THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES f CAMILLA: OR, A PICTURE OF YOUTH. B y THE AUTHOR OF I ZVELINA AND CECILIA. IN FIVE VOLUMES. VOL. HI. LONDON: Printed for T. PAYNE, at the Mews- Gate; and T. CADELL Jun. and W. DAVIES (bucceffors to Mr. CAD*XI.) in the Strand. 1796. -PR - CONTENTS v, i> OF THE THIRD VOLUME. B O O K V. Page CHAP. I. A Purfuer, - - i ^r II. An Advifer, * - i $ III. Various Confabulations, 27 IV. A Dodging, - ' 48 V. A Sermon, - - 58 VI. A Chat, - - 77 Vli. A Recall, 94 VIII. A Youth of the Times, j 10 BOOK VI. CHAP. I. A Walk by Moonlight, 135 II. The Pantiles, . - J48 III. Mount Ephraim, - 170 IV. Knowle, . 189 CHAP. CONTENTS. Page . V. Mount Pleafant, - 217 VI. The accomplifhed Monkies, 236 VII. The Rooms, - - 264 VIII. Ways to the Heart, 285 IX. Counfels for Conqueft, 303 X. Strictures upon the Ton, 325 XI Traits of Character, 343 XII. Traits of Eccentricity, 375 XIII. Traits of Inflation, 397 XIV. A Demander, 411 XV. An Accorder, - - 429 XVI. An Helper^ , 450 CAMILLA* OR, A PICTURE OF YOUTH. B O O K V. C II A P. I. A Purfucr. NOTWITHSTANDING the fears fo juftly excited from the inixt emotions and exertions of Sir Hugh, Mr. TyroHjiad the happinefs to fee him fall into a tranquil fleep, from which he awoke without any return of pain ; his night was quiet ; the next day was frill better; and the day following he was pronounced out of danger. VOL. in. B The a CAMILLA. The rapture which this declaration ex- cited in the houfe, and diffufed throughout the neighbourhood, when communicated to the worthy baronet, gave a gladnefs to his heart that recompenfed all he had fuf- fered. The delight of Camilla exceeded what- ever {he had yet experienced : her life had loft half its value in her eftimation, while me believed that of her uncle to be in danger. No one fmgle quality is perhaps fo en- dearing, from man to man, as good-nature. Talents excite more admiration; wifdoin, more refpeft ; and virtue, more efteem : but with admiration envy is apt to mingle, and fear with refpecl; while efteem, though always honourable, is often cold : but good- nature gives pleafure without any allay; eafe, confidence, and happy carelefihefs, without the pain of obligation, without the exertion of gratitude. If joy was in-fome more tumultuous, content was with none fo penetrating as with Eugenia. Apprifed now that me had been CAMILLA. 3 been the immediate caufe of the fufferings of her uncle, his lofs would have given to her peace a blow irrecoverable ; and (he determined to bend the whole of her thoughts to his wifhes, his comfort, his entire reftoration. To this end all her virtue was called in aid ; a fear, next to averfion, having feized her of Clermont, from the apprehenfion me might never infpire in him fuch love as me had infpired in Bellamy, nor fee in him, as in young Melmond, fuch merit as might raife fimilar fentiments for himfelf. Molly Mill had not failed to paint to her the difappointment of Bellamy in not feeing her ; but me was too much en- grofied by the dangerous ftate of her uncle, to feel any compunction in her breach of promife; though touched with the ac- count of his continual fufferings, me be- came very gentle in , her reprimands to Molly for again meeting him ; and, though Molly again difobeyed, me again was par- doned. He came daily to the lane behind B 2 the 4. CAMILLA. the park pales, to hear news of the health of Sir Hugh, without preffing either for an interview or a letter ; and Eugenia grew more and more moved by his refpedf'ul obfequioufnefs. She had yet faid nothing to Camilla upon the fubject; not only be- caufe a dearer interefl mutually occupied them, but from a fecret fhame of naming a lover at a period fo ungenial. But now that Sir Hugh was in a fair way of recovery, her fituation became alarming to herfelf. Openly, and before the whole houfe, fhe had folemnly been af- figned to Clennont Lymnere ; and, little as fhe wifhed the connexion, me thought it, from circumftances, her duty not to refufe it. Yet this gentleman had attended her fo long, had endured fo many difappoint- ments, and borne them fo much to her fa- tisfaclion, that, though fhe lamented her conceffion as an injury to Clennont, and grew afhamed to name it even to Camilla, fhe believed it would be cruelty unheard of to break it. She determined,, therefore, to CAMILLA. 