WILLIAM B. MERRILL,
jDERRY, JV. H.
University of California Berkeley
c
THE
CONTRAST:
IT
A N V E L
-B Y
E. S. VILLA-REAL GOOCH,
-THE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION.
WILMINGTON:
Printed and fold by JOSEPH JOHNSON
No. 73 Market-ftreet Oppofite the BANK.
V:
THE
CONTRAST:
A NOVEL.
CHAP. I.
ON the coaft of Cornwall is a fmall vil
lage, fituate on a rifmg hill, which
commands a view of the fea. A chapel, built
on the fummit, is its principal edifice; thi*
ther did the hearts of its humble inhabitants
repair to invoke the mercy of their Creator,
and oft did they implore him to protect fuch
of their friends and relations as were expci-
ed to the boiiterous element below it. Nor
was this the only purpofe to which this fm>
ple building was adapted ; frequently did its
white front borrow aid from the moon, and
1.58M
4 THE C O N L R A S T;
lei ved as a. Wd mark to the diftreiFed marin-
-ers, ;vho were driven within its view.
This village, which I fhall call Birtland,
might: have been juitly defcribed as iecluded
from the world. No proud lord ufurped its
happy domaiu. No legal plunderer attended
to fettle thofe trifling differences between man
and man, which, without fuch interference,
might be foon adjuited ; but which, when ap
plied, frequently proves worfe than the evil.
At Birtland, the age of primitive innocence
itill exifted ; at Birtland, all was union and
perfect tranquillity.
i ( Within two miles of this happy village flood
an ancient caftle, formerly the refidence of the
houfe of liaftings. Many were the illuftrious
Earlf, of Huntingdon who had drawn their firit
and lalt breath of life within its then peaceful
walls. Every heir of that didinguimed title
had fjgnalized himfelf by deeds of unbounded
munificence. They were as remarkable for
their benevolence and kofpitality, as the cour
tiers of the prefent age are for their arrogance
and boundlefs ambition. At THEIR door, ne
ver was the tale of woe rejected, nor did a
petitioner era vein vain. The wealthy and the
indigent were equally unknown ; and the
hearts and purfes of thefe noble lords were
ever open to the tears of the unhappy. Tu
obtain their protection, it wasneceffary only to
folicit it ; for no guileful wanderer ever bent
his way to the happy but retired caftie of Led-
Itone.
A NOVEL. 5
Many centuries had paffedin this (late of blifs,
when time, which is ever working miracles,
(hitherco fatal to mankind !) ftretched the
cloud of fate over this humble corner of England.
The loft Earl of Huntingdon died. His gener-
ofity had over-reached his power, and his ef-
tates were involved. That of Ledlione was
an object of too much importance to be aband
oned by the rapacious creditors ; it was there
fore agreed that it ihould be put up to iale, and
parted with by public auction.
A gentleman, the fon of a wealthy in? reliant
in the city, was the higheft bidder, and to him
was that property configned. He was a young
man, not poffeiled of very mining abilities, who
had been educated at Weftn-imfter-fchooi, and
was thence fent to Oxford. But ihidy was 'ill
adapted to his tade ; he left both thefe places
in difguft, and prevailed (but not without diffi
culty) on his father, to fuffer him to pafs two
or three years on the continent, by way of
giving a fiaiih to his education.
It was foon after his return to England, that
he determined to marry, but he had frequently
the mortification to find hispropoials rejected.
Money was no object to him, as he was fure to
inherit, on the death of his father, a confider-
able. fortune ; but he wiihed to ennoble his
name, hitherto beft. known upon 'Change, and
was at lenght fortunate enough to fucceed in his
addreiTes, with the only daughter of a new-
created Irifh peer, who .Lad b^en luccefsful in
his claim to the tide of his ancestors, and whofe
greatefl ad vantage was her title.
A 3
6 THE C Q N T R A S T.
It was foon after this marriage took place f
that he became the purchafer of Leditone^
\vhlch he knew only by report, having never
viiited the Weft of England.' In London,
Lady Jane was * equally a Aranger. She had
paffed her life in Dublin but remained unnotic
ed there until her father was created an Earl.
They let out for London too foon afterwards
for her to fix her choice among her old acquaint
ance, who were many of them at length be
et) rue her new admirers.
Mr. James Martindale was the firft monied
man who foliated the hand of Lady Jane ; and
to his fortune, more than to himfelf, was ihe
immediately devoted*
C H A P II.
MR. Martindale hired a ready -furniftied-
houfe in the vicinity of Portman-Square ;
and on the fourth of June, juft five weeks after
her marriage, Lady Jane Martindale was
prefented at St. James's. Her perfun was ra
ther handfoine than other wife, and it was on
this occafion decorated with all the parapher
nalia of birth-cay magnificence. To be admi
red, it was necelfary only that (he ihould be
jeeri ; and to her, the knee of adulation was
foon bent. The Earl of C , on whom
the feiters of matrimony fat lightly, was het
A N O V E L ?
devoted (lave for the evening ; and her eyes
received an additional portion of brilliancy, as
her conquefts became multiplied.
In Mr. M?rtindale's bofom very- different
\vere the fenfations which arofe on that oceaii-
on. He gazed on the beauties of his wife, and
his vanity was flattered by their effect , but hi&
heart trembled as he vie wed her, and the pangs
of jealoufy racked his foul. He endeavoured to
appear regardlefs of the admiration he faw la-
vilhed on her ; but by degrees he drew nearer
to the door of the antechamber, and their wait
ed with anxiety the hour f twelve, at which
time his fervants and equipage \vere ordered
to attend.
As foon as their arrival was announced, Mr,
Martindale hurried Lady Jane out of the
room, and attempted to put on her cloak^
which a footman had given into his hands.
But Lord C diiputed with him this
office, and the rules of good breeding obliged
the hufband to relinquilli it. Yet he could nor
avoid perceiving a ilgnificant look, and a
Iqueeze of the hand, which each bellowed on
the other, as Lord C Handed Lady
Jane to her carriage ; and this was, t&^a weak
mind, almoft proof pofirive of their guilt. But
in this idea he y/as wholly mittaken : Lord
C had not entertained an idea beyond
the amufement of the prefent hour, and Lady
Jane faw nothing in the emaciated peer that
could .poffibiy turn her thoughts towards him
on the fueceeding one.
3 THE CONTRAST:
The time now arrived when every fafhiona-
ble family prepared to leave town. Lady, Jane
had already made the acquit! tion of numberlefs
acquaintance, but her heart had not ielecled a
friend. It was almoft a matter of indifference
to her whether ihe went, and to her hufband's
inclinations ihe appeared willing to accede.
Mr. Martindale's determination was to go to
Leditone ; but when ihe heard of its feclufton,
her heart recoiled at the idea, and ihe reqi=eft-
ed his approbation of a prior excuriion to Wey-
mouth or Briolithelmflone. He became ho we-
c>
ver abfolute in his intentions ; arid as her father
had immediately after her marriage returned to
Ireland, it became neceffary for her to draw
fome one over to her interefts ; neceility, ra
ther than choice, directed her to old Mr. Mar-
tip-dale. He was exactly calculated for fuch
an employment. He had been in his younger
days a general admirer of pretty women, and
the charms of his new daughter-in-law loft no
thing in his opinion. lie perfectly agreed
with- her, that to tranfplant a large eftablifh-
ment into the defects of Cornwall, would be
attended with a heavy expence, befides the
probability that exifud of their dilHking the
iituation, and fpeedily returning. Lady Jane
an-' tin ok 4 g^nlemaa haa many converfations
on the li;L ;e6t, and apreed to expoPaiiate warm
ly >v fvlartindale, whom however they
had the monirtcation to find inexorable. AD
they co.ild obtain was a few days vielay, and a
pr or 1 . rife thai heu; ftay iu ihe country ihou-ki
not exceed fix mouths*
A NOVEL
CHAP. Ill
IN a few days, part of Mr. Martindale^ re
tinue fet forward on their journey into the
Weft. Thefe confifted of her Ladyfhip's un-
tlerwoman, who was, during this funrmer
campaign, to act alfo in the capacity of houfe-
keeper ; a French vaiet ; a French cook ;-*-
a running footman, and three or four more.
Every thing was there in readinefs for the
reception of thefe nobel and novel gnefts ; for
the caftle was inhabited by an old fteward and:
his family, whom the late Earl of Huntingdon
had Rationed in it ; and as they had never re
ceived notice to quit the premiffes y rhey full
enjoyed, in fome of the rooms at the end of it r
peacable and quite poffelfton*.
When thefe imitators of greatnefs pafled
through the village of Birtland, they were
ftruck with the appearance of its humble inha
bitants; who, xniftaking them for their fuper
iors, crowded forth to bid them welcome. The
bells, though few in number, echoed thefe.
warm plaudits of the heart ; and every tenant,
with uplifted" eyes, prayed Heaven to blefs
them !
Stunned with applaufes for which they were
unprepared, and which they did not rightly
10 THE CONTRAST:
comprehend, they anfwered only by a loud
laugh; and arriving at the caftle, where they
ibon made themfelves known, were received
with humble civility by the worthy fteward
his wife, and daughter.
Mrs. Drapery could not help fhuddering as
ihe pafied through the fpacious hall .which led
to the inhabited p^rt 6f the ca; tie,. Th-e- mafly
door clofed with a tremendous noife'; it re-
founded through tbe vaulted roof, a^d petrified
her with honor. On the high arched win
dows of painted glafs, were banded down to
pofterity the emblazoned arms of the newly
expired title of Huntingdon ; and the unwieldy
armour which had formerly defended the lives
of its illuihious wearers, now 'hanging up and
neglected, borrowed a faint light from the
feeble glimmerings of the moon, fcarcely feen
enough to ^e obferved through the heavy
cafe men t.
She requeued to be (hewn to the appartment
allotted her, where ihe gave orders that her
fellow-tarvellers fhould attend. She exprelied
to them the greateft difguitat every thing ihe
faw r and the utter impoifibiiity there was of
her being, ever able to accuftom herfelf among
fuch Hottentots. " She was fure," ihe faid,
u that ail Mr. Martindale's money would be
*' but a poor compeafation, if Lady Jane was
44 to linger away the bell: part of her life in fuch
44 an odious retirement. She wondered how
u he could think of bringing an Earl's daugh-
44 ter to fuch a horrible diftance from every
A NOVEL. it
* thing alive. For HER part, {he was fure
" SHE could not (lay there, and fhe hoped to
" find that her Lady would loon be of the
4i fame opinion."
In lefs r:han a week, Lady Jane and Mr,
Martindale arrived at Ledftone. When the
loquacious Mrs. Drapery faw the butler (to
whom fhe was by do means averfe), ihc allured
him, that if fhe had not been certain of HIS
corning down, fhe could not have prevailed on
hepfelf to remain there a day after me had deli
vered up her charge to her Lady ; for that the
place was a defcrt, and the evening winds
were fo rough, that fne already found her con-
ititution DAM AGED by them; and it was be
come abfolutely neceiTary for her to return to
London, were it only for the benefit of her
health.
Lady Jane and Mr. Martindale, who faw
nothing in their new habitation otherwife than
they had expected to find it, pafled feveral days
in viliting the cattle and its environs. Lady
Jane was particularly attentive to the narations
of the old ftevvard, who not unfrequently rub
bed his hand acrofs his eyes, as he dwelt on the
praifes of his late-loved Lord. In a fnaall clo-
fet adjoining the hall, of which he had entreat
ed to keep the key, he was wont to review and
admire the tattered robes in which Henry third
Earl of Huntingdon fat in judgment on the trial
of the charming and unfortunate Mary Queen
of Scots. Thefe he fliewed Lady Jane, la
menting forely the day, that, iu depriving the
i THE CONTRAST:
county of its FIRST ornament, robbed HIM of
his beft friend HJS ONLY BENEFACTOR.
HAP. IV,
TH E mind of Lady Jane was by nature
fufceptible of tender fentiments, and of
foft impreffions ; yet her heart was as un-confci-
ous of their primitive fource, as of their fubfe-
<juent confequence ; and me had hitherto be
held everyone with general indifference. She
however poileffed an immoderate degree of
pride and oftentation, and was emulous to out
vie all who dared afpire to equality with her ;
afTuming a forbidding air of loftinefs, which
often offended the focieties (he lived in. But,
over-ruled at length by the recollection of the
more exemplary conduct of fome of the amiable
part of her female acquaintance in London, and
elfewhere, me in fome meafure conquered that
difagreeable HAUTEUR; and the tender and
growing impulfe of nature beginning to infpire
her with ideas more confonant to the texture of
her difpofition , ihe became thoughtful , and rather
melancholy ; deriving her chief pleafure from
wandering in unfrequented paths, and ex
ploring and forcing tracks through the mazy
and moft intricate parts of the foreft, which lay
st a fmall diftance from the park*
A N O V E L. 13
In one of thefe folitary perambulations,
chance had directed her fteps to the ruins of a
very ancient, and once capacious tower., fituate
on the i'u mi t of a ftupendious cliff. Thence (he
could obferve, with the help of a fmall telefcope
' which ihe carried in her pocket, the various
obje&s which the ocean continually prefented
to her view, and which with their novelty and
variety together, became every day more pleaf-
ing and interefting to her fancy.
Mr. Martindale rofe one morning early in
the month of September, before his ufual hour,
to take the diverfion of ihooting ; his game
keeper having apprized him the preceding even
ing of a covey of partridges which frequented
.a wheat-ftubble near a pleafure-ground adjoin
ing the park ; not that Mr. Martindale difco-
vered any more eujoyment in the purfuit of ru
ral pleafures, than did his lady ; but his time
hanging rather heavy on his hands, and as me
did not permit him to beguile any part of it in
ailbciating with thofe whom her own choice had
not approved, and pointed out as proper com
panions for him, he was obliged to feek amufe-
ment in queft of pleafui es which nature had not
given him either tafte or inclination to enjoy.
Lady Jane had rifen at her ufual hour, and
\vas preparing for breakfaft, when Mr. Mar
tindale tired of his vifionary fcheme of pleafure,
returned heartily fatigued in the purfuit of it.
The moment they had enjoyed their early
repaft, Lady Jane wi:h eager fteps precipitate
B
I 4 THE CONTRAST:
ly bent her way to her much-favoured fpot ;
which fhe had no fooner afcended, than me hir
jttantly difcovered through her glafs a fmall
boat making for the fhore ; and excited by cu-
riofity, ilie advanced with deliberate attention
down the faiidy beach, towards the edge of the
water. As the boat approached nearer her
view, fhe thought ihe perceived in it five per-
fons, together with fome calks which they had
flowed,' and piled up in a regular pyramid, in
the item of their little bark. The tide having
recently laved, and now retired from, its bea-
chy limits, had caufed the fand under foot to
be exceedingly wet; and what would have
wonderfully terrified Lady Jane at any other
time, and on any other occafion, now Simu
lated her boldly to venture on ; and ihe walked,
or rather waded, almott knee-deep in the briny
ocean, till ihe came within reach of the float
ing objects which ihe had fir ft difcovered ; but
having left her glafs within the tower, ihe
could fcarcely di ( tinguiih of what fex or age
the pet fons were, until they approached
nearer.
They were foon fecurely landed in a place
where fhe had not been accuftomed to meet
with human beings (fhe having dedicated this
deferred fpot to folitude, and her own reflecti
ons) ; and the unexpected fight our mariners
experienced of a beautiful and elegant female,
who Teemed to be loft in aftonifhment, could
not fail to excite in them an equal degree of
furprife. After fome little converfation, they
to be informed of the neareft town ;
A N O V E L. 15
of village ; having come, they faid, on fhore
for the ptirpoie of procuring frelh water for
their veffel, a fmall brig, bound from Green-
ock to London, which lay at anchor at the dif-
tance of about two leagues.
The perfon who chiefly addrefled himfelf to
Lady Jane, appeared to be a military man, a-
bont fifty years of age. He had a complacency
of manner which indicated the gentleman ; his
countenance beaming thas ineiFable Iweetneis
which generally befpeaks the mind at eafe.
This gentleman introduced to her his friend
who accompanied him (the other three were
failors, buiily employed in lalhkig the boat to
the remains of what had formerly been a lighr-
houfe.) The drefs of the latter, \vhowas ma
ny years younger, denoted him a Highlander ;
and the gracefulnefs of his mein inftantly carght
the attention of Lady Jane. She invited them
both to the caftle, and promifed to fend ier-
vants thence to render their men and boat e-
very affiitance their iituation required.
This propofal they thankfully accepted ; and
inwardly congratulated themfelvcs on the no
vel and ftrarige adventure \vich \vhich chance
had ib far favoured them.
B
t.6 THE CONTRAST:
C H A P. V,
ON their arrival at the cattle refreshments
of every kind were by Lady Jane's order
fee before her guefts. She enquired for Mr.
Martiridale, but was informed by the butler
that he was gone out on horfeback, and had
left orders to tell her ladyihip that he ihould re
turn to dinner by five. She apologized for his
abfence, 'and entreated them to relinquiili
all idea of going back to their veilel with the
evening's tide ; obferving, that the days were
row ihort and clouded the nights long and
dark ; and fhe farther alleged, that their igno
rance of the couft might lead them into un
avoidable difficulties, and imminent dangers,
which {he would by no means advife them to
encounter, and which would dirninilh with the
return of day-light. She inwardly wifhed (but
from what caufe me knew not) that Mr. Mar-
tindale ihould fee them, and approve what {he
had done. She felt eager to juftify her con-
dud to him, perhaps from a confcioufnefs of
felf-createduneaiineis ihe had never before ex
perienced. Her fluttering heart beat high with
a deli re of ihe knew not what ; and her falter
ing tongue feemed almoft deprived of utterance,
as her eye, involuntarily and conftantly met
thofe of the young and accomplished Caledoni
an. She wiiucd, fhe (aid, to detain them till
A NOVEL. 17
Mr. Martndale's return ; and even \vhen he
did return, ilie feared the day would be too
far fpent for them to hazard with fafety the at
tempt of regaining their fhip : ihe at la(\ hint
ed to the elder gentleman, who feemed anxi
ous to depart, the kind of impropriety there
would be in their going away without feeing
him. This obje&ion had fufficient force, to
counter-balance, in their minds, every other.
Having drawn from them a promife fhe too
ardently wiihed, fhe requeued their attendance
in the park and gardens, whither they cheer
fully con fen ted to accompany her. In one of
the walks ihe perceived by accident that her
drefs had materially fuffered from her excurii-
on on the fands ; ihe then left her viiito-ss to
the care of the gardener, whom (he directed to
point out to them every object worthy their
attention, and proceeded tothecaitle to change
her clothes ; defiring the gardener to re-con
duct the gentlemen there, as foon as their curi-
ofity had been Efficiently gratified.
On her lapyfhip's return me retired to her
appartment, and ordered her woman's atten
dance there. The article of drefs, which had
been neglected fince her feclufion in the coun
try, as a matter of indifference, now became
an object of importance. Mrs. Drapery was
one of :hofe accommodating abigails who are
ever ready to flatter and encourage the follies
and vices of their employers, and ihe neglected
nouiiing on the prefent occafion to adorn the
perfon. of her lady; fignificamly adding.
:8 THE CONTRAST:
" With Vvhcit 'plea.fure her reader would be-
,uUi her lady [hi p at his return home, look-
" J i#g o;. ce more LIKE HER.SLLF I"
Before the etiquette of drefs was finally ad-
ji^ltd, Mr. Martindaie entered the room fome-
wruu abruptly ; having been informed by the
fcrvants of his new vifitors, and wiihing, pre
vious to his feeing them, to know of Lady Jane
who they were, and what were the motives
that had thus induced them to take up their re-
liuence in his houie.
Lady Jane briefly related to her hulband each
circumilance ; contenting herielf with obferv-
ing, that although ilie had not enquired their
names, Ihe was lure, from the little Ihe had
feen of them, that they were perfons of no in
ferior rank : ihe jultly remarked that the lasvs,
of hofpitality were of themfelves iufficient to
juftify the hafty zeal with which ihe had preff-
ed them to wait his return. Jvlr. Martindaie
coincided with her opinion, and left her to do
honour to his guefts.
As focn as he was gone, Mrs. Drapery,
finding herfelf emboldened by her lady's vilible
enibarrairment (which together with the atten
tion to her drefs had not efcaped her], begged
pardon for informing her ladymip, that ihe
knew perfectly veil who the gentlemen were,
having enquired of the Tailors, who had fatisfi-
ed her in every refpecl. They were both, ihe
, Scots. The old gentleman, whofe .name
was Stuart^ had been many years Colonel of
A NOVEL, r^..
the Mountaineers ; but had retired from the
fervice about two years. His lady was lately
dead, and the lofs of her had taken fuch an e-
effefton his mind, that he had refolved to- tra
vel ; and a fea voyage had been particularly
recommended to him, as being the mo ft likely
to recruit both his fpirits and his health. The.
young gentleman, whole name was Glsncairn^
was diflantly related to the deceafed Mrs. Stu
art, who had one only child, a daughter, now
educating in a convent at Calais. She was to
come over on their arrival in London, and to
return withjthem* Mrs. Drapery indeed FAN
CIED, but it was only her own conjecture,
tliat the Colonel had thoughts of uniting the
young couple ; as the young gentleman had no
other reafon for coming over, than that o
keeping the Colonel company ; and of return
ing with him to Scotland, as foon as Mils Stu
art fiiould have joined them..
Lady Jane was not fo regardlefs as me ap
peared to be of the information given by her
oliicious waiting-woman. She, however, af~
fmned an air of compofure me was doomed ne
ver more to feel, and with hally lieps joined
the gentlemen below,
20 THE CONTRAST;
CHAP. VI.
COLONEL Stuart had been in the
mean time equally communicative to Mr,
Martindale ; he had coniidered- it as incum
bent on him to introduce hiinfelf and friend to
his acquaintance; Mr. Martindale, fcon after
Lady Jane's appearance, retired to his dreiT-
ing-room, whence he fent to reqneft her at
tendance for a few minutes ; when he inform
ed her, that ihe was not miftaken in the fa
vourable opinion Ihe had entertained of the
ftrangers ; and proceeded to tell her all with
which Colonel Stuart had made him acquaint
ed. She did not think it necelTary to mention
to him the cenverfation me had held with her
maid ; but pretended to liflen with curiolity to
what he related ; which differed in nothing
more than his filence on the fbbjcct of Mils
Stuart, who ihe naturally concluded had not
been mentioned.
Lady Jane returned to the ialoon, where
{he fnrpiifed Glen cairn, drawiri'g founds of
fweeteft melody frc u\ Mr Martindale's flute 7
wb:ch lay on th- table. He laid it down when,
flic appea cci, buf by her deiire to-,k it up a-
gain, ad playedoiice more, at Coioucl Stuart's
reqneit,
I wifn I was \vhereJielen lies !
A N O V E L. i
in a manner fo peculiarly his own, that Lady
Jane, for the fir ft time in her life, felt the
power of mufic over a fufceptible mind. She
was at that moment alive to the nioft tender
fenfations ; her foul vibrated to the touch, and
ihe felt a pang of exquiiite enthufiafm.
He eeafed ; and her eyes more ex-
prelftve than her tongue, foiicited his conniv
ance. He fmiled confent, and then play
ed
Abfence ne'er mall alter me.
The words funk deep into her heart ; her fine
eyes gliftened ; and ihe had but juft tim g to
turn them on Colonel Stuart, as Mr. Martin-
dale entered the room.
The converfation became general, and din
ner was announced. It was a domeftic party,
and Lady Jane being witbout a female friend,
had no excufe to leave the room when it was
over. Mr. Martindale and the Colonel enter
ed into a long converfation ; and the old war*-
rior-feeming for a moment to forget hb griefs,
gloried as he recounted his former exploits*
Tea, and lefs interefting airs on the flute
beguiled the remainder of the evening ; and an
early fupper was ordered, as our vilitors were
vinder the neceih'ty of departing by day-break*
Lady Jane gave orders that coffee IhoiJd be
prepared for them, and after an hour or two
paned in fotial delight, they reciprocally bade
adieu.
22 *HE CONTRAST:
The Colonel exprefTed to Mr. Martiridalc
his wiih of meeting with him in town; but
faid that as he might not be appriied of the
time wheu the Ledftone family arrived there ;
and as he was 'piorant alfoin what part of it
he ihould fix his ihortaDode, he begged ofMr-
Martindaie to take the trouble to enquire after
him at the Ducheis of G 's in St. Jame's
Square, v ho would be able to afcertain whe
ther he ftill remained an inhabitant of London,
or was returned (which was more likely) to the
iequeitered mountains of Scotland.
