NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 07491151 6 TERPEN سراسر E M M E LINE, THE ORPHAN of the CASTLE, E M M E LINE, THE ORPHAN of the CASTLE. BY CHARLOTTE SMITH, IN FOUR VOLUMES. V OL. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND, 1788. Li- E M M E LI NE, THE ORPHAN of the CASTLE. CH A P T E R I. IR Richard Crofts brought Mr. Roche- D ly to Lord Montreville at the time appointed; and in conſequence of the con- verſation then held, his Lordſhip was con- firmed in his reſolution of perſiſting in the plan Sir Richard had laid down, to force Emmeline to accept the good fortune of- fered her. Lord Montreville had ſent as ſoon as he got to town to Delamere's lodg- VOL. II. B i ngs, 2 EMMELINE, ГС) ce ings, whoſe ſervants ſaid that he had ſlepe there, but was then gone out. His Lord- ſhip concluded he was gone to Clapham ; but as he could not remedy his uneaſineſs on that head, he was obliged to endure it. About twelve o'clock Delamere had ar- ranged matters for his concealment; and about three, as Lord Montreville was dreſ- ſing to go out, Millefleur, together with Delamere's footman and groom, came as they had been ordered to Berkley-ſquare. This circumſtance was no ſooner related to Lord Montreville by his valet de chambre, than he ordered Millefleurto be ſent up. The Frenchman related to his Lordihip, that his maſter was certainly gone to Mr. Percival's; but Lord Montreville concluded he was gone to Scotland, and, in a tempeſt of anger and vexat on, curſed the hour when he had liſtened to the advice of Sir Richard Crofts, the harſhneſs of whoſe proceedings had, he iinagined, precipitated the event he had ſo long dreaded. He was ſo entire- ly perſuaded that this conjecture was the truth, that he firſt gave orders for a poſt- chaiſe THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 3 chaiſe and four to be ready directly; then recollecting that if he over-took his ſon he had no power to force him back, he thought it better to take with him ſome one who could influence Emmeline. His youngeſt daughter was ſtill in Yorkſhire ; Mrs. Stafford he knew not where to find ; but he ſuppoſed that Mrs. Aſhwood, with whom ſhe had lived ſome months, might have power to perfuade her; and not know- ing what elſe to do, indeed hardly knowing what he expected from the viſit, he order- ed his coachinan to be as expeditious as poſſible in conveying him to the houſe of that lady. Mrs. Alhwood, her brother, and four or five other perſons related to the family, were at dinner. Lord Montreville enter- ed the room; ſpoke to thoſe he knew with as much civility as he could; but not ſee- ing Emmeline among them, his apprehen- fions were confirmed. He deſired they would not diſturb themſelves; and de- clined ſharing their repaſt; but being un- B2 able CO mm E E, M N M 1 E L able to conceal his emotion till it was over, he ſaid to Mrs. Alhwood-" I ain ſorry, “ Madam, to trouble you on this unhappy 66 buſineſs. I did hope you would have “ had the goodneſs at leaſt to inform me 66 of it. What can I do?” exclaimed he, breaking ſuddenly from his diſcourſe and riſingą" Good God, what can I do?” The company were ſilent, and amazed. Mrs. Aſhwood, however, ſaid " I am “ ſorry that any thing, my Lord, has dif- “ turbed your Lordſhip. I am ſure I ſhould “ have heen happy, my Lord, could I “ have been of any ſervice to your Lord- - ſhip in whatever it is.” - Diſturbed !” cried he, ſtriking his forehead with his hand, “ I am diſtracted! “ When did ſhe go? How long has ſhe 66 been gone?” “ Who, my Lord?” “ Miſs Mowbray-Emmeline-Oh! it " will be impoſſible to overtake them !” “ Gone, my Lord ?”. “ Gone THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 5 “ Gone with Delamere!-Gone to Scot- 56 land!” “ Miſs Mowbray was however in the “ houſe not an hour ago,” faid Miſs Gal- ton; “ I ſaw her myſelf go up the garden ~ juſt as we ſat down to dinner.” “ Then ſhe went to meet him!--then " they went together!”- exclaimed Lord Montreville, walking round the room. An aſſertion ſo poſitive ſtaggered every one. They roſe from table in confuſion. « Let us go up,” ſaid Mrs. Afhwood; “I can hardly think it poſſible, my Lord, “ that Miſs Mowbray is gone, unleſs your - Lordſhip abſolutely ſaw them.” Yet Mrs. Alhwood remembered that Delamere had been there in the morning, and that Emmeline had dined early alone, and had remained by herſelf all the reſt of the day, under pretence of ſickneſs; and The began to believe that all this was done to give her time to élope with Delamere. -- She went up ſtairs. Lord Montreville, without knowing what he did, followed her. B 3 The 6 EMMELIN E, The ſtairs were carpeted; any one af- cending was hardly heard; and Mrs. Alh- wood ſuddenly throwing open the door of her chamber, Lord Montreville ſaw her, with her handkerchief held to her face, hanging over a packet of papers which lay on the table before her. Emmeline did not immediately look up an exclamation from Lord Montreville :male her take her handkerchief from her eyes. I She aroſe ; tried to conceal the ſorrow viſible in her countenance yet wet with tears, and aſſuming as much as ſhe could her native eaſe and ſweetneſs, ſhe advanced towards his Lordſhip, who ſtill ſtood at the door, amazed, and aſked him if he would pardon her for deſiring him to ſit down in a bed-chamber; if not, ſhe would wait on him below. She then went back to the ta- ble; threw the papers into the caſket that was on it; and placing a chair between that and the fire, again aſked him if he would do her the honour to ſit down. Lord Montreville did fo, but ſaid no- thing. THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 2orn thing, He was aſhamed of his precipi- tancy; yet as Emmeline did not know it, he would not mention it; and was yet too full of the idea to ſpeak of any thing elſe. • Mrs. Alhood had left thein-Emme- line continued ſilent. Lord Montreville, after a long pauſe, at length faid, with a ſtern and diſpleaſed countenance, “ I underſtand, Miſs Mow- “ bray, that my ſon was here this morn- “ ing." “ Yes, my Lord.” : “ Pray, do you know where he now " is?" “ I do not, indeed. Is he not at your « Lordſhip’s houſe?” - No; I am told by his ſervants that he “ is gone to Mr. Percival's—But you—" (continued he, laying a ſtrong emphaſis on the word) “ you, Miſs Mowbray, are I “ dare ſay better informed of his intentions << than any one elfe.” “ Upon my word, my Lord,” anſwer- ed Emmeline, aſtoniſhed,“ Í đo not " know. He ſaid nothing to me of an in- B4 : “ tention 8 . F M M = L I N E, “ tention to go any where; on the con- “ trary, he told me he ſhould be here again “ to-morrow.” “ And is it poſſible you are ignorant of “ his having left London this morning, “ immediately after he returned from viſit- “ ing you?” “ My Lord, I have never yet ſtooped “ to the meanneſs of a falſehood. Why “ ſhould your Lordſhip now ſuppoſe me “ guilty of it? I repeat—and I hope you « will do me the juſtice to believe me upon my honour I do not know whither « Mr. Delainere is gone-nor do I know “ that he has left London.” Lord Montreville could not but believe her. But while his fears were relieved as to the elopement, they were awakened anew by the uncertainty of what was be- come of his ſon, and what his motive could be for this ſudden diſappearance. He thought however the preſent oppor- tunity of ſpeaking to Emmeline of his re- ſolution was not to be neglected. " However ignorant you may be, Miſs « Mow- THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 9 “ Mowbray,” ſaid he, “ of the reaſon of « his having quitted his lodgings, you are “ not to learn that his motive for eſtranging “ himſelf from his family, and becoming “ a ſtranger to his father's houſe, originates in his inconſiderate attachinent to you. • Contrary to the aſſurances you gave me " at Swanſea, you have encouraged this “ attachment ; and, as I underſtand from “ Sir Richard Crofts, you peremptorily “ and even rudely refuſe the opportunity “ now offered you of eſtabliſhing yourſelf « in rank and affluence, which no other “ young woman would a moment heſitate , “ to accept. Such a refuſal cannot be “ owing to mere caprice; nor could it “ poſſibly happen had you not determined, “ in deſpite of every objection, and of “ bringing diſcord into my family, to liſten “ to that infatuated and ralh young “ man.” “ Your Lordfhip does not treat me “ with your uſual candour. I have pro- “ miſed you, voluntarily promiſed you, “ not to marry Mr. Delamere without - B5 “ your 10 É M M E LINE, “ your Lordſhip’s conſent. To prevent “ his coming here was out of my ** power; but if I really aſpired to the " honour of which your Lordſhip thinks « ine ambitious, wbat has prevented me “ from engaging at once with Mr. Dela- “ mere? who has, I own to you, preſſed “ me repeatedly to elope. My Lord, 66 while I am treated with kindneſs and “ confidence, I can rely upon my own «s refolution to deſerve it, but when your “ Lordſhip, on ſuſpicion or miſrepre- “ fentation, is induced to withdraw that. “ kindneſs and confidence-why ſhould I “ make a point of honour, where you no “ longer ſeem to expect it.” The truth of this anſwer, as well as it's fpirit, at once hurt and irritated Lord Montreville. Determined to ſeparate Emmeline from his ſon, he was mortified to be forced to acknowledge in his own breaſt that ſhe merited all his affection, and angry that ſhe ſhould be in the right when he wiſhed to have found ſomething to blame in her conduct. THE ORPHAN OF TAE CASTLE. I conduct. Pride and ſelf lové ſeemed to reſent that a little weak girl ſhould pretend to a ſenſe of rectitude, and a force of un derſtanding greater than his own. a " Miſs Mowbray," faid his Lordſhip ſharply, “ I will be very explicit with you “either conſent to marry Mr. Rochely, " whoſe affection does you ſo much honour, 66 or expect from me no farther kindneſs" .." Your Lordſhip knows," anſwered Einmeline, " that I have no friend on “ whom I have the leaſt claim but you. If “ you abandon me—but my Lord ought " you to do it ? I am indeed most “ friendleſs !” . She could no longer command her tears-fobs obliged her to ceaſe ſpeaking.' · Lord Montreville thought her reſolution would give way; and trying to diveſt him- felf of all feeling, with an effort truly poli- tical, he determined to preſs his point." “ It is in your power,” refumed he, "66 not only to place yourſelf above all fear « of ſuch deſertion, but to engage my af- « fection and that of my whole family. B6 w You 12 E M M E LINE, " You will be in a ſituation of life which “ I ſhould hardly refuſe for one of the “ Miſs Delameres. You will poſſeſs the “ moſt unbounded affluence, and a huſ- " band who adores you. A man unex- 6 ceptionable in character; of a mature 6 age; and whoſe immenſe fortune is every « day encreaſing. You will be conſidered " by me, and by Lady Montreville, as a “ daughter of the houſe of Mowbray. The “ blemiſh of your birth will be wiped off. « and forgotten.” . Emmeline wept more than before. And his Lordſhip continued, “ If you - abſurdly refuſe an offer ſo infinitely above “ your expectations, I ſhall conſider my- «. ſelf as having more than done my duty « in putting it in your way; and that your “ folly and imprudence diffolve all obliga- “tion on my part. You muſt no longer “ call yourſelf Mowbray; and you muſt « forget that you ever were allowed to be “ numbered among the relations of my fa- “ mily. Nor ſhall I think myſelf obliged “ in any manner to provide for a perſon, “ who CI THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 13 66 who in ſcorn of gratitude, prudence and “ reputation, throws from her an opportu- “ nity of providing for herſelf.” - Emmeline regained fome degree of reſo- lution. She looked up, her eyes ſtreaming with tears, and ſaid, “ Well, my Lord ! 