Terror had, indeed, robbed her charming countenance of some of its
graces; but a bright blush, springing to her cheeks as she caught the
traveller's glance, restored its native lustre. Oh! such a face!--so
fair--so bright--so spotless!--eyes so full of soul!--a smile of such
inimitable beauty! Every feature expressing a native delicacy of
sentiment, unsoiled by the world, unruffled by passion, yet giving
assurance that its possessor owned a heart of such fine frame as seldom
can be met with, either in court or cottage. And when with sweet
confidence, which, intending no harm, feared none, she accepted
Mordaunt's offered arm, he felt a degree of pleasure to which he had
long been a stranger: he scarcely noticed that Joanna had taken the
other arm: yet Joanna was not a plain girl; but who could look at her
when Ellen was present? As they descended the mountain, the storm having
by this time blown over, the girls laughed at their vain terrors, and
made light of those which Mordaunt expressed, lest their wet clothes
should give them cold, saying, they were so accustomed to take exercise
in all weathers, they were not likely to be injured by a sudden shower:
"Though I must acknowledge," said Joanna, with a smile, "we do not much
like thunder-storms." Every thing that either said was expressed in the
plural; and "_We_" was always the term, whichever spoke. Mordaunt
admired the good sense and propriety with which each seemed endowed; but
in Ellen he distinguished an elegance of expression, a superiority of
mind, which, in so young a girl, and one who could have had so few
opportunities of improvement, completely surprised him. This lovely
creature seemed yet hardly seventeen; and when he talked to her on
various subjects, he found, that although Mr. Ross's library had
furnished her with the works of Addison, Pope, and a few more of our
best English authors, yet her acquisitions had not gone beyond a
tincture of English literature, in a general way; that she was tolerably
well instructed in English History, knew scarcely any thing of
Geography, and could neither play on any instrument nor draw; so that
she certainly was much inferior to the heroines of some modern novels,
who learn all these things by intuition: her voice, however, in singing,
was as harmonious as in speaking, and she could sing many of the simple
Welsh airs with natural taste, and in a very pleasing manner. Mordaunt
escorted the girls to Llanwyllan Farm, where he was immediately
recognized by Powis, who, hearing from his daughter the attention he had
shewn to her and Joanna, was cordial in his acknowledgments, and
insisted on the traveller partaking their supper. Mordaunt could not
refuse; and it was accordingly spread, not as usual in the porch, the
late storm having left a dampness in the air, but in a large hall, the
farm-house having formerly been a capital mansion.
Joanna and Ellen, having hastily changed their wet garments, soon joined
them; and this little party sat down to supper pleased with each other,
and without any of that cold formality which strangers so generally
feel; confiding hospitality on the one hand, and something, at least,
very like good breeding, on the other, rendering them all easy and
pleasant to themselves, and to each other.
During this little repast, though no ill-timed curiosity demanded the
explanation, Mordaunt thought proper to mention his name, and, in some
degree, declare his situation in life. He had, he said, been educated
with the Earl of St. Aubyn, who was his distant relation, and had a few
years before appointed him his steward for his estate in
Northamptonshire, where he had a comfortable house, not far from St.
