Could I, not prizing thee, give thee my hand,
I should despise myself--and how not prize thee?
oeLLOYDoe.
Immediately on their arrival at Vienna, Lord Osselstone commenced his
researches after his brother; and, through the active exertions of the
gentleman who had formerly been Reginald's banker, first ascertained the
existence of Adelaide, and also other testimony concerning her and her
father, that served most satisfactorily to corroborate the intelligence
that now reached him from Ballinamoyle, as Mr. O'Sullivan, even more
anxious than Adelaide herself to receive the sanction of Lord Osselstone
for the child of his beloved Rose, had prevailed on Mr. Dermoody to be
himself the bearer of the letters addressed to the Earl; and the
venerable priest, with unwearied zeal, followed the travellers from
London to Vienna, where he finally was more than rewarded for his
anxiety by the cordiality and readiness with which both his Lordship and
Augustus acknowledged her claims.
The purpose for which Lord Osselstone had undertaken this journey being
thus accomplished, though in a very unexpected manner, he and Augustus
immediately prepared to return to England, both anxious to be introduced
as relatives to Adelaide, whom Augustus recollected having admired when
he only knew her as the ward of Mrs. Sullivan, but for whom he now
already felt the partiality of a cousin; and his description of her
elegant person and captivating manners prepossessed Lord Osselstone in
her favour, even more than the exaggerated, though sincere encomiums of
Father Dermoody. He willingly accepted the Earl's proposal to accompany
them back to London in his carriage, from whence it was settled he
should hasten home for the purpose of escorting Adelaide to Osselstone
House, provided she accepted her uncle's invitation of coming to reside
with him for a few months, and that Mr. O'Sullivan could be prevailed
upon to part with her. When they reached Calais, they found a packet
ready to sail by the following tide for Dover, in which they secured
their passage; and Mr. Dermoody meantime profited by the opportunity
afforded him by a few hours' delay, of visiting some of his early
friends; whilst the Earl and Augustus beguiled their time in reading a
variety of English newspapers of different dates, which their host
procured for them.
They had not very long been thus engaged, when Lord Osselstone's
attention was attracted by the evident agitation of Augustus, who,
starting with a convulsive shudder, threw down the paper he was reading,
and paced up and down the room with quick and uneven steps. Lord
Osselstone glanced his eye on the rejected newspaper, and immediately
attributed his emotion to the following paragraph:
"Viscount Eltondale left town this morning for Deane Hall,
preparatory to the celebration of his Lordship's nuptials with its
lovely and accomplished heiress."
For some minutes he only expressed by looks his commiseration for his
nephew's feelings; but at length addressing him, "I own," said he, "I
did not expect Lady Eltondale would have succeeded in her designs on
Miss Seymour. I watched her closely and unremittingly while in London,
and from some trifling circumstances I was led to believe, she would
have made a far different choice. But my dear boy," continued he, with
parental kindness, "though we have both been deceived, your misery is
not aggravated as mine was. Do not despond; if Selina was capable of
being either the tool or the dupe of Lady Eltondale, she was unworthy of
you. Perhaps it is all for the best; perhaps the charming Adelaide you
already so much admire, may yet repay you for all your sufferings."
Though Augustus was incapable of receiving consolation, or listening
even to reason at the first moment, yet he could not long remain
insensible to the deep interest Lord Osselstone's looks and manner
evinced; and in unburthening to him his whole soul, he felt a temporary
relief from the grief that oppressed him; and thus, from a strange
coincidence of circumstances and similarity of situation, the only
confidant of his passion, except Mr. Temple, was the very man whose
usual impenetrability of character repulsed all intimacy, and forbid
even approach. Augustus, feeling the impossibility of communicating,
even by letter, with Lord Eltondale on the subject of Selina's property,
determined immediately to resign his charge as trustee, and was no less
impatient for their arrival in London than his companions, in hopes, if
possible, of anticipating in that respect the hated marriage. The very
evening on which they reached town, Augustus hastened to
Portman-square, to inquire whether his Lordship were still at Deane. He
there learned that the Viscount had left it a few days before; and the
servant, with agonizing precision, informed him, that orders had that
day been received for the house in town being without delay put in
order, as his Lordship expected to be married immediately, and he
believed he was then at Eltondale, making similar preparations. Poor
Augustus scarcely heard the concluding sentence, and returned to Lord
Osselstone in a state almost of distraction. "I will go myself to Deane
to-night," said he; "most of the papers are there in my bureau. I may
get in time to deliver them to Mr. Temple before Lord Eltondale returns
there.--It will be my last visit."
In prosecution of this plan, Augustus left London that night in the York
mail; and such was his agitated impatience, that he scarcely thought
even that conveyance sufficiently rapid. Anxious to avoid being either
recognized or impeded in passing through the village of Deane, he
alighted from the mail at a few miles distance from that place, and by a
more unfrequented road entered the Park at one of the most retired
gates. His feelings rose to agony as he again viewed all the well-known
haunts of his infancy; and more especially when he recollected, that
nearly at the same time the year before he had returned thither, to
receive the dying benediction of the kind-hearted Sir Henry. Wishing to
escape these sad remembrances, and desirous, if possible, to fly even
from himself, he sprang forward, and darting into a neighbouring grove,
was scarcely conscious of his near approach to the house. A rustling in
the trees at last attracted his attention, and he turned towards the
place from whence it came. In a few moments he perceived his favourite
dog Carlo bounding towards him, and in an instant the faithful creature
lay panting at his feet. A little basket, filled with chesnuts, was hung
round his neck, in which, in former days, the dog had often carried the
flowers Selina used to gather in their rambles. But almost before
Augustus could caress him, Selina's voice calling "Carlo," thrilled to
his heart, and springing from behind a fence with no less activity than
the truant animal she pursued, she stood beside him like a bright vision
of former days. "Selina!" "Augustus!" each exclaimed at once; and looks
more eloquent than words told their mutual feelings.
But soon Selina endeavoured by language also to express her pleasure at
once more beholding Mordaunt; and, forgetting at the moment all her
disappointments, all her resentment for his apparent neglects, she gave
her cordial and artless welcome with unembarrassed joy. Not so Augustus.
Her unconcern he attributed to indifference, her evident happiness to
her approaching marriage; and thus to his distempered judgment her
vivacity almost appeared an insult. Selina quickly and resentfully
perceived the coldness of his manners, and turning her head aside to
hide the starting tears, invited him, with formal politeness, to
accompany her to the house. But there the delighted Mrs. Galton was
waiting to receive Augustus. She had seen him from the windows, and
hastened to express her happiness at once more beholding him. The
faithful old servants crowded round to bid him welcome. All
congratulated him on his return to Deane, except its mistress. "And
where has Selina flown to?" exclaimed Mrs. Galton; "we shall no doubt
find her in her favourite room. Come, Augustus, I will introduce you,
though you are already acquainted with it." His heart palpitated as he
followed her through the well-known cedar hall, and up the massy
staircase he so well remembered. But what were his emotions when she led
him into what was once their school-room, and had been afterwards his
own study! Selina had fitted it up with every elegance of modern
improvement, arranged with her own peculiar taste, and in it she had
assembled her various occupations of work, drawing, music, and books.
When they entered, she was herself standing at a writing-table; her
bonnet lay beside her, and her luxuriant hair, discomposed by her race,
fell in loose ringlets on her shoulders; whilst the tear of wounded
feeling stood on her beaming cheek. Augustus stopped, and casting his
eyes around the altered room, "Is _this_ your favourite apartment,
Selina?" said he, while love, joy, and gratitude glowed in his
countenance. "I sometimes sit here to enjoy the morning sun," answered
she, blushing deeply; whilst his ardent and penetrating gaze increased
her confusion. At last withdrawing the glance that evidently distressed
her, his eye rested on the bronze _garde de feuille_, which represented
Carlo. He took it up, and was examining it attentively, when Selina,
with an expression of pique, observed, "That is scarcely worth looking
at, Mr. Mordaunt; it is as trifling as the donor; I really forgot both,
or I should not have kept it here;" and with an air of unusual dignity
she left the room. "Incomprehensible, girl!" exclaimed Mordaunt, after
a pause. "Tell me, Mrs. Galton, what am I to understand?" "Nothing,"
said she, "but that Selina refused Mr. Sedley, who gave her that dog:
for the same reason she has since refused Lord Eltondale." "Refused Lord
Eltondale?" repeated Augustus, quite bewildered. "Yes;" replied Mrs.
Galton, "his Lordship came here express, hoping to say _Veni, vidi,
vici_; and proposed himself to Selina before he was three days in the
house. Of course, even if she had been actuated by no other motive, she
would have declined a proposal that could only be for her fortune, and
she accordingly refused it almost with resentment. Lady Eltondale
manoeuvred, and stormed, and raved, but to no purpose; and finally,
much to our satisfaction, set off for Brighton." Mrs. Galton might have
continued her discourse _ad infinitum_. Augustus had turned to the
window to conceal his emotion. There he caught a glimpse of Selina
passing towards the shrubbery; seizing his hat, he rushed past Mrs.
Galton, exclaiming, "There she is!" She smiled, and took up her book;
but anxiety scarcely permitted her to comprehend one word of its
contents. At length, after an absence of two hours, which to her
appeared an age, and to them a second, Selina and Augustus returned arm
in arm. Mrs. Galton looked up through her spectacles, and guessing the
result of their conversation from Selina's blushes and Mordaunt's
countenance, "Thank God!" exclaimed she, clasping her hands, whilst the
tears rolled down her cheeks, "I have lived to see my two dear children
happy!"
Lord Osselstone was scarcely less rejoiced than Mrs. Galton, at
receiving Mordaunt's letter, informing him of Selina's having promised
him her hand. In his answer to it he said, "I have myself written to the
very charming niece you are going to bestow on me, to express a part of
the joy I feel on the occasion; but as I have much more to say on the
subject, will you obtain her permission for me to pay my compliments to
her and Mrs. Galton, in person, at Deane Hall, when I hope to make my
peace with Miss Seymour, for having told you the story of Carlo's
portrait, as you have no doubt already obtained her forgiveness for
obtruding his little bronze duplicate into her cabinet."