66 to the loweſt indigence I muſt then ſub- “ mit; for to marry Mr. Rochely is not in .66 my power." “ We will ſuppoſe for a moment,” re- ſumed Lord Montreville, “ that you could “ realize the viſionary hopes you have pre- « ſumed to indulge of uniting yourſelf to “ Mr. Delamere. Dear as he is to me and “ his mother, we are determined from that 66 moment to renounce him-never ſhall " the rebellious ſan who has dared to diſ- “ obey us, be again admitted to our pre- “ fence !-never will we acknowledge as .“ his wife, a perſon forced upon us and “ introduced into our family in deſpite of “ our commands, and in violation of duty, " honour, and affection. You will be the “ occaſion of his being loaded with the “ curſes of both his parents, and of intro- “ ducing nev E M M E LINE “ ducing miſery and diſcord into his fa- “ mily. Can you yourſelf be happy under 66 ſuch circumſtances? In point of fortune 66 too you will find yourſelf deceived 66 while we live, Mr. Delamere can have “ but a very ſlender income; and of every " thing in our power we ſhall certainly de- “ prive him, both while we live, and at « our deceaſe. Conſider well what I have “ faid ; and make uſe of your reaſon. “ Begin by giving up to me the ridiculous “ witneſſes of a ridiculous and boyiſh paf- “ fion, which muſt be no longer indulged; " to keep a picture of Delamere is diſcre- “ ditable and indelicate- you will 110t re- " fufe to relinquiſh it?” He reached over the table, and took from among two or three looſe papers, which yet lay before Emmeline, a little blue enamelled cafe, which he concluded contained a miniature of Delamere, of whom ſeveral had been drawn. Emmeline, abſorbed in tears, did not oppoſe it. The ſpring of the caſe was defective. It opened THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 15 in his hand; and preſented to his view, not a portrait of his ſon, but of his bro- ther, drawn when he was about twenty, and at a period when he was more than a brother when he was the deareſt friend Lord Montreville had on earth. A likeneſs ſo ſtriking, which he had not ſeen for many years, had an immediate effect upon him. His brother ſeemed to look at him mournfully. A melancholy caſt about the eye-brows diminiſhed the vivacity of the countenance, and the faded colour (for the picture had been painted ſeven and twenty years) gave it a look of languor and ill health ; ſuch perhaps as the original wore before his death, when a ruined conſtitution threatened hiin for ſome months, tho' his life terminated by a malignant fever in a a few hours. The poor diſtreſt Emmeline was the only memorial left of him; and Lord Montreville felt her tears a reproach for his cruelty in thus threatening to abandon to her fate, the 16 E, E I N M L M E the unhappy daughter of this once-loved brother. : Sir Richard Crofts and Lady Montreville were not by, to intercept theſe ſentiments of returning humanity. He found the tears fill his eyes as he gazed on the picture. – Emmeline, inſenſible of every thing, ſaw it not; and not conſcious that he had taken it, the purport of his laſt words ſhe believed to relate to a ſketch ſhe had herſelf made of Delamere. She was therefore ſurprized, when Lord Montreville ariſing, took her hand, and in a voice that witneſſed the einotion of his ſoul, ſaid " Come, my “ dear Emmeline, pardon me for thus “ diſtreſſing you, you ſhall not be com- 6c pelled to marry Mr. Rochely if you have “ fo great a diſlike to him. You ſhall ſtill “ have an adequate ſupport; and I truft I “ ſhall have nothing to fear from your in- « diſcretion in regard to Delamere.” " Your Lordſhip,” anſwered Emmeline, “ without taking her handkerchief from her THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 17 her eyes, “ has never yet found me capable s of falſehood : I will repeat, if you deſire s it, the promiſe I gave you~I will even “ take the moſt ſolemn oath you ſhall « dictate, never to be the wife of Mr. De- “ lamere, unleſs your Lordſhip and Lady “ Montreville conſent." “ I take your promiſe,” anſwered his Lordſhip, “ and ſhall rely firmly upon it. “ But Emmeline, you muſt go from hence “ for your own ſake; your peace and repu- “ tation require it; Delamere muſt not 66 frequent the houſe where you are; you " muſt conceal from him the place of your " abode.” “ My Lord, I will be ingenuous with “ you. To go from hence is what I in- “ tend, and with your Lordſhip's per- “ miſſion I will ſet out immediately for " Mrs. Stafford's. But to conceal froin Mr. Delamere where I am, is not in my “ power; for I have given him a ſolemn “ promiſe to ſee him if he deſires it, where- “ ever 1 ſhall be: and as I hope you de- « pend on my honour, it muſt be equally « ſacred 18. EMME IN E, « facred whether given to him or you. “ You will therefore not inſiſt on iny break- “ ing this engagement, and I promiſe you " again never to violate the other.” With this compromiſe, Lord Montreville was obliged to be content. He entreated Emmeline to ſee Rochely again, and hear his offer. But ſhe abſolutely refuſed; af- ſuring Lord Montreville, that were his for- tune infinitely greater, ſhe would not marry hiin, tho' ſervitude ſhould be the alterna- tive. His Lordſhip therefore forbore to preſs her farther. He deſired, that if Delamere wrote to her, or ſaw her, ſhe would let him know, which ſhe readily agreed to; and he told her, that ſo long as ſhe was ſingle, and did notiring to diſoblige him, he would pay her an hundred guineas a year in quarterly pay- ments. He gave her a bank note of fifty pounds; and recommending it to her to go as ſoon as poſſible to Mrs. Stafford's, he kiſſed her cheek with an appearance of affection greater than he had yet ſhewn, and then THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 19 then went home to prepare for the recep- tion of Lady Montreville, whoſe arrival he did not greatly wiſh for; dreading left her violence and ill-temper ſhould drive his ſon into ſome new extravagance. But as her will was not to be diſputed, he ſubmitted without remonſtrance to the alteration of the plan he had propoſed; which was, that his family ſhould paſs their Chriſtmaſs in Norfolk, whither he intended to have re- turned. The next day Delamere was again at Clapham, very early. Emmeline, the additional agitation - of whoſe inind had prevented her ſleeping during the night ; appeared more indiſpoſed than ſhe had done the day before. Delamere, very much alarmed at her altered looks, anxiouſly enquired the cauſe? And without heſitation ſhe told him ſimply all that had paſſed; the promiſe ſhe had given to his father, to which ſhe intended ſtrictly to adhere, and the arrangement ſhe had agreed to on condition of being perſe- cuted 20 E M M E LI NE, nore 01 emo cuted no more on the ſcore of Mr. Rochely. It is impoſſible to deſcribe the grief and indignation of Delamere, at hearing this relation. He ſaw all the hopes fruſtrated which he had been ſo long indulging; he ſaw between him and all he loved, a barrier which time only could remove; he dared not hope that Emmeline would ever be in- duced to break an engagement which ſhe conſidered as binding; he dared not flatter himſelf with the moſt diſtant proſpect of procuring the conſent of Lord and Lady Montreville, and therefore by their deaths only could he obtain her; which if he had been unnatural enough to wiſh, was yet in all probability very diſtant; as Lord Mon- treville was not more than ſeven and forty, and of an excellent conſtitution; and Lady Montreville three years younger. Paſſion and reſentment for ſome moinents ſtified every other ſentiment in the heart of Delamere. But the impediments that thus aroſe to his wiſhes were very far from diminiſhing their violence. The were THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 2[. The more impoſſible his union with Emmeline ſeemed to be, the more ar- dently he deſired it. The difficulties that might have checked, or conquered an inferior degree of paſſion, ſerved only to ſtrengthen his, and to render it inſur- mountable. It was ſome moments before Emmeline could prevail upon him to liſten to her. She then enquired why he had concealed himſelf from his father, and where he had been? He anſwered, that he had avoided Lord Montreville, becauſe, had he met him, he found hiinſelf incapable of commanding his temper and of forbearing to reſent his ſend- ing Sir Richard Crofts to her, which he had promiſed her not to do. That there- fore he had taken other lodgings in ano- ther part of the town, where he intended to remain. Emmeline exhorted and implored him to return to Berkley-ſquare. He poſitively refuſed. He refuſed alſo mm to 22 E M M E L I NE, to tell her where he lodged. And com- plaining loudly of her cruelty and coldneſs, yet tenderly intreating her to take care of her health, he left her; having firſt pro- cured permiſſion to fee her the next day, and every day till the ſet out for Wood- field. When he was gone, Miſs Mowbray wrote to Lord Montreville “ My Lord, “ In purſuance of the word I paſſed to « your Lordſhip, I have the honour to “ acquaint you that Mr. Delamere has juſt “ left me. I endeavoured to prevail on " him to inform me where he lodges; but “ he refuſes to give me the leaſt informa- “ tion. If it be your Lordſhip’s wiſh to “ ſee him, you will probably have an op- “ portunity of doing it here, as he pro- “ poſed being here to-morrow; but re- “ fuſed to name the hour, apprehending “ perhaps that you might meet him, as I « did not conceal from him that I ſhould “ acquaint THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 23 *. acquaint you with my having ſeen “him. . " I have the honour to be, “ my Lord, “ your Lordſhip’s : " moſt obedient ſervant, « EMMELINE MOWBRAY,” Clapham, Dec. 3. CC Lord Montreville received this letter in her Ladyſhip's dreſſing-room. The fer- vant who brought it in, ſaid it caine from Claphamn; and Lady Montreville inſiſted on ſeeing it's contents. She had been be- fore acquainted with what had paſſed; and beſtowed on her ſon the ſevereſt invectives for his obſtinący and folly. Poor Emme- line however, who was the cauſe of it, was the principal object of her reſentment and diſdain. Even this laſt inſtance of her rec- titude, could not diminiſh the prejudice which embittered the mind of Lady Mon- treville againſt her. She lamented, when- ever ſhe deigned to ſpeak of her, that the laws 24 E M M E LINE, laws of this country, unlike thoſe of better regulated kingdoms, did not give people of faſhion power to remove effectually thoſe who interfered with their happineſs, or were inimical to their views. « If this lit- 66 tle wretch," ſaid ſhe, “ was in France, “ it would not be difficult to put an end to “ the trouble ſhe has dared to give us. “ A letter de cachet would cure the creature “ of her preſumption, and place her where “ her art and affectation ſhould not diſturb ««. the peace of families of high rank.” Lord Montreville heard theſe invectives without reply, but not without pain. Auguſta Delamere, who arrived in Berk- lev-fquare the ſame morning that Lady Montreville did, felt ſtill more hurt by her mother's determined hatred to Emmeline, whom ſhe languiſhed to ſee, and had never ceaſed to love. Miſs Delamere inheriting all the pride of her mother, and adding to it a ſufficient ſhare of vanity and affectation of her own, had taken a diſlike to the perſecuted Em- meline, if poſſible more inveterate than that THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 25 that of Lady Montreville. Tho' ſhe had never ſeen her, ſhe deteſted