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E
M
M
E
L
I N
E,
THE
ORPHAN of the CASTLE.





I E M M E LI NE,
THE
ORPHAN of the CASTLE.
BY CHARLOTTE SMIT H.
IN FOUR VOLUME S.
VOL. III.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND.
1788.


THE
Y?
K
!
PIPLI URTARI;
192313


C
i
E M M E L I NE,
т на
OR PHAN of the CASTLE.
CHAPTER I.
so ease you can
TIHENEVER Mrs. Stafford and Em-
meline were afterwards alone, they
could think and ſpeak of nothing but Lady
Adelina. The misfortunes in which an
unhappy marriage had involved her, her
friendleſs youth, her lovely figure, the ſet-
tled ſorrow and deep regret that ſhe ſeemed
to feel for the error into which her too great
ſenſibility of heart had betrayed her, en-
Vol. III, B
gaged


Ε
.
Μ
Ν Ε,
Μ
L Ι
Ε
gaged their tendereſt pity, and made them
both anxious to give her all the confolation
and aſſiſtance ſhe was now capable of re-
ceiving. :
When they conſidered the uncertainty
of her remaining long concealed where the
was, and the probability that Fitz-Edward
himſelf might diſcover her, they ſaw the
neceſſity of her removal from Woodbury
Foreſt. But it was a propoſal they could not
yet makenor had they yet recollected
any place where ſhe might be more ſe-
cure.
Emmeline, who felt herſelf particularly
intereſted by her misfortunes, and who was
more pleaſed with her converſation the
oftener fhe converſed with her, ſeldom
failed of ſeeing her every day : But Mcs.
Stafford, more apprehenſive of obſervation,
could not ſo frequently viſit her; and the
precaution of both redoubled, when Mrs.
Alhwood, Miſs Galton, and the two Miſs
Aſhwood's, arrived at Woodfield, where
they declared an intention of ſtaying the
. months of June and July.
... in.... Thithier


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE.
3
Thither alſo, foon after, came the
younger Mr. Crofts, who had made an ac-
quaintance with Mr. Stafford in London
with the hope of obtaining an invitation,
which he eagerly accepted.
Sir Richard Crofts, in the ambition of
making a family, had determined to give
every advantage to his eldeſt ſon, which
might authoriſe him to look up to thoſe al-
liances that would, he hoped, make his own
obſcurity forgotten. From the firſt dawn
of his fortune, he had conſidered Mr.
Crofts as it's general heir; and had very
plainly told his younger fon, that a place
under government, which he had procured
for him, of about three hundred a year,
muſt be his only dependance; till he ſhould
pofleſs two thouſand pounds, all the provi-
lion he intended making for him at his
deach-as he meant not to diminish, by a
more equal diviſion, the patrimony of his
brother. He recommended to him there-
fore to remedy this deficiency of fortune by
looking out for an affluent wife.
Nature had not eminently qualified him
for ſucceſs in ſuch a project; for his per-
B.2
fon


4 E M M E LINE,
fon was ſhort, thick, and ill made, and his
face compoſed of large broad features, two
dim grey eyes, and a complexion of a dull
ſallow white. A vain attempt to look like
a gentleman, ſerved only to render the
ineanneſs of his figure more remarkable;
and the qualities of his heart and under-
ſtanding were but little calculated to make
his perſonal imperfections forgotten. His
heart was ſelfiſh, narrow, unfeeling, and at
once inean and proud; his underſtanding
beneath mediocrity ; and his converſation
conſiſted of quaint ſcraps of ſomething that
he ſuppoſed was wit, or at leaſt very like
it. And even ſuch attempts to be enter-
gaining, poor as they were, he retailed from
the office where he paſſed the greateſt part
of his time, and for a ſubaltern employment
in which his education had been barely
ſuch as fitted him. But ignorant as he was,
and devoid of every eſtimable accompliſh-
ment, he had an infinite deal of that infe-
rior kind of policy called cunning; and bem
ing accuſtomed to conſider his eſtabliſh-
ment as depending wholly on himſelf, he
had acquired a habit of facrificing every
lean
ſenti-


• THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 5
ſentiment and every paſion to that one
purpoſe; and would adopt the opinions,
and ſubmit to the caprices of others, when- .
ever he thought they could promote it. He
had learned the obfequious attention, the
indefatigable induſtry, the humble adula-
tion which is neceffary for the under depart-
ments of political buſineſs. And while ſuch
acquiſitions gave him hopes of riſing in
that line, they failed not to contribute to
his ſucceſs in another. He would walk
from the extremity of Weltminſter to Wap-
ping, to ſmuggle a ſet of china or of qua-
drille boxes for the mother or aunt of an
heireſs ; and would, with great temper, ſuf-
fer the old ladies to take advantage of him ';
at cards, while he ogled the young ones.
Which, together with his being always
'really to perform for them petty ſervices,
and to flatter them without ſcruple, had ob-
tained for him the character of “ one of
< the beſt creatures breathing." But what-
ever favour theſe various recommendations
obtained for him for a time, from the
elderly ladies, he loſt his ground when his
?
B 3
views


6
,
:
E
I
I N
M
L
M
E
views were diſcovered ; and tho’ he had re-
ceived what he fancied encouragement from
two or three young women of fortune on
their firſt emerging from the nurſery, yet
they had no ſooner acquired an handſomer
or richer lover, than “ the beſt creature
" breathing" was diſcarded.
He was not however diſcouraged ; and
meeting with Mrs. Aſhwood at a rout at
Lady Montreville's, he was told by Miſs
Delamere, who was extremely diverted
with her airs of elegance, that ſhe was a
rich widow who wanted a huſband. He
enquired into the circumſtances of her for-
tune; and being aſſured the poſſeſſed ſuch
an income as would make him eaſy, he
thought ſome little advantage ſhe had over
him in point of age no diminution of her
attractions, and found it convenient to fall
immediately in love. She liſtened to him
with complaiſance; and ſoon diſcovered
“ that he was not ſo plain as at firſt he
.“6 appeared to be”-foon afterwards, that
" he was rather handſome, and vaſtly fen-
« fible and agreeable.” After which, he
made


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE..7
made a rapid progreſs in her heart; and it
was concerted between them that he ſhould
follow her to Woodfield.
Emmeline and Mrs. Stafford were wea-
ried to death with the party. But the for-
mer forbore to complain, and the latter was
forced to ſubmit, and to ſmile while anguiſh
was frequently at her heart. •
Mrs. Alhwood talked of nothing but
faſhionable parties and faſhionable people,
to whom her acquaintance with Lord Mon-
treville's family had introduced her; and
the now ſeldom deigned to name an untitled
acquaintance-while Crofts hung on her
long narratives with affected admiration ;
and the two elder of her three daughters,
who were all in training to be beauties,
aped their mother in vanity and imperti-
nence.
The eldeſt Miſs Aſhwood, now about
fourteen, was an inſupportable torment to
Emmeline, as ſhe had taken it into her
head to form, with her, a ſentimental friend-
ſhip. She had learned all the cant of fenti-
ment from novels; and her inama's lovers
B4
had


8 . EMMELIN E, :
had extremely edified her in teaching her
to expreſs it. She talked perpetually
of delicate embarraſſments and exquiſite
ſenſibilities, and had probably a lover, as
ſhe extremely wanted a confidant; a poſt
which Emmeline with ſome difficulty de-
clined. Of “ the ſweet novels” ſhe had
read, ſhe juſt underſtood as much as made
her long to become the heroine of ſuch an
hiſtory herſelf, and ſhe wanted ſomebody
to liſten to her hopes of being ſo. But
Emmeline ſhrunk from her advances, and
repaid her fondneſs with general and cool
civility; tho' Mrs. Aſhwood, who loved ra-
ther to liſten to Crofts than to attend to
her daughters, continually promoted the
intimacy, in hopes that ſhe would take
them off her hands, and allow them to be the
companions of her walks.
This, Emmeline was obliged ſtudiouſly
to evade, as ſuch companions would en-
tirely have prevented her ſeeing Lady Ade-
lina ; and by repeated excuſes ſhe not only
irritated the curioſity of Mrs. Alhwood and
Miſs Galton, but gave the foriner an ad-
ditional


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 9
ditional cauſe of diſlike to that which the
had already conceived; inaſmuch as the
was younger, handſomer, and more ad-
mired than herſelf.
Emmeline received frequent letters from
Delamere, as warm and paſſionate as his
perſonal profeſſions. He told her, that as
his inother's health was greatly amended,
he intended ſoon to viſit thoſe parts of
France with which he was yet unacquainted;
and ſhould paſs ſome time in the Northern
Provinces, from whence he entreated her to
allow him to come only for a few days to
England to ſee her an indulgence which he
ſaid would enable him to bear with more
tranquillity the remaining months of his.
exile.
Tho? now accuſtomed to conſider him as.
her huſband, Emmeline reſolutely refuſed
to conſent to this breach of his engagement:
to his father. She had lately ſeen in her
friends, Mrs. Stafford and Lady Adelina,
two melancholy inſtances of the frequent
unhappineſs of very early marriages; and
The had no inclination to hazard her own.
happineſs
TWO
ce
B 5


10 E M M É LINE,
happineſs in hopes of proving an exception.
She wiſhed, therefore, rather to delay her
union with Delamere two or three years;
but to him ſhe never dared hint at ſuch a
delay. A clandeſtine interview it was,
however, in her power to decline; and ſhe
anſwered his requeſt by entreating him
not to think of ſuch a journey ; and repre-
fented to him that he could not expect
Lord Montreville would finally adhere to
kis promiſes, if he himſelf was careleſs of
fulfilling the conditions on which his Lord-
thip had inſiſted. Having thus, as ſhe ſup-
poſed, prevented Delainere from offending
his father, and without any immediate un-
eaſineſs on her own account, ſhe gave up
her mind to the ſolicitude ſhe could not
help feeling for Lady Adelina. This oc-
cupied almoſt all her time when ſhe was
alone; and gave her, when in company,
an air of abſence and reſerve. .
Tho'Mrs. Alhwood ſo much encouraged
the attention of James Crofts, ſhe had not
forgotten Fitz-Edward, whom ſhe had
vainly fought at Lady Montreville's, in
hopes


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. IL
hopes of renewing an acquaintance which
had in it's commencement offered her ſo
much ſatisfaction. Fitz-Edward had been
amuſed with her abſurdity at the moment,
but had never thought of her afterwards ;
nor would he then have beſtowed ſo much
time on a woman to him entirely in-
different, had not he been thrown in her
way by his deſire to befriend Delàmere with
Emmeline, on one of thoſe days when
Lady Adelina inſiſted on his leaving her,
to avoid the appearance of his paſſing with
her all his time. Happy in ſucceſsful love,
his gaiety then knew no bounds; and his
agreeable flattery, his lively converſation,
his faſhionable manners, and his handſome
perſon, had not ſince been abſent from the
memory of Mrs. Aſhwood. His being
ſometimes at the houſe he had borrowed
of Delamere, near Woodfield, was one of
the principal inducements to her to go thi-
ther. She indulged fanguine hopes of
ſecuring ſuch a conqueſt ; and evaded giv-
ing to Crofts a poſitive anſwer, till ſhe had
B6
made


12 E M M E L I NE,
made another eſſay on the heart of the
Colonel.
He came, however, ſo feldom to Wood-'
field, that Mrs. Stafford had ſeen him there
only once ſince her meeting Lady Adelina;
and then he appeared to be under encreaſed
dejection, for which ſhe knew now how to
account.
Emmeline had given Mrs. Stafford fo in-
different an account of Lady Adelina one
evening, that ſhe deterinined the next
morning to ſee her. She therefore went
immediately after breakfaſt, on pretence of
viſiting a poor family who had applied to
her for aſſiſtance ; when as Mrs. Alhwood,
Miſs Galton and Emmeline, were fitting
together, Colonel Fitz-Edward was an-
nounced.
He came down to Tylehurſt only the
evening before; and not knowing there was
company at Woodfield, rode over to paſs
an hour with the two friends, to whom he
bad frequently been tempted to communi-
cate the ſource of his melancholy.
Whether it was owing to the conſciouſ-
neſs


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 13
neſs of Lady Adelina's mournful ſtory that
aroſe in the mind of Einmeline, or whether
ſeeing Fitz-Edward again in company with
Mrs. Alhwood renewed the memory of
what had befallen her when they laſt met,
the bluſhed deeply the moment ſhe beheld
him, and aroſe from her chair in confuſion;
then ſat down and took out her work,
which ſhe had haſtily put up; and trying
to recover herſelf, grew ſtill more confuſed,
and trembled and bluſhed again.
Mrs. Aſhwood was in the mean time
overwhelming Fitz-Edward with compli-
ments and kind looks, which he anſwered
with the diſtant civility of a ſlight ac-
quaintance; and taking a chair cloſe to
Emmeline, enquired if ſhe was not well ?
She anſwered that ſhe was perfectly well;
and attempted to introduce general con-
verſation. But Fitz-Edward was attentive
only to her; and Mrs. Aſhwood, extremely
piqued at his diſtant manner, meditated an
excuſe to get Emineline out of the room,
in hopes of obtaining more notice.
Fitz-Edward, however, having talked
m
apart