Lady Jane had no fooncr retired into her
dreifing-room, than ihe gave orders to Mrs,
Drapery (who, as I before ohferved, now
acted in the double capacity of her woman and
honfe-keeper) to rife at a very early honr, that
nothing might be wanting to complete the ele
gant hofpitality the ftrangers had experienced
at Ledftone. She retired to bed, but did jhe
retire to reft?- Ah-, no ! The image of
Glencairn was before her ; ihe pretended
drowfmefs, and in fecret lilence wept her cares
to ileep. Mr. Marti ndale, fatigued by the
exercife and events of the day, and unconfcious
of the thorns of difcontent which invincible
fcovE h^d ftrewed over his wife's pillow,
Snor'd out the watch of night.
Lady Jane liftened at day break, but ihe
heard nothing. All was hufhed in profoiA
iiience. They had departed an hovr before
their appointed time : but they had not efcaped
A N O V E L, y$
the anxious vigilance of Mrs. Drapery ; who
fearful of offending her lady by not feeing them ?
and fearful alfo, .of her own weaknefs mould
file tfuiVherlelf to deep, had prevailed on her
friend the butler to pafs the intermediate time
with her in the houfe-keeper's room, over a
comfortable bottle of madeira, which he was to
provide from the cellar as foon as the family
was retired to reft.
Mrs. Drapery, though a keen woman, was
by no means dettitute of female weaknefs : fhe
repofed an ^implicit .confidence in the butler,
and at once informed him of her fulpicions re
lative to her lady, and the young gentleman ;
who (ihe muft oblerve) was of a figure to cap
tivate any la.dy's heart, She did not know
(or had not fenfe enough to find out) that Mr.
Qldfon, the Jbutler, was warmly in his matter's
intereft ; not from any rafli confidence that
hitherto infenfible mafter had repofed in him,
but from a fenfe of the lucrative place he en
joyed. Mr. Oldfon therefore made few com
ments on her obfervations, 'but treafured tip in
his mind every cireumftance that might lead
hereafter to a farther afcendancy over Mr
Martindale ; as he had already prevailed on,
him in many trivial occurrences, which had
turned out in the end to his own advantage.
Soon after the bottle of madeira was ex-
haufted, Mrs. Drapery told him (lie heard a
noife ; but ihe fuppofed it to be too early for
the Grangers to be thinking of their departure.
She however liftened^ and heard it repeated j
24 THE CONTRAST:
it was, 'flie faicl, the found of feet gently mo**
ving down the great ftair-caie. Mr. Oldfon
liftened, but heard nothing. Mrs. Drapery
ftill pertifted that ihe DID hear a noife ; and as
ihe had encouraged the idea of ghofts haunting
the caftle, ihe requeued Mr. Oldfon to accom
pany her up the ftair-cafe leading from her
room; at the top of which they faw our five
travellers ready to depart. Mrs. Drapery's
eyes inftantly fixed on thofe of Glencairn ; who
anfweredthem by a fign that he had fomething
to communicate. It was eafy for her to turn
Mr. Oldfon's attention to the other, while ihe
privately received from his hands a guinea, and
a flip of paper carefully folded and fealed.
Thefe ihe immediately conveyed to her pocket,
while Mr. Oldfon was making his bow to the
Colonel, in acknowledgement of what he had
from a very different motive conveyed to
Mrs. Drapery and Mr. Oldfon faw the tra
vellers depart, and then retired to their re-
fpe&ive rooms. The former cautioufly placed
her pockets under her head, as fearful that her
fecret mould be difcovered, and by that means
the confidence of her lady be loft for ever.
A N O V E L. 0.5
C HAP. VII.
IT was not difficult for Mrs. Drapery to
underhand the ufe it was intended foe fhouici
make of both the objects flie had received; yet
the was not fufficiently miftrefs of her lady's
thoughts to hazard a forward avowal of her
conducl in receiving them. When ihe attend
ed Lady Jane in the morning, fhe could not a-
void perceiving that fhe had been in tears ; arid
ihe prefumed to enquire with evident fymp-
toms of affection, if her ladyjklp ivas un*vjdl ?
At this unexpected queitioc , Lady Jane gave
vent to her full heart, and ftrove not to con
ceal her emotion. She imprudently leaned on
her woman's bofom, and, in apparent agony,
afked whether the gentlemen were gone, and
if fhe had feen them ? Mrs. Dupery told her
that they were ; and that me had attended
them according to her ladyihip's order. She
drew by degrees the letter out of her pocket,
and entreated her ladyihip's pardon for ;the
liberty ihe took in offering it to her -perufaj.
She airiired her that Ihe had no time to return
it after it had been put into her haacls ; and
that pity for the poor young gentleman's ifor-
row at his departure had afterwards induced
her to lecrete it,, until flie might fee hiin r
gain.
2.6 THE O. N T R A S T :
Lady Jane took the letter with Teeming re-
luftance, arid found it tp contain the following
words :
" Be not offended, Madam, at the prefumpr
4 tion of a ftranger, who till he faw you,
" Kever dreamt of love. His profound refpecl
4 for your name and chara&er will condemn
c him to mifery and future filence ; and he
would not have hazarded this liberty, had he
not read in your eyes an .expreffion of ten-
dernefs which they have too furely, and
1 probably too fatally, convej'ed to the del-
c ponding heart of
"EDWARD GLENCAIRN.'*
Lady Jane trembled as flie read the letter,
Y/hich ihe immediately conveyed into her pock
et, and Mrs. Drapery delighted in the fuccefs
of her undertaking ; for although me felt that
ciiftom, and the laws of decency, would re
quire that ihe mould maintain her place as a
fervile dependant, fhe from this moment confi-
dered herfelf the boforn friend of her lady ; and
exulting in what had parted, began to fuppofe
herfeif the appointed and convenient confidante
of every future ad:ion of her life.
From this unhappy period, ihe began to ex
ert the influence me had obtained over the
mind of her hitherto fpotlefs lady ; . and avail
ing herfeif of an ad vantage common to low
minds, did not fail NOW AND THEN to remind
her, by a gentle hint, that ihe was in her
power. Lady Jane's youth, and ignorance of
the world, induced her to be filent where ihe
might have bsen allowed to complain ; but
A NOVEL. . 27
her timid foul as apprehenfwe of the injurious
con ftr nation her huiband might put on the ad
venture, and fhe refolved to fuller in filence.
She had no wilh. no intention to deceive him ;
yet- me fighed as ihe reflected on the merits
of Glencairn,- whom fhe defpaired of feeing
more.
We will now return to our mariners. They
had a tedious and rather perilous pailage to
London, where they landed in three \veeks.
Colonel Stuart's firft care was to difpatch a
meffenger to a mercantile houfe hi the city,
whether his letters were addreiied. He re
ceived one from Mils Stuart, earneilly requeft-
ing him to go to her. She informed him that
her health had been for fome months gradually
declining ; but that file had hitherto avoided
mentioning that circuvuitance to him, waiting
till fhe heard of his arrival in London ; siicd^-
ing, that fhe was fufficiently acquainted with
his feelings, ta be convinced that had he
known her fituation fooner, he would have
haftened his journey from' Scotland, probably
to the prejudice both of his health and conven
ience.
Colonel Stuart had not feen his daughter
fmce her mother's death, as (he had beea near
four years at Calais, He fpoke of her feidoni;
but his thoughts often dwelt with rapture on.
the idea of once more folding his treafure to
his heart, and retracing ia her growing fea
tures the refemblance of his loft and laruented
wife I Alas ! what were the fenfations he ex-
28 THE CONTRAST:
per ienced at the perufal of her fata! letter ! It
was a deep iVab to his wounded mind, and it
became necefiary for him to call religion and
renfon to his aid, to prevent him from immedi
ately linking under the weight of it.
All that friendship could fugged all that
the moft tender fympathy could invent, were
on this trying occafion warmly exerted by the
amiable Giencairn towards his unhappy friend.
He urged the pollibility of Mifs Stuart's being
too eaiily alarmed about herfelf ; that the me
lancholy infeparable from a monaftic life had
probably induced her to give way to ideas which
derived their principle origin from her feclu.fi-
on ; that the-moft effectual means to be em
ployed towards promoting her recovery, were
to amnfe her mind ; which had fcarcely began
to unfold itfelf, ere the event of her mother's
death, and her father's fiibfequent correfpon-
dence, ftamped an impreffion on it, that time,
and a more fait able way of life, xvould be (in
Ins opinion) alone capable to efface.
The voice of confolation infenfibly gained
upon the Colonel ; his misfortunes grew ligh
ter as he liftened to the advice of his friend ;
his heart in a few hours recovered in forne
nieafure its former ferenity ; and inftead of
wailing time in deploring the evil that threat
ened him, he endeavoured to avert it by han>
euing to join and cheriih her, who, fmce the
death of his wife, ieemed doubly entitled to his
rare and protection.
A N O V E L. 29
CHAP. VIII.
NOTHING material occurred during
their journey to Calais; but Glencairn,
to whom every object was new, was furprifed
at the different fcenes thatprefentedthemielves.
Often, however, did his imagination retrace
the image of Lady Jane Martindale ; ihe was
the fidt woman he had ever beheld with emo
tion, and her expreflive looks had taught him
to believe that he was not indifferent to her.
He lamented both the caufe and it* effect, that
bad, by preventing their continuing in Lon
don, deprived him of being prefented at the
Duchefs of G 's, where he could ob
tain the only chance of the Colonel'shearing of,
or feeing, Mr. Martindale. But thefe reflec
tions he was obliged to conceal ; shey remain
ed with-. his fecret buried in his heart- and he
-was under too many obligations to the Colonel
not co endeavour (at leaft) to fnppreis them.
When they landed at Calais, and had reach
ed Monfiur Deilin's hotel there, Colonel Stu
art found himfelf fatigued and agitated by
his journey. He requeued Glencairn to go
immediately to the convent, with a note from
Ivim to the fuperior, defiring her to fend Mifs
Smart, with the bearer, his friend. Glen
cairn had formerly feen her; but it was dur-
3,
30 THE CONTRAST:
ing thofe days of infancy on either fide, that
had left but few traces behind them. He de
livered his letter at the crate of the convent,
aad -was. conduced to the parlour, on one
fide of which, was a large grate ; and on
the other iide, a curtain that was drawn.
In a few minutes it was removed, and pre
fer; ted to his view a form that nature had tak
en pride in adorning.
Mil's Stuart (for it was herfelf ) was the
moft finifhed picture of human perfection. She
raifed her blue eyes as he addrelTed her, and
politely reqriefting him to wait a few minutes,
difapoeared to put herfelf in readinefs to ac^
company him.
*
She foon rejoined him in the parlour, and
they proceeded on foot to the hotel. She ac
cepted his arm, and he perceived with ex
treme forrow that me had fcarcely fuflicient
Strength to proceed. Yet ilie did not once
complain, but pa fled the iliort time in making
a thoufand tender enquiries about her father.
The meeting bet.ween them was highly af-
fedring ; they were equally feniible of the
ges each" other's looks had experienced,
yet r either dared, to acknowledge that they
perceived any alteration. It was bat too evi
dent that Mifs Smart was in the early ftage of
a confumption, which appeared to be fa ft haft-
ening this beauteous bloffom to a premature
decay. It was foon determined that Ihe ihould
immediately leave the convent ; that the next
morning her expenc.es ihould be paid there;
A N O V E L. 3 t
and her clothes taken away ; and that they
Ihould allow themfelves a few days repofe at
Calais, before they fixed on any plan their
inclinations might for the preient lead them-,
to purfue.
Mifs Stuart had contracted an intimacy in
the convent with a Mifs Beaumont, a young
lady of French extraction, and fomewhat old
er than herfelf. The very (lender fortune ihe
was to inherit, had induced her parents t& per-
fvs'ade her to take the veil, to which me was
perfectly reconciled, Having lived in the con
vent iince ihe was fix years old, me had not a
wiih to fee the world, but had partly refolvecl
to enter on her noviciate the following year.j
Mifs Stuart called there the next morning r
and took leave of her friend. They agreed to
correfpond during the remainder of their lives,
and that no intereiVmg cireumitaiice mould oc
cur to the one, with which the other fhould
not become acquainted.
Our travellers had been near a week at
Calais, and Colonel Stuart thought it time to
fix their departure. But whither were they to
go? He w iflied, for his own gratification, to
return' home ; but he thought it would be, at,
that time, a wrong meafure to adopt on his
daughter's account. For this he had a double
motive: Winter was fetting in, and he na
turally conceived that the keen blafts of the
North would have too powerful an influence
over her delicate and affefted frame. He feared
3 2 THE G O N T R. A S TV
alfo, from the exquifite fenfibility he preceived
her to pofiefs, that ihe might receive a fatal
blow to her peace, when, on her return to
her firft home, every object which appeared
there would remind her of its loft ornament,
her mother ! The Golonel had, fmce her
death, found a melancholy pleafure in arrang
ing every thing at Allan-Bank for her reception.
All that had belonged to Mrs. Suart, he had
colle&ed carefully for her daughter ; but he
had no idea of the faded form he \vas to meet ;
he had feeu her a healthy , though delicate girl ;
and he naturally expected to find in her im^
proved underftanding, and formerly lively dif-
poiition, the companion beft fuitedto footh the
anguilh of his mind, whenever he reflected on
the virtues of that incomparable wife of which
the grave had robbed him I
In the evening, when Ml fs Stuart had retired
to her appartinent r .the Colonel rang for ano-
bottle of Moniienr Deifm's beft Burgundy, and
imparted to Glencairn his reflections of the day.
He obferved, that having nothing to confult
but their refpeclive inclinations, he had en
tertained an idea of their traveling South ; that
he thought his beloved Mary's health required
change of. air, and he conceived it poffible
THAT of Italy might reftoreit. She would alfo
derive maay advantages from, fuch a TOUR,
that were not to be met with in Scotland. It
would afford her a flee opportunity of improv
ing herfelf in. nrufip, of which ihe was pailion^-
ately fond; and (he woald by travelling gain a
ilifiicleat -knowledge of the world, to
A N O V E L 33
that awkward bafhfulnefs, -which gave her a
childilh air of iimplicity, and which it would
be necelTary for her to overcome before Hie pre-
fided at his houfe, of which, alas ! Ihe was
now become fole mirbrefs. Giencairn could
not with any propriety appear to disapprove
this fcheme, and nothing remained tut to ob
tain Mifs Stuart's approbation (of which they
could have no doubt) ; and that obtained, they
refolved to quit Calais^ and pals through Pro
vence to Nice.
Mifs Stuart was, as they expe&ed, pleafcd
with the propofal ; and nothing -was wanting
to complete the fatisfadlion of the party, but a
more cheerful acquiefcence on the part of Glen-
cairn , who vainly endeavoured to forget his
.predilection for Lady Jane Martindale. He
experienced an inquietude hitherto unknown
to him, when he reflected on the impoiiibility
there now was of his communicating to her his
fentiments, and the knowledge of his fituation.
He dared not hazard writing to her by the
poll ; and though the failors had told him
Mrs. Drapery's name, his reipect and delicacy
forbade his addreiling himfelf to her. He wa&
forced therefore for the prefent to relinquifh all
hope of feeing, hearing of, or writing to her ;
and he felt the force of Rochefoucault's jufl ob-
fervatioo, that
Abfence leiTens fmall paflions, and encreafe*
great ones k
For he never loved LacJy J af1 ^ & PASSION-
34 THE C O N T~R A S T:
ATELY as at this moment, while he defpaired of
ver feeing her more*
C H A P
THE next clay was employed in preparati
ons for their departure ; and on the en-
fuing morning they began their journey in a
berline the Colonel had purchaced of Monfieur
Deifin. They were attended only by a French
fervant who had travelled all his life, fpoke a
little Englifh, and whora Deffin. had recom
mended.
I fhall pafs over every natural incident that
occurred to them, and obferve only that they
reached Nice ibon after the time they had calcu-
lated to do fo ; when, after palling a few days
at the hotel, they hired by the month an ele--
gant villa in its environs.
The Colonel had procured letters of credit
on the Engliih banker there, and$ they were
all alike charmed with their new fituation.
Their fervant Louis had been there frequently,
and was become their Proveditore-Generale.
Mifs Stuart hired a maid for herfelf, by name
Jofephme,- which, with an Italian cook, corn-
pleated their family.
Colonel Stuart was an independent, thougk
A NOVEL. 35
not a rich man. His income had never been
involved, and it produced him from five to fix
hundred pounds a year. He had no one to pro
vide for but his daughter.
With his protege Glencairn it was othervife.
He was an orphan, without a friend in the
world but the Colonel, who (having been ma
ny years intimate with his deceafed father, rJif.
tantly related to Mrs. Stuart, and who was a
younger brother of high birth, wliofe fortune
perifhed with his life) had adopted this child of
love, and promiled never to deiert him. He
adhered to his word, and was fuificiently pre-
poffeffed in favour of his young ward, to WISH
lhat a future attachment might take place be
tween him and his daughter, that his fortune
tfiight by their marriage equally devolve on
both. With this view, he had fpared no pains
to cultivate the mind of the young Edward,
who repaid his tender care with all that filial
duty and imcere affe&ion could beftow,
It was with this young couple, as with all
onr untravelled illanders, whole extent of E-
uropean knowledge carries them no father than
the boundaries of England ; every object be
yond Dover becoming a matter of wonder.
Thus it was with our North Britons. Mifs
Stuart and Glencairn were loft in aftonifhment at
every new fcene which prefented itfelf to their
view, and they feemed to fancy themfelves in
habitants of another world. They were left
almoft entirely to themfelves ; for Colpnel Stu
art was a man of fuch ftrict honour, and had
36 THE CONLRAST:
-withal fo much family-pride, that he believed
it jmpoflible they ihould derogate from either ;
his only appreheniion was, that neither poiTeiF-
d fufficient confidence to explain thole mutual
fentiments which he thought muft be infepara-
ble from both. In this opinion he \yas not al
together miftaken. Their time paffed away in
innocent delight ; and Mifs Stuart's health be
ginning vilibly to mend, they amufed them-
felves in visiting every curiofity, with which,
the charming country they were now become
inhabitants of, abounded.
In the vicinity of Nice, innumerable were
the piclurefque icenes which met their ravilh-
ed eyes. How beautiful do the marit'yne Alps
appear, as they rife from the ocean ! from
whence afcending by gentle degrees, they form
a fuperb amphitheatre, bounded by Mount-
albano, projecting into the fea, and over hang
ing the town. On the other fide, where .pro-'
fpecls lefs ftnpendous allure the eye, how
charming do the richly cultivated plains ap
pear, while they prefent to the view the vines,
the citrons, the oranges, the bergarnots, and
every luxury which Earth can furnifh to her
inhabitants ! The gardens,, which are during
the winter months equally profufe of the
fweeteft flowers, convinced them, that in that
terreftrial paradife the Lord of all had been
peculiarly bounteous, and that to be happy it
was neceffary only to forget every difappoint-
ment that had hitherto awaited them in this
iublunary world.
A N O V E L:
But how vain is every endeavour to com
mand the feelings of the human heart! They
rife fuperior to conrroul, and if they reign at
all, they reign with tyranny. Glencairn
muft have been more than mortal, lefs than
man, could he have refided under the fame
roof with the all fafcinating Mary, without
feeling the power of her improving charms.
He was not blind to them, but often in feciv-
ey lamented his wayward deftiny, which feein-
ed determined in fpite of every oppofition to
feparate them through life. An idea, prior to
his feeing Mary, had taken full poilellion of
him. He had beheld Lady Jane Martindale,
and his heart had vowed to her everlaftiru;
love. He even cheriihed the certainty of her
hufband's not being IMMORTAL; and he con
ceived it poilible for a time to arrive, nay, he
even believd itto benot far diftant, when he
might return to England, and claim her as his
own.
How vifionary is every fcheme of future
blifs, and how precarious are the willies of
man! He builds his hope on a fhadow$
and fcarcely has he time to admire the fabric
his imagination has raifed, ere it vanifhes, and
jiis dream of happinefs at once difappears I
D
33 THE O N T P. A S T :
H A P. X.
WE will now return toLedftone, where
nothing material occured during the
funimer and autumn months, more than has
been mentioned. Lady Jane and Mr. Mar-
tindale lived peaceably together, feldom con
tradicting each other, but particularly agree
ing on one point, that of looking forward
with pleaiure to the deilined time of their re
turn to London. Lady Jane fometimes, in
deed, recollected Glencairn; but thofe emoti
ons me had experienced at firft feeing him, had
fubfided into a languid indifference, and her
thoughts became .every day more devoted to
the idea of the pleafures ihe ihould .enjoy in
the gay metropolis. She did not however ne
glect at times vifiting her favourite fpot ; but
it was now .winter, -and die coldnefs of the
weather prevented her fitting there as former
ly, watching the bofom of the deep.
She was one morning returning from it,
and near the houfe, when me perceived Mr.
Martindale corning towards her with a letter
in his hand. His countenance bore the viiible
marks of difcontent. He took her arm within
his ; and (lightly obferving that he had fome-
thing unpleafaru to communicate, but without
mentioning of what nature, they proceeded
to the library, where, without hifitation. he
A N G' V L, 39
read to her the letter. It was from his father.
It fir ft contained a few vague enquiries alter
them, and then informed them, that being at
length tired of a (ingle life, he had refolved
to marry a fecond time. He had partly, lie
faid, fixed hischoice. The Lady (he obfervedj
was not of a diftinguifhed family, neither did
file polfefs a brilliant fortune ; but (he "had ma
ny good qualities, and he had no doubt of the
approbation me would meet with from his foil
and daughter, to whom he hoped in a few
months to introduce her as his wife. He nei
ther mentioned her name, her age, nor her
perfon ; and of thefe, various were the opini
ons they entertained^ Mr. Martindale highly
refpected his father, and dreaded feeing him
the dupe of what he naturally fuppofed to be
(fronr the caution obferved in the letter) an
indifcreet engagement. Another motive too,
o
and in forne breafts it would have been a more
powerful one than it was in that of Mr. Mar
tindale, w^f elf -infer eft* The old gentleman
had, on the death of his wife, fettled all his
landed property on his fon ; but he had a great
deal of ready money ; five thoufand pounds of
which he had given him on his marriage, be-
fides his mother's jointure of two thoufand
pounds a year, which was, in cafe of Lady
Jane's furviv'mg him, to be her portion for
life. He had been indeed particularly liberal
en that occafion, having prefented Lady Jane
with the late Mrs. Mardndale's jewels, , which
were of confiderable value, and he had pur-
chafed every thing for them, fuch as equipa
ges, plate, &c.
D 2
-p T-ME CONTRA
they could forefec witli
pleafen an Union) which would divide, if it did
iiOt wholly alienate, the aflfebiors of Mr. Mar-
r.n:!.: lc IV-, wi his family. After they bad con-
'jr for fbme time on the ftibje&,
they agreed to fet out for London with ail
convenient expedition. Mr. Martindale an-
i \vered his lather's letter, but in terms almoft
*; equivocal as his own. He expreMed ibme
fv.rprife at the half confidence repofed in him,
and concluded by vviihing him every happineis
in whatever {ituntion he might hereafter find
liimfelf ; but he did not give the moil cliftant
hint of his intention of going to town, which
\vasinhopes, if it were not already too late,
to fruftrate the old gentleman's prefent intenti
ons.
As they had no honfe there, they were on
their arrival obliged to put up at an hotel; and
had on that account left all their fervants, ex-
cepting P^Irs. Drapery and the butler, at Led-
Hone. They had noc been there many minu
tes, before Mr. Martindale fent for a hackney-
coach, and went to his father's houfe in the
city. But now great was his ailoniihment,
when, on knocking at the door, a footman in
an unknown livery appeared at it, and inform-
rned him, that the houfe was now in poiieffion
of another family ; Mr. Martindale having
been married about a month, and that he reii-
ded in Devonfhire Pjace !
Mr. Martindale faiotherecl as much as pofll-
ble his indjgnaiion and Airprlfe. He directed
A N O V E L. 41
Uie coachman to return to the hotel, and gave
hirnfelf up to his reflections in this firft inftance
of duplicity oh his father ; for it was evident to
him, that he was actually married at the time
he wrote to him ; and that the ceremony muft
have been performed in a very private manner,
not a (ingle news-paper having announced
it.
When he returned to Lady Jane, and in
formed her what had pa (Ted, he had the ' fatif-
f action, to find that her feelings were perfectly
congenial with his own : ihe perfuaded him to
wait till the next day for farther intelligence ;
and amklft a thoufand conjectures apprehenfi-
ons and uncertainties they palled the even
ing, and retired early to reft.
II A P.
