My mother threw a great charm over our evenings by her descriptions of
the country which she had so lately seen, and of the scientific men with
whom she had associated. But Seymour and I both fancied that she was
rather reserved and embarrassed when she talked of Count De Walden. Nor
could I help being desirous of finding out the reason. One day I told
her how sorry I was to think that she shortened her agreeable visit
entirely on my account; but, as if thrown off her guard, she eagerly
replied, "Oh, no! I was very glad of an excuse for coming away;" and
this was followed by such manifest confusion of countenance and manner,
that I suspected the reason, and at last I prevailed on her to confess
it.
The truth was that Count De Walden, who had admired her in America, when
she was a wife, as much as an honourable man can admire the wife of
another, could not live in the same house with a woman still lovely, and
even more than ever intellectual and agreeable, without feeling for her
a very sincere affection; and as their ages were suitable, he made her
proposals of marriage of the most advantageous and generous nature. But
my mother could not love again: and though at her time of life, and that
of her lover, she thought that mutual esteem and the wish to secure a
companion for declining years was a sufficient excuse for a second
marriage; still, she had an unconquerable aversion to form any connexion,
and more especially one which would remove her to such a distance from
me. When she told me how strongly she had been solicited, and that the
advantages which she should ultimately secure to me by this union were
held up to her in so seducing a light, as nearly once to overset her
resolution, I was so overcome by the thought of the escape which I had
had, that I threw my arms round her, and bursting into an agony of tears
exclaimed, "What could have ever made me amends for losing you? The very
idea of it kills me."
My mother was excessively affected when I said this; but I soon saw that
her tears were not tears of tenderness alone; and looking at me with an
expression of sadness on her countenance, she said, "Two years ago, my
poor child, you would have better borne the idea of such a separation;
and had I been a jealous person I should have been hurt to see how
completely a husband can supersede even a mother. But I was pleased to
see this, because I saw in it a proof that you were a happy wife: but
perhaps you have now an idea, though still a happy wife I trust, of the
great value of a parent, and can appreciate more justly that love which
nothing can ever alienate, or ever render less."
What could I answer her, and how?
I did not attempt to speak, but I continued to hold her in my arms, and
at last I could utter, "No, no, I never, never can bear to part with
you."
That day Lord Charles Belmour came, according to his promise, and just
as I had convinced myself that it was my duty to overcome my dislike
to him, and to endeavour to convert him from an enemy into a friend.
Accordingly, I went down to dinner prepared to receive him with even
smiles; but recollecting, when I saw him, his impudent assertion, that
his admiration of me meant nothing, and that I was an alarmed prude, my
usual coldness came over me, while the deepest blushes dyed my cheeks.
However, I extended my hand to him, which he kissed and pressed; and as
he relinquished it he turned up his eyes and muttered "Angelic woman!"
in a manner so equivocal, that, consistent as it seemed with "his joke
against me," I could not help giving way to evident laughter.
Lord Charles was too quick of apprehension to be affronted at my mirth;
on the contrary he felt assured and flattered by it. He had expressed
his admiration only in derision and impertinence, and as he saw that I
understood him, he felt we were much nearer being friends than we had
ever been before; and when our eyes met, a look almost amounting to one
of kindness passed between us. Lord Charles now became particularly
animated; but some allusion which he made to Lady Bell Singleton, while
addressing my husband, made me distrustful again, and I relapsed into
my usual manner; and he was My Lord and Your Lordship, during the rest
of the dinner. Nor could I be insensible to the look of menace which I
subsequently beheld in his countenance. It was not long before the storm
burst on my devoted head.
"My dear madam," said he in his most affected manner, "you are a
prodigiously kind and obliging help-mate, to provide your _caro sposo_
with so charming a _locum tenens_ when you are confined to your
apartments. I found my friend here with the prettiest young creature for
a companion! and then so loving she was!"
"Loving!" said I involuntarily.
"Oh, yes. Allow me to give you an idea of her." Immediately, to the
great annoyance of my husband, with all his powers of mimickry, he
exhibited the manner and look of Charlotte Jermyn, when looking up in
Seymour's face, and leaning against his arm, as I had myself seen her
do.
"Is not that like her?"
"Very," replied I forcing a laugh.
"Now shall I mimick your husband, and show you how _he_ looked in
return? Shall I paint the bashful but delighted consciousness which his
look expressed--the stolen glance, the--"
"Hush, hush!" cried Pendarves, anger struggling with confusion. "This is
fancy painting, and I like nothing but portraits."
During this time I observed a struggle in my mother's breast, and I sat
in terror lest she should say something severe to the noble mimick, and
make matters worse.
But after this evident struggle, which I alone observed, she leaned her
arms on the table, and fixed her powerful eyes steadfastly on Lord
Charles, looking at him as if she would have dived into the inmost
recesses of his heart.
It was in vain that he endeavoured to escape their searching glance;
even his assurance felt abashed, and his malignant spirit awed, till his
audacious and ill-intentioned banter was looked into silence, and he
asked for another bumper of claret to drink my health. I was before
overpowered with gratitude to the judicious yet quiet interference of
this admirable parent, and the recollection of our morning's conversation
was still present to me. No wonder, therefore, that my spirits were
easily affected, and that I felt my eyes fill with tears.
At this moment I luckily heard my child cry; and faltering out, "Hark!
that was my child's voice," I hastened to the door; but unfortunately
the pocket-hole of my muslin gown caught in the arm of my mother's
chair, and Lord Charles insisted on extricating me.
I could now no longer prevent the tears from flowing down my cheeks;
which being perceived by him, he said, in a sort of undertone, "Amiable
sensibility! There I see a mother's feelings!" On which my mother,
provoked beyond endurance, said, in a low voice, but I overheard it, "My
lord, my daughter has a wife's feelings also."