Aubyn Castle, the noble residence of the Earl himself, who had been for
sometime on the Continent; that he himself, having met with some
domestic vexations, which had injured his health, the Earl had permitted
him to appoint a deputy, and travel into Wales, as he had done the
summer before into the Highlands of Scotland; of which he gave a most
animated description. His patron, he added, had also a fine estate on
the borders of Westmoreland, with a very noble old seat called the
Abbey, which, though extremely ancient, still retained its former
magnificence. Mordaunt's manners were so pleasing, his voice so
impressive, and his countenance so fine, that the little party who were
his auditors hung upon his words with almost breathless admiration.--The
moments flew, and they were surprised when the hall clock struck eleven,
an hour unheard of among the sober inhabitants of Llanwyllan. "God bless
me," said Powis, "why it's eleven o'clock: I have not been up so late
these ten years!" "Dear father!" said Ellen, with a reproving accent, as
she glanced at Mordaunt, who hastily rose from his chair. "Excuse my
rudeness, Sir," said Powis; "I did not mean to turn you out uncivilly,
but fear neighbour Jones may be gone to bed." Mordaunt smiled, and said
he ought to apologize for keeping them up. Then extending his hand, he
shook the farmer's rough one with great kindness, and said, "If I should
not see you again----" "Not see us again!" interrupted Powis: "why to be
sure you are not going away! Lord bless me--why, I thought you would
stay a day or two at least; for my share, if you don't, I wish you had
never come at all; for I never saw a man in all my days I liked so
well." "Upon my word, Sir," said Joanna, "you have not yet seen half the
beauties of Llanwyllan; has he, Ellen?" "No, indeed," replied Ellen. "I
assure you, Mr. Mordaunt, there are many charms--" "I know it, I feel
it!" interrupted Mordaunt: "there is every charm which the most
beautiful nature, the kindest hospitality, can bestow! But to stay at
the village without visiting the Farm of Llanwyllan would be impossible,
and, stranger as I am, would it not be intruding?" "Not at all," said
Powis; "we should rejoice to keep you amongst us; the girls will shew
you the fine views, as they call them, and I shall be proud to see you
at my table, if it be not too plain for you, at all times." "You are too
good! but, will Miss Ross, will Miss Powis, accept their share of the
agreement? Are there no more agreeable engagements, no more amiable
friends to claim their attention?" He took a hand of each, but fixed his
penetrating eyes on Ellen: she blushed, but the lightest emotion made
Ellen blush, so that though Mordaunt had "_Charles_" in his head when he
spoke, he could judge nothing by her blushing; and her eyes met his with
a look of confiding sweetness, which seemed to speak a heart unconscious
of any secret sentiment. Joanna answered, "If we were to tell you, Mr.
Mordaunt, we had nothing to do but to walk about, you would think we
were very idle girls, or said what was not true: we are very busy all
the day till five in the evening, when we drink tea either here or at my
father's, who will be happy to see you: after that, if it is fine we
walk; if not, amuse ourselves within, till ten o'clock, when we go to
bed, that we may rise at five the next morning; from five in the evening
till ten we shall be glad of your company."
In consequence of this frank statement, and the secret inclination he
felt to see more of Llanwyllan, and its art-less inhabitants, Mordaunt
determined to pass a few days there; and the next day, after attending
their early tea-table, walked two or three hours with Ellen and Joanna,
equally delighted with Powis's kind hospitality, and the unsuspicious
confidence of the two innocent girls, who, stranger as he was, saw
nothing extraordinary or improper in allowing him a degree of friendly
intimacy, which, in a situation of more publicity, he would hardly have
attained under some weeks of acquaintance, even with the assistance of a
proper introduction. Still more was he charmed with their affectionate
manner towards each other, and the beauty of Ellen, as well as her
unaffected simplicity, united with an extraordinary share of good sense
and information beyond her apparent opportunities. When they parted in
the evening, Joanna said, "To-morrow, you know, Ellen, Charles will pass
at home; and as he goes away entirely the next day, I think we must not
make any engagement for to-morrow." "Very true," said Ellen, in a low
voice, and a slight shade passed over her expressive features; but
whether it arose from regret that she must relinquish the society of her
new friend, with whose spirited and sensible conversation she appeared
much pleased, or from concern for Charles's approaching absence, our
traveller had no means of judging. He had discovered, in the course of
conversation, that Charles was Joanna's brother, and was now absent for
a day or two preparatory to his leaving home for some time, being in the
navy: a few more particulars relative to him he felt anxious to
ascertain as soon as possible; and he took leave of his new friends,
after engaging to spend the next evening but one at Mr. Ross's.