14 EMMELINE,
apart with Miſs Mowbray a ſhort time,
aroſe and took leave, having by his man- -
ner convinced Mrs. Aſhwood of what ſhe
reluctantly believed, that ſome later at-
tachment had obliterated the impreſſion -
ſhe had made at their firſt interview.
“ I never ſaw ſuch a figure in my life,”
cried ſhe, “ as Mr. Fitz-Edward. Mercy
“ on me!--he is grown ſo thin, and so
66 fallow!
“ And so ſtupid,” interrupted Miſs
Galton. “ He is in love 1 fancy.”
Emmeline bluſhed again; and Mrs. Aſh-
wood caſting a malicious look at her, ſaid
“ Oh yes-he doubtleſs is in love. To
“ men of his gay turn you know it makes
“ no difference, whether a perſon be actu-
" ally married or engaged.”
Emmeline, uncertain of the meaning of
this ſarcaſm, and unwilling to be provoked
to make a tart reply, which ſhe felt her-
ſelf ready to do, put up her work and left
the room.
While ſhe went in ſearch of Mrs. Staf-
'ford, to enquire after Lady Adelina, and
to


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE.
15
to relate the converſation that had paſſed
between her and Fitz-Edward, Mrs. Afh-
wood and Miſs Galton were indulging
their natural malignity. Tho' well ap-
prized of Emmeline's engagement to De-
lamere, yet they heſitated not to impute
her confuſion, and Fitz-Edward's beha-
viour, to a paſiion between them. They be-
ed, that while her elopement with De-
lamere had beyond retreat entangled her
with him, and while his fortune and fu-
ture title tempted her to marry him, her
heart was in poſſeſſion of Fitz-Edward;
and that Delamere was the dupe of his
miſtreſs and his friend.
This idea, which could not have oc-
curred to a woman who was not herſelf ca-
pable of all the perfidy it implied, grew
immediately familiar with the imagination
of Mrs. Alhwood, and embittered the
ſenſe of her own diſappointment.
Miſs Galton, who hated Emmeline
more if poſſible than Mrs. Alhwood, irri-
lated her fufpicions by remarks of her own.
She obſerved “ that it was very extraor-
s dinary


16 EMMELINE,
“ dinary Miſs Mowbray ſhould walk out
“ ſo early in a morning, and ſo ſtudiouſly
66 avoid taking any body with her-and
“ that unleſs ſhe had appointments to
“ which the deſired no witneſs, it was
“ very ſingular ſhe ſhould chuſe to ramble
« about by herſelf.”
From theſe obſervations, and her evident
confuſion on ſeeing him, they concluded that
ſhe had daily afſignations with Fitz-Edward.
They agreed, that it would be no more than
common juſtice to inform Mr. Delamere
of their diſcovery ; and this they determined
to do as ſoon as they had certain proofs to
produce, with which they concluded a very
little trouble and attention would furniſh
them.
James Crofts, whoſe ſucceſs was now in-
diſputable, ſince of the handſome Colonel
there were no hopes, was let into the ſecret
of their fufpicions; and readily undertook.
to aſſiſt in detecting the intrigue, for which
he aſſured them he had particular talents.
While, therefore, Mrs. Alhwood, Miſs
Galton, and James Crofts, were preparing


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 17
OW
to undermine the peace and character of
the innocent, ingenuous Emmeline, ſhe
and Mrs. Stafford were meditating how to
be uſeful to the unhappy Lady Adelina.
They became every day more intereſted
and more apprehenſive for the fate of that
devoted young woman, whoſe health ſeemed
to be ſuch as made it very improbable ſhe
ſhould ſurvive the birth of her child. Her
ſpirits, too, were ſo depreſſed, that they
could not prevail on her to think of her
own ſafety, or to allow them to make any
overtures to her family; but, in calm and
hopeleſs languor, ſhe ſeemed reſigned to the
horrors of her deſtiny, and determined to
die unlamented and unknown.
Her elder brother, Lord Weſthaven,
had returned from abroad almoſt imme-
diately after her concealinent. His en-
quiries on his firſt arrival in England had
only informed him of the embarraſſment of
Trelawny's affairs, and the inconvenience
to which his ſiſter had conſequently been ex-
poſed; and that after ſtaying ſome time in
England, to ſettle things as well as ſhe could,
the


18
E M M E LI NE, .
the had diſappeared, and every body believed
was gone to her huſband. His Lordſhip's
acquaintance and marriage with Auguſta
Delamere, almoſt immediately ſucceeded ;
but while it was depending, he was aſto-
niſhed to hear from Lord and Lady Clan-
carryl that Lady Adelina had never written
to them before her departure. He went in
ſearch of Fitz-Edward ; but could never
meet him at home or obtain from his fer-.
vants any direction where to find him.
Fitz-Edward, indeed, purpofely avoided
him, and had left no addreſs at his lodg-
ings in town or at Tylehurſt.
Lord Weſthaven then wrote to Trelawny,
but obtained no anſwer; and growing daily
more alarmed at the uncertainty he was in
about Lady Adelina, he determined to go,
as ſoon as he was married, to Switzerland;
being perſuaded that tho’ſome accident had
prevented his receiving her letters, ſhe had
found an aſylum there, among his mother's
relations.
Fitz-Edward, with anxiety even more
poignant, had fought her with as little ſuc-
ceſs.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 19
cefs. After the morning when ſhe dif-
charged her lodgings, and left them in an
hackney coach with her maid, he could
never, with all his unwearied reſearches,
diſcover any traces of her. .
He knew ſhe was not gone to Trelawny;
and dreading every thing from her deter-
mined forrow, he paſſed his whole time be-
tween painful and fruitleſs conjectures, and
the torinenting apprehenſion of hearing of
ſome fatal event. Inceſſantly reproaching
himſelf for being the betrayer of his truſt,
and the ruin of a lovely and amiable wo-
man, he gave himſelf up to regret and de-
ſpondence. The gay Fitz-Edward, ſo lately
the envy and admiration of the faſhionable
world, was loſt to ſociety, his friends, and
himſelf.
He paſſed much of his time at Tylehurſt;
becauſe he could there indulge, without in-
terruption, his melancholy reflections, and
ſaw only Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline, in
whoſe ſoft and ſenſible converſation he found
a tranſient alleviation of his ſorrow-forrow
which now grew too ſevere to be longer
concealed,


20
E M M E LI NE,
nea
concealed, and which he reſolved to take
the earlieſt opportunity of acknowledging,
in hopes of engaging the pity of his fair
friends-perhaps their aſſiſtance in diſcover-
ing the unhappy fugitive who cauſed it.
From Lady Adelina, they had moſt care-
fully concealed that his reſidence was ſo
near the obſcure abode ſhe had choſen
Fatal as he had been to her peace, and con-
ſcientiouſly as ſhe had abſtained from
naming hiin after their firſt converſation,
they knew that ſhe ſtill fondly loved hiin,
and that her fears for his fafety had affifted
her ſenſe of rectitude when ſhe determined
to tear herſelf from him. But were the
again to meet him, they feared ſhe would
either relapſe into her former fatal affection,
or conquer it by an eífort which in her
precarious ſtate of health might prove iin-
mediately fatal.
The requeſt which Fitz-Edward had
'made to Emmeline, that he might be al-
lowed to ſee her and Mrs. Stafford together,
without any other perſon being preſent,
they both wiſhed to evade; dreading leaſt
they


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 21
LOW
--
-
-
they ſhould by their countenances betray
the knowledge they had of his unhappy
ſtory, and the intereſt they took in it's
cataſtrophe.
They hoped, therefore, to eſcape hearing
his confeſſion till Lady Adelina ſhould be
removed and to remove her became in-
diſpenſibly neceſſary, as Emmeline was con-
vinced ſhe was watched in her viſits to the
cottage.
Twice ſhe had met James Crofts within
half a quarter of a mile of the cottage; and
at another time diſcovered, juſt as ſhe was
about to enter it, that the Miſs Aſhwoods
had followed her almoſt to the door, which
The therefore forbore to enter. Theſe cir-
cumſtances made both her and Mrs. Staf-
ford ſolicitous to have Lady Adelina
placed in greater ſecurity; and, added to
Eimeline's uneaſineſs for her, was the un-
pleaſant ſituation in which ſhe found her-
ſelf.
Obſerved with malicious vigilance by
Mrs. Alhwood, James Crofts, Miſs Galton,
and the two Mifles, ſhe felt as awkward as


22 E M M E L I NE,
if ſhe really had ſome ſecret of her own to
hide; and with all the purity and even he-
roiſin of virtue, learned the uneaſy ſenſation
which ever attends myſtery and conceal-
ment. The hours which uſed to paſs tran-
quilly and rationally with Mrs. Stafford,
were now dedicated to people whoſe con-
verſation made her no amends; and if the
· retired to her own room, it failed not to -
excite ſneers and ſuſpicions. She ſaw Mrs.
Stafford ſtruggling with dejection which
The had no power to diſipate or relieve,
and obliged to enter into frequent parties
of what is called pleaſure, tho' to her it
gave only fatigue and diſguſt, to gratify
Mrs. Alhwood, who hated all ſociety but a
croud. James Crofts, indeed, helped to
keep her in good humour by his exceſſive
adulation ; and chiefly by aſſuring her, that
by any man of the leaſt taſte the baby face
of Emmeline could be conſidered only as a
foil to her more mature charms, and that
her fine dark eyes eclipſed all the eyes in
the world. He proteſted too againſt Ein-
meline for affecting knowledge" It is,”
faid


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 23
faid he," a maxim of my father's-and
“ my father is no bad judge—that for a
66 woman to affect literature is the moſt
“ horrid of all abſurdities; and for a woman
" to know any thing of buſineſs, is de-
66 teſtable!”
Mrs. Alhwood laid by her dictionary,
determined for the future to ſpell her own
way without it.
Beſides the powerful intervention of flat-
tery, James Crofts had another not leſs fuc-
ceſsful method of winning the lady's fa-
vour. He told her that his brother, whe
had long cheriſhed a paſſion in which he
was at length likely to be diſappointed, was
in that caſe deterinined never to marry;
that he was in an ill ſtate of health ; and if
he died without pofterity, the eſtate and
title of his father would deſcend to him-
ſelf.
The elder Crofts, very deſirous of ſeeing
a brother eſtabliſhed who might otherwiſe
be burthenſome or inconvenient to him,
ſuggeſted this fineſſe; and ſecured it's be-
lief by writing frequent and melancholy
accounts


24
E M M E L I NE,
accounts of his own ill health-an artifice
by which he promoted at once his brother's
views and his own. He affected the vale-
tudinarian ſo happily, and complained ſo
much of the ill effect that conſtant applica-
tion to buſineſs had on his conſtitution, that
nobody doubted of the reality of his ſick.
neſs. He took care that Miſs Delamere
ſhould receive an account of it, which he
knew ſhe would conſider as the conſequence
of his deſpairing love ; and when he had
intereſted her vanity and of courſe her com-
paſſion, he contrived to obtain leave of ab-
fence for three months from the duties of
his office in order to go abroad for the re-
covery of his health. · He haſtened to
Barege; and foon found means to re-
eſtabliſh himſelf in the favour of Miſs De-
lamere, from which abſence, and large
draughts of flattery difpenſed with French
adroitneſs, had a little diſplaced him; and
this ſtratagem put his brother James on
ſo fair a footing with the widow, that
he thought her fortune would be ſecured
before ſhe could diſcover it to be only a
ſtratagem,


THE ORPHÁN OF THE CASTLE 25
fratagem, and that her lover was ſtill
likely to continue a younger brother.
James Crofts ſeeing the neceſſity of diſ-
patch, became ſo importunate, that Mrs.
Aſhwood, deſpairing of Fitz-Edward, and
believing the might not again meet with
a man ſo near a title, for which ſhe had
a violent inclination, was prevailed on
to promiſe ſhe would make hiin happy
as ſoon as ſhe returned to her own houſe.
It was now the end of June; and Lady
Adelina, whoſe ſituation grew. very cri-
tical, had at length yielded to the en-
treaties of her two friends, and agreed to
go wherever they thought ſhe could ob-
tain aflıſtance and concealment in the ap-
· proaching hour.
Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline, after long
and frequent reflections and conſultations
on the ſubject, concluded that no ſituation
would be ſo proper as Bath. In a place re-
ſorted to by all ſorts of people, leſs enquiry
is excited than in a provincial town, where
ſtrangers are objects of curioſity to it's idle
inhabitants. To Bath, therefore, it was de-
Vol. III. C termined