5 to fee him, to pronounce a farewell, and then to bend all her thoughts to the part- ner deftined her by her friends. Molly Mill was alone to accompany her to give her negative, her good wimes, and her folenin declaration that me could never again fee or hear of-him more. He could deem it no indelicacy that me fuftered Molly to be prefent, fmce me was the ne- gociator of his own choice. Molly carried him, therefore, this news, with a previous condition that he was not to detain her miftrefs one minute. He" pro- mifed all fubmiftion ; and the next morn- ing, after breakfaft, Eugenia, in extreme dejeftion at the ungrateful talk me had to perform, called for Molly, and walked forth. Camilla, who was then accidentally in her own room, was, foon after, fummoned by three fmart raps to her chamber door. There, to her great furprife, me law Ed- gar, who, after a hafty apology, begged to have a few minutes conference with her alone. B She 6 CAMILLA. She defcended with him into the par- lour, which was vacant. " You fufpect, perhaps," faid he, in an hurried manner, though attempting to fmile, " that I mean to fatigue you with fome troublefome advice ; I muft, there- fore, by an abrupt queflion, explain my- felf. Does Mr. Bellamy ftill continue his pretenfions to your fitter Eugenia ?" Startled in a moment from all thoughts of felf, that at firft had been rufhtng with violence to her heart, Camilla anfwered, " No! why do youafk?" " I will tell you : In my regular vifits here of late, I have almoil conftantly met him, either on foot or on horfeback, in the vicinity of the park. I fufpected he watched to fee Eugenia ; but I knew me now never left the houfe; and concluded he was ig- norant of the late general confinement. This moment, however, upon my entrance, I faw him again ; and, as he haftily turned away upon meeting my eye, I difmounted, gave my horfe to my man, and determined to fatisfy myfelf which way he was droll- ing. CAMILLA. 7 ing. I then followed him to the little lane to the right of the park, where I perceived an empty poft-chaife-and-four in waiting : he advanced, and fpokewith the poftillion I came inflantly into the houfe by the little gate. This may be accidental ; yet it has alarmed me ; and I ventured, therefore, thus fuddenly to apply to you, in order to urge you to give a caution to Eugenia, not to walk out, juft at prefent, unattend- ed." Camilla thanked him, and ran eagerly to fpeak to her lifter ; but (he was not in her room ; nor was (he with her uncle ; nor yet with Dr. Orkborne. She returned uneafily to the parlour, and faid me would feek her in the park. Edgar followed ; but they looked around for her in vain: he then, deeming the dan- ger urgent, left her, to haften to the fpot where he had feen the poil-chaife. Camilla ran on alone ; and, when me reached the park gate, perceived her filler, Molly Mill, and Bellamy, in the lane. B 4 They 8 CAMILLA. They heard her quick approach, and turned round. The countenance of Bellamy exhibited the darkeft difappointment, and that of Eugenia the moft exceffive confufion. " Now then, Sir," /he cried, " delay our feparation no longer." " Ah, permit me," faid he, in a low voice, M permit me to hope you will hear my laft fad fentence, my final mifery, an- other day! - I will defer my mournful de- parture for that melancholy joy, which is the laft I {hall feel in my wretched exifU ence!" He fighed fo deepjy, that Eugenia, who feemed already in much forrow, could not utter an abrupt refufal ; and, as Camilla now advanced, me turned from him, with- out attempting to fay any thing further. Camilla, in the delight of finding her fitter fafe, after the horrible apprehenfions- fhe had juft experienced, could not fpeak to her for tears. Abafhed at once, and amazed, Eugenia faintly aiked what fo affected her ? She gave no CAMILLA. 9 no explanation, but begged her to turn im- mediately back. Eugenia confented ; and Bellamy, bow- ing to them both profoundly, with quick fteps walked away. Camilla alked a thoufand queftions ; but Eugenia feemed unable to anfwer them. In a few minutes they were joined by Edgar, who, walking haftily up to them, took Camilla apart. He told her he firmly believed a villain- ous fcheme to have been laid : he had found the chaife ftill in waiting, and afked the poftillion to whom he belonged. The man faid he was paid for what he did ; and refufed giving any account of himfelf. Bel- lamy then appeared: he feemed confounded at his fight ; but neither of them fpoke ; and he left him and his chaife, and his poftillion, to confole one another. He doubted not, he faid, but the defign had been to carry Eugenia off, and he had pro-, bably only pretended to take leave, that the chaife might advance, and the poftillion aid the " elopement : though finding help at B 5 hand, io CAMILLA. hand, he had been forced to give up his fcheme. Camilla even with rapture bleft his for- tunate prefence ; but was confounded with perplexity at the conduct of Eugenia. Ed- gar, who feared her heart was entangled by an object who fought only her wealth, pro- pofed difmiffing Molly Mill, that he might tell her himfelf the opinion he had con- ceived of Bellamy. Camilla overtook her fitter, who had walked on without liftening to or regard- ing them ; and, fending away Molly, told her Edgar wimed immediately to converfe with her, upon fomething of the utmofl importance. " You know my high efleem of him," {he anfwered ; " but my mind is now oc- cupied upon a bufmefs of which he has no information, and 1 entreat that you will nei- ther of you interrupt me/* Camilla, utterly at a lofs what to con- jecture, joined Mandlebert alone, and told him her ill fuccefs. He thought every thing was to be feared from the prefent (late of the CAMILLA. ii the affair, and propofed revealing at once all he knew of it to Mr. Tyrold: but Ca- milla defired him to take r.o ftep till me had again expoflulated with her filler, who might elfe be ferioufly hurt or offend- ed. He complied, and faid he would con- tinue in the houfe, park, or environs, in- ceffantly upon the watch, till forne decisive meafure were adopted. Joining Eugenia then again, me afked if me meant ferioufly to encourage the ad- drefies of Bellamy. " By no means," me quietly anfwered. " My dear Eugenia, I cannot at all un- derftand you ; but it feems clear to me that the arrival of Edgar has faved you from fome dreadful violence." " You hurt me, Camilla, by this preju- dice. From whom mould I dread vio- lence? from a man who but too fatally for his peace -values me more than his life?" " If I could be fure of his fincerity," faid Camilla, " I mould be the laft to think ill of him : but reflect a little, at leaft, upon B 6 the 12 CAMILLA. the rifk that you have run ; my dear Eu- genia! there was a pofl-chaife in waiting, not twenty yaTds from where I ftopt you!" *' Ah, you little know Bellamy! that chaife was only to convey him away ; to convey him, Camilla, to an eternal baniih- ment!" " But why, then, had he prevailed with you to quit the park?" " You will call me vain if I tell you." " No ; I mall only think you kind and confidential." " Do me then the juftice," frad Eugenia, blufhing, " to believe me as much fur- prifed as yourfelf at his mod unmerited paflion : but he told me, that if I only cafl my eyes upon the vehicle which was to part him from me for ever, it would not only make it lefs abhorrent to him, but probably prevent the lofs of his fenfes." " My dear Eugenia," faid Camilla, half fmiling, " this is a violent paflion, indeed, for fo fhort an acquaintance!" " I knew CAMILLA. 13 " I knew you would fay that," anfwered me, difconcerted ; " and it was juil what I obferved to him myfelf : but he fatisfi ed me that the reafon of his feelings being fo im- petuous was, that this was the firft and only time he had ever been in love So handfome as he is! what a choice for him to -make!" Camilla, tenderly embracing her, de- clared, " the choice was all that did him honour in the affair." " He never," faid me, a little comforted, " makes me any compliments ; I mould elfe disregard, if not difdain him : but in- deed he feems, notwithflanding his own extraordinary manly beauty, to be wholly fuperior to external confiderations." Camilla now forbore expreiling farther doubt, from the fear of painful mifappre- henfion ; but earneflly entreated her to fuffer Edgar to be entrufled and confulted: fhe decidedly, however, refufed her con- fent. " I require no advice," cried fhe, " for I am devoted to my uncle's will : to fpeak then of this affair would be the moft cruel 14 CAMILLA. cruel indelicacy, in publifhing a conqueft which, fmce it is rejected, I ought filent- ly, though gratefully, to bury in my own heart." She then related the hiftory of all that had patted to Camilla ; but folemnly declared me would never, to any other human being, but him who mould hereafter be entitled to her whole heart, betray the fecret of the unhappy Bellamy. CAMILLA. 15 CHAP. II. An Advlfer. THE wifh of Camilla was to lay this whole affair before her father ; but me checked it, from an apprehenlion me might feem difplaying her duty and confi- dence at the expence of thofe of her fifter; whofe motives for concealment were in- tentionally the moft pure, however, prac- tically, they might be erroneous ; and whom me both pitied and revered for her propofed fubmiffion to her uncle, in oppo- fition to her palpable reluctance. She faw not, however, any obflacle to confulting with Edgar, fince he was already apprifed of the bufmefs, and fmce his fer- vices might be eflentially ufeful to her filler : while, with refpecl to herfelf, there feemed, at this time, more of dignity in meeting than Ihunning his friendly intercourfe, fmce his regard for her feemed to have loft 16 CAMILLA. loft all its peculiarity. He has precifely, cried me, the fame fentiments for my fitters as for me, he is equally kind, difmter- efted, and indifferent to us all! anxious alike for Eugenia with Mr. Bellamy, and for me with the deteftable Major! Be it fo! we can no where obtain a better friend ; and I mould blufli, indeed, if I could not treat as a brother one who can treat me as a filler. Tranquil, though not gay, me returned to converfe with him ; but when me had related what had palfed, he confeifed that his uneafmefs upon the fubjecl was in- creafed. The heart of Eugenia appeared to him pofitively entangled ; and he b'e- fought Camilla not to lofe a moment in acquainting Mr. Tyrold with her fituation. She pleaded againft giving this pain to" her fitter with energetic afteclion : her ar- guments failed to convince, but her elo- quence powerfully touched him ; and he contented himfelf with only entreating that fhe would again try to aid him with an op- portunity of converfing with Eugenia. This CAMILLA. -17 This fhe could not refufe ; nor could he then refifl the opportunity to inquire why Mrs. Arlbery had left her and Lavinia at the play. She thanked him for remember- ing his character of her monitor, and ac- knowledged the fault to be her qwn, with a candour fo unaffected, that, captivated by the foft ferioufnefs of her manner, he flattered himfelf his fear of the Major was a chimaera, and hoped that, as foon as Sir Hugh was able to again join his family, no impediment would remain to his begging the united bleifings of the two brothers to his views. When Camilla told her filler the requeft of Edgar, fhe immediately fufpected the attachment of Bellamy had been betrayed to him; and Camilla, incapable of any du- plicity, related precifely how the matter had paired, Eugenia, always juft, no fooner heard than fhe forgave it, and accompanied her filter immediately down flairs, " I. mufl refl all my hope of pardon," cried Edgar, " for the part I am taking, to jyour conviction of its motive j a filial love 18 CAMILLA. love and gratitude to Mr. Tyrold, a frater- nal affection and interefl for all his fa- mily." " My own fifterly feelings," me an- fwered, " make me both comprehend and thank your kind folicitude : but, believe me, it is now founded in error. I am mocked to find you informed of this un- happy tranfa&ion ; and I charge and be- feech that no interference may wound its ill-fated object, by fuffering him to furmife your knowledge of his humiliating fitua- tion." *' I would not for the world give you pain," anfwered Edgar : " but permit me to be faithful to the brotherly character in which I confider myfelf to (land with you all." A blufh had overfpread his face at the word Brotherly; while at that of ally which recovered him, a ftill deeper flained the cheeks of Camilla : but neither of them looked at the other ; and Eugenia was too felf-abforbed to obferve either. " Your CAMILLA. 19 ** Your utter inexperience in life," he continued, " makes me, though but jufl giving up leading-firings myfelf, an adept in the comparifon. Suffer me then, as fuch, to reprefent to you my fears, that your innocence and goodnefs may expofe you to impofition. You mufl not judge all characters by the ingenuoufnefs of your own; nor conclude, however rationally and worthily a mind fuch as yours might may--- and will infpire a difmterefted regard, that there is no danger of any other, and that mercenary views are out of the queflion, becaufe mercenary prin- ciples are not declared." " I will not fay your inference is fevere," replied Eugenia, " becaufe you know not the perfon of whom you fpeak : but per- mit me to make this irrefragable vindica- tion of his freedom from all fordid mo- tives ; he has neVer once named the word fortune, neither to make any inquiries into mine, nor any profeffions concerning his own. Had he any inducement to du- plicity, he might have afferted to me what he so CAMILLA. . ' he pleafed, fince I have no means of de- letion." " Your fituation," faid Edgar, " is pretty generally known ; and for his pardon me if I hint it may be poilible that filence is no virtue. However, fince I am unacquainted, you fay, with his character, will you give me leave to make myfelf bet .er informed?" " There needs no investigation ; to me it is perfectly known." " Forgive me if 1 afk how!" " By his letters and by his converfa- tion." A fmile which dole upon the features of Edgar obliged him to turn .his head an- other way ; but prefently recovering^ " My dear Mifs Eugenia," he cried, " will it not be mofl confonant to your high prin- ciples, and fcrupulous delicacy, to lay the whole of what has pafled before Mr. Ty. roldr' " Undoubtedly, if my part were not ilrait forward. Had I the lead hefitation, my father mould be my immediate and de- cifive CAMILLA. ax cifive umpire. But I am not at liberty even for deliberation ! I am not I know at my own difpofal!'* - She bluflied and looked down, confufed; but prefently, with firmnefs, added, " It is not, indeed, fit that I mould be j my uncle completely merits to be in all things my di- rector. To know his wifhes, therefore, is not only to know, but to be fatisfied with my doom. Such being my fituation,, you cannot mifunderfland my defence of this unhappy young man. It is but limply juftice to refcue an amiable perfoh from calumny." " Let us allow all this," faid Edgar ; " ftill I fee no reafonwhy Mr. Tyrold--" " Mr. Mandlebert," interrupted me, *' you mufl do what you judge right. I can defire no one to abftain from purfuing the dictates of their own fenfe of honour. I leave you, therefore, unfhackled : but there is no confideration which, in my opi- nion, can juftify a female in fpreading, even to her neareil connexions, an unrequited partiality. If, therefore, I am forced to 22 CAMILLA. inflicl this undue mortification, upon a perfon to whom I hold myfelf fo much obliged, an uneafmefs will remain upon my mind, definitive of my forgetfulnefs of an event which I would fain banifh from my memory." She then refufed to be any longer de- tained. " How I love the perfect innocence, and how I reverence the refpeftable fingu- larity of that charming character!" cried Edgar ; " yet how vain are all arguments againfl fuch a combination of fearlefs cre- dulity, and enthufiailic reafoning? What can we determine ?" " I am happy to retort upon you that queftion," replied Camilla ; " for I am every way afraid to aft myfelf, left I mould hurt this dear fifter, or do wrong by my yet dearer father." " What a refponfibility you cafl upon me ! I will not, however, fhrink from it, for the path feems far plainer to me fmce I have had this converfation. Eugenia is at prefent fafej I fee, now, diftin&ly, her heart CAMILLA. 23 heart is yet untouched. The readinefs with which fhe met the fubject, the open- nefs with which fhe avows her efteem, the unembarraffed, though rnodeft fimplicity with which (lie fpeaks of his paffion and his diftrefs, all fhew that her pity refults from generofity, not from love. Had it been otherwife, with all her fteadinefs, all her philofophy, fome agitation and anxiety would have betrayed her fecret foul. The internal workings of hopes and fears, the fenfitive alarms of reprefled confciouf- nefs " A deep glow, which heated his face, forced him here to break off ; and, abruptly leaving his fentence unnnifhed, he haftily began another. " We muft not, neverthelefs, regard this as fecurity for the future, though it is fafety for the prefent ; nor truft her unfuf- picious generofity of mind to the danger- ous aflault of artful diftrefs. I fpeak with- out referve of this man ; for though I know him not, as me remonftrated, I can- not, from the whole circumflances of his clandeftine conduct, doubt his being an adventurer. 24 CAMILLA. adventurer. You fay nothing ? tell me, T beg, your opinion." Camilla had not heard one word of this laft fpeech. Struck \\iih his difcrimina* tion between the actual and the poffible flate of Eugenia's mind, and with the ef- fect the definition had produced upon him- felf, her attention was irrefiftibly feized by a new train of ideas, till finding he waited for an anfwer, me mechanically repeated his laft word " opinion ?" He faw her abfence of mind, and fuf- pefted his own too palpable difturbance had occafioned it : but in what degree, or from what fenfations, he could not conjec- ture. They were both fome time filent ; and then, recollecting herfelf, me faid it was earneilly her wiili to avoid difobliging her fifter, by a communication, which, made by any one but herfelf, muft put her into a dif^raceful point of view. Edgar, after a paufe, faid, they mud yield, then, to her prefent fervour, and hope her 'founder judgment, when lefs played upon, would fee clearer* It ap- -14 peared CAMILLA. 25 peered to him, indeed, that me was fo free, at this moment, from any dangerous im- preffion, that it might, perhaps, be even fafer to fubmit quietly to her requeft,, than to urge the generous romance of her tem- per to new workings. He undertook, meantime, to keep a conftant watch upon the motions of Bellamy, to make fedulous . inquiries into his character and fituation in life, and to find out for what oftenfible purpofe he was in Hampmire : entreating leave to communicate constantly to Ca- milla what he might gather, and to con- fult with her, from time to time, upon what meafures mould be purfued : yet ul- timately confeffing, that if Eugenia did not fleadily perfift in refufing any further re- jections, he mould hold himfelf bound in confcience to communicate the whole to Mr. Tyrold. Camilla was pleafed, and even thankful for the extreme friendlinefs and kind mo- deration of this arrangement ; yet me left him mournfully, in a confirmed belief his regard for the whole family was equal. VOL. in. C Eugenia/ CAMILLA. Eugenia, much gratified, promifed flie would henceforth take no ftep with which Edgar fliould not firft be ac- quainted. CAMILLA. ajf CHAP. III. Various Confabulations, Ti T R. Tyrold faw, at firft, the renewed ** vifits of Edgar at Cleves with ex- treme fatisfaclion ; but while all his hopes were alive from an intercourfe almoft per- petual, he perceived, with furprife and perplexity, that his daughter became more and more penfive" after every interview : and as Edgar, this evening, quitted the houfe, he obferved tears flart into her eyes as me went up flairs to her own room. Alarmed and difappointed, he thought it now high time to invefligate the flate of the affair, and to encourage or prevent future meetings, as it appeared to him to be propitious or hopelefs. Penetrated with the goodnefs, while la- menting the indifference of Edgar, Camilla had jufl reached her room j when, as fhe c 2 turned 28 CAMILLA. turned round to fhut her door, Mr. Tyrold appeared before her. Haftily, with the back of her hand, brufliing off the tears from her eyes, (he faid, " May I go to my uncle, Sir? can my uncle admit me?" " He can always admit you," he an- fwered ; " but, jufl now, you muft forget him a moment, and confign yourfelf to your father." He then entered, fhut the door, and making her fit down by him, faid, " What is this forrow that aflails my Camilla? Why is the light heart of my dear and happy child thus dejected?" Speech and truth w r ere always one with Camilla; who, as me could not in this inilance declare what were her feelings, remained mute and confounded. " Hefitate not, my dear girl," cried he kindly, " to unbofom your griefs or your apprehenfions, where they will be received with all the tendernefs due to fuch a con- fidence, and held facred from every human 7 infpe&ion j CAMILLA. 29 infpection ; unlefs you permit me yourfelf to entruft your beft and wifefl friend.'* Camilla now trembled, but could not even attempt to fpeak. He faw her diforder, and prefently add- ed, " I will forbear to probe your feelings, when you have fatisned me in one doubt ;- Is the fadnefs I have of late remarked in you the effect of fecret perfonal difturb- ance, or of difappointed expectation?" Camilla could neither anfwer nor look up : me was convinced, by this queflion,. that the fubjeft of her melancholy was un*. derflood, and felt wholly overcome by the deeply diftrefllng confulion, with which wounded pride and unaffected virgin mo- defty imprefs a youthful female, in the idea- of being fufpefted of a mifplaced, or an unrequited partiality. Her filence, a fuffocating figh, and her earneft endeavour to hide her face, eafily explained to Mr. Tyrold all that paffed within ; and refpefting rather than wifh- ing to conquer a fhame flowing from fear- ful delicacy, " I would fpare you," he faid, c 3 alt 30 C A M 1 L L A, " all inveftigation whatever, could I be certain you are not called into any aerion; but, in that cafe, I know not that I can juftify to myfelf fo implicit a confidence, in youth and inexperience fo untried in diffi- culties, fo unufed to evil or embarraiiment as yours. Tell me then, my dear Camilla, do you figh under the weight of any difm- genuous conduct ? or do you fuffer from foine fulptnce which you have no means of terminating?" " My deareil father, no!" cried me, fink- ing upon his breaft. " I have no fufpencel" She gafpcd for breath. " And how has it been removed, my child ?" faid Mr. Tyrold, in a mournful tone ; " has any deception, any ungene- rous art " " O no, no! he is incapable he is fu- perior he " She ftopt abruptly; fliocked at the avowal thefe few words at once in- ferred of her partiality, of its hopeleifnefc;, and of its object. She walked, confufed, to a corner of the room, and, leaning againlt the wainfcot, enveloped CAMILLA. 31 enveloped her face in her handkerchief, with the mofl painful fenfations of fhame. Mr. Tyrold remained in deep medita- t-ion. Her regard for Edgar he had al- ready confidered as undoubted, and her undifguifed acknowledgment excited his tendered fympathy : but to find (he thought it without return, and without hope, penetrated him with grief. Not only his own fond view of the attraction? of his daughter, but all he had obferved, even from his childhood, in -Edgar, had induced him to believe me was irrefiftibly formed to captivate him ; and what had lately pafled had feemed a confirmation of all he had expected. Camilla, neverthe- lefs, exculpated him from all blame ; and, while touched by her artleflhefs, and ho- nouring her truth, he felt, at leaft, fome confolation to find that Edgar, whom he loved as a fon, was untainted by deceit, unaccufed of any evil. He concluded that fome unfortunate fecret entanglement, or fome myflery not yet to be developed, di- rected compulfatorily his conduct, and c 4 checked 3* CAMILLA. checked the dictates of his tafte and in- clination. Gently, at length, approaching her, " My deareft child," he faid, " I will aik you nothing further ; all that is abfolutely efiential for me to know, I have gathered. You will never, I am certain, forget the noble mother whom you are bound to re- vere in imitating, nor the afteclionate^ fa- ther whom your ingenuoufnefs renders tho mod indulgent of your friends. Dry up your tears then, my Camilla, and com- mand your beft flrength to conceal for ever their fource, and, mofl efpecially * from its caufe." He then embraced, and left her. " Yes, my deareft father," cried me, as me fhut the door, " moft perfect and moil lenient of human beings! yes, I will obey your dictates ; I will hide till I can conquer this weak emotion, and no one mail ever know, and Edgar leaft of all, that a daugh- ter of yours has a feeling me ought to difguifel" Elevated CAMILLA. 33 Elevated by the kindn^fs of a father fo adored, to deferve his good opinion now included every wifh. The lead feverity would have chilled her confidence, the lead reproof would have difcouraged all effort to felf-conqueft j but, while his foft- nefs had foothed, his approbation had invi- gorated her ; and her feelings received ad- ditional energy from the confcious gene- rollty with which flie had reprefented Edgar as blamelefs. Blamelefs, however, in her own bread, flie could not deem him : his looks, his voice, his manner, words that occafionally dropt from him, and mean- ings yet more expreffive which his eyes or his attentions had taken in charge, all, from time to time, had told a flattering tale, whichy though timidity and anxious earnednefs had obfcured from her perfect eomprehenfioii, her hopes and her fympa- thy had prevented from wholly efcaping her. Yet what, internally, me could not defend me forgave ; and, acquitting him of all intentional deceit, concluded that what he had felt for her, he had thought too c 5 flight 34 CAMILLA. flight and immaterial to deferve repretling on his own part, or notice on her's. To continue with him her prefent fillerly con- duel was all fhe had to ftudy, not doubt- ing but that what as yet was effort, would in time become natural. Strengthened thus in fortitude, fhe de- feended chearfully to fupper, where Mr. Tyrold, though he faw with pain that her fpirits were conftrained, felt the fondeil fatisfaftien in the virtue of her exertion. Her night pafled in the confolation of felf-applaufe. My dear father, thought ihe, will fee I ftrive to merit his lenity, and that foothing consideration with the ho- nourable friendmip of Edgar, will be fuffi- cient for the'hsppinefs of iny future life, in the fmgle and tranquil ftate in which it will be Jfpent. Thus comforted, fhe again met the eye of Mr. Tyrold the next day at breakfait ; in the midft of which repaft Edgar entered the parlour. The tea Ihe was drinking was then rather gulped than fipped ; yet ihe maintained an air of unconcern, and i returned CAMILLA. 35 returned his falutation with apparent com- pofure. Edgar, while aJdreffing to Mr. Tyrold his inquiries concerning Sir Hugh, faw, fiom the window, his fervant, whom he had out-gallopped, thrown with violence from his horfe. He ruihed out of the par- lour ; and the nrft perfon to rife, with in- voluntary intent to follow him, was Ca- milla. But, as die reached the hall-door,, me faw that the man was fafe, and per- ceived that her father was the only perion who had left the room befidcs herfelf, Alhameu, me returned, and found the female party collected at the windows. Hoping to retrieve the error of her eagernefs, fhe feated herfelf at the table, and affeded to iiniili her breakfaft. Eugenia told her they had discovered the caufe of the accident, which had been owing to a fharp ftone that had penetrated into the horfe's hoof, and which Edgar was now endeavouring to extract. A general fcream, jufl then, from the window party, and a cry from Eugenia of v 5 J " O Edgar!" 3<5 CAMILLA. " O Edgar!" carried her again to th hal 1 , loor with the fwiftnefs of lightning, calling out, " Where? What? Good Heaven!" Molly Mill, accidentally there before ker, faid, as me approached, that the horfe had kicked Mr. Mandlebert upon the fhoulder. Every thing but tendernefs and terror was now forgotten by Camilla ; fhe darted forward with unreflrained velocity, and would have given, in a moment, the riioft tranfporting ama.zement to Edgar, and to herfelf the deepefl fhame, but that Mr. Tyrold, who alone . had his face that way, ftopt, and led her back to the houfe, faying, " There is no mifchief ; a bee flung the poor animal at the inflant the flone was extracted, and the furprife and pain made it kick ; but, fortunately, without any bad eftecl. 1 wiih to know how your uncle is - r I mould be glad you would go and fit with him till I can come." With thefe words he left her ; and, though abafhed and overfet, me found na fenfation CAMILLA. 37 fenfation fo powerful as joy for the fafety of Edgar. Still, however, too little at eafe for con- verfing with her uncle, fhe went ftraight to her own chamber, and flew involunta- rily to a window, whence the firil object that met her eyes was her father, who was anxioufly looking up. She retreated, ut- terly confounded, and threw herfelf upon a chair at the other end of the room. Shame now was her only fenfation. The indifcretion of her firft furprife, {he knew, he muit forgive, though me blufhed at its recollection ; but a folicitude fo per- tinacious, an indulgence fo repeated of feelings he had enjoined her to combat how could fhe hope for his pardon? or how obtain her own, to have forfeited an approbation fo precious? She could not go to her uncle; me would have remained where me was till iummoned to dinner, if the houfe-maid,. after finifhing all her other work, had not a third time returned to inquire if fhe might clean her room, She ? 5 CAMILLA, She then determined to repair to the Library, where (he was certain only to en- counter Eugenia, who would not torment, or Dr. Orkborne, who would not perceive her: but at the bottom of the flairs me was ftopt by Mifs Margland, who, with a malicious fmile, afked if me was going to hold the bafon? " What bafon r" cried me, furprifed. " The bafon for the furgeon." ' What furgeon ?" repeated me, alarmed* " Mr. Burton, who is come to bleed Mr. Mandlebert." She afked nothing more. She felt ex- tremely faint, but made her way into the park, to avoid further conference. Here, in the moft painful fufpence, dying for information, yet fhirking who ever could give it her, me remained, till (he faw the departure of the furgeon. She then went round by a back way to the apartment of Eugenia, who informed her that the contufion, though not dangerous, was violent, and that Mr. Tyrold had in- fitted CAMILLA. 39 lifted upon immediate bleeding. The fur- geon had allured them this precaution would prevent any ill confequence; but Sir Hugh, hearing from the fervants what had happened, had defired that Edgar would not return home till the next day. The joy of Camilla, that nothing was more ferious, bammed all that was dif- agreeable from her thoughts, till me was called back to reflections lefs confoling, by meeting Mr. Tyrold, as me was returning to her own room ; who, with a gravity un- ufual, defired to fpeak with her, and pre- ceded her into the chamber. Trembling, and filled with fhame, me followed, Ihut the door, and remained at it without daring to look up. " My dear Camilla," cried he with ear- ndhieis, " let me not hope in vain for that exertion you have promifed me, and to which I know you to be fully equal. Rifk not, my dear girl, to others, thofe outward marks of feniibility which, to common or unfeeling obfervers, feem but the effeft of an unbecoming remiflhefs in the felf-com- mand 40 CAMILLA. mand which mould dignify every female who would do herfelf honour. I had hoped, in this houfe at leaft, you would not have been mifunderflood ; but I have this mo- ment been undeceived: Mifs Margland has juft expreffed a fpecies of compaflion for what (he prefumes to be the prefent flate of your mind, that has given me the fe- verefl pain." He flopt, for Camilla looked thunder- ftruck. Approaching her, then, with a look of concern, and a voice of tendernefs, he kindly took her hand, and added: " I da not tell you this in difpleafure, but to put you upon your guard. You will hear from Eugenia that we mail not dine alone; and from what I have dropt you will ga- ther how little you can hope to efcape fcrutiny. Exert yourfelf to obviate alt humiliating furmifes, and you will amply be repaid by the balm of felf-approba- tion." He then kitted her, and quitted the room. She CAMILLA. 41 She now remained in utter defpair: the lead idea of difgrace totally broke her fpi- rit, and me fat upon the fame fpot on which Mr. Tyrold had left her, till the ringing of rhe fecond dinner bell. She then gloomily refolved to plead an, head-ach, and not to appear. When a footman tapt at her door, to acquaint her every body was feated at the table, me fent down this excufe: forming to herfelf the further determination, that the fame mould fuffice for the evening, and for the next morning, that me might avoid the fight of Edgar, in prefence either of her father or Mils Mar gland. Eugenia, with kind alarm, came to know what was the matter, and informed her, that Sir Hugh had been fo much concerned at the accident of Edgar, that he had in- filled upon feeing him, and, after heartily making hands, had promifed to think no more of pafl miftakes and difappointments, as they had now been cleared up to the county, and defired him to take up his abode at Cleves for a week, Camilla 4* CAMILLA. Camilla heard this with mixt pleafure and pain. She rejoiced that Edgar fhould be upon his former terms with her beloved uncle; but how preferve the caution de- manded from her for fo long a period, in the conflant fight of her now watchful fa- ther, and the malicious Mils Margland? She had added to her own difficulties by this prefent abfconding, and, with fevere felf-blame, refolved to defcend to tea. But, while fettling how to aft, after her filler had left her, me was ftruck with hearing the name of Mandlebert pronounced by Mary, the houfe-maid, who was talking with Molly Mill upon the landing place. Why it had been fpoken me knew not; but Molly anfwered: " Dearee me, never mind; I'll help you to do his room, if Nanny don't come in time. My little miftrefs would rather do it herfelf, than he fhould want for any thing."