A piercing scream from Louise as she sunk insensible by the side of her
mother, roused Mr. Talton and Harland from a serious reflexion on the
object before them. The Lieutenant gently raised and conveyed her to an
adjoining room, where, by the assistance of Mrs. Brown, life soon
returned. He attempted not to restrain the first effusions of filial
sorrow; the heart of Louise, he knew, was the seat of sensibility; but
fortitude and religion were likewise its inmates. In the latter she
found a resource; and he had soon the satisfaction of seeing her
features impressed with a mild though sad serenity.
Sir Henry and Mr. Talton, in the mean time, silently retired to pay that
tribute to the memory of Lady Corbet, she had not altogether merited;
but, to Sir Henry, the last moments of her life had atoned for her
preceding conduct: nor could Mr. Talton retain a spark of resentment for
her ungenerous behaviour to himself: over her actions he drew the veil
of oblivion, and gave a sigh and tear of pity to the untimely close of
her existence.
The next morning he conferred with Sir Henry, and, at his desire,
undertook the care of the funeral. As Lady Corbet had requested, her
remains were conveyed to Holly seat, and deposited in the vault, by her
father. Mr. Talton, Sir Henry, and Harland attended; nor would Louise be
debarred from paying this final mark of respect to her mother; and a
last tear fell on her coffin, as she silently preferred a prayer, that,
with her ashes, the remembrance of her vices might be for ever buried
from the world!
With minds depressed from the scenes they had so lately witnessed, they
were reconveyed to Corbet Hall, where, to the surprise of Sir Henry, he
was informed the Captain and Frederick were at Sir Arthur Howard's.
Two days, indeed, after he set out for Cornwall, Frederick received a
letter from Lady Howard, to acquaint him with the death of his brother,
who, in hunting, had been thrown from his horse, and killed on the spot:
and, as the violence of Sir Arthur's grief, at this untimely loss of his
favourite son, had brought on a severe illness, she had written to
request his immediate presence, with that of the Captain.
They accordingly took a hasty leave of their friends, and returned with
the messenger to Howard Hall, where they were received by Lady Howard,
and an affecting interview took place between her and her son: nor was
the Captain unwelcomed; she had ever felt for him the affection of a
sister; but, as duty was her first consideration, yielded to the
imperious commands of her husband, that he should from that time be
regarded as an alien to the family.
Sir Arthur, she informed them, was still confined to his bed; the
violence of his grief, which they at first apprehended would have
destroyed his reason, had exhausted itself; and he was then sunk into a
gloomy sorrow, which threatened to retain a longer influence on his
mind; the arrival of the Captain and Frederick (now the heir to his
title and estates), she, however, hoped, would not only rouse him from
an unavailing grief, but be the means of effecting a perfect
reconciliation between them.
Lady Howard was right. The attentions of his brother and son proved
highly gratifying to Sir Arthur, who, in a few days, consented to rejoin
his family.
The long-neglected Frederick now appeared to gain an interest in his
heart; though a sigh oft swelled his bosom at the recollection of the
deceased Arthur: but, the rising gloom was ever carefully dispelled by
the lively Theodosia, to whom, since the death of his son, he had
behaved with an unwonted show of affection.
Six weeks passed, when the Captain proposed returning to Corbet Hall;
and, knowing the anxiety which preyed on Frederick's mind, respecting
Ellen, he took an opportunity to mention his engagement with her, to
Sir Arthur: who, contrary to his expectation, readily gave his consent
to their union. When a boy, he said, he had been intimate with her
father, who once saved his life; and as her family was good, indeed
noble, he would wave the consideration of the fortune Frederick, as his
heir, had a right to expect with a wife. He could not, however, he
added, consent to his leaving him entirely; he should pass at least half
his time, till his marriage, with him. To this, Frederick cheerfully
agreed, and, a few days after, returned with the Captain, to Sir
Henry's.
During their absence, Mr. Talton had so far improved his suit, that Mrs.
Blond consented again to enter the marriage state. The late Sir Henry,
she frankly told him, was the only man she had ever loved. The virtues
and amiable disposition of Blond had merited her esteem and sincerest
friendship; those she had still to give, but nothing farther: her
affections were buried in the tomb of Corbet. The gift, he felt, was
still too valuable to be rejected; and he doubted not he yet might
realize the scenes of domestic happiness he had formerly planned.
As the marriages of Sir Henry and Frederick had been deferred, on
account of the decease of Lady Corbet and young Arthur, it was agreed
that, at the time again appointed for that ceremony, Mrs. Blond should
likewise yield her hand to Mr. Talton. Edward sighed as he heard these
arrangements; and the Captain, with concern, perceived his increasing
dejection at his unsuccessful inquiry after the fair Unknown, for whom
he had in vain searched the greatest part of Caermarthen. He then
declared his intention of going to Oxford; to inquire if perchance any
of his acquaintance had seen her since he quitted the University? The
Captain could not oppose his determination, and as Louise and Harland
were going to London, to St. Ledger's, they accompanied him to
Oxfordshire, having promised Sir Henry to return to Wales, before the
time appointed for the marriages.