her; and ex- erted all her influence on her mother to prevent her being received into the family as her father's relation. Fitz-Edward had praiſed her as the moſt intereſting woman he had ever ſeen. Mifs Delamere had no averſion to Fitz-Edward; and tho' he had never ſeemed ſenſible of the honour ſhe did him, ſhe could not diveſt herſelf wholly of that partiality towards him, which made her heartily abhor any woman he ſeemed to admire. When to this cauſe of diſlike was added, what ſhe called the infolent preſumption of the animal in daring to at- tempt inveigling her brother into the folly of marrying, ſhe thought ſhe might indulge all the rancour, envy, and malignity of her heart. . When Lady Montreville had read the letter, ſhe threw it down on the table con- temptuouſly. " It requires no anſwer,” ſaid ſhe to the fervant who waited. . The man left the room. Vol. II. C 66 Well, 26 EMMELINE, * Well, my Lord,” continued ſhe, ad- dreſſing herſelf to her huſband, " what do “ you intend to do about this unhappy, in- “ fatuated boy?” “ I really know not," anſwered his Lordſhip. “ I will tell you then,” reſumed ſhe- “ Go to this girl, and let her know that “ you will abandon her pennyleſs; force “ her to accept the honour Mr. Rochely « offers her; and, by ſhewing a little “ ſtrength of mind and reſolution, break " theſe unworthy chains with which your “ own want of prudence has fettered your “ fon.” · " It has already been tried, Madam, 66 without ſucceſs. Conſider that if I am bound by no obligations to ſupport this “ young perſon, I am alſo without any power over her. To force her to marry 66 Mr. Rochely is impoſſible. I have how- " ever her promiſe that ſhe will not enter 66 into any clandeſtine engagement with 66 Delamere.” “Her promiſe!” exclaimed Lady Mon- í treville. THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 27 treville. -" And are you weak enough, “ my Lord, to truſt to the promiſe of an « artful, deſigning creature, who ſeems to “ me to have already won over your Lord- 56 ſhip to her party? What want of com- “ mon ſenſe is this! If you will not " again ſpeak to her, and that moſt deci- « fively, I will do it myſelf! Send her 66 to me! I will force her not only to tell " me where Delamere has had the mean- “ neſs to conceal himſelf, but alſo oblige “ her to relinquiſh the hopes ſhe has the 66 inſolence to indulge." Miſs Delamere, who wanted to ſee the wonderful creature that had turned her bro- ther's head, and who was charmed to think ſhe ſhould ſee her humbled and mortified, promoted this plan as much as poſſible. Auguſta, dreading her brother's violence, dared not, and Lord Montreville would not oppoſe it, as he believed her Lady- ſhip's overwhelming rhetoric, to which he was himſelf frequently accuſtomed to give way, might produce on Emmeline the ef- fect he had vainly attempted. He there- C2 fore 28 E M M E LINE . føre aſked Lady Montreville, whether the really wiſhed to fee Miſs Mowbray, and when? .“ I am engaged to-morrow," anſwered. ſhe, “ all day. But however, as ſhe is a: “ fort of perſon whom it will be improper. “ to admit at any other time, let her be “ here at ten o'clock in the morning. She “ may come up, before I breakfaſt, into “ my dreſſing-room.” - Shall I ſend one of the carriages for “ her?” enquired his Lordſhip. in “. By no means," replied, the Lady. “ They will be all wanted. Let her bor- “ row a coach of the people the lives with. I os, ſuppoſe all city people now keep coaches. “ Or if ſhe cannot do that, a hack may “. be had.” Then turning to her woman, who had juſt brought her her ſnuff-box, “ Brackley,” ſaid the," don't forget to or-, “ der the porter to admit a young woman: “ who will be here to-morrow, at ten “ o'clock; tho' ſhe may perhaps come in a ( hack.”, Lord Montreville, who grew.every hour more THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 29 more 'uneaſy at Delamere's abſence, now ſet out in ſearch of him himſelf. He called at Fitz-Edward's lodgings; but he was not yet come to town, tho' hourly ex- pected. His Lordſhip then went to Clap- ham, where he hoped to meet his fon; but inítead of doing ſo, Emmeline put into his hands the following letter *** I intended to have ſeen you again to- 6 day; but the pain I felt after our inter- “ view yeſterday, has ſo much diſordered me, that it is better not to repeat it. " Cruel Emmeline !-to gratify my fa- " ther you throw me from you without re- " morſe, without pity. I ſhall be the " victim of his ambition, and of your falſe or and miſtaken ideas of honour. 66 Ah! Emmeline! will the fatisfaction 6c that you fancy will ariſe from this chi- americal honour make you amends for the “ loſs of ſuch an heart as mine! Yet " think not I can withdraw it from you, “ cold and cruel as you are. Alas! it is “ no longer in my power. But my paſ- « fions, € 3 30 E M M E L I NE, “ fions, the violence of which I cannot “ mitigate, prey on my frame, and will as conduct to the grave, this unhappy ſon, " who is to be ſacrificed to the curſed po- ~ litics of his family. “ I cannot ſee you, Emmeline, without “ a renewal of all thoſe ſenſations which “ tear me to pieces, and which I know af- “ fect you, though you try to conceal “ it. For a day or two I will go into « the country. Remember your promiſe not " to remove any where but to Mrs. Staf. « ford's; and to let me know the day and “ hour when you ſet out. You plead to 6 me, that your promiſe to my father is “ ſacred. I expect that thoſe you have “ paſſed to me ſhall be at leaſt equally ſo. “ Farewel! till we meet again. You “ know that ſeeing you, and being permit- “ ted to love you, is all that renders fup- “ portable the exiſtence of your unhappy « F. D. . “ This letter, my Lord,” ſaid Emmeline, “ was delivered by a porter. I ſpoke to as the THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 31 “ the man, and aſked him from whence " he brought it? He ſaid from a coffee- 66 houſe at Charing-croſs.” • Did you anſwer it?” “ No, my Lord,” ſaid Emmeline, bluſh- ing; “ I think it required no anſwer.” He then told her that Lady Montreville expected to ſee her the next day; and named the hour. Emmeline, terrified as ſhe was at the idea of ſuch an interview, was forced to aſſure him ſhe would be punctual to it; and his Lordſhip took an haſty leave, ſtill hop- ing he might ineet his ſon. He was hardly gone, before another porter brought to Emmeline a ſecond letter: it was from Auguſta Delamere. « At length, my dear Emmeline, I am “ near you, and can tell you I ſtill love " you; tho' even that ſatisfaction I am « forced to ſnatch unknown to my mother. " Oh, Emmeline! I tremble for your ſitua- - tion to-morrow. The diſlike that both “ my mother and ſiſter have taken to you, C4 66 is - 32 E E N M I M L E • is inconceivable; and I am afraid that s you will have a great deal of rudeneſs 66 and unkindneſs to encounter. I write " this to prepare you for it; and hope that " your conſcious innocence, and the gene- “ roſity with which you have acted, will ſupport you. I have been taken to taſk « moſt ſeverely by my mother for my par- “ tiality to you; and my ſiſter, in her con- «'temptuous way, calls you my ſweet ſen- “ timental friend. To be ſure my bro- - ther's abſence is a dreadful thing; and * great allowances are to be made for my so mother's vexation; tho' I own I do not “ ſee why it ſhould prevent her being juít. " I will try to be in the room to-morrow, " tho' perhaps I ſhall not be permitted. « Don't ſay you have heard from me, for " the world; but be aſſured I ſhall always " love you as you deſerve, and be moſt s truly “ your affectionate and faithful, “ A. Delamere." Berkley-ſquare, Dec. 5. LAM CHAP- THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 33 CHAPTER II. TMMELINE had the convenience of U Mrs. Aſhwood's carriage, who agreed 'to ſet her down in Berkley-ſquare. She was herſelf ſitting for her picture; and told Miſs Mowbray ſhe would ſend the chariot back for her when ſhe got to the houſe of the painter. Exactly at ten o'clock they arrived at the door of Lord Montreville; and, Em- meline, who had been arguing herſelf into fome degree of reſolution as ſhe went along, yet found her courage much leſs than the thought ſhe ſhould have occaſion for; and with faultering ſteps and trembling nerves De went up ſtairs. The man who conduct- ed her, told her that his Lady was not yet up, and deſired her to wait in an anti- room, which was ſuperbly furniſhed and covered with glaſſes, in which Emmeline had leiſure to contemplate her pale and af- frighted countenance. C 5 The 21 34 E M M E L I NE, nol The longer the interview was delayed the more dreadful it appeared. She dared not aſk for Miſs Augufta ; yet, at every noiſe ſhe heard, hoped that amiable girl was coming to conſole and befriend her. But no Auguſta appeared. A ſervant came in, mended the fire, and went down again; then Miſs Delamere's maid, under pretence of fetching ſomething, took a ſurvey of her in order to make a report to her miſtreſs; and Emmeline found that ſhe was an object of curioſity to the domeſticks, who had heard from Millefieur, and from the other ſervants who had been at Swanſea, that this was the young woman Mr. Delamere was dying for. An hour and a half was now elapſed ; and poor Emineline, whoſe imagination had been buſied the whole time in repre- ſenting every form of inſult and contempt with which ſhe expected to be received, began to hope that Lady Montreville had altered her intention of ſeeing her. At length, however, Mrs. Brackley, her Ladyſhip’s woman, was heard ſpeaking aloud THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 35 aloud to a footman-Walter, tell that young woman ſhe may be admitted to ſee my Lady, and ſhew her up. Walter delivered his meſſage ; and the trembling Emmeline with ſome difficulty followed him. She entered the dreſſing-room. Her · Ladyſhip, in a morning dreſs, fat at a ta- ble, on which was a ſalver with coffee. Her back was to the door, where ſtood Mrs. Brackley ; who, as Emmeline, heſi- tating, ſeemed ready to ſhrink back, faid, with a ſort of condeſcending nod,“ There, “ you may go in, Miſs.” . Emmeline entered; but did not 'ad- vance. Lady Montreville, without riſing or ſpeaking, turned her head, and looked at her with a ſcowling and diſdainful counte- nance. “ Humph !”, ſaid ſhe, looking at her eldeſt daughter, who fat by the fire with a newſpaper in her hand-“ humph !” as much as to ſay, I ſee no ſuch great beauty in this creature. C 6 Miſs E M M E L IN E, ; Miſs Delamere, whoſe countenance wore a ſort of diſdainful ſneer, ſmiled in anſwer to her mother's humph! and ſaid, 6. Would you have her ſit down, Madam?” « Aye,” faid Lady Montreville, turn- ing again her head towards Emmeline “ You may ſit down.” There was a ſofa near the door. Emme- line, hardly able to ſtand, went to it. A ſilence enſued. Lady Montreville ſipped her coffee; and Miſs Delamere ſeemed intent upon the newſpaper. “ So !” cried her Ladyſhip, “ my fon “ has abſented himſelf! Upon my word, " Miſs What-d'ye-call-it, (for Mowbray I “ don't allow that your name is) you have 6 a great deal to anſwer for. Pray what “ amends can you ever hope to make to “ my Lord, and me, for the trouble you “ have been the cauſe of?” " I ſincerely lament it, Madam,” an- ſwered Emmeline, forcing herſelf to ſpeak; " and do aſſure you it has been on my “ part involuntary.” " Oh, no doubt on't. Your wonder- " ful THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 37 I was “ ful beauty is the fatal cauſe. You have “ uſed no art, I dare fay; no pretty “ fineffe, learned froin novels, to invei. is gle a filly boy to his undoing.” os If I had been diſpoſed, Madam, to 