“But little the quiet to any ear,
Of that night, or the sleep, to any eye.”
Lord L. now arrived at Lodore-house. The dreadful intelligence was given,
the notes shewn. He was stunned, it was entirely incredible. He roused
himself, and was incensed.
There could be no doubt that it was with Henry she had eloped,
notwithstanding all her declarations of indifference towards him. These,
it was now evident, had only been made to throw her friends off their
guard, and gain time, till, by being of age, she was enabled to act in
defiance of her father, without forfeiting her property.
While calling for his horses, he made some breathless inquiries among the
servants.
No one had seen Lady Julia come in, since she had walked out immediately
after dinner. Alice had attended on that occasion with her walking
things. She declared that the notes were not on the table, when her young
Lady went out, and that the drawers which were now open and empty were
then shut; and that the jewel-box, which was now gone, was then in one
of the drawers, which she had opened to take out a pair of gloves, and
afterwards locked again. It would thence appear, that Julia, or some one
entrusted by her with her keys, must have returned privately, previous to
her final departure, and taken away such of her clothes, trinkets, &c.,
as she wished to carry with her.
Lord L. was now on horseback. Also Mr. Jackson, who, as usual on all
emergencies, had been summoned.