When I am forgotten, as I shall be,
And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
Of me must be heard--say then I taught thee.
oeKING HENRY THE EIGHTHoe.
During the period Reginald had served in the Austrian armies, his mind
had undergone a complete revolution. His proud spirit had been subdued
by misfortune. In his professional career he had learned to submit to
human control. In the field of danger the daring energies of his nature
had been fully excited; and, by the frequency of that very excitation,
exhausted, whilst the aspect of death, in its various horrors, led him
to serious meditation. Often has he passed from the stunning tumult of
the field of battle, to the awful stillness of midnight solitude in his
own tent; and here he first acknowledged the justice and mercy of
Heaven, whose avenging arm had awakened him from the giddy dream of
presumptuous passion, to the dreadful consciousness that he had
perverted the best gifts of Providence, intended for the benefit and
ornament of society, to be its bane and its disgrace. He had previously
thought more of forfeited reputation than of violated virtue; and,
though what he might have been rose to his mind in agonizing contrast
with what he was, yet he mourned rather for the internal sentiment of
degradation than of guilt. But he gradually acquired a more fitting
penitence, becoming at last resigned even to the ever present sense of
his former misdeeds, and submitting to it as their just punishment; at
the same time forming the virtuous resolution of endeavouring to atone,
if possible, for the past by the future.
Accusing himself of having deprived his child of her inestimable mother,
he felt in justice bound to fulfil towards her more than the common duty
of a father, and therefore resolved to give up the profession of arms
for her sake, in order to devote his existence to her welfare. He would
often, as he pressed the little smiling Adelaide to his heart, put forth
a prayer that the virtues of the daughter might plead at the bar of
offended Heaven, in mitigation of the vices of the father; and would
soothe his grief with the hope of giving her that virtuous firmness of
character, the want of which had rendered all the blessings of his early
lot of no avail to himself. Summoning religion and reason to his aid, he
wisely executed the task he had laudably undertaken, of forming his
daughter to emulate the perfections of her mother; whilst of the errors
he instructed her to shun, he was too fatally enlightened by his
intercourse with Mrs. Montague, on the causes of whose defects he had
made many deep and painful reflections. Convinced by these that
imagination, which is naturally too ardent in the generality of women,
is cultivated to a fatal excess by the usual mode of education,
confined, as this almost exclusively is, to the study of music,
painting, and poetry; he therefore, after establishing the grand
principles of religion and morality in his daughter's mind, directed his
attention principally to forming her _judgment_; limiting her fancy to
the subordinate office of _attendant_ on reason, never suffering it to
usurp the place of guide. He had also observed, that vanity is still
more dangerous to the female mind than even imagination. But it is only
a long and steadily pursued course of exertion that can reduce this
passion, so natural to the human heart, to exercise in its native
kingdom only its just power. Solicitous that no latent vanity of his own
should counteract his endeavours to limit its dangerous empire in his
daughter's mind, he was sparing in the use of that powerful stimulant
_praise_, which, though a very happy _consequence_, is too often a
dangerous motive. As Adelaide had no domestic companion, her vanity was
neither excited nor mortified by comparison; and it is one of those
enemies to our peace, that suffer more from neglect than defeat. Nor
was the baneful passion of envy introduced to her heart under the
specious name of _emulation_, of which all ought to know it is the
illegitimate sister, though the friends of emulation do not acknowledge
the relationship. Her mind was endowed with knowledge, extensive enough
to enable her to estimate justly the insufficiency of all human science,
and to show her how far short of the _acmÈ_ of even that imperfect
wisdom her own attainments fell. Being taught never to court display,
she was thereby exempted from the torments of envious mortification, and
early understood she was educated, not to bring forth her acquirements
like a holiday suit, in which to shine occasionally, but to keep them in
constant every-day use, to promote her own happiness, and the pleasures
of those with whom she associated.