66 take advantage of Mr. Delamere's un- “ happy partiality for me”. - Oh dear! What you was coy? You s knew your ſubject, no doubt, and now - make a inerit of what was merely a piece 6c of art. I deteſt ſuch demure hypocrites! - Tell me,—why, if you are not diſpoſed " to take advantage of Mr. Delamere's “ folly, you do not accept the noble offer made you by this banker, or whatever w he is, that my Lord ſays is worth above “ an hundred thouſand pounds? The “ reaſon is evident. A little obſcure crea- “ ture, bred on the Welch mountains, ~ and who was born nobody knows how, " does not ſo eaſily refuſe a man of fortune “ unleſs ſhe has ſome other views. You " would like a handſome young man with “ a title! Yes! you would like to hide " your own obſcurity in the brilliant pedi- “ gree 38 EMMELIN E, Genk 6 gree of one of the firſt families in Eu- " rope. But know, preſumptuous girl, « that the whole houſe ſhall periſh e're it .66 ſhall thus be contaminated-know” She grew inarticulate with paſſion; pride and malignity ſeemed to choak her; and ſhe ſtopped, as if to recover breath to give vent to her rage. Miſs Delamere took the opportunity to ſpeak- “ Indeed child,” ſaid ſhe, “it is hurt- « ing yourſelf extremely; and I am really " ſorry you ſhould be ſo deceived. My “ brother can never marry you; and as “ Lord Montreville has brought you up, “ under the notion of your belonging to a “ part of his family, we are really intereſted, “ my mother and I, in your not going “ into a bad courſe of life. If you do not “ marry this rich city-man, what do you " think is to become of you?” 66 My Lord Montreville has been fo “ good as to aſſure me,” ſaid Emmeline- her words were ſo faint, that they died away upon her lips. " What THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 39 “ What does ſhe ſay, Fanny ?” aſked Lady Montreville. “ Something of my father's having af- 6 ſured her, Madam.” « Don't flatter yourſelf, girl,” reſumed her Ladyſhip, “ don't deceive yourſelf. - If you refuſe to marry this man who of- “ fers to take you, not one ſhilling ſhall “ you ever receive from this family ; deter- 6 mine therefore at once; ſend to the per- " At the end “ of the term preſcribed by Lord Mon- “ treville, Emmeline Mowbray hereby 56 promiſes to become the wife of Frederic " Delamere.” This, Emmeline ſigned with a reluctant and trembling hand; for tho’ſhe had an habitual friendſhip and affection for Dela- mere, and preferred him to all the men ſhe had yet ſeen, ſhe thought this not ſtrictly right; and felt a pain and repugnance to it's perforınance, which made her more un- happy the longer ſhe reflected on it. On Delamere, however, it had a contrary K 5 effcct. 202 EMMELINE, effect. Tho' he ſtill continued greatly de- preſſed at the thoughts of their approach- ing leparation, he yet aflumed fome degree of courage to bear it: and when the day arrived, he bid her adieu without relapſing into thoſe agonies he had ſuffered before at the mere idea of it. He carried with him a miniature picture of her, and entreated her to anſwer his let- ters; which, on the footing they now were, ſhe could not refuſe to promiſe. He then tore himſelf from her, and went to take leave of his inother, who ſtill continued ill at Bath; and from thence to London, to bid farewel to his father; after which, Fitz- Edward accompanied him as far as Har- wich, where he embarked for Holland. As he liad before been the uſual tour of France and Italy, he purpoſed paſſing the ſummer in viſiting Germany, and the win- - ter at Vienna ; and early in the Spring to fet out thro' France on his way home, where lie purpoſed being on the 20th of March, when the year which he had promiſed his father to paſs abroad would expire. Lord THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 207 as a 3 D 22 Lord Montreville, by obtaining this de- lay thought there was every probability that his attachment to Emmeline would be con- quered. And his Lordſhip, as well as Lady Montreville, determined to try in the interval to procure for Emmeline fome un- exceptionable marriage which it would not be poſſible for her to refuſe. They imagined, therefore, that their uneaſineſs on this head was over : and Lady Montreville, whoſe" mind was greatly relieved by the perſuaſion, was long ſince out of all danger from the fits which had ſo ſeverely attacked her; but the contraction of her joints which they had occaſioned, was ſtill ſo painful and ob- ſtinate, that the phyſicians ſeemed to appre- hend it might be neceſſary to ſend her Ladyſhip to the waters of Barege. In the mean time, Lord Montreville had obtained a poſt in adminiſtration which encreaſed his income and his power. Sir Richard Crofts pofleſſed a lucrative em-- ployinent in the ſame department; and his eldeſt ſon was become extremely neceſſary, K6 : from 1 204 E M M E LINE, froin his aſiiduity and attention to buſineſs, and more than ever a favourite with all Lord Montreville's family, with whom he almoft entirely lived. A lurking penchant for Fitz-Edward, which had grown up from her earlieſt re- collection almoſt inſenſibly in the boſom of Miſs Delamere, had been long chilled by his evident neglect and indifference: The now fancied ſhe hated him, and really pre- ferred Crofts, every way inferior as he was. But while the want of high birth and a title, which ſhe had been taught to con- fider as abſolutely requiſite to happineſs, made her repreſs every tendency to a ſerious engagement, ſhe was extremely gratified by his flattery; and when among other young women (from whom he affected not to be able to ſtifle his unhappy paſſion,) ſhe was frequently told how much he was in love with her, ſhe was accuſtomed to anſwer—" Ah! poor fellow; ſo he is, and " I heartily pity him.” But omen THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 205 vasu 1 But while Lord and Lady Montreville thought Crofts's attendance on their daugh- ters quite without conſequence, he and his father inſinuated an intended connection between him and one of them, with fo much art, that tho' it never reached the ears of the fainily it was univerſally believed in the world. . A young nobleman who had paſſed the greater part of his life in the army, where he had lately ſignalized himſelf by his bra- very and conduct, now returned to Eng- land on being promoted to a regiment; and having ſome buſineſs to tranfact with Lord Montreville in his official capacity, he was invited to the houſe, and greatly admired both the Miſs Delameres, whoſe parties he now joined at Bath. Crofts ſoon afterwards obtaining a ſhort reſpite from his political engagement, went thither alſo; and tho’Miſs Delamere really thought Lord Weſthaven quite unexcep- tionable, ſhe had been ſo habituated to be. have particularly to Crofts, that ſhe could not 206 E M M E LINE, not now alter it, or perhaps was not con- fcious of the familiar footing on which the allowed him to be with her. Lord Weſthaven, who had at firſt heſi- tated between the ſprightly dignity of the elder ſiſter, and the ſoft and more bewitch- ing graces of the younger, no ſooner ſaw the conduct of Miſs Delamere towards Crofts, than his doubts were at an end. Her faults of temper had been hitherto con- cealed from him, and he believed her heart as good as her ſiſter's; indeed, according to the ſentimental turn her diſcourſe frequently teok, he might have fuppofed it more re- fined and ſublime. But when he obſerved her behaviour to Crofts, he thought that The muſt either be ſecretly engaged to him, or be a decided coquet. Turning therefore all his attention to Auguſta, he ſoon found that her temper was as truly good as her perſon was intereſting, and that the too great timidity of her inanner was ſolely owing to her being continually checked by her inother's partiality to her ſiſter. A very THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 207 ici, PU A very ſhort ſtudy of her character con- vinced him ſhe was exactly the woman calculated to make him happy. He told her ſo; and found her by no means averſe to his making the ſame declaration to her father and mother. Lord Montreville received it with plea- ſure ; and preliminaries were ſoon ſettled. In about ſix weeks, Lord Weſthaven and Miſs Auguſta Delamere were married at Bath, to the infinite ſatisfaction of all par- ties except Miſs Delamere; who could not be very well pleaſed with the preference ſhewn her younger ſiſter by a man whoſe morals, perſon, and fortune, were all ſupe- rior to what even her own high ſpirit had taught her to expect in a huſband. . Crofts, tho' he ſaw all apprehenſions of having Lord Weſthaven for a rival were at an end, could not help fearing that ſo advantageous a match for the younger, might make the elder more unwilling to accept a ſimple commoner with a fortune greatly inferior. The 208 E M M E L IN E, The removal, however, of Lady Weſt- haven gave him more frequent opportu- nities to urge his paſſion. Lady Mon- treville was now going to Barege, Bath having been found leſs ſerviceable than was at firſt hoped for; and Delamere was written to to meet her Ladyſhip and her el- deſt daughter at Paris, in order to accom- pany them thither. Peace having been in the interim eſta- bliſhed, Lord Weſthaven found he ſhould return no more to his regiment, and purpoſed with his wife to attend Lady Montreville part of the way, and then to go into Switzerland, where his mother's family reſided, who had been of that coun- try. · Lady Weſthaven was extremely grati- fied by this ſcheme; not only becauſe ſhe was delighted to wait on her mother, but becauſe ſhe hoped it would help to diſſipate a lurking uneaſineſs which hung over the ſpirits of her Lord, and which he told her was owing to the uncertain · and en was as IC THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 209 and diſtreſſing ſituation of a beloved ſiſter. But whenever the ſubject was mentioned, he expreſſed ſo much unhappineſs, that his wife had not yet had reſolution to en- quire into the nature of her misfortunes, and only knew in general that ſhe was un- fortunately married. | CHAP. 210 E M M E LINE, CH A P T E R XI. TMMELINE had now loſt her lover, L at leaſt for ſome time; and one of her friends too was gone where ſhe could ſel- dom hear of her. Theſe deprivations at- tached her more cloſely than ever to Mrs. Stafford. Mr. Stafford was gone to town; and except now and then a ſhort and melan- choly viſit from Fitz-Edward, to whom Delamere had lent his houſe at Tylehurſt, they ſaw nobody; for all the neighbouring families were in London. They found not. only fociety but happineſs together enough to compenſate for almoſt every other; and paſſed their time in a way particularly adapted to the taſte of both. Adjoining to the eſtate where Mrs. Staf- ford reſided, a tract of forelt land, fora' merly a chaſe and now the property of a collegiate body, deeply indents the arable ground beyond it, and fringes the feet of the THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 201 the green downs which riſe above it. This part of the country is called Woodbury Foreſt; and the deep ſhade of the beech trees with which it is covered, is broken by wild and uncultured glens; where, among the broom, hawthorn and birch of the waſte, a few ſcattered cottages have been built upon ſufferance by the poor for the conve- nience of fewel, ſo amply afforded by the ſurrounding woods. Theſe humble and obſcure cabbins are known only to the ſportſman and the woodcutter; for no road whatever leads thro’ the foreſt: and only ſuch romantic wanderers as Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline, were conſcious of the beau- tiful walks which might be found