26 E M M E LINE,
termined Lady Adelina ſhould go. But
when the time of her journey, and her ar-
rangements there, came to be diſcuſled,
ſhe expreſſed ſo much terror leaſt ſhe ſhould
be known, ſo much anguiſh at leaving
thoſe to whoſe tender pity ſhe was ſo greatly
indebted, and ſuch melancholy conviction
that ſhe ſhould not ſurvive, that the ſenſible
heart of Emmeline could not behold with-
out ſharing her agonies; nor was Mrs. Staf-
ford leſs affected. When they returned
home after this interview, Emmeline was
purſued by the image of the poor un-
happy Adelina. But to give, to the
wretched, only barren ſympathy, was not
in her nature, where more effectual relief
was in her power. She thought, that if by
her preſence ſhe could alleviate the anguiſh,
and ſooth the ſorrows of the fair mourner,
perhaps ſave her character and her life and
be the means of reſtoring her to her family,
The ſhould perform an action gratifying to
her own heart, and acceptable to heaven.
The more fhe reflected on it, the more
anxious


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 27
no
anxious ſhe became to execute it--and the
at length named it to Mrs. Stafford.
Mrs. Stafford, tho' aware of the number-
leſs objections which might have been made
to luch a plan, could not reſolve ſtrenuouſly
to oppoſe it. She felt infinite compaſſioni
for. Lady Adelina; but could herſelf do lit-
tle to aſſiſt her, as her time was not her own
and her abſence muſt have been accounted
for-but Emmeline was liable to no re-
ſtraint; and would not only be meritoriouſly
employed in befriending the unhappy, but
would eſcape from the ſociety at Wood-
field, which became every day more diſ-
agreeable to her : theſe conſiderations,
particularly the benevolent one of ſaving
an unhappy young woman, over-balanced,
in the mind of Mrs. Stafford, the objection
that might be made to her accompanying
a perſon under the unfortunate and diſcre-
ditable circumſtances of Lady Adelina ;
and her heart, too expanſive to be cloſed
by the cold hand of prudery againſt the
ſighs of weakneſs or misfortune, aſſured her
that ſhe was right. She knew that Emnie-
C 2
line
-
-
-


28
E M M E L I NE,
line was of a character to pity but not to
imitate the erroneous conduct of her friend
—and the believed that the reputation of
Lady Adelina Trelawny might be reſcued
from reproach, without communicating any
part of it's blemiſh to the ſpotle
Einmeline Mowbray.
horlofs purity of
PILY OL
СНАР-


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE.
29
CH A P T E R
II.
A S ſoon as Emmeline had perſuaded
H herſelf of the propriety of this plan
and obtained Mrs. Stafford's concurrence,
The hinted her intentions to Lady Adelina;
who received the intimation with ſuch
tranſports of gratitude and delight, that
Einmeline, confirmed in her reſolution, no
longer ſuffered a doubt of it's propriety to
ariſe; and, with the participation of Mrs.
Stafford only, prepared for her journey,
which was to take place in ten days.
· Mrs. Stafford alſo employed a perſon on
whom ſhe could rely, to receive the money
due to Lady Adelina from her huſband's
eſtate. But of this her Ladyſhip demanded
only half, leaving the reſt for Trelawny.
The attorney in whoſe hands Trelawny's af-
fairs were placed by Lord Weſthaven, was
extremely anxious to diſcover, from the
perfon employed by Mrs. Stafford, from
C 3
whence


30 E M M E LINE,
whence he obtained the order ſigned by
Lady Adelina ; and obliged him to attend
ſeveral days before he would pay it, in
hopes, by perſuaſions or artful queſtions, to
draw the ſecret from him. He met, at the
attorney's chambers, an officer who had
made of him the ſame enquiry, and had
followed him home, and ſince frequently
iinportuned him-intelligence, which con-
vinced Mrs. Stafford that Lady Adelina
muſt ſoon be diſcovered, as they concluded
the officer was Fitz-Edward ; and made
both her and Emmeline haften the day of
her departure..
About a quarter of a mile from Wood-
field, and at the extremity of the lawn
which ſurrounded it, was a copſe in which
the accumulated waters of a trout ſtream
formed a beautiful tho' not extenſive piece
of water, ſhaded on every ſide by a natural
wood. Mrs. Stafford, who had particular
pleaſure in the place, had planted flowering
ſhrubs and cauſed walks to be cut through
it; and on the edge of the water built a
ſeat of reeds and thatch, which was fur-
niſhed


- THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 31
niſhed with a table and a few garden chairs.
Thither Emmeline repaired whenever ſhe
could diſengage herſelf from company.
Solitude was to her always a luxury; and
particularly deſirable now, when her anxiety
for Lady Adelina, and preparations for their
approaching departure, made her wiſh to
avoid the malicious obſervations of Mrs.
Aſhwood, the forward intruſion of her
daughters, and the inquiſitive civilities of
James Crofts. She had now only one day
to remain at Woodfield, before that fixed
for their ſetting out; and being altogether
unwilling to encounter the fatigue of ſuch
an engagement ſo immediately previous to
her journey, ſhe declined being of the party
to dine at the houſe of a neighbouring gen-
tleman, who on the occaſion of his ſon's
coming of age, was to give a ball and
fete champetré to a very large company.
Mrs. Alhwood, feeing Emmeline averſe,
took it into her head to preſs her extremely
to go with them; and finding ſhe ſtill re-
fuſed, ſaid " it was monſtrous rude, and
" that ſhe was ſure no young perſon would
C4
. « decline


32 E M M E LINE,
15 decline partaking ſuch an entertainment
" if ſhe had not ſome very particular rea-
« ſon."
Emmeline, teized and provoked out of
her uſual calmneſs, anſwered---- That what-
“ ever might be her reaſons, ſhe was fora
« tunately accountable to nobody for
" them."
Mrs. Aſhwood, provoked in her turn,
inade ſome very rude replies, which Ein-
incline, not to irritate her farther, left the
room without anſwering; and as ſoon as
the carriages drove from the door, ne
dined alone, and then deſiring one of the
ſervants to carry her harp into the ſummer-
houſe in the copſe, ſhe walked thither
with her muſic books, and ſoon loſt the
little chagrin which Mrs. Aſhwood's ill-
breeding had given her.
Fitz-Edward, who arrived in the country
the preceding evening, after another fruit-
leſs ſearch for Lady Adelina, walked over
to Woodfield, in hopes, as it was early in
the afternoon, that he might obtain, in the
courſe of it, ſome converſation with Mrs.
Stafford


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 33.
Stafford and Emmeline. On arriving, he
met the ſervant who had attended Emme-
line to the copſe, and was by him directed
thither. As he approached the ſeat, he
heard her ſinging a plaintive air, which
ſeemned in uniſon with his heart. She ſtarted
at the ſight of him-Mrs. Alhwood's ſuſpi-
cions immediately occurred to her, and at
the ſame moment the real motive which
had made himn ſeek this interview. She
bluſhed, and looked uneaſy ; but the inno-
cence and integrity of her heart preſently
reſtored her compoſure, and when Fitz-
Edward aſked if ſhe would allow him half
an hour of her time, ſhe anſwered " cer-
o tainly.”.
He ſat down by her, dejectedly and in:
ſilence. She was about to put aſide her
harp, but he deſired her to repeat the air
ſhe was ſinging.
“ It is ſweetly ſoothing,” ſaid he, “ and
“ reminds me of happier days when I firſt
66 heard it; while you ſing it, I may per-
“haps acquire reſolution to tell you what
“may oblige you to diſcard me from your
C 5. “ acquaintance.


34 · E M M E L I NE,
“ acquaintance. It does indeed require
66 reſolution to hazard ſuch a misfor-
66 tune.”
Emmeline, not knowing how to anſwer,
immediately began the air. The thoughts
which agitated her boſom while ſhe ſung,
made her voice yet more tender and
pathetic. She ſaw the eyes of Fitz-Edward
fill with tears; and as ſoon as ſhe ceaſed he
ſaid .
« Tell me, Miſs Mowbray--what does
" the man deſerve, who being entruſted
“ with the confidence of a young and beau-
66 tiful woman-beautiful, even as Emme-
“ line herſelf, and as highly accompliſhed
« has betrayed the ſacred truſt; and has
*s been the occaſion-oh God!--of what
« miſery may I not have been the occa-
“ fion!
“ Pardon me," continued her I am
“s afraid my deſpair frightens you—I will
. « endeavour to command myſelf.”
Emmeline found the could not eſcape
hearing the ſtory, and endeavoured not to
betray
cca-


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 35
betray by her countenance that the already
knew it.
Fitz-Edward went on-
" When firſt I knew you, I was a de-
66 cided libertine. Yourſelf and Mrs. Staf-
“ ford, lovely as I thought you both, would
“ have been equally the object of my de-
“ ſigns, if Delamere's paſſion for you, and
" the reſerved conduct of Mrs. Stafford,
“ had not made me doubt ſucceeding
" with either. But for your charming
“ friend my heart long retained it's par-
“.tiality ; nor would it ever have felt for
e her that pure and diſintereſted friendſhip,
" which is now in regard to her it's only
" ſentiment, had not the object of my pre-
"“ ſent regret and anguiſh been thrown in
" my way.
“ To you, Miſs Mowbray, I ſcruple
“ not to ſpeak of this beloved and lamented
“ woman; tho' her name is facred with
css me, and has never yet been mentioned
“ united with diſhonour.
.“ The connection between our families
“ firſt introduced me to her acquaintance.
C6
66 In


36 Ε Μ Μ Ε L 1 Ν Ε,
" In her perſon ſhe was exquiſitely lovely,
" and her manners were as enchanting as
“ her form. The ſprightly gaiety of un-
“ ſuſpecting inexperience, was, I thought,
“ ſometimes checked by an involuntary
“ ſentiment of regret at the ſacrifice ſhe
“ had made by marrying a man every way
“ unworthy of her except by that fortune
“ to which ſhe was indifferent, and of
"! which he was haſtening to diveſt him-
* felf.
“ I had never ſeen Mr. Trelawny; and
«• knew him for ſome time only from re-
s port. But when he came to Lough
“ Carryl, my pity for her encreaſed in
“ proportion to the envy and indignation
56 with which I beheld the inſenſible
" and intemperate huſband-incapable of
“ feeling for her, any other ſentiment, than
« what ſhe might equally have inſpired in
“ the loweſt of mankind.
.“ Her unaffected ſimplicity; her gentle
« confidence in my protection during a
“ voyage in which her ill-aſſorted mate
“ left her entirely to my care; made me
“ rather
-


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE.
37
« rather conſider her as my ſiſter than as
66 an object of ſeduction. I reſolved to be
" the guardian rather than the betrayer of
66 her honour-and I long kept my reſolu-
* tion.”
Fitz-Edward then proceeded to relate
the circumſtances that attended the ruin of
Trelawny's fortune ; and that Lady Adelina
was left to ſtruggle with innumerable diffi-
culties, unaſſiſted but by himſelf, to whom
Lord Clancarryl had delegated the taſk of
treating with Trelawny's ſiſter and cre-
ditors.
“ Her gratitude,” continued he, “ for
the little aſliſtance I was able to give her,
“ was boundleſs ; and as pity had already
“ taught me to love her with more ardour
" than her beauty only, captivating as it
.is, would have inſpired, gratitude led
• her too eaſily into tender ſentiments for
- me. I am not a preſuming coxcomb;
66 but ſhe was infinitely too artleſs to con-
" ceal her partiality ; and neither her mis-
“ fortunes, or her being the fifter of my
Ore
friend


38 EMMELINE,
« friend Godolphin, protected her againſt
" the libertiniſm of iny principles.”
He went on to relate the deep melan-
choly that feized Lady Adelina, and his
own terror and remorſe when he found her
one morning gone from her lodgings, where
ſhe had left no direction ; and from her pro-
ceeding it was evident ſhe deſigned to con-
ceal herſelf from his enquiries.
“ God knows,” purſued he, “ what is
« now become of her ! -perhaps, when
“ moſt in need of tenderneſs and attention,
“ ſhe is thrown deſtitute and friendleſs
" among ſtrangers, and will periſh in indi-
os gence and obſcurity. 'Unuſed to en-
o counter the flighteſt hardſhip, her deli-
cate frame, and ſtill more ſenſible mind,
“ will ſink under thoſe to which her ſitua-
" tion will expoſe her—perhaps I ſhall be
65 doubly a murderer!”.
He ſtopped, from inability to proceed
Emmeline, in tears, continued ſilent.
Struggling to conquer his emotion and
recover his voice, Fitz-Edward at length
continued
" While


