“Ye shall part no more.”
Our hero and heroine re-entered the house by a similar glass-door,
leading into Mrs. Montgomery’s dressing-room, and were soon hand in hand
at her bed-side.
“My children,” said the good old lady, looking kindly at them, “how happy
you both look this morning.”
“I, ma’am,” said Fitz-Ullin, “am the happiest of all mortal beings!
Julia—my own Julia, whom I have loved from the moment when you first
placed her, not an hour old, in my arms, that Julia—that cherished object
of my earliest and fondest affections—of my _First Love_, and of the only
love my heart ever knew, or ever can know, is now mine for ever; by her
own and by Lord L⸺’s consent—mine for ever!”
Mrs. Montgomery looked at Julia, whose blushes, as she embraced her
grandmamma, confirmed what Fitz-Ullin had said. “Kneel, my children,”
said the old lady, in a faltering tone. “It is as it should be!” and she
rose in her bed as she spoke, and blessed them tenderly and solemnly,
uniting their hands; while Mr. Jackson entering, a species of explanation
was given, in which, however, the name of Henry was not mentioned. Mrs.
Montgomery, detaining Julia, dismissed both the gentlemen. They, before
their return to the breakfast-room, took a short walk on the lawn, during
which Fitz-Ullin made Mr. Jackson acquainted with those particulars
respecting the conduct of Henry, which it had been necessary to conceal
from Mrs. Montgomery. Thus satisfying his kind preceptor of his reasons
for not only concealing his attachment to Julia, but suffering every one
to believe him lost to his friends and to society, from the effects of a
disappointment in another quarter.