Ellen was engaged the next morning with her needle when Mordaunt
suddenly entered the room (for the ceremony of announcing visitors was
never thought of at Llanwyllan): she rose hastily, as hastily sat down
again, turned pale, then red, and in answer to his hasty inquiries,
said--"Are you alone, Sir?" "Alone," replied Mordaunt, surprized beyond
measure; "yes, certainly: did you expect to see anyone with me?"
"Yes--no, that is, I thought we were told that Mrs. Mordaunt, that your
wife was to come with you." "My wife!" exclaimed Mordaunt, turning first
as red and then as pale as Ellen had done, almost in the words of
Othello, and perhaps not perfectly unlike him in feeling; "What wife? I
have no wife." "I beg your pardon, indeed," said Ellen, "for giving you
such a strange reception, but we were really told that your lady was
certainly coming with you." "What could have given rise," said Mordaunt,
regaining his composure, "to such a ridiculous tale? And did _you_,
Ellen, could you believe it?" "I own I thought it strange," replied she,
"that you had never mentioned it, and I doubted the truth of the story;
but Joanna seemed to credit it, and I was told Mrs. Ross had asserted
it, but I daresay," added she, smiling, "that it was one of those
gossip's tales of which we have so many in this village." Mordaunt said
he was wholly unable to account for it, and advancing to the table where
she had been sitting, for hitherto they had both continued standing,
said--"Shall I disturb you if I sit down by you for half-an-hour?"
"Certainly not," said Ellen: "you will allow me to go on with my work."
But Ellen's hand did not second her intention, for it shook so much, she
was obliged to put down the work, and to say, half laughing, by way of
covering her confusion--"I have flurried myself so ridiculously by
fancying I was going to see a stranger, that I must rest till my hand is
a little more steady." Mordaunt, for the first time, took the trembling
hand within his own, and pressing it very gently, said:--"You have not
shaken hands with me on my return, Ellen, yet I hoped you would have
been glad to see your friend Mordaunt once more: will you allow me the
title?" he added, gazing on her intently. Poor Ellen, who had not really
any of the usual complimentary phrases, such as "you do me honour, &c."
knew neither which way to look nor what to say; and Mordaunt, softly
raising her hand to his lips, relinquished it, and pitying her visible
confusion, endeavoured to relieve it by saving:--"I think you are a
little, a very little paler and thinner than when I left Llanwyllan." "I
have been taking a great deal of exercise," said Ellen; "and I think you
too, Mr. Mordaunt, are changed: you look pale, and seem fatigued." "Oh
yes, Ellen, yes; I have encountered much since we parted--much fatigue
both of body and mind. In these sweet shades I hope once more to be at
peace: oh, that I might never leave them more, 'the world forgetting, by
the world forgot;' that I might, that I could remain here for ever!
Would _you_, Ellen, would _you_ endeavour to sooth my cares, and to
restore my peace of mind?" He again seized her hand, and wildly
grasping, pressed it to his throbbing forehead. Ellen looked at him with
eyes of apprehension; his energy, his apparent agitation alarmed her: he
saw the surprize he had excited, and dropping her hand, said:--"Forgive
me, I am not myself to-day; but I must indeed be lost before I can for a
moment forget the perfect respect I owe you." His countenance became at
once more composed, and after a moment's pause, he said smiling:--"And
how is the poor straw hat which I spoilt the night before I went away?"
"Indeed you did not spoil it," said Ellen, laughing; "it would not
easily be injured." "Oh, certainly, it was completely spoilt, and as I
was the author of the mischief, though you would not give me any
commission for Bristol or Bath, I could not resist the desire I felt to
replace the loss which I know you cannot do here, and I have accordingly
chosen one for you, which, though extremely simple, will, I am sure, be
particularly becoming: I have also added one for Joanna, not exactly
like your's in shape, because it would be ridiculous; I mean it would
not be becoming to her style of face." "You are too good: I am sorry you
should have had so much trouble." "Oh, the trouble certainly of doing
any thing for _you_ and your friend must be insupportable; terrible as
it was, however, if you will do me the favour of wearing this simple
bonnet I shall think it overpaid: there is also a little parcel for Mrs.