In the mean while, preparations were forwarded for that occasion.
Frederick, as his father had desired, passed a considerable part of his
time at Howard Hall. Sir Arthur's regard for him appeared daily to
increase, and on Frederick expressing a wish that he would honour the
nuptials with his presence, he instantly complied; and, with Lady Howard
and Theodosia, accompanied him to Sir Henry's. The arrival of Harland
and Louise, with the St. Ledger family, added to the pleasure of their
society. Edward only was absent, who continued a fruitless search, till
the day preceding that fixed for the union of his friends, when he
arrived, so apparently ill, that the Captain began to be seriously
alarmed.
Edward endeavoured to rally his spirits; and on Sir Henry and
Frederick's joining him, to chide his long desertion, with forced
cheerfulness, answered their good-humoured reproaches, and prepared to
attend them to the drawing-room. The Captain introduced him to their
several friends; but on presenting Theodosia, Edward, with exulting
transports, exclaimed--"O God, my father! it is my unknown----it is----"
"Theodosia, the daughter of Sir Arthur Howard," interrupted the Captain,
with vivacity. Sir Arthur, hearing his name, advanced, and instantly
recognised Edward, to whom he proffered his hand, and, reminding him of
the accident at Oxford, renewed his thanks for the service he had
rendered his daughter.
"Your thanks, I am afraid, Sir Arthur," said the Captain, with a smile,
"will not sufficiently recompense my son for that evening's adventure.
He loves your daughter, and has for some months been seeking her. You
know my fortune; if, on a farther acquaintance, you approve him for a
son-in-law, he shall have half at his marriage, the remainder at the
decease of myself and his mother."
Sir Arthur paused a moment--but the offer was too advantageous to be
rejected, and he readily acceded to it.
"But what says Theodosia?" asked the Captain. "Without her consent, ours
are of no effect."
"Her consent!" repeated Sir Arthur. "She shall consent! Let her refuse
if she dare: I will not again be fooled!"
Theodosia attempted not to reply; the deepest confusion oppressed her;
yet she withdrew not her hand from Edward, but with a timid interceding
glance, raised her eyes to her father. The flush of anger was fast
crimsoning the cheek of Sir Arthur, at the idea of her not according
with the proposal of her uncle, when Lady Howard joined them, and
tenderly taking the hand of her daughter, said--"Have some
consideration, Sir Arthur, to the delicacy of my girl. Disobedience to a
father she truly loves, is, I am certain, far from her heart or wishes;
but on this subject, unprepared as she was, no answer could be so
proper as her silence. Your nephew has sincere friends in his cause,
and, aided by time, need not despair of success."
To her mother, Theodosia had mentioned the attention of Edward, when at
Oxford, and their subsequent interview in Wales; pourtraying him in such
favourable colours, and dwelling on each word and incident with such
pleasure and minuteness, as showed he had made no inconsiderable
impression on her heart.
She now directed a look of grateful acknowledgment to Lady Howard, for
the relief she had afforded her, whilst Sir Arthur, in a milder tone,
replied: "Well--well, Madam, you may be right; but you know I do not
like to be trifled with."
This discovery, as unexpected as pleasing, added to the happiness of
every individual; nor was Edward long in obtaining a confession; her
affections were too nearly interested in his favour, to let duty have
the merit of her compliance with the wishes of her father.
At last the morn so ardently expected, arrived! The tenants of Sir
Henry, who the same day attained his one-and-twentieth year, assembled
on the lawn, and proceeded with them to church, where Sir Henry, Mr.
Talton, and Frederick, received the hands of their destined brides. Nor
would old Thomas be denied the gratification of attending his master on
this occasion, at which no one more sincerely rejoiced: he appeared to
have shaken off the infirmities of age; and after the ceremony, joining
the tenants, conducted them back to the lawn, where a noble banquet, by
order of their generous landlord, added to the pleasure of the
peasantry; and a rural ball concluded the day, in which Sir Henry and
his friends did not disdain to join.
For three weeks the Hall and Mr. Talton's house were proclaimed open as
the hearts of their owners; and at the expiration of that time, the
whole party proceeded to the seat of Sir Arthur, where he yielded to the
solicitations of Edward, and resigned the hand of Theodosia. The
liberality of the Captain on this occasion awakened the generosity of
his brother, and Howard Hall for some weeks vied with the hospitable
mansions of Corbet and Talton. Sir Arthur did more--he insisted on
resigning the family seat to Frederick and Ellen; himself retiring, with
his Lady, to a smaller one he possessed within less than a mile, where,
as he said, he could daily visit or be visited by them.
Another month, however, elapsed before they thought of separating; and
then with an unanimous promise of frequently visiting each other.