among theſe natural ſhrubberies and ſolitary ſhades. The two friends were enjoying the ſoftneſs _ of a beautiful April morning in theſe woods, when, in paſſing near one of the cottages, they ſaw, at a low caſement half obſcured by the pendant trees, a perſon ſitting, whoſe dreſs and air ſeemed very unlike thoſe of the uſual inhabitants of ſuch a place. She was intent on a paper, over which ſhe leaned 214 EMMELINE, They entered the low, ſmoky room, uſually inhabited by the family. And Mrs. Stafford, with a beating heart, determined to be ſatisfied, opened a door which led from it into that at the window of which the knew the ſtranger had appeared, and which the people of the houſe dignified with the appellation of their parlour.. In this room, on the brick floor, and ſurrounded by bare walls, ſtood a bed which ſeemed to have been brought thither for the accoinmodation of ſome perſon who had not been accuſtomed to ſuch an apart- ment. Mrs. Stafford ſaw, ſleeping in it, a very young woman, pale, but extremly beautiful; and her hand, of uncommon delicacy, lay on the white quilt-A ſight, which gave her pain for herſelf, and pity for the unfor- tunate perſon before her, affected her ſo much, that having ſtood a moment in aſtoniſhment, ſhe ſtepped back to the place where Emmeline fat, and burſt into tears. The noiſe, however trifling, brought from above ſtairs a perſon evidently a lady's 11 1101 maid, THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 215 maid, of very creditable appearance, who came down haſtily into the room where Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline were, ſaying, as ſhe deſcended the ſtairs " lam coming “ immediately, my Lady.” But at the ſight of two ſtrangers, ſhe ſtopped in great confuſion; and at the ſame moment her miſtreſs called to her. She haftened, without ſpeaking, to attend the ſummons; and ſhut the door after her. After remaining a few moments, ſhe came out again, and aſked Mrs. Stafford if ſhe wanted the woman of the houſe? To which Mrs. Staíford, determined whatever it coſt her to know the truth, ſaid." No-my buſineſs is with your “ lady." The woman now appeared more con- fuſed than before; and ſaid, heſitatingly~ " I-I-my lady-I fancy you are miſ- s taken, madam.” “ Go in, however, and let your miſtreſs «« know that Mrs. Stafford deſires to ſpeak “ to her.” The maid reluctantly and heſitatingly went 216 10 E M M E L I N E , went in, and after ſtaying ſome time, came back. “ My miſtreſs, Madam, ſays ſhe has " not the pleaſure of knowing you ; and " being ill, and in bed, ſhe hopes you will “ excuſe her if ſhe deſires you will acquaint “ her with your buſineſs by me.” “ No,” replied Mrs. Stafford, “ I muſt “ ſee her myſelf. Tell her my buſineſs is * of conſequence to us both, and that I " will wait till it is convenient to her to " ſpeak to me." :: With this meſſage the maid went back, with looks of great conſternation, to her miſtreſs. They fancied they heard ſome- body ſigh and weep extremely. The maid came out once or twice and carried back water and hartſhorn. . At length, after waiting near half an hour, the door opened, and the ſtranger appeared, leaning on the arm of her woman. She wore a long, white muſlin morning gown, and a large muſlin cap almoſt concealed her face; her dark hair ſeemed to eſcape from under it, to form a decided contraſt THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 217 . . . to the extreme whiteneſs of her ſkin; and her long eye laſhes hid her eyes, which were caſt down, and which bore the marks of recent tears. If it were poſſible to per- ſonify languor and dejection, it could not be, done more expreſſively than by repre- ſenting her form, her air, her complexion, and the inournful caſt of her very beautiful countenance. She ſlowly approached Mrs. Stafford, lifted up her melancholy eyes to Emme- line, and attempted to ſpeak. as I am at a loſs to know, ladies," ſaid ſhe, “ what can be your”. But unable to finiſh the ſentence, ſhe ſat down, and ſeemed ready to faint. The maid held her ſmelling bottle to her. " I waited on you, Madam," ſaid Mrs. Stafford, “ ſuppoſing you were acquainted “ too well acquainted with my name s and buſineſs.” “ No, upon my honour,” ſaid the young perſon, “ I cannot even gueſs.” “ You are very young,” ſaid Mrs. Staf- ford, “ and, I fear, very unfortunate. Be Vol. II. 66 aſſured L 218 , E E M I N M L E « aſſured I wiſh not either to reproach or “ inſult you; but only to try if you cannot “ be prevailed upon to quit a manner of " life, which ſurely, to a perſon of your us appearance, muſt be dreadful.” “ It is indeed dreadful!" fighed the young woman-o" nor is it the leaſt dread- “ ful part of it that I am expoſed to this.” She now fell into an agony of tears; which affected both Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline so much, that forgetting their fears and ſuſpicions, they both endeavoured tenderly to conſole her. Having in ſome meaſure fucceeded, and Mrs. Stafford having ſum- moned reſolution to tell her what were her apprehenſions, the ſtranger ſaw that to give her a ſimple detail of her real ſituation was the only method ſhe had to ſatisfy her doubts, and to ſecure her compaſſion and ſecreſy; for which reaſon the determined to do it; and Mrs. Stafford, whoſe coun- tenance was all ingenuouſneſs as well as her heart, aſſured her ſhe ſhould never repent her confidence; while Emmeline, whoſe looks and voice were equally ſoothing and engaging THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 219 vel engaging to the unhappy, expreſſed the tendereſt intereſt in the fate of a young creature who ſeemed but little older than herſelf, and to have been thrown from a very different ſphere into her preſent ob- ſcure and uncomfortable manner of life. The ſtranger would have attempted to relate her hiſtory to them immediately; but her maid, a ſteady woman of three or four and thirty, told her that ſhe was cer- tainly unable then, and begged the ladies not to inſiſt upon it till the evening, or the next day; adding My Lady has been “ very poorly indeed all this week, and “ is continually fainting away; and you “ fee, ladies, how much ſhe has been frightened this morning, and I am ſure 66 ſhe will not be able to go through it.” To the probability of this obſervation, the two friends aſſented; and the young lady naming the next morning to gratify their curioſity, they left her, Mrs. Stafford firſt offering her any thing her houſe af- forded. To which ſhe replied, that at pre- ſent ſhe was tolerably well ſupplied, and only O 3 L 2 220 E M M E L I NĖ, only conjured them to obſerve the ſtricteſt ſecrefy, without which, ſhe ſaid, ſhe was {indone. At the appointed time they returned; equally eager to hear, and, if poſſible, to relieve, the ſorrows of this young perſon, for whom they could not help being inte- reſted, tho’ they yet knew not how far the deſerved their pity.. She had prepared her own little room as well as it would admit of to receive them, and lat waiting their arrival with ſome de- gree of compoſure. They contemplated with concern the ruins of eminent beauty even in early youth, and ſaw an expreſſion of helpleſs ſorrow and incurable unhappi- neſs, which had greatly injured the original luſtre and beauty of her eyes and counte- nance. A heavy languor hung on her whole frame. She tried to ſmile; but it was a ſinile of anguilh ; and their looks ſeemed to diſtreſs and pain her. Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline, to relieve her, took out their work; and when they were feated at it, the heſitated-then fighed 'and THE CRPHAN OF THE CASTLE 221 and heſitated again--and at length ſeemed to enter on her ſtory with deſperate and painful reſolution, as if to get quickly and at once thro? a taſk which, however necef-- fary, was extremely diſtreſſing. She began in a low and plaintive voice; and fre- quently ſtopped to ſummons courage to continue, while the wiped away the tears: that ſlowly fell from her eyes.. • I cannot believe I ſhall ever repent the confidence I am about to place in you. My heart aſſures me I ſhall not. Perhaps i I. may find that pity I dare no longer folicie from my own family; perhaps--but I muſt haſten to tell you my melancholy ſtory, before its recollection again overwhelms me. Yet my fate has nothing in it very ſingu- lar; numbers have been victims of the ſame calamity, but ſome have been more eaſily forgiven than I ſhall be. Some are: better able to bear infamy, and be recon- ciled to diſgrace. “ My father, the late Earl of Weſthaven,. during the life of my grandfather, mar- L 3 ried, • 222 E M M E L I NE, ried, while he was making the tour of Europe, a very beautiful and amiable woman, the daughter of a man of rank in Switzerland; who having loſt his life in the French ſervice, had left a family without any proviſion, except for the eldeſt fon. My grandfather, extremely dif- obliged by this marriage, made a will by which he gave to his only daughter every part of his extenſive property, except what was entailed, and which went with the title; with this reſerve, that his grand- fon ſhould claim and inherit the whole, whenever he became Lord Weſthaven. By this will, he diſinherited my father for his life; and tho' he ſurvived my father's marriage five years, and knew he had three children, the two younger of whom muſt be inevitably impoveriſhed by ſuch a diſpoſition, he obſtinately refuſed to alter the will he made under the firſt impulſe of reſentment, and died before his ſon could prevail upon him, by means of their general friends, to withdraw the THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 223" the maledictions with which he had loaded him. “ His death, not only hurt my father in his feelings, but irreparably in his for- tune. His ſiſter, who was married to a Scottiſh nobleman, took poffefſion of eſtates to the amount of fifteen thouſand a year; and all that remained to my father, to ſupport his rank and his encreaſing fa- mily, was little more than three thouſand; and even that income he had conſiderably diminiſhed, by taking up money, which he was obliged to do while my grandfather lived, for the actual maintenance of his fa- mily. «« Theſe unhappy circumſtances, while they injured the health and ſpirits of my father, diminiſhed not his tenderneſs for his wife, whom he loved with unabated paſſion. " To retrench as much as poſſible, he retired with her and his three children to an eſtate, which being attached to the title, belonged to him in Cumberland; in hopes of being able to live on the income he had L4 left, iro THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 225" regret. The gloomy folitude in which he lived, where every object reininded him of her whoſe ſmiles had rendered it a paradiſe, was ill calculated to meliorate his affliction; but he could not be perſuaded, for ſome months, to leave it, or could he be diverted from going every evening to viſit the ſpot where lay the relicts of his . Adelina. - At length Mr. Thirſton prevailed on: him to go abroad. But he could not de- . termine to leave my elder brother, then about five years old, of whom he was paſ- fionately fond. They embarked for Na- ples; and he remained abroad five years; while iny fifter, my brother William, and myſelf, were left at Kenſington, under the : care of a female relation, and received : fuch inſtruction as our ages admitted. “ My father returned to England only to place his eldeſt ſon at Eton. Finding no relief from the ſorrow which perpetually preyed on him, but in continual change of place, he foon afterwards went again abroad, and wandered over Europe for .. :: L 5 almoſt 226 E L IN E,.. E