Ross: and some books for our good friend Mr. Ross: nor have I forgotten
my first and truly valued friend your father: his little remembrance I
shall take the liberty of sending here; but shall I order the box with
the other things to Mr. Ross's or here?" "Mrs. Ross and Joanna are going
to pass this afternoon with me," said Ellen; "if you will therefore
persist in taking so much trouble, we will examine our presents, which
are, I dare say, very elegant." "I thank you a thousand times for not
reproving my presumption in fancying I could chuse a hat for you. I will
send the box presently, and when the contents have been looked at, may I
join your little party and walk with you?" "Certainly; we shall be glad
of your company." Mordaunt soon after went away, though Powis, who came
in, and seemed heartily glad to see him, pressed him to partake their
homely fare at dinner, but promising to come again in the afternoon,
Mordaunt declined staying then. Powis was haunted by no fears on his
daughter's account: his open hospitable temper made him always ready to
receive the stranger, and he saw not far enough into the human heart to
suspect that one so eminently gifted by nature and improved by art, as
Mordaunt was, must have some paramount inducement to fix himself for two
or three months amongst the woods of Llanwyllan. Honest, simple, and
credulous, he implicitly believed what Mordaunt had told him respecting
his health, and the delight he took in the wild scenery around the
village; and pleased with his company, would willingly have had him a
constant inmate of his house; yet he doated on, and highly appreciated
Ellen; but he fancied that Charles Ross had gained her affections, and
looked forward to her marriage with him as a thing determined on. Ellen
felt a little awkward on the subject of the bonnet, for she had never
mentioned to Mrs. Ross or Joanna that Mordaunt had spent two or three
hours at the Farm the night before he left Llanwyllan; as to the straw
hat, it was, in reality, not injured, although he chose to fancy it was
spoilt by way of excuse for ordering another; she, therefore, did not
like to mention the circumstance at all, dreading Mrs. Ross's sharp
questions and Joanna's looks; in fact, she did not wish to mention the
intended presents, and half resolved to appear surprized when the box
arrived: this, however, her natural dislike to deceit deterred her from
attempting, though Joanna's late conduct had taught her a reserve she
never before had felt towards her. The moment dinner was over Ellen went
to her chamber, where she took unusual pains in dressing herself as
nicely as her very moderate wardrobe would allow; a neat plain white
gown or two being the extent of her finery. Mrs. Ross would seldom allow
Ellen or Joanna to wear any thing better than a grey stuff, or small
printed calico, yet in spite of her expected rebuke, the very best white
gown was this afternoon put on; her hair was nicely and delicately
arranged under a cap smaller than those she usually wore; for going
without a cap or hat, was, in Mrs. Ross's idea, quite bold and improper.
Neither Joanna nor Ellen had ever seen a feather or artificial flower,
except once, when mere children, Powis had taken them for a few days to
Carnarvon, where a few were exhibited; but as to wearing any, they would
as soon have thought of putting on diamonds, so different were their
simple ideas from those of the very fine ladies we now see every day
walking or riding to market, with their ear-rings and necklaces, fine
lace frills, green veils, au parasols: expect them soon with foot-boys
at their heels. Yet Powis could have given his daughter a thousand
pounds; and Ross, though not rich, was in a station of life which might
have entitled Joanna to expect some little indulgences, of which,
however, she never even thought. Two or three small bows of pale pink
ribbon were the only ornament of Ellen's caps, and her slender waist was
surrounded by a short sash of the same colour; a bouquet of late roses
and jessamine was placed in her bosom; and the gentle agitation of her
spirits animated her eyes and complexion: she looked exquisitely lovely;
so fresh--so new--so bright--the poet might have said of her--"she
looked like Nature in the world's first spring." She had just completed
her nosegay, when Mrs. Ross and Joanna arrived; the former with a new
assortment of work prepared for Ellen's completion, who sighed when she
saw the quantity to be executed. "Bless me, Ellen," said Mrs. Ross; "why
you are dressed up as fine as a lady; one would think you were going to
a wedding or a christening.--I hope you have not invited Mrs. Price and
Mrs. Howel to-day," (the wives of two neighbouring farmers, who drank
tea once or twice a year with Ellen and the Ross's) "for I am come in my
old gown, and Joanna in her every-day cotton: why, child, are you
dressed so much?" "I don't know, ma'am: I thought my coloured gown was
dirty, and the day was so fine and warm, I thought this would be
cooler." "Umph," said Mrs. Ross, looking at her with eyes sharpened by
curiosity, and then nodding at Joanna, as much as to say you see I was
right, she drew up her head and was silent a moment; then, by her next
question, shewing the turn her thoughts had taken, she said: "Has Mr.
Mordaunt been here?" "Yes, ma'am," said poor Ellen, blushing like
crimson. "Umph," again said Mrs. Ross, and again she nodded at Joanna.
Joanna, looking slily at Ellen, added, while she could hardly refrain
from laughing--"And his wife?" "No," said Ellen, looking up at Joanna,
and smiling, for she could not help being diverted at the oddity of her
tone and look. Just at this moment in came the maid with a small parcel
and a large bonnet-box, which, she said, a boy had brought from Dame
Grey's. "God bless my heart," said Mrs. Ross, "why that is the very box
I saw at Mr. Mordaunt's, and which made me fancy he was married." Ellen
explained as well as she could, but certainly not very clearly, what the
contents were; and Joanna was so diverted with the absurdity of the
report raised by such a trifle, that she burst into a loud and
incontrollable fit of laughing, in which Ellen heartily joined; and
though Mrs. Ross scolded, and was quite angry that they would not cease
laughing and open the box, they laughed on, when the door opened, and in
came Mordaunt. He supposed the box had been received and opened an hour
before, not knowing his messenger had stopped to play by the way, and
was quite astonished to see them gathered round it, the two girls
laughing, and Mrs. Ross half scolding and half laughing too. He was
hastily retreating; but his presence operated like an electric shock on
the whole party. Ellen was half ashamed; and Mrs. Ross and Joanna, who
always felt a degree of awe from the dignity of his manner, were afraid
he would be offended: the former endeavoured to explain the cause of
their mirth; and Mordaunt no sooner heard what had given rise to the
report which had so much perplexed him, than--"Albeit unused to the
laughing mood," he could not keep his countenance. The explanation,
however, was not unpleasant to him, for he had been quite at a loss to
guess how any report of him, whether true or false, could have reached
Llanwyllan. The box was now opened, a ceremony at which Mordaunt would
willingly not have been present, though he certainly wished to see
whether the hat was becoming to Ellen.
Both hats were of straw, equally fine; but that intended for Ellen had
an elegant simplicity in the form, which seemed made on purpose for her.
At the bottom of the box was found a parcel, directed for Mrs. Ross,
which contained a handsome dark sarsnet for a gown, with which the good
lady was so delighted, that she quite overwhelmed Mordaunt with thanks
and compliments, to which he put a stop by requesting to see the bonnets
on their respective owners.
"I am not dressed fit to wear such a bonnet," said Joanna, glancing her
eyes on Ellen; "but--" "Aye," said Mrs. Ross, "very true: I believe you
knew your bonnet was trimmed with pale pink, Ellen, and put on those
ribbons on purpose to match it." "No, indeed," said Ellen, half hurt at
the suggestion. Mordaunt saw with what unusual care she was adorned, and
could not help being pleased at it. He was himself drest with particular
nicety, and was really as handsome and fine a figure as Ellen was
beautiful. The bonnets were tried on, and highly approved. Ellen,
indeed, was, if possible, improved by hers. The parcel for Powis
contained some handsome articles of plate likely to be useful to him;
and Mr. Ross's books, which were sent to the Parsonage, consisted of
Eschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles, uniformly and elegantly bound, and
of superior editions. Thus the taste of all parties seemed to have been
consulted, and every one of course was pleased with the kind attention.