R. Jsaies Mr.rtindale, at a feafonablc
hour, difpatched his own fervant with
a dutiful, yet cool billet of congratulation to
his father, requeuing to know at what, horn-
he might be premitted to wait on him.
Though it was but juft two o'clock when the
valet was fent on his errand, he found the
crowd of fervants and carriages fo great at Mr.
Martiridale's c!oor ; that it had more the appear-
o
42
unce of the Exhibition at Somerfet-Houfe, than
of leionding to a citizen.
It v, as fome minutes before he could prevail
on. or.e of the footmen to carry up the note he
was iiiTuik'd with. After waiting a confidera-
Me time for an anfvver, a verbal one was
brought him by another powdered coxcomb,
which was {imply Mr. Martindale's compli
ments, and that he would call at the hotel
within an hour. Lady Jane was fhnding at
one of the windows of k about four o'clock,
v.hcn a iumptuous vis-a-vis llopped at the door.
Mr. Ivlarthidale was fitting by the fire-fide,
reading a new pamphlet, when Lady Jane's
precipitate exclamation, of 4% Good t:> God !
vhls c;,-.not be your father !" inilantly drew
him towards her. They thought they recog
nized his features, though difguiied un'der a
i'inall \vip;, made to look like his ov/n hair;
\yliich ;;:ve ib great an alteration to his coun
ter:, '.cj. ih at it was inipoilible for them at the
frrft moment to afccrtaiil whether or uo it was
really him they lav/. They were however
foo:i convinced, as he hobbled out cf his carri
age {upper led by t\\ o iervants in yellow 7 and
iu\ cr liveries : the plain blue and butt, which.
had been the family ihndard of many years,
AN as to all appearance difcarded, with the browa
bob of former and more rcfoeelable days.
M;\ Martindale received the congratulations
of his fun and daughter with much feemingplea-
fure ; and apologized with rather a diiconcert-
&i air for the fecrecv he had obferved towards
A N O V E L. 4 -.-
r ^_>
them ; ^Hedging as bis reafon for . it, the ap-
prehciilions he had entertained for their difap-
proveing his marriage ; to which however he.
was very certain no reasonable objection couKl
be ftated, unlelsic was that of a difparity o
years ; Mrs. Manindale being extreamly
young, and extrearnly handfome. He was
corn million ed by her, he faid, to fay a thoufand
kind things tothenibodi ; and to alfure them
of her regret at finding herfelf engaged not
only for that day, but for the fucceeding one ;
but {he hoped they would not refufe her the
favour of their company to fupper that night
at twelve, after the opera, where ihe vvasgoing..
To this, they affented, more from curiofity
than inclination, and the old bridegroom took
his leave.
Mr. Martindale, In going down the flair-
cafe with his father, enquired the former name;
of his mother-in-law ; bat received a very
laconic anfwer, that it was Harvey ; of a fami
ly of the North of England, with which he
could not poffibly be acquainted.
He returned, and fat down in fullen filence ;
but Lady Jane laughed. She had no envy in
her competition, and was prepared to admire
the fuperior beauties of Mrs. Martindale, with
out a wifli to outvie them, or to find them
any way inferior to the old gentleman's dif-
cription.
At the appointed hour they went to De
Yonihire-Piace. Mrs. Mar.tiudale was but juft
44 THE CO N T R A S> T:
returned home, having lounged, ihe faid, long
er than fhe intended in the falcon of the opera-
houfe.
If her vifitors were ft ruck with the beauty
of her perfon (than which nothing could he
more captivating), they were not lefs fo with
the dazzling fplendour of her drefs, A rich
gold mullin, made into a Circailian robe, with
a turban of white crape, ornamented with a
profuiion of diamonds, gave her the appear
ance of an eailern princefs ; but there was an
air ot levity in her manner, that initantly caught
the attention of young Mr. Martindale ; who
had fcarcely beheld her, ere his heart formed a
wiih that no violent intimacy might in future
take place between her and his wife.
The more he faw of this yonthfnl bride
(whole appearance did not befpeak her age to
be more than feventeen), the lefs he liked her ;.
and while he drew her into a converfation, in
which he perceived that her ignorance and
felf-fufficiency were predominant, he pleafed.
himfelf on the comparifon he could not avoid
making between her, and the lefs beautiful,
but more lovely and unadorned Lady Jane ;
who having, fince the frnall portion of know
ledge ihe had obtained af lur hearc, loft a con-
iiderable mare of that pride \vhich had ever
been her greateft foible, was become infinitely
more intereiting to fociety . and more amiable
in the eyes of her hulband. In HER was blend
ed all that increaling fenfibility could bellow
en an intelligent mind. Polite without flatte-
A NOVEL. 45
ry, fae every day gained on the efteem of thofe
who knew her. Mrs. Mariihidale, by endea
vouring to appear the woman offalhion, for
which me was never intended, was at times e-
v r en vulgar ; and her obfcure origin was not
counterbalanced by the graces of her mind.
Nature had been, it is true, profufely laviih on
her perfon ; but her difpofition was avaricious
and mean. She difliked Lady Jane's fuperior
birth, but ihe had cunning to diiTemble ; and
endeavoured to flatter her into a belief, that
me had never feen any woman with whom me
ib much longed to cultivate a friendship,
as herfelf.
We will now take leave of this family party
for the night ; they parted, not without a vo
luntary offer from Mrs, Martindale to break
off all acquaintance with thofe of her fociety
whom Lady Jane might not approve. I will
next inform my readers who was Mrs. Martin*
dale; which, together with the little {ketch I
have drawn of her difpofition, will in fome
meafure enable them to account for the tenor of
her future conduct; at leaft, if they think as I
do, that a low mind never attains any degree
of excellence, however the perfon may be ex
alted. The heart . v. hen good is incorruptible,
however the mind may beoveruled by the force
of cuftom and of example : but when both thefe
are bad, the {tain is indelible, and can nevec
be expunged.
46 THE CONTRAST:,
CHAP. XII.
" R S. Martindale was one of the many
children of a refpe&able tradefman in
Newcattie, and on a viiit to her elder fitter,
married to a corn-factor in the city, when Mr r
Martindale firttfaw her. He ibon became en
amoured ; for his heart was not fufficiently fro*
zen by age, to be able to withttand the reno
vating influence of youth and beauty. The
idea, however, of marrying her, or any other
woman, did not once occur to him. Tne fitter,
who was artful and defigning, perceived his
inclinations, and determined to turn his wesk-
nefs to the advantage of her family. She invit
ed, or rather forcecl him into all their parties ;
and finding, after a few weeks, that he did
not make any overtures towards her fitter's etta-
blilhment, fhe told him with much apparent
concern, that me found her fitter's character
had fuffered materially from his conftant at ten*
dance on her ; that me had loft by it a very eli
gible marriage ; the gentleman (who was a
young officer) having withdrawn his addreffes
in coniequence of it., and that It was , become
nee-; 11 :ry for him to difclofe his intentions, of
whatever nature they might be.
This was a trial for which the old gentleman
A N Q V E L. 47
was not prepared. He helitated, as undeter
mined what to anfwer ; till on being told that
there was no alternative between his marrying
Mifs Harvey., or feeing her no more, he was
weak enough to wipe the tears from his eyes,
and in half-broken fentences, extorted by FEAR,
as well as LOVF, he promifed to offer her his
hand. In lefs than half an hour he had con-
fented to fall into the fnare that was laid fori;
him. The family defired the engagement
might be kept Cecret, in order to avoid, they
faid, the ill-aatured'farcafms and reflections the
world would caft upon his age : but the truth
was, they dreaded the advice of all his REAL
FRIENDS, and hurried him into a promife of
hafty marriage, without allowing him time to
coniider what he had to expect from its future
confequences.
Having been thus prevailed on without dif-
-ficulty, he thought of nothing but his intended
bride. He was profufe in his prefents to her ;
and on her mentioning thatihe thought the ci
ty air inimical to her health, he difpatched an
agent, of her lifter's recommending, in purfuit
of a houfe at the weft end of the town. This
trufty and well-chofen arnbaffador made choice
of the one in Devonfhire-Place ; and fo exactly
did he anfwer the confidence repofed in him,
that he actually made, in Mr. Martindale's
name, an agreement for the purchafe of it ; fo
,that no farther trouble was impofed on the old
gentleman, than to iign the bonds which were
two ,days afterwards put into his hands. It is
jxue that he ONCE accompanied the ladies to
48 THE CONTRAST:
look at it ; but was there a fault that he could
polFibly find with a houfe fit for the reception
of any nobleman's family ? Could any houfe
be too good for Mifs Harvey ? Could any ex
penditure that lay within the compal's of Mr.
Martindale's drafts, be extravagant ?
The furniture cf his houfe in the city was to
ite the next confederation. There was not e-
nough of it, neither was it fufficicntly modern
to be tranfplanted into Devonihire Place. The
moft fafhionable upholfterer in town was there
fore immediately applied to, and direfted to
change it as his fancy directed. He was to be
allowed one thoufand pounds, over and above
the value of what he took from the city ; and
of which he, as the moft falhionable, and con-
fequently the moft confcientious tradefman,
was to be fole appraifer. That furniture was
not, as I obferved, fuited to the prefent tafte,
but it was coftly in the extreme ; and was e-
qually good, though not equally ornamental,
.in the inferior as in the beft apartments. The
late Mrs. Martindale's clrclling-room was fitted
up m the moil expenlive manner; innumera
ble were the rich ornaments it contained ; the
beautiful inlaid and Indian cabinets, the tall
mandarians, and fine China jars, were not the
moft remarkable. The boxes belonging to her
toilette were, like thofe of the rich, but nar
row-minded Lady S , of filver inlaid
with rubies; the bird-cages were of filver wire,
and every article difplayed grandeur, if not
(according to modern ideas elegance. Some of
hefe Mifs Harvey wiihed to preferve ; till a
A N O V E L.
49
gentle hint from her fitter reminded her, that
as they had been the property of the late Mrs.
Martindale, who had cioubtlefs let a value on
them beyond their in trinfic worth, it was pro
bable that, if they were in her pofleiiion, her
fon might wiih to obtain them for Lady Jane
to keep in remembrance of her. Nothing
therefore was to be given into his hands, but a
large portrait of his mother, with which he
was to be favoured on his return to town ; Mils
Harvey MODESTLY obferving, that, confciov.s
of her own unworthinefs, ihe mould fear a ri
val in that pichire whenever Mr. Martindale
looked at it, as he would naturally draw a com-
parifon between his two wives, which could not
fail to be an unfortunate one to herfelf.
The houfe was foon ready ; the jewels, wed-
ding clothes, and equipages, foon bought ; and
nothing remained but to fix the happy day,
which foon arrived. But the one previous to
It was marked by a little event , which it may
not be unneceflary to mention in the next chap*
ter.
5p THE C O N T R A S Tt
CHAP XIII.
ON the morning preceding the clay thai:
was to make Mr. Martindale the happi-
cit or moft miferable of men, he perceived
that an unuiual gloom overfpread the fine coun
tenance of his defined bride. He preffed her
hand tu his lips, and entreated to be informed
of the caufe. She burft into tears, and fud-
denly withdrew, leaving him and her lifter
together.
From HER, he anxioufiy prayed to know
the meaning f fo fudden, fo alarming a chan
ge ; tenderly enquiring if he had left any
thing undone by which it was poffible for him
to prove ftill farther the extent of his affecYion.
The emotion too vinble on every feature of
lus face, and the eagernefs with which he
conjured her to explain in what he had offend
ed, forced at length, from this TENDER rela
tion, the avowal of a converfation her lifter
had held with her ; which amounted to no
thing nore than a childim idea that had en
tered her head ; a kind of fear, thac if me was
wretched enough to furviye Mr. Martindale^
iiis fon, unmindful .of his father's tendernefs
might diveft her of all his goodnefs had lavifh-
ed on her. He might poffibly in the end turn
her out of her houfe^ and take pofleilion of it^
A NOVEL. 51
as his heir. It was not ( fhe' was very fure )
from any mercenary motive that her inter had
encouraged this thought; it was that of a young
girl fund of magnificence as a child of a new toy ^
and like that, fearful of loofmg it.- This was
a fufficient hint for the too generous and too
credulous Mr. Martindale ; he lent immedi
ately for his attorney ; and gave him inttructi-
6ns to draw up a marriage fettle-men t, hy wh'ch
he gnve her the houfe in Devonlhire Place,
with all its appendages; together with all the
ready money he mould die poffeiTed of, flocks,
dividends, &c. &c. &c. allotting only one
thoufand pounds of it as a legacy eo Mr. Mar
tindale, or Lady Jane if (he furviyed him;
his landed property having been, as I before
/aid, already fettlecUaa his fon.
-*i : . *^v*
*
, In a few hours all was finned, fealed, and
delivered; and he exprelTed his gratitude at be
ing told how to remove the imaginary grief
that had for a moment been fuffered to prey on
HER, to vvhofe happinefs he was determined to
devote the remainder of his exigence.
The next morning the fun fuone refplende nt
on the nuptials of Mr. Martindale. They werefo-
lemnized as agreed on in a private manner ;
and in the evening he conducted his bride to
OWN houfe in Devonlhire Place.
They had been there about a month, when
Lady jane and Mr. Martindale arrived in town.
Mrs. Martindale had already formed the ac-
qoaintaiice of almofi: every falhion able family
E 2
52 Tiir C O N T E. AST:
there. For, as I have read in fcripture,
V/het -ever the honey is, there will the flies be
al/o, fo is an open houfe, a fumptuous equi
page, and all the other appendages of wealth,
the lure paflport to an intimacy with the
whole world. Innate virtue is no recommen
dation ; nor is any other requiiite neceffary to
f'jppori: the appearance of it, than the acquiefc-
ence of a hmband to the conducl: of his wife.
However his delicacy may be wounded how
ever his feelings may be hurt by her failings
kt him out continue to live with her in a rou
tine of extravagant difiipation, and the feeble
voice of ilander will be drowned in the loiul
. s ,icsiN : uie world. But, if HE forfakes her,
ciougii iiie be " as chafte as ice, as pure as
f/;G>v ," ihe Jhall not efcape the torrent of cal
umny, which v. ill inevitably overwhelm her
reputation. A woman's fame depends lefs on
her own character, than i: does on that of her
hufband. If he cliicards her, the world will
alib, wichont enquiring why he has done fo.
She will look for friends, but ihe will never find
them. The gay companions of youthful plea^
ill res will mrink from diiireis, as from a peftU
lence ; and ihe will woefully experience, that
the fine day, Flattery, will not itay to aiiiit the
weary in a' cloudy night. Alas ! HER day vrill
foo.ii let in darkneib her breaking heart \vill
be overwhelmed by the ilorms of adverlity >
until in fome obfcure corner of the earth Ihe
dies unknown un pitied and imiatnented \
A NOVEL. 53
CHAP. XIV
MR S. Martindale foon gained acomplete
afcendancy over her doting hufband,
which was llrengthenedby her apparent attach
ment to Lady Jane, who continued to be fo
great a favourite with him, that her fanction
feemed neceffary to every thing ihe undertook,
She had art enough to twift herfelf round
the heart of that lady, who repofed in her an
unlimited confidence, and they became infe-
parable. They met with univerfal admiratioil;
but their manners were fo different, that the
admirer of the one was feldom that of the o-
thcr. Mrs. Martindalc's beauty and levity
attracted the notice of all the gay men, while
Lady jane's increaiing fenfibility gave her an
air of frvidcur, that forbade them, every hope-
of encouragement.
Mr; Martindale, fenior, though extrava
gant in the gratification of his wife's plca-
fures, was not wholly unmindful of his ion's
intereils. He purchafed a fmall houfe for him
in Argyle Street, to which he was prompted
by his wife
Lady Jane believed her to be only the art-
lefs, giddy girl ihe appeared. Little did {he-
54 THE CONTRAST:
fuipecT: the fnuke ihe wasfoitering in her bo-
fom, which waited only with envenomed ran
cour to {ting her beyond the reach of human
remedies.
Among the crov/ci of flu&uating admirers
that paid their devotions at the ihrine of beauty,
JLord Darnley was the moil confpicuous for hib
attentions to Mrs, Martindale. He was lately
married to a very young lady, whole large
iortune had been in part appropriated to the
payment of his iordihip's early debts, lie was
fond of his v, lie, yet not fufficiently lb to lay
any embargo on his inclinations whenever they
led him to indulge a momentary cuprite.
He confidered Mrs. Martindale an eafy con-
queit, which, when once obtained, would be
i'.'on forgotten. Wilh this view he laid clofe
ii^ge to her at every public place ihe frequent
ed.; nor did ihe give his lordiliip any reafon to
tioiibi: the f'.icccis of his enterprile. Vanity
\vn; her ruling palit^n, and to that ihe was e-
ver ready to lacrilire every moral coniulerati-
en. l.ady lane either did not, or would not.
perceive this growing intimacy ; ihe conceived
A\; dales levii:y 10 be her belt fecurity
aga j.ttacliincnt of the heart ^ and .(lie
felt no alarms on heraccounu
Lord Darnley \vas rather an elegant than a
himdibine man. Perfectly verfecl in every lef-
ion of LOVS, he had feidom met with a denial
where he had once taken the pains % to ingra
tiate hnufeli. He was at this tlaie buiily cm-
A NOVEL. 55
ployed in railing a regiment of light dragoons*
for the fervice of his country ; and adefire of
rendering himfelf coiifpicoons according with
his notions of patnocifm, he ipareduo expence.
to complete it. Seldom a day palled in which:
his emiilsnes did not inveigle new victims to
fatiate the rapacious thirl! of ruthlefs war ! His
lord/hip, equally a candidate for the fields of
Mars a -id of Venus, divided his time between
b. His morning hours were devoted to the
rKiery and ruin of many poor and worthy fa-
mi lies ; his evening ovvss to the more pleating
anir-ie-nent of endeavouring to feduce the af-
ftc' lions of any woman, to whom he might wiih
tor the moment to render himfelf agreeable,,
Not that I mean to infer, that Lord Darnley
was a bad man, lie was only a faihionable one..
Nurfed iu the lap ct luxury by a mod indulgent
mother, iiisearheit wifheshad not been left un-
gra"<iic.i. -He iiad i)ecii returned from the
toutinent about two years, where his extrava-
tce was ib unboundtd, that it became neceiT-
arv to recall him ; and he had been married,
oue year, to the amiable lady before mention
ed.
Mrs. iviarclndale was elated by Lord Darn-
ley's attention to her. Her eyes fought him
every where, and he perceived it ; nor was it
long before an opportunity offered, that, in
making him matter of her perfon, baniihed the
ilender impreilion ihe had made on his mind,
lie met with little or no refinance when he
hinted at a private alFignation ; which being
iixedj and effected at the houfe of her couve-
5$ THE C O N T K A S T;
a lent, milliner, paffed without fufpicron a-
jnong her attendants.
Lord Darnley was no fooner a happy lover,
tlian he was a fatiated o.ie. He had never
feen any woman but Lady Darnley for whom
he had conceived a fentiment beyond that of
momentary pailion ; and had ihe not been his
wife, it is moft probable that in her alone, all
his inclinations would have centered ; but
how ftrange is, it that every thing loles a por
tion of its value from the moment we have an
indifputeable claim on it ! The virtuous Lady
Darnley, who had not a particle of coquetry
in her difpofition, had married the man of her
choice, nor had ihe a wifli equal to that or
pleafing him. We might be led to fuppofe
from the remark 1 have juft made (and from
that only), that had he been more fteady in
his conduct towards her, ihe might have been
more indifferent. She knew that he had er
rors, but Ihe did not know the extent of them ;
and flie fondly hoped, that her unremiting at
tention to his happinefs, and conftant properi*
ty of con duel;, would at lengthovercorne them;
She knew Lady Jane, and Mrs. Martindale,
by report only ; her approaching confinement,
which Ihe expefted every hour, keeping her
conftantly at home, without other ibciety
than her mother, who was come for the firil
lime in her life to London, for. the purpofe of
attending her- at that trying moment.
When the newfpapers announced Lady
Darnley 's- delivery,, Mrs. Martindale pleafed
A N O V E L 57
herielf with the idea of monopolizing his lord-
ihip's conitant attendance ; and having menti-.
oned to her huiband the polite attentions tliat
Lady Jane 'and herfeif had received from him,
fignified her intention offending him a card fer
tile next evening ihe ftiould receive company,
and of introducing his lordihip to his acquain
tance. To this no objection could be made, and
Mrs. Martindale took an early opportunity of
difpatching invitations to feveral of her ac
quaintance, among whom Lord Darnley was
not forgotten.
Lady Jane, who had no fufpicion of what
had paffed, and who really liked Lord Darn-
ley, though (he had not particularly appeared
to do fo, was glad of this opportunity of bring
ing Mr. James Martindale acquainted with him
alio ; and of becoming by theie means known
to Lady Darnley, when her confinement ihouid
be over.
Mrs Mar tin dale's affembly was brilliant in
the extreme ; for (he had been very particular
on that occaiion, and had herfeif leledted from
her viiiting-book, fuch names as flood foremoit
in the gaudy catalogue of rank.
At the appointed hour, (lie faw her > rooms
fill to her heart's fatisfattion, but in vain fhe
looked for Lord Darniey ! She grew inat
tentive to her viiitors, walked iiicceilively
thro ? the rooms, and looked continually at her
watch, which fhe fancied loft time, me could
ot account fur his abfeace. It was on HIS ac-
58 THE CONTRAST:
count flie had that evening alfembled all thai
was mod falhionable in town, and had ftudied
to raiie her confeqr.enceby the {election of her
company ; yet he was the only pcrfon whodid
not appear. At rievem, the party began to
difperie.; the duchefs of G and her love
ly daughters were juft taking their leave, when-
Lord Darnley was announced.
The fudden appearance of the fun breaking
through the thick clouds of a mifty morning,
could not convey a more genial warmth- to the"
dew-damp traveller, than did the fight of Lord
Darnley to Mrs. Martindale ; her eyes bright
ened as flie led him towards Mr. Martmdale,
v/ho received him with the fctmoft politenefs.
But the electrical fhock of aiortitication inftant-
ly fucceeded, \Vtfen, in a voice fcarcely arti
culate, ha enquired for Lady Jane. There
was an air of for row and conlV.fion in his coun
tenance, that it was not poiliblefor her to mif-
eonftrue. Mrs. Martindale had more pride
than love ; and with a haughty fneer turning
nattily from him, flie informed his lordlhip, that
Hie had lait feen Lady Jane at cards in the ad
joining room. He immediately went there.
The party had juft brokeup, and me was (land
ing near the door (waiting for Mr.Martindale v
who was gone to enquire for the carriage),
when Lord Darnley approached her. He took
her hand, with a freedom ihe had never ob~
ferved in him, and in a faltering voice whifper-
ed OH LADY JANE, IN YOU I HOPE TO
FIND A FRIEND ! Struck at his appearance,
which indicated a fenfibiiity of which fhe had
A N O V E L, ^
iiQt hitherto fuppofed him capable, fhe eagerly
aiked, what could have thus affected him ?
The tears rufhed into his eyes, and he could
only fay u Lady Darnley" r-asMr. Martindale
informed her their carriage was up. She return
ed haftily to wifh.Mrs. MartindaJe good-night;
introduced Mr. James Ma^tindale to Lord
Darnley, who handed her into it, and they
parted for the night.
H A P. Xy.
LORD Darnley did not return up flairs^
but defiring that his feryants might be
called, threw himfelf into the carriage, and or-
,dered it home. His heart was affe&ed, and for
once he facrificed the rules of politenefs to its
feelings. When he arrived there, he flew to
Lady Darnley's apartment, without having
fpoken to any one ; but alas ! little did he ex
pect the fcene that awaited h,im ; He knocked
gently at the door, fearful of difturbingher re-
pofe : but receiving no anlwer, he opened it.
The curtains were all undrawn. On one
fide of the bed, he faw her mother grafping
her hands ; on the other, the nurfe was chafing
her temple with hartfhorn ; but me, alas, was
gone for ever ! A moment convinced him of
the fatal truth ; the next that fucceeded it^ de?
priyed him of his lenfes.
60 xfl CONLRAST:
It was on the ninth-day after Lady Darn-
ley's delivery of her fid! child. Some unfa
vourable fymptoms had appeared in the morn
ing, but they were not futficiently fo to alarm
the phyficians, or nurfe, of any immediate dan
ger. Yet a fatal prefentiment^had taken pof-
feflion of Lord Darnley from the firft hour fince
her lying-in ; and this was ilrengthened by
fome oblique, yet gentle hints that had been
given him by the angle of purity herfelf; who
had unfortunately (topped her cariage one
morning by accident at the door of Mrs. Mar-
tindale's milliner., where fhe bought fome
things, and gave a card, with orders that o-
thers mould be fent to her. The officious
Frenchwoman told her, that fhe was fure ihe
mud be beholden to Lord Darnly, or Mrs.
Martindale, for the honour of her lady mips
cuftorn, as fhe was that lady's milliner, and had
frequently feen his lordlhip at her houfe.
I do not believe that this French milliner (or
indeed any other milliner) could plead igno
rance in fuch a fitnation. She could not fup-
pofe that Lord Darnley (whofe name had been,
mentioned to her by Mrs. Martindale) had
met that lady there fecretly, and in a private
room, for any good purpofe. No. But the
difcovery of the intrigue to Lady Darnley
might prove in the end beneficial to her, and
ihe was not of a nature to reflect on the delicate
feelings of a 'woman of honour. Thefe, were
therefore to be facrificed to her own mercenary
and barbarous difpoiition ; and fhe planted a
thorn in the bread of that fpotlefs lady ; it
A N O V E L. 6r
tercel there, and was her companion to the
grave.
Lady Darnley had a few days after the birth
of her child, which was a daughter, molt earn
ed! y implored her lord to promiie her that he
would never neglect this only pledge of .their
love. She conjured him to cheriih her for her
mother's lake ; as fhe had imbibed, ihe laid a
ftrange idea, that her FIRST child would be ai-
fo her LAST. She gently added (fqueezing his
hand, and convulied almoll with agony as ihe
fpoke), that fhe hoped he would in future point
out to her a better example than the Mrs.
Martindale whom Ihe had never feen, but of
whom ihe had heard MORE than Ihe thought
proper to reveal to him, till after her recovery.
Lord Darnley vrith truth declared, that he had
never been in Mrs. Martindale's houfe ; that
he had only formed a flight acquaintance with
her at different public places ; but he did not
mention the French milliner, nor any other
circumftance that could tend to corroborate'
their intimacy.
On the day that he received Mrs. Martin-
dale's card, he was half inclined to fhew it La
dy Darnley ; but her weak health and ipirits
prevented him. Yet he had no juft ground to
fbfpeft her approaching tUflblution. Her phy-
ficians had not, as I faid, even hinted at danger
and if his mind was painfully awake to the ap-
prehenfion of it, he could impute, it only to
tho'fe fears which a timid fuperitition, and not
reality ? had induced him to give way to. i^
F
6a THI: O N T R A S T-
told her that he was engaged to an afiembly that
evening, but he did not fay where ; and his ac
quaintance was fo numerous, that without the
help of the milliner, or Ibme of her confede*-
rates, Lady Darnley could not have fufpecled
ic to be at Mrs. Martindale's ihe however DID
fufpecl it, and received private intelligence of
that lady's houfe being open the fame evening,
and that Lord Darnley 's carriage made one of
the number at her door.
When the .meffenger who was fent to en-
.quire into the truth of this unwelcome news
returned from executing his commiilion, Lady
Darnley iniifted on feeing him ; nor could the
tender entreaties of her mother prevent her
from diving into the truth. Her diforder (in-
feparable from her Gtuation) had that day taken
a turn, and marked her death as certain ; me
received the information of it with all the for
titude that a mind already wafted to heaven
could experience. She deiired that Lord Darn-
ley might be immediately fent for ; and her
footman, eager to obey the orders of his much-
loved lady, haftened on the wings of anxiety
to meet his lord. But when he reached De-
vonfhire Place, he heard only that he had been
there for a very fhort time, and was returned.
Lord Darnley was at home a few minutes be
fore his fervant ; but it was already too late for
him to catch the expiring breath of his lovely,
his virtuous, his already fainted wife !
His grief became unbounded ; he kiffed her
pale lips ; and invoked tbe God of Heaven to
A K O V E L. 63
wit'hefs the integrity of his heart ! He had
been guilty of errors, he felt he had, of fatal
ones ; but little did he imagine what would be
their dreadful confequences ; for, in the firft
paroxfyms of phrenfy, he condemned himfelf
as being the foie audio** of her death. He or
dered his little girl to be brought into the room,
and kLTed her with an enthuiiaftic and fervent
affection. He joined her little face to that of
her fenfelefs mother ; and pointed out each
refernbling feature. It was a foleain, an aw
ful fcene ; and he was at length forced cut of
the room; his expreflions of grief becoming fo
violent, as to threaten with injury his o\vn
h eafthv
Lord Darnley would not be told, nor fuller
himfelf to reflect, that an over delicate contTi-
tutlon had foon fin-rendered itfelf to a malady,
which was fo powerful as to banle every effort
of art. To this was to be imputed Lady Darn-
ley's early death. His feeling heart taught
him firil to confider his own mifconducl: ; and
he alternately upbraided his child, and himfelf,
as the authors of their irreparable lofs*
64 TH* CONTRAST:
CHAP. XVI.
^ ,g R S. Martindale feklorn or ever took
VJL U P a new/paper ; and a cold (of which
i'Lc made the moil) had confined her for fome
<kys at home ; during which fhe did not fee
Jane, who was gone to pats a week at
. on a viiit to one of Mr. Martindale'*'
brorj er collegians.
On the evening of their return, they went
to Devonihire Place, and ftatd fupper. Mrs.
Martindale appointed two o'clock the next day
to call on Lady Jane, as they were to go to
gether to befpeak drciles for the eniuing .mai-
When Mrs. Ivlardndale arrived in Argyle
Street, fhe fovnid Lady Jane in tears ; who
told her that Ivlr. Martindale was juitgone
out to enquire into the truth of a para
graph they had obiervcd in Ths J't f orld, which
pjentioned Lady Dar nicy's death. They did
not however wait his return, but ftepped into
the carriage as foon as it arrived, ordering the
coachman to drive (lowly towards Cavendilh
Square ; and to ftop, if he fa sv hi s mailer. At
the entrance of it, they were met by a bearfe,
adorned \vith white plumes and eicutcheons.
A NOVEL 65
and followed by many coaches and weeping at
tendants. The footman's enquiries were an-
iwered by the name of Lady Darnley.
Lady jane let down the fore-glafs, and or
dered the coachman to return ; but Mrs. Mar-
tindale defired that he might firft proceed to
Donnelly's in Taviftock Street ; having no
idea, die faid, of being difappointed of her maf-
qnerade drefs, becaufe Lady Darnley (a wo
man whom me had never feen) was dead.
Lady Jane endeavoured as much as poihble to
conceal her grief; fearing to expreis even a
fentiment of pity-? lei\ it mould be conftrued in
to one of love, for a man for whom me had
hitherto felt nothing more than a iifteriy affect -
ion : but whofe preient misfortune was in it-
felf fufficient to intereft a heart poffeffed of leis
exquifite feelings than her own.
Mrs. Martindale ordered a Turkiih habit.
Lady Jane did not order any thing. She (hould
be contented, Ihe faid, to appear as an humble
attendant on the /air Grecian, not having at
that time fpirits to encounter the wit of the
different characters Ihe mould* meet with
there,.
They returned to Argyle Street, and parted
at the door. Mr. Martindale was at ho
expecting Lady Jane. He perceived her me
lancholy, and enquired its caufe. She can
didly told him, that Lady Darnley's Hidden
death, and the funeral which (lie had met, had
uncommonly affected her. She was engaged, 1
fhe faidj to a party going that evening to 'the
T R A S T :
Dnchefsof G- ? s, but iLe found herfelf
ij i -equal to it; and was going to fend a card of
apcldgy. This ilie ciid, and they paffed the
lem-'ii u!er of the dav in a donieihc, buc not a
very cheerful tete-ateie.
The next merging, while Mr. Martindale
V.TVS out, a icrvant of Lord Darnley brought a
ncte from him to Lady Jane, fec^uefting that
he nii^h: be pc-r.jiiticd to wait on her for a few
itmnuies, if ihe was alone and dtfengaged. His
iitiiatioii precluded die poffiHlity of a denial,
hadihe not even wiihed to fee him.. There is
an uridejfcribable pleafure attendant only on
minds ii.'fceptible of ilne feelings, in liftening
to a tale of woe, and fympathizing with the
pathetic narrator. Lord Darnley, the happy
and the acknowledged admirer of Mrs. Mai:-
tindale, had not excited in Lady Jane any
fenfatiou ; but Lord Darnley mifera-
i feledhng HER as a friend in his mis-
-o: tunes, nii^ht become a dangerous compani
on.
In lefs than half an hour, Lord Darnley was
in Arojyie Street. Lady Jane gave orders that
no perlbn ihoi-ld be admitted, and was almoft
eqvally affected with himfelf. He took this.
; uinkv :'j unboibm himfelf to her. He
1, that whatever might be the fentiments of
his heart towards her, he coniidered that in
; refent iituarion, and her own, an avowal
of them would be a violation of decency both
to themfeives and to the memory of the dear
departed, who was then only on the road so
A N O V E L.. 6r
her quiet lioine ! Buttheintercourfe of friend-
fhip was not to be prohibited, and he felt THAT
of Lady Jane was neceiTary for the prefervati-
on or his exiibnce ; which he valued only for
the kike of the hapleiV infant that had furvived
its mother. He then lamented in the molt af
fecting manner the fatal error of a moment r
that had tempted him to bellow a thought oil
the D! ssi FATED, the UNPRINCIPLED Ivlrs.
Martindah I (Here Lady Jane gazed on him
with ai'lonifnment.) He hoped, he faid, that
her generous heart would inilruclher to pardon
a connection 111:0 \viiich he had been inadver
tently drawn,, at the fame time that (he could
not help owning it) fae alone \vas the object of
his refpedt and admiration ; and that it would
teach her to feel for a man who had NOW a
claim on her pity, but who had hitherto defer-
ved her utrnon con temp c. He then told her
"of the coh.yeffa.tipn he had held with Lady
Darniey, foon after her lying-in, and among
the number of his confeSons, the French mil-
liiiei* was not forgotten.
Lady Jane was too much c'onfufed by what
(he bad heard, to know in what manner to re
ply to him. She had too high an opinion of
his honour to doubt his word ; yet ihe could not
have fuppoied that Mrs. Mardadale would have
carried her imprudence beyond what ihe had
conceived to be an unmeaning levity. Yet
how neceiTary did it appear to her at this mo
ment for an entire explanation to take place,
v, hen Lord Darniey implored her pardon for
$8; THE CONTRAST:
confidante of that vile woman ; who had not
fcrupled to declare to him, that Lady Jane had
admited more than one favoured lover ; but
that her regard and pity for both Mr. Martin-
dales had prevented her hitherto divulging
-what in the courfe of time could not fail to be
publicly known.
Lady Jane could not without the moft poig
nant emotion here that her fair fame had been
traduced ; and by the woman too who ihould
have been the firit to defend it. How cruel,
how defperate was her condition ! for, while
Lord Darnley wa$ fpeaking, me recollected
having obferved that feveral of her female ac
quaintance had latterly behaved towards her
with uncommon referve. although no one had
been friendly enough to intimate in what me
had offended. But me had not fuffered it at
the time to make any great impreiTion on her ;
as flie was perfectly confcious of her innocence,
and attributed it only to fome trivial caufe,
with which fhe might pofiibiy hereafter be
come acquainted.
But now me felt mortified indeed ! She
found that Lord Darnley had been the FI RST-
perfon prejudiced againft her, and ihe could
have wiihed it to be the reverfe. In HIS eyes,
ihe wanted to appear perfect. She knew not
how to exculpate herfelf from calumnies fo at
rocious, nor how to convince Lord Darnley of
the falfehood of her accuier. She entreated
his Icrdihip to make allowances for the agitati
on into which his difcourfe had thrown her, as
A N O Y EL, 69
dffc apology for the little ihe could at that mo
ment urge inher j unification; flie requeued his
advice how to ad:, and. inwardly reiblved, let
what would be the confequence, to abide by
it. She begged he would direct her how to
proceed in a matter of fuch importance to the
peace of the whole family ; obferving that ihe
was too inexperienced to judge for herfelf ; and
that in confequence of the avowal he had made,
ihe conceived him to be the only perfon who
was able (or who indeed might be willing) u>:
advife her.
He told her, that he fa\v no alternative be
tween a feparation taking place among them all,
or her eternal filence on the fubject. He beg
ged for God's fake that ihe would not expofe
herfelfto farther infults and mortifications;
bat that flie would fuffer herfelf to be wholly
ad vi fed' by him, and continue to live as before:
at the fame ti^ie he exacted a promiie from her,
that ihe would immediately acquaint him by
letter y ihould any new manoeuvres of Mrs.
Ivl a fluid ale's intervene, to render the difcove-
ry other treachery unavoidable.
Lady Jane promifed faithfully to adhere to<
all he laid, he then entreated her to honour his
little girl fometimes with her attention. He
was going he faid to let his houfe in Cavendifh
Square, and to fend her with her nurib to that
of a gardener at LilTon-Green, near Paddington,
in whofe wife he could confide. She was to
remain there forne time, as he was going out.
of town tie next day, to pafs a few months at.
70 THE C O N T R A S T:
the headquarters of his regiment. He then a-
role to take his leave of Lady Jane ; gave her
the child's dire&ion ; and refpe&fully, but pre
cipitately withdrew.
Lady Jane was no fooner alone, than fhe
gave vent to her oppreffed heart. But Lord
Darnley had enjoined on her the hard eft talk
poiiible to a generous mind, that of diflimulati-
on, and ilie faw herfelf for the firfttime obliged
to pradtife it. She was compelled therefore to
command her feeling?, and to endeavour tcv
compofe her appearance. Her heart was to-
become the folerepoiitory of thofe cares, which,-
alas ! ihe had nor a friend to divide*
When Mr. Martindale returned home, he
ironically allied Lady Jane, whom me had
feen ? She mentioned Lord Darnley's vifit,
but in herconfufion omitted telling him of his
reqti eft that (he ihoulcl fometimes ir;e his child.
He obferved that her eyes were red with weep
ing ; but how, he faid, r could it be other wile,
while Hie made Lord Darnley's griefs her own ?
She began to excufe herfelf ; he fcarcely
deigned to anfwer her, and withdrew to his
apartment.
Several weeks paffed without any change
taking place. Lady Jane often pondered oil
the extraordinary confeflion that had b^en
made her ; but Ihe ftriclly fulfilled her promife,
and buried her fecret within her aching breaft.
She even endeavoured as far as it was poffible
so bauiih the remembrance of it. S^e neyev
A N O V E L. T *
,even hinted to Mrs. Martindale, that flie fuf-
pe&ed her miiconduct ; and judging from the
purity of her own heart, ihe wiihed, rather
than me hoped, that it might ft-2 the laft failing
of which fhe Ihould be ever able to accufe her.
She was even fo generous in her fentiments as
in THAT ERROR of Mrs. Mar tin dale's to find
an excufe for her cruelty towards herfelf. She
knew that it was impoffible for fo young and fo
beautiful a woman to be fond. of a hulband who
was old enough to be her grandfather; and
fhe was convinced that it proceeded folely from
a jealoufy that had arifen in confequence of the
love Ihe bore Lord Darnley. The more ihe
reflected on HIS advanatges, the lefs ihe won-
.dered at the choice Mrs. Martindale
7 2 THE CONTRAST;
CHAP. XVIL
MR. Martindale became overbearing, and
was at times even infolent to Lady Jane.
She was no longer in HIS opinion the amiable
Cant raft to Mrs. Martinda^ ; he conceived her
virtues to diminim, and her beauties to decay.
Yet he was the only one who fufpe&ed either,
or who had at leaft [dared to fay fo. I iliould
indeed except Mrs. Martindale ; who not only
viewed her with the eye of hatred, but who
alfo became indefatigable in her endeavours to
poifon the mind both of the old gentleman and
his fon againfther. Yet me took her meafures
fo artfully, that Lady Jane had no reafon to
fuppofe fire ever held any private converfatioa
with them about her.
They were one evening at the Duchefs of
X} 's, and Lady Jane was particularly
jftruck with the appearance of a young lady,
who never ceafed to look at her. She enquir- '
edher name, and found that it was Mifs Stuart.
She requefted another lady to introduce them
to each other, and particularly afked after the
Colonel. She would have added another name
to his, but her refolution forfook her. A far
ther acquaintance was mutually propofed, and
Accepted ] and Mr. Martindale waited on Cole-
A N O V E L. 73
nel Stuart, at his lodgings in Cumberland -ftreet,
the next clay. But he did not condefcended
to inform Lady Jane at his return of what had
pafled there, neither did he onqs mention the
name jof Glencairn.
In a few days Lady Jane paid a morning
viiit to Mifs Stuart, having left a card there the
preceding evening. She was admitted, and
-found that lovely girl fitting at a frame for em
broidery. Glencairn AVP.S reading to her, and
the Colonel was examining different charts'
which lay on the table. Lady Jane coloured.
Glencairn was viiibly agitated, and inftantly
turning to the Colonel, folicited him to walk
out ; to which the other affenting, they iooii
difappeared.
Mifs Stuart, with the freedom of youth and
innocence, gave Lady Jane a long account of
her travels, which were, Ihe faid, pathetically
-ended by her witneffing the folernn fcene of her
friend Mifs Beaumont's renunciation of this-
life, to purfue, according to her own ideas, the
fureft road to happinefs in the next.
They were talking over this, and other
matters, when the poftman's knock announced
letters; and a fervant delivered one to Mils
Stuart, which Lady Jane entreated her to
read without ceremony. She faid it was from
Mifs Beaumont (whofe name was changed to
.mother Saint Etienne), congratulating herfelf
and family on their fafe return to England,
and lamenting the probability that exifted of*
G
74 THE CONTRAST:
her feeing them no more. She read it through
out ; and then gave it to Lady Jane, requeft-
ing her to perufe that charming fpecimen of fe
male friendihip and letter-writing. In it, the
following paffage fixed all her attention :
44 The only point, my dear Mifs Stuart,
44 on which we could ever difagree during our
" long refulence together in this peaceful con-
a vent, was that of my feclufion from the
44 world. When I declared to you that my
41 reiblution was fixed on taking the veil, how
u many dangerous objections did you not hold
a out to me, in hopes to alter the fettled pur-
44 pofe of my heart ! You invited me to live
44 with you, and moft tenderly allured me,
4; that np future change in your lituatioii
44 mould be able to effect one in your fentiments
4C towards me. Nor was tl^s the only allure-
44 ment you placed before me. Alas ! you em-
44 ployed a more dangerous one itill, by en-
44 deavouring to unite the duties of religion
44 and worldly affection. You went fo far as
44 to affure me, that my facrifice would be ac-
44 ceptable to God himfelf ; who, you fay,
44 fent us into this world for the benefit of fo-
4i ciety ; fo that we have no more right to ab-
4t ilracl ourfelves from it, than we have to lay
41 v down our life when we are weary of it.
< 44 The world, you told me, abounds with
44 pure and focial delights; but they can be on-
, 4t ly enjoyed by thofe who hold an intercourfe
-> 4 with it. Yet have you not fometimes, my
; 44 dear friend, inadvertently owned to me that
^ you are not happy ? And if YOU, formecl
A N O V E L, 75
*' by nature for all its bleilTngs, are not fo,
6t .haw can you imagine that I, a itranger even
4t in idea, ihould be willing to renounce for it
frfc a way of life that I have been taught to be-
u Jic'/e is preferable to- every other? You
** went fo far as to affure me, that your heart
44 has m-ade its choice, and unfortunately fixed
" itfelf where it has no hope of return. That
<c the only man to whom you could wiih to
u unite yourfelf is, as you have every reafon
6t to believe, attached eifewhere ; and that
u you fafpecl, from the hints he has given,
44 that the object of his love is married I
44 Would not this idea, my clearMifs Stuart,
u rather frighten a young novice from the
* 4 world, than encourage her to enter, it ? I
44 have read of love, though I never felt its in*
44 fluence ; and I am thankful that I have nei-
Ai ther the inclination ncr the power to add,
44 one to its nmnberlefs victims."
Lady Jane perufed this part of the letter
with particular emotion ; ihe too furely guefibd
that it alluded to G.lencairn and herfelf, of
which ihe was fully convinced when Mifs Stu
art aiked her What Jhe thought of . Gltncalrn ?
This queftion, which might not have paffed for
fingular, had it not been accompanied with an
uneafy air of conftraint that denoted an over
anxious curioilcy, fuftufcd Lady Jane's coun
tenance with confcious bluihes, that did not
fcape the penetrating eyes of Mifs Stuan.
Each had fpoken fuiHciently plain to be under
stood by the other, r hat neither was fatisfi.ed*
G 2
76 THE -CONTRAST:
Lady Jane's filence. and vifible embarrafFment
were as expreiiive as could be the mod eloquent
language. The letter had thrown them into a
ftute of uneafy perplexity ; it had dlilurbed
their peace, and was from that moment the
lubject to both of many paint ul reflexions.
Lady Jane frequently met Glencairn ; and
ir.e could not perceive without emotion, and
Ibrrow, the tender langour that clouded his fine
countenance; coniidering as Hie did, that his
attachment to her was the fole caufe of it. Her
heart feenied divided between him and Lord
Darnley. She was unconfcious of giving the
preference to either, and fhe indulged the pure
fentiments of innocent afteclion for both. Mrs.
Martindale was continually fabricating tales to
her difad vantage ; me reprefented Lord Darn-
ley to her acquaintance as an unprincipled li
bertine, who had taken an advantage of the in
troduction fhe bad-given him in her houfe, and
had endeavoured by hints too plain to be mif-
coriftrued, to i 'educe her affections from it. She
iinccrely wiihed, ihe faid, that Lady Jane
might not be deceived in the more favourable
opinion ihe had formed of him ; for fhe intimat
ed that her lady fhip entertained a very high one.
Mrs. Martindale did not openly inveigh a gain ft
her, for that might have led to a conviction
of the truth; but fhe wounded her under the
niafk of apparent regard ; and while fhe flatter
ed and careiled her, fhe murdered her repofe^
ar*d meditated her final ddhr.dio.iv
A. NOVEL.
CHAP. XVIII.
THESE ladies continued to be as much
together as formerly, and time appeared
to have aimoft obliterated the remembrance^ of
Lord Darnley , when a circumftance interfered-
that was laudable in its caufe, but mod pernici
ous in its effect. Lady Jane had as I before obd
ferved) negleded mentioning to her huibaad
the promife fhe had made him, of fometimes
vifiting his daughter. Her time had indeed
been fo much taken up with other engagements,
that fhe had not yet found a leifure hour to at
tend to it. She however one morning felt a
firong. inclination to fee the child ; ordered the
carriage, and went to Padciington. She found
the little cherab looking perfectly well, and
ftaid with it above an hour. She then defired
the nurfe would make Mifs Darnley, and her-
i-elf, ready to accompany her ; that ihe would
take them for an airing a little farther on the
road, and fet them down on her return.
They had not proceeded half a mile, before
they v, c/s met by IV^rs. Martindale's carriage,
who was in it, with her old man. They both
flopped ; and Mrs. Martindale, giving a iig-
nificant look at her hufbancl, obferved, How.
extreamly odd it was, that they /bould meet by
accident on th? fame road. Her eyes were in-
G 3
7? THE CONTRAST:
fhnily dircQed to the nurfe and child ;
both of them appearing in deep mourning, diet
not leave a doubt who they were. She propo-
fed iheir returning in Lady Jane's coach, and
fending back their own ; which was complied
with. Her motive for doing this, was to dif-
cover where the child lived. But in that {he
was disappointed ; Lady Jane having determin
ed at that moment to take it to Argyle-iireeir.
She therefore ordered the coachman to drive
tli ere, telling the nurfe Ihe would lend them
ilife back in the evening,.
As foon as me returned home, me fent the
nurle into the Steward's room, and, taking
the child in her arms, went into Mr. Martin*
dale's drafting- room, and begged leave to in
troduce a ftranger to his acquaintance, the
i n fa,nt daughter of Lord Darnley. She faid
this with a vifible confufion, which arofe in
confeqnence of feeling heri elf obliged to relate
the circnmftance of meeting Mr. and Mrs*
Martindale, without which it was poflible for
him to furmiie that he would not have been
informed of her viiit. He took but little no-
rice of the fmileing girl, who was in the even
ing recondu&ed with her nurfe, to the plact
of their deiiination,
A NOVEL,
CHAP: xix.
TH E gentle Mifs Stuart became everjr
day more attached to Giencairn, while
Mr. Coutenay, an intimate acquaintance of her
father's was as pallioiiateiy in love with her.
Mr. Courtenay was a gentleman of Ireland, of"
confidenible fortune, but defcended from an
obfcure family, and many years older than Mifs.
Smart. Yet inch was the nature of Mary, that
thefe difadvantao-es, had even the want of mo-
>
ney been annexed to them, would have been
no impediment to her union with him, had her
father wiihed it, and her affebions been difen-
gaged. But (he cherifhed the flatterer, Hope.
She believed ail that it fuggefted, and ihe real
ly thought that me fhould yet fee the day r
when Giencairn would renounce his attach
ment, of which Ihe was no longer uncertain as
to the object. Alas ! the rofes began once
more to fade on her lavely cheek ; her fpirits
gradually forfook her ; and her father, per
ceiving both, at length tenderly queftioned her.
He mentioned Giencairn, and entreated to be
informed of the fituatioa of her mind, refpecl:-
ing him.
Mifs Stuart's heart repofed on the bofom of
thiv indulgent father j flie acknowledged to. hiia
So THE CONTRAST:
lier attachment for Glencairn ; but fhe allured
him, that me poiTefled too much pride ever to
futter that attachment to overcome her reafon.
She had obferved an indifference in his manner
towards her, that had coniiderably augmented
fmce their return to England; and ihe was de
termined rather to facrificeher peace for ever,
than to confent, were he even to urge it, t
owe the happinefs of being his, to a fentirnent
of pity oniy, with which ihe might inipire
him. Glencairn's heart was, ihe was well
allured, devoted to another. She did not wiih
to dilavow that bz alone would ever remain the
object of her rnofl fervent affections ; bat fhe
would never owe the gratification of indulging
them to the chance that deprived him of poi-
feffing that more fortunate woman, and to a
fentiment that mult render her acceptance of
him defpicable in her own eyes, and ftill more
fo in her father's.
Sentiments fuch as thefe could not fail to
Strengthen in Colonel Stuart, that opinion of
his lovely daughter, \vhichhadhitherto fallen
little ihort of adoration. He coincided in all ihe
faid, and gloried in the accomplishment of his
wifhes. For what wiih coulu be fo dear to him,
as that of feeing his Mary, though ftruggling
with itrong pallkms, heroic enough to fubcFu*
them ? He preiled her to his boforn, ond affijr-
ed her, that he preferred her happinefs to eve
ry worldly confideration ; but that there was
one beyond the limits of this life, which hung
heavy on his mind. He alluded to the period
of his own exiftance, which from the courfe oi
A NOVEL. 81
nature, and his own habitual complaints, was
not likely to be prolonged many years. To
fee his Mary fettled, was to enfure a happy
termination of his days ; to leave her without
a protestor, would embitter his laft moments,
the approach of which he wifhed to meet with
out a pang, as they battened him to a re-union
with her angelic mother !
As he littered the laft fentence, the tears
quivered in his expreffive eyes, and gently for
ced their paiTage down his venerable cheeks.
Mary felt the weight of his argument, but
could not command refolution enough to fay
ihe would accept the thrice-proffered hand of
Mr. Courtenay: (he conjured the Colonel never
to mention the fubjed of their converfation to
any one; and ihe ftill hoped, ihe faid, that
(he might be at length enabled to eradicate from
her mind thofe ideas which me had hitherto fo
rafhly and fo fondly entertained. But ihe did
not tell him ALL ihe thought; her heart had
made its election, and ill e knew that every en
deavour would be vain to contend againft it.
She inwardly determined to cheriih the remem
brance of Gleiicairn, and, leaving the chance
of their future union to himfelf , me in fecret
refolved never to enter into an engagement that
might on her iide impede k
It was impoilible for Glen cairn to be ignor
ant of the attachment he had infpired, neither
did he attempt to appear fo. He deeply la
mented it, and, with a candcur feldom pra&if-
ed among^ elegant young men, he allured Co*
CONTRAST:
lonel Stuart that his friendship for the lovely
Mary exceeded even the bounds of brotherly
love. He w iihed, he faid, for" the fake of
his own peace, and he believed he might with
out vani;:y include that of Mary alfo, that
his heart had not been entangled in a fatal .at
tachment", from whence he was never likely to
derive a hope of happinefs ; he added, that he
had too delicate a fenfe of honour to offer her
his hand,' while he had not a heart to beftow
with it. Mils Stuart, he juftly obferved,
merited the firft offerings of the pureit. How
could he propofe to make her wretched, by
endeavouring to unite her to a man who had it
not in his power to forget another ; and for
whom his love was fo criminal, that at the
ame time he owned it to his friend, he felt a
degree of remorfe at leait equal to it ?
Colonel Stuart lincerely pitied, and endea
voured to footh him, :or he .00 had once felt
the force of an : .-: ubie attachment. lie
propoied their in r- /returning to Scot
land, where thne, d'. italics fro ;n the beloved
object, and the growing o s of Mary r
might poffibly lead linn to a recovery of his
r-eaibn. Alas,' 5 replied Glencairn, " how can
u I expect the countenance of your tv < ve &
i4 rous regard ? Were I to return with youta
4t that feat of innocence and virtue, fhould I
" notiniult the feelings of your angelic daugh-
u ter ? Sould I not carry with me there the
u wound that Lady Jane Martindale has made
u in my peace ? Yes, my dear Sir, you are
u entitled to my confide nce ? and you* fhail
A NOVEL. 83
^ \v holly pofTefs it. It was/<? who firft infpi-
4 red me with love ; to her I am , determined
" to devote my exiftence ; and for her fake a-
a lone, I will forego the happinefs that flatter-
44 ing fortune has placed within my view. I
* 4 will bid an .everl ailing adieu to the all-
44 fafcinating Mary : I will pray to Heaven
" that fh may fix her choice on a more fortu-
" nate man ; and that ilie may forget, yes,
44 for ever forget, the one who now reliquifh-
44 es, becaufe he feels himfelf unworthy of
" her."
Colonel Stuart liftened with aftoniflimcnt te
^the confeilion he had heard ; and when he
.reflected that Glencairn's fole dependence was
on himfelf, his heart was filled with the fond-
eft eiteem for his charatier. Souls, he faid,
fuch as thole of Glencairn and his daughter,
were furely paired in heaven. Earthly viciifi-
tudes might for a time feperate,- but never
.could wholly dilunite them ; and his mind,
fanguine as Mary's, flill prefaged a certainty of
future felicity. But, from Glencairn, no
thing could be at prefentexpeded. When Co-
lonel Stuart .law that he was bent in following
his fate, he infifted, in token of their mutual
fnendinip, as well as of the tender regard he
bore to the memory of his deceafed father, that
he fhould accept from him a fmall annuity of
one hundred pounds ; and he extorted from
liim a promiie, that fliould he perceive any al
teration in his fentiments refpecting Lady Jane
Martindale, that he would return to him as
his fan. To fpare the delicacy of Mary, it wa.s
4 THE C O N T R A S T<
neceflTary to invent fome planfible (lory ; antl,
they agreed to inform her, that unforefeen bn-
Onefs relative to a friend in Scotland (whom
they named) would detain Glencairn longer in
London, than it would be convenient for the
Colonel to ftay there. She received the intel
ligence with lefs furprife than they expected,
and her father fignified to her his intention o
returning to Aljanbank the week follow
ing.
'On the evening before they were to fet out,
they all appeared alike affefted at their approch-
ing feparation. Glencairn knew too well his
influence over the heart of Mary, not to dread
that her feelings would be overpowered by it ;
and he mentioned as by chance to the Colonel,
before her, that he hoped to join them in Scot
land within a month. While he fpoke, hecaft
a fide-look at Mifs Stuart ; he faw her colour
.change, and the tears which me vainly endea
voured to fupprefs. run down her cheeks.
He haftily called for a candle; pretended a
drowfinefs he was never farther from feeling,
and rofe to take his leave. He killed Mifs
Stuart with the mol\ fervent affection ; preffed
the Colonel's hand to his heart ; and a tear
fell on it : he foftly articulated the word fare-
-well" and retired to his bed-chamber, where
he threw himfelf on the fofa, and indulged the
jeffufions of a heart torn by angujjh and deffalre?
N O V E L,
H A P XX.
GLENCAIRN remained near an hour in
this itate of agonizing reflection, and .
at length roufed from it by hearing Colonel
Stuart and his daughter retire to their apart
ments. He had been reflecting feriouily ou
his prefent fituation, and on every thing that
had pafTed ; but above all, on the fatherly ten-
.dernefs he had ever experienced from Colonel
Stuart, and the recent proof of it ; on the fiii-
eere affection of his lovely daughter ; on the
lunation of Lady Jane Martindale a married
'woman /on the diinpated courfe of life ihe
led ; the cold indifference with which me ap
peared to receive his lad vifit ; and the hints
that had been given him, which gained ground
every day, and appeared to taint the purity of
her character. All thefe considerations darted
like a ray of light on his bewildered mind, and
he formed the RESOLUTION to throw himfelf
at the fame moment at Colonel Stuart's feet,
and to implore from him the hand of his daugh
ter. It was a fudden and a violent decifion,
that admitted not of reflection. He dreaded to
meet with opposition from his heart, mould he
confult it ; he was no Granger to its weeknefs,
. and he felt that it required all his fortitude to
enable him to accompliih his prefent purpofe-*
H
THE C O N L R A S T;
Fired by the momentary impulfe, he went
to the door of Colonel Stuart's apartment, and
gently knocking there, requeited adiniflipn,
and attention to what Ije had to communi
cate.
The Colonel was not in bed ; he had juft ri-
fen from his knees, where it was his nightly
cultom to proftrate himielf before his God, in
fervent meditation. He was iomewhat iurprif-
ed at feeing Glencairn, who had not yet begun
to undrsfcs, and who, apologizing for his in-
trufion, proceeded to fupplicate that he migli
find in him the tender advocate, not the i nil ex*,
ible judge.
He then told him that the purport of his nocr
turnal vitit was to implore once more his farther
protection and advice. He begged that he
would aflift him to follow his own example,
and point out to him the path of rectitude which
ihould direct him to ihun the dangerous practi
ces of a world he had already reaibu to fuppofe
a deceitful one. He allured him, that he had
feriouily pondered on the fentiments of his
heart, and was convinced that on the exertions
of his reaibn his future happinefs depended, j^e
was now determined to purfue that line of con-
ducl that would be molt pleaiing to his friend
and benefactor, and was come to intreat his
permiilion to return with him to Scotland;
where he doubted not but reaibn would loon
teach him to overcome a mad attachment, of
which he had feen the folly, and- was therefore
refblved to fubdue.
A N O V E L 87
Colonel Stuart learned with rapture this hap
py aiVn ranee of his pupil's return to virtue ; and
Ib indulgent was this excellent man to thole
failings he had never known, that he would
have confidered hirnfelf the author of his cle-
itruction, had he not. accepted his proffered re
pentance. How many virtuous minds are de-
itroyed hy the want of this indulgence ! and
how much morejandable is it in a parent, or a
friend, to draw a veil over the faults of youth,
than to expoie them in the face of day, and,
inilead of diminiihing, augment them by their
tinkinclnefs I What a contrail to thole charac
ters in fuch a man as Colonel Stuart ! He
might be juftly described as pplTeifing a thou-
fand virtues, without a fingle fault ; or, if he
HAD a fault, it proceeded from the unbounded
benevolence of his heart, which taught him re
view mankind in general \vith an eye of affecti
on, of which few were defer ving. But though
he had experienced like others the poifonous
effects of ingratitude, he had not yet learned to
think ill even of tkoie who had proved them-
felves unworthy of having known him, His
houfe, his heart, and his purfe, were alike ex
tended to all ; and it was fortunate for himfelf,
and his family, that he was a ftranger in the
gay world, where he muft have inevitably fal
len a prey to the defjgning. His way of life
was fuited to his lituation and circumitances t
and that life was fpent in doing good.
It is no wonder, then, that Glencairn, who
poiTeiTd his moil tender regard ihould not meet
with any difficulty in perfuading him of the
lability of his inclinations. They parted for
H 2
3 TMF C G N T R A S T;
the right under the moft comfortable fenfati-
on> , '-Le ULC, fads/led that he had aftecl up to
hit, -jtity ; the oilier, ihat he had faved a ge
nerous mind irom perdition. Colonel Stuart
fancied that he had (hatched Glencairn from
the edge of a precipice ; and Glencairn fancied
that he had fubdued every blameable
perifity Alas, poor human nature !
A N O V E L.
CHAP. XXI.
WH E. N Mifs Stuart rofe in the morn
ing, (he was fin-prized that Glencairn
was to accompany them. Her heart rejoiced,
as (he interpreted this change in his intention:;
to the impoilibility he found of leaving her.
Their journey was a pleafant one ; it was whol
ly undift ill-bed by care or regret, for fhe had
left nothing in London that could tempt her to
wiili ever to return there. But her fenllihility
\vas painfully tried, when fhe firft beheld Al-
lanbank. The old houfe-keeper, who had li
ved there ever fmce the Colonel's marriage,
welcomed her home with unfeigned joy. She
conducted her towards the apartment that had
been formerly her late mii'trelVs ; but when
they approached the door of it, Mifs Stuart
gave a taint fhriek, and fainted in her arms.
The worthy Mrs. M fc Kenzie was alarmed, but
-would not open the ill-clofed wounds ofh.tr
venerable matter's heart, by making him wit-
nefs a fcene that ihe knew woukl be only mo
mentary. She returned to the room where Ihe
had left the gentlemen, and giving an exprei-
-five look at Giencairn, he inttantly follower
her. She conducted him np ttairs, where they
found Mifs Stuart attended by. -a hbufe-maid,
uud beginning to recover. Gleneaira flew to
90 THE C O N T R A S T:
fnpport her with the tendered care. She rail
ed her fine eyes, firll to Heaven, as if to invoke
the fainted fplrit of her mother, and then turn
ed them with ineffable fvveetn els upon him ; lie
felt all that ihe would exprefs, and his feelings
were worked up to the higheft pitch of grate
ful en thufiafrn. He involuntariiy dropped on
one knee before her, and taking her hand in
his, he fupplicated the Almighty to ftrengthen
himinhisrefolution, that he would never, ne
ver for fake her ! He arofe \vhen he had ut
tered this prayer. It came from the inmoft re-
ceiies of his heart, and had been pronounced
in too awful a manner for him to retracl it;
neither would he have done fo at that moment,
for the poffeiTion of Lady Jane Martindale her-
leif.. Mifs Stuart had heard the blelTed found ;
It funk from her ear to her heart ; ihe received.,
and cheriihed it there, as an old friend whom
ihe had been long expecting, and who was at
length returned to forfake her no more.
She Was now enabled to look over her apart
ment with more compofi.re. Her piano-forte
had been placed there by the Colonel's order,
that flie might be reconciled to the light of it.
Glencairn went to his flute, and they palled an
hour in that happy harmony proceeding from
the union of fouls. When alone, Glencairn,
took the opportunity of offering his heart and
hand to Mary. With what modeft joy did ihe
accept the tender ailurances of both ! She long
ed to rum. into her father's arms, and tell him
of her promiled felicity; but virgin delicacy
laid areilraiat on her inclinations, and ihe left
A NOVEL. 9 ,
to Glencairn the blefled tafk of making him hap
py ; for Hie well knew that hlsjieart, like her
own, Lad been long fet on their union. He
was not lefs anxious than herfelf to irnparn
their converfation to the Colonel, which he did
not however find an opportunity of doing, till
after Mils Stuart had left them for the night.
Colonel Stuart received the declaration with
an air 'of referve that fr.rprized Glencairn, ai.d
filled him with confuiion. He clefired that he
\vould allow himfeif time to reflect ferioufly on
the nature of the iblcmn engagement into which
he Ib fuddealy and fo lightly appeared to wifli
to enter. lie coniidered it, he laid, a duty in
cumbent on him to adinonifh them both, and
to exhort them to do nothing raihiy ; and
how could he avoid believing that Glencairn:
. only deceived hnnielf in his preient ideas r
\vhen little more than a week had elapfed fincehe
had in the molt ingenuous manner acknowledg-
ed his inviolable attachment to Lady Jane Mar
tin dale ? How was he to reconcile fuch incon-
iiilencies ? Ke added, that he had too high
an opinion of the mind he had taken pride and
pleasure to adorn, to imagine for a moment
that felf-intreft would have the power to bias
one of his actions ; at the fame time he owned
that his daughter was in that point worchy his
attention ; and if he-doubted his love for her,
it proceeded from a fear that he did not know
bimiVif iufficiently to be able toanfwerfor hb
future conduct towards her throughout life.
Glencairn endeavoured to wave theie feem-
S 2 THE C O N T R A S T:
ing obje&ions. He could not, he faid, difavow
his firfl inclination, but he had (at leaft he
thoiight he had) fubdued it. They parted with
a proniife from the Colonel, that in the conver-
fation he fhould have \vith Mifs Str.art on the
fubject, he-would not fay any thing that might
tend to impede their mutual ' happinefs. In
deed the Colonel knew enough of his daughter's
fentiments to be convinced, that although no
thing could alter her love for Glencairn, were
he once to exert his parental authority, and
forbid her to marry him, me would obey him,
though at the certain, ex penfe of her happinefs,
and the probable one of her life.
Colonel Stuart, the next morning, when
breakfaft was over, requeued his daughter's at
tendance in his (tudy, where they remained a
confiderable time, during which Glencairn did
not find his fituatiou of fufpenfe perfectly com
fortable. He was at length relieved from it by
their appearance, and he perceived that they
had both been in tears-. The Colonel took a
hand of each of his children (as he was wont to
call them), and joining them, he with humid
eyes beflovved on each his bleiTing. He could
not fay much, for his heart was full, but he
defired that their marriage might take place in
two months from that time ; Ibme neceiTary ar
rangement with refpecl to his fortune being in-
difpenfable previous to that event. Glencairn
fainted the blaming Mary ; they mutually,
embraced, and thanked the Colonel, and the
day was fpent as may be fuppofed from thefe
virtuous minds, each deriving comfort from
the happiaefs of the Giber,
A NOVEL. 90
Nothing appeared to be Wanting at Allen-
bank to complete the extent of human felicity.
Mils Stuart became more interefting as fhe was
more beloved ; for though Glencairri \v as con-
fcious that he fhould not lead her to the altar
with that enthufiaftic paffion that borders on
madnefs, and which feldom lafts long, his e-
fteem for, and his opinion of her augmented
daily ; and Colonel Stuart's winter of life which
had been hurried on by grief more than age,
appeared on this occafion to be impeded in its
progrefs by a renovating fpring. They had
few viiitors at Allanbank ; forne poor Scotch
lairds were their principle neighbours, \vho
having never gone beyond the Highlands,,
were fo ignorant and uninformed, that their
fociety was rather courted through benevo
lence, than difclaimed through pride. It was
the intention of the family to pafs fome of the
next winter months at Edinburgh. The Colo
nel had a numerous acquaintance therein Mrs.
Stuart's lifetime ; butiince he had loft her, and
was feparated from his daughter, he neglected
every worldly concern. They would not, how
ever, find it cliffici It to meet with fociety,
wherever they vifited that charming city ; for
their virtues fecured them friends, wherever
|hcy appeared.
THE G O N T R A S T;
CHAP. XXII.
I HAVE already oblerved, that the conduct
of Mr. Martindale towards La'dy Jane
was wholly altered. A viiible coolnefs had ta
ken place, and her ears were perpetually aiiail-
ed by the enumeration of Mrs Mardndaie's vir~
tues. Whatever fhe faid, was a law both to
her hufoarid and his fon, and Lady Jane's life
became more infuppor table, as her fenfibility
acquired more ftrength. She had latterly con
tracted an intimacy with the two Mifs Field-
ings, daughters to the late Admiral of that
name. They had been intimates of Lady
Darnley. The deleft was remarkably accom-
pliihed ; (lie was almoft unrivalled on the harp-
ilcord, and feemcd to poiTefs afoul capable of
the moft refined feminients. Lady Jane was
very partial to this young lady, who appeared
to be greatly affected by her fituation. She
frequently mentioned her diflike to Mrs. Mar
tindale ; and though Lady Jane had drictly a*
voided even hinting at her mifconduct with
Lord Darnley, Mils Fielding gave her rea-
ibn to fuppofe that ihe was not ignorant of
it.
It was now Lent ; and Mifs Fielding was ve
ry conftant in her attendance at the Oratorios.
A N O V E L. . 95
She had .one evening folicited Lady Jane's com..
pan/ in her box at Dury-Lane, who had lat
terly feldom gone into public, but was tempted
to accept he invitation, as Giornovich, whom
Hie had never feen, was to play there. She
had heard much of that charming performer,
but found that report, fo- kvifh in his praife,
was yet unequal to convey ajuftidea of his me
rit. It was The Meffiah that was performed ;
and at the end of the third part of it, that di
vine mufician,, with an enchanting harmony
that can .be equalled only in heaven, varied the
plaintive lullaby in a manner lo exquifitely pa
thetic, as to draw tears from the feeling heart
of Lady jane. She took put her pencil, when
it was over, and wrote on the back of a letter
the following extempore lines :
Seraphic ftniins the tender feelings move,
And Mufick melts the foul to heav'n borti
love !
Thy powers, oh Giornovich ! infpire the
breaft,
And give the wounded mind a tranfient reft ;
But, while thy notes impailion'd bofoms pleafe 3
They find the cure ftill worie than the dif-
eafe ;
Eor ev'ry time thofe founds feraphic ceafe,
They leave a new invader of my peace !
She had juft finifhed the firft effort of her poe
tical tale"nt, which Hie intended to corredb at
It-ifure, and was conveying haftily to her pock
et, when the box door opened, and Lord
Darnley made his unexpected appearance. {p
THE CONTRAST:
led with infinite grace to the Mifs Field-
nigs, darted a contemptuous look on Mrs. Mar-
tindale (who had obtruded herfelf on the par
ty, from a very flight invitation), and with
more apparent plealure than prudence frniled
on Lady Jane, and feated himielf immediately
behind her. He told her, he had been in town,
but a few hours ; that he had firil vifited
THEIR little charge, and then called in Argyle-
Street ; but hearing from hef fervants that ihe
was gone to Drury-Lane, he had taken the li
berty to follow her there.
Mrs Martindale who was pretending to
adjuft her handkerchief, did not lofe a word of
this fpeech ; but faid, loud enough to be heard
in the next box, That -now one impediment
was removed, on hislordihip's fide, ihe thought
the other might be eafily accompli ihed ; for Ihe
was pretty fure that young Mr, Martindale
would not ha/e much objection to fee his
name added to the lift of happy hufbands in
Doctors commons. This was too grofs an m-
fult to be patiently endured ; but Lord Darn-
ley, however confufed, was too well-bred a
man to recriminate. Lady Jane faintly aiked
her what Ihe meant ; and pleading the excef-
live heat of the houfe as an excufe for leaving
the Mifs Fieldings, requefted Lord Darnley
(who was the only gentleman in the box) to
fee her to her carriage, where ihe infilled,
however relu&antly, on his taking his leave.
Mr. Martindale \vas already in bed, and (lie
was .obliged to defer fpeaking to him till morn-
A N O V E L * 7
wig. Mrs. Drapery informed her, that Lord
Darnley had been there, but, on finding her
ladyihip was out, had requeued to fee her wo
man. That me went to the coach door, and
he aiked her many queftions about the (late of
the family ; telling her, " That he would do
" handfomely by her, if fhe would keep his
44 fecret, which was, to tell her lady, that la
44 confequence of letters he had received frem
44 town, which mentioned the difagreeable li-
44 tuation into which her ladyihip was thrown
" by the machinations of Mrs. Martindale, he
44 was arrived, fully determined to protect her
44 with his life."
Oldfon, the butler, had watched this inter
view ; and whether jealoniy of Mrs. Drapery,
or fome other fufpicion, arofe in his mind, I
know not ; but he infifted on her telling him all
that had panned. Nay, he was fo refolved on
knowing it, that he even threatened Mrs. Dra
pery to retract hispromife of marriage to her,
if ihe did not immediately confefs every thing
to him. Any other menace Mrs. Drapery
might poilibly have withftood ; but that of a
difappointment in love was too powerful. She
candidly acknowledged the confidence Lord
Darnley had placed in her, but firit obtained a
promife from Mr. Oldfon of his iilence on the
iubjecl.
He wifhed to prefuade her not to mention it
to her lady ; but this trufty confidante, recol-
lefting LordDarnley's ofteriiQdohQneftlyhyhtr,
longed for the moment when Jhe fliould be at
9 8 THE CONTRAST:
liberty to divulge the fecret of which file
been till then in painful poffeffion.
Lady Jane felt aglow of fatisfaction rife on
her cheek, as fhe liftened to Mrs. Drapery's
information. Situate as fhe then was, every
proof of regard, even from the moft indifferent
perfon, became dear to her. The cruel and
unmerited treatment {he every day endured,
had the fame effect on her gentle mind that a
iloriny fea has on a mariner. Her heart panted
for reit, for (lie faw herfelf environed by ene
mies where me might naturally have expected
friends. She felt that matters were drawing
to a crifis, that would Iboii determine her fu
ture fate.
The next morning me told Mr. M t nrtindale
of theinfult that had been offered to her at the
Oratorio. He feemed perfectly indifferent, and
laid Ihe might thank herfelf for it : that when
a married woman had once openly admitted the
addreiTes of another man, her huiband could
noc be blamed for discarding her. That he
had no caufe of complaint againft Lord Darn-
ley, as he conceived that he had acted only as
every other gay man would do in the fame ii-
tnation ; and he finilhed by telling* her that me
was perfectly at liberty to follow Lord Darn-
ley's fortunes wherever they might lead
her. t
That calm ferenity of mind which had ever
Dignified the exemplary character of Lady Jane
Martindale, now entirely forfook her. She
A N O V E L. 99
uttered the moft piercing complaints aga'mft her
unfeeling huiband for his injultice and cruelty
towards her, and the moil bitter invectives a-
gainil the infamous Mrs. Martindale ; and
when ihe faw that it. was impoilibie to perfuade
him of her innocence, fhe found it neceiTary to
have recourfe to meafures the inoft repugnant
to her feelings,, and at once to declare all Ihe
knew : ihe then entered into a minute detail of
the intrigue that had been carried on between
Mrs. Martindale and Lord Darnley at the
French milliner's houfe.
Mr. Martindale rang for his hat, and went
immediately to his father's, telling Lady jane
he fliould return prefently. He did fo ; and
his countenance was inflamed by anger, as he
alked her, " How me dared to afperie the cha-
ik rader of of a virtuous woman ?" She had en
" deavoured, he faid, to deftroy that of Mrs.
Martindale, becaufe ihe had refufed to become
a partner in her vices. She was jealous, he
fuppofed, of Mrs. Martindale's fnperior beauty
and qualifications, and of the attention Lord
Darnley had, like other men, paid her. He
adviied her to take up her refidence with
THEIR charge, at Paddington, and limited her
to three days to remove her effecls from his
houfe : he excepted his mother's jewels, which
he infilled on having immediately reftored to
him. He then rang the bell, which was an-
fwercd by Oldfon, whom he commanded in a
peremptory manner no longer to coniider La
dy Jane as his miilrefs, and to make known
that fuch were his injunctions to all the other
I 2
ioo -THE CONTRAST:
domeftics. Oidfon would have fpoken, but-
\vas prevented i>y a It; ok that forbade all pofRbi-
J.ty (if a reply. He then ordered a chaiie and
four fa be immediately got in readinefs from the-
nearer! inn, and told Oldfon to prepare to ac
company him.
The triumph ofpaflion was foon over; and
a tear of pity, and perhaps of remaining ten
der nefs (which he ufed every eflort to fup-
prefs), fell down his cheeks as he took hold of
Lady Jane's hand : when turning his head on
the other fide, he bade her ar> eternal adieu,
b^ chrc-vv bank notes on the table to the value
v t hundred pounds, and then tore himfelf
her in a paroxyfm of agony that fell little
fliort of her own.
A N O V E L, xci
CHAP. XXIII.
N a moment like this, how wasLacly Jane
Martindale to proceed ? Were I to aik a
hundred people, I ihould receive a hundred
different opinions ; but Lady Jane had no time
for reflection. The arrow had been aimed at
her heart, and it was lodged there. She order
ed Mrs. Drapery into her prefence ; who,
with many tears, befbught her to compofe her-
felf. She defired her to pack up in a box by
themfelves, all the jewels and trinkets that old
Mr. Martindale and his fon had once given to
her, but of which me was no longer the mif-
treis ;, and then afked as a favour, what but two
hours before me had a right to command,
that one of the fervants might go for a hack
ney coach, that me might call at two or three
places me thought neceiTary, while her wo
man was packing up her clothes, asihe defired.
She was going firft to fee Mrs. Martindale ;
for though her noble heart ihrunk from the
idea of fupplicating her enemy, yet fhe thought
it a duty ihe owed herfelf, to explain to that
lady, as matters now ftood r the neceilky that-
had driven her to give fuch a painful explana
tion of every circnmftance that could tend to
corroborate her own innocence.
io2 THE. C O N T P. A S T:
Wirh fwollea eyes, which fhe endeavoured
as much as poflible to conceal by her long lace
vril, (lie :vcpp<;<>. into the coach, and ordered it
t*> Devonihire-Piace." Alas ! the iervants there
had not only received orders never more to ad
mit her, but were even infolerit enough to ex-
prtis before the coachman their alloniihment at
her calling there. She then went to Mifs
Fielding's and had the fatisfa&ion to find that
her friend was at home. They knew nothing
more of the miiintelli^ence than what had pall
ed at the oratorio, and entreated her to return
home, and to inform them the next morning
in \vhat manner it had been fettled. Lady
jane, ;if:er a fliort vifit, returned to Argyle-t
Screct, and found a fervant of old Mr. Martin-
dale's, who had brought a note from his foil,
and only waited for an anfwer to leave town.
In it he defired her to fend him an inventory,
directed to Ledftone, of the things me had left
there, which he faid ihould be fent to her
wherever fhe might appoint, as he was going
to fell that eitate. It contained alfo a requelt
that Ihc would qr.it Argyle-Street as foon as
poilible ; and that me would not attempt mak
ing Mrs, Drapery the companion of her flights
as it would be the means of preventing that per -
fon's being; reipectf illy fettled with Oidfon,and
he doubled Lady jane's future ability of re
compensing i^er, if ike attempted to prevent
ic.
Lady JanepoffeOTed too much of the pride
infeparable from a noble mind, to be required
a third time to quit the houfe. She eaiily
A NO V EL. so?
perceived that Drapery's views on Qldfon fu-
perfedcdali affection for herfelf ; and that al
though he would willingly have fufFered her
for the prefent to accompany her, yet he fear
ed his mailer's difpleafure were fhe to do fo.
Lady Jane- defined Oldfon to change for her
a fifty pounds note ; ihe gave ten to Mrs. Dra
pery more than was due to her for the trouble
fhe had in packing up her things, which me
defired her to take care of till me fentfor them.
Another ten ihe gave to Oldfon to divide a-
mong the fervants, befidestwo guineas for him~
felf ; and in a fit of wilddefpair, unaccompani
ed by a {ingle attendant, and without having-
taited of the dinner that the fervants had as
iifual prepared, and placed before her, (he fen t
for a hackney coach at ten o'clock at night, and
ordered the coachman to drive her which way
he pleafed, till ihe Ihould otherwife dirctthirn,
104 THE CONTRAST
CHAP. XXIV.
TH E coachman proceeded on a journey
he could not rightly comprehend, and at
length (lopped at the turnpike beyond W'jft-
niinfter-bridge. Lady Jane was ruminating
whither me Ihould go, when ilie was roufed
from her reverie by a demand for the toll.
Her memory brought feveral perfons to her
recollection, but ihe dreaded to meet with a
col reception, wherever Ihe appeared, and
made known her ftory. Of Lord Darnley's
addrefs ihe was ignorant, and the latenefs of
the hour would alone have prevented her cal
ling on him. She defired the coachman would
drive her t Liffon Green, where ihe found
that the family was already in bed. She knock
ed repeatedly, and at length with fome diffi
culty obtained admiffion into the nurfe's bed
chamber.
She apologized for her unfeafonable vifit,
and the myftery of its appearance, difcharged
the coach, and lay down by the deeping infant.
But ihe could neither co-mpofe herfelf, nor let
the nurfe, till ihe ha-d made ibrne enquiries re-
fpecling Lord Darnley. The anfwer was pro
ductive of the only iatisfaction it was at that
moment in her power to receive,, as ihe found
A NOVEL. 105
tl*at he had promifed to be there the next morn
ing by twelve o'clock, She ioon after doled-
her wearied eyelids, and. funk to momentary:
reft,
/
Lord Darnley was punctual to his appointed-
hour ; and giving his horfe to the groom, ran
eagerly up itaris. Nothing could equal his a-
rnazement at feeing Lady Jane there, pale,
diihe veiled, andhalf-drett, fitting with his child
on her knee. She arofe as he entered, and
giving mifs Darnley into the nurfe's arms, de-
iired Ihe would retire with her into the garden,
while ihe fpoke to her Lord. But when ihe
began to relate her mournful tale, fne found
herfelf wholly unable to proceed. She clafped
her hands in fpeechlefs agony, and lifting up
her eyes to Him who could alone fupport and
flrengthen her 'in the hour of affliction, fhe
burft into tears.
When fhe had a little recovered herfelf, Ihe
explained, as well as Ihe was able, her mule--
ierved ficuation ; leaving the prefent difpofal-
of herfelf to the fuperior judgment of Lord
Darnley, whole protection was the only one
ihe could now claim. He took her hand, and
thanking her for the confidence with which
ihe honoured him, befought her per million to-
go inflantly to town in order to provide for her
a more fuitable apartment. He left her, and
in. lefs than three hours returned in a poft>
chaife, in which Ihe gladly accompanied hinv
ihe knew not, nor cared not whither,
io6 THE CONTRA S T:
The temporary refidence that Lord Darnley
had procured ibr Lady jane, vv^s at a lodging
houfe in Great Cumberland Street ; and he
took one for himielf within a few doors of it,
which happened to be the fame n^t had been
occupied by Colonel St^oT aiici Ws iamily. But
this he did not know ; id not choofing at
once to inform Lady Jane of his being fo near
a neighbour, fhe alfo remained ignorant of it.
Lord Darnley had called her in both houfes
Lady Findlater, and faid ihe was a baronet's
widow. This had been agreed on in the chaife r
to prevent fufpicion or enquiry. He palled fe-
veral hours of the Jay with her, and ihe faw
no other perfon. His valet, who 1 nfually at
tended her, was a new one, who fortunately
had not feen or heard of her before. But it
wasneceffary to intruft the nurfe, who was a
decent woman, and to be depended on. She
was moreover allured that ihe would lote^ier
place from the moment there was the leait cauie
to fufpect that ihe had betrayed her Lord.
From her they loon received intelligence,
that Ihe had been feveral times followed by dif
ferent people whom ihe did not know, as ihe
went in and out of town with Mifs Darnley ;
in confequence of which it became neceffary to
remove them, and they were fent to Bromp-
ton,
A fatality is frequently attendant on different
fituatiens in life, which eludes all that the moft
watchful vigilance can furmiie to prevent it.
It was fo in the prefent incident. Not all the
A N O V E L. 107
.caution obferved both by^Lady Jane and Lord
Darnley, nor the fidelity of the nurfe could
counteract the decree of fate. Grgat effects
proceed frequently from trivial caufes, which.
can be neither for efeen nor prevented.
Lord Darnley's vale.t perceived that there
was fome myitery about Lady Findlater ; but
.being a country fellow, who knew nothing of
London, and being much confined at home, he
had no opportunity of talking over his Lord's
affairs among his fellow -fer van ts ; and the nurfe,
who was rather a pretty girl, hardly conde-
fcended to fpeak to him. Lord Darnley had
one morning written to Lady Jane, and in^
trufted as ufual the note to his fervant ; who
thought this a good opportunity to fatisfy the
curiofity of their landlady, with whom he had
frequently converfed on the fubject. She was
overjoyed at his offer, and particularly fo as he
requeued her to give it into the lady's own
-hands, which was a charge he allb had received
fiorn his mailer.
She took the note, and went directly to the
door of the apartment, which was to her un-
fpeakable aftoniihment, opened by Lady Jane
Martindale, who was as much con fu fed as her-
felf ; flie firft fufpected chat it was fome trick
put upon her by her family, till ihe learned
that Lord Darnley was in poffeilion of Colonel
Stuart's former lodgings in her houfe. She en
treated her to preferve the moft inviolable fe-
crecy, which w?s faithfully promifed, without
any intention of performing if
THE C O N T R A-5-T:
This fiender circumftance laid a lafting foun-
.dationfor every fubfeqncnt event of Lady Jane's
life. The moment the landlady returned home,
} flie put on her hat and cloak with all polfible
fpeed, and telling the valet me .was going to
market, without any farther explanation, poft-
> ed directly to Mr. Martindale's houfe in Ar-
gyle Street, whither ihe had once been on a
vifit to Mrs. Drapery, in company with Jo-
iephine, Mils Stuart's Neapolitan maid. Mrs.
Drapery AV as at home, and in the aft -of writ
ing to her dear Oldfon, who was (Ull at Led-
ftone with his mafter. As foon as ihe had heard
ALL, (lie prefented her viiitant with a glafs of
her beft cordial, and begged to have the HO
NOUR of her company another time, as me was
juft finifning an important letter, and feared
being too late for the pott. Thefe two wor
thy females exchanged feveral polite curtefies,
and parted highly fatisiied with each other;
the one having communicated all ihe knew,
and the other having heard aJl ihe \viihed ; for
they were tiU that moment ignorant of Lady
Jane's deftination. Mrs. Drapery added ano
ther iheet to her already voluminous packet ;
and as foon as fhe had diipatched it, and finim-
ed her dinner, ihe fent for every one of the
fervants into the houikeeper's room,, to whom
fhe related the whole of this marvellous
tale.
Mrs. Drapery was now fole miftrefs of the
houfe ; confequently whatever ihe faid, was
the grand rule of their a&ions. I muit indeed
except a Yorkihire groom 5 who .having fat like
A NOVEL.
the reft open-mouthed to hear pronounced the
fentence of his lady's condemnation, cbviared
4t he would go to her that very moment, and
know in what he could ierye her, for that {lie
was as good a lady as ever broke bread ; and
he was certain that as far Yorklhire, there was
never a gentleman in the whole country that
would have turned inch a tender-hearted lady
out of doors, but that he had heard theie Lon
doners would do any thing. He did not; care
for his mailer ; he might hang him if he liked,
and keep his wages into the bargain; but that
now he knew where to find his lady, he would
go and offer his fervice to her ; ay, and {tick
by her, if file would let him, without a farth
ing wages, as long as he lived."
Mrs. Drapery expatiated on the re fen t meat
of an enraged mafter, and the deftruclion that
would inevitably overtake him, and finally pre
vent his ever getting another place, ihould he
periift in fuch a foolifh fcheme : but all would
not do ; nothing could induce Tom to relin-
quiih his prefent purpofe ; and with all the
blunt honeily and feeling of a TRUE YORK
SHIRE MAN, he went immediately to his maf-
ter's ftables, where, giving up his charge of
the faddle-horfes to the coachman, he packed
up his all in a fmall bundle, and without taking
leave of his aiTociates, whom his heart cuffed
for their cruelty, he walked with aching fteps
towards Great Cumberland Street.
In his way thither, he reflected for the firft
time of his life on what he was about. He had
K
no THE CONTRAST:
given up his place, and all the intereft he had,
without having any juit reafon to fuppoie that
Lady Jane would befriend him. What was
he to do if me refufed him an afylum ? Torn
had no friends in London ; they were all in
habitants of Ripon ; yet Tom did not repent.
He already had received full compenfation for
any hardfhips he might in future undergo .He
had experienced that inward joy, that hide.-
fcribable felicity of having given way to the
genuine feelings of an honeft heart. He did
not luppofe that his lady would fuffer him to
want ; but if me did, he Jfhould only be reduc
ed to temporary neceflity, and that too in a
noble cauie ; the canfe of injured Innocence.
His friends were induftrious, hard-working
people, who would not, he was very lure,
difmifs him becaufe he did not bring them Gold.
No ; they had ever prayed him to remain a-
mong them fteady to the plough, as his fore
fathers had been ; but Tom had feen laced live,-
ries in the neighbourhood of Ripon ; and
more from the generous motive of thinking he
could henceforward add to the little wealth al
ready poffeffed by his family, than any felf-in-
tereited principle of his own, he had fet out
on his perilous journey, TO SEE THE
A NOVEL. in
CHAP. XXV.
OM was at firftrefufed admittance ; till
by his lobs and tears, and his alleverati-
oti that he had left his place for no other reaibn
than to wait on his lady, he prevailed on the
miitrcfs of the houfe ro go up ftairs a iecond
time, and ihe confented to fee him. He briefly
related by vhat means he had difcovered her
residence, and begged her ladyihip's pardon for
his boldnefs in coming after her, and the mo
tive which had induced him to do io. Lady
Jane thanked him for his attention, and draw
ing five gnineas from her p:irfe advifed him to
return to his place, or, if he did not chooie
that, ihe would recommend him, (lie faid, to
Lord Darnley, who would procure him ano
ther, Tom looked fir ft at the money, and
tl'-en wiftfully at Lady Jane ; for he feared to
offend, as he begged to be excuied taking it;
and he ventured to hint, that, not feeing any
fervants about her. he thought fhe coi:ki but
ill fpare it ; and all lie implored was, that ihe
would keep him in her fcrvice. The poor
creature pleaded fo powerfully, that ic was im-
poliible ihe could without cruelty refill: him ; lev*
ordering him to put the money m his pocket,
ihe fuifered hini to enter on the pleating tafk of
rendering himfeif a faithful attendant oa her.
K 2
ii2 THE CONTRASTS
Lady Jane employed tl:e remainder of the
morning in writing a long narative of facts to"
her father. She endeavoured to prepare him
in the molt delicate and pathetic manner for the
knowledge of her misfortunes, and anticipated
the total forgetf nine's of thefe, in his fyrnpa-
thizing tenderneis. She obferved that Ihe had
only quitted an unpleafant home, to return to
hsr native happy one; and fhe requeued his ap -
probation of her joining him immediately in
Ireland. With eager expectation fhe told him
fhe fhould wait his reply, which would in eve-
thing determine her future conduct. Her hour*
appeared to grow lighter from the moment her
letter v, as given to the pofhnan, and ihe fol
lowed in idea its haily progrefs during the
night ; forming a thoufand pleafing conjectures
on the event of its fuccefs. Lord Darnley had
for the fir ft time neglected vifiting her that e-
vening ; but when he called the next morning,
he found her more cheerful than he had hither
to icen her ; and as the day was remarkably
fine, he propofed their going in a hackney
coach to fee Mils Darnley at Brompton, and
walking in one of the retired paths of its neigh
bourhood. Lord Darnley returned to dinner
with her, and had been juft propofing to ac
company her to Ireland as foon as ihe received
her father's anfwer ; telling her, that now the
Mar tin dales knew where to find them both, he-
doubted not but that all poflible means would
be tried to haften a divorce : and he hoped to
receive, as foon as it was pronounced, her hand
from her father. He had never fpoken fo open-
ly before. In thofe few words were comprc-
A N O V E L. i r>
bended all flie wiflied to hear, and ihe felt elat
ed at the idea of being rettored to happineis.
Their converfation was interrupted by the eru
trance of Tom, who brought a letter that had
been put into his hands by one of the fervants
from Argyle-ftreet ; it was addreffed to Lady
Jane; ilie knew her hufband's hand on the
direction, which was all he had UTitten. In
the blank cover was a letter to himfelf, which
had been fent to Ledftone, and was from thence
forwarded by him. It bore the Iriih poll- mark,
and was fealed with black. Lady Jane faw the
iignature, and fainted away. Her heart fore
boded its dreadful contents; there was no need
of her reading it, to be convinced of this, her
greatcft misfortune ! Lord Darnley took it
up, and found that it contained an affecting re-
queit from the fteward to Mr. Martindale, that
he would break the news of the Earl's fudden
death to Lady Jane in the tendered manner
poilible- . He had departed this but two hours
before it was written, confequently no know
ledge codld be had of the fituation in which he
had left his affairs ; but the fteward added, that
as he had reafon to believe his loriMhip had left
Mr. Martindale fole executor, he entreated
that gentleman to come with, all poffible haile
to Dublin.
Lady Jane foon recovered from her (rate of
infenfibility ; but her heart was turned to woe,
and ilie bore this afflicting circumftance with
more compofure at the moment than might have
been expected. She looked up to Lord Darn-
ley as H,R ONLY FRIEND, for where in the
K *
ii 4 THE C O N T R A S T:
vaft univerfe could fne claim another ? He.
tincerely felt for and pitied her, and he pro mi f-
ed her every alliilaace, at this di final junct
ure, that file could derive from his affection,
his fociety, and advice. Butt ihe was deeply
affected by her recent lofs ; and her grief was
of the moil: dangerous kind, as it grew into a
fettled melancholy, which increafed daily.
She continually pondered on her iituation, and
ac length, without confulting Lord Darnley,
or even mentioning the circumftance to him,
ihe wrote to Mifs Fielding, giving l>r a cir-
cumftantial detail of all that had palled, and
entreating to fee her. She gave Tom orders to
vv-ait for an anfwer, and he brought back her
o\vn letter, unfeaied, in a blank cover. She
Km ad hcrfelf DESPISED AND REJECTED, and a.
conibiH fucceflion of fad ideas filled her very
foul. The woimdedmind will, like the drown -
ing, man, catch at every ihadow of a fubftance;
and Lady Jane, penetrated with Lord Darn-
ley's attentive fnendihip, infenfibly attached
herlelf to him. He could now prevail' on her
with.lefs difficulty to accompany him in riding,,
walking, <S:c, till by degrees ihe gave herfelf up
irrecoverably to him, and refufed nothing to a
man whom ihe with confidence conlidered as
her future huiband and natural protector.
Lady Jane and Lord Darnley were more
pubiickly together than formerly,, but (till kept
their refpeclive lodgings. Inlefs taan a month
after her father's death, fne received a feconci
letter from the iieward, written at the deiire
of Mr. Martiadale, who was, he informed
A N O Y E L.
her, arrived in Dublin to take pofleflion of all
that had been left her. He fent her word that,
on his return to England, he would fecure her
a fetilernent adequate to the fortune he ha'd
with her ; and Lord Darnley received, about
the fame time a, citation from Do&ors Com
mons.
u6 THE CONTRAST:
CHAP. XXVI.
WE. will now revifit with regret our
friends at allanbank ; I fay with regret,
becaufe we left them at the iuinmit of happi-
nefs, and (if we accompany them at all) we
nuift defcend with them into the valley of woe*
Colonel Stuart was furprized one morning,
as he was fitting in his ftudy, by a large pack
et directed to him, which, on opening, he
found to contain feveral meets from an elder
brother, who had been long fettled at Madras;
and of whom he had not received any tidings
for more than twenty years, a coolnefs having
lubfifted fmce that time between them. The
Colonel was perfectly ignorant whether he was
living or dead. But a&old age brings reflecti
on, and draws us naturally back to our firft
attachments, Mr. Stuart at laft recorded that
he had a brother, who he had lately heard was
not only living, but was a widower, with ail
only daughter. He wrote rather a kind letter
to the Colonel, giving a long account of him-
felf. He had been married, he faid, twice;
and hafcl three children, none of whom furvi-
ved ; and his laft wife, who was alfo his laft tie
in that country, was lately dead. He com
plained of his age and infirmities, and acknow
ledged that he lud made a coafiderable fortune
A N O V E L.
in the eaft, which in was his intention to be
queath to his niece. He defired that the Colo,-
iifl would either embark in the firft ihip defin
ed to India, or that he would lend over fome
perfon, in whom he could place confidence, ta
attend to the fettling of his affairs ; he added,
that in cafe of his dying before fuch a one arri
ved, he had already taked care to make a will
in favour of Mifs Stuart, his niece.
The Colonel exulted but little in his daugh
ter's unexpected profpect of future fortune. She
had enough to make her happy, and they co
veted no more. Yetic was neceflary on every
account to accede to her uncle's requeft. She
might have a large family, and it was a -Juty
incumbent on him not to neglect a circumftance
that had the appearance of turning out fo much
to her advantage, and fo far beyond their ex
pectation. To cart away a gift that was as it
were thrown into their lap, would be, accor
ding to Colonel Stuart's ideas, to render them
felves ; unworthy the difpenfations of provi
dence in their favour. The only difficulty was,
to determine on who was proper to go over. It
was a long perilous voyage to be undertaken
by the Colonel ; and he could not think of fe-
parating Glencairn and his daughter, at a mo
ment when they were on the point of marri
age, and when every thing feemed to fmile
propitious on their union.
When he met then?, his countenance bore
the vifible marks of perturbation and anxiety ;
sad it was ibme time before he could collect:
u8 THE CONTRAST:
himfelf fufficiently to impart to them the con
tents of the letter. Glencairn and Mary
watched each other's countenance while he was
reading it ; hut when the Colonel fignified his
intention of fir ft join ing their hands, and then
leaving them while he made the long, long
voyage, Mary at once declared that ihe would
rather relinquish every earthly advantage than
fuffer her father to undertake it. To her, and
to Glencairn, no increafe of fortune could bring
increafe of happinefs ; and why (hot! Id they
traverfe feas to rilk the lofs of THAT, of which
they were already in poilellion ?
Glencairn flood in a delicate lunation. His
wandering heart prompted him to infill on being
the deputed perfon, yet he feared two unkind
con rime! ions that might be put on it if he did
fo ; and thefe were, indifference towards Ma
ry, and felf intereli If either of them pre
ponderated, it was not furely the letter. He
aJkedMary what he fhould do r She expecl:-
cd, yet was not -immediately prepared for the
queltion. It \vas about the time when the In
dia men were to fail ; and while Colonel Stuart
retired to- his ftudy to write to a friend in Lon
don in order io make proper enquiries about
them, Mil's Stuart and Glencairn walked into
the garden, where they agreed that there was
no alternative between his going to India, and
the lofs of her uncle's favour and fortune.
When Colonel Stuart faw that it was in vain
to oppofe Glencairn's refolution, Strengthened
by the confent of Mary, he told him he fhould
A N O V E L.
leave it entirely to him felf, and his daughter,
whether their marriage fhotil.d take place before
or after his return ; but Mifs Stuart begged to
continue in her prelent fituation till he did fo.
She thought ihe mould be better able to bear
Jiis abfence as her friend, than as her hufband,:
they were already betrothed ; ihe could not
doubt his love for her ; and me confidered the
facrifice he was about to make, as the greateft
proof that he could give of it.
The Colonel ufed all poffible difpatch in for
warding every neceflary preparation for Glen-
cairn's departure ; and he loon received an an-
fwer from the friend to whom he hnd written.,
>vho was eneof the Eaft India Directors, in
forming him that his paffage was taken on
board the Melville Cattle, which was to fail in
three weeks. The arrival of this letter caufed
a few pearly drops to trickle down the cheeks
; ofMary; but the blow was given^ aud it was
.00 late to recede.
120 THE CONTRAST:
CHAP. XXVII-
WE will pafs over the melancholy fepa-
ration, and, leaving Colonel and Mil*
Stuart at Allanbank in better health than fpi-
rits, accompany Glencairn to London,
As he approached the gay metropolis, his mind
dwelt on the idea of Lady JaneMartindale. E-
very carnage that he met he fancied to contain
her, and every well dreft perfon he faw he an-
xioufly looked at, as fuppofmg he could re.ceive
from them fome information of her. On the
morning after his arrival, he waited .on the Di-
re&or with a letter from Colonel Stuart; but
finding he was gone to Black wall, to dine on.
board fcthe Melville Caftle, he ordered a polt-
chaife, and followed him. He was introduced
by that gentleman to Captain Dundas and the
other officers, and was much pleafed both with
his acquaintance and his birth there. He was
informed that theihip was to go down the riyer
in ten days. He returned to town with his
new friend in the evening, and on their way
could not forbear aiking him if he was acquaint
ed with the Martindale family ? By report on
ly, was the reply ; and indeed he faid the late
tranfa&ions of that family were not calculated f
Xo make any perfon wifli to know more of them.
A NOVEL. 121
This led to an explanation, and, when they
arrived, to the peruiai of a newlpaper a few
days old, which was at the Director's, and
contained a long account of the ELOPEMENT
of Lady Jane Martindale with Lord Darniey,
crc, & c . &c.
Glencairn was engaged to ftay f upper, but
retired to his hotel as foonas it was over ; and
finding that a porter kept watch all night, he
put on a greatcoat, and walked immediately to
Argyle Street. When he approached the houfe,
he heard the found of fiddles, and people danc
ing : he at once dlibelieved the report, think
ing it very unlikely, if it were true, that Mr.
Martindale Ihould have a ball in his houfe. He
was however foon convinced of his error,
when he faw feveral odd-looking men reeling
out of it, and heard them hallooing for coaches
for the LADIES. He addreffed himfelf to the
mod decent-looking one, who told him it was
Mrs. Drapery's birth-day, and that all the no
blemen's gentleman and ladies' women of the
neighbourhood were aifembled to celebrate it;
that Mr. Martindale was at his county feat in
Cornwall, and that Lady Jane was gone off
with Lord Darniey. Glencairn thanked his
informer, and returned to his apartment. He
had appointed a week from that day to go on
board the Ihip, and was determined to employ
the whole of it in making enquiries after her.
He flattered himfelf that it would be in his
power to " recall the wanderer home ;" and
ihould he fail in the attempt, it was fUll a laud
able one. He thought he faw her deftitute of
L
i22 THE CONTRAST:
money, and of friends ; and might he not {tip-
ply the place of both ? Yet, he again reflect
ed, was Ihe deferving fvich attention from him,
and ought he not to be with-held from ihewing
it by his facred engagement to Mary Stuart f
The gentle, the virtuous, the faithful Mary
pofiefled but, alas ! the fecond place in his re
gard ; he was .in ore ri vetted by honour, than
he was bound by love.
The next morniug, the Director favoured
him with a vifit, and infilled on his dining with
him.'. They talked of Colonel Stuart, and
Glencairn f lightly touched on his engagement
with his daughter; but as feveral gentlemen
were prefent, many words did not pals on the
fubjeci. Glencairn drank freely of Cape and a
variety of other wines. His life had hitherto
been one continued fcene of fobriety, and it
was not to be wondered at, in the prefent mo
ment, that the liquor daggered his leafon, and
at length wholly overcame it. To this might
be added the diforclered fituation of his mind,
and both threw him into a date of temporary
madnefs. He ftole away from the Director's
houfe, and went directly to Mr. Martindale's;
where, on enquiring for tylrs. Drapery, he
foon gained admuTion. She immediately knew
him ; confirmed all he had heard ; told him
where to find Lady Jane ; and finiihed by fay
ing, that had he come fooner to town, he
would have probably had the preference over
Darnley.
Fluihed as he was with wine ; and inflamed
A NOVEL. 123
by thefubject, he fcarcely gave her time to fi-
niih the fentence, ere he dire&ed his wayward
fteps to words Great Cumberland Street. No
fooner was the ftreet door opened, than he im-
pecuoully ru (lied forward, and, without making
any enquiry at Lady Jane's apartment, abrupt
ly entered it. She liar ted, and was terrified
by his appearance, and received him with dif-
tant civility. His pailion knew no bounds.
Love, jealojufy, and rage, were confpicuous in
his countenance j he called her infamous, and
ungrateful, and vowed to be the death of
Lord Darnley^ if fiiedid not inftantly confent
to go off with him. At the word infamous,
die ihuddered. Her foul difdained the menace ,
and the accufer ; yet me was flung by his ex-
preilions. Was that the language me defer ved,
or had been accuftomed to ? -Was there NO
difcriminatior* ? no more gentle epithet for a
heart nearly broken by accumulated misfor
tunes, but which had plunged into an illegal,
though almoit uuavoidable connection ? She
had been thrown headlong down a precipice,
and was now accufed, and reproached, becaufe
fhe fell ! Glencairn had not arrived time e-
nough tofnatch her from impending ruin ; but
he feemed to triumph in her misfortune, and
to take an unmanly advantage of it to infult
her. She felt that her fituation laid her open
to the frowning cenfures of the world, but he
was the laft perfon that fhould remind her of
it. She had not reafon to expecl to meet with
lenity from her female acquaintance, after the
KIND leifcn Mils Fielding had taught her.
Alas! were all the SEEMING virtuous charac-
L 2
THE CONTRAST;
terstobemimaiked, how many, more culpablein
reality than Lady Jane, would be branded with
the YV ord infamous ! The daughters of Albion,
as they are the faireft productions of nature,
fhonld be alfo the moil generous. They ihonld
learn to pity, before they condemn ; they
.'Id be merciful, as God is merciful ; and
they would find more favour in his light when
they wipe away the tear of anguifh,than when
they wantonly and cruelly augment it. Let
them not forget the old Spaniih proverb, that
Vr hoever throws ftones at his neighbour's win-
daws, ihouid remember his own are made of
glafs.
Youth, beauty, health, and even life itfelf,
are too frequently facrificed to thefe miitaken
prejudices of the world. How many noble
minds are overthrown by them ! for I hope,
and believe, that few women who are not born
and educated in the path of vice, can be deem
ed defer ving of the dilgrace and opprobrium
with which they are overwhelmed, from the
moment they become ontcafts of fociety ; or,
that the fulceptible mind can long fupport it J
The contempt of the VIRTUOUS, the infults
of the vulgar, fandtioned aj> it were by their
example, will not fail at laft to break a heart
endued with feniibiiity. How great are the
furrows that arife from too delicate a fhare of it
in many tmn factions of life ! It has long been
a diiputed point, whether or not the pleafures
flowing from SENSIBILITY are not more than
overbalanced by the erodes, difappointment^
A N O V E L 325
mortifications, and infults, it daily receives
from a barbarous herd of INSENSIBLE mortals.
Perhaps it may be fo ; yet a tender fenfible
mind will ftill have pleafures, and enjoy happi-
nei's, which thofe of a coarfer mould know no
thing of. As the fource and fprings of their
felicity are fecret ; fo, to avoid the fneer and
laugh of unfeeling creatures^ they enjoy it in
fecret alfo.
Hard fate of man, on whom the heavens beftow
A drop of pleafurej for a fe;i of woe !
126 THE C O N T R.A S T
CHAP. XXVIII.
LADY Jane prevailed at length on Glen-
cairn to retire ; which however ihe was
not able to accomplilh till he had extorted
from her a promife to coniider of his propofals,
and to fend him a definitive anfwer to them in
the morning. She alfo obtained his word, that
O
he would not take any Heps againft Lord Darn-
ley which might interfere with her prefent ftate
t>f negative peace, till ihe had fotne farther con-
verfation with him. But ihe was relieved
from all apprehentions of that kind early the-
next day by a few lines ihe received from him,
in which he bade her a long adieu. He allured
her that he fe)t the impropriety of which he
had been guilty the preceeding evening, and
he entreated her to forgive it, as with his rea-
fon a proper fenfe of his duty had returned ;
and that left he fhould in another moment of
involuntary inebriation be tempted to oilend
her again in the fame manner, he had deter
mined on going on board the Melville CaiHe
that day ; being refolved to fulfill to the ut-
rnoft the confidence repofed in hirn. He wou!4.
v/iliingly , he added, lofe his life in her defence ;
but he owed the prefent prefervation of it to
the interefb of Colonel Stuart, and his family ;
he was intrufted by-then! \vith the depofit of
A NOVEL.
their future fortune ; it was a facred engage
ment, which, when once fulfilled, would
leave him nothing to hope for, and nothing to
fear.
In a Ihort pcilfcript he added, that his defli-
nation was to return to England as foon as he
haciieenMr. Stuart, and received his com
mands ; when he would find out if poffible
where ihe reiided, and in what fitnation. He
concluded thus abrubtiy, as if fearful of faying
more than he intended ; yet it was eafy to
trace his bewildered mind in every line.
Lady Jane had certainly an attachment for
Lord Darnley ; but it was rather the compulii-
on of gratitude, than the effufion of love. She
had lately obierved in him an air of conflraint,
and fome times of moroferieis, that ihe had not
before perceived ; yet ihe conlidered it both
her duty and inclination to apprize Lord Darn-
ley of their interview. He pan led while me
related it ; then feeming, fuddenly to recollect
himfelf, advifed her if pollible to marry Glen-
cairn. He did not, he faid, mean to keep up
. the boyilh farce of deceiving her ; but he could
not in honour to himfelf, or juftice to his
daughter, marry her himfelf. His fortune (lie
knevv was not large. Yet he could fpear out
of it an annuity of one hundred pounds, which
he would fettle on her in addition to whatever
allowance might be made her by Mr. Martin-
daie, after the divorce bill had pafled. She
muft not, he added, expert to fee him fo fre-
cpently as Ihe had hitherto done j it might
THE C O N L R A S T:
prevent his forming an HONOURABLE connect;-
on, which he owed to the infancy and fituation>
of his daughter.
Lady Jane Mened to this fpeech in Client a-
ftonilhment ; and, when it was over, ironical
ly thanked his lordihip for the KINDNESS of his
intentions ; but affured him that it was the laft
time ihe would degrade herfelf by feeing him.
With an air of dignity, uncontaminated by
pailion of any kind, Ihe commanded him to re
tire, and never more to infult her either by
his prefence, or his offers of mifplaced generofi-
ty, or wound her feelings by unmerited con
tempt. She was at lead his equal in- point of
rank ; and in fentiment, far his fuperior. She
loved the little Louifa with almoft the fame
maternal tendernefs ihe fhould have felt, had
Heaven bleiTed her with a child ; buther pride
had been too grolsly infulted to allow her to
give farther proofs of it. She repeated her wifh
of feeing him no more, and with haughty,, but
determined refolution, forbade him to intrude
farther on her prefence.
Lord Darnley looked abaihed, and mortifi
ed ; he endeavoured to ftamrner out an excufej
but finding it would avail nothing, he made a
lo w bo w and \v it h J re w .
In nev/, ami alarming a (Tanks of fortune, i
there be 'eifure for -reflection, the mind retires
into its c adel ; arid there, rejecting every ufe-
lefs or ordinary companion, admits alone thofe
rare energetic powers ; whofe vigour can repel,
A N O V E L. 129
or vigilance elude, the fury of the ftorm. In
fuch a dilemma, fhe naturally thought of Glen-
cairn ; not as the future happy rival of Lord
Darniey ; not as her champion, whom ihe
might expect to find bold in his revenge of her
injuries; but, as a friendly divinity, whofe
foothing pity, if it could notdhTipate, would at
leaft elfufe a fympathetic balm. Yet it was not
until' after fome ftruggles that fhe determined to
write, and requeit feeing him once more ; and
difpatched Tom with a letter to that effect, to
Black-wall.
He loft no time after receiving it in obeying
her fummons; and drew from her full a confeffi-
on of her intimacy with Lord Darniey, and
his fubfequent conduct. He faid little in re
ply, but loon after excu fed himfelf on pretence
of buiineis which would detain him half an
hour, and went directly to Lord Darniey 's
lodging, determined to demand fatisfaction for
the ungentlemanly and cruel treatment that he
had exerted towards an unhappy and unprotect
ed woman. His lordfnip having probably en
tertained fome fufpicioris on that head, had
paid off his lodgings, and left town an hour
before Giencairn arrived there.
Cruelty and cowardice are fo clofely connect
ed, as to be deemed almoit infeparable. The
man who wo Ad wantonly torture and deftroy
even theleait of God's creatures, will be feldom
found to poilefs that degree of courage which
naturally belongs to the Lord of the creation,
v, iach habitual vice only can do away.
130 THE CONTRAST*
He will tyrannize over thofe unhappy
whom the chance of fortune has rendered ful>
fervient to his power ; but he will (brink from
thofe who can reign over HIM, and ftand aghalt
at the appearance of fu per ior virtue". A man of
real courage is a man of ftrict honour j he will,
like the tried warrior, pity, and releave as far
as he is able, the lefs fortunate vanquUhed; but
he will defpife the pitiful prerogative of exult
ing over, and adding to, accumulated woes.
Such were the oppaiite characters of lord Darn-
ley, and Glencairn.
In two days more the Melville-Caftle was to
go down the river ; and Glencairn's engage
ments were of too lerious a nature to be broken.
He faid nothing to Lrady Jane of his knowledge
of Lurd Darnley's depart re ; but requeued
her to perfevere in not leeing him ; and advi-
fed her to retire to foaie more private lodging,
where (he might wait the iffue of the matter
now pending in law. He told her that he ho
ped to return to England in fifteen or eighteen
months ; and he begged her not to forget that
(he had one friend left, who would never defert
her interests, though the facrifice of his ever-
laiting peace muftbe made to the memory of her
fufferings, and his own feeble condition. With
thefe words he left her, but ah, in what afitu-
ation ! no friends, no ibciety^ not even an
acquaintance to whom flic might pour out her
griefs and her mind difturbed aimolt beyond
she powers of reflection ! Towards evening
ihe walked out, and her fteps were involuntari
ly directed towards Bromptou. She would
A NOVEL. 131
have'pafled the houfe which contained Mifs
Darnley ; but by accident me looked up, and
faw her playing in her nurfe's arms, at the
\vindow. She was then about eight months
old. Lady Jane could not refift the temptati
on ; but running eagerly up (lairs; luffed her
with ardent affection, while the tears ftream-
ed down her cheeks. The objed: of her walk
v/as to find out a cheap lodging in a decent fa
mily ; in this Ihe foon fucceeded, and took it
from the following day.
She returned home, and was fitting over a
flender fupper, rapt in melancholly ideas, when
a loud knock at the ilreet-door, and a hackney-
coach flopping at it, arrefted her attention.
Tom informed her that it was an old gentle
man, who declined fending up his name, but
particularly requefted to fee her. She was in.
that rtate of torpid infenfibility which renders
us alike indifferent to every thing, and (lie gave
orders that he ihould be admitted. This unex
pected vifitor was old Mr. Martindale ; at
fight of him her tears flowed afrefh, but he
bade her be comforted. Nothing, he faid,
that lay within HIS power ihould be wanting
to foften the rigour of her deftiny. He had
called to affure her of it ; and would repeat his
v T ifits, though he wiflied his family might re
main ignorant ot them. The fettlement, he
faid, of two thoufand ponnds per annum that
had been made on her marriage, and was to
defcend to her in cafe (he furvived her hufband,
would (till hold good if there was no divorce,
#nd that Ihe refuied to fignany bond that might
132 THE CONTRAST:
be propofed to her, till ihe had been advifed
how to ad. His foil had been already inform
ed by his counfel, that there did notexift any
juft plea for a divorce ; and he was determined
not only to apprife her of what ihe ought to do,
but alfo from time to time acquaint her with
what fteps were to be taken, and his opinion of
them. He ftaid with her near an hour ; and
promifing to call on her next evening at
Brompton, took his leave of her with every ap
pearance of pity and regard.
She received the next morning a long confo-
latory letter from Glencairn; but as it contain
ed nothing more than a repetition of his friend-
lliip and good wiihes, we will not tranfcribe it ;
but take for the prefent our leave of him, \viih-
ing him a profperous voyage to India, and a
fate and happy return to Britain.
Mr. Martindale went as he had promifed to
Brompton ; and faid he was authorifed by his
fon to make known to iier in what manner he
chofe, that he fhould henceforwards continue to
allow her one hundred pounds per annum ; and
that he had given orders to his banker to pay
her immediately five hundred pounds, as a pre
fent from himfelf. She had hitherto thought of,
and now cared, fo little about pecuniary mat
ters, that (lie was perfectly fatisfied with his
propofal to execute a deed of feparation, that
ihould preclude the poflibility of her debts
falling on her hufband. This was agreed on,
and figned by both parties the following day,
and every thing appeared to be terminated to
A NOVEL. 133
the fatisfaftion of all thofe who were concerned
in it.
CHAP. "XXIX.
FROM the time of Glencairn's departure-,
Mils Stuart's health began to relapfe into
its former ftate of declining Strength. Fre
quent faintings, lofs of appetite ,and a total de-
jeftion of fpirits, were the alarming fore-run
ners -of what was foon confirmed to be a rapid
decline. The Colonel and herfelf received le-
veral letters from him, and in the laft, dated
from the Downs, he took his long farewell.
But thefe, inftead of affuaging her grief at his
lofs, viiibly augmented it. She perceived a
chilly refervc in his manner of addreffing her,
that was inconfiftent the thought with the na
ture of their engagement ; and his filence re-
fpecting Lady Jane Martindale (an account of
whom they had feen in the papers) was to Ma
ry the fureft proof of his not being indifferent
about it. In a few weeks Mr. Courtenay be
came their vifitor ; but knowing the fituatioii
of her heart, he dropped all preteniions to be
her lover, and gloried but in the title of her
fincere and fympathizing friend. He divided
with the Colonel his attentions to her ; and
his naturally cheerful diipofition often forced a
fmile from her pale and placid countenance,
M
134 THE CONTRAST;
while it feconded the anxious wiflies of her ve*
nerable father, by fometimes enabling him to
a flu me an air of gaiety from which his heart was
very far removed.
Many months pafied in which tiieir hours
were thus uniformly, and not unpleafingly di
vided. The Colonel and Mr. Courtenay ge
nerally rode out ; and when the cold was not
too fevere (for it was now winter ) Mifs Stu*
art frequently accompanied them behind a fer-
vant, for Ihe was too weak to venture alone on
horfe-back. They had .one morning in the
month of December extended t^eir ride beyond
its ufual bounds, when they were overtaken
by a fudden itorm. The hailftones pelted them
with fury, and thick flakes of fnow fell in a-
bundance over them. They found themfelves
nine miles from Allanbank, and were obliged
to take flicker in a fmall cottage, till they could
difpatch their attendant to the nearelt town
v/here a chaife might be procured, and which
was at a much greater diitance. They did not
reach home till near lev en o'clock in the even
ing , and the florin had not yet abated.
They had but juft changed their wet clothes,
and were fitting round the blazing fire, wait
ing their early iupper, when Keeper , the faith
ful houfe-dog, announced by his loud barking,
the unufual appproach of vifitors. He was
ibon echoed by feveral other dogs, whole
peaceful : {lumbers he had difturbed, as they lay
itretched round the comfortable hearth of the
Jiofpitable parlour. The rain pattered againft
A N O V E L, 135
the windows, and the wind loud whittled through
the trees, which hardly f uttered them todiiViu-
ginih the rattling of carriage wheels, till it ap
proached clofe to the outward gate. Mary's
heart ilr(\ bounded high \rith fluttering expec
tation, and then funk with dire difmay.
The inhabitantsof Allanbank foon aflembledat
the door ; from whence ^ after a ihort interval
of painful fufpence, they could perceive, by the
glimmering light of the different candles they
held, a female form, which, lightly tripping
uptbela-wiij was enquiring of every one ihe
faw, whether Mifs Stuart was there ? On be
ing anfv: ered in the affirmative, ihe fiew to her
embrace, and, without giving Mary time to
recoiled herfelf, a feed her if ihe had quite for
gotten her old friend, Sophia Beaumont ?
<*** .
Mary drew back with fear, as thinking me
beheld her ghoil ; for how could mother St.
Etienne, a confirmed nun of one of the ftri<fteft
orders in France, be not only liberated from
her confinement, but alfo a folitary wanderer
in a remote part of a kingdom to which fhe was
an entire ftranger? A moment's paufe con
vinced her ; and that moment drew a tear of
blood from her heart, as it brought to her re
membrance the ikuation of -perfecuted France !
that country in which Ihe had palled fome of the
happieit hours of unconfcious infancy ; where
fhe had fo often witnefFed the gay dance, the
feilive board, the jocund long, and all the
fprightly attributes of light-footed felicity.
Alas] how fad^ how bitter, how . fudden,
M 2,
136 THE CONTRAST:
how heart-breaking, was now the vaft ?&.
vcrfe !
Mary welcomed her friend with unfeigned
iatisfaction, and when fupper was over, Mi fa
Beaumont began her pathetic narration. She
dwelt with pity oa the violation of every facred
jriilmition. The Catholic religion, whole out
ward forms pourtrayecl the excels of romantic
iuperftition, now flood unmaiked, and terrible
to view. The favage chiefs of France, whof
hands were perpetually employed in fheddmg
without mercy the blood of innocents, had laid
low the buildings that were devoted to the fer-
\ ice of God, and at length dared to deny his
name. Nor did ihe forget (while the tear of
pity dreamed down her cheeks, and down
thole of her auditors) the holy fifterhood of
her now violated, but once facred, afylum c
Thofc aged and venerable nuns, whole life had
been fpent within its quiet walls, and who,
devoted iince childhood to their religion, had
peaceably and uniformly fulfilled its duties,
were now torn by the rough hand of violence-
from their folitary cells, and expofed to buffet
with the ftormsof a world they had never feen,
and of which they had coveted only A GRAVE !
The great clock (truck twelve ; and, by re
minding them of the latenefs of the hour, re-
leafed the compailionate hearts under the roof
at Allanbank from dwelling farther on the me
lancholy tale ; and Mifs Beaumont, fatigued
by her long journey, was glad to retire as foon
as fiie had fatisned them of the means which
brought her thither, An Engliih family to
A N O V E L. 137
whom (he was unknown had conducted her by
che way of Oftend to London, and fupplied her
with money more than fufficient to defray her
expences to Scotland. This charming girl,
though French by* birth, was calculated to a-
dorn human nature ; her heart recoiled at the
horrors exercifed by her ferocious countrymen,
horrors fo great they want a name, and beggar
all defcription I
M
THE CONTRAST-
CHAP. XXX.
