“Brightly shines the vest o’er his widow’d heart,
The manly brow, by early sorrow touch’d,
Is bare. The jewelled cap and graceful plume,
In his worser hand, his martial’s baton
In the right, he passed mid a people’s
Sympathy!”
At breakfast, Lord L. requested that his daughters would be ready to
accompany him to town, on an early day which he named.
He was evidently ill at ease at Lodore: he made every effort, however, to
conceal such feelings, and assigned the following commonplace reason,
for the hasty departure he meditated. He had, he said, already issued
cards, for what he intended should be a very brilliant affair; given for
the purpose of introducing his daughters at home, to what he considered
his own private circle, previous to their public presentation at court.
Ere Lord L. and his daughters departed, Mrs. Montgomery discharged the
painful duty she had imposed upon herself, of informing Lord L. of every
particular of Henry’s very improper conduct, respecting his attachment
to his cousin. Lord L. was, at first, distressed and alarmed; but, on
questioning his daughter, was so perfectly satisfied by her assurances
of indifference to Henry himself, and repugnance to his addresses, that
he determined to treat the young man’s presumption, with the contempt
it merited. Should St. Aubin, however, in future, persevere in making
himself troublesome; his Lordship would, of course, forbid him his house.
A passing visit to Beech-park, prolonged by the delight the girls took
in exploring its groves, so far retarded our travellers, that they did
not arrive in London, till the very day, on the evening of which the
projected ball was to take place.
The preparations, however, had gone on in pursuance of former orders, and
every thing was found ready.
Lord L., the moment he had welcomed his daughters beneath the paternal
roof, went out to call on the son of his old friend, and endeavour
to induce him to join the family party at dinner, preparatory to the
gaieties of the evening.
No card had been sent; for, on account of all the strange reports that
were current, Lord L. had determined to make the invitation in person,
should he find Fitz-Ullin in a state to accept it.