The landlord at the Prince of Wales understood and spoke English; but it
was with so much of the Welsh accent, that Mordaunt, with difficulty,
comprehended his meaning. The curiosity which he felt, however, to learn
more about Charles Ross, induced him, once again, to attempt a
conversation with "neighbour Jones," as Powis called him, though, in
general, Mordaunt's patience, which was by no means inexhaustible, and
an ear refined by living much in his early days with people of fashion
and learning, were severely tried by provincial dialects, and he
avoided, as much as possible, any conference with those who spoke what
he termed a barbarous jargon: for humour of any kind, or odd characters,
whether natural or acquired, he had no taste; sentiment, elegance, and
refinement of language and manners, were to him indispensable requisites
of those be regarded; and above all things he detested that mixture of
familiarity and obsequiousness which the landlord of a country inn shews
to one, who, though his guest, he fancies his equal; yet there was some
paramount feeling in Mordaunt's mind, which forced him to dispense with
all these niceties, and seek intelligence even from a man whose language
and manner were equally distasteful to him. From Jones, then, he learnt
that Charles was the son of Mr. Ross, and that he was a young man of
about twenty, rather handsome, a midshipman in the navy, and that he was
going to join his ship immediately. Jones allowed that the general
opinion was that Ellen Powis was the object of Charles's affections, and
that all their friends wished it might be a match, but that Winifred
Powis's old servant declared Miss Ellen only regarded him as a brother,
and she was sure had no thought of being his wife. Mordaunt recollected
the blush, the slight shade of gravity or vexation which had passed over
Ellen's lovely face; yet these might not be symptoms of more than
sisterly affection, and something whispered a wish to Mordaunt that
Ellen's love for Charles might be no more.
Though Mordaunt could not intrude upon a party from which he had been by
Joanna almost expressly interdicted, he yet, in returning from his
ramble the next evening, contrived to pass the Parsonage, and to catch a
glimpse of Ellen and Joanna walking in the garden with a young man. He
bowed to them, and saw that their companion, whom he naturally concluded
was Charles, took some hasty steps from the path he was walking in, to
catch a nearer view of him; and Mordaunt fancied, from the earnestness
of his gestures, and something of impatience in his air, when he
rejoined his sister and her friend, that he spoke of him, and with
displeasure: perhaps he was jealous of his attentions towards
Ellen.--"Well, be it so," said Mordaunt; "I shall soon discover if he
has any influence over her mind; and if I perceive that she wishes my
absence, I will immediately quit Llanwyllan. Not for worlds would I make
that lovely creature unhappy; far otherwise. If there be any engagement
between her and this fortunate Charles, I will do all I can to promote
his interest: but if, on the other hand, I find her to-morrow only
lamenting him as a friend, I will yet linger here awhile, and forget, if
possible, in this sweet retirement, and her enchanting society, _all the
past_! Oh that I could as easily forget all the future threatens! Happy,
most happy, could I here remain for ever! That, alas! cannot, must not
be! Edmund, cruel, vindictive Edmund!--Ah! those dark eyes pursue me
every where: in the gloom of night they are before me, demanding
vengeance--vengeance for her blood! speaking volumes of hatred--of
revenge! What a fate is mine! Soon, too soon, we must meet again!" Thus
murmured Mordaunt, in one of those soliloquies to which he had
accustomed himself; and his pace, sometimes fast, sometimes slow,
betrayed the agitation of his mind. At length he came within sight of
Llanwyllan Farm; and leaning on the little green gate which led to the
house, the mixed odours of those sweet plants, which he now knew were
Ellen's care, struck upon his senses: her lovely image rose renewed to
his imagination, and the distant water-fall and rising moon seemed
combined with that enchanting scent to lull his anguish to repose.
Whilst he yet lingered, he saw through the trees Ellen, Joanna, and
Charles, approaching; and Mordaunt hastily retired, with sensations not
very unlike indignation and envy.