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 39
" While I was ſuffering all the miſery
66 which my apprehenſion for her fate in-
66 flicted, her younger brother, William
“ Godolphin, returned from the Weſt In-
co dies, where he has been three years
“ ſtationed. I was the firſt perſon he vi-
“ fited in town; but I was not at iny lodg-
66 ings there. Before I returned from
“ Tylehurſt, he had informed himſelf of
6 all the circumſtances of Trelawny's ein-
66 barraſſments, and his ſiſter's abſence.
“ He found letters froin Lord Weſthaven,
« and from my brother, Lord Clancarryl ;
“ who knowing he would about that time
“ return to England, conjured him to aſſiſt
« in the attempt of diſcovering Lady Ade-
“ lina; of whoſe motives for concealing
“ herſelf from her family they were entirely
“ ignorant, while it filled them with un-
“ eaſineſs and aſtoniſhment. As ſoon as I
" went back to London, Godolphin, of
whoſe arrival I was ignorant, came to
cine. He embraced me, and thanked
“ me for my friendſhip and attention to
his unfortunate Adelina I think if he
“ had


40
E M M E LINE,
.“ had held his ſword to my heart it would
- have hurt me leſs !
“ He implored me to help his ſearch
after his lcft fiſter, and again ſaid how
“ greatly, he was obliged to me—while I,
“ conſcious how little I deſerved his grati-
“ tude, felt like a coward and an aſſaſſin,
" and ſhrunk from the manly confidence
“ of my friend.
“ Since our firſt meeting, I have ſeen
“ him ſeveral times, and ever with new
anguiſh. I have loved Godolphin from
my earlieſt remembrance; and have
known him from a boy to have the beſt
• heart and the nobleſt ſpirit under hea-
“ ven. Equally incapable of deſerving
" or bearing diſhonour, Godolphin will
66 behold me with contempt; which tho'
" I deſerve I cannot endure. He muſt :-
r call ine to an account; and the hope
66 of periſhing by his hand is the only
one I now cheriſh. Yet unable to ſhock
" him by divulging the fatal ſecret, I have
6 hitherto concealed it, and my conceal-
" ment he muſt iinpute to motives bale,
os infainous
CO


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 41
“ infamous, and pufillanimous. I can
« bear ſuch reflections no longer-I will
“ go to town to-morrow, explain his ſiſter's
“ ſituation to him, and let him take the
« only reparation I can now make him.”
Emmeline, ſhuddering at this reſolution,
could not conceal how greatly it affected
her.
« Generous and lovely Miſs Mowbray !
“ pardon me for having thus moved your
“ gentle nature ; and allow me, ſince I ſee
“ you pity me, to requeſt of you and Mrs.
“ Stafford a favour which will probably be
“ the laſt trouble the unhappy Fitz-Ed-
“ ward will give you.
“ It may happen that Lady Adelina
“ may hereafter be diſcovered—tho' I
“ know not how to hope it. But if your
“ generous pity ſhould intereſt you in the
so fate of that unhappy, forlorn young wo-
or man, your's and Mrs. Stafford's pro-
“ tection might yet perhaps ſave her; and
“ ſuch interpoſition would be worthy of
“ hearts like yours. As the event of a
“ meeting between me and Godolphin is
rr uncertain,


42
E M ME LI NE,
“ uncertain, ſhall I intreat you, my lovely
“ friend, to take charge of this paper.
“ It contains a will, by which the child
“ of Lady Adelina will be entitled to all
“ I die poffefſed of. It is enough, if the
“ unfortunate infant ſurvives, to place it
“ above indigence. Lord Clancarryl will
" not diſpute the diſpoſition of my for-
“ tune; and to your care, and that of
" Mrs. Stafford, I have left it in truſt, and
“ I have intreated you to befriend the poor
“ little one, who will probably be an or-
6 phan-but deſolate and abandoned it
or will not be, if it's innocence and unhap-
pineſs intereſt you to grant my requeſt.
Delamere will not object to your good-
“ neſs being ſo exerted ; and you will not
“ teach it, generous, gentle as you are !
“ to hold in abhorrence the memory of
66 it's father. This is all I can now do.
“ Farewell! deareſt Miſs Mowbray!!
“ Heaven give you happineſs, ma douce
“ amie ! Farewell!” .
Theſe laſt words, in which Fitz-Edward
repeated the name by which he was accuſ-
tomed


44
E M M E LI NE,.
on one of the chairs, and wept like a wo-
nian.
Emineline, who now hoped to perfuade
him not to execute the reſolution he had
formed, ſaid " I will take the paper you
" have given me, Fitz-Edward, and will
“ moſt religiouſly fulfil all your requeſt in
" it to the utmoſt extent of my power.
“ But in return for my giving you this
“ promiſe, I muſt inſiſt”-
At this moment James Crofts ſtood be-
fore them.
Emmeline, ſhocked and amazed at his
appearance, rouſed Fitz-Edward by a ſud-
den exclamation.
He ſtarted up, and ſaid fiercely to
Crofts—". Well, Sir !-have you any
“ commands here?”
« Commands, Sir,” anſwered Crofts,
ſomewhat alarmed by the tone in whichi
this queſtion was put-" I have no com-
" mands to be ſure Sir---but, but, I came
“ Sir, juſt to enquire after Miſs Mow-
“ bray. I did not mean to intrude.”
66 Then,


· THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 45
“ Then, Sir," returned the Colonel,
6 I beg you will leave us.”
- Oh! certainly, Sir,” cried Crofts,
trying to regain his courage and affume an
air of raillery~" certainly—I would not
" for the world interrupt you. My buſi-
« neſs indeed is not at all material-only a
« compliment to Miſs Mowbray-your's,”
added he ſneeringly, “ is, I ſee, of more
« conſequence.”
“ Look ye, Mr. Crofts,” ſharply an-
ſwered Fitz-Edwardm" You are to make
“ no impertinent comments. Mifs Mow-
“ bray is miſtreſs of her actions. She is
“ in my particular protection on behalf
“ of my friend Delamere, and I ſhall corr-
“ ſider the ſighteſt failure of reſpect to
« her as an inſult to me. Sir, if you
“ have nothing more to ſay you will be
“ fo good as to leave us.”
There was ſomething ſo hoſtile in the
manner in which Fitz-Edward delivered
this ſpeech, that James Crofts, more at
home in the cabinet than the field, thought
he might as well avoid another injunction
ta


46
E M M E LINE,
to depart; and quietly ſubmit to the pre-
ſent, rather than provoke farther reſent-
ment from the formidable ſoldier. He
therefore, looking moſt cadaverouſly,
made one of his jerking bows, and ſaid,
with ſomething he intended for a ſinile-
“ Well, well, good folks, I'll leave you
s to your tête à tête, and haſten back to
“ my engagement. Every body regrets
66 Miſs Mowbray's abſence from the ball;
" and the partner that was provided for
or her is ready to hang himſelf."
· An impatient look, darted from Fitz-
Edward, ſtopped farıher effuſion of imper-
tinence, and he only added " Servant!
56 ſervant !” and walked away.
· Fitz-Edward, then turning towards Em-
meline, ſaw her pale and faint.
i “Why, my dear Miſs Mowbray, do
“ you ſuffer this man's folly to affect you?
6. Your looks really terrify me!”
: o Oh! he was ſent on purpoſe,” cried
Emmeline.-- Mrs. Aſhwood has lately
6 often hinted to me, that whatever are
“ iny engagements to Delamere I was
“ much more partial to you. She has
66 watched


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 47
66 watched me for ſome time; and now,
“ on my refuſing to accompany them to
" the ball, concluded I had an appoint-
6 ment, and ſent Crofts back to ſee.”
". If I thought ſo," ſternly anſwered
Fitz-Edward, “I would inſtantly overtake
66 him, and I believe I could oblige him
" to ſecreſy."
“ No, for heaven's fake don't!” ſaid
Emmeline" for heaven's fake do not
" think of it! I care not what they think-
66 leave them to their conjectures-Crofts
66 is not worth your anger. But Fitz-Ed-
“ ward, let us return to what we were
s talking of. Will you promiſe me to
“ delay going to London-to delay ſeeing
“ Mr. Godolphin until-in ſhort, will you
s6 give me your honour to remain at Tyle.
• hurſt a week, without taking any mea-
“ ſures to inform Godolphin of what you
« have told me. I will, at the end of
that time, either releaſe you from your
“ promiſe, or give you unanſwerable rea-
“ fons why you ſhould relinquiſh the de-
“ ſign of meeting him at all.”
Fitz-


48
E M M E L I NE,
ea
Fitz-Edward, however amazed at the
earneftneſs the expreſſed to obtain this
promiſe, gave it. He had no fufpicion of
Emmeline's having any knowledge of La-
dy Adelina ; and accounted for the deep
intereſt ſhe ſeemed to take in preventing
an interview, by recollecting the univerſal
tenderneſs and humanity of her character.
He aſſured her he would not leave Tyle-
hurft 'till the expiration of the time ſhe
had named. He conjured her not to ſuf-
fer any impertinence from Crofts on the
ſubject of their being ſeen together, but to
awe him into ſilence by reſentment. Em-
meline now deſired him to leave her. But
The ſtill ſeemed under ſuch an hurry of fpi-
rits, that he inſiſted on being allowed to
attend her to the door of the houſe, where,
renewing his thanks for the compaſſionate
attention ſhe had afforded him, and entreat-
ing her to compoſe herſelf, he left her.'
Emmeline intending to go to her own
room, went firſt into the drawing room to
depoſit her muſic book. She had hardly
done ſo, when ſhe heard a man's ſtep, and
turning,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 49
turning, beheld Crofts open the door,
which he immediately ſhut after him.
“ I thought, Sir,” ſaid 'Emmeline,
“ you had been gone back to your party.”
" No, not yet, my fair Ememline. I
* wanted firſt to beg your pardon for having
66 diſturbed ſo ſnug a party. Ah! fly
6 little prude-who would think that you,
56 who always ſeem ſo cold end ſo cruel,
“ made an excuſe only to ſtay at home to
“ meet Fitz-Edward ? But it is not fair,
“ little dear, that all your kindneſs ſhould
“ be for him, while you will ſcarce give
« any other body a civil look. Now I
“ have met with you I ſwear I'll have
a kiſs too.”
Emmeline, terrified to death at his ap-
proaching her with this ſpeech, flew to the
bell, which ſhe rang with ſo much violence
that the rope broke from the crank.
“Now,” cried Crofts, “ if nobody
“ hears, you are more than ever in my
56 power.”
“ Heaven forbid !” ſkrieked Emme-
VOL.III.
D
line,


E M M E LINE,
line, in an agony of fear. " Let me go,
66 Mr. Crofts, this moment,”
She would have ruſhed towards the door
but he ſtood with his arms extended before
it.
" You did not run thus--you did not
56 ſcream thus, when Fitz-Edward, the
« fortunate Fitz-Edward, was on his
" knees before you. Then, you could
“ weep and figh too, and look ſo ſweetly
" on him. But come you ſee I know
- ſo much that it will be your intereſt;
6 littlè dear, to make me your friend.”
" Rather let me apply to fiends and
“ furies for friendſhip! hateful, detefta-
“ able wretch! by what right do you in
5 fult and detain ne?”
« Oh! theſe theatricals are really very
«« ſublime !” cried he, ſeizing both her
hands, which he violently graſped.
Slie ſkrieked aloud, and fruitleſsly ſtrug-
gled to break from him, when the foor-
ſteps of ſomebody near the door obliged
him to let her go. She darted inſtantly
away, and in the hall met one of the maids.
of Lord,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 51
" Lord, Miſs,” cried the ſervant, “did
or you ring? I've been all over the houſe to
o ſee what bell it was.” .
Emmeline, without anſwering, flew to
her own room. The maid followed her.
But deſirous of being left alone, ſhe affured
the girl that nothing was the matter, that
ſhe was merely tired by a long walk, and
deſiring a glaſs of water, tried to compoſe
and recollect herſelf; while Crofts unob-
ſerved returned to the houſe where the fete
was given timne enough to dreſs and dance
with Mrs. Alhwood.
It was at her deſire, that immediately
after dinner Crofts had left the company
under pretence of executing a commiſſion
with which ſhe eaſily furniſhed him ; but
his real orders were to diſcover the motives
of Emmeline's refuſal to be of the party.
This he executed beyond his expectation.
It was no longer to be doubted that very
good intelligence ſubſiſted between Emme-
line and Fitz-Edward, ſince he had been
found on his knees before her; while ſhe,
earneſtly yet kindly ſpeaking, hung over
D 2
him


52 E M M E L I NE,
him with tears in her eyes. Knowing that
Emmeline was abſolutely engaged to Dela-
mere, he was perſuaded that Fitz-Edward
was maſter of her heart; and that the tears
and emotion to which he had been witneſs,
were occaſioned by the impoſſibility of her
giving him her hand. He knew Fitz-Ed-
ward's character too well to ſuppoſe he
could be inſenſible of the lady's kindneſs;
and poſſeſſing himſelf a mind groſs and
depraved, he did not heſitate to believe all
the ill his own baſe and illiberal ſpirit ſug-
geſted.
Tho', intereſted hypocrite as he was, he
made every other paſſion fubfervient to the
gratification of his avarice, Crofts had not
coldly beheld the youth and beauty of Em-
meline; he had, however, carefully for-
borne to ſhew that he admired her, and
would probably never have betrayed what
muit ruin him for ever with Mrs. Afhwood,
had not the conviction of her partiality to
Fitz-Edward inſpired him with the infa-
mous hope of frightening her into ſome
kindneſs for himſelf, by threatening to be-
trav