T would be difficult to meet with minds
more perfectly congenial than were thofe of
Mary Stuart and Sophia Beaumont. They
were charmed with the ibciety of each other,
yet Mils Beaumont's delicacy was wounded by
her being wholly dependent on her friends.
From this motive me wifhed, after a few
months reiidence at Allanbank, to remove from
it till fuch time as ihe might be able to with
draw her {lender fortune out of the hands of
her family. She was an adept at all kinds of
needle-woik, and thought it might be practica
ble for her to gain a maintenance at Edin
burgh ; but Mils Stuart's precarious ftate of
health would not permit her to hint at it. She
\vasevery day fornewhat weaker than the for
mer one; yet with that flattering hope which
is almoft conftantly attendant on her fatal difor-
der, {he derived the moi\ fanguine expectations
of her recovery with the approaching fpring.
Mils Beaumont and Mr. Courtenay wereinde-
migably attentive to her ; but the Colonel was
too well aware of her danger, not to ftand
himfelf in need of that afliftance he endeavour
ed to give his dying daughter.
Ler ftoicks enjoy their frigid infenfibility^
A NOVEL, 109
^j f.
and philofophers boa ft the command of pailions
they never felt ; but where is the heart endued
With NATURAL TENDERNESS, that COllld
have refrained fyrnpathizing with Mifs Beau-
moat iu her feelings for her friend ? Courte-
nay's could not. His admiration of her amia
ble difpoiition, which was fo feelingly difplay-
ed on this melancholy occafion, led him by de
grees to a more tender fentiment, which he
had fome reafon to think did not remain long,
unnoticed by the lovely Sophiav
It was an union that Mifs Stuart ardently
wifhed ; and the deep bluihes which had once
overfpread Mifs Beaumont's face on hearing
his name inadvertently mentioned, confirmed
her in the opinion (he had formed of their mu
tual attachment. I have already faid that Mr,
Courtenay poireffed a coniiderable fortune in
Ireland; but his generous foul diidained the idea
of hoarding money, and it was not unufual for
him to exceed the bounds of his income by
deeds of charity and benevolence. He was at
this time about fifty years of age ; and had ram
bled fufficiently about the world, to wiih to be
at length quietly fettled in it. He had partly
determined on going to Ireland for that pur-
pole, when he law Mifs Beaumont. His paf-
iion for Mils Stuart had worn away in propor
tion as his hopes of being united to her dimi-
mined,
Mifs Stuart fent for him one morning into
her dreiling-room ; and taking from a drawer a
miniature of herfelf that had been done in Italy
I 4 o THE CONTRAST:
(and which, contrary to her expectation, Glen-
cairn had not afked for at his departure), pre-
fented it to him. She requeued that he would
give it to Mifs Beaumont ; adding, that (he
was greatly rniftaken in her Conjectures if fhe
did not receive it with additional fatisfadlion
from his hands.
This fpeech was too flattering to the wifhes
of Mr. Courtenay, to be mifunderftoodbyhim.
His next care, after giving the picture as deiir-
ed, was to open his mind to Colonel Stuart,
and to repeat to him what had paiTed. The
young ladies had already come to an explanati
on on the fubjeft ; and before evening it was
refolved on, with the hearty concurrence of all
parties, that Mr. Courtenay fliould receive the
hand of Sephia.
In lefs than three weeks he had made an ho
nourable fettlement on his fair intended ; and
foon after, the marriage was folernnized. Mi is
Stuart inlifted on being prefent at the ceremo
ny, but fainted before it was over, and was
with difficulty conveyed from the church to her
chamber. Her heart rejoiced at the happinefs
of her friend : but it brought fad recollections
to her mind, and was near fubduing the little
ftrength that was left her. Mr. Courtenay hi
red a finall hou-fe that was fortunately vacant
in the neighbourhood of Allanbank, as' they
\v ere determined nor, to leave Mifs Stuart till
the curtain of death had been gently drawn o~
yer the lail fcene of her exiftence*.
A N O V E L. 141
They had been fettled there about ten
months, and Mrs. Courtenay's fituation was
fuch as to require every precaution and care
that a fond hufband, and anxious friend, could
bellow on it, when it unfortunately happened
that ihe was one evening fitting with Mifs
Stuart in her apartment, and the London
newfpapers arrived. Mrs. Courtenay opened
them, and began to read ; but had not proceed
ed far, when (he faw the words Melville CaiUe*
Eager to fatisfy her own impatience, and that
of her unhappy friend, fhe began to go through
the paragraph ; but flopped in the middle of it,
gave a loud fcream, and fell in hyfterics on the
iloor. Her cries foon brought the fervants up
(lairs, who were followed by the Colonel and
Mr. Courtenay. The fatal myftery was in-
ilantly revealed ; the alarming paragraph dat
ed that the Melville Cattle was arrived fafe at
Madras ; but that a boat belonging to her had'
funk at the entrance of the harbour, and that
all the perfons on board had unfortunately pe
ri ihcd,
Mifs Stuart difplayed the moft heroic forti
tude on this oceafion ; her fears for her friend
iuperfeded every felfifh pang, and ihe feemed
to foar above mortality. She ihed no tears,
but fweetly fmiled as Mrs. Courtenay recover
ed, and even endeavoured to- perfuade them
that fhe had a prefentiment of Glencairn's not
being of the number of thofe unhappy paflen-
gers. A premature delivery, and the death of
her child, were the only ill confequences that
befel Mrs. Courtenay ; and which, by detain-
C O N T R A S T:
ing her at Allanbank, was not unaccompanied
by confutation to Mils Stuart, who was too ill
to villt at her houfe, and derived her greateft
comfort on attending her, in a room adjoining.
to her own. Mrs. Courtenay foon recovered ;
but it was to witnefs a fcene which-,- though
ihe had long expefted, fhe was ill prepared for.
Mifs Stuart found herfelf one day fo much
better, that fhe requeited they would all indulge
her by dining in her room. She had drafted
herfelf to receive, as ihe (aid, her vifitors,
with unufuai care. When dinner was over, ihe
defired Mr. Courtenay to lead her to the piano
forte ; when faintly touching the ciifcordaat
firings, ihe endeavoured to go through her fa
vourite air,
I know that my Redeemer liveth,
which ihe attempted to accompany with her
voice ; but her itrength failed in the attempt,
and ihe fimk motkmleis on the chair. When
Ihe came ta herfelf, ihe affectingly took a hand
of her father's, and repeatedly prefled it to her
lips. She then for the fir it time acknowledged
to thern ail, that fhe was feniible of her ap
proaching diflblution. She begged the Colonel
would comply with her requeit, and, in cafe
of Glencairn's returning to England, that he
would make him his heir ; faying, (he could
not die in peace unlefs ihe obtained the promife
ofthat whichlay neareft to her heart. ' In half-
broken fentences he allured her of it, and bade
lier be comforted,
A N O V E L. 143
Towards evening fhe begged of Mr. Courte-
nay to read prayers to her, and defired that all
the fervants might be called up flairs to join in
the pious Icene. Soon after they were over,
fhe called Mr, and Mrs. Courtenay, and the
Colonel, round her chair ; and embraced the
two former as fhe prayed of God to blels them.
But when her father drew near ; when ihe felt
his arms clinging round her wailt, as if to
fhield her from the tyrant who was advancing
with hafty fteps to feparate them for ever, ihe
faintly articulated the word farewell ; her head
funk on his boibm, and with a deep and heavy
expired I
It was fome time before, they could perfuadc
themfelves Ihe was dead ; a faint glow tinged
her cheek, and a fweet fmile was viiible on her
countenance, from the moment the feparatioa
of the foul and body had taken place. They
laid her gently on the bed, and applied a mir
ror to her lips. But the faithful rnoniter refuf-
ed to deceive. Her breath was fled ; and her
foul, already towering beyond the confines of
mortality, was reaping the reward of inno*
pence and virtue,
*44 T " O N T R A S
C H A P. XXXI.
MR S. Courtenay -refigned to her hufband
the melancholy office of confoling the
affli&ed Colonel, \vho vainly endeavoured to
reconcile himfelf to the fad feparation. He
however derived comfort from the idea that it
could not be of long duration, for .he felt that
he fhould not long furvive his Mary. He
took a mournful pleafure in decorating her
ienfelefs corfe with fuch flowers as his humble
green-houfe could fupply. He watched the fad
proceflion as it moved from the houfe ; at the
head of it, was the faithful M 4 Kenzie, bending
herpaliied frame towards the earth in Ipeechlefs
woe. Mr. Courtenay fupported her ; nor did
his manly countenance lofe fight of its dignity-
while overfpread with the tears of affe&ion and
fympathy. Eight young Highland girls bore
the precious burden to its deftined home ; and
the folemn fcene was conduced with that filent
a\ve which intermingles itfelf with pious refig*
nation to the infcrutable will of Heaven.
The ceremony oyer, the mourners return-
ed ; and by degrees, Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay
left Colonel Stuart's houfe to inhabit once more
their own. Yet they continued a$ one family,
and omitted nothing that could tend towards
A NOVEL. 145
alleviating the diftreffes of their venerable
friend. But this care was not long allotted
them. In a few weeks, Colonel Stuart entreat
ed them to give up their houfe, and to take
polTeilion of Allanbank ; conlidering it as their
depoQt till, by the unavoidable arrangement of
his affairs, it might hereafter become neceiTary,
through Glencairn's return, for them to re
linquish it.
He foon after made his will, and difpofed of
every thing as his daughter had directed ; allot
ting only ibme trifling legacies to Mr. and Mrs.
Courtenay ; a fmall but fufficient annuity to
Mrs. M^Kenzie ; and remembrances to his
.other domeftics in proportion to their age and
fervices. He farther ttipulated, that in cafe of
Glencairn's death without iiTue, his whole pro
perty was to devolve to Mrs. Courtenay, and
HER heirs for ever. The bufinefs of life being
finally fettled, the excellent Colonel Stuart re-
figned his breath, while glorifying his Redeem
er that had heard his prayer, and was going to
reftore him to his Mary,
Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay remained in quiet
pofleifion of Allanbank. Exemplary patterns of
domeftic felicity, they had already palled three
years there ; during which Heaven bleiTed
them with two children ; nor did they know a
day's feparation, till Mr. Courtenay went to
Ireland for fix weeks, on bufinefs relative to
his own affairs. His amiable Sophia refufed all
ibciety but that of her children and the worthy
M c Kenzie ; who being now tooold to interfere
N
a
146 THE CONTRAST:
in houfehold management, was become her
conftant companion. They could not hear of
Glencairn, though they had ufed every endea
vour to know his fate, on the retiirn of the
Melville Cattle. All they could -difcover,
was, that he was not of the number of the
..drowned pafTengers in the boat. They had
landed him at Madras; and from their not ha
ving received any tidings of him fmce, they
concluded that he was either removed to fome
more diftant part of India, or died loon after
.his arrival there. But they did not appropriate
any part of his intended fortune to their own
ufe ; they ttudiouily endeavoured to accumu
late, and enjoyed the pleafing, diiinterefted
hope, that {till exifted, of his return to the full
enjoyment of it.
Let us now revert to the ill- treated Lady
Jane Mar tin dale ; who, hurried progrellively
from one falfe ftep to another, found many
Lord Darnleys, but few friends. Old Mar-
tindale frequently vilrted her ; but ihocking to
relate ! loon convinced her, by his proposals,
of the depravity of his mind. He fold her that
her future fortune was in his hands, and that
he would provide for, or forfake her, accor
ding to her treatment of him. He queitioned
her as to the ttate of her prefent finances; and
on finding that her thoughtlefs extravagance
had reduced them to the loweft ebb, he threw
a fifty pound not on the table, and endeavourr
ed to extort from horror and fear, a facrifice that
in a generous breaft mult be ever facred to love
alone.
A N O V L, 147
fallen as me already was in her own efteem,
and in chat of others, ihe yet could not hear a
fentiment fo degrading to humanity, without
feeling a mixture of terror and furpriie. Though
reduced to the lait exigences, fhe would fain
have returned the note to its defpicable owner:
but he indited, on leaving it ; and, ihewing
evident fymptoms of difappointment and confu-
fion, foon after took his leave.
Lady Jane gave herfelf up a prey to inward
defpair, and outward diiiipa.tion. While the
tears rofe in crimfon torrents from her heart,
{he wildly decorated her perlbn with the iniig-
nies of joy ; and ibuglit a tranfuory relief ia
falfe pleafures, while (he continued to be a
Granger to every real one. The doors thai;
flickered virtue, were clofely barred againft
her approach ; thofe of vice, only, llcod upon
to receive her. In every new lover, ihe fought
a friend ; in every new lover, {he gained au
enemy. She had heard of Mifs Stuart's death,
but to Glencairn'sfate (he was wholly indiffer
ent. Several weeks elapfed without her hear
ing any thing more of old Mr. Martindale ; and
fo invincible was her prefent averfion to him,
that although from motives of prudence ihe
\vas with-held from publickly expoilng him,
ihe rejoiced at her deliverance from the
light of fo unworthy, fo unprincipled a relati
on.
She was one clay waited on by an elderly
gentleman, whofe appearance prejudiced her
warmly in his favour. He fpoke the language
N 2,
i'4 THE CONTRAST:
of pity, and of friendly advice ; founds to
which Hie had been long unaccuitomed. After
the neceilary introduction, he informed her
that Mr. Martindale, fenior, died fuddenly
t\vo days before, in an apoplectic fit, and that
his will had been that morning read, a codicil
was found to have been lately added to it, by
which he ratified to Lady Jane the enjoyment
of the two thoitfand pounds per annum, in cafe
of her (iirviviiig her hufband ; but that he had
not bequeathed her, for temporary fupplies^
any legacy whatever.
Lady Jane cared fo little about worldly con
cerns, that ihe heard of this difappointmem
without the leaftdifcompofure. Her rnind had
now yielded to that itate of hurried perplexity,
that did not allow her time to reflect on all the
miferies attending her hapleis fituation. She
had taken an elegant houie in town ; and its
expences were unceafingly defrayed by the di
vers fucceflbrs to her attention. All inter-
courfe between her and the little Louifa Darn-
ley had been long fince prohibited by the un
feeling lord ; who, callous to misfortunes of
v hich he had been a principle author, now
wantonly regarded her, wherever he met her,
with the piercing look of ineffable contempt.
The affection Ihe once bore him was totally ob
literated ; and me could meet him and Mifs
Fielding together, which was not unufual. be
holding them with the lame degree of contempt
which they did not fail manifeiting towards her
upon every occafioiu
A NOVEL. 149
A black coach, and all the outward trappings
of woe, were the tokens by which Hie foon
defcried Mrs. Martindale ; who daily paraded
the Park and Bond-ftreet with all the folemnity
of DECENT widowhood. To this was oppofed
the gaudy equipage of Lady Darnley, late
Mifs Fielding ; but this did not excite in the
breaftof La4y Jane, one fenfation of forrow,
envy, or furprife. Her feelings were howe
ver powerfully affected by a premeditated infuk
fhe received from Lady Darnley, a few days
after her marriage ; who having flopped her
carriage one morning at a Ihop in Bond-ftreet,
was fpeaking to one of the people at the coach
door, when Lady Jane palfed by. Mifs Darn-
ley was with her, and eagerly called to Lady
Jane ; when Lady Darnley fuddenly drew the
fpring blind, to prevent her enjoying the (len
der, fatisfaclion of even looking at her.
THE C O N T R A S
CHAP. XXXI I.
MR S. Martindale did not long remain a
widow. Ere the long twelvemonth
was expired, during \vhich it was neceiiary for
her to fubmit to the doleful attire, and to put
up with a corner of one of her drawing room
windows being darkened by a hatchment, flie
made a promife that when once the happy peri-
oxl arrived, fhe would bettow her hand on a
more fuitable lover than Hie had found in her
old man. Captain O'Trigger, whofe comrnif-
fion centered in a daihvng cockade, had paraded
his ponies about the city of Bath during feveral
ieaibns. But, though the gaming tables were
in general propitious to him, the chofen focie-
ties were not fo. ThemiiTes all vowed, that
Captain OTrigger \vas the fineft fellow in
Bath ; but the mammas and guardians gave
him fo little encouragement, that the Captain
at length thought it beft to beat a precipitate
retreat, and try his fuccefs in London. He
\vas a fine, tall, handfome looking man ; neat,
but prepoiterous in his drefs, and fond to a de
gree of his perfon. No man knew better than
himfelf the names of all the different eflences
and pomatums imported from India and France.
From the powerful otto of rofes, down to the
more reviving, but more humble lavender wa-
A NOVEL. 151
rer, his dr effing- room was the repoiitory of
them all; which, together with his ponies, a
few fans from Italy, and fome pots of rouge
warranted vegetable (the two latter articles he
referved for the happy fair on whom he might
hereafter fix his choice,) compofed the whole
ftqck in trade of this FASHIONABLE MILITARY
HERO.
Captain O 'Trigger, whofe modefty was not
in the habit of laying any embargo on his in
clinations, no fooner beheld our young wido\v r
and was informed who ihe was, than he deter
mined to lay clofe liege to her ; and as an ad
vantageous marriage was the firft grand object
of his puriuit, he was refolved to transform his
character into exactly any one . that he might
find on father enquiry would be moft likely to
determine her in his favour,.
He bega/r to try the whole battery of his ar
tillery againftthe vain Mrs. Martindale ; firir,
by the aid of a fmall glafs, fnfpended to a black
ribbon, and dangling from his neck; with
which he affailed her wherever the went
while the expreilion of a damned fine ivoman !
was uttered JUST loud enough to catch her
ear. At firft ilie thought his accents favoured
rather too much of the brogue ; but at length
cuftom reconciled her to him, and Ihe hazarded
not ere long to avow a diftinguiihed preference
to Captain OTngger over the reft of his com
petitors,
'He foon became the acknowledged intended
THE CONTRAST:
of the beautiful widow ; not that ihe cared for
him in her heart, bat her vanity was gratified
at the idea of mortifying her rivals, whom her
opinion had magnified into a much greater
number than even Captain OTrigger himlelf
could lay reafonably any claim to.
The lad few weeks of Mrs. Martindale's
funeral appearance were dedicated to preparati
ons for her approaching nuptials; on the
itrength of which, her favourite Captain was
enabled to cut a much greater figure than be
fore. A fumptuous vis a-vis was building at
Hatchett's, by HIS exprefs order; and in
which his tafte ihone confpicuous. She was per
fectly convinced of the iincere attachment of
this Knight of Indufkry, and in giving him her
hand, bei\o\;ed on him alfo her OWN houfc in,
Devonihire-place ; and every appendage of lux
ury ihe parted with in his favour, with as lit
tle difficulty as me herfelf had formerly obtain
ed them,
For fome months the torch of Hymen blazed
with unremitting ardour ; but the inilability of
human happinels foon overpowered, and at
. length wholly extiriguiihed it. Mrs. Martin-
dale (now Mrs. OTrigger ) was fatally con
vinced that .flie was the dupe of a deiigning for
tune-hunter ; for fuch in reality was her chofen
mate.
It would be needle is to detail the many oc
currences which led to the fad reverfe of for
tune fhe was henceforward fated to undergo.
A N O V E L. 153
Her hufband's extravagance manifefted itfelf at
the gaming-tables, and elfewhere. Her mo
ney Sheltered him from a goal, but its fource
was not inexhauftible ; and ihe had na fooner
deprived herfelf of every future comfort, for
his prefer vation, than he left her to lament her
error in obfcurity and poverty. Captain
OTrigger, after felling her houfe and all ihe^
was poiieft of, at length wholly deferred her j
and the only account ihe ever after received of
hirn was that of his having returned to a for
mer wife in Ireland, with whom he had fled to
fome diftant clime, far beyond the reach of law,,
juftice, honour, or humanity.
Lady Jane Martindale continued for a time
to runt-he giddy round of though tkis diilipatu
on ; but her heart, that kad ever unwillingly
yielded to its dictates, was iben tired of its tran*
i\ent gratifications, and fighed after the hum
ble fcenes of peaceful retirement. But thefe,,
alas ! were no longer within the boundary of
her own acquifition. She had no friend to ir.p-
port her tattering fteps ; na foothing hand was
Irr etched forth to yield her comfort ; no confo-
latory parental voice remained to welcome her
out of the path af vice, She was, as it were r
left alone in the vaft univerfe ; the fmall falary
allotted her by Mr. Martindale ihe duly re
ceived ; and hkhcrt temporary additions to it
from her acquaintance had not failed her ; but
(lie knew thefe could not lait long,, and ihe had
acquired experience enough to teach her that
tfaey would exift no longer than he was inclkx-
154 THE CONTRA S.T:
cd to facriiice her happinefs to the enjoyment
of them.
In this fituation,{fhe had already continue*!
fome years, anxious to exchange it, yet not
poifeilmg refolution enough to effect it, -when
fhe was one morning furprifed by the appear
ance of Giencairn. He was fo much altered in
perfon, that ilie Had at hrit fome difficulty to
recollecl; him ; but his heart was the fame. He
had already been m Scotland, where he had
taken po Hellion of Colonel Stuart's eftate ; lull
infilling, that Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay Ihould
not quit Allanbank. His voyage to India had
not been profperous. Mr. Smart's affairs were,
when he arrived there, in fo deranged a fitua-
tioa, that, aii'his death, which happened foon
afterwards, they were found to be little worth
the trouble that had been taken on their ac
count ; and he was at length obliged to aban
don them, after having obtained but a very
Sender advantage in favour of his friend and
patron. But the relidue of Colonel Stuart's
fortune was yet more rhan fufticient to anfwer
any purpofe of his own. He had liberality of
fentiment fuffieient to make every allowance
in favour of Lady Jane Martindale's miftaken
conduct ; and while he could yet entertain the
hope of making H.ER happy, the praife, or the
cenfure of an ill-judging world were to him e-
^ually - indifferent.
He prevailed on her to accompany him to
Edinburgh, where (lie Toon convinced him
that the genuine u-prighcnefs of her heart had
A NOVEL, ir*
</_/
4
remained uncontaiirinated by fafhknaUs levity.
Nor was me long there, before, by her ad mil-
Con into a refpectable family, and the delicate
caution obferved by Glencairn in his vifits to
her, ihe gained that countenance and refpecl
which had been wrenched from her in England
by the iron hand of cruelty, injuftice, and op-
preiiion. Not a year had paiFed after this hap
py tranfition, before the death of Mr. Mar-
tindale, by liberating her from the moft facred,
and moft abufed of engagements, enabled her
to beftow her hand, and large encreafe of for
tune, on him who had fo nobly deierved them.
The amiable Mrs. 'Cotirtenay fhone forth on
this occ&fion the bright reprelentative of SPOT
LESS virtue. She knew how to pity thofe er
rors flie had never known ; and thofe tempta
tions which, as me fweetly, laid, ihe might
not have been able to have withftood, had fate
dealt by her with the fame feverity it had done
towards Lady JaneMartindale. The pomp of
widowhood would have been but ill difplayed
by that hitherto unfortunate lady. She neither
affected the weeds of forrow, nor the trophies
of joy ; but with all the decorum due to her-
felf, and to thofe with whom me was now fo
happily connected Ihe furrendered, as foon as
decency would permit, the name of Martindale^
and became entitled to the more happy one of
Glencairn.
In a fhort time Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay in-
fifted on putting them into pbiTeffion of Allan-
bank, and themfelves retired to their eftate in
Ireland. Glencairn gloried in the fuccefs of
156 THE CONTRAST &c.
his unfhaken fidelity. Lady Jane proved her-
felf the woman of honor and gratitude, by the
conftant re&itude and unremitting care of her
condncl ; nor was Glencairn lefs remarkable as
a huiband, than he had hitherto been from his
fteady attachmenc as a lover, to the objeft of
his fir ft choice,
Mrs. OTrigger plunged into excefs of wan
ton depravity ; and a refufal of Lady Jane's
propofal to receive and proteft her at Allan-
bank was the only inttance of denial fhe ex
perienced from her indulgent hufband. His
acquiefcence to pecuniary offers was not how
ever with-held from her, while any hope re
mained of her defer ving fuch an aclof kindnefs;
but her life was at length wholly abforbed by
drunkennefs and debauchery ; and the pre
mature .end of it was well calculated to afford a
Striking example to A BAD HEART j
Nothing was wanting to augment the felici
ty of Glencairn, but an encreaie of his family ;
and even that was almoft compenfated by the
recolle&ion that Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay
were his heirs.
We will now take leave of Lady Jane Glen
cairn, and her happy hufband. Conftant pat
terns [of connubial happinefs, their lives were
ipent in the exercife of every focial virtue ;
and Lady Jane proved the happy Contra ft be
tween unavoidable error and premeditated vice.
y H E END.
14 DAY USE
RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED
LOAN DEPT.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY