inroads hardship had made; but now
 
 16*2 AMBITION. 
 
 they were darkened by the chilling gloom of 
 deep despair. 
 
 In a few minutes the door opened, he turned, 
 with a momentary feeling of delight, to embrace 
 a dear and only parent, when a lady, habited in 
 deep mourning, sailed majestically into the room. 
 She curtsied, he bowed, and mentioned some- 
 thing about having called to see Mr. Glendower; 
 the lady, with an affected movement, under which 
 he at once recognised his step-mother, raised a 
 handkerchief to her eyes, and wept and sobbed 
 without replying ; but this was a sufficient 
 answer, the hue of her apparel told the rest 
 " My God! my father's dead!" the agitated 
 youth exclaimed faintly, every prospect of future 
 comfort vanished from his mind, and leaning 
 against the wainscoat he became insensible. 
 
 When recollection returned he found himself 
 reclining in a large arm-chair, a young girl hung 
 over him with intense anxiety, bis head rested 
 on her arm his step-mother and the servants 
 surrounded him with perfumes, restoratives, &c. 
 As he unclosed his eyes, and looked around him,
 
 AMBITION. 163 
 
 the girl withdrew her supporting arm, and re- 
 tired a pace or two. 
 
 " Good Heaven, Owen!" exclaimed Mrs. 
 Glendower, who had not recognized him under 
 his altered appearance, until his exclamation 
 discovered him to her, " who would have thought 
 of seeing you ? and so changed ! " 
 
 Owen sighed heavily, and tears which he had 
 no power to restrain, flowed fast from his eyes. 
 Mrs. Glendower dismissed the servants, and 
 seating herself beside her son-in-law, loudly in- 
 dulged her grief; the young girl, who stood be- 
 hind, seemed to weep for sympathy. During 
 some hours little was spoken on either side, for 
 wrapped up in the world of his own dismal 
 thoughts, Glendower had no inclination to ob- 
 serve any thing that passed around him ; at 
 length Mrs. Glendower said, " you must not 
 leave us to-night, Owen, you appear too ill to 
 venture abroad." 
 
 This cold reception in his father's house, 
 pierced Owen Glendower to the quick, and 
 wakened all the proud emotions of his nature ;
 
 164 AMBITION. 
 
 rising from his chair, he was about to bid Mrs, 
 Glendower farewell, when a sudden faintness 
 seized him, he reseated himself, and was obliged 
 to accept the constrained civilities of his step- 
 mother, with as good a grace as he could 
 assume. 
 
 During the evening, Owen had an opportu- 
 nity of observing Mrs. Glendower's companion ; 
 she did not appear to be more than eighteen 
 years of age, was below the middle size, and 
 proportionably slight, rather handsome, and ap- 
 parently very amiable. As he gazed upon her 
 youthful charms, memory brought back to him 
 the form of Clementina, and he hastily turned 
 from the contemplation of an object, that filled 
 his soul with so much misery. 
 
 Miss Williams w r as an orphan, she had been 
 brought up by an uncle, but since his death hev 
 sole dependance had rested on her aunt, Mrs. 
 Glendower, the sister of that uncle ; and it was 
 long after Owen's departure for the continent, 
 that she became an inmate in the family of her 
 kinswoman,
 
 AMBITION. 165 
 
 On the following- morning, resolving to 
 encroach no further on the hospitality of his step- 
 mother, the young soldier left his father's 
 mansion, and after a tedious search throughout 
 the whole of the little village, hired the best 
 apartments that could be procured. Having 
 settled himself in them, the quiet and solitude 
 which he found in his new habitation gave him 
 time for reflection, but alas ! that did not tend 
 in the smallest degree to ameliorate his sorrows. 
 Clementina was married, his father was dead, 
 his step-mother but barely civil, he could not 
 help imagining that no individual in the world 
 felt now the smallest degree of affection for 
 him, 
 
 Owen Glendower was not formed to live alone, 
 his disposition was social, the benevolence of his 
 heart extended to all mankind, he deemed it 
 impossible to live without loving and being loved, 
 and the idea that he had not a soul to care for 
 him, rendered him wretched in the extreme. 
 Any society was preferable to his own melan^ 
 choly thoughts, therefore he accepted the invitation.
 
 166 AMBITION. 
 
 of Mrs, Glendower to call occasionally at her 
 house. Miss Williams was still there, she always 
 received hiin with a cheerful smile, and the 
 pleasure which she seemed to feel at seeing him, 
 imparted a small share of happiness to his own 
 bosom ; for it was a satisfaction to think, that 
 some one in the world esteemed him, some one 
 smiled in his presence. His visits to the house 
 of his step-mother became more frequent, and 
 the deep gloom of his spirits gradually wore 
 away. 
 
 The attractions of Leah Williams were not 
 shewy, but impressive ; her graces were rooted 
 in the mind and in the heart, but she was of a 
 retiring disposition, unaccustomed to associate 
 with strangers, and reserve threw a veil over the 
 numerous bright qualities which she possessed. 
 
 Glendower did not believe it possible to love 
 another after Clementina, and the affection 
 which he had conceived for Miss Williams he 
 imagined to be nothing more than brotherly 
 regard; indeed, her situation had a strong 
 claim upon his feelings, she was very young,
 
 AMBITION. 167 
 
 an orphan, her only friend in the world was his 
 step-mother, (and how unfitted for a friend was 
 she !) his esteem she had long possessed, and 
 his friendship he willingly yielded up to her. 
 Often, whilst in her presence, he amused himself 
 by drawing a comparison between her and Cle- 
 mentina ; they were as unlike as were their names, 
 which were perfectly characteristic of each. 
 
 Clementina was all grandeur, Leah all sim- 
 plicity, but he could not avoid thinking the 
 quiet, retiring modesty of the latter, as amiable as 
 the brilliant qualifications of the former ; and in 
 regard to personal beauty,— a perfection he 
 admired, but did not consider absolutely necessary 
 in a wife, — he thought the small, graceful figure, 
 black, speaking eyes, and raven locks of Leah, 
 as lovely as the tall majestic form, Jong golden 
 tresses, and languishing blue orbs of Clementina ; 
 and as he finished the comparison, he wondered 
 whence that coldness sprung which allowed him 
 to think another as beautiful as she. By imper- 
 ceptible degrees, Leah gained upon the heart 
 of Owen, whilst the image of Clementina faded;
 
 168 AMBITION. 
 
 arid when called to join his regiment, he felt 
 as much pain at the idea of parting from 
 Leah, as he had before done on his separa- 
 tion from Clementina. It was his usual 
 hour of visiting Mrs. Glendower and Leah, 
 and he hastened to inform them of the circum- 
 stance. The latter was in the garden, on seeing 
 her he hastened forward, and taking her not 
 reluctant hand, exclaimed, " My dear Miss 
 Williams, I am but come to bid you farewell ; 
 to-morrow I must join my regiment." 
 
 The colour fled from the cheek of Leah, she 
 trembled, her right hand was retained within the 
 pressure of his, she turned aside her head and 
 passed the left across her forehead to shade her 
 eyes ; but emotion would not be controlled, her 
 lip quivered, — and she burst into tears. This 
 unwonted agitation betrayed to Owen what she 
 would gladly have concealed from all the world, 
 but most particularly from him ; and her confu- 
 sion became now almost insupportable ; but it 
 was an opportunity not to be neglected, Owen 
 jnacle a declaration of his love, which was re.,
 
 AMBITION. 160 
 
 ceived by Leah> with a mixture of joy, sorrow* 
 and surprize. 
 
 Not long, however, did these raptures con- 
 tinue, Owen was obliged to go, though not 
 quite as soon as he had at first expected. 
 
 On the day previous to that intended for his 
 departure, he received a visit from the executor 
 of the late Mr. Glendower's will. This gentle- 
 man said that it was by the desire of the widow 
 he called, who wished him to be acquainted with 
 the state of his father's affairs. 
 
 The attorney then produced a copy of the 
 will, and read it, by which Owen found that 
 nearly the whole of the property, which was 
 considerable, was settled upon Mrs. Glendower, 
 and her son, (a boy about six years old, then 
 absent at a boarding school) and his heirs, for 
 ever; but if Mrs. Glendower should marry again, 
 or her son die without issue, the estates were to 
 pass into the possession of Owen Glendower, and 
 his heirs for ever. Owen heard in silence, for it was 
 but what he had expected, and the attorney pro- 
 ceeded to inform him, that his share, the portion
 
 170 AMBITION. 
 
 of the eldest son, was a small cottage and gar- 
 den on the Gwynne- Arthur manor. 
 
 Glendower started as the words were pro- 
 nounced, his lot was small, certainly, but it was 
 as much as he required, yet to think that that 
 of all spots on the face of the globe was destined 
 for his residence, gave him an uneasiness which 
 it was impossible to disguise. 
 
 His first impulse was to sell it, but the estate 
 was entailed, therefore that alternative was not 
 allowed him. To dwell in the neighbourhood of 
 Castle Gwynne, so near to Clementina, perhaps to 
 
 see her, could not be agreeable, not that he loved 
 her, no ! that was entirely out the question, for all 
 lus hopes of happiness were at present centred 
 in Leah ; yet to be in the habit of daily beholding 
 with indifference an object for whom he had 
 once felt the tenderest affection, was inimical 
 to his nature ; but he was not affluent, he could 
 not act as he pleased, and as the die was cast, he 
 resolved on being satisfied with his lot. 
 
 After taking a respectful leave of Mrs 
 Glendower, and bidding Leah an affectionate
 
 AMBITION. 171 
 
 farewell, he mounted his horse and was turning 
 from the gate, when a servant put a letter into 
 his hand. It came from his Colonel, and 
 contained pleasing intelligence : the regiment 
 was changed, and his presence not required. 
 With all the joy of a lover he sprung from his 
 steed, and, rushing into the parlour, acquainted 
 them with this sudden alteration of affairs. 
 
 That evening was spent with Leah, whose 
 society was now dearer to him than ever, 
 because he had so lately been on the point of 
 being deprived of it. From motives of polite- 
 ness, merely, Glendower made formal proposals 
 to his step-mother, for Miss Williams's hand ; 
 but that lady, for some reason, perfectly inexpli- 
 cable, thought proper to refuse her consent in 
 the most peremptory terms. This chagrined 
 Owen a little, but the only uneasiness it created 
 arose from a fear that Leah's situation would 
 be rendered uncomfortable during the short time 
 she would have to remain with Mrs. Glendower, 
 for he determined that her approval, or disap-
 
 172 AMBITION. 
 
 proval, should be of little consequence to either 
 of them. 
 
 Ere he quitted the house, however, he in- 
 formed Leah of the result of his application, and 
 his own cogitations. 
 
 Whilst they were speaking, Mrs. Glendower, 
 who, perhaps, wished for an opportunity to break 
 with both Owen and her niece, entered the 
 apartment, and signified to the latter her disap- 
 probation of the young soldier's suit ; concluding 
 with : — 
 
 " If you can consent to renounce all inter- 
 course with me, and never more acknowledge 
 as a relation one who has cherished you in adver- 
 sity, you have my free consent to act as you 
 please ; for, go where you may I will neither 
 molest nor approach you more. But, remember, 
 Leah, one of us must be given up, and it rests 
 with you to relinquish Owen, or me, for ever. 1 ' 
 
 The young pair were thunder-struck, but, 
 though they could not divine the meaning of this 
 speech, they concluded that Mrs. Glendower
 
 AMBITION. 173 
 
 must Lave some wondrous mighty reason for her 
 unaccountable conduct. 
 
 Leah Williams had always loved her aunt, 
 but she had never esteemed her; the emotion which 
 she felt for Owen was a compound of all that 
 was noble, elevated, and impassioned, in her 
 opinion, he was a model of perfection, not an 
 action but excited admiration, not a word or 
 look but thrilled her soul with rapture ; and 
 whilst her frame shook with agitation, and her 
 tearful eyes were fixed upon the countenance of 
 her aunt, she gave her hand to Owen Glendower, 
 feeling she should never repent the election which 
 she bad made : and knowing; that it was not the 
 impulse of the moment which directed her, but 
 the effect of calm deliberation, and strong 
 affection. 
 
 Owen conducted the weeping girl to the house 
 of a friend in the neighbourhood, and retiring to 
 his own lodgings, began to make arrangements 
 for his future proceedings : the result of his plans 
 and reflections was a determination to settle at 
 the cottage on the Gwynne- Arthur manor. 
 vol. I. I
 
 174 AMBITION. 
 
 On the following Sunday the banns were 
 published, and at the expiration of a month, 
 Leah became bis wife. 
 
 Finding, on enquiry, that the earl and 
 countess of Castle Gwynne seldom visited the 
 estate, and that, when they did, it was but for 
 a very short time, he hoped to live here in 
 tranquillity, and preserve his humble retreat 
 from their knowledge. 
 
 On visiting the cottage he found it surpass his 
 expectations in point of neatness and situation ; 
 but it was extremely small, unlike the grand 
 paternal mansion, in which the days of his 
 childhood had been spent. Leah, however, 
 seemed charmed with their new abode, and that 
 was sufficient to make Owen satisfied with it. 
 
 Two years had they now spent on this delight- 
 ful spot, f* happy and giving happiness," during 
 which their quiet had not been disturbed by any 
 arrivals at the castle, when their felicity was 
 augmented by the birth 'of a daughter. Tbe 
 idolizing father thought his lot supremely happy ; 
 but scarcely had his child attained her sixth year
 
 AMBITION. 175 
 
 ere he was called to the field of battle. To the 
 husband and the father it was a cruel mandate, 
 but to the soldier it imparted joy, mixed with all 
 the gay hope of an aspiring spirit. 
 
 The parting was agonising, they felt that they 
 should not meet again for years, sad, yet true 
 presentiment ! 
 
 After experiencing all the hardships of war, 
 being exposed to all the dangers of repeated en- 
 gagements, enduring all the extremes of hunger, 
 heat, and cold, and suffering all the anguish of 
 four years imprisonment, at the expiration of 
 seven years he returned ill, and wounded, to his 
 family. 
 
 The joy of the meeting exceeded perhaps the 
 pain of the separation ; languid though he was, 
 he could yet feel the extreme of happiness, and 
 his senses swam in elysium, as he once more 
 gazed upon the beloved countenances of his wife 
 and child. 
 
 . Captain Glendower found that his daughter 
 exceeded even a father's fondest hopes. She 
 was now about thirteen, tall, and delicatey
 
 176 AMBITION. 
 
 formed, in person she resembled her mother, her 
 features were soft and expressive, but there was 
 more of fire and animation in her eye than in 
 that of her amiable parent ; her soul was all her 
 father's, and she possessed, even at this early age, 
 more manly firmness of mind than Mrs.Glendower 
 could ever boast of. 
 
 Mrs. Glendower's mother's name had been 
 Mabel, which having also been the christian 
 appellation of the captain's mother, was 
 bestowed on their child, whom we now introduce 
 to our readers under the title of Mabel 
 Glendower; which, I can assure them, is the 
 prettiest name I could select, and very becoming 
 to a heroine. 
 
 Unfortunately, Mrs. Glendower had, during 
 her husband's absence, — when uncertain whether 
 she should again behold him, doubtful even of his 
 existence, — aHowed lowness of spirits and miser- 
 able forebodings to prey upon her health; and now, 
 her constitution destroyed, her strength broken, 
 she felt the sa 1 effects of that inactivity of mind, 
 which, instead of repelling sorrow, cherisheth it.
 
 AMBITION. 177 
 
 Whilst the glow of emotion crimsoned her cheek, 
 and the smile of joy irradiated her countenance, 
 the inroads of affliction were concealed, but 
 when no longer agitated by feelings sufficiently 
 violent to call a glow there, they were, alas ! but 
 too visible to the eyes of the doating and alarmed 
 husband. Captain Glendower also, from a 
 residence in foreign countries, and from the 
 innumerable hardships which he had undergone, 
 was slowly sinking into the most fatal of all dis- 
 orders, a decline ; but the false brilliancy of his 
 complexion, and heightened lustre of his eye ; 
 hid it from the knowledge of his wife and 
 daughter, almost from himself. 
 
 The education of Mabel had hitherto been 
 conducted solely by her mother, and her progress 
 had done credit to both tutor and pupil, but it 
 was now time that she should receive the 
 finishing gloss of accomplishments from profes- 
 sional teachers. Captain Glendower had little 
 wealth to bequeath to his child, and he saw 
 with pain, that, if she survived them, she might
 
 178 AMBITION. 
 
 one day be dependant on the exertion of her 
 own talents for support, therefore a liberal 
 education was all he could bestow ; but when he 
 spoke of placing her in a boarding-school, Mrs. 
 Glendower, who had herself received her 
 education in a public seminary, hastily relin- 
 quished the proposal. She had observed the ill 
 effects of an intercourse with evil, ere the mind 
 is capable of resisting the impression, or the 
 judgment of discerning between good and bad ; 
 had lamented that strange, yet almost incon* 
 trollable, propensity to imitate a worthless 
 example ; and trembled at the idea of her 
 darling hope being exposed to the touch of 
 poisonous infection. But Captain Glendower, 
 though feeling no great prepossession in favour 
 of boarding schools, especially for females, 
 was not so much averse to placing his child in 
 one, for he had seen life in all its various forms, 
 he knew that where there was society there 
 must be its attendant vices, whether within 
 the walls of a court, a school, or a cloister,
 
 AMBITION. 179 
 
 and he trusted to the rectitude, and moral 
 principles, implanted within the bosom of his 
 daughter, for the counteraction of evil. 
 