Adelaide's docility, rather than her talents, enabled her to be every
thing her father desired (for she was not, in truth, more highly
endowed by nature than the generality of well-organized children); and
he returned her enthusiastic love and veneration, by an affection little
short of idolatry. But a father's too ardent love was beginning to
wither in its bloom the plant it had so successfully reared; for
Adelaide, when grown up, insensibly acquired an influence dangerous to a
young female to possess over the mind of any man, and which is never so
unlimited as over that of a father's in the decline of life. The virtues
of the parent and child were alike dangerous to the future peace and
well-being of the latter. He was too reasonable to subject her to those
occasional acts of injustice, or fits of caprice, which every woman in
her intercourse with mankind must expect and submit to, as inseparable
from her condition. She, from the most laudable motives, was unceasingly
occupied in the embellishment of her mind, which, though far preferable
to an equally constant attention to externals, will, by a very
different route, terminate one part of their course in the same
end--_selfishness_. And as woman owes every thing that is admirable in
her nature to a constant sacrifice of self, no acquirements can
compensate for the perfection of character she can alone derive from
this source. But in truth, the very best education a man alone can
bestow on a woman must be defective. He may adorn her with the virtues
of his own sex, but he cannot teach her the charities, the decencies,
the proprieties of life, which it is the peculiar lot of hers to
exercise. A female mind adorned with greater virtues only, without their
connecting links, resembles a beautiful country, where the traveller
passes from one bright region to another, over deep chasms, where,
perhaps, he may fall to inevitable destruction. With all the generous
virtues of her heart, with all the high endowments of her mind, Adelaide
had yet one more necessary lesson to learn, which was painfully taught
her when she lost her father; namely that, however imperative her
welfare was to his happiness, she was of small consequence to the world
in general, which would go on nearly as well whether she was living or
dead, happy or miserable; and that she must thenceforward derive her
felicity rather from her attention to the feelings of others, than from
theirs to her own.
Until Adelaide was seventeen, Baron Wildenheim resided principally at
Vienna: here associating with the most distinguished characters of the
day, to whom his talents and his various knowledge made him an
acceptable companion; a select number were admitted to his own house, in
order to promote the improvement of his daughter by such intercourse.
Profiting by the facility which his German rank afforded for the
purpose, he visited, in the short intervals of peace which Gallic
ambition permitted, Italy, France, and most of the other Continental
states; occasional change of scene being almost as necessary for the
amusement of his mind, as advantageous for the improvement of his
daughter's. But though for this latter purpose it was successful beyond
his hopes, yet the slow but constant progress of disease was not thus to
be warded off; and a residence in a mild and equable climate being
pronounced by the physicians of Vienna absolutely necessary for the
preservation of his life, about two years before Adelaide's arrival in
England they removed to Sicily, where he made choice of Catania for his
residence.
Here for the first time in her life Adelaide enjoyed the pleasures and
advantages of female society. The Catanese are amongst the most elegant
women in Europe; and the attractive graces of their manners appearing to
her with all the force of novelty, she quickly and involuntarily made
them her own. Her youthful beauty--her artless elegance, and her
cultivation of mind, caused her to be admired to an excess, which gave
her father as much pain as pleasure, as he trembled lest it should call
forth that vanity and inordinate desire of pleasing, which he had so
earnestly laboured to repress, too well aware of its having been the
cause of Mrs. Montague's destruction.
"_La bella Adelina_" was the object, to which the young Catanian
nobility paid the most flattering attention, the most exaggerated
compliments. Luckily for her she felt so little awe of her father, that
she told him without reserve all the feelings this new scene excited in
her mind. And he, appealing to her good sense, pointed out to her notice
the hyperbole of the praises she received, thus rendering them in a
short time more tiresome than agreeable. The Baron had early suffered
his daughter to know she was handsome. She had hitherto been as much
accustomed and as indifferent to the beauty of the robe in which her
soul was enveloped, as she was to the habitual elegance of her every-day
apparel.
He now went still further; and as piety was the main spring of all her
thoughts and feelings, he taught her to be religiously thankful for a
gift, which pre-disposed her fellow creatures in her favour;
representing also that it ought to make her still more desirous to
retain an approbation thus gratuitously bestowed. By this means her very
beauty made her humble; as, in her estimate of her own character, she
always attributed the praises she received but to a premature and
therefore exaggerated opinion of her merit, which she consequently
endeavoured to make in intrinsic worth equal to its received value.
About this period in the formation of Adelaide's character, Frederick
Elton arrived at Catania. Though he was perhaps the most ardent of her
admirers, his peculiar ideas regarding women in general led him rather
to call forth the powers of her mind by rational conversation, than to
weaken it by flattery. He was luckily not able, like his Sicilian
rivals, to write sonnets, or make improviso stanzas by the hour "to her
eye-brow;" and therefore had the less inducement to emulate the laudable
endeavours of his competitors, to make her frivolous and silly solely
to display their own abilities.
Oh! that her guardian angel would sometimes whisper in exulting beauty's
ear, that man is often only enraptured with his own genius, when he
seems most to adulate her charms!
Baron Wildenheim directed all his penetration to the investigation of
Frederick's character; and, fearing to trust entirely to his own
observation on a point of so much importance, resumed his correspondence
with Mr. Austin, from whom he received the most satisfactory
confirmation of the honourable opinion his judgment had previously led
him to form of the lover, on whom his daughter had unconsciously
bestowed her affections. He therefore resolved, that whenever Mr. Elton
should demand her hand, he would restore her to all her rights, by
accomplishing her introduction to her mother's family and his own. His
satisfaction at the prospect of securing Adelaide's happiness, by
uniting her to a man worthy of his highest approbation, reconciled him
to the idea of losing the only solace of that life, which he felt would
not be much longer a burthen to him. Not less generous was his
daughter--and from the moment she was aware of Frederick's love, she
determined to discourage it, for the reasons he related to Sedley. The
Baron's indignation at Frederick's abrupt departure was as great, as the
satisfaction his love for Adelaide had afforded him. She endeavoured to
preserve her usual cheerfulness; but his penetration soon discovered she
had feelings, that were not communicated to him. One day, on perceiving
her ill suppressed agitation, as the subject of conversation glanced on
Elton, he muttered, "Villain! rascal! how he has abused my confidence!"
Adelaide, hurt at this undeserved censure, entered warmly into his
defence, and her father soon extorted from her, that she had refused his
offers, though she still concealed, or thought she concealed, her
motives and her regrets. "Adelina!" exclaimed he, with unusual asperity,
"is this the reward of an existence devoted to your welfare? I could
not have believed that you would have set at naught my authority; nay
worse, have _deceived_ me." When she however threw herself into his
arms, imploring his forgiveness, all the tenderness of his feelings
returned with redoubled force; and penetrating her motives, he pressed
her fondly to his heart, making a silent vow that his "too generous
child should not sacrifice her happiness to his." The name of Elton was
never again articulated by either; but the rapid progress of Baron
Wildenheim's complaint warned him he must quickly put his design in
execution, or that his lovely daughter would shortly be left in a
foreign country, without relation or protector; Sicily being perhaps of
all others the most dreadful to leave her in thus situated, from the
depravity of its inhabitants, and its corrupt, ill administered
government.
When he informed Adelaide of his intention of taking her to England, her
joy was extravagant; but on perceiving the mournful expression of her
father's countenance, she ceased to display her pleasure, and
affectionately embracing him, said, "You know, my beloved father, you
are all the world to me; my greatest delight in the prospect of going to
England is, that I shall there see you in your native country, with your
own friends: I can never be happier than I have been with you; but I
often mourn, that all my exertions are insufficient to make you so."
"Adelina, I charge you, be silent on that subject," replied the
afflicted parent; and, overcome by the torturing reflections she had
unconsciously conjured up, retired to compose his mind in solitude.
A few days after this conversation they proceeded to Paris. From whence
Baron Wildenheim wrote an earnest request to Mr. Austin and Maurice
O'Sullivan to meet him at Dover, for which place he immediately set out
when their answers reached him; and there without delay delivered to the
former a will, appointing him trustee to all that remained of the wreck
of his fortune, for the benefit of Adelaide, with the exception of a
small annuity reserved for his own life, but nominating Maurice
O'Sullivan her guardian. The unhappy father then went through the
distressing task of disclosing to his former friend and fellow soldier
the principal events, which had marked his life previous to the
commencement of their acquaintance, beseeching him to relate them
hereafter to Adelaide as delicately as possible, and also to introduce
her to her grandfather and Lord Osselstone. Both these injunctions
Maurice willingly promised to fulfil, happy to have any means of serving
a man to whom he owed many obligations. The Baron had never told his
daughter the history of his early years: he could not in her childhood,
and when she was capable of accurately distinguishing right from wrong,
he feared it might irreparably injure her character, to have her respect
diminished for the person engaged in forming it. Perhaps his reluctance
to be his own accuser to his child was not the least powerful motive
for silence on this subject: he could not bear to think she should ever
in his presence be obliged to appeal to her affection, to silence the
censures her judgment must pass on his conduct--such voluntary
self-abasement, in a mind of this high tone, was indeed almost more than
human nature is equal to. He therefore had contented himself with
informing Adelaide, that some disagreeable circumstances had made him
prefer residing in the country in which his estates were situated, to
that of which he was a native. He would sometimes converse with her of
Lord Osselstone, whom he early taught her to love and revere; but never
made the most distant allusion to her mother's name or connexions,
partly because the subject was too afflicting to himself, partly because
he could not in that case account for his having concealed his
relationship from the uncle of Rose, with whom he had been so many years
associated, and with whom he had subsequently maintained a constant
correspondence, having resolved to resign his daughter, in the first
instance, to the protection of Maurice, whenever the effects of
unextinguishable grief should indicate the probable termination of his
own life.
When Mr. Austin met the Baron at Dover, he entreated him to leave
England as speedily as possible, lest the friends of Montague, who
resided in the neighbourhood of that town, should, by some fortuitous
occurrence, make out his identity; a circumstance by no means
improbable, as his person must be recognised should he meet the brother
of his unfortunate antagonist, who not unfrequently visited the very
hotel they inhabited, and which they could not quit without exciting
observations that might prove dangerous in their consequences. Though
Wildenheim cared not for life on his own account, and would willingly
have resigned it to satisfy the laws of his country; yet he trembled in
every nerve for his daughter's peace, should he fall a sacrifice to
their justice; and therefore fixed the third day after their landing to
bid her an eternal adieu!
Though he had sufficient strength of mind to resolve on tearing himself
from his child, yet he felt totally unequal to the trial of witnessing
her affliction on first hearing the dreadful intelligence. Mr. Austin
therefore undertook the task; and on the morning preceding the day
appointed, informed Adelaide of the indispensable necessity of their
separation, and of the arrangement made with Maurice O'Sullivan, to
introduce her to Lord Osselstone, presenting her with a packet of
letters her father had written for her benefit, which she was to make
use of when she came of age, in case any unforeseen occurrence should
prevent her appointed guardian fulfilling his promise; adding, that
should her relations refuse to receive her, he was in possession of the
necessary testimonials of her birth. Of all these particulars the
afflicted girl at the moment only understood she was to be deprived of
her father! The thinking faculty within her was almost suspended by the
agony of this idea. She offered no remonstrance to Mr. Austin; and
making a sign of acquiescence, instantly sought her father, to try those
powers of persuasion which never yet had failed in procuring from him
every wish of her heart: but on seeing the despair of his countenance,
she was wholly overcome; the hope, which had supported, now forsook her,
and she sunk senseless in his arms.
When she revived, she implored his pity in the most moving terms; asked
how she had merited this dreadful separation; and finding him, though
deeply affected, inexorable in his determination, at last departed from
her usual docility, saying, "Of what would promote your happiness, my
dearest father, there can be no doubt; I am the best judge of my own and
_will_ not leave you: to lose you in the course of nature would be
sufficiently dreadful; but this living death is tenfold more horrible:
oh! can you desert your child, who lives but in you, whose only joy is
in your approving smiles?"
Her miserable auditor now did violence to his feelings, by assuming, for
the first time in his life, all the sternness of parental command.
Adelaide convulsively sobbed on his shoulder. "Pardon me, pardon me; I
submit, though my heart will break: that angry look would kill me to
think of; smile on me, my father." "Smile! oh, my God! I shall never
smile again;" exclaimed the wretched parent: then fondly caressing her,
said, "My child, have mercy on your unfortunate father; my own feelings
are those of desperation; spare me the sight of yours. By your present
affliction I secure your future happiness; but mine--Adelina, I
entreat--in a few hours we part: do not speak of what is yet to come."
He was obeyed; and that day passed in the sullen calm which precedes
expected misery.
Adelaide retired at a late hour to her own apartment, but not to bed;
for she had perceived with terror how alarmingly ill her father looked;
and fearing the return of a spasmodic complaint he was subject to, sat
up, to be able to apply the necessary remedies at a moment's warning.
He in the mean time prepared to set out immediately on his voyage,
wishing to spare her a parting he felt his own fortitude unequal to. Her
room was inside his, and supposing her to be at rest, he entered it to
take a last look of his lovely child!
She was sitting half asleep, overcome by drowsiness and anxiety--the
light flashed across her eyes--she started up in wild affright, and
forcibly impressed by the feelings of her agitating dreams, clasped him
in her arms, saying, "We will never, never part, whilst life remains."
His fortitude utterly forsook him; and with a deep groan he sank in the
arms of his child.
* * * * *
His countenance in death was impressed with the happy consciousness,
that his last look on earth had been blessed with her image; and with
the pious hope, that sincere and protracted penitence had made his peace
with Heaven.