M M almoſt ſeven years longer, returning once- or twice to England in that interval to fa- tisfy himſelf of our health and the progreſs of our education. " When he laſt returned, my elder bro- ther, then near eighteen, deſired to be al- lowed to go into the army. My father re- luctantly conſented; and the regiment into which he purchaſed was ſoon after ordered abroad. The grief the departure of his ſon gave him, was ſomewhat relieved by ſeeing his elder daughter advantageouſly diſpoſed of in marriage to the eldeſt ſon of an Iriſh peer. The beauty of Lady Camilla was ſo conſpicuous, and her manners ſo charming, that though entirely without fortune, the family of her huſband could not object to the marriage. She went to Ireland with her Lord; and it was long before I ſaw her again. “ My brother William, who had always been deſigned for the navy, left me alſo for a three years ſtation in the Mediterra- nean; and I was now always alone with my governeſs and my old relation, whoſe temper, THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 227 temper, foured by diſappointment and not naturally chearful, made her a very un- pleaſant companion for a girl of fourteen. I learned, from maſters who attended me froin London, all the uſual accoinpliſh- ments; but of the world I knew nothing, and impatiently waited for the time when I ſhould be fixteen; for then the Dutcheſs of B- , who had kindly undertaken to introduce my ſiſter into company, had pro- miſed that ſhe would afford me alſo her countenance. I remember ſhe ſmiled, and told me that as I was not leſs pretty than Lady Camilla, I might probably have as. good fortune, if I was but as accompliſhed. To be accompliſhed, therefore, I endea- voured with all my power; but the time ſeemed inſupportably long, before this eſſay was to be made. It was relieved, tho' mournfully, by frequent viſits from my father; who was accuſtomed to ſit whole hours looking at me, while his tears bore witneſs to the great reſemblance I had to my mother. My voice too, par- ticularly when we converſed in French, L6 frequently 228 EMMELINE, no frequently made him ſtart, as if he again heard that which he had never ceaſed to remember and to regret. He would then fondly preſs me to his heart, and call me his poor orphan girl, the image of his loft Adelina ! “ Tho' my mother had been now dead above fifteen years, his paſſion for her memory ſeemed not at all abated. He had, by a long reſidence abroad, paid off the debts with which he had incumbered his income, but could do no more; and the expences neceſſary for young men of my brothers rank preſſed hardly upon him. Ever ſince his return to England, his friends had entreated him to attempt, by marrying a woman of fortune, to repair the deficiency of his own; repreſenting to him, that to provide for the children of his Adelina, would be a better proof of his affection to her memory than indulging a vain and uſeleſs regret. “ He had however long eſcaped from their importunity by objecting, on ſome pretence or other, to all the great fortunes which THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 229 which were pointed out to him his heart rejected with abhorrence every idea of a ſecond marriage. But my brothers every day required a larger ſupply of money to ſupport them as their birth demanded ; and to their intereſt my father at length deter- mined to facrifice the remainder of a life, which had on his own account no longer any value. The heireſs of a rich grocer in the city was ſoon diſcovered by his aſſiduous friends, who was reputed to be poffefſed of two hundred thouſand pounds. On cloſer enquiry, the ſum was found to be very lit- tle if at all exaggerated by fame. Miſs Jobfon, with a tall, meagre perſon, a coun- tenance bordering on the horrible, and armed with two round black eyes which ſhe fancied beautiful, had ſeen her fortieth year paſs, while ſhe attended on her papa, in Leadenhall-ſtreet, or was dragged by two ſeek coach horſes to and from Horn- ſey. Rich as her father was, he would not part with any thing while he lived; and, by the aſſiſtance of two maiden ſiſters, had ſo guarded 230 E MMEL IN E, ur. guarded his daughter from the dangerous attacks of Iriſhmen and younger bro- thers, that ſhe had reached that mature pe- riod without hearing the foothing voice of flattery, to which ſhe was extremely diſpoſed to liſten. My father, yet in middle age, and with a perſon remarkably fine, would have been greatly to her taſte if he could have gratified, with a better grace, her love of admiration. But his friends undertook to court her for hinı; and his title ſtill more ſucceſsfully pleaded in his favour. She made fome objection to his having a family; but as I alone remained at home, ſhe at length agreed to undertake to be at once a mother-in-law and a Counteſs. While this treaty was going on, and ſettlements and jewels preparing, I was taken ſeveral times to wait on Miſs Jobfon : but it was eaſy to fee I had not the good fortune to pleaſe her.. “ I was but juſt turned of fifteen, was full of gaiety and vivacity, and poſſeſſed thoſe perſonal advantages, which, if ſhe ever had any THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 231 any fhare of them, were long ſince faded. She ſeemed conſcious that the ſplendour of her firſt appearance would be eclipſed by the unadorned fimplicity of mine; and ſhe hated me becauſe it was not in my power to be old and ugly. Giddy as I then was, nothing but reſpect for my father prevented my repaying with ridicule, the ſupercili- ous ſtyle in which ſhe uſually treated me. Her vulgar manners, and awkward attempts to imitate thoſe of people of faſhion, excited my perpetual mirth; and as her diſlike of me daily encreaſed, I am afraid I did not always conceal the contempt I felt in re- turn. Miſs Jobſon choſe to paſs ſome time at Tunbridge previous to her marriage. Thither my father followed her; and I went with him, eager to make my firſt appearance in public, and to ſee whether the prophe- cies of the Ducheſs would be fulfilled. «. This experiment was made in a party from Tunbridge to Lewes Races, where I had the delight of dancing for the firſt time in public, and of ſeeing the high and old faſhioned 232 Ę MM E LINE; faſhioned little head of Miſs Jobſon, who affected to do ſomething which ſhe thought. was dancing alſo, almoſt at the end of the ſet, while I, as an Earl's daughter, was, nearly at the top. Had I been ever ac- cuſtoined to appear in public, theſe diſtinc-. tions would have been too familiar to have. given me any pleaſure ; but now they were: enchanting; and, added to the univerſal ad-- miration I excited, intoxicated me with vanity. My partner, who had been intro- duced to me by a man of high rank the moment I entered the room, was a gentle- inan from the Weſt of England, who. was juſt of age, and entered into the pol- ſeſſion of a fortune. of eight thouſand a year. ' “Mr. Trelawny (for that was his name) followed us to Tunbridge, and frequently danced with me afterwards. Educated in obſcurity, and without any profpect of the fortune to which he ſucceeded by a ſeries of improbable events, this young man had ſuddenly emerged into life. He was tole- rably THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 233 10 rably handſome; but had a heavy, unmean- ing countenance, and was quite unformed. Several men of faſhion, however, were kind enough to undertake to initiate him into a good ſtyle of living; and for every thing that bore the name of faſhion and ton, he feemed to have a violent attachment. To that, I owed his unfortunate prepoſſeſſion in my favour. I was admired and followed by men whom he had been taught to con- ſider as the arbiters of elegance, and ſupreme judges of beauty and faſhion ; but they could only admire they could not afford to marry an indigent woman of quality; and they told Trelawny that they envied him the power of pleaſing himſelf. So Trelawny was talked to about me, till he believed he was in love. In this perſuaſion he procured a ſtatement of his fortune to be ſhewn to my father, by one of his friends, and made an offer to lay it at my feet; an offer which, tho’my father would have been extremely glad to have me accept, he an- fwered by referring Mr. Trelawny to me. “ I ſuſpected 234 E M M E LINE, " I ſuſpected no ſuch thing; but with the thoughtleſs inattention of fixteen, remem- bered the fine things which were ſaid to me by Trelawny at the laſt ball, and was buſied in inventing a new chapeau for the next, at which I intended to do inore than uſual execution, when niy father introduced Mr. Trelawny, and left the room. I concluded he was come to engage me for the evening, and felt diſpoſed to refuſe him out of pure coquetry; when, with an infinite number of bluſhes, and after ſeveral efforts, he made me in due form an offer of his heart and fortune. I had never thought of any thing ſo ſerious as matrimony; and indeed was but juſt out of the nurſery, where I had never been told it was neceſſary to think at all. I did not very well know what to ſay to my admirer; and after the firſt ſpeech, which I believe he had learned by heart, he knew almost as little what to lay to me; and he was not ſorry when I, in a great fright, referred him to my father, merely becauſe I knew not myſelf what anſwer to give THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 235 as give him. Our converſation ended, and he went to find my father, while I, for the firſt time in my life, began to reflect on my proſpects, and to conſider whether I pre- ferred marrying Mr. Trelawny to living with Miſs Jobſon. To Miſs Jobſon, I had a decided averfion; for Mr. Trelawny,. I felt neither love or hatred. My mind was not made up on the ſubject, when my fa- ther came to me: he had ſeen Trelawny, and expreſſed himſelf greatly pleaſed with the prudence and propriety of my an- ſwer. « My Adelina knows,” continued he, 66 that the happineſs of my children is the 56 only wiſh I have on earth; and I may “ tell her, too, that my ſolicitude for her “ exceeds all my other cares—folicitude, “ which will be at an end if I can ſee her “ in the protection of a man of honour and « fortune. If therefore, my love, you “ really do not diſapprove this young man, 66 whoſe fortune is ſplendid, and of whoſe « character I have received the inoft fa- “ vourable accounts, I ſhall have a weight “ removed e 1 E M ME I I'N E, 66 removed from my mind, and enjoy all < the tranquillity I can hope for on this ſide 66. the grave. « You know how ſoon I am to marry. 