_Mr. De Lancaster and Cecilia return to Kray Castle. An Explanation
takes place between Mrs. Jennings and our Hero John; they are
reconciled._
The next morning saw the equipage of De Lancaster bear away the father
and the daughter not with that speed, which the emblem of the expanded
wings might be construed to betoken, but reverently and deliberately
with that slow and easy motion, which neither hurried the passengers out
of their equilibrium, nor the well-fed cattle out of their accustomed
amble, which was specifically neither walk, trot nor stand-still, though
something seemingly allied to each. In fact the gentry of those days had
not found out the necessity of being in a hurry, when they had nothing
to do that called for expedition.
The numberless things, that Amelia had to do at Denbigh when she did not
wish to leave Glen-Morgan, unluckily occurred to Mrs. Jennings, when if
they had slipped her memory, the omission would have been most readily
forgiven; but that provident lady saw so many things needful for herself
and for her charge, that suit was instantly made for the chariot and
horses, and Mrs. Richards the house-keeper was requested to obtain that
order from her master. Mrs. Richards admitted the necessity of a visit
to Denbigh on the part of Mrs. Jennings, for she saw the pressing claims
of crapes and gauzes in their true and proper force, but having probably
discovered in the expressive features of the young Amelia, then standing
beside her, something that to her conception indicated disappointment,
she good-naturedly cried out--Don’t take this dear child from us, just
when she is beginning to get acquainted and make friends with the family
from Kray Castle.
Why surely, said Mrs. Jennings, you forget that the only lady of that
family is gone away this morning, and you would not I suppose think it
proper for Amelia to stay here without me.
I can’t see what should harm her if she did, the dame made answer. My
poor good master and the colonel have either lost their limbs, or lost
the use of limbs, and as for the young folks, when they are happy in
each other, and innocently so, I always think it is a thousand pities to
part them.
Ah Mrs. Richards, it would be a delightful task indeed, if I had only
to provide the means of making my Amelia happy; for her wishes are so
pure and so prudent, that she deserves to be gratified in them; but
circumstanced as she is, and limited as I am, there are many things,
innocent in themselves, that she must not risk, and many mere
appearances that she must avoid. I dare say her own good understanding
convinces her how necessary it often is to sacrifice what is pleasant
for the sake of what is prudent.
Oh yes; I’m perfectly convinced of that, Amelia said and drew a
sigh--Aye, cried the unconverted dame who pleaded on the side that
pleases best, just so would the poor lady, that we buried yesterday,
have said, and just so she did say; she was a slave to appearances; she
sacrificed every thing to what is called prudence, and only lived to be
a melancholy example how much happier and better she would have been
had she taken counsel of her own heart, and not of other people’s
heads--And thus having wound up her climax and her opinion in the same
moment the good dame with that significant jerk and toss of the head,
which is the veriest unequivocal and not to be mistaken stamp of
self-content, faced about and trotted off in quick time to a kind of
march, that to a musical ear would have marked a measure considerably
above _moderato_, and a firmness in the tread characteristic of one, who
walked by authority, and kept right onwards without check or turning.
I perceive, my dear Amelia, said Mrs. Jennings, that if I persist to do
what I consider to be my duty with respect to you, I shall have every
body’s voice against me; but, thank Heaven, you will soon be under the
protection of the lady of Kray Castle, and then my responsibility will
cease.
I trust, replied Amelia, you have not found me impatient to throw off
your government, and till that happens, I hope you will not dismiss me
from your care. Here the dialogue was interrupted by the coming in of
John De Lancaster and the Reverend Mr. Wilson. Mrs. Jennings immediately
availed herself of the opportunity for requesting a few minutes private
conversation with our hero, and, this being granted, she delivered
herself as follows--
I am sensible, Mr. De Lancaster, that I incurred your displeasure by the
manner, in which I received the honour of your visit, when you last
called upon me in Denbigh. Undoubtedly I ought to have presented Amelia
Jones to you without a moment’s hesitation, that you might have given
into her hands the invaluable relick, you had in charge for her. For
this omission I most heartily ask your pardon, and assure you that I had
no intention to offend, but erred in judgment, when in my over-care to
guard Amelia from the effect of any sudden agitation upon the opening of
that pacquet, I very unadvisedly took the delivery of it upon myself.
What you have already said, replied De Lancaster, is apology more than
sufficient for an oversight on your part, especially as it proceeded
from so considerate a motive; but I am afraid, Madam, my abrupt
departure is not so easily to be excused, and I can only say, that if we
are to exchange forgiveness, I shall have much to sue for, and very
little to bestow. However let me hope that Miss Jones has not been
molested by our misunderstanding, but has the miniature, and thinks it,
as it appeared to me, a very admirable painting.
Sir, resumed Mrs. Jennings, I am sorry to say that the error I
committed, in taking the delivery of the present out of your hands, has
very much molested Miss Jones; and the chief reason for my hastening to
Denbigh is, that I may restore to you the pacquet, which is still in my
keeping, in the hope, that you will condescend to fulfil your first
intention, and with your own hands bestow it upon her, who from her
respect for you and for the express conditions attached to your delivery
of it, has scrupulously denied herself even the pleasure of a sight of
it.
You surprize me and delight me, cried our hero in a tone of exultation.
’Tis an instance of so refined and delicate a sense of honour in the
young lady, whom you have educated, as recommends her to my warmest
veneration and esteem. Don’t let me lose an hour, that can be employed
for her relief, and as you tell me that you are hastening home, where
you have the pacquet in your keeping, I will mount my horse and be ready
at your door to hand you out of your carriage, and in your presence, if
such shall be your pleasure, make a transfer of the relick to the lovely
person, who is so properly intitled to it.
Ah sir, cried Mrs. Jennings, you are infinitely kind, and will not only
take a heavy load from off my heart, but give delight to that beloved
child, whose disappointment has been very great.
Say to her then, said John, that I am gone to make myself ready to
attend upon her, for I hear the chariot coming up to the door. Tell her
that it is to her I owe the conscious gratification of being able to say
with truth, I have never disobeyed any one command of my departed
mother, and say moreover that to save her from disappointment and guard
her from danger is another command delivered to me by the same
authority, and intitled to be treated with the same obedience.--But why
do I trouble you with this idle talk? Say nothing to your lovely charge
for me: What have I to do with professions? Let me earn her good opinion
by my actions--Farewell! Your chariot waits.