 Having thus determined within himself, he 
 had now to lead his wife gradually into an 
 acquiescence ; it was a doubtful task, but at 
 length, by tender persuasions, and eloquent 
 reasoning, mixed with an air of decision, he 
 succeeded ; and in a short time departed for 
 Bath, to make the necessary arrangements in 
 one of the most respectable seminaries of that 
 place. 
 
 The heavy day arrived which was to separate 
 the mother and child. The chaise was at the 
 door* Mrs. Glendower placed her weeping 
 daughter in it, and, for the first time in her life, 
 our young heroine emerged from " the bosom of 
 her native hills." 
 
 Arrived at Bath, they were kindly and 
 politely received by Mrs. Walpole, the mistress 
 of the school, which was highly gratifying to 
 the little Mabel, but still she was not her 
 mother, and she only felt her absence more
 
 180 AMBITION. 
 
 acutely. Captain Glendower had resolved on 
 staying a few days at Bath, until his child should 
 be reconciled to her change of residence, 
 therefore, when they parted for the night in the 
 expectation of meeting on the morrow, the 
 separation was less severe than that which they 
 had experienced a short time before. 
 
 On the following morning, after having break- 
 fasted with Mrs.Walpole in her own parlour > Miss 
 Glendower was ushered into the scliool-room. 
 The imposing appearance of a spacious apart- 
 ment, lighted by six large windows, and 
 thronged with new faces, was a little daunting 
 to the child of retirement, and shrinking timidly 
 from the broad stare which saluted her on her 
 entrance, she turned instinctively towards the 
 door ; but her governess, taking her hand, led 
 her forward, and having presented her to some 
 of the teachers, placed her at a desk in the 
 upper end of the room. 
 
 Being given no employment, she felt rather 
 awkwardly situated, especially as the young 
 lady, next to whom she had seated herself,
 
 AMBITION. 181 
 
 hastily drew away her frock, as though she 
 feared it would be contaminated by coming into 
 contact with that of the pretty stranger ; and 
 eyeing her with a disdainful scrutiny, which 
 seemed to demand what right she had to place 
 herself beside her, turned to another on the 
 opposite side, and, bursting into an affected 
 laugh, began to jabber some broken sen- 
 tences of Italian. This was a language 
 Mabel had not yet learnt, but as the other 
 replied in French, she immediately under- 
 stood that the conversation was a criticism on 
 herself; her hair, dress, appearance, features, 
 &c. became, in turn, the subject of their obser- 
 vation, till, at length, the laugh which they had 
 endeavoured to raise, communicating itself to 
 the others, she was suddenly assailed by a 
 bold stare and universal titter, Mabel could 
 eidure this no longer, and quitted her seat with a 
 look of as much contempt as she could throw into 
 her countenance, but being quite unused to the 
 practice of scornful glances, her aspect scarcely 
 exceeded that of seriousness.
 
 182 AMBITION. 
 
 This specimen of school, and school-educa- 
 tion, disgusted her ; of the conduct of school- 
 girls she had been warned by her mother, but 
 still, on experiencing it, she could not avoid 
 feeling astonished. 
 
 After three years spent in this seminary, Mabel 
 began to perceive that her mother's health was 
 fast declining ; the settled paleness of her 
 complexion, and continual depression of spirits, 
 did not a little alarm her; and at the earnest 
 .entreaty of her child, Mrs. Glendower consented 
 to try the air of Bath, but as Captain Glendower 
 .could not be absent from home, during so long a 
 period as it was necessary for his wife to stay, it 
 was agreed, to Mabel's infinite gratification, that 
 she should reside at Mrs. Walpole's ; and it was 
 after having conducted Mrs. Glendower thither, 
 and returned to his solitary home, that the 
 captain encountered Lord Gwynne -Arthur in 
 his evening ramble. 
 
 The first sight of the earl was prepossessing, 
 his countenance was a letter of recommendation, 
 and the social disposition of Captain Glendower
 
 AMBITION. 183 
 
 prompted him to embrace this opportunity of 
 forming an acquaintance with one whose appear- 
 rauce was so amiable, without knowing who he 
 was, or reflecting for a moment who he might be. 
 The first offices of general civility had led to 
 those of a more personal nature, the invitation 
 which he had given him to repeat his- visit was 
 sincere, for, interested by his present deportment, 
 he felt an earnest wish to see him again ; to 
 find that he was a resident. at the castle, neither 
 increased his pleasure, nor lessened his regard, 
 for, supposing him to be a casual guest there, he 
 did not imagine that intimacy with him would 
 bring him under the notice of its noble proprie- 
 tors. Such were the sentiments with which he 
 bade him farewell, gratified by the anticipation 
 of seeing him on the morrow ; but let the reader 
 judge his astonishment, when, on looking at the 
 card which his visitant had left with him, he 
 discovered him to be no other than the Earl 
 himself, and the sou of Clementina I 
 
 Fain would he have recalled the offer which he 
 had made of continuing their acquaintance, — fain
 
 184 AMBITION. 
 
 r 
 
 would he have relinquished all idea of further 
 intercourse ; — he was convinced that the coun- 
 tess, though living at the castle, must be 
 ignorant of his near residence, and he wished to 
 keep her so. It was far, very far from his 
 inclinations to have any communication with the 
 Gwynne-Arthur family, or with those who 
 were allied to them ; but the appearance of 
 the young earl had so much delighted him, that he 
 thought he could not, with propriety, ietract his 
 civilities ; he felt that politeness was due to both 
 his rank and behaviour, and though not alto- 
 gether satisfied with the intimacy he had formed, 
 he determined on treating him with the respect 
 and good-breeding he merited. But we now 
 return to the earl, after he had quitted Captaia 
 Glendower*
 
 AMBITION. 185 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is the show and seal of nature's truth, 
 
 When love's strong passion is impress'd in youth : 
 
 By our remembrances of days foregone, 
 
 Such were our faults ; — or, then we thought th«m none. 
 
 Shakespear. 
 
 On entering the drawing-room, finding that 
 his absence had not been observed, Lord 
 Gwynne-Arthur retired to a distant window, 
 where, seating himself, he drew forth his book and 
 pretended to read, whilst in fact his imagination 
 was fully occupied by the amiable stranger. 
 Who could he be ? From his intimate acquain- 
 tance witlrthe country it was evident that he had
 
 186 AMBITION. 
 
 resided in his present habitation for some time, 
 yet how a man of rank and fashion, as he 
 appeared to be, could dwell so near to the castle 
 without the knowledge of its inhabitants, was to 
 him a matter of mystery. Did he live alone ( 
 had he no connections ? no relatives ? perhaps 
 he was some one, who, wearied of the world, had 
 flown hither to spend the evening of his life, far 
 from the tumults which had disturbed the morning 
 of it ; no, his expressions had contradicted that 
 supposition, he seemed of a social disposition, 
 and fond of society; besides, he had observed a 
 piano-forte and a harp in the cottage, but as 
 each was euveloped in a leathern case it w as 
 evident that they had not been recently used ; 
 were there females belonging to the family i he 
 had seen none, therefore concluded there were 
 none. 
 
 The earl doubted not that his next visit to the 
 captain would throw a better light upon ihe 
 subject ; but hastily checking this enquiring spirit, 
 He questioned himself as to the authority he 
 possessed to dive into the affairs of a stranger ;
 
 AMBITION. 187 
 
 was not his deportment every thing that was 
 frank and gentlemanly ? There was an inge- 
 nuous pride, an unassuming greatness, in every 
 look, word, and action, — his very step was 
 nobility itself — and immediately, in the young 
 and excited imagination of Gwynne-Arthur, 
 Captain Glendower was endowed with a thou- 
 sand brighter perfections than it is possible for 
 human nature to possess ; be became the "god 
 of his idolatry," the " man after his own heart," 
 and the being whom he would gladly have set 
 up for the model of his future conduct. 
 
 There had been something romantic even in 
 their meeting, which fascinated the earl ; it was 
 so unlike the formal introductions of the court, 
 the ball, and the drawing-room, where every 
 thing is arranged according to etiquette, and 
 where only upon a full assurance of high birth, 
 fortune, and power, you can claim attention; 
 here, every thing was different, each had been 
 ignorant of the other's pretensions and situation 
 in life ; and, without any considerations of rank
 
 188 AMBITION. 
 
 or fortune, an intimacy had been formed on the 
 basis of noble and gentlemanly confidence. 
 
 An air of elevation appeared to surround 
 every thing connected with their acquaintance, 
 as well as the habitation and manners of Captain 
 Glendower ; it was a subject that must not be 
 lightly treated, it formed an era in the life of 
 Lord G wynne- Arthur, who was naturally ro- 
 mantic, and this being the first little piece of 
 romance he had yet met with, was treasured up 
 in his remembrance with the most devoted enthu- 
 siasm. He even felt a reluctance to speak of 
 him, as though he feared that words would dis- 
 solve the illusion ; he was not quite certain that 
 he should not receive some prudential cautionings 
 from his mother, though he knew not on what 
 grounds they could be founded; and, besides this, 
 it was his own, his first, his darling secret, laid 
 up faithfully in his heart's core, and he felt that 
 by enjoying it alone, his personal consequence 
 would be mightily encreased — in his own esti- 
 mation.
 
 AMBITION. 189 
 
 On the following evening, as it was fine, the 
 earl bent his steps to the cottage of Captain 
 Glendower. As he rung at the back gate, he 
 perceived the captain standing near the bow- 
 window, who, immediately coming forward, re- 
 ceived him with pleasure and politeness ; grace- 
 fully apologizing, as he conducted him into the 
 house, for his ignorance of Lord Gwynne-Ar- 
 thur's rank on the preceding evening. This, 
 however, was a subject on winch his lordship 
 would not allow him to speak. 
 
 Every evening, during several weeks, the earl 
 continued to visit the abode of Captain Glen- 
 dower, where he was always received with the 
 utmost cordiality and friendship. The captain, 
 and his servants, were the only persons he was 
 in the habit of seeing ; indeed, as the former had 
 never mentioned having any family, he did not 
 expect to see others ; but going one evening, at his 
 usual hour, he was met at the door by his friend, 
 who, leading him into the parlour, introduced him 
 to his wife ; Mrs. Glendower, and her daughter, 
 having just returned from Bath. As this was
 
 190 AMBITION. 
 
 the first intimation the earl had ever received, of 
 the captain being any other than a bachelor, he 
 knew not whether to congratulate him on a re- 
 cent marriage, and stood, for a moment, con- 
 fused, until Captain Glendower, diving into the 
 cause of his perplexity, informed him that Mr?. 
 Glendower had been for some months a resident 
 at Bath, for the recovery of her health, and had 
 but just returned. The conversation now turn- 
 ing on that city, and general subjects, Lord 
 Gwynne- Arthur found her not only amiable and 
 intelligent, but evincing the highest polish of 
 genteel society. 
 
 The earl still continued his visits to the cot- 
 tage of Captain Glendower, till at length seeing, 
 or fancying that he saw, a cool reserve in the 
 behaviour of that gentleman, he made them 
 more seldom. 
 
 One morning, after having absented himself 
 for more than a week, (though evening was his 
 usual period of visiting them) having an hour to 
 spare, he strolled that way, and seeing the back 
 gate unlatched, walked up the gravel path that
 
 AMBITION. 191 
 
 led to the bow-window, the front of which was 
 open, whilst the Venetian blinds were let down 
 in such a manner as to exclude the sun and ad- 
 mit the air. A lady sat near the window, at an 
 embroidering frame ; imagining her to be Mrs. 
 Glendower, with whom he was on perfectly in- 
 timate terms, Gwynne- Arthur stopped to gather 
 a rose, and adding to it a pink, a jessamine, 
 with a sweetly-modest love-in-vain, he drew up 
 the green blinds with one hand, and presented 
 the bouquet to her with the other, exclaiming, 
 " Look, madam, what a beautiful nosegay I have 
 sratbered for vou." 
 
 The lady looked up, surprised, it was not 
 Mrs. Glendower, though greatly resembling her, 
 but some one much younger. In truth they 
 formed a very pretty groupe, and, had Gwj'nne- 
 Arthur been merely a spectator, he might have 
 thought the scene worth sketching ; as it was, 
 he was too interested an actor in it, to consider 
 its effect. 
 
 He had laid the flowers on the embroidering 
 frame, his hand was not yet withdrawn, and
 
 192 AMBITION. 
 
 their eyes were fixed on each other in astonish- 
 ment, when the door of the room opened,, and 
 Captain Glendower appeared. He started, 
 looked sternly at the lady, and addressed the 
 earl in rather a constrained tone. The earl 
 replied quite as proudly ; he thought the captain's 
 conduct rather ungenerous, for he imagined that 
 he viewed him with an eye of suspicion. 
 
 **■ Mabel," said the captain, turning to the 
 young female, who eyed them both with a look 
 of enquiry, " your mother awaits you in her 
 dressing-room," 
 
 " This lady is your daughter, I presume, Sir," 
 said Lord Gwynne- Arthur, determined on being 
 treated with the respe( t due to him, as a gentle- 
 man and a man of honour. 
 
 " She is, my lord; Mabel, let me introduce 
 to you the Earl of Castle-Gwynne." 
 
 Mabel blushed deeply as she curtsied in 
 return to the elegant bow with which his lordship 
 received the introduction, and then quitted 
 the room, in obedience to her father's com- 
 mands.
 
 AMBITION. 193 
 
 " I was not aware, Sir," said the earl, " that 
 your family was so extensive." 
 
 " You have now seen it all, my lord, I have 
 not another relative in the world," was the 
 captain's reply, the tone of his voice w r as not 
 proud, there was something truly affecting in 
 it; the earl looked towards him, and was sorry 
 for having spoken so reproachfully. 
 
 In a short time they separated, and the earl 
 returned to the castle. 
 
 The reader will, perhaps, divine why Captain 
 Glendower had concealed his child from the 
 observation of the earl ; she had returned with 
 her mother some weeks previous to this period ; 
 but the captain, knowing from experience the 
 danger and misery of intimately associating with 
 a fascinating and amiable person ol the oppo- 
 site sex, so much above one's own station in life, 
 had carefully secluded her from the sight and 
 knowledge of Gwynne- Arthur, who often called 
 on him ; indeed, so cautious had been his conduct 
 and conversation, (hat she was even ignorant 
 that the earl was in the country.
 
 194 AMBITION. 
 
 Not long did the young lord absent himself 
 from the abode of his friend, and on his next 
 visit he had the pleasure of enjoying the society 
 of Miss Glendower, as well as that of her father 
 and mother. In this, Captain Glendower acted 
 from motives of policy, he had endeavoured to 
 prevent their meeting, his intention had been 
 frustrated through accident, and now to keep 
 them asunder might, perhaps, render them 
 doubly anxious to see each other, and forfeit 
 the earl's friendship likewise ; who, he was 
 certain, would take fire if he considered himself 
 looked upon with a suspicious eye. 
 
 Lord Gwynue-Arthur could always find an 
 excuse for visiting the cottage of Captain 
 Glendower, which he did every day, and, the 
 more he visited it, the oftener he wished to do 
 so. Young, ardent, and romantic, his heart 
 was already filled with love, and only required 
 a suitable object to fix it on ; in his intercourse 
 with society, he had perhaps seen many superior 
 to Mabel in beauty and accomplishments, but 
 they were living in the cold, heartless, world of
 
 AMBITION. 105 
 
 fashion, whilst a romantic charm hung over all 
 that was connected with Mabel; the peculiarity 
 of lier situation was in itself fascinating", and he 
 yielded his heart a willing captive to her perfec- 
 tions. This sudden attachment of the earl was, 
 perhaps, as much the effect of his own vivid 
 and excited feelings, as of any attractions of 
 his mistress ; but ; be it what it may, it had 
 woven a bright web round the fire of his imagi- 
 nation, which, however it might be obscured 
 for a time, could never be totally destroyed. 
 
 To his mother Lord Gwynne-Arthur had 
 never yet discovered his intimacy at the cottage, 
 indeed the countess was even ignorant that any 
 one resided in the cwm, except the peasants, 
 and Mr. Jones, the village surgeon, and he 
 determined still to keep her so. That boyish, 
 bashful feeling, which had in the first place 
 tempted him to conceal the circumstance, had 
 now acquired a more dangerous as well as 
 a more reasonable foundation ; formerly, when 
 ever he had been about to communicate it, he 
 had been withheld by an expectation of the
 
 196 AMBITION. 
 
 question, " Why has this been concealed from 
 me so long V he knew not why, yet felt that 
 his reserved and mysterious behaviour had been 
 sufficient to excite suspicion. But now all these 
 apprehensions vanished before one far more 
 formidable, — his mother's ambition; he knew 
 her haughty temper, her proud., incontrollable 
 spirit, and he sighed as he looked on the fasci- 
 nating Mabel, and remembered the clause in 
 his father's will, which gave the countess so full 
 dominion over him, 
 
 There is no love like first love, and, let 
 the world say what it will of the nonsense and 
 romance of the passion, if it were not for those 
 warm and disinterested feelings, which spring 
 up in the heart like meteors in a frosty sky, the 
 better qualities of mankiad would be choked 
 with thorough selfishness. The stoic does every 
 thing by rule, he has no feelings to give him 
 pleasure or pain, or, if he has any, they are kept 
 so entirely under control, that they are never 
 allowed to operate to either his happiness or
 
 AMBITION. 1 197 
 
 misery. Love is the foundation, the root, the 
 master-piece, of all the fine emotions of the 
 heart ; ami pity, friendship, esteem, and venera- 
 tion, are but the branches of the same prolific 
 tree ; or, to speak more metaphorically, they are 
 as little rivulets diverging from the ocean-bed, 
 animating, softening, and beautifying those tracts 
 of wild nature through which their silvery channels 
 circulate. 
 
 But true love is as distinct from passion as 
 bravery is from desperation ; affection, like 
 courage, must flow on in one smooth, regular, 
 and continued stream, neither overflowing its 
 banks nor shrinking within its boundaries, removing 
 every obstacle, and overpowering every difficulty, 
 without making any display of its own prowess. 
 It is not love, nor valour, that breaks out with 
 whizzing violence, at unexpected and often unsea- 
 sonable periods, and, like a Jack-o'-lantern on a 
 dark night, leads a man across bog, moor, and 
 mountain, until he has lost his way in a slough, 
 or broken his neck over a precipice ; this is not 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 198 AMBITION. 
 
 love, this is madness, yet how oft will early 
 affection assume its guise. 
 
 When the heart is just opening to a compre- 
 hension of its own feelings, before the sordid 
 concerns of the world have fascinated the attention, 
 when every object wears the garb of innocence, 
 and as the bright qualities of mind and soul are 
 putting forth the branch of promise, then, indeed, 
 does love appear to be the business of life : then, 
 it partakes of all the fervour of enthusiasm, 
 all the purity of devotion ! not a thought can be 
 associated with the image of the beloved object 
 
 that is not strictly compatible with honour, truth, 
 and virtue ; the fancy weaves round it a web of 
 holiness, through which nothing impure can 
 penetrate ; and it is enthroned within the sanc- 
 tum sanctorum of the heart, " unmixed with 
 leaser matter." Yet early love, like the bravery 
 of a young and intrepid arm, is apt sometimes to 
 run into irregular movements, and fling the 
 gauntlet at a shadow ; it blazes forth in fits and 
 starts, commits extravagancies, and though never
 
 AMBITION. 199 
 
 deficient in intrinsic value, will very often wear 
 the mask of folly ; but it is a flame, with all its 
 eccentricities, that has never yet glowed in a 
 selfish bosom, and that cannot be kindled on any 
 soil which is not perfectly honourable, warm and 
 disinterested. 
 
 It cannot be embodied in more forcible and 
 beautiful language than the following lines of a 
 noble poet of the present day, whose genius and 
 experience no one has yet dared to doubt. 
 
 " Yes, love indeed is light from heaven — 
 A spark of that immortal fire 
 With angels shared — by Alia given, 
 To lift from earth our low desire. 
 Devotion wafts the mind above, 
 But heaven itself descends in love — 
 A feeling from the godhead caught, 
 To wean from self each sordid thought — 
 A ray of him who formed the whole — 
 A glory circling round the soul ! " 
 
 The love of after-years generally partakes more 
 of the colour of worldly prudence, and less of 
 the glow of enthusiasm ; in early attachments the 
 individual object is the sole consideration ; in ma- 
 turity there are the distinctions of birth, fortune
 
 200 AMBITION. 
 
 and connexions to be weighed ; the consent of 
 friends, the approval of the world, &c. If, in- 
 deed, the sincerity, the steadiness, the prudence, 
 of a mature affection, could be united with the 
 bright glow, the celestial purity of early love, it 
 would form that sentiment which is so often 
 described in fiction ; so seldom to be met with in 
 real life, — 
 
 But ah ! how seldom is it seen, 
 
 For base and selfish passions intervene, 
 To blight the buds of love, and rend apart, 
 Each warm pulsation of the bleeding heart.* 
 
 But away with these reflections, or my readers 
 will certainly accuse me of understanding some- 
 thing of " la belle passion." 
 
 * Tancred.
 
 AMBITION. 201 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE ORPHAN. 
 
 " And Juan wept, 
 And made a vow to shield her. — " 
 
 The declining health of Mrs. Glendower 
 now became more and more visible, and in a 
 short time she was confined wholly to her bed. 
 
 The distress of Mabel and her father may be 
 imagined; their attention was unremitted, for 
 a while hope smiled upon them, but, at length, her 
 constitution ruined, her spirits broken, she bowed 
 beneath the weight of her afflictions, and her 
 spotless soul fled to " another and a better 
 world." To such hearts as those of Captain 
 Glendower and his daughter, the shock was 

 
 202 AMBITION. 
 
 great ; at first they imagined it but a dream, for 
 they could scarcely believe the reality of their 
 situation, but it was not long ere they awoke to 
 a most dreadful certainty. They had lost the 
 dearest being on earth, her whom they prized 
 far beyond their own existence, and had not their 
 minds been fortified by the purest principles of 
 religion, instilled into them at an early period, 
 and improved by the best dispositions, they must 
 have sunk beneath this weight of sorrow. 
 
 The earl sincerely participated in their afflic- 
 tions, he had conceived for Mrs. Glendower 
 sentiments of the most lively esteem, and he 
 lamented the loss of one friend, whilst he shared 
 in the grief of the others. 
 
 The shock which Captain Glendower had 
 received in the death of his wife, caused no 
 amendment of his decayed health ; his illness 
 encreased, and a cold, occasioned hy having been 
 caught in a storm, confined him to his chamber, 
 It was now he felt the fullest extent of the loss 
 which he had sustained ; too well acquainted 
 with the nature of his disorder to be deceived by
 
 AMBITION. 203 
 
 the hope of a recovery, he felt that when death 
 claimed its victim, Mabel would be left without 
 a protector, without a friend on earth ; the idea 
 of what might be her sufferings at some future 
 period, caused an anguish of heart that only 
 hastened the end of his existence. 
 
 He suspected, and with pain the suspicion had 
 been formed, that the regard which Mabel and 
 the young earl entertained for each other, 
 amounted to something more than common 
 friendship ; he foresaw the unhappy consequences 
 of a confirmation of his fears, and sincerely 
 repented that civility which had led him to make 
 overtures of intimacy towards him. 
 
 One morning, feeling himself a little stronger 
 than usual, Captain Glendower, ever anxious 
 about the fate of his child, proceeded to form 
 some plan for her future comfort: he saw the 
 absolute necessity for placing her under the pro- 
 tection of some female friend, yet to whom, 
 amongst his little circle of acquaintances, could 
 he confide so precious a charge ? He knew not 
 one in the world worthy of the trust, (what a
 
 204 AMBITION. 
 
 feeling for a father!) till, at length, he recol- 
 lected a distant relation of his wife, of whom 
 that lamented woman had sometimes spoken in 
 favourable terms ; to her, then, he determined to 
 apply. At any other time he would quickly 
 have banished the idea from his mind; but now 
 necessity urged him to it, and circumstances 
 made his spirit bow to what it would have 
 spurned before. 
 
 Taking up his pen, he wrote to Lady Williams, 
 and having informed her of the death of his wife, 
 and his present debilitated state, he entreated 
 her to take the child of her kinswoman under 
 her protection. Having finished his epistle, 
 he sealed and dispatched it, then waited an- 
 xiously for a reply, which at length came, 
 filled with expressions of condolence and sym- 
 pathy, and expressing the delight she should 
 experience in receiving under her care the child 
 of her much-loved Leah, Thus was the greatest 
 burden removed from the aching heart of this 
 amiable man, and he could look on the future
 
 AMBITION. 205 
 
 situation of his child with a slight degree of 
 satisfaction. 
 
 On the second evening after the receipt of this 
 letter, as he was resting on the pillows by which 
 he was supported, a chilling faintness stole over 
 his frame, and he felt the hand of death fast 
 approaching. Mabel was seated at the foot of 
 the bed, he beckoned her towards him, then 
 summoning all the strength which he possessed, 
 uttered a short but fervent prayer for Ins child, 
 and, as he clasped her to his heart, resigned 
 his spirit into the hands of his maker. Mabel 
 imagined that he had only fainted, and laying 
 him gently on the pillow, called for assist- 
 ance ; the nurse approached, and perceiving that 
 the last spark of existence had flown, in the 
 gentlest terms informed his hapless daughter. 
 She had never imagined that her father's illness 
 admitted not of recoverv, she had not been 
 warned of his danger, for even the doctor had 
 encouraged her false hopes, and though Captain 
 Glendower had often spoken to her of his ap^
 
 206 AMBITION. 
 
 proaching death, she had considered it an idea 
 engendered by his weak state of health. On 
 being told that her father was really dead, her 
 senses were horror-stricken ; she did not move, 
 her blood curdled, her eyes assumed a glassy 
 stillness, and her countenance became paler than 
 the corpse she looked upon ; with some difficulty 
 the female attendants removed her to another 
 apartment, and, placing her on a couch, dis- 
 patched a messenger to the village for Mr. Jones, 
 the surgeon. In a short time he appeared, and, 
 having ordered her to be carefully attended, en- 
 tered the apartment of his late patient. He 
 possessed a feeling heart, and sighed as he con- 
 templated the change which had taken place in 
 the course of a few short months ; it was not long 
 since Mabel, glowing with health and spirits, 
 had been blest with the protection of two amiable 
 parents, whose only study had been to make her 
 happy; but now, bereft of both, forlorn and 
 friendless, deprived of comfort, almost of rea- 
 son, she lay a melancholy victim to sorrow and 
 affliction ; his heart bled for her situation and he
 
 AMBITION. 207 
 
 resolved on doing all that lay in his power to 
 serve her. 
 
 From motives of delicacy the earl had dis- 
 continued his evening visits to the cottage, but 
 had generally called on a morning to see the 
 captain in his own apartment, or, if he was 
 asleep, to enquire of the servants how he had 
 passed the night. He had this morning paid his 
 usual visit, but, as the captain was sleeping 
 when he called, he did not proceed up stairs, 
 therefore he was not aware of the change which 
 had taken place ; but on visiting the cottage on 
 the following day, he perceived by the coun- 
 tenances of the domestics that some calamity 
 had happened. On enquiring, he was informed 
 of the death of their master, he spoke not, 
 but proceeded immediately to the apartment ; 
 no one followed him, and closing the door he 
 knelt down by the side of the bed. 
 
 It was a solemn hour that Lord Gwynne- 
 Arthur spent with the cold remains of his loved 
 and valued friend; anguish sat heavy on his heart, 
 and, as he wept over the corpse, and kissed the
 
 208 AMBITION. 
 
 inanimate hand, he pledged himself by a sacred 
 oath, whilst he lived, to be a protector to his 
 daughter. 
 
 On leaving this melancholy scene, and en- 
 quiring for Miss Glendower, he was informed 
 that she was confined to her bed in a high fever, 
 and had been delirious ever since the period of 
 her father's death. Here was an additional 
 shock to feelings already probed to the quick, 
 and he quitted the house to indulge his grief in 
 some place more secure from observation. On 
 returning to the castle, his mother observed the 
 deep melancholy which was visible in his coun- 
 tenance, and eagerly enquired the reason, but 
 he assigned some trivial cause, and immediatelv 
 left her presence. 
 
 On that day, the countess, and the few 
 guests who were visiting at the castle, departed 
 for the country seat of a neighbouring gentle- 
 man, where they had consented to spend a few 
 weeks ere their departure for town. The earl 
 had promised to accompany them thither, but, 
 as he now deemed it impossible to leave Mabel
 
 AMBITION. 209 
 
 in her present situation, he excused himsel ' 
 under pretence of attending to the erection of 
 a Chinese temple, which was building in the 
 park. He promised to join them at the expi- 
 ration of a week, and having had the satisfaction 
 of seeing the carriages drive off, retired to indulge 
 his feelings without interruption. 
 
 Soon as he found himself alone, he flew to the 
 cottage of his idolized Mabel ; but as he entered 
 the now solitary parlour, the change which it 
 exhibited struck forcibly upon his heart; all things 
 seemed neglected, the dust remained on the 
 furniture, the piano-forte was shut, and the 
 withered nosegay, which stood in a small china 
 vase on a side table, betrayed the confused 
 agitation of the melancholy inhabitants, whilst 
 it presented but too striking an emblem of the 
 drooping mourner, who, bowed down by afflic- 
 tion, was withering even in the bud. 
 
 As he stood contemplating this gloomy scene, 
 the door opened, and Mr. Jones entered ; he 
 was surprised to see the earl ; bowed, and 
 was retiring, when his lordship called him back.
 
 210 AMBITION. 
 
 " Stay, Mr. Jones/' he exclaimed, " you are 
 the very person I wish to speak to ; — but you 
 appear astonished at beholding me !" 
 
 " I confess, my lord, your presence is rather 
 unexpected ; I came to see my poor unhappy 
 patient above stairs." 
 
 " How is she?" enquired the earl, eagerly, 
 '* how is the poor, clear, unfortunate girl? r ' 
 
 Mr. Jones appeared still more surprized, the 
 earl blushed at the warmth of his expression, 
 and, with the intention of silencing any suspicion 
 which he might incautiously have raised, he 
 continued, " I was on intimate terms with 
 Captain Glendower, and in losing him, have 
 lost one of the dearest friends I ever pos- 
 sessed." 
 
 Mr. Jones seemed affected, the earl was so, 
 and for some time neither of them spoke. At 
 length the former said, " Miss Glendower is 
 very ill, but her illness is not dangerous; as 
 soon as she is able to leave her apartment, 
 I shall offer her an asylum beneath my roof : 
 I am a husband, and a father, my lord, I can
 
 AMBITION. 211 
 
 feel for the defenceless state of an innocent 
 female, and, had a daughter of mine been left 
 in her situation, Captain Glendower would not 
 have allowed her suspicionless mind to lie open 
 to the attacks of fraud, but protected her from 
 the cunning of mankind ; may I act as he would 
 have acted, and let every man do as he would 
 be done by !" 
 
 " Mr. Jones !" exclaimed the earl, much 
 astonished, " I admire your sentiment, and 
 echo it ; but if it hath any personal allusion, 
 for your expressions are strong, allow me to 
 defend myself, and declare that I am as zealous 
 an advocate for virtue as you are ; and that any 
 man, who would wantonly plant a thorn in the 
 bosom of an innocent and helplesss woman, 
 would prove himself unworthy of society, his 
 sex, and his country, and a blot on the page 
 of human nature !" 
 
 " My lord," replied Mr. Jones, " I pray you 
 will not mistake me, being of an impetuous 
 temper I cannot conceal my sentiments ; I have 
 seen so much of the villainy of mankind, and
 
 212 AMBITION. 
 
 injustice to their country amongst those who 
 have pretended to protect it from every kind of 
 oppression, have witnessed such scenes of 
 seduction, and beheld so many young and 
 lovely victims to a lawless passion, that when 
 I begin to speak of virtuous and defenceless 
 women, without intending it, I grow warm in 
 their cause, and whosoever should be present 
 might take it as a personal attack." 
 
 The earl was charmed with the sentiments 
 evinced by this upright, honest man ; and sighed 
 to think that only amongst the middling classes of 
 society, must we look for principles that would 
 lend an additional lustre even to the diadem. 
 
 Mr. Jones, by the direction of Lord Gwynne- 
 Arthur, had arranged the sad ceremony of 
 committing the remains of Captain Glendower 
 to the tomb ; and, in compassion to the feelings 
 of his child, had conducted it with the utmost 
 privacy. Mrs. Jones, and her two daughters, 
 were unremitting in their attention at the sick 
 bed of Mabel, whilst the earl, and Mr. Jones, 
 with the domestics and some of the villagers,
 
 AMBITION. 213 
 
 followed the cold corse of the lamented Glen- 
 dower to the peaceful grave. 
 
 Honoured and respected did he pass through 
 life, so did he sink into the tomb, and whilst the 
 cold marble which covered him was bathed 
 with the tears of the widow, and the 
 orphan, bis image dwelt in their remembrance, 
 and as long as recollection retained a sense of 
 gratitude, it was impressed upon their hearts, 
 and associated with the noblest ideas of human 
 goodness. 
 
 It was now time for the earl to join his mother 
 at B — , but to leave Gwynne- Arthur at present 
 was impossible ; therefore, writing an apology, 
 and an excuse for staying a few days longer, 
 he dispatched a messenger with it, to the 
 countess. 
 
 On the following day Mabel was able to leave 
 her chamber. Mr. Jones had offered her a quiet 
 retreat beneath his friendly roof, but her heart, 
 clinging fondly to each remembrance of beings 
 so dearly loved, so quickly snatched away, 
 refused to quit a spot where the days of her
 
 214 AMBITION. 
 
 infancy had been passed in bliss, where a mother's 
 love had gratified each childish want, and the 
 affection of a father poured kind instruction on 
 her youthful mind ; Oh t no, it was impossible, 
 until she quitted the neighbourhood altogether ; 
 but she could feel the full force of the kindness, 
 which induced him to make the proposal, and 
 though, with a grateful heart she declined it, she 
 thankfully accepted the delicate and affectionate 
 offer of Mrs. and the Misses Jones' society, 
 during the short time she would remain there. 
 
 The earl had visited her once since the death 
 of her father ; it was a sad meeting, and sighs 
 and tears had filled up the lack of words ; he 
 now came to bid her farewell, and as soon as 
 they were alone, informed her that it was with 
 much sorrow he was compelled to leave Gwynne- 
 Arthur on the following morning. 
 
 " But" added he, " I hope not for any length 
 of time, and may I, Miss Glendower, without 
 any offence, claim the privilege of an old 
 acquaintance ; to call when I return, and — and 
 — to — to write to you during my absence ?"
 
 AMBITION. 215 
 
 A very deep blush crimsoned the pale cheek 
 of Mabel, and she replied, rather confusedly, 
 
 " My father's friends, my lord, can never be 
 unwelcome, and to know that they are well and 
 happy must be one of the sources whence I hope 
 to derive a small degree of comfort ; but that we 
 shall meet again is not likely, therefore any intel- 
 ligence, except that of a public nature, will be 
 unnecessary. Pardon me, my lord, I do not 
 mean to offend, I — I mean — I express my 
 meaning awkwardly — it is not likely that I shall 
 be here when you return ; I will be candid with 
 you, my dear father too truly perceived that 
 I should soon be without a protector, and having 
 no near relative of his own, he wrote to a lady 
 distantly related to my mother, who promised if 
 he did not recover, to take me under her care, 
 Mr. Jones — and the kindness which I have received 
 from him and his family will never be forgotten, — 
 has written to Lady Williams, to inform her of 
 the melancholy event which obliges me to claim 
 her promise, and as soon as he receives an 
 answer, I must prepare to join her ladyship,"
 
 210 AMBITION. 
 
 During her speech Mabel had endeavoured to 
 suppress feeling, and to speak with indifference 
 on subjects which brought recollections to her 
 mind that filled her heart with anguish. 
 
 " Then you leave Gwynne-Arthur, entirely/' 
 observed the earl. 
 
 " Yes, my lord, and heaven only knows when 
 I may visit it again, if ever ! " 
 
 " Am I never to behold you more, Miss 
 Glendower, nor be permitted to write to you ? 
 by the friendship I have cherished for your 
 father, by the duty I owe you as his daughter, 
 I claim the privilege of both seeing and writing 
 to you." 
 
 " My lord, I have told you how I am situated, 
 you must perceive the necessity I have for remo- 
 ving to the protection of my aunt ; Mrs. and 
 Miss Jones cannot stay with me for ever, and 
 should I even accept their generous invitation, 
 and become an inmate in their family, think you 
 J could bear to remain on a spot where every 
 object reminds me of the irreparable loss I have
 
 AMBITION. 217 
 
 sustained ? besides, it was my father's wish that 
 I should reside with Lady Williams, his last 
 command I dare not disobey. But should 
 chance ever afford us an opportunity of meeting 
 again, believe me, my lord, there is not now a 
 being on earth I could behold with more 
 pleasure ! " 
 
 " Dear Miss Glendower, against your incli- 
 nation I cannot enforce my wishes, but you will 
 not leave Gwynne-Arthur yet, surely?" 
 
 " At the expiration of a week I must." 
 
 " Say a fortnight ! another fortnight ; and at 
 the end of that time I will return to take a last 
 farewell." 
 
 Mabel turned from him, what could she ima- 
 gine I could she dare hope he felt for her more 
 than common regard? could she presume to 
 think he viewed her with affection ! yet why so 
 anxiously insist on seeing her again if she was 
 indifferent to him ? 
 
 After a moment's silence, she replied, " my 
 lord, I cannot refuse your request, I will stay 
 the time you mention."
 
 «>18 AMBITION. 
 
 " Dear, kind girl ! " he exclaimed, catching 
 her hand and pressing it ardently, " farewell 
 then for the present, but I shall not be long ere 
 I return to bid you, I hope, not a last farewell ! " 
 
 " Adieu, my lord," said Mabel, in a trem- 
 bling voice, and the earl quitted the apartment. 
 
 Mabel watched him until he had passed the 
 back gate, and when she had entirely lost sight 
 of him, she felt as though every tie that bound 
 her to earth were severed. 
 
 At this moment Miss Jones entered, " I have 
 just parted from my father's friend," said Miss 
 Glendower, mournfully, * and a straDge fore- 
 boding tells me that we shall never meet again.'' 
 
 "■ It must, indeed, be distressing to part from 
 any one who shared the esteem of so idolized 
 a parent," replied the kind-hearted Lucy, " but 
 to be separated from one who has a stronger 
 claim on our feelings than even the friendship 
 of a father, one for whom the heart sorrows on 
 its own accouut, is sufficient to rouse every 
 acute emotion ; I see you frown, Mabel, and 
 look surprised, do not think me wanting in that
 
 AMBITION. Ul9 
 
 delicacy which your present situation requires ; 
 heaven knows, sooner than probe your feelings 
 I would soothe them, and endeavour to teach 
 you fortitude under an evil which cannot be 
 evaded." 
 
 " Evil ! Miss Jones, my dear Lucy, what do 
 you mean l" 
 
 " Pardon my abrupt language, to preface 
 what I have to say, may only wound deeper, 
 I have perceived — my dear girl how you tremble ; 
 I have only perceived that there is a kind of 
 attachment between you and the earl." 
 
 u Lucy, how can you think so !" Mabel burst 
 into tears. 
 
 " My dear girl !" exclaimed Lucy, taking 
 her hand, " pardon me if I have wounded you, 
 believe me it was far from my intention to do so, 
 I have perceived your attachment, and would 
 fain teach you to suppress it; you are young, 
 Mabel, it is well to guard against first 
 impressions, but it is difficult, at your age, 
 to stifle feelings to which our hearts are but too 
 prone, and which are implanted in us, r.ot to
 
 220 AMBITION. 
 
 ruin, but to make our happiness. I do not 
 condemn you for loving, if you are sure of 
 a return, but do not, oh ! do not, I pray you, 
 encourage a passion that may be attended with 
 more misery than comfort !" 
 
 <s I do not encourage it," returned Mabel, 
 " I never did, and I never will!" 
 Vain resolution ! 
 
 Miss Glendower now received a summons 
 from Mr. Jones, who wished to speak with her 
 in private. On entering the apartment, he 
 desired her to take a seat, and addressed her 
 in the following words : 
 
 " My dear Miss Glendower, as you will 
 shortly be leaving the society of my family for 
 the protection of Lady Williams, allow me to 
 acquaint you with some particulars winch it is 
 necessary you should know. Your father, when 
 making his will, of course bequeathed the whole 
 of his property to you, but he has appointed 
 you no guardian ; his motive for so doing he 
 expressed to me ; he trusted that discretion, and 
 the native rectitude of heart he knew you to
 
 AMBITION. 221 
 
 possess, would prevent you from acting wrong, 
 and feared that, if subjected to the authority of 
 another, you might be driven, by the severity 
 of delegated power, to measures which, whilst 
 you possess the freedom of choice, you will 
 instinctively shrink from. Such were his rea- 
 sons, Miss Glendower, may they, in the event, 
 prove more happy than they appear safe ; at an 
 early age you are become your own mistress, 
 may heaven direct your inexperienced youth, 
 and may you prove a bright example that virtue, 
 unprotected, unfriended, and forlorn, can be 
 virtue still!" 
 
 Mabel burst into a flood of tears, Mr. Jones 
 continued, " In your present state of feeling, 
 Miss Glendower, I would willingly spare you 
 further pain, but since what I have to acquaint 
 you with, concerns you exclusively, you alone 
 must hear it. I believe you are aware of the 
 state of your father's finances, if not you must 
 know now." He then in the most gentle and 
 delicate terms, informed the weeping girl that 
 from the narrow income Captain Glendower had 
 
 VOL. I. l
 
 222 AMBITION. 
 
 possessed, a comparatively small sum, which 
 was placed in a bank in town, was all he had 
 to leave her in cash, " But the house and 
 furniture are also yours, Miss Glendower, 
 with whatever valuables he may have possessed; 
 the cottage is handsome, the furniture rich, you 
 are going to leave the country, and, though 
 bound to no authority, may be entirely under 
 the controul of her ladyship ; a furnished cottage 
 in a remote corner of Wales will be of little 
 service to you, whilst mixing in the gay world, 
 and years may elapse ere you again visit this 
 retired spot. If I may be allowed to suggest 
 a proposition, which I certainly think will prove 
 to your advantage, I would advise you to 
 sell the furniture, and let the cottage, if we 
 can find a tenant for it, as it cannot be otherwise 
 disposed of, which will make a considerable 
 addition to what you already possess." 
 
 " Oh, Sir, it is impossible ! " exclaimed Mabel, 
 " my father prized his little dwelling, and every 
 thing belonging to it ; I cannot, — must not have 
 a single article displaced. The little he has left
 
 AMBITION. 223 
 
 me will be as much as I shall require. It is true 
 that a cottage so far distant from the metropolis 
 will be of small service to me whilst engaged in 
 the bustle of the world ; but the time may 
 come, Mr. Jones, when I may esteem myself 
 fortunate in having made this reserve, for, should 
 I weary of the course of life upon which I am 
 about to enter, I shall feel a satisfaction in being 
 able to retire to this humble dwelling, where 
 I may enjoy that happiness which I do not 
 expect to meet with in the circles of gaiety." 
 And as Mabel had thus expressed her determina- 
 tion, Mr. Jones would not press advice which he 
 saw did not exactly accord with her ideas on the 
 subject. 
 
 In a few days Miss Glendower received a 
 letter from Lady Williams, requesting to know 
 at what time she should send for her; Mabel 
 immediately wrote an answer, thanking her 
 ladyship for her kindness, and stating the period 
 when she should be ready to attend her, then 
 applied herself most assiduously to prepare for
 
 224 AMBITION. 
 
 her departure, for she felt it a considerable relief 
 to her mind, to be engaged in any pursuit that 
 drew her attention from surrounding objects.
 
 AMBITION. 225 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE FAREWELL. 
 
 The fairy beam upon you ! 
 
 The stars, too, glisten on you, 
 
 A moon of light, in the noon of night, 
 
 Till the fire-drake hath o'ergone you ! 
 
 May the wheel of Fortune guide you ! 
 The boy with the bow beside you, 
 Run aye in the way, till the bird of day, 
 And the lucky lot, betide you ! 
 
 Ben Jonson. 
 
 On the evening preceding the day of her 
 departure, Mabel walked to the cwm, to visit 
 some of the old people whom her father had 
 occasionally assisted in cases of illness, and in 
 pecuniary matters. On arriving at the cottage of
 
 226 AMBITION, 
 
 Griff Rees, she found him, with his wife and two 
 lovely children, seated in tranquillity at his 
 evening meal. The family arose respectfully to 
 receive her, and when she acquainted them with 
 the purpose of her visit, which was to bid them 
 adieu, expressed the utmost regret; but, not 
 having much time to spend with these honest 
 cottagers, Mabel deposited a purse upon the 
 dresser, containing as large a sum as she could 
 spare, and took a hasty farewell. 
 
 She returned home through Gwynne- Arthur 
 park, and pursued her way dejectedly along 
 the banks of a clear sheet of water, which 
 lay at the bottom of the lawn ; sometimes gazing 
 intently upon the unruffled expanse at her feet, 
 at others casting a painful, retrospective glance 
 over the surrounding objects of village scenery. 
 
 She could not avoid thinking of the earl, for 
 though her father's image principally occupied 
 her remembrance, it was but natural that her 
 thoughts should sometimes revert to an object so 
 fascinating. The fortnight had elapsed, and he 
 had not returned, as he had proposed, to bid her
 
 AMBITION. 227 
 
 farewell; she felt a little vexed, but it was a 
 feeling which she soon subdued. " Well," 
 thought she, " it is better that it should be so, 
 for if he even does feel a small portion of regard 
 for me, of which I am uncertain, absence, 
 change of scene, and new faces, will very soon 
 banish me from his recollection ; jtnd what 
 happiness can I expect from the encouragement 
 of a passion which must one day or other receive 
 the cruellest disappointment ? He does right in 
 not coming; he perceives the error of his conduct, 
 and I will endeavour to correct mine" 
 
 As she thus lingered pensively along, turning 
 with the winding course of the path, she acci- 
 dentally encountered one of whom she had not 
 yet taken leave ; an old acquaintance who had 
 been the indulgent friend of her infancv, 
 Valentine, the bard of the castle. 
 
 It was one of those fine mellow evenings 
 which sometimes enliven the latter period of the 
 year ; the rich autumnal tint was beginning to 
 fade from the landscape, the windows of the 
 western sky were hung with yellow and crimson
 
 228 AMBITION. 
 
 drapery, and the crescent already trembled in the 
 shining surface of the lake. 
 
 Valentine was seated upon a small hillock at a 
 little distance from the path-way, beneath the shade 
 of a few venerable oaks ; his figure cut sharply 
 against the waning light, and gave, altogether, 
 a very interesting and picturesque appearance. 
 
 His harp, his constant companion, stood 
 beside him, his arm was thrown around it, and 
 his temple leaned against the instrument; his 
 head was silvered over, but not with age, for even 
 Valentine had had his troubles in his time, and 
 being of a melancholy and contemplative dispo- 
 sition had greatly contributed to effect this 
 change. His eye, beaming with poetic fervour, 
 was fixed upon the cloudless heavens ; and 
 by the celestial expression of tranquillity 
 which reigned in his countenance, one might 
 almost have judged that he was holding converse 
 with beings of a superior order, the place, — the 
 hour, — every thing conspired to strengthen the 
 idea, and it must have been from seeing him 
 at these periods, and in this particular temper,
 
 AMBITION. 229 
 
 that the peasantry imbibed the notion that he 
 possessed supernatural talents. He was chaunting 
 a little hymn to the evening star : 
 
 Hail, to thy clear and glorious ray, 
 
 Fair Queen of a celestial band, 
 Though Evening half obscures the day, 
 
 Thy beams throw brightness o'er the land. 
 
 Terrestial objects fainter grow, 
 
 Enveloped in a deeper shade ; 
 But thou, in majesty, dost glow, 
 
 In light and purity arrayed. 
 
 Thine holy influence spreads a calm 
 
 Upon the darken'd face of night, 
 And sheds o'er riven hearts a balm, 
 
 A peace — approaching to delight ! 
 
 Cloud after cloud now slowly sweeps, 
 
 And wraps, in deepening gloom, the day ; 
 
 And the damp vapour onward creeps, 
 But nought obscures thy cloudless ray ! 
 
 Every thing about this spot had an air of 
 romantic grandeur, except Valentine's light- 
 footed companion, who completely spoiled the 
 picturesque effect of the scene. This was no 
 other than a very beautiful tortoise-shell cat (the 
 most w/ipoetical attendant for a minstrel that can
 
 230 AMBITION. 
 
 be imagined), with face, breast, and paws as 
 white as the driven snow ; and though certainly 
 a very fine animal, had rather a ludicrous 
 appearance in its present situation. It was 
 a great favorite with the bard, who had saved it 
 from drowning by the hands of a cruel boy when 
 about a fortnight old, he had nursed it, petted it, 
 and having tamed down all the natural wildness 
 and ferocity of its disposition, had brought it up 
 as gentle as a lamb, and as playful as a kitten. 
 He had, indeed spared no pains to complete its 
 education, and perfect it in all becoming accom- 
 plishments ; and so grateful and docile had the 
 pupil proved, that none of the minstrel's instruc- 
 tions were thrown away, and the animal ever 
 followed its master with the affection of a spaniel, 
 — in short it was a very well-bred brute. 
 
 In his poetic zeal, Valentine had given his cat 
 the appellation of one of his favourite poets, — 
 Tasso ; but he appeared to overlook, in his par- 
 tiality towards his pet, the degradation which he 
 offered to the poet ; though when we contemplate 
 the numerous breed of Pompeys, Caesars, and
 
 AMBITION. 231 
 
 Catos, that are daily springing up in the forms 
 of mastiffs, terriers, and Newfoundland dogs, we 
 cannot think that Valentine offered so heinous an 
 offence to the memory of Tasso ; at any rate, 
 the Italian might have had a much worse 
 representative than the quiet little animal here 
 referred to. It was evident that Valentine was 
 not a little proud of the beauty of his pet, for he 
 had fastened round its neck a pale, poetic-blue 
 ribbon, with a bow and silver tassel, which, by 
 all rules of fashion and elegance, should have 
 preserved its station on the back of the neck, 
 but which invariably turned round to the front, 
 (though the bard arranged it more than fifty 
 times in the course of the day) and hung 
 dangling beneath the animal's chin ; but never- 
 theless, it looked very pretty upon the downy 
 front that supported it. 
 
 Signor Tasso was as regular an appendage to 
 the minstrel as was his harp ; they strolled out 
 in the fields, they wandered together in the 
 meadows, by the lake, and up the mountain 
 side ; though he gave his master more trouble
 
 232 AMBITION. 
 
 than a spaniel of the same size would have 
 done, for if, in the course of their perambula- 
 tions, they chanced to come to a wet or miry 
 place, sigrior Tasso, — who, besides being of a 
 very mild and lazy disposition, was remarkably 
 tenacious of soiling even the sole of his foot, — 
 was mounted upon the minstrel's shoulder, or 
 under his arm ; and they jogged on, as merrily 
 as two travellers may, one chaunting the fag end 
 of a love ditty, and the other purring in 
 concert. 
 
 Signor Tasso was certainly born in a lucky 
 hour, it might be said of hbn " a charmed life 
 he bears ;" for there seemed to be a magic influ- 
 ence surrounding his person, which preserved it 
 from all those oppressions and mishaps into 
 which vulgar cats generally fall. The domestics 
 at the castle were kind to him, the cottagers 
 and peasants tolerant, even the boys of the 
 village never offered him the slightest molesta- 
 tion, but all of whom had corrupted his poetical 
 Italian appellative into — fob! — into plain, 
 rude, — Taffy ! which, perhaps, was better
 
 AMBITION. 233 
 
 adapted to their comprehension, connecting it, 
 very probably, in their imaginations, with that 
 elegant couplet, — 
 
 Taffy was a Welchman, 
 Taffy was a thief \ 
 
 Yet I must do signor Tasso the justice to say, 
 it could not possibly have any allusion to him, for 
 there was not a more honourable Taffy in the 
 neighbourhood ; having a plenteous board of his 
 own, he neither purloined nor coveted aught 
 from his neighbour. The countess petted him, 
 and the young earl himself, who always detested 
 and scouted common cats wherever he met with 
 them, invariably preserved a distant politeness 
 towards signor Tasso ; cautiously avoiding all 
 overtures of intimacy, but, at the same time, 
 careful not to wound his feelings in any respect, 
 indeed, so great was the veneration he shewed 
 him, that he always made way for him to pass, 
 whenever he saw him approach. Some ill-na- 
 tured people, indeed, perhaps those who envied 
 the general favour which he enjoyed, presumed
 
 234 AMBITION. 
 
 to say that the kindness shewn to Tasso, was 
 merely the effect of that respect which every one 
 felt for his master; be that as it may, signor 
 Tasso certainly led a very happy, and a very 
 lazy life through it. At present, he was busily 
 employed, whilst Valentine was contemplating 
 the heavens, in scampering to and fro, rolling 
 and leaping, amongst a heap of dried leaves, 
 which a slight gust of wind had recently shaken 
 from the trees ; the blue bow and silver tassel 
 fluttered on the little white throat, and, as every 
 breeze wafted a stray leaf to some small distance, 
 he was indefatigable in his endeavours to bring 
 it back again. 
 
 On seeing Miss Glendower, Valentine moved 
 from his contemplative position, and beckoned 
 her to approach, she did so, and seated herself 
 beside him ; neither of them spoke, the minstrel 
 gazed on her with a pensive smile, struck a few 
 melancholy chords, then turning towards his 
 young auditor, he said, " And thou art going to 
 leave us, lovely one ! Oh, thou wert brought up, 
 like a young and tender lamb, by the hand ; and
 
 AMBITION. 235 
 
 thou art now going into the fold, amongst ruder 
 and stranger of thy species than thou hast been 
 accustomed to; but beware, sweet one, the 
 wolf has often hidden himself in sheep's clothing, 
 and beware that you step not into his fangs ! 
 The world is full of wickedness, your greatest 
 crime will be your innocence, which it will seek 
 to destroy ; but when, in the course of years, 
 you return to Gwynne- Arthur, oh, may you 
 bring back that innocence uncorrupted, those 
 pure feelings undefiled, and that generous heart 
 unimpaired and unbiassed by the selfishness of 
 mankind ! " 
 
 " I will implore heaven to assist me in doing 
 so," said Mabel, " at any rate, Valentine, the 
 world shall never have power to harden my 
 heart towards old friends." 
 
 " Sweet one, thou knowest not the power 
 that the world will have over thee ; mixing with 
 the great body of society, thou canst not answer 
 for the veracity of thy sentiments, nor for 
 the perversion of thy feelings ; the world will 
 liave an imperceptible sway, and, whilst you
 
 236 AMBITION. 
 
 imagine yourself the free director of your 
 own conduct, every thought and action will be 
 the siave of opinion, Then go not into the 
 world, I beseech you, let it not have the chance 
 of vitiating you ; oh, remain on the land that 
 gave you birth, it hath nursed you, and will not 
 blast the fruit of the good seeds it hath 
 implanted." 
 
 " I would gladly remain," answered Mabel, 
 " but circumstances do not always accord with 
 inclination ; it was my father's wish that I should 
 seek the protection of my aunt." 
 
 " Ay, ay," said the old man, and, as he 
 spoke, dashed the tear-drop from his full dark 
 eye, " it was a wish that is not to be disputed ; 
 but may the hand of Providence guide you , you 
 will be like a rose cast forth upon tbe wilder- 
 ness ; a little, tiny flower, full of excellent pro- 
 mise, but liable to be destroyed by the first blast 
 of rude wind that crosses it. Oh, may you find 
 some sheltered spot, whereon to bloom and 
 flourish ! May you come forth from among the 
 children of iniquity, as Daniel did from the den
 
 AMBITION. 237 
 
 of lions, preserved from injury by the stedfast- 
 ness of his faith, and the holiness of his conduct! " 
 
 The old man was filled with enthusiasm, he 
 turned towards his harp, ran over a few notes, 
 then commenced a little plaintive ballad, which 
 he sung with great pathos. 
 
 The last ray of the declining sun settled on 
 the forehead of the minstrel, played round his 
 head for a moment, then sunk into shade: 
 it resembled his feelings, raised into a brilliant 
 glow by a momentary excitement, then subsiding 
 into tranquillity as soon as the sensation had 
 passed. 
 
 A most inelegant spitting and sputtering 
 from signor Tasso, who rushed to his strong- 
 hold upon his master's shoulder, now broke upon 
 their attention, and looking round they perceived 
 that it was caused by the sudden and unwelcome 
 appearance of Sable, a black poodle dog, be- 
 longing to the earl ; he appeared to be a very 
 innocent offender, and seemed not a little 
 alarmed by the storm which he had incautiously
 
 238 AMBITION, 
 
 raised; his eye was fixed upon Valentine's 
 pet, as though he feared to approach. 
 
 A distant whistle was heard at that moment, 
 and the dog bounded off in the direction whence 
 it proceeded. 
 
 " Come," said Valentine "the night-dews are 
 falling, you must not remain abroad longer." 
 
 They arose, and proceeded along the park, by 
 the water's edge. The stars had begim to 
 assemble in the bosom of the lake, which 
 reflected the clear surface of a moonlight sky ; 
 and Valentine, as he, moved along, in a low voice 
 chaunted the following irregular little ditty. 
 
 Love was, generally, the burden of his songs, 
 indeed the disappointment of his youth seemed 
 to have greatly influenced his tastes and dispo- 
 sitions in age. 
 
 Breathe not of love ! e'en in the name 
 
 Exists a fierce, consuming flame, 
 
 To scorch and wound this aching heart, 
 
 Which cannot in its truth be shaken ; 
 And will not, from its idol, part, 
 
 But lives to feel its love forsaken. 
 It is a long-abandoned theme, 
 
 Abandoned — though not quite forgot;
 
 AMBITION. 239 
 
 A thing on which I must not dream, 
 
 And pangless when remembered not ! 
 
 Beware of love ! it is a beam 
 
 Of " light from heaven," a brilliant dream 
 
 Of happiness, but, oh ! 'tis like 
 
 The lightning's flash, which, bright and 
 gleaming, 
 Will often most destructive strike, 
 
 And blast, — with all its glorious seeming. 
 Ah ! trust it not, 'tis fraught with guile, 
 
 As faithless as divinely fair ; 
 And if upon thy soul it smile, 
 
 'Tis but to plant its poison there ! 
 
 On arriving at the park-gate, whence a lane 
 branched off to the canal-bank that led to Miss 
 Glendower's habitation, Mabel bade the minstrel 
 farewell ; at the sound of the words Valentine 
 looked around, hummed a little air, as if to keep 
 down his feelings, then turned, and with an air 
 of venerable gallantry, imprinted a most 
 respectful kiss upon her hand ; called to Tasso, 
 tucked him under his arm, repeated the farewell, 
 and with a quick step hurried back towards the 
 castle. 
 
 Mabel stopped a moment to look after him ;
 
 240 AMBITION. 
 
 parting from Valentine was a trial she would fain 
 have avoided, and, as she gazed upon his 
 receding form, memory called up the time, when, 
 on a fine summer evening, seated at the door of 
 their habitation, how oft had Valentine in the 
 days of her infancy, attempted to guide her 
 little fingers across the instrument, whilst her 
 father and mother watched her baby efforts with 
 doating fondness. 
 
 It was a clear, moonlight evening, and Mabel 
 pursued her way slowly along the canal-bank, 
 when a black dog leaped across her path, which 
 caused her to start and almost scream. 
 
 " Down, Sable!" exclaimed a voice near 
 her, a footstep approached, and in the next 
 moment the earl was at her side. 
 
 The evening salutation over, the earl ex- 
 claimed, " I have but just arrived, and was 
 hastening to your habitation, when, thus you 
 see, I have the good fortune to overtake 
 you ; but when do you intend leaving the 
 village ?" 
 
 i( To-morrow morning.''
 
 AMBITION. 241 
 
 " To-morrow morning! then shall I never 
 see you again ?" 
 
 " Perhaps not, my lord." 
 
 " How coolly you answer so ; believe me, 
 Miss Glendower, though it may be of no 
 consequence to you whether we meet again, it 
 is a subject that will very much interfere with 
 my tranquillity." Mabel trembled, the earl 
 continued. " You leave Gwynne-Arthur to- 
 morrow, but you shall not quit it without 
 knowing my sentiments. 1 esteem you beyond 
 any other woman on earth, and I would fain 
 ask whether the attachment that has begun in 
 friendship, may be perpetuated into a warmer 
 feeling ? 
 
 " Dearest Mabel, forgive me, I know that 
 at this period, I ought not to mention such a 
 thing, but you are going to leave Gwynne- 
 Arthur, and I may never have another 
 opportunity of acquainting you with my senti- 
 ments." 
 
 " Then why, my lord, embrace the present?"
 
 242 AMBITION. 
 
 returned Mabel, " if we are not to meet again, 
 this declaration, with which you are pleased to 
 honour me, will add but little to the happiness 
 of either." 
 
 " Oh do not talk of it !" exclaimed the earl, 
 " it is impossible that we should not meet again, 
 what can separate us? By heaven nothing shall, 
 unless you desire it ! but perhaps I intrude, 
 dearest Mabel, is it disagreeable to you that 
 I should talk thus?" 
 
 " Disagreeable!" repeated Mabel, with em- 
 phasis, " Ob ! my lord, it may be more unfor- 
 tunate!' 
 
 " What mean you?" asked the earl, " how 
 can it be unfortunate ? I love you Mabel, nay 
 idolize : — if I am so happy as to have that 
 sentiment returned, even in a small degree, 
 I shall deem myself most fortunate ; and I can- 
 not see the very great harm that would accrue 
 to you from it. But, for heaven's sake, deal 
 candidly with me ; if you think it possible that 
 you can ever love me, let me know it for my 
 consolation ; if I am indifferent, — nay worse,
 
 AMBITION. 243 
 
 disagreeable, let me know that also, that time 
 and reason may teach me to master my feelings j 
 for, should it really be the case, the sooner the 
 better I conquer a passion which promises to be 
 attended with so much unhappiness. 
 
 " The sooner the better we conquer a passion 
 which promises to be attended with so much 
 unhappiness!" repeated Mabel, energetically. 
 
 " Then you do confess some portion of 
 regard I " cried the earl. " Oh Mabel, if I do 
 not pervert your words, your meaning, I think, 
 speaks through them. You will promise to — 
 to — love me — if you can I" 
 
 " I know not what love is, my lord," replied 
 Mabel with as much calmness as she could 
 assume, "if the regard that 1 feel for your 
 lordship (which originated in my father's high 
 esteem, and well-founded good opinion of your- 
 self, and the veneration in which he held your 
 noble family) is love, then, indeed, in justice 
 to myself, I will acknowledge it to be pure and 
 disinterested, too disinterested to allow you to 
 encourage a sentiment which may in the event
 
 244 AMBITION. 
 
 prove injurious to you ; but I cannot think that 
 it is, or how can I, almost without a blush, 
 acknowledge the existence of such a passion : 
 either I must be deficient in that delicacy which 
 is accounted the chief ornament of my sex, or 
 I have given the feeling a wrong name !" 
 
 " My sweet girl," exclaimed Gwynne- Arthur, 
 " why should you blush to confess so chaste 
 a sentiment? I am certain you have not a 
 thought that requires to be concealed, and, it 
 is the purity of the flame which emboldens the 
 confession." 
 
 " Stay, my lord," interrupted Mabel, " I have 
 yet a little more to say, you desire me to be 
 candid, and I will be so, but you must pardon 
 the liberty which I shall use in speaking to you, 
 for be assured, that the present moment will 
 tinge the course of our future lives, more than 
 either of us is yet aware. I think, my lord, that 
 you, as well as I, have mistaken that feeling to 
 which you have given the name of love, or you 
 have applied it wrongly in promising to love me ; 
 nay, allow me to proceed, you shall have my
 
 AMBITION. 245 
 
 reasons. You are very young, very enthusiastic, 
 but the same energy of disposition which now 
 prompts you to be so pressing, will, in the 
 course of a few short months, when absence 
 and change of scene have had their due effect, 
 carry you in the pursuit of a new and fairer 
 object ; do not think that I say this, my lord, as 
 cautioning you not to do so, for, believe me, 
 I have not so much presumption ; I only tell 
 you what I feel will be the case. Love dwells 
 long in the heart, and firmly, but it is a kind of 
 compact into which none should enter, but 
 whose strength of affection will enable them to 
 cherish it for ever ; therefore make no profes- 
 sions, my lord, but such as your own good 
 sense and foresight assure you are in your 
 power to keep : that of continued love to me 
 I know to be impossible, not that I consider 
 your heart a bad soil for so laudable a feeling ; 
 on the contrary, it is the object I find fault with, 
 who falls so far short of your own merits. 
 
 " To-morrow we part, uncertain when we 
 shall meet again, and you may never hear of me 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 246 AMBITION. 
 
 more; examine your own heart, and you will 
 find that your affection is not proof against this : 
 love will often endure through difficulties, dan- 
 gers, and crosses, but I am told that it seldom 
 exists when the object is out of remembrance. 
 With your perfections it is impossible, that, 
 mixing in the gay world, you should not 
 be admired; you will love and be loved in 
 return ; you will attach yourself to your equal 
 in rank, and lortune, as well as in mental 
 and personal qualifications, you will marry her, 
 and — and you will be happy. Consider, my lord, 
 if you even could love me for ever, and I could 
 return your passion with the same ardour, 
 consider what insuperable difficulties arise 
 between us ; your own superiority in every 
 respect, the amazing difference in rank and 
 fortune, and the injustice you would do your 
 family by such a condescension ; I am astonished 
 that you should have noticed us at all, still more 
 that you should think of — of any kind of connec- 
 tion. I shall always feel grateful for your lord- 
 ship's kindness, and good opinion, but it
 
 AMBITION. 247 
 
 would be madness to encourage any other 
 feeling." 
 
 " Why should you speak of difference of 
 situation?" exclaimed Gwynne- Arthur, warmly, 
 " you surely cannot think 1 am possessed with so 
 great an opinion of my own consequence as to be 
 unable to respect talent and virtue wherever 
 I find them ! But your father, Miss Glendower, 
 would not thus contemptuously have spurned 
 • any kind of connection ' with one whom you are 
 pleased to flatter with an idea of your esteem." 
 
 " In reply- to your first observation, my lord, 
 I can only say that your actions have given a 
 most decisive proof of its veracity; but you 
 must have felt the cruelty of the latter part of 
 your speech, even whilst you uttered it. My 
 father would most sensibly have felt the obliga- 
 tion which you now confer on me, but he would, 
 at the same time, have despised a daughter who 
 was capable of taking advantage of a momen- 
 tary weakness on your part, to deck herself in 
 borrowed plumes, and throw a noble family into 
 confusion.
 
 248 AMBITION. 
 
 " As I am capable of loving, so am I of making 
 sacrifices for the object of my love ; — for, since 
 I have unwarily discovered a secret which 
 I ought not to have revealed, I will not now 
 retract ; — and it would give me far less pain to 
 part from you for ever, knowing that I alone 
 am the sufferer, than to be the means of invol- 
 ving you in unpleasant circumstances. The 
 obstacles which are between us you seem to 
 regard as nothing, the distraction of the moment 
 blinds you, but oh ! my lord, I wish you would 
 remember my words, for they are words of truth, 
 every objection which I now advance you argue 
 away as quickly, but, in a little time hence, 
 when the exuberance of your passion will have 
 given place to coldness, when you can think of 
 me with indifference, which I feel will soon be 
 the case, prudence will then bring all these 
 obstacles before you in their most formidable 
 array, and you will acknowledge that, in this 
 respect, I knew more of your own heart than 
 you did yourself. The only thing I beg is,
 
 AMBITION. 249 
 
 that you will remember my words at a future 
 period." 
 
 " Depend upon it, Miss Glendower, I shall 
 not soon forget them; they scorch too deeply for 
 the impression to be easily erased." 
 
 Mabel's agitation had nearly overcome her, 
 but she rallied her spirits to bid him a composed 
 farewell. They Were now near the garden-gate; 
 she turned towards it, the earl perceived the 
 movement, and the pride which had hitherto 
 imposed silence on him gave way to a different 
 emotion; he exclaimed. " Hardly as you 
 judge of me, Mabel, you cannot deny me the 
 privilege of loving you, which I must still 
 continue to do, in spite of myself and you. Will 
 you grant me one favour? Allow me to write 
 to you." 
 
 " My lord, I cannot ; Lady Williams must 
 know it, I never saw her ladyship, and it may 
 be unpleasant for many reasons ; but I shall write 
 to Miss Jones," she added with a blush. 
 
 " Then I will not ask it," replied the earl,
 
 250 AMBITION* 
 
 "from that lady I shall hear of you whilst 
 I remain in the country, and when I leave it," 
 he continued with a smile, " why, you know, 
 I must trust to chance, since you are determined 
 on having no correspondence." 
 
 " My lord, I do violence to my own feelings 
 in keeping a resolution which was formed in the 
 moments of cool reflection," answered Mabel, 
 " when passion was not allowed to have a voice 
 in the cause ; but to be conscious that I act 
 rightly, softens the bitterness of the sacrifice." 
 
 " Then farewell, Mabel," said Lord Gwynne- 
 Arthur, taking her hand, " and since I must not 
 write to you, let me entreat you to wear this for 
 my sake ; — it is nothing valuable, simply a plain 
 gold ring, which will not attract observation." 
 
 " Oh ! my lord," cried Mabel, in the ut- 
 most perturbation, " I cannot wear it, — it 
 looks, — Lady Williams may question, — oh, my 
 lord, it looks so much like a wedding-ring!" 
 and the simple girl was covered with scarlet 
 blushes.
 
 AMBITION. 251 
 
 " As such receive it," replied Lord Gwynne- 
 Arthur, " you think I have no sincerity in my 
 composition, but experience shall prove to you 
 that I have : — my heart is firmly attached to you, 
 and, by heaven, no other shall ever claim my 
 hand ! These moments shall never be erased 
 from my memory, they leave an impression too 
 deep and lasting-, and now lovely, dearest Mabel, 
 farewell ! " he imprinted a warm kiss upon the 
 hand he held, and pressed the other fervently 
 to his bosom. 
 
 " Farewell ! " replied Mabel, as she quitted 
 him, " dear Lord Gwynne- Arthur, fare- 
 well !" 
 
 The last expression was involuntary, she had 
 passed the garden-gate ere it escaped her, and 
 hoped he had not heard it ; but the words, light 
 and trivial as they were, reached his ear, and 
 as he turned to take the path which led to the 
 castle, he questioned himself as to their meaning. 
 " Did they come from the heart V thought he, 
 " or was it the mere courtesy of language V The
 
 252 AMBITION. 
 
 idea gave him sudden pain, but he resolved rather 
 to think the former, than entertain a painful 
 doubt. 
 
 And thus they parted .
 
 AMBITION. 253 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE RECEPTION. — FAMILY JARS. 
 
 Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern and Rosen- 
 crantz, — that great baby, you see there, is not yet 
 out of his swaddling clothes. 
 
 Ros. Haply he's the second time come to them ; 
 for they say an old man is twice a child. 
 
 Hamlet. 
 
 On the following day, Lady Williams's 
 waiting woman arrrived at the cwm, to convey 
 Mabel to her ladyship's seat, a small elegant villa 
 near Bath. The Jones's embraced her affection- 
 ately, and, bidding them a melancholy farewell, 
 AJiss Glendower in a short time took her seat
 
 254 AMBITION, 
 
 in the cariage, at the side of Mrs. Miller. It is 
 a novel but not an unpleasant sensation, which 
 the heart generally experiences on quitting 
 retirement for the bustle of an active life ; yet, 
 on this occasion, Mabel felt differently : it seemed 
 as though on leaving Gwynne- Arthur she was 
 actually withdrawing from existence, and the 
 last glance which she obtained of that loved 
 spot, appeared to extinguish every remaining 
 spark of hope that had before glowed in her 
 bosom. 
 
 As the carriage slowly wound along the road, 
 the noble structure of Castle Gwynne burst 
 upon their view, but presently was lost amid 
 the infant Alps which surrounded it, and the 
 gloom of an extensive forest. 
 
 The future was gloomy, the past painful, the 
 present intolerable, and Mabel involuntarily 
 exclaimed, as, clasping her hands, she burst 
 into tears, H My dear, dear home ! I shall 
 never behold you again !" 
 
 Mrs. Miller turned respectfully towards her, 
 and by expressions of kindness endeavoured to
 
 AMBITION. 255 
 
 sooth her agitated feelings, " Pardon me for 
 attempting to offer you consolation," she said, 
 " but if it is for yourself you weep, be assured 
 your tears are unnecessary. Lady Williams is 
 all kindness and affection. If you grieve for 
 the memory of departed friends, it is still less 
 needful ; they are gone from a world of care to 
 one of happiness, and a strict adherence to the 
 lessons they have left behind them, will ensure 
 you a blissful meeting when our earthly trials are 
 concluded." 
 
 Mabel pressed Mrs. Miller's hand affection- 
 ately, and, expressing a grateful sense of her 
 friendly admonitions, endeavoured to sooth her 
 spirits to composure. 
 
 In the course of their journey, Miss Glen- 
 dower found her companion to be agreeable and 
 intelligent. Mrs. Miller had formerly occupied 
 a very respectable rank in life, but, as an accu- 
 mulation of misfortunes had reduced her to the 
 necessity of becoming a dependent, Lady 
 Williams found in her a valuable acquisition,, 
 whilst she promised to be no less so to the new
 
 256 AMBITION. 
 
 inmate of Grove Villa ; for so her ladyship's 
 abode was called. 
 
 At the end of two days, our travellers arrived 
 at the place of their destination. The carriage 
 stopped before the gate of a handsome house, 
 a few miles distant from Bath, and Mabel alight- 
 ed upon a smooth and spacious lawn. Mrs. 
 Miller led her into a noble hall, and enquiring 
 of the porter if Lady Williams was at home, 
 was informed, that both her ladyship and Sir 
 Jacob were gone to an assembly at Bath, and 
 would not return till a late hour of the night. 
 Mabel was surprised at this intelligence, perhaps 
 vexed, for as Lady Williams must have expect- 
 ed her arrival, she thought her absence pro- 
 ceeded from a feeling of total indifference to her 
 happiness. The pang of conscious dependence 
 shot across her heart ; she felt that she was an 
 orphan ; every thing around looked new, and 
 3trange, and cheerless ; she heaved a sigh of 
 melancholy regret as she looked back upon the 
 scenes of her infancy, and for the first time in 
 her life, tasted the bitterness of a neglect which
 
 AMBITION. 257 
 
 she was destined, afterwards, to experience more 
 fully. 
 
 Miss Glendower was now conducted into 
 a handsome drawing-room, which communicated 
 with a larger, by folding doors, one of which 
 stood open. Here a repast was laid, and after 
 Mabel had partaken of it, Mrs. Miller asked 
 her if she would like to retire ; but considering 
 it her duty to wait till Lady Williams's return, 
 that she might pay her respects to her, she 
 thanked Mrs. Miller for her kindness, but 
 declined accepting it immediately. 
 
 In order to wile away the time, and to 
 abstract her mind from painful reflection, Mabel 
 sought for some occupation; two books were 
 lying on the table, one was " The Whole Art 
 of Coookery Made Easy, with Additions and 
 Improvements," much thumbed, it is true ; and 
 penciled here and there; and dog-leaved, and 
 greased. The other was a volume of the Lady's 
 Magazine. She preferred the latter, and had 
 just got into the heart of a very interesting 
 subject, when the sound of carriage-wheels,
 
 258 AMBITION. 
 
 and the loud thundering of the knocker, at- 
 tracted her attention. Footsteps were heard 
 on the stairs, and in the next moment a lady, 
 elegantly dressed, but in great agitation, rushed 
 into the adjoining drawing-room, followed by 
 an elderly gentleman of very unprepossessing 
 appearance. 
 
 " Such usage !" exclaimed the lady, almost 
 bursting into tears, " I will endure it no longer ! 
 this is neither the first nor the fifth time that you 
 have insulted me in the presence of others, have 
 trampled on my tenderest feelings before the 
 eyes of all the world, and, to gratify one of 
 your jealous freaks, dragged me home from 
 an assembly ere half the company had arrived. 
 Do you take me for a child, Sir Jacob, that you 
 use me thus? But have your way, you cruel 
 old man ! And I will have mine !" 
 
 " Have your way then ;" muttered the old 
 gentleman, gruffly, "it will be the last that 
 I shall chuse." 
 
 " I believe you," said the lady, panting with 
 rage, " We certainly are a very ill-matched
 
 AMBITION. 259 
 
 pair, and never could have been intended to 
 take the same course through life ; therefore, 
 the sooner the better we separate." 
 
 " Do so," said her husband, in a tone of voice 
 
 which partook of irony and wounded feeling, 
 
 " You immediately talk of separating because 
 
 you know the power you have over me. You 
 
 have not a grain of affection for me, Maria, 
 
 you never had. Why did you put on your 
 
 diamonds and your feathers? To go to an 
 
 assembly, to please others, to be admired by 
 
 strangers ! Do you ever dress for me ? ~Do 
 
 you ever take the slightest pains to please me ? 
 
 Do you ever try to make home comfortable ! 
 
 Do you care for me, when I am absent ? No, 
 
 no, no, all your powers of entertainment are 
 
 called forth to amuse a stranger, but J may sit 
 
 in the same room with you for weeks, and not 
 
 get a civil word. Zounds! Maria! you lead 
 
 me the life of a dog !" 
 
 " Pray do not descend to vulgarity, Sir 
 Jacob!" exclaimed the lady, fanning herself 
 violently, and pacing the room, without being
 
 260 AMBITION. 
 
 at all conscious that there was a spectator in 
 the next ; for Mabel was so much alarmed bv 
 the passing scene, that she had crept out of 
 sight. " Pray do not descend to vulgarity. Is 
 it a matter of wonder, that 1 should not speak 
 to you, when you use me thus ? you cruel man ! 
 You make my life miserable, you wish to hurry 
 me out of the world, that you may have another 
 to plague in the same manner, you Blue Beard ; 
 but you will never have so good a one, be 
 assured ; you will not have one to take your 
 insults meekly, and be the tame fool that I am. 
 You know not how to estimate the virtues of 
 an amiable woman, or you never could use me 
 thus : I dare not speak to any gentleman but 
 you must throw out your shameful inuendoes, 
 until you make me blush for you, you ungrateful 
 man ! And what is it all for ? For being too 
 tenacious of your respectability, and too 
 anxious for your comfort, to allow you to 
 remain at home for three days together." 
 
 •f Too anxious for your own comfort, you 
 mean," said the old gentleman, " but whether or
 
 AMBITION. 261 
 
 not for my respectability, time will shew.'' 
 "Oh! you shameful man! how dare you 
 utter such an expression ! you wish to kill me, 
 but I will live in spite of you ; I will take my 
 pleasure, and you may take yours, if you can feel 
 any after having treated an amiable woman and 
 a virtuous wife in this brutal manner. My poor, 
 dear, first husband never would have used me 
 thus ; he was an angel in comparison with you ; 
 he doted on me, and I was so much his idol that 
 he would not let •' the winds of Heaven visit 
 my face too roughly." 
 
 f" They can't do that now, Maria," replied her 
 husband, with a malicious sneer, "whilst you 
 continue wearing that thick coat of paint." 
 
 The lady turned, with such a face and neck 
 as might have caused the rouge on her cheeks 
 to blush for its own paleness. " You vile falsi- 
 fyer!" she exclaimed, rage would not allow her 
 to utter more ; she tore away her diamonds and 
 her feathers, and dashing them on the gronnd at 
 her husband's feet, sunk upon the carpet in a fit 
 of hysterics.
 
 262 AMBITION. 
 
 Mabel was now excessively alarmed; the 
 scene had been perfectly new and inexplicable 
 to her, she knew not whether to make her escape, 
 or fly to the lady's assistance, but instinctively 
 rang the bell, whilst timidity prevented her 
 appearing on the scene of action. Could these 
 people be Sir Jacob and Lady Williams? 
 Impossible ! She recoiled from the idea. 
 
 The gentleman had by this time contrived to 
 place his unwieldy form upon his knees, by the 
 side of his lady- wife, and, by holding her hands, 
 endeavoured to prevent her doing herself 
 further mischief; at the same time calling her 
 by the most endearing epithets, and promising 
 absolute reformation, " Forgive me, Maria, my 
 dear Maria, only forgive me, indeed I'll never 
 say a cross word to you again ; I wont upon my 
 word ; do not hurt yourself my love ; look up, 
 only say you forgive me, you shall never have 
 another angry word from me whilst I live !" 
 And his tears flowed so fast over her face, that 
 the briny flood threatened to tinge her laces with 
 the crimson hue of her cheeks, whose roses the
 
 AMBITION. 203 
 
 salt stream was fast demolishing. Unfortunately, 
 in the violence of her agitation, the lady had ob- 
 tained a convulsive grasp of her good man's 
 collar, and now, with an hysterical movement, 
 and the strength which belongs to such an affec- 
 tion, flung him off with so much violence, that 
 he rolled upon the floor at some distance, crying 
 out, "Oh, my head!" and had not attempted 
 to rise, when Mrs. Miller entered the room, in 
 obedience to the summons of the bell. 
 
 She did not appear so much alarmed as 
 Mabel had expected. She looked at her mistress, 
 then advancing into the little drawing-room, 
 where Mabel stood, and pointing to a young 
 woman, who waited in the gallery with a lighted 
 taper, said, when she felt disposed to retire, 
 that servant would conduct her to her apart- 
 ment. Miss Glendower took the hint, and, 
 wishing her a good night, followed the young 
 girl, glad to escape from a scene which had 
 alarmed, astonished, and disgusted her. 
 
 On entering her chamber, Mabel, wishing to 
 be satisfied of the identity of the lady and gen-
 
 264 AMBITION. 
 
 tleman, whom she had left in the drawing-room, 
 enquired of her attendant, if Sir Jacob and 
 Lady Williams had yet returned from Bath. 
 
 u Lard bless I ! " exclaimed Peggy, with a 
 smile of ludicrous meaning, " I thought ye'd 
 seed enough on 'em, Miss, to know where they 
 was : why they be tJiickwn-there gelman and 
 lady as is a quardling in the drawing-room." 
 
 " Impossible ! " said Mabel. 
 
 " They be then," returned Peggy. " Lard, 
 Miss ! by the time ye ha' lived here a month 
 thick '11 be nothing ; it be always the way wi' 
 our measter and missis, and though they be good 
 enough to their sarvants, they be but qweer 
 fauk wi' one another ; but if Mrs. Miller knowed 
 how I did let my tongue run, she'd be main 
 crousty ; I hopes, Miss, ye byent a gwayn to 
 tell her." 
 
 M I assure you," replied Miss Glendower, 
 " I have no wish to make her angry with 
 you." 
 
 By this reply, Peggy was encouraged to be 
 much more communicative than she had been
 
 AMBITION. 265 
 
 before, and was proceeding to give a full-length 
 portrait of her master and mistress, when Mabel 
 thanked her for her services, and discharged her 
 for the night. 
 
 We beg to inform the reader, that Peggy 
 Bolter was a great feature in Lady Williams's 
 establishment. She was a Wiltshire lass, just 
 come from Devizes, or, as she called it, ' ( Vize" 
 and, as she possessed many good qualities, much 
 of her awkwardness was tolerated and over- 
 looked ; being, also, clean, honest and good- 
 tempered, though fond of forming opinions and 
 retailing them, she was selected by Lady Wil- 
 liams to act in the capacity of fille-de-chambre 
 to Mabel; who now, on her pillow, contem- 
 plated the scene which she had recently witnessed. 
 She had never believed it possible for any reason- 
 able people to conduct themselves in such an 
 unreasonable manner : her father and mother 
 had lived together in the most perfect unity, so 
 had Mr. and Mrs. Jones ; and she hoped that 
 a further acquaintance with her host and hostess
 
 266 AMBITION. 
 
 would erase the unfavourable impression which 
 she had received. 
 
 Sir Jacob and Lady "Williams were, as she 
 had observed, " a very ill-matched pair." Their 
 marriage had been, on her part a match of con- 
 venience, on his of dotage. Her ladyship was 
 a woman of ton, possessing all the follies and all 
 the elegance of the fashionable world, and 
 having been left a widow with a very slender 
 jointure, had conceived that the wealthy coffers of 
 the knight, would prove an admirable support of 
 her extravagant way of living, therefore married 
 him. Sir Jacob was the very reverse of all this: 
 his birth was good, and his education might have 
 been so, had he profited by the advantages set 
 before him ; but, lazy in youth, in his old age 
 he seemed to have lost all relish for any kind of 
 rational occupation. Eating, drinking, and 
 sleeping, were the sole objects of his devotion, 
 his faculties seemed absorpt in these ignoble and 
 selfish pursuits, and no feeling could ever rouse 
 him to the exertion of his slumbering powers,
 
 AMBITION. 267 
 
 except that of jealousy, a passion which he 
 indulged in no small degree. The knight had no 
 other employment than that of superintending 
 the cooking; having breakfasted in his own 
 apartment, he invariably spent a few hours in 
 the kitchen ere he commenced the laborious 
 task of dressing for dinner ; and when seated 
 at table, very industriously performed the 
 business which had called him thither. The 
 afternoon was spent in dozing over a glass of 
 hollands and water ; laughing at his own jests, 
 winch were often vulgar, and always second- 
 hand; and taxing his wife with the levity of her 
 conduct ; thus the time passed until tea was 
 brought in, when, with a tremendous effort, he 
 recommenced with as sharp an appetite, as 
 though he had fasted since break of day. 
 When this meal was removed, Mrs. Miller was 
 generally called in to make a third at tredrille, 
 or, if household duties prevented her attendance, 
 Lady Williams was obliged to sit down to a 
 game of whist, with double dummy ; and then, 
 if her ladyship happened to have a run of good
 
 2G8 AMBITION. 
 
 luck, she was accused of having arranged the 
 cards, and of having looked into his hand; 
 thus she was often induced to let her husband 
 win, even against the cards ; which so delighted 
 him, that he would expatiate for an hour or 
 two upon his science and judgment. 
 
 As thus passed their domestic evenings, it is 
 little wonder that Lady Williams should drag 
 her husband into society ; whence she was, 
 afterwards, always glad to retire, to avoid the 
 sarcasms which his ridiculous behaviour drew 
 upon them. 
 
 Such were the persons to whom, on the 
 following morning, Miss Glendower was intro- 
 duced, just as Sir Jacob was about to descend 
 to the kitchen. Lady Williams received her 
 with an appearance of great cordiality, and the 
 knight expressed as much welcome as his sel- 
 fish nature was capable of feeling ; but, business 
 of more importance demanding his attention, 
 he left the ladies to themselves. 
 
 Mabel was well pleased with the reception 
 which she experienced from Lady Williams, for,
 
 AMBITION. 269 
 
 besides the ease of fashionable life, her ladyship 
 possessed a winning softness of manner which 
 could not fail to recommend her to a stranger. 
 In short, her ladyship was very politic : — she 
 knew much more was to be effected by influence 
 than by authority, and on beholding Mabel and 
 reflecting what a burden she would become, 
 began to devise how she could turn this circum- 
 stance to the best account. Lady Williams 
 gave herself credit for a great share of fine 
 sentiment; she professed, — she even believed 
 herself incapable of wounding the feelings of 
 another, yet, did their feelings or their interest 
 in the smallest degree impede the accomplish- 
 ment of her own wishes, they were both sacrificed 
 to gratify her slightest whim or convenience. 
 She was aware that Mabel had no fortune, and 
 imagining that she would be a lasting incum- 
 brance, determined on finishing her education, 
 that she might make her fortune by marriage. 
 
 This plan was immediately carried into execu- 
 tion, and, ere Miss Glendower had been three 
 weeks an inmate of Grove Villa, she found that 
 
 vol. I. N
 
 270 AMBITION. 
 
 she had again to undergo all the drudgery of 
 music, French and Italian. It must not be 
 understood that Mabel was deficient in either of 
 these points, but Lady Williams wished that she 
 should be thoroughly accomplished, and Mabel 
 was happy to embrace an opportunity of improve- 
 ment in these elegant branches of education, when 
 she considered that, at some future period, they 
 might be of real service to her. 
 
 It was a novel course of life which Miss 
 Glendower now entered upon : her mornings were 
 devoted to her teachers, and her evenings 
 spent with Lady Williams at some gay assembly; 
 or in the more tedious and disagreeable routine 
 of an evening at home. These pursuits contri- 
 buted in some measure to draw her attention 
 from a reviewal of past scenes, dangerous to 
 indulge in, and certainly not conducive to present 
 comfort ; she entertained a grateful affection for 
 Lady Williams, whose kindness and attention 
 were as ample as she had dared to hope, and 
 withal, as much as could reasonably be expected 
 from a woman of ton; but she was not the
 
 AMBITION. 271 
 
 person for whom Mabel could, unsolicited, have 
 felt a friendship ; there was not that affectionate 
 tenderness in her manner, that warmth of 
 generous feeling", which commands esteem ; oh, 
 no ! in these points she was utterly deficient. 
 Sir Jacob had become rather an object of disgust 
 than any thing else, and Mrs. Miller was the 
 only member of the family in whose society 
 Mabel could feel any degree of interest, or even 
 satisfaction. 
 
 Sometimes she looked back upon the home of 
 her youth, but quickly turned from a subject 
 which, if indulged, would embitter the happiest 
 of her present moments ; sometimes too, she 
 ventured to steal a glance at Gwynne- Arthur, the 
 adored of her imagination, the essence, as she 
 believed of all perfection — " He loves me ! " she 
 would exclaim, " can I know that and be unhappy? 
 Yet how soon will love fade ! perhaps at this 
 moment he thinks not of me — Well ! God bless 
 him ! Though we should never meet again, the 
 consciousness of having once been deemed an
 
 272 AMBITION. 
 
 object worthy his affection, will possess a charm 
 to the latest hour of existence !" 
 
 Mabel was in the habit of corresponding with 
 Miss Jones, and in a late letter from that lady, 
 was contained the intelligence of the earl having 
 left G wynne- Arthur for his foreign tour. " Ah !!• 
 thought Mabel, "he is gone from me forever; 
 duty must now direct my conduct ; feeling has 
 nought to do with it !" 
 
 Often, after having retired from the gaiety of 
 an assembly, or withdrawn from witnessing the 
 fretful bickerings of the unhappy pair below, did 
 she look out upon the moonlight scenery of the 
 Grove, and endeavour to trace a resemblance to 
 some loved spot around the home of her youth, 
 some well remembered part of G wynne- Arthur ; 
 then would the images of her father, her mother, 
 and Lord Anthony, steal upon her memory with 
 all the fondness of affection, all the pure fervour 
 of adoration, and water her pillow with tears of 
 genuine sorrow. 
 
 Lady Williams had promised herself the
 
 AMBITION. 273 
 
 pleasure of spending the approaching winter in 
 the metropolis ; but, when that period arrived, 
 she, to her very great mortification, found that 
 Sir Jacob was absolutely determined on remaining 
 at the Grove ; and this so ill accorded with her 
 ladyship's plans, that it at length brought on a 
 serious dispute. Sir Jacob had sufficient pene- 
 tration to discover that he was no great favourite 
 with Mabel; and, as he considered her a depen- 
 dant on his wife's bounty, he did not tax his 
 politeness with much refinement towards her. 
 The altercation took place in her presence. 
 
 One evening, whilst they were sitting at tea, 
 Lady Williams, having behaved with unusual 
 kindness towards her good man, such as 
 sweetening his tea to his liking, helping him 
 plentifully to the toast, &c. began with, " My dear 
 Sir Jacob, what an excellent man you are ! 
 always so good tempered, and so agreeable ; but 
 pray, my dear, when are we to go town T 
 
 " I'm not going to town," was muttered drily. 
 
 " Not going to town ! " exclaimed Lady 
 Williams, " who would ever think of remaining
 
 274 AMBITION. 
 
 in the country a whole winter? ridiculous ! No 
 person of fashion will stay at Bath, be 
 assured 1" 
 
 " So you say." 
 
 " So J say ! so will every one say, if you will 
 take the trouble to enquire. " 
 
 ff Don't care — shan't budge," 
 
 " lam determined on going, Sir Jacob, do as 
 you think proper." 
 
 " Go by yourself then." 
 
 ff I will take care to follow your advice, for 
 you are an unfeeling man, and I shall be much 
 happier without than with you; besides it is 
 necessary that I should introduce Miss Glendower 
 into society ; do you expect that her future 
 prospects in life should be sacrificed at the shrine 
 of your morose temper ?" 
 
 " What are her future prospects to me?" was 
 the unfeeling reply, " you are always meddling 
 with what does not concern you, and impoverishing 
 yourself for others." 
 
 Mabel coloured, and, but for respect to Lady 
 Williams, would have quitted the table; her
 
 AMBITION. 275 
 
 ladyship blushed for her husband's coarseness of 
 expression, then rising from her seat, commen- 
 ced a loug and violent lecture. Sir Jacob flew 
 into an outrageous passion, loaded his wife with 
 the most opprobrious epithets ; until, wearied with 
 exertion, and at a loss for further argument, her 
 ladyship flew to her old resource — a fit of 
 hysterics. 
 
 Mabel sprung to her ladyship's assistance, 
 (whilst the knight stood contemplating his victory) 
 exclaiming in alarm, " Oh! Sir Jacob, you have 
 said too much ! " 
 
 Sir Jacob did not relish this ; and, as he pushed 
 Miss Glendower, rather roughly, away ; and 
 performed his own awkward services to his 
 fainting wife, muttered " You need not say any 
 more, Miss ; if you had not been confabbing 
 with her all day, it would not have come to 
 this." 
 
 Mabel relinquished the arm of Lady 
 Williams, and retired to her own apartment, 
 where a copious flood of tears relieved her 
 wounded spirit.
 
 276 AMBITION. 
 
 Ill a few moments, to her very great surprise, 
 Lady Williams made her appearance ; she had 
 heard what had passed between Miss Glendower 
 and Sir Jacob, and had quitted her hysterics to 
 come in search of Mabel; whom she now 
 attempted to soothe by expressions of the utmost 
 kindness. Her head sunk on Mabel's shoulder, 
 which she watered with her tears, whilst, in the 
 most vehement language, she exclaimed against 
 the brutality of her husband's conduct. 
 
 A low knock at the door interrupted them ; 
 Mabel opened it, and beheld Sir Jacob ; he had, 
 as usual, repented when too late, and now, with 
 his eyes streaming like two rivulets, was come 
 to beg pardon, and promise amendment. The 
 former was granted with reluctance, and the 
 latter received with contempt ; but Lady 
 Williams would not hear of a reconciliation, until 
 he had made a suitable apology to Miss Glen- 
 dower, which he did with a very ill grace. Still 
 the knight could not be prevailed upon to give 
 up his point, spending the winter at the Grove 
 was a thing he bad determined on, and nothing
 
 AMBITION. 277 
 
 could alter his resolution, therefore hei ladyship 
 was obliged to reconcile her mind to it as well 
 as she was able ; and Mabel was necessitated to 
 continue amid scenes like the foregoing, little 
 calculated to make her highly pleased with her 
 situation. 
 
 Never was the approach of spring more 
 agreeable, for though it promised little of happi- 
 ness, it held out a hope of something like variety, 
 at least.
 
 278 AMBITION. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 He had (if 'twas not nature's boon) the art 
 Of fixing memory on another's heart, 
 It was not love, perchance — nor hate — nor aught 
 That words can image to express the thought, 
 But they who saw him did not see in vain, 
 And, once beheld, would ask of him again ; 
 And those to whom he spake remembered well, 
 And on the words, however light, would dwell : 
 None knew nor how — nor why — but he entwined 
 Himself, per force, around the hearer's mind. 
 
 Lara. 
 
 As the season advanced, fresh company flocked 
 to Bath, and Lady Williams again began to mix 
 in the circles of gaiety. 
 
 At a private entertainment, given by a lady
 
 AMBITION. 279 
 
 residing in Pulteney-street, Lady Williams and 
 Mabel were present, of course Sir Jacob, who 
 never allowed his wife to move a mile without 
 him; and Miss Glendower was introduced, 
 amongst others, to a Miss Mac- Alister with whom 
 her ladyship was well acquainted. Miss Mac- 
 Alister was a girl of prepossessing appearance, 
 young and genteel ; her figure was small, but 
 graceful; her hair of a dark brown, her eyes 
 black, and flashing ; and her complexion deli- 
 cately pale. She was evidently pleased, at first 
 sight, with Mabel, and attached herself closely 
 to her, during the whole of the evening. Miss 
 Glendower was also highly delighted with her 
 interesting companion ; and when they parted at 
 night, it was with a strong emotion of regret 
 that she quitted the first amiable person whom 
 she had known, since her departure from the 
 cwm. 
 
 On arriving at home, Mabel was warm in the 
 praise of her new acquaintance ; Lady Williams 
 approved the intimacy, and, ere she retired, 
 said she would make a point of inviting Miss
 
 280 AMBITION. 
 
 Mac-Alister (who, being an orphan, was, at pre- 
 sent, residing with her grandmother on one of 
 the crescents) to spend some time with them 
 at the Grove. Mabel felt extremely grateful 
 for this kindness; on the following week they 
 again met Miss Mac-Alister, Lady Williams 
 gave her a pressing invitation, which she 
 accepted with much pleasure; and, in a short 
 time, became a visitant at Grove Villa. 
 
 The presence of this agreeable young lady was 
 a considerable addition to the happiness of Mabel ; 
 her sprightly sallies would often raise a smile on 
 the countenance of dejection, whilst her ready 
 wit and lively humour turned into broad farce 
 whatever was approaching to the ridiculous. 
 She was particularly attentive to Sir Jacob, with 
 whom she was a great favourite, yet Mabel 
 would often perceive a ludicrous smile hovering 
 around her lip, as she listened patiently to his 
 lengthened detail of some wonderous event, 
 which had been recorded in all the jest books of 
 a century past, though related by him as a 
 recent occurrence : it seemed indeed, as though
 
 AMBITION. 281 
 
 contentment had set her seal upon the heart of 
 Helen Mac-Alister, and forbade the approach 
 of any feeling that partook not of felicity. 
 
 One day, whilst Miss Mac-Alister was 
 amusing herself upon the lawn, with her little 
 French dog, Mabel exclaimed, "Oh! Helen, 
 how happy you are ! I almost envy you the 
 possession of so much vivacity." 
 
 " And are you not as happy?" asked Helen 
 approaching her. 
 
 " I am not indeed," said Mabel, "yet am 
 unable to discover the cause ; I begin to fear it 
 is part of my disposition to be dissatisfied with 
 the comforts I enjoy, for, when I consider 
 every circumstance thoroughly, I can find no real 
 ground for unhappiness." 
 
 " Then do not indulge it, Mabel," exclaimed 
 Miss Mac-Alister, " it is a feeling which will 
 tend to embitter every succeeding moment of your 
 life ; I am happy at present, I mean to say 
 I am tranquil, yet, could you have beheld me a 
 few years ago, you would not now recognise me 
 for the same being ! Her countenance became
 
 282 AMBITION. 
 
 clouded for a moment, then chirrupping to her 
 dog, she bounded across the lawn, followed by 
 Mignonette. 
 
 Some weeks passed on, and Miss Mac-Alister 
 still indulged them with her pleasing society. 
 One evening, as she and Mabel were walking 
 through a green aisle in the grove, she exclaimed 
 with a smile, " My dear Mabel, have you ever 
 been in love ! Nay do not blush, that air of 
 abstraction, that melancholy intonation of voice, 
 that pensive expression of countenance, and 
 your silent reveries, lead me to imagine that your 
 grief is occasioned by the indulgence of some 
 hopeless passion." 
 
 " How sweetly do you minister to love,* 
 Who know Love's grief by his complexion," 
 
 returned Mabel, " In love I Look at my sable 
 garb, remember the trial I have lately experien- 
 ced in the loss of both my parents, and then 
 judge if my heart can be occupied by any other 
 feeling except that of filial remembrance. Oh, 
 Helen, just at that moment when I began to taste 
 * Shakespear.
 
 AMBITION. 283 
 
 of happiness, its sweets were dashed from me 
 for ever." 
 
 " Say not for ever!" exclaimed Miss Mac- 
 Alister, M reasonable affliction cannot last so long ; 
 I too had once a father and a mother, both 
 tenderly beloved, but they were torn from me 
 at the most critical period of existence ; and 
 though, since the grave closed upon them, 
 I have not known one hour of real happiness, 
 I do not despair of being again blessed with even 
 earthly felicity. You know little of the world, 
 Mabel, forgive my candour, but could you be 
 aware of half the anguish I have suffered, you 
 would wonder how I could laugh at every thing 
 that occurs, and carry so cheerful a countenance 
 with a mind so ill at ease as mine." 
 
 " You, then have known affliction," said 
 Mabel. "A.h ! it seems as though no one were 
 exempt from sorrow !" 
 
 " Decidedly not," was the reply. " Man was 
 not formed for perfect happiness, though by his 
 own exertions, and a proper application of his 
 talents, he may greatly advance towards it.
 
 284 AMBITION. 
 
 " It was just at that period of life, when I was 
 on the point of being introduced to society, that 
 death deprived me of the two dearest relatives 
 on earth, and in my parents' grave seemed 
 buried every hope of future happiness. The 
 shock which I had received, laid the foundation 
 of a most alarming illness ; my brother was my 
 guardian angel, he seldom left my couch, and 
 when I was sufficiently recovered to travel, 
 would not allow me to remain longer amid 
 scenes which only reminded me of past plea- 
 sures ; from that hour he has been all the world 
 to me, for him alone I live, for there is not 
 another being in the world who would care 
 whether Helen Mac-Alister were numbered 
 with the living or with the dead." 
 
 "Have you then a brother?" exclaimed 
 Mabel, in surprise. 
 
 " A most beloved brother," replied Helen, 
 " and at present the only tie which binds me to 
 existence." 
 
 "But where is he? I was not before aware 
 that you possessed so near a relative."
 
 AMBITION. 285 
 
 " Probably at the feet of some Italian dame, 
 sighing with all the fervour of romantic passion ; 
 for he is very apt to fall in love. He is on the 
 continent, but I expect he will shortly return, 
 and I assure you it will be no small happiness to 
 me to behold him once more : the time has been 
 dull and melancholy since his departure, and 
 would be more so but for your charming society, 
 my sweet Mabel." 
 
 " But I may not see him when he returns," 
 said Miss Glendower. 
 
 " I pledge my word that you shall; I would 
 not deprive either you or him of the pleasure of 
 intimacy, for I am assured that you will like each 
 other ; he will fall in love with you, Mabel, — do 
 not smile ; I know his nature so well that it is 
 impossible I should be mistaken — he will fall in 
 love with you, and what envy that will create 
 amongst the belles of fashion ! How delightful 
 to hear one of them exclaim to her neighbour, 
 ■ Do you see that little rustic dumpling ? I 
 declare the saucy minx has had the impudence
 
 286 AMBITION. 
 
 to engage the attention of one of the most 
 elegant men of ton ; disagreeable creature !' " 
 
 " Never!" exclaimed Mabel, in astonishment, 
 " they would not, surely, so far forget them- 
 selves ?" 
 
 " Would they not V* said Helen, f« they will 
 forget every thing but a slight offered to their 
 personal charms; believe me, Mabel, ladies of 
 ton are not so much above other women in their 
 sentiments as in their rank ; and, when they 
 speak worst of their own sex, they think the best 
 of them." 
 
 " But J shou'd not excite their envy in any 
 respect : it is impossible that a poor simple girl 
 should be preferred to women who possess every 
 claim to admiration, that wealth, rank, beauty, 
 and accomplishments can bestow." 
 
 " But simplicity, they say, is the greatest 
 charm of beauty," repied Helen, " my brother 
 is not to be caught by perfumes, rouge, and 
 pearl-powder. Oh ! no, he requires sentiment, 
 pure generous sentiment, and feeling warm from
 
 AMBITION. 287 
 
 the heart. The object of his love must be pure 
 as the virgin snow, yet ardent, and tremblingly 
 alive to every throb of passion; frank and un- 
 suspecting in disposition, but firm and inde- 
 pendent in her principles ; and all these good 
 qualities must be real, the affectation of one 
 would dissolve the chain more effectually than 
 tbe Gretna Green blacksmith could rivet it : in 
 short, she must be a nonpareil. On my word, 
 now 1 look at you again, Mabel, I think you 
 would make a very pretty sister-in-law." 
 
 Mabel laughed, " Oh! that I possessed all 
 the good qualities which you have enumerated !" 
 she exclaimed, " but not for your brother, 
 Helen ! Oh ! not for him !" 
 
 On entering the drawing-room they found 
 Sir Jacob dozing on the sofa ; Lady Williams 
 was looking over a new play, and Miss Mac- 
 Alister, laying her finger on her lip in token of 
 silence, began to hover lightly round the knight's 
 pillow, singing 
 
 " Rise, fair maiden, from thy slumber."
 
 288 AMBITION. 
 
 " Amiable girl!" exclaimed Mabel, internally, 
 " how contemptible I now see my own conduct ! 
 Whatever have been her sorrows they are sup- 
 pressed within her own bosom, and whilst the 
 happiness of her countenance bids defiance to the 
 strictest scrutiny, she spreads felicity around her, 
 and appears the gayest of the gay !" From that 
 hour the whole tenour of Mabel's conduct 
 became changed : she roused herself from the 
 inactivity which had seized her, private feelings 
 were suppressed for the sake of making others 
 happy, her efforts to amuse sometimes extended 
 to the most bewitching drollery, and the exertion 
 which she used was always repaid by observing 
 the satisfaction arhich her sprightly conduct dif- 
 fused around her. Her spirits regained their 
 natural strength, and health in a short time re- 
 sumed its blooming dye upon her cheek. 
 
 The summer passed more happily than she 
 had expected, although Miss Mac-Alister was 
 obliged to depart, to attend her grandmother ; 
 and the winter again found them domesticated at
 
 AMBITION. 289 
 
 Grove Villa, which infliction Lady Williams 
 bore with exemplary fortitude. 
 
 It was not until Miss Glendower had been 
 nearly two years a member of the family at the 
 Grove, that the doughty knight could be 
 prevailed on to make a trip to town ; but after 
 several weary arguments, some fits of hysterics, 
 &c. a cold morning in October, saw the trio 
 amicably seated in the travelling carriage. 
 
 " I declare," said Lady Williams, with a laugh 
 of triumph, " I shall be quite ashamed of being 
 in town so early : not another soul will be there 
 till January." 
 
 "Then in the name of all contradiction," 
 exclaimed Sir Jacob, " what could have induced 
 your precious ladyship to go there already V*. 
 
 " Because, my gentle, sweet Sir Jacob, 
 I one day happened to find you in so pliable 
 a temper as to consent to the jaunt, and thought 
 it politic to embrace the opportunity immediately, 
 lest, by the time the season commences, you 
 should change your determination. That was 
 my only reason, my love, and I think my
 
 290 AMBITION. 
 
 conduct is very laudable, considering what 
 a cross-grained, whimsical mate I possess." 
 
 s< Oh! a very cross-grained mate, truly; if 
 you can invent any method of picking my pocket 
 you will be satisfied. I suppose we must stay 
 in town till June ; you will ruin me with your 
 extravagance, Maria !" 
 
 They said no more, and the rest of the 
 journey was pursued in peace. 
 
 Mabel was surprised, and delighted, as the 
 carriage drove along some of the principal 
 streets and squares of the metropolis : their 
 broad, open, and uniform appearance; the blaze, 
 and regularity of the lamps ; the strict order, 
 and decorum which prevailed ; and the bands of 
 itinerant musicians, which are continually to be 
 encountered, with, at intervals, the strains of 
 a Welch harp touched by a masterly hand ; 
 altogether, presented a scene at once novel and 
 enchanting, and worthy the greatest city of the 
 noblest kingdom in the universe. At length 
 they were set down in Wimpole -street. 
 
 The first person, whom Mabel beheld on
 
 AMBITTON. 201 
 
 entering the drawing-room, was Miss Mac- 
 Alister. After the salutation had passed, that 
 lady said, u Finding by your last letter that you 
 intended being here this evening, I hastened 
 to welcome you. My brother arrived last night, 
 and, to-morrow, I must have the pleasure of 
 introducing him to you." 
 
 Mabel blushed, she knew not why : what was 
 Miss Mac-Alister's brother to her? (a man 
 whom she had never seen) or what could he 
 ever be, considering that every sentiment of 
 a tender nature was buried with the remembrance 
 of Gwynne -Arthur, (from whom she now believed 
 herself for ever separated)? she simply said " I 
 shall be happy to see him, for his sister's sake." 
 
 Lady Williams had proposed opening the win- 
 ter campaign with a small, select party, on the 
 night after her arrival ; and ere Miss Mac-Alister 
 departed, engaged her and her brother for the 
 following evening. 
 
 " Mabel," said her ladyship as she bade her a 
 good night, " I wish you to appear well dressed 
 to morrow ; spend a little more time at your
 
 292 AMBITION. 
 
 toilette ; you will not look the worse for it, and 
 if you require any additional ornaments mine are 
 at your service. Bon soir, au revoir, ma 
 chere." 
 
 On the following evening Mabel retired early 
 to her toilette ; Mrs. Miller attended her, and 
 having, in a short time, made her look as well 
 as though she had devoted hours to the task, 
 departed to perform the same office for her 
 mistress. 
 
 Whilst the young debutante stood contempla- 
 ting her appearance, so much superior to any 
 that she had ever yet made, and viewing herself, 
 perhaps, with satisfaction ; Peggy Bolter bolted 
 into the room. 
 
 " Lard, Miss ! how beautiful you looks !" were 
 the first words she uttered, then, half out of 
 breath, she continued, " there's shish a sight of 
 company corned, and they do look so vine ! 
 There's one lady has got a great, big, beautiful 
 turbot a top of her head, sticked all over wi fea- 
 thers ; and there's another wi a beautiful wreaf 
 of roses going all round the tail of her gownd ;
 
 AMBITION. 293 
 
 and tkegehnen&o all look so grand, and they got 
 sJiish lots o' footmen to wait upon em, lard a 
 massy, how they do all ken at I ! One on em 
 says now, as I roont through the hall, "How d'ye 
 do, my pretty lass ?" "I knaws you not, Sir," 
 says I, so I gies 'n a toss o' the head and off I 
 squares. Another, asl met b\ the stair, says "he 
 you Wiltshire V " no I byent," says I "no more 
 nor you be, 'tis a sign that ye hant got much 
 sense or ye'd knaw that my name was Peggy 
 Bolter:' so the fellow laughed, and I roont 
 away, looking so crousty as anything. Byent 
 a gvcayn to be called names by thickum, 
 neither !" 
 
 " Do not be angry with them, Peggy," said 
 Mabel, "I dare say they did not mean to 
 offend you. Has Miss Mac-Alister yet 
 arrived ?" 
 
 Xady Williams now entered the room, covered 
 with jewels and feathers, and bearing a small 
 casket in her hand. " Mabel," said her ladyship, 
 n I do not Tike your ornaments, they are not 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 294 AMBITION. 
 
 becoming ; you must wear these." And drawing 
 forth an elegant and valuable set of pearls, she 
 adjusted them tastefully on the person of her 
 protegee. It was Lady "Williams's earnest aim 
 to make a good match for Mabel as soon as pos- 
 sible, and, as she this evening expected the rich, 
 the elegant, the accomplished, and the admired 
 brother of Miss Mac-Alister, she wished her 
 neice to make a captivating appearance. 
 
 In the drawing-room Miss Glendower met her 
 friend, and having been introduced to some of 
 the company, retired with Helen to a distant 
 corner of the apartment, where she could see all 
 who entered, without being, herself, exposed to 
 observation. " I came in my aunt's carriage," 
 said Miss Mac Alister, " my brother will be here 
 in a short time." 
 
 " I suppose you know most of the company 
 assembled here?" observed Mabel, changing 
 the theme. 
 
 " I know some of them ;" replied Helen,
 
 AMBITION. 295 
 
 "and could give some very amusing sketches, but 
 I have no right to make observations on Lady 
 Williams's guests." 
 
 " That is a very elegant lady, with the white 
 ostrich feathers," remarked Miss Glendower, 
 "pray who is she?" 
 
 " Lady Emma Racket. She is one of the 
 town-belles I warned you of, she made an attack 
 upon my brother before he went abroad, I shall 
 be glad to know if she intends to re-commence 
 it." 
 
 " And who is that very, very elegant, but 
 singular-looking man, who has just entered the 
 room V* exclaimed Mabel. 
 
 « Which?" 
 
 u He who is now advancing towards Lady 
 Williams. It is easy to know him, Helen, the 
 nobleness of his air, the lofty — the dauntless 
 expression of his countenance, his gentlemanly 
 appearance, the extreme gracefulness of his 
 carriage, but, above all, that vivid, brilliant 
 smile, sufficiently distinguish him from others in 
 the room "
 
 296 AMBITION. 
 
 "Come, confess!" cried Helen, laughing, 
 " is he not the handsomest man you ever saw in 
 your life V 
 
 " He is handsome," said Mabel, contempla- 
 ting, him, " but," she added, with a sigh of 
 painful remembrance, " neither the handsomest, 
 nor the most captivating. Who is he V 
 
 " He is — my br other." 
 
 " Your brother ! and not tell me that 
 before?" 
 
 " I had not time," said Miss Mac-Alister, 
 " for you made your enquiries as soon as he 
 appeared. But look at him now, he is speaking 
 to Lady Emma, she calls up a thousand dimpled 
 smiles to welcome him, she casts her eyes to the 
 ground, then raises them, full of expression, 
 towards his countenance ; Mabel, you will think 
 me very slanderous, but I do not like that Lady 
 Emma : she is a compound of affectation and 
 deceit, she knows my brother's romantic disposi- 
 tion, and assumes sentiment to enthrall 
 him."
 
 AMBITION. 297 
 
 " He appears very much pleased with her, at 
 any rate," said Mabel. 
 
 " I do not think so, there is much of ceremony, 
 of politeness, of gallantry, in his manner; but 
 I cannot see real pleasure there." 
 
 At this moment Lady Williams approached 
 Mabel, and, leading" her across the room, intro- 
 duced to her the brother of Miss Mac Alister, — 
 Sir Richard Gordon. 
 
 Though none could salute a lady with more 
 politeness, — though uone ever accepted an 
 introduction with a more graceful, and gentle- 
 manly air, Mabel felt herself sink into nothing- 
 ness before him: the proud brow, the stern eye, 
 the high, majestic form, — all created an awe- 
 inspiring sensation, which scarcely even his 
 singular smile could dispel. 
 
 Soon as an opportunity presented itself, 
 Mabel, turning to Miss Mac Alister, exclaimed, 
 "■ Helen, how comes it that your brother's name 
 is Gordon, whilst yours is Mac Alister 1" 
 
 *' Perhaps I forgot to mention to you that he
 
 298 AMBITION. 
 
 is only my step-brother/' replied that lady. 
 " My mother was married twice, Richard, who 
 is ten years older than I am, is the offspring of 
 the first union, and, of course, inherits his 
 father's name and title." 
 
 When the dancing commenced; the baronet led 
 forth Lady Emma Racket, to whom he had been 
 previously engaged, and, indeed, her ladyship 
 did so contrive to rivet his attention to herself 
 during the remainder of the evening, that, after 
 the introduction, he scarcely addressed a syllable 
 to Mabel. 
 
 Lady Williams was much disappointed by this 
 conduct : she had hoped and expected that Mabel 
 would make a great impression on the heart of 
 Sir Richard, but when she beheld the marked 
 attention which he paid to Lady Emma, and the 
 indifference with which he regarded Miss 
 Glendower, she feared that the glare of her 
 ladyship's attractions had at length gained her 
 point. 
 
 Whilst these reflections were harrassing the
 
 AMBITION . 299 
 
 mind of Lady Williams, the principal object 
 of her anxiety laid her head on her pillow 
 without being at all conscious that any plan 
 was in agitation, or regretting in the smallest 
 degree the success and exultation of Lady 
 Emma ; perhaps without the slightest wish for a 
 similar triumph. 
 
 END of vol. I. 
 
 POPLETT, Printer, 10, Jewin-street; Cripplegate,
 
 NOTE 
 
 TO THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 P. 25. 1. 13. Cwm,* This word should be 
 pronounced Coom, and signifies, in English, 
 a village, or hamlet.
 
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