Harland and his Louise returned to Harland Hill, where, a few months
after, she made him the exulting father of a lovely boy. This
circumstance endeared her not only more to him, but to his parents; at
whose request he relinquished the service, and consented to reside with
them. The amiable manners of Louise had imperceptibly softened the
impatience and harshness of his temper, and his increasing tenderness as
a husband and father, fully justified her in the choice she had made.
Captain Howard purchased an estate near Sir Henry and Mr. Talton's; and
in the society and affection of his Ellenor found an ample recompence
for the years of unhappiness he had experienced on her account. Edward
and Theodosia, at his desire, consented to reside beneath his paternal
roof: whilst Sir Arthur, who since the death of his son had shown an
unusual urbanity of disposition, again regarded him with fraternal
kindness, which was returned with the sincerest friendship by the
Captain.
Time softened the sorrow of the worthy Booyers for the loss of Hannah;
and, though he ever dwelt on her memory with tenderness, he no longer
felt those poignant emotions, the remembrance or mention of her would at
one time have occasioned. Frederick, with a delicacy equal to his
regard, presented him with an estate adjoining Howard Hall, which
produced him an easy competence: from the happiness of Ellen he derived
his own, and in her children found a source of amusement for his
declining age.
Mr. Talton was justified in his choice of Mrs. Blond; nor had either of
them cause to regret the day on which they were united. So far from
deeming her remembrance of Corbet or Blond a slight to himself, he would
join her in the praise he thought justly due to their merits. This
behaviour increased the regard of his wife; and if a sigh sometimes
obtruded for their unhappy fate, the recollection of Talton never failed
to restore her cheerfulness.
For Mrs. St. Ledger (the once unfortunate Sister Francoise), Louise
retained the sincerest regard; whilst the friendship of that amiable
woman fully recompensed her for the loss of her mother.--Three years
after her marriage, the Marquis de Valois and his family returned to
France, whither Harland attended his Louise, and they passed some
months at the seat of that nobleman. On their return to England, in
which they were accompanied by the Marchioness and her daughters,
they were surprised, on entering Abbeville, by the appearance of Mallet;
his dress immediately informed them he was in the service of the French
Monarch, though in the lowest rank. He as instantly recognized Louise,
who, with mingled sensations of pleasure and grief, received his
embrace. He had, on quitting England, proceeded to Paris, where the
gaming-table soon despoiled him of the wealth he had obtained from Lady
Corbet. He then for some time gained a precarious livelihood, by
practising those wiles by which himself had been defrauded; but being
detected, was obliged to fly, and as a last resource for the
preservation of existence, had taken up a musket. These adventures,
glossed over with the title of misfortunes, fully awakened the pity of
Harland, who readily complied with the wish of Louise, to settle an
annuity on him for life; he would have urged his return to England, but
Mallet declared his resolution never to revisit his native country. He
had, he said, since the death of Lady Corbet, entered into other
engagements, which he by no means wished to break, though he declared
himself extremely willing to quit the army. They accordingly procured
his discharge, and presenting him with a sum of money for immediate use,
he set out for the south of France, where he proposed to fix his
residence, whilst Harland and Louise continued their way toward England,
where the society of her friends soon obliterated the painful
remembrance of an unworthy parent.
Old Thomas, at his earnest solicitation, still continued with Sir Henry;
who, feeling himself indebted to that faithful servant for the
restoration of his fortune, would have made him independent: but no
consideration could induce him to accept of any reward which should
separate him from his master; with whom he begged he might pass the
remainder of his days. Sir Henry yielded to his wish; and by every
indulgence strove to requite the services he had rendered him.
Sir Henry, satisfied with his own conduct, could look back on every
action without regret, and to each succeeding day with confidence and
pleasure. Revered by his dependants, and esteemed by all who knew him,
he experienced the true delight of a benevolent heart; whilst in the
affection of Eliza and his children, and the warm attachment of his
friends, he found a recompence for the sorrows he had formerly known.
THE END.
Printed by C. Spilsbury, Angel-Court, Snowhill.
Transcriber's Note
Punctuation errors have been corrected. The quotation at the end of
Chapter II remains open as the quotation extends into Chapter III.
Errata mentioned in Volume I have been incorporated.
Page 2, Line 19, for "of," read with.
130, 15, for "the," read this.
206, 14, for "them," read him.
226, 17, dele "with."
Inconsistent capitalisation of 'Parsonage' and variant spellings have
been preserved.
The following misprints have been corrected.
Page 2:
render an union between her and his son desiraable;
changed to
render an union between her and his son desirable;
Page 33:
in a private drawer of my father's escrutoire.
changed to
in a private drawer of my father's escritoire.
Page 111:
but bein certain they were the instigators
changed to
but being certain they were the instigators
Page 134:
I can scarely, my dear Sir, express the pleasure
changed to
I can scarcely, my dear Sir, express the pleasure
Page 243:
in which they were accomcompanied by the Marchioness
changed to
in which they were accompanied by the Marchioness
End of Project Gutenberg's The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. III, by Sophia Reeve