66. Miſs Jobſon. A mother-in-law is ſel- « domn beloved. I may die, and leave you « unprovided for ; for you know, Adelina, « the circumſtances into which your grand- “ father's will has thrown me. Our dear “ Charles, whenever he inherits my title, " will repoſſeſs the fortune of my anceſtors, 6 and will, I am ſure, act generouſly by " you and William ; but ſuch a depen- “ dance, if not precarious, is painful; and “ by accepting the propoſal of Mr. Tre- “ lawny, all my apprehenſions will be at an " end, and my Adelina ſecure of that af- " fluence to which her merit as well as her “ birth entitles her. But powerful as theſe “ conſiderations are, let them not influence “ you if you feel any reluctance to the “ match. Were they infinitely ſtronger, I. “ will never again name them, if in doing ſo. “ I hazard perſuading my daughter to a ſtep " which may render her for ever unhappy.” o Tho? 238 EMMELIN E, lam her rank, me feemed to have infinite de- light in diſplaying it to her city acquaint- ance. Her Ladyſhip thought a coronet ſo delightful an ornament, that the meaneſt utenſils in her houſe were adorned with it; and ſhe wore it woven or worked on all her cloaths, in the vain hope perhaps of counter- acting the repelling effect of an hideous countenance, a diſcordant voice, and a manner more vulgar than either. I ſaw with concern that my father was not con- ſoled by the poſſeſſion of her great fortune, for the mortification of having given the name and place of his adored Adelina to a woman ſo unlike her in mind and perſon. He was ſeldom well; ſeldorner at home; and ſeemed to have no other delight than in hearing from his two ſons and from his eldeſt daughter; and when we were alone, he told ne that to ſee me married would alſo give him pleaſure ; but he appeared, I thought, leſs anxious for the match than when it was firſt propoſed. The preparations, however, went е n THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 239 7 C went on, and in ſix weeks were com- pleated. “ In that interval, I had ſeen Trelawny almoſt every day. He always ſeemed very good humoured, and was certainly very thoughtleſs. He loved me, or fancied he loved me, extremely; but I ſometimes fufpected that it was rather in compliance with the taſte of others than his own; and that a favourite hunter or a famous pointer were very likely to rival me. My father fometimes laughed at his boyiſh fondneſs for ſuch things, and the importance he an- nexed to them, and ſometimes I thought he looked grave and hurt at obſerving it. “For my own part, I ſaw his follies; but none that I did not equally perceive in the conduct of other young men. Tho’I had no abſolute partiality to him, I was totally indifferent to every other man. I married him, therefore; and gave away my perſon before I knew I had an heart. “We went immediately into Cornwall, to an old faſhioned but magnificent family feat; THE ORPHAN OF THE OASTLE. 240 came accuſtomed to adulation, and it loſt it's charms with it's novelty. Trelawny was continually with young men of faſhion, who called themſelves his friends; and who beſides doing him the kindneſs to deviſe and inſtruct him in the diſpoſal of his fortune, would have relieved him from the affections of his wife, if he had ever poſſeſſed them. They made love to me with as little ſcru- ple as they borrowed money of him; and told me that neglect on the part of my huſband well deſerved to be repaid with infidelity on mine. But I felt for theſe ſhal- low libertines only diſguſt and contempt; and received their profeſſions with ſo much coldneſs, that they left me, in ſearch of ſome other giddy creature, who might not, by ill-timed prudery, belie the promiſe of early coquetry. It was yet however very much the faſhion to admire me; and my huſband ſeemed ſtill to take ſome delight in hearing and reading in the daily papers that Lady Adelina Trelawny was the moſt elegant figure at Court, or that every VOL. II. beauty M 242 EMM E L IN E, beauty at the Opera was eclipſed on ber entrance. The eagerneſs and avidity with which I had entered, from the confinement of the nurſery, to a life of continual difli- pation, was now conſiderably, abated. I continued it from habit, and, becauſe I knew not how to employ my time other- wiſe; but I felt, a dreary, vacuity in my heart; and amid ſplendor and admiration was unhappy. “ The return of ny elder brother from his firſt campaign in America, was the only real pleaſure I had long felt. He is per- haps one of the moſt elegant, and accom- pliſhed young men of his time; but to be elegant and accompliſhed ishis leaſt praiſe His ſolid underſtanding, and his excellent heart, are an honour to his country and to human nature. That quick ſenſe of honour, and that ſtrictneſs of principle, which now make my greateſt terror, give a peculiar luſtre and dignity to his character. My father received him with that delight a father only can feel; and ſaw and gloried with THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 243 with all a father's pride, in a ſucceffor wor- thy of his anceſtors. " My brother, who had always loved me extremely, tho' we had been very little to- gether, took up his abode at my houſe while he ſtaid in England. Trelawny feemed to feel a ſort of awe before him which made him endeavour to hide his • vices if not his weakneſs, while he remained with us. He was more attentive to me than he had long been. My brother hoped I was happy; and tho’Trelawny was a man whoſe converſation afforded himn no plea- fure, he behaved to him with every ap- pearance of friendſhip and regard. He was ſoon however to return to his regiment; and my father, who had been in a declining ſtate of health ever ſince his ſecond mar- riage, appeared to grow worſe as the period of ſeparation approached. He ſeemed to have waited only for this beloved fon to cloſe his eyes; for a few days before he was again to take leave, my father found his end very rapidly approaching. M 2 . Perfectly 1 244 E M M E L IN E, .-66 Perfectly conſcious of it, he ſettled all his affairs; and made a proviſion for me and my brother William out of the money of the preſent Lady Weſthaven, which the marriage articles gave him a right to dif- poſe of after her Ladyſhip’s death if he left no children by her; and recommended us both to his eldeſt fon. “ You will act nobly by our dear Wil- “ liam," ſaid he; “I have no doubt of it; “ but above all, remember my poor Ade- " lina. Camilla is happily married. Tell her « 1 die bleſſing her, and her children! But “Adelina--my unfortunate Adelina is 66 herſelf but a child, and her huſband is “ very young and thoughtleſs. Watch 56 over her honour and her repoſe, for the 66 fake of your father and that dear woman 66 the ſo much reſembles, your fainted *r mother. so I was in the room, in an agony of forrow. He called me to him. “ My “ daughter,” ſaid he, in a feeble voice, 56 reinember that the honour of your family “-of THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 245 "of your brothers-is in your hands - 6c and remember it is facred.-Endeavour « to deſerve the happineſs of being ſiſter " to ſuch brothers, and daughter to fuch . 66 a mother as yours was !” ." I was unable to anſwer. I could only kifs his convulſed hands; which I eagerly did, as if to tell him that I promiſed all he expected of me. My own heart, which then made the vow, now perpetually re- proaches me with having kept it ſo ill !.. · “A few hours afterwards, iny father died. My brother, unable to announce to me the melancholy tidings, took my hand in fi- lence, and led me out of the houſe, which was now Lady Weſthaven's. He had only à few days to ſtay in England, which he employed in paying the laſt mournful du- ties to his father; and then embarked again for America, leaving his affairs to be ſettled by my ſiſter's huſband, Lord Clancarryl, to whoin he wrote to come over from Ireland; for my brother William was now ſtationed in the Weſt Indies, where he obtained the command of a man of war; and my M 3 brother 246 EMM E L I N E, brother knew that to leave any material buſineſs to Trelawny, was to leave it to ig- norance and imbecility. " In my huſband, I had neither a friend or a companion. I had not even a pro- teétor; for except when he was under the reſtraint of niy brother's preſence, he was hardly ever at home. Sometimes he was gone on tours to diftant counties to at- tend races or hunts, to which he belonged; and ſometiines to France, where he was embarked in gaming aſſociations with En- gliſhmen who lived only to diſgrace their name. Left to paſs my life as the wife of ſuch a man as Trelawny, I felt my brother's departure as the deprivation of all I loved. But the arrival of my ſiſter and her huſ band relieved me. I had not ſeen thein for fome years; and was delighted to meet my ſiſter happy with a man fo worthy and reſpectable as Lord Clancarryl. “ He took poffeffion of the eſtate my aunt was now obliged to reſign to Lord Weſthaven; and as my fiſter was impatient to return to Ireland, where ſhe had left her i children, 2.S 10 THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 247 children, they prefſed me extremely to go thither with them. Trelawny was gone out on one of his rambles; but I wrote to him and obtained his confent-indeed he long ſince ceafed to trouble himſelf about me. “ I attended my ſiſter therefore to Lough Carryl; on the beautiful banks of which her Lord had built an houſe, which pof- feſſing as much magnificence as was proper to their rank, was yet contrived with an at- tention to all the comforts of domeſtic re. tirement. Here Lady Clancarryl chofe to reſide the whole year; and my Lord never left it but to attend tire buſineſs of Parlia. ment at Dublin. “ His tender attention to his wife ; his ar- dent, yet regulated fondneſs for his chil- dren; the peace and order which reigned in his houfe; the delightful and eaſy fociety he fometimes collected in it, and the chear- ful confidence we enjoyed in quiet family parties when without company; made me fèel with bitterneſs and regret the difference M 4 between 248 EMMELINE, between my ſiſter's lot and mine. Her huſband made it the whole buſineſs of his life to fulfill every duty of his rank, mine ſeemed only folicitous to degrade himſelf below his. One was improving his fortune by well regulated æconomy; the other diffipating his anong gameſters and pick- pockets. The converſation of Lord Clancarryl was ſenſible, refined, and im- proving; Trelawny's conſiſted either in tire- ſome details of adventures among jockies, pedigrees of horſes, or ſcandalous and ſilly anecdotes about perſons of whom no- body wilhed to hear ; or he funk into ſullen filence, yawned, and ſhewed how very little reliſh he had for any other diſcourſe. " When I married him, I knew not 10 what I had condemned myſelf. As his character gradually diſcovered itſelf, my reaſon alſo encreaſed ; and now, when I had an opportunity of comparing him to ſuch a man as Lord Clancarryl, I felt all the hor- rors of my deſtiny! and beheld, with a · dread from which my feeble heart recoiled, a long, THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 249 a long, long proſpect of life before me without attachment, without friendſhip, without love. “ I remained two inonths in Ireland; and heard nothing of Trelawny, 'till a match having been made on the Curragh of Kildare, on which he had a large bet depending, he came over to be preſent at it; and I heard with regret that I was to return with hiin. While he remained in Ireland, his diſguſting manners, and conti- nual intoxication, extremely diſpleaſed Lord Clancarryl ; and I lived in perpetual un- eaſineſs. A few days before we were to embark for England, George Fitz-Edward, his Lordſhip’s younger brother, caine from the north of Ireland, where he liad been recruiting, to Lough Carryl; but it was only. a paſſing viſit to his family he was going to England, and we were to fail in the ſame: pacquet.” . At the mention of George Fitz-Ed- ward, Lady Adelina grew more diſtreſſed tlian ſhe had yet been in the courſe of her M. 5 nar- 250 E MM É LINE, narrative. Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline teſtified ſigns of furprize. She obſerved it; and aſked if they knew him ? Mrs. Stafford anſwered, they had ſome acquaintance with him; and Emmeline remarked that ſhe either never heard or had forgotten that his father's ſecond title was Clancarryl. His very name feemed to affect Lady Adelina ſo much, and ſhe appeared fo ex- hauſted by having ſpoken ſo long, that tho' ſhe told them ſhe had but little to add to her mournful ſtory, they inſiſted upon her · permitting them to releaſe her till the even- ing, when they would attend her again. СНАР.. THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 251 CHAPTER XII. THEY found Lady Adelina in better 1 ſpirits in the evening than they had hoped for She ſeemed to have been ar- guing herſelf into the compofure neceſſary to go on with her ſtory. “-As you have ſome acquaintance with George Fitz-Edward, I need not deſcribe his perſon or his manner; nor how decided a contraſt they muſt form with thoſe of ſuch à man as him to whom I was unhappily united. This contraſt, in ſpite of all my endeavours, was perpetually before my eyes I thought Fitz-Edward, who was as agreeable as his brother, had a heart as good; and my heart involuntarily made the compariſon between what I was, and what I might have been if my fate had , reſerved me for Fitz-Edward. M 6 - We 252 EMME LINE, “ We embarked --It was about the au- tumnal equinox; and before we had failed two leagues, the wind fuddenly changing, blew from the oppoſite quarter, and then from every quarter by turns. As I was always ſubject to ſickneſs in the cabin, I had lain down on the deck, on a piece of fail-cloth, and wrapped in my peliſe; and Fitz-Edward ſat by me. But when the wind grew fo violent that it was neceſſary every moment to ſhift the fails, I, who was totally inſenſible, was in the way of the failors. Fitz-Edward carried me down in his arms; and having often heard me expreſs an abhorrence to the cloſe beds in the cabin, by the help of my own maid he accommodated me with one on the floor ; where he continued to watch over me, without attending to his own danger, tho? he heard the maſter of the pacquet expreſs his apprehenſions that we lhould be driven back on the bar, and beat to pieces. « Trelawny, in whom ſelf-preſervation was generally alive, whatever became of his 254 € M M É LINE, “ We ſtaid only two days after him. Fitz-Edward, as well during the paffage as on our journey to London, behaved to me with the tenderneſs of a brother; and I fancied my partiality concealed from him, becauſe I tried to conceal it. If he ſaw it, he ſhewed no diſpoſition to take advantage of it, and I therefore thought I might fear- leſsly indulge it. " When I arrived at my houſe in town, I found that Trelawny was abfent, and had left a letter for me defiring me to go down to a houſe he had not long before purchaſed in Hampſhire, as a hunting feat. Without enquiring his reaſons, I obeyed him. I took a melancholy leave of Fitz-Edward, and went into Hamp- thire; where, as Trelawny was not there, I betook myſelf to my books, and I fear to thinking too much of Fitz-Edward. - 6 After I had been there about a fort- night, I was ſurprized by a viſit from the object of iny indiſcreet contemplations. He looked diſtreffed and unhappy; and his 256 EMMELIN E, .“None,” anſwered I, “but what I could Śc very well bear. Tell me, therefore, Icon- “ jure you tell me, and keep me no longer “ in ſuſpence I can hear any thing ſince I “ have nothing to apprehend for the lives of 66 thoſe I love." « Well then," anſwered he, “ I will so tell you.--I fear things are very bacl “ with Mr. Trelawny. It is ſaid that all " the eſtate not entailed, is already gone; “ and that he has even íold his life intereſt so in the reſt. All his effects at the town “ houſe are ſeized; and I am afraid the “ fame thing will in a few hours happen “ here. I came therefore, lovely Lady “ Adelina, to intreat you to put yourſelf “ under my protection, and to quit this “ houſe, where it will ſoon be ſo improper 66 for you to remain.” : “I enquired after the unhappy Trelawny? He told me he had left him intoxicated at a gaming houſe: in St. James's ſtreet; that he had told him he was coming down to me, to which he had conſented, tho? Fitz- Edward IHE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 257 Vere Edward ſaid he much doubted whether he . knew what he was ſaying... .66 Fitz-Edward then adviſed me to pack up every thing I wilhed to preſerve, and. immediately to depart; for he feared that perſons were already on the road to ſeize the furniture and effects in execution. . os Gracious heaven!” cried I, “ what 6. can I do?-Whither can I go!” « Truſt yourſelf with me,” cried Fitz- • Edward-dear, injured Lady Adelina.” “ Let me rather,” anſwered I, “ go 66 down to Trelawny Park.” " Alas !” ſaid he, “ the ſame ruin will 66 there overtake you. Be aſſured Mr. 6 Trelawny's creditors will equally attach « his property there. You know too, that " by the ſale of his boroughs he has for “ fome years loſt his feat in parliament, “ and that therefore his perſon will not ç be ſafe. He inuſt himſelf go abroad.” " Doubting, and uncertain what I ought to do, I could determine on nothing, Fitz-Edward propoſed my going to Mr. Percival's, Ε ε, Μ Ν Μ Ι Ε L Percival's, who had married one of his ſiſters. They are at Bath, ſaid he; but the houſe and fervants are at my difpoſal, and it is only five and twenty miles from hence. Hardly knowing what I did, I confented to this propoſal; and taking my jewels and fome valuable plate with me, I ſet out in a poſt chaiſe with Fitz- Edward, leaving my maid to follow me the next day, and give me an account whe- ther our fears were verified. "They were but too well founded. Four hours after I had left the houſe, the fhè- riff's officers entered it-Information which encreaſed iny uneafineſs for thie fate of the unfortunate Trelawny; in hopes of alle- viating whoſe miſeries I would myfelf have gone to London, but Fitz-Edward would not ſuffer me. He ſaid it was more than probable that my huſband was already in France; that if he was yet in England, he had no houſe in which to receive me, and would feel inore embarraſſed than relieved by my preſence. But as I continued to expreſs 260 E M M E LINE, PIEC 101 « Do you know,” ſaid he, at the end of this converſation" Do you know, “ Lady Adelina, that I envy Trelawny “ his misfortunes, ſince they excite ſuch “ generous pity.--Good God! of what " tenderneſs, of what affection would “ not ſuch a heart be capable, if”- "Fitz-Edward had ſeldom hazarded an obſervation of this fort, tho' his eyes had told me a thouſand times that he internally made them. He could convey into half a ſentence more than others could expreſs by the moſt elaborate ſpeeches. Alas! I liſtened to him with too much pleaſure; for my treacherous heart had already ſaid more than his inſidious eloquence.. - I wrote to Lord Clancarryl, entreat- ing him to come over. He aſſured me he would do ſo, the moment he could leave my ſiſter, who was very near her time; but that in the interim his brother George would obey all my commands, and render me every ſervice he could himſelf do if preſent.. 6. Thrown, THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 261 or 1S “ Thrown, therefore, wholly into the power of Fitz-Edward ; loving him but too well; and ſeeing him every hour buſied in ſerving me I will not accuſe him of art; I had inyſelf too little to hide from him the fatal ſecret of my heart; I could not fummons reſolution to fly from him, till my error was irretrievabletill I found myſelf made compleatly miſerable by the conſciouſneſs of guilt. “ After remaining there about a fort- night, I left the houſe of Mr. Percival, and took a ſinall lodging in the neighbourhood of Cavendiſh-ſquare. Fitz-Edward ſaw me every day.--I met him indeed with tears and confuſion; but if any accident prevented his coming, or if he even abſented himſelf at my own requeſt, the anguiſh I felt till I again ſaw himn convinced me that it was no longer in my power to live without him. " Trelawny had given me no directions for my conduct ; nor had he even written to me, 'till he had occaſion for money. He then deſired me to ſend him five hun- dred - - - - 262 EMMELIN E, dred guineas--a ſum I had no immediate means of raſing, but by ſelling ſome of my jewels. This I would immediately have done; but Fitz-Edward, who would not hear of it, brought me the money in a few hours, and undertook to remit it, together with a letter from me, to the unfortunate man for whom it was deſigned. • He tried tooah, how vainly!-to perſuade me, that in acting thus I had done more than my duty to ſuch an huſband. His ſophiſtry, aided by my own wiſhes to believe him, could not quiet the inceffant reproaches with which my conſcience pur- ſued me-I remembered my father's dying injunctions, I remembered the inflexible notions of honour inherited by both my bro- thers, and I trembled at the ſevere account to which I might be called. I could now no longer flatter myſelf that my error would be concealed, ſince of its conſe- quences I could not doubt; and while I ſuffered all the terrors of remorſe and ap- prehenſion, Lord Clancarryl came over. - In THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 263 “ In order to take meaſures towards fettling Trelawny's affairs, it was neceſſary to ſend for his ſiſter, who had a bond for five thouſand pounds, which claim: was 'prior to every other. This woman, whom it was extremely diſagreeable to me to meet, lamented with vulgar clamour her bro- ther's misfortunes; which ſhe ſaid could never have happened if he had not been ſo unlucky as to get quality notions into his head. I know not what at firſt raiſed her ſuſpicions; But I ſaw that ſhe very. narrowly obſerved Fitz-Edward; and ſneer- ing ſaid that it was very lucky indeed for me to have ſuch a friend, and quite kind in the colonel to take ſo much trouble. She made herſelf thoroughly acquainted with all that related to her brother, from the time of our parting in Ireland; and I found that ſhe had attempted to bribe my ſervant to give her an account of my conduct; in which tho’ ſhe had failed of ſucceſs, ſhe had found that Fitz-Edward had been con- ſtantly with me. His attendance was .indeed m 264 EMMELINE, indeed leſs remarkable when Lord Clan- carryl, his brother, was alſo preſent; but Mrs. Bancraft, determined to believe ill of me, ſuffered not this circumſtance to have any weight, and liinted her ſuſpicions of our attachment in terms ſo little guarded, that it was with the utmoſt difficulty I could prevail on Fitz-Edward not to reſent her impertinence. “ Lord Clancarryl deſpiſed this vulgar and diſguſting woman too much to attend to the inuendos he heard; and far from ſuſpecting my unhappy weakneſs, he con- tinued to lay me under new obligations to Fitz-Edward by employing him almoſt in- ceffantly in the arrangement of Trelawny's affairs. " On looking over the will of that re- lation, who had bequeathed to Mr. Trelawny the great fortune he had pof- feffed, I diſcovered the reaſon of Mrs. Bancraft's attentive curioſity in regard to me--if he died without heirs, above fix thouſand a year was to deſcend to her ſon, who 268 L M M E LI NE, and ſoften the horror ſhe ſeemed to feel for her unhappy indiſcretion. But The lif- tened in liftleſs deſpondence to their diſ- courſe, and anſwered, that to be recon- ciled to guilt, and habituated to diſgrace, was to be ſunk in the laſt abyſs of infamy. They left her not, however, till they ſaw her rather more tranquil; and till Mrs. Stafford had prevailed upon her to ac of fome books, which ſhe hoped might amuſe her mind, and detach it awhile from the ſad ſubject of it's mournful contempla- tions. Theſe ſhe promiſed to convey to the cottage in a way that could create no fufpicion. And relieved of her own ap- prehenſions, yet full of concern for the fair unhappy mourner (to whom neither ſhe or Emmeline had given the leaſt inti- mation of Fitz-Edward's frequent reſidence in that country,) they returned to Wood- field, impreſſed with the moſt earneſt foli- citude to foften the calamities they had juſt heard related, tho' to cure them was im- poſſible. - eate no 1011 was in As ima END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. - ----- -