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 53
tray her ſtolen interview with her ſuppoſed
lover.
The ſcorn and horror with which Em.
meline repulſed hin ſerved only to mortify
his ſelf love, and provoke his hatred to-
wards her and the man whoin he believed
the favoured; and with the inveterate and
cowardly malignity of which his heart
was particularly ſuſceptible, he deter-
mined to do all in his power to ruin then
both.
eta
3
CHAP


E M M E L I NE,
CHAPTER 111.
QUCH was the horror and deteſtation
W which Emmeline felt for Crofts, that
ſhe could not bear the thoughts of ſee-
ing him again. But as the feared Mrs.
Stafford might reſent his behaviour, and by
that means embroil herſelf with the vain
and inſolent Mrs. Alhwood, with whom ſhe
knew Stafford was obliged to keep on a fair
footing, the determined to ſay as little
as ſhe could of his impertinence to Mrs.
Stafford, but to withdraw from the houſe
without again expoſing herſelf to meet him.
As ſoon as ſhe ſaw her the next morning,
ſhe related all that had paſſed between
Fitz-Edward and herſelf; and after a long
conſultation they agreed that to prevent his
ſeeing Godolphin was abſolutely neceſſary;
and that no other means of doing ſo offered,
but Mrs. Stafford's relating to him the real
circumſtances and ſituation of Lady Ade-
lina,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 55
lina, as ſoon as the ſhould be removed
from her preſent abode and precautions
were taken to prevent his diſcovering her.
This, Mrs. Stafford undertook to do imme-
diately after their departure. It was to take
place on the next day; and Emmeline,
with the concurrence of her friend, deter-
mined that ſhe would take no leave of the
party at Woodfield : for tho' the appear-
ance of myſtery was extremely diſagreeable
and diſtreſſing to Emmeline, ſhe knew that
notice of her intentions would excite en-
quiries and awaken curioſity very diffi-
cult to ſatisfy; and that it was extremely
probable James Crofts might be employed
to watch her, and by that means render
abortive all her endeavours to preſerve the
unhappy Lady Adelina.
Relying therefore on the generoſity and
innocence of her intentions, the choſe ra-
ther to leave her own actions open to cen
ſure which they did not deſerve, than to
riſk an inveſtigation which might be fatal
to the intereſt of her poor friend. She took
nothing with her, Mrs. Stafford under-
D4
taking
CC


56
E L I NE,
E M
M
taking every neceſſary arrangement about
her cloaths--and having at night taken a
tender leave of this beloved and valuable.
woman, and promiſed to write to her con-
ftantly and to return as ſoon as the deſtiny
of Lady Adelina ſhould be decided, they
paried.
· And Emmeline, ariſing before the dawn
of the following morning, ſet out alone to
Woodbury Foreſt-a precaution abſolutely
neceſſary, to evade the inquiſitive watchful-
neſs of James Crofts. She ſtole ſoftly down
ſtairs, before even the ſervants were ſtirring,
and opening the door cautiouſly, felt ſome
degree of terror at being obliged to under-
take ſo long a walk alone at ſuch an hour.
But innocence gave her courage, and
friendly zeal lent her ſtrength. As ſhe
walked on, her fears ſubſided. She faw
the ſun riſe above the horizon, and her ap-
prehenſions were at an end.
As no carriage could approach within
three quarters of a mile of the houſe where
Lady Adelina was concealed, they were
obliged to walk to the road where Mrs.
Stafford


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 57
Stafford had directed a poft chaiſe to wait
for them, which ſhe had hired at a diſtant
town, where it was unlikely any enquiry
would be made..
Long diſuſe, as ſhe had hardly ever
left the cottage from the moment of her
entering it, and the extreine weakneſs to
which ſhe was reduced, made Emmeline
greatly fear that Lady Adelina would never
be able to reach the place. With her
aſſiſtance, and that of her Ladyſhip’s woman,
flowly and faintly ſhe walked thither; and
Emmeline ſaw her happily placed in the
chaiſe. Every thing had been before ſet-
tled as to the conveyance of the ſervant
and baggage, and to engage the ſecreſy of
the woman with whom ſhe had dwelt, by
making her ſilence ſufficiently advantage-
ous; and as they hoped that no traces were
left by which they might be followed, the
ſpirits of the fair travellers ſeemed fome-
what to improve as they proceeded on their
journey.-Emmeline felt her heart elated
with the conſciouſneſs of doing good; and
from the tender affection and aſſiſtance of
D 5
fuch


58 EMMELIN E,
fuch a friend, which could be conſidered
only as the benevolence of heaven itſelf,
Lady Adelina drew a favourable omen, and
dared entertain a faint hope that her peni-
tence had been accepted.
They arrived without any accident at
Bath, the following day; and Emmeline
leaving Lady Adelina at the inn, went out
immediately to ſecure lodgings in a retired
part of the town. As ſoon as it was dark,
Lady Adelina removed thither in a chair;
and was announced by Emmeline to be the
wife of a Swiſs officer, to be herſelf of Swit-
zerland, and to bear the name of Mrs. St.
Laurewhile ſhe herſelf, as ſhe was very
little known, continued to paſs by her own
siame in the few tranſactions which in their
very private way of living required her
name to be repeated.
When Mrs. Aſhwood found that Emme-
line had left Woodfield clandeſtinely and
alone, and that Mrs. Stafford evaded giving
any account whither ihe was gone, by ſay-
ing coldly that ſhe was gone to viſit a friend
in Surry whom flie formerly knew in Wales,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 59
all the fufpicions ſhe had herſelf harboured,
and Miſs Galton encouraged, ſeemed con-
firmed. James Crofts had related, not
without exaggerations, what he had been
witneſs to in the copſe; and it was no
longer doubted but that fhe was gone with
Fitz-Edward, which at once accounted for
her departure and the ſudden and myfte,
rious manner in which it was accompliſhed.
James Crofts had fufpicions that his beha-
viour had haſtened it; but he failed not to
confirm Mrs. Aſhwood in her prepoffeffion"
that her entanglement with Fitz-Edward
was now at a period when it could be no
longer concealed intelligence which was
to be conveyed to Delamere.
The elder Crofts, who had been ſome
time with Lady Montreville and her
daughter, had named Delamere froîn time
to time in his letters to his brother. The
laſt, mentioned that he was now with his
mother and fifter, who were at Nice, and
who purpoſed returning to England in
about three months. Crofts repreſented
Delamere as ftill devoted to Emmeline;
D 6
- and


60 EV M E LINE, in
and as exiſting only in the hope of being
no longer oppoſed in his intention of mar-
rying her in March, when the year which
he had promiſed his father to wait expired;
but that Lady Montreville, as time wore
away, grew more averſe to the match, and
more deſirous of ſome event which might
break it off. Crofts gave his brother a very
favourable account of his progreſs with
Miſs Delamere ; and hinted that if he could
be fortunate enough to put an end to De-
lamere's intended connection, it would ſo
greatly conciliate the favour of Lady Mon-
treville, that he dared hope ſhe would no
longer oppoſe his union with her daughter :
and when once they were married, and the
prejudices of the mother to an inferior al-
liance conquered, he had very little doubt
of Lord Montreville's forgiveneſs, and of
foon regaining his countenance and friend-
ſhip.
This account from his brother added
another motive to thoſe which already in-
fluenced the malignant and illiberal mind
of James Crofts to injure the lovely orphan,
and


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 61
and he determined to give all his aſſiſtance
to Mrs. Aſhwood in the cruel project of
depriving her at once of her character and
her lover. In a conſultation which he held
on this ſubject with his promiſed bride and
Miſs Galton, the ladies agreed that it was
perfectly ſhocking that ſuch a fine young
man as Mr. Delainere ſhould be attached
to a woman ſo little ſenſible of his value as
Emmeline ; that it had long been evident
ſhe was to him indifferent, and it was now
too clear that ſhe was partial to another;
and that therefore it would be a meritorious
action to acquaint him of her intimacy with
Fitz-Edward ; and it could not be doubted
but his knowledge of it would, high ſpirited
as he was, cure him effectually of his ill-
placed paſſion, and reſtore the tranquillity
of his reſpectable family. Hiding thus the
inveterate envy and malice of their hearts
under this hypocritical pretence, they next
conſidered how to give the information
which was fo meritorious. Anonymous
letters were expedients to which Miſs
Galton had before had recourſe, and to an
anonymous


62
E M M E L IN E,
anonymous letter they determined to com-
mit the ſecret of Emmeline's infidelity---
while James Crofts, in his letters to his bro-
ther, was to corroborate the intelligence it
contained, by relating as inere matter of
news what had actually and evidently hap-
pened, Emmeline's ſudden departure from
Woodfield.
Delamere, when he ſaw his mother out
of danger at Barege, had returned to the
neighbourhood of Paris, where he had lin-
gered fomne time, in hopes that Emmeline
would accede to his requeſt of being al-
lowed to croſs the channel for a few days;
but her anſwer, in which ſhe ſtrongly urged.
the hazard he would incur of giving his fa-
ther a pretence to withdraw his promiſe, by
violating his own, had obliged him, tho'
with infinite reluctance, to give up the
[cheme; and being quite indifferent where
he was, if he was füill at a diſtance from
her, he had yielded to the ſolicitations of
Lady Montreville, and rejoined her at
Nice. There, he now remained; while
every thing in England ſeemed to contri-
bute


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 62
bute to affiſt the deſigns of thoſe who wiſhed
to diſengage him from his paſſion for Em-
meline.
The day after Emmeline's departure
with Lady Adelina, Fitz-Edward went
to Woodfield; and hearing that Miſs Mow-
bray had ſuddenly left it, was thrown into
the 'utmoſt aſtoniſhment aſtoniſhment
which Mrs. Alhwood and Miſs Galton ob-
ferved to each other was the fineſt piece of
acting they had ever ſeen.
The whole party were together when he
was introduced--a circumſtance Mrs. Staf-
ford would willingly have avoided, as it.
was abſolutely neceſſary for her to ſpeak to
him alone; and determined to do ſo, what-
ever conſtruction the malignity of her
ſiſter-in-law might put upon it, ſhe ſaid
“ I have long promiſed you, Colonel, a
“ fight of the two pieces of drawing which
« Miſs Mowbray and I have finiſhed as
companions. They are now framed ;
" and if you will come with me into my
“ dreſſing-room you ſhall ſee them.”
As the reſt of the company had fre-
quently


64
E M M E L I NE,
quently ſeen theſe drawings, there was no
pretence for their following Mrs. Stafford ;
who, accompanied by the Colonel, went to
her dreſſing-room.
A conference thus evidently fought by
Mrs. Stafford, excited the eager and pain-
ful curioſity of the party in the parlour.
“ Now would I give the world,” cried
Mrs. Aſhwood, “ to know what is going
« forward.”
“ Is it not poſſible to liſten?” enquired
Crofts, equal to any meanneſs that might
gratify the inalevolence of another or his
own.
" Yes,” replied Mrs. Alhwood, “ if one
“ could get into the cloſet next the dreſſing-
6* room without being perceived, which
" can only be done by paſſing thro’ the
“ nurſery. If indeed the nurſery maids and
“ children are out, it is eaſy enough.”
“ They are out, mama, I aſſure you,”
cried Miſs Aſhwood, “ for I ſaw them my-
“ ſelf go acroſs the lawn ſince I've been at
“ breakfaſt. Do, pray let us go and liſten-
"I long of all things to know what my
" aunt
ce


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 65
"s aunt Stafford can have to ſay to that fly-
66 looking Colonel.”
“ No, no, child,” ſaid her mother, “I
“ ſhall not ſend you, indeed—but Crofts,
“ do you think we ſhould be able to make
so it out?”
“ Egad,” anſwered he, “ I'll try—for
- depend upon it the miſchief will out.
“ It will be rare, to have ſuch a pretty tale
" to tell Mr. Delamere of his demure-
“ looking little dear.-I'll venture.”
Mrs. Aſhwood then ſhewing him the
way, he went on tip toe up ſtairs, and con-
cealing himſelf in a light cloſet which was
divided from the dreſſing-room only by
lath and plaiſter, he lent an attentive ear to
the dialogue that was paſſing. .
It happened, however, that the window
near which Mrs. Stafford and Fitz-Edward
were ſitting was exactly oppoſite to that
ſide of the room to which Crofts' hiding-
place communicated; and tho’the room was
not large, yet the diſtance, the partition,
and the low voice in which both parties
ſpoke, made it impoſſible for him to diſtin-
guith


66 Ε Μ Μ Ε Σ Ι Ν Ε,
guilh more than broken ſentences. From
Mrs. Stafford he heard anko Could not
" longer be concealed--in all probability
“ may now remain unknown--the child,
“ I will myſelf attend to.” From Fitz-
Edward, he could only catch indiſtinct
founds; his voice appearing to be loft in
his emotion. But he ſeemed to be thanking
Mrs. Stafford, and lamenting his own un-
happineſs. His laſt ſpeech, in which his
powers of utterance were returned, was
“ Nothing can ever eraſe the impreſſion
" of your angelic goodneſs, beſt and love-
« lieft of friends ! oh, continue it, I be-
or feech you, to thoſe for whom only I am
66 ſolicitous, and forgive all the trouble I
“ have given you !”
He then hurried away. Mrs. Stafford,
after remaining alone a moment as if to
compoſe herſelf, went back to the parlour;
and Crofts, who thought he had heard
enough, tho' he wiſhed to have heard all,
flunk from his cloſet and walked into the
garden; where being ſoon afterwards joined
by Mrs. Alhwood and Miſs Galton, by re-
lating


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 67
1ore
lating the broken and disjointed diſcourſe
he had been witneſs to, left not a doubt re-
maining of the cauſe of Emmeline's pre-
cipitate retreat from Woodfield.
And perhaps minds more candid than
their's--minds untainted with the odious and
hateful envy which ulcerated their's, might,
from the circumſtances that attended her
going and Fitz-Edward's behaviour, have
conceived diſadvantageous ideas of her
conduct. But ſuch was the uneaſineſs with
which Mrs. Alhwood ever beheld ſuperior
merit, and ſuch the univerſal delight which
Miſs Galton took in defamation, that had
none of thoſe circumſtances exiſted, they
would with equal malignity have ſtudied to
ruin the reputation of Emmeline; and pro-
bably with equal ſucceſs for againſt ſuch
attacks, innocence, however it may con-
· fole it's poſſeſſor, is too frequently a feeble
and inadequate defence!
While the confederates, exulting in the
certainty of Emmeline's ruin, were manu-
facturing the letter which was to alarm the
jcalous and iraſcible ſpirit of Delamere,
Fitz-


68
E M ME LI NE,
Fitz-Edward, from whom Mrs. Stafford,
before ſhe would tell him any thing, had
extorted a promiſe that he would enquire
no farther than what ſhe choſe to relate to
him, was relieved from inſupportable an-
guiſh by hearing that Lady Adelina was in
ſafe hands; but lamented in bitterneſs of
foul the deſpondency and affliction to which
Mrs. Stafford had told him ſhe entirely re-
ſigned herſelf. He knew not that Emme-
line was with her, whatever he might ſuſpect;
and Mrs. Stafford had proteſted to him,
that if he made any attempt to diſcover the
reſidence of Lady Adelina, or perſiſted in
meeting her brother, ſhe would immediately
relinquiſh all concern in the affair, and no
longer intereſt herſelf in what his raſhneſs
would inevitably render deſperate.
He ſolemnly aſſured her he would take
no meaſures without her knowledge; and
remained at Tylehurſt, ſecluded from
every body, and waiting in fearful and
anxious ſolicitude to hear of Lady Adelina
by Mrs. Stafford.
Delamere, ſtill at Nice with his mother,
who


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 69
who with different ſources of uneaſineſs
thought the days and weeks inſupportably
long in which he lived only in the hope of
ſeeing Emmeline at the end of ſix months,
was rouſed from his involuntary reſignation
by the following letter, written in a hand
perfectly unknown to him.
“ Sir,
" A friend to your worthy and noble
"s family writes this; which is meant to
“ ſerve you, and to undeceive you in re-
“ gard to Miſs Mowbray_who, without
“ any gratitude for the high honour you
“ intend her, is certainly too partial to
" another perſon. She is now gone from
“ Woodfield to eſcape obſervation; and
6 none but Mrs. Stafford is let into the
“ ſecret of where ſhe is. You will judge
- what end it is to anſwer; but certainly
“ none that bodes you good. One would
“ have ſuppoſed that the Colonel's being
s very often her attendant at Woodfield
“ might have made her ſtay there agree-
“ able enough ; but perhaps (for I do not
" aver


70 E M M E L IN E,
66 aver it) the young lady has ſome parti-
“ cular reaſons for wiſhing to have private
" lodgings. No doubt the Colonel is a
« man of gallantry; but his friendſhip to
“ you is rather more queſtionable. The
“ writer of this having very little know-
“ ledge of the parties, can have no other
“ motive than the love of juſtice, and be-
“ ing ſorry to ſee deceit and falſehood
or practiſed on a young gentleman who de-
66 ſerves better, and who has a reſpectful
66 tho unknown friend in
“ Y. Z.”
London, July 22, 17-
This infamous ſcroll had no ſooner been
peruſed by Delamere, than fury flaſhed
from his eyes, and anguiſh ſeized his
heart. But the moment the ſuddenneſs of his
paſſion gave way to reflection, the tumult
of his mind ſubſided, and he thought ic
muſt be an artifice of his inother's to ſepa-
rate him from Emmeline. The longer he
conſidered her inveterate antipathy to his
marriage, the more he was concerned that
this


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 71
this artifice, unworthy as it was, ſhe was
capable of conceiving, and, by means of
the Crofts, executing, if ſhe hoped by it
to put an eternal concluſion to his affection.
He at length ſo entirely adopted this idea,
that determining “ to be revenged and
or love her better for it,” and to ſettle the
matter very peremptorily with the Crofts'
if they had been found to interfere, he
obtained a tolerable command over his
temper and his features, and joined Lady
Montreville and Miſs Delamere, whom he
found reading letters which they alſo had
received from England. His mother aſked
ſlightly after his ; and, in a few moments,
Mr. Crofts arrived, aſking, with his uſual
affiduity, after the health of Lord Mon-
treville and that of ſuch friends as uſually
wrote to her Ladyſhip? She anſwered his
enquiries and then deſired to hear what
news Sir Richard or his other correſpon
dents had ſent him?
« My father's letters,” ſaid he, “ con-
“ tain little more than an order to purchaſe
“ ſome particular fort of wine which he
or is


72. EMMELINE,
« is very circumſtantial, as uſual, in telling
" me how to forward ſafely. He adds,
« indeed, that he can allow my abſence no
“ longer than until the 20th of September.”
He ſighed, and looked tenderly at Miſs
Delainere.
" I have no other letters,” continued
he, “ but one from James.”
.« And does he tell you no news," aſked
Lady Montreville ?
“ Nothing,” anſwered Crofts, careleſsly,
« but goſſip, which I believe would not
“ entertain your ladyſhip.”
« Oh, why ſhould you fancy that,” re-
turned fie" you know I love to hear
s knews, tho' about people I never ſaw or
“ ever wiſh to ſee.”
« James has been at Mr. Stafford's at
“ Woodfield,” ſaid he, 6 where your
“ ladyſhip has certainly no acquaint-
s ance.”
- At Woodfield, Sir?” cried Dela-
mere, unable to expreſs his anxiety-
« at Woodfield ?-And what does he
“ ſay of Woodfield?”
or I don't


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 73
“ I don't recollect any thing very par-
" ticular,” anſwered Crofts, careleſsly-
“ I believe I put the letter into my pocket”.
He took it out.
“ Read it to us Crofts”-faid Miſs De-
lamere.
" I have lately paſſed a very agree-
" able month at Woodfield. We were a
“ large party in the houſe. Among other
s pleaſant circumſtances, during my ſtay
there, was à ball and fete champêtre
“ given by Mr. Conway on his ſon's com-
66 ing of age. It was elegant, and well
“. conducted beyond any entertainment of
" the ſort I ever ſaw. There were forty
“ couple, and a great number of very
s pretty women; but it was agreed on all
« hands that Miſs Mowbray would have
" eclipfed them all, who unluckily de-
clined going. She left Woodfield a
“ day or two afterwards.".
Delamere's countenance changed.
Crofts, as if looking for ſome other news
Vol. III. E
ing


74 ! È M M É LINE,
in his letter, heſitated, then ſmiled, and
went on
.“. The goſſip Fame has made a match
66 for me with Mrs. Aſhwood. I wiſh the
" may be right. In ſome other of her
66 ſtories I really think her wrong, ſo I
66 will not be the means of their circula-
56 tion.”
“ The reſt,” ſaid Crofts, putting up the
letter, “ is only about my father's new
*6 purchaſes and other fainily affairs.”
Delamere, who in ſpite of his fufpicions
of Crofts' treachery, could not hear this
corroboration of his anonymous letter
without a renewal of all his fears, left the
room in doubt, fufpence and wretchedneſs.
The ſeeds of jealouſy and miſtruſt thus
ſkillfully fown, could hardly fail of taking
root in an heart ſo full of ſenſibility, and a
temper ſo irritable as his. Again he read
over his anonyinous letter, and compared
it with the intelligence which ſeemed acci-
dentally communicated by Crofts, and
with a fearful kind of enquiry compared
the date and circumſtances. He dared
hardly
CO


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. by 5
hardly truſt his mind with the import of
this inveſtigation; and found nothing on
which to reſt his hope, but that it might.
be a concerted plan between his mother
and Crofts.
His heart alternately ſwelling between
the indignation ſuch a ſuppoſition created
and ſhrinking with horror from the idea of
perfidy on the part of Emmeline, kept
him in ſuch a ſtate of mind that he could
hardly be ſaid to poſſeſs his reaſon. But
when he remembered how often his ex-
treme vivacity had betrayed him into error,
and hazarded his loſing for ever all he held
valuable on earth, he tried to ſubdue the
acuteneſs of his feelings, and to ſupport at
leaſt without betraying it, the anguiſh
which oppreſſed him, till the next pacquet
from England, when it was poſſible a letter
from Emmeline herſelf might diffipate his
doubts. Reſolutely however reſolving to
call Crofts to a ſerious account, if he found
him acceſſary to a calumny ſo dark and
diabolical.
When the next poſt from England ar-
E 2
rived,


E M M E L I NE,
rived, he ſaw, among the letters which
were delivered to him, one directed by
the hand of Emmeline. He flew to his
own room, and with trembling hands
broke the ſeal.
It was ſhort, and he fancied unuſually
cold. Towards it's cloſe, ſhe mentioned
that ſhe was going to Bath for a few weeks
with a friend, and as ſhe did not know
where ſhe ſhould lodge, thought he had
better not write till ſhe was again fixed at
Woodfield.
That ſhe ſhould go to Bath in July, with
a nameleſs friend, and quit ſo abruptly her
beloved friend, Mrs. Stafford that ſhe
fhould apparently wiſh to evade his letters,
and make her actual reſidence a ſecret-were
a cloud of circumſtances calculated to per-
ſuade him that ſome myſtery involved her.
conduct; a myſtery which the fatal letter
ſerved too evidently to explain.
As if fire had been laid to the train of
combuſtibles which had, ſince the receipt
of it, been accumulating in the boſom of
Delamere, his furious and uncontroulable
ſpirit


: THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 70
ſpirit now burſt forth. A teinporary
deliriuin ſeized hiin; he ſtamped, round
the room, and ran to his piſtols, which
fortunately were not charged. The noiſe
he made brought Millefleur into the room,
whom he inſtantly caught by the collar,
and ſhaking him violently, cried-
“ Scoundrel !-why are not theſe piſtols.
s6 loaded ?
Eh! Eb! Monſieur !” exclaimed
Millefleur, almoſt ſtrangled " que vou-
"s drier vous ?-Vos piſtolets ?-Mon Dieu
«s que voudrier vous avec vos piſtolets ?"
“ Shoot you perhaps, you blockhead!”.
raved Delamere, puſhing furiouſly from
him the trembling valet--then ſnatching
up the piſtols, he half kicked, half puſhed
him out of the room, and throwįng them
after him, ordered him to clean and load
them. After which he locked the door
and threw himſelf upon the bed.
The reſolution he had made in his cooler
moments, never again to yield to ſuch
impetuous tranſports of paſſion, was now
forgotten. He could not conquer, he
could


78 EMMELINE,
could not even mitigate the tumultuous
anguiſh which had ſeized him; but ſeeined
rather to call to his remembrance all that
might juſtify it's exceſs.
He remembered how poſitively Emme-
line had forbidden his returning to England,
tho' all he aſked was to be allowed to ſee
her for a few hours. He recollected her
long and invincible coldneſs; her reſolute
adherence to the promiſe ſhe need not
have given ; and forgetting all the ſymp-
toms which he had before fondly believed
he had diſcovered of her returning his
affection, he exaggerated every circum-
ftance that indicated indifference, and
magnified them into ſigns of abſolute aver-
fion.
Tho'he could not forget that Fitz-Ed-
ward had aſſiſted him in carrying Emme-
line away, and had on all occaſions pro-
moted his intereſt with her, that recollec-
tion did not at all weaken the probability of
his preſent attachment; for ſuch was Dela-
mere's opinion of Fitz-Edward's princi.
ples, that he believed he was capable of
the


· THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 179
the inoſt diſhonourable views on the miſ-
treſs, or even on the wife of his friend.
He tortured his imagination almoſt to mad-
neſs, by remembering numberleſs little in-
cidents, which, tho' almoſt unattended
to at the time, now ſeemed to bring the
cruelleſt conviction of their intelligence
particularly, that on the night he had taken
Emmeline from Clapham, Fitz-Edward.
was found there; tho' neither his father or
himſelf, who had repeatedly ſent to his
lodgings, could either find him at home
or get any direction where to meet with
him. Almoſt all his late letters too. had
been dated from Tylehurſt, where it was
certain he had pafled the greateſt part of
the ſummer.-Fitz-Edward, fond of ſo-
ciety, and courted by the moſt brilliant
circles, fhut himſelf up in a country houſe,
diſtant from all his connections. And to
what could ſuch an extraordinary change
be owing, if not to his attachment to Ein-
meline Mowbray ? :
Irritated by theſe recollections, he gave
himſelf up to all the dreadful torments of
E 4 jealouſy-


80. EMMELINE,
jealouſy--jealoufy even to madneſs; and he
felt this corroſive paſſion in all it's extrava-
gance. It was violent in proportion to his
love and his pride, and more inſupportably
painful in proportion to it's novelty ; for
except once at Swanſea, when he fancied that
Emineline in her flight was accompanied
by Fitz-Edward, he had never felt it be-
fore; for however they might ſerve him as
a pretence, Rochely and Elkerton were
both too contemptible to excite it.
The night approached, and without
having regained any ſhare of compoſure,
he had at length determined to quit Nice
the next day, that his mother and Crofts
might not be gratified with the fight of
his deſpair, and triumph in the detected
perfidy of Emmeline.
Lady Montreville and her daughter
were out when the letters arrived; and he
now apprehended that when they returned
Millefleur might alarm them by an account
of his frantic behaviour, and that they
would gueſs it to have been occaſioned by
his letters from England. Starting, up,
therefore,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 81 .
therefore, he called the poor fellow to
him, who was not yet recovered from
his former terrifying menaces; and who
approached, trembling, the table where
Delamere fat; his dreſs diſordered, his
eyes flaſhing fire, and his lips pale and
quivering.
« Come here, Sir!" ſternly cried he.
Millefleur ſprung cloſe to the table.
“ Have you cleaned and loaded my
s6 piſtols?”
« Monſieur-je, je m’occupais-je, je
“ Monſieur, ils font !!!
" Fool, of what are you afraid ?what
“ does the confounded poltron treinble
“ for?”
« Mais Monſieur-c'eſt quemque mais
“ Monſieur, je ne ſcais !
« Tener, Mr. Millefleur !” ſaid Dela-
mere ſharply" Remeinber what I am
“ going to ſay. Something has hap-
« pened to vex me, and I ſhall go out
to-morrow for a few days, or perhaps I
“ may go to England. My mother is to
“ know nothing of it, but what I ſhall
“ myſelf tell her ; therefore at your peril
E 5
2
ti
“ſpeak


82
E M M E L IN E,
“ ſpeak of what has happened this even-
“ ing, or of my intentions for to-morrow.
“ Come up immediately, and put my
“ things into my portmanteaus, and put
“ my fire arms in order. I ſhall take you
“ with me. David need not be prepared
" till to-morrow. I ſhall go on horſeback
" and ſhall want him alſo. The leaſt
“ failure on your part of executing theſe
“ orders, you will find very inconvenient
66 --you know I will not be trifled with."
Millefleur, frightened to death at the
looks and voice of his maſter, dared not
diſobey; and Delamere employing him
in putting up his cloaths till after Lady
Montreville came in, was, he thought,
ſecure of 'his ſecrefy. He then made an
effort, tho' a ſucceſsleſs one, to hide the
anguiſh that devoured him; and went
down to ſupper. He found, that beſides
their conſtant attendant Crofts, his mother
and ſiſter were accompanied by two other
Engliſh gentlemen, and a French man of
faſhion and his ſiſter, who full of the viva-
city and gaiety of their country, kept up a
lively


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 83.
lively converſation with Miſs Delamere
and the Engliſhmen. But Delamere hardly
ſpoke his eyes were wild and inflamed
his cheeks fluſhed-and deep fighs ſeemed
involuntarily to burſt froin his heart.
Lady Montreville obſerved him and then
ſaid .
“ Surely Frederic you are not well?”
“ Not very well,” ſaid he; “ but I am
« Otherewiſe merely from the intolerable
« heat. I have had the head-ache all
66 day.”
" The head-ache !” exclaimed his mo-
ther" Why then do you not go to
« bed ?”
“ No," anſwered he, “ I am better up..
46 Since the heat is abated, I am in leſs
“ pain. I will take a walk by the fine
« moon that I fee is riſing, and be back
“ again preſently and to-morrow,” con-
tinued he-- to-morrow, I ſhall go north-
“ ward for a month. I cannot ſtay under
65 this burning atmoſphere.”
Then defiring the company, not to move
E 6
on


84 E M M E LI NE,
on his account, he aroſe from table and
haftened away.
“ Do, my good Crofts,” ſaid Lady
Montreville -66 do follow Frederic-he
“ frightens me to death-he is certainly
66 very ill.”
Crofts heſitated a moment, being in truth
afraid to interfere with Delamere's ramble
while he was in a humour ſo gloomy ; but
on her Ladyſhip’s repeating her requeſt,
dared not ſhew his reluctance. He went
out therefore under pretence of following
him; while the party preſent, ſeeing Lady
Montreville's diſtreſs, almoſt immediately
departed.. .
Crofts walked on without much deſire
to fulfill his commiſſion; for Delamere,
whenever he was obliged to aſſociate with
him, treated him generally with coldneſs,
and ſometimes rudely. There was, how-
ever, very little probability of his over-
taking him ; for Delamere had walked or
rather run to a conſiderable diſtance from
the ſtreet where his mother - lived, and
then


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE.
then wandering farther into the fields, had
thrown himſelf upon the graſs, and had
forgotten every thing but Emmeline
C Emmeline and Fitz-Edward gone toge-
56 ther!—The miſtreſs on whom he had fo
« fondly coated !--The friend whom he
“ had ſo implicitly truſted!”. Theſe cruel
images, dreſt in every form moſt fatal to
his peace, tormented him, and the agony
of diſappointed pafſion ſeemed to have
affected his brain. Deep groans forced
their way from his oppreffed heart—he
curſed his exiſtence, and ſeemed reſolutely
bent in the gloomineſs of his deſpair to
ſhake it off and free himſelf from ſuffer-
ings fo intolerable.
To the firſt effuſions of his frenzy, a ſullen
calm more alarming ſucceeded. He fixed
his eyes on the moon which ſhone above
him, but had no idea of what he faw, or
where he was; his breath was ſhort, his
hands clenched; he ſeemed as if, having
loſt the power of complaint, he was unable
to expreſs the pain that convulſed his whole
frame.
While


86
E M M E É I NE, ;
While he continued in this ſituation, a
favourite little ſpaniel of his mother's, of
which he had from a boy been fond, ran up
to him and licked his hands and face. The
careſſes of an animal he had ſo long re-
membered, touched ſome chord of the heart
that vibrated to ſofter emotions than thoſe .
which had for the laſt three hours poſſeſſed
him-he burit into tears.
“ Felix!” ſaid he, ſobbing, “ poor
-- Felix !”
The dog, rejoicing to be noticed, ran
barking round him; and preſently after-
wards, with hurried ſteps, came Miſs De-
lamere, leaning on the arm of Crofts.
" My God !” exclaimed ſhe, almoſt
ſcreaming, “ here he is! Oh Frederic, you
“ haye, ſo terrified my mother! and Mr.'
“ Crofts has been two hours in ſearch of
“ you. Had it not been for the dog, we
« ſhould not now have found you. Mr.
« Crofts has returned twice to the houſe
6. without you.”
“ Mr. Crofts may return then a third
4 time,” ſaid Delamere, “and ceaſe to
CII
“ give


THEORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 87
“ give himſelf ſuch unneceſſary trou-
« ble.”
“ But you will come with us, bro-
* ther? Surely you will now come
o home”
“ At my leiſure,” replied he, ſternly
66 Lady Montreville need be under no ap-
66 prehenſions about me. I ſhall be at
“ home preſently. But I will not be im-
- portuned! I will not be watched and
: 66 followed! and above all, I will not have
.“ a governor !”
So ſaying, he turned from them and
"walked another way; while they, ſeeing
him ſo impracticable, could only return to
report what they had ſeen to Lady Mon-
treville. Delamere, however, who had
taken another way, entered the houſe at the
ſame moment.
Lady Montreville had ſtrictly queſtioned
· Millefleur as to the cauſe of his maſter's
diſorder; and the poor fellow, who dared
not relate the furious paſſion into which he
* had fallen on reading his letter, trembled,
prevaricated, ſtammered, and looked ſo
tre
white


88 E M M E LINE,
white, that her Ladyſhip, more alarmed,
fancied the knew not what; and full of
terror, ſent out Crofts a ſecond time, and
the ſervants different ways in ſearch of her
ſon. At length Crofts returning the ſecond
time without ſucceſs, Miſs Delamere went
with him herſelf; and the dog following
her, led her to her brother. But before
their return Lady Montreville's apprehen-
fions had ariſen to ſuch an height, that a
return of her fits ſeemed to threaten her,
and with difficulty was ſhe brought to her
ſenſes when ſhe ſaw him before her; and
when he, moved by the keenneſs of her
ſorrow at his imaginary danger, aſſured her,
in anſwer to her repeated enquiries, that he
was merely affected by the heat; that he had
no complaint, and ſhould be quite well and
in his uſual ſpirits when he returned from
the excurſion he propoſed going upon the
next day. Then, being ſomewhat ap-
peaſed, his mother ſuffered him to retire.;
and called her counſellor, Mr. Crofts, to
debate whether in ſuch a frame of mind ſhe
ought to allow the abſence of Delamere ?
Crofts


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 89
Crofts adviſed her by all means to let hiin
go. He ſuſpected indeed that the anony-
mous letter had occaſioned all the wild be-
haviour he had been witneſs to, and
thought it very likely that Delamere might
be going to England. But he knew that
Jaines Crofts and his fair aſſociates were
prepared for the completion of their project
if he did ; and his abfence was, on account
of Crofts' own affairs, particularly deſir-
able.
For theſe reaſons, he repreſented to Lady
Montreville that oppoſition would only ir-
ritate and inflame her ſon, without inducing
him to ſtay. He departed, therefore, the
next inorning, without any impediment on
the part of his mother; but was yet unde-
cided whither to go. While Crofts, no
longer thwarted by his obſervation, or
humbled by his haughty diſdain, managed
matters ſo well, that in ſpite of the pride of
noble blood, in ſpite of her reluctance to
marry a coinmoner, he conquered and
Glenced all the ſcruples and objections of
Miſs Delamere; and a young Engliſh cler-
gyman,


90
E M M E L I NE,
gyman, a friend of his, coming to Nice, as
both he and Crofts declared by the meereſt
accident in the world, juſt about that time,
Crofts obtained her conſent to a private
marriage;, and his friend took eſpecial care
that no form might be wanting to enable
him legally to claim his bride on their re-
turn to England.
СНАР.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 91
. CHAPTER IV.
TMMELINE had now been near a
Le month at Bath, whence ſhe had not
written to Delamere. She had ſeldom
done lo oftener than once in lix or eight
weeks; and no reaſon ſubſiſted at preſent
for a more frequent correſpondence.
Far from having any idea that he would
think her temporary removal extraordinary,
The had not attempted to conceal it from
him; and of his jealouſy of Fitz-Edward
ſhe had not the remoteſt ſuſpicion. For
tho' Mrs. Aſhwood's hints, and the beha.
viour of James Crofts, had left no doubt of
their ill opinion of her, yet ſhe never ſup-
poſed thein capable of an attempt to im-
preſs the ſame idea on the mind of Dela-
mere; and had no notion of the variety of
motives which made the whole family of
'the Crofts, with which Mrs. Alhwood was
now connected, ſolicitous to perpetuate the
evil


92 EMMELINE,
TA
evil by propagating the ſcandalous ſtory
they had themſelves invented.
Unconſcious therefore of the anguiſh
which preyed upon the heart of her un-
happy lover, Emmeline gave her whole
attention to Lady Adelina, and ſhe ſaw
with infinite concern the encreaſing weak-
nels of her frame; with Itill greater pain
ſhe obſerved, that by ſuffering her mind to
dwell continually on her unhappy ſituation,
it was no longer able to exert the powers it
poffefied; and that, funk in hopeleſs de-
ſpondence, her intellects were frequently
deranged. Amid theſe alienations of rea-
fon, ſhe was ſtill gentle, amiable and in-
tereſting ; and as they were yet ſhort and
flight, Emmeline flattered herſelf, that the
opiates which her phyſician (in conſequence
of the reſtleſs and anxious nights Lady
Adelina had for ſome time paſſed) found it
abſolutely neceffary to adminiſter, might
have partly if not entirely occaſioned this
alarming ſymptom. .
Still, however, the buſy imagination of
Emmeline perpetually repreſented to her
impending


THE ORPHAN OF THE.CASTLE. 93
impending ſorrow, and her terror hourly
encreaſed. She figured to herſelf the de-
cided phrenzy, or the death of her poor
friend; and unable to conquer apprehen-
fions which ſhe was yet compelled to con-
ceal, ſhe lived in a continual effort to ap-
pear chearful, and to ſoothe the wounded
mind of her ſufferer, by conſolatory con-
verſation ; while ſhe watched her with an
attention ſo ſedulous and ſo painful, that
only the excellence of her heart, which per-
ſuaded her ſhe was engaged in a taſk truly
laudable, could have ſupported her thro'
ſuch anxiety and fatigue.
She was, however, very deſirous that as
Mr. Godolphin was now in England he
might be acquainted with his ſiſter's cala-
mitous and precarious ſituation; and ſhe
gently hinted to Lady Adelina, how great
a probability ſhe thought there was, that
ſuch a man as her brother was repreſented
to be, would in her ſorrow and her ſuffering
forget her error.
But by the moſt diſtant idea of ſuch an
interview, ſhe found Lady Adelina fo vio-
lently


94 E M M E LINE,
lently affected, that ſhe dared not again
urge it; and was compelled, in fearful ap-
prehenſion, to await the hour which would
probably give the fair penitent to that grave
where ſhe ſeemed to wiſh her diſgrace and
affliction might be forgotten. ,
To deſcribe the anxiety of Emmeline
when that period arrived, is impoſſible;
or the mingled emotions of ſorrow and fa-
tisfaction, pleaſure and pity, with which
The beheld the lovely and unfortunate infant
whoſe birth ſhe had ſo long deſired, yet
ſo greatly dreaded. .
Lady Adelina had, till then, wiſhed to
die. She ſaw her child--and wiſhed to
live.—The phyſical people who attended
her, gave hopes that ſhe might.--Supported
by the tender friendſhip of Emmeline, and
animated by maternal fondneſs, ſhe deter-
mined to attempt it.
Emmeline, now full of apprehenſion, now
indulging feeble hopes, prayed fervently
that ſhe might; and zealouſly and indefati-
gably attended her with more than her
former folicitude. For three days, her
hopes


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 95
hopes gradually grew ſtronger ; when on
the evening of the third, as ſhe was ſitting
alone by the ſide of the bed where Lady
Adelina had fallen into a quiet ſleep, ſhe
ſuddenly heard a ſort of buſtle in the next
room; and before ſhe could riſe to put an
end to it, a gentleman to whom ſhe
was a ſtranger walked haſtily into that
wheie ſhe was. On ſeeing her, he ſtarted
and faid-
“ I beg your pardon, Madam- but I
66 was informed that here I might find
“ Lady Adelina Trelawny."
The name of Trelawny; thus ſuddenly
and loudly pronounced, awakened Lady
Adelina. She ſtarted up-undrew the cur-
tain--and fixing her eyes with a look of ter-
rified aſtoniſhment on the ſtranger, ſhe ex-
claimed, faintly" Oh! my brother !
“ my brother William !” then funk back
on her pillow, to all appearance life-
leſs.
Mr. Godolphin now ſpringing forward,
caught the cold and inſenſible hand which
had


96 - EM M E L IN E,
had opened the curtain ; and throwing hinn-
ſelf on his knees, cried
66 Adelina! my love! are you ill? -
" have I then terrified and alarıned you?
“ Speak to me-dear Adelina-ſpeak to
66 me!
Emmeline, whoſe immediate aſtoniſh-
ment at his preſence had been loſt in terror
for his ſiſter, had flown out of the room
for the attendants, and now returning,
cried
" You have killed her, Sir! She is
“ certainly dead !-Oh, my God! the ſud-
- den alarm, the ſudden ſight of you has
66 deſtroyed her !”
“ I am afraid it has !” exclaimed Go-
dolphin wildly, and hardly knowing what
he ſaid " I am indeed afraid it has ! My
“ poor ſiſter--my unhappy, devoted Ade-
66 lina !-have I then found you only to
“ deſtroy you? But perhaps,” continued
he, after a moment’s pauſe, during which
Emmeline and the nurſe were chafing the
hands and temples of the dying patient
“ perhaps


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 97
6 perhaps ſhe may recover. Send inſtantly
" for advice-run-fly let me go myſelf
o for alhſtance."
He would now have run out of the room;
but Emmeline, whoſe admirable preſence of
mind this ſudden ſcene of terror had not
conquered, ſtopped him.
“ Stay, Sir,” ſaid ſhe, “ I beſeech you,
“ ſtay. You know not whither to go. I
“ will inſtantly ſend thoſe who do.”
She then left the room, and ordered a
ſervant to fetch the phyſician; for the
dreaded leaſt Mr. Godolphin ſhould dif-
cover the real name and quality of the
patient to thoſe to whom he might apply;
and on returning to the bed ſide, where
Lady Adelina ſtill lay without any ſigns of
exiſtence, and by which her brother ſtill
knelt in ſpeechleſs agony, her fears were
again alive, leaſt when the medical gentle-
men arrived, his grief and deſperation ſhould
betray the ſecret to them. While her firſt
apprehenſion was for the life of her friend,
theſe ſecondary conſiderations were yet ex-
tremely alarming—for ſhe knew, that ſhould
Lady Adelina recover, her life would be for
Vol. III.
ever


98 E M M E È IN E,
ever embittered, if not again endangered,
by the diſcovery which ſeemed impending
and almoſt inevitable.
The women who were about her having
now applied every remedy they could think
of without ſucceſs, began loudly to lament
themſelves. Emmeline, commanding her
own anguiſh, beſought them to ſtifle their's,
and not to give way to fruitleſs exclama-
tions while there was yet hope, but to con-
tinue their endeavours to recover their lady.
Then addreſſing herſelf to Mr. Godolphin,
ſhe rouſed him from the ſtupor of grief in
which he had fallen, while he gazed with
an impaſſioned and agonizing look on the
pale countenance of his fiſter.
" Pardon me, Sir,” ſaid ſhe, “ if I en-
“ treat you to go down ſtairs and await the
" arrival of the advice I have ſent for.
• Should my poor friend recover, your
• prefence may renew and encreaſe the
“ alarm of her ſpirits, and embarraſs her
“ returning recollection ; and ſhould ſhe
* not recover, you had better hear ſuch
s mournful


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 90
“ mournful tidings in any place rather than
66 this."
66 Oh! if I do hear them," anſwered he,
wildly, “it matters little where. But I will
“ withdraw, Madam, ſince you ſeem to
deſire it."
He had hardly ſeen Emmeline before.
He now turned his eyes mournfully upon
her" It is, I preſume, Miſs Mowbray,"
ſaid he, “who thus, with an angel's tender-
66 neſs in an angel's form would ſpare the
« ſorrows of a ſtranger ?”
Emmeline, unable to ſpeak, led the way
down to the parlour, and Godolphin ſilently
followed her.
“ Go back," ſaid he, tremulouſly, as
foon as they reached the room " Go
« back to my fifter; your tender aſſiduity
“ may do more for her than the people
“ about her. Your voice, your looks,
“ will ſoothe and tranquillize her, ſhould
so ſhe awaken from her long inſenſibility.
« Ah! tell her, her brother came only to
« reſcue her from the miſery of her un-
“ worthy lot-Tell her his affection, his
· F2 brotherly
w/9291B
.--
----


100 E M M E LINE, :
“ brotherly affection, hopes to give her
6 conſolation; and reſtore her if it
“ may yet bemto her repoſe. But go,
“ deareſt Miſs Mowbray go !-- ſomebody
“ comes in-perhaps the phyſician.”
Emmeline now opening the parlour door,
found it to be indeed the phyſician ſhe ex-
pected ; and with a fearful heart ſhe followed
him, informing him, as they went up ſtairs,
that the ſudden appearance of Mrs. St.
Laure's brother, whom ſhe had not ſeen
for two or three years, had thrown her into
a fainting fit, from which not all their en-
deavours had recovered her. ; :
He remonſtrated vehemently againſt the
extreme indiſcretion of ſuch an interview.
Emmeline, who knew not by what ſtrange
chain of circumſtances it had been brought
about, had nothing to reply.
So feeble were the appearances of re-
maining life, that the phyſician could pro-
nounce nothing certainly in regard to his
patient. He gave, however, directions to
her attendants; but after every application
had been uſed, all that could be ſaid was,
that
nou


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. TOI
that ſhe was not actually dead. As ſoon as
the phyſician had written his preſcription
and retired, Emmeline recollected the pain-
ful ſtate of ſuſpenſe in which ſhe had left Mr.
Godolphin, and trying to recover courage
to go thro’ the painful ſcene before her, ſhe
went down to him.
As ſhe opened the door, he met her.
“ I have ſeen the doctor,” ſaid he, in a
broken and hurried voice-and froin his
- account I am convinced Adelina is
“ dying.”
“ I hope not,” faintly anſwered Emme-
line. “ There is yet a poſſibility, tho' I
“ fear no great probability of her · re-
s6 covery.”
« My Adelina !” reſumed he, walking
about the room-" my Adelina ! for whoſe
“ ſake I ſo anxiouſly wiſhed to return to
England --Gracious God! I am come too
“ late to aſſiſt her! Some ſtrange myſtery
6 ſurely hangs over her! Long loſt to all
“ her friends, I find her here dying! The
“ fight of me, inſtead of relieving her forrow
66 ſeems to have accelerated her diffolution !
66 And
F 3


102 EMMELIN E
“ And you, Madam, to whoſe goodneſs
«ſhe appears to be ſo greatly indebted
“ may I aſk by what fortunate circum-
“ ſtance, loft and obſcure as ſhe has been,
« ſhe has acquired ſuch a friend I”
Emmeline, ſhuddering at the apprehen-
fion of enquiries ſhe found it impoſſible to
anſwer, was wholly at a loſs how to reply to
this. She knew not of what Mr. Godol-
phin was informed of what he was igno-
rant; and dreaded to ſay too much, or to
be detected in a falſe repreſentation. She
therefore, agitated and heſitating, gravely
faid-
« It is not now a time, Sir, to aſk any
" thing relative to Lady Adelina. I am
66 myfelf too ill to enter into converſation ;
“ and wiſh, as you have been yourſelf
* greatly affected, that you would now re-
« tire, and endeavour to make yourſelf as
" eaſy as you can. To-morrow may, per-
« haps, afford us more chearful proſpects
« or at leaſt this cruel ſuſpenſe will be
“ over, and the dear fufferer at peace.”
She


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 103
She ſobbed, and turned away. Godol-
phin riſing, ſaid in a faultering voice-
« Yes, I will go ! ſince my ſtay can only
“ encreaſe the pain of that generous and
« ſenſible heart. I will go—but not to
“ reſt!-- I cannot reſt! But do you try,
“ moſt amiable creature ! to obtain ſome
“ repoſem-Try, I beſeech you, to recover
“ your fpirits, which have been ſo greatly
66 hurried.”
He knew not what he ſaid ; and was
haſtening out of the room, when Emmeline,
recollecting how ardently Lady Adelina
had deſired the concealment of her name
and family, ſtopped him as he was quitting
her.
" Yet one thing, Captain Godolphin,
" allow me to entreat of you?”
“ What can I refuſe you?” anſwered he,
returning.
Only are you known at Bath ?”.
“ Probably I may. It is above three
« years ſince I was in England, and much
" longer ſince I have been here. But un-
F 4 " 'oubtedly
me


104 E M M E LI NE,
“ doubtedly ſome one or other will know
“ me.”
“ Then do indulge me in one requeſt.
“ See as few people as you can; and if
“ you accidentally meet any of your friends,
“ do not ſay that Lady Adelina is here."
“ Not meet any one if I can avoid it!
“ and if I do, not ſpeak of my fifter !
“ And why is all this :-why this conceal-
“ ment, this myſtery ?-why-"
Emmeline, abſolutely overcome, ſat down
without ſpeaking. Godolphin ſeeing her
uneaſineſs, ſaid
“ But I will not diſtreſs you, Madam, by
“ farther queſtions. Your commands ſhall
“ be ſufficient. I will ſtifle my anxiety and
“ obey you.” Then bowing reſpectfully, he
added " To-morrow, at as early an hour
“ as I dare hope for admittance, I ſhall be
" at the door. Heaven bleſs and reward
“ the fair and gentle Miſs Mowbray—and
“ may it have mercy on my poor Ade-
" lina!”—He ſighed deeply, and left the
houſe.
Lady.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. ' 105
Lady Adelina, tho’not ſo entirely inſen-
ſible, was yet but little amended. But as
what alteration there was, was for the better,
Emmeline endeavoured to recall her own
agitated and diſſipated ſpirits. The extra-
ordinary ſcene which had juſt paſſed, was
ſtill preſent to her imagination; the laſt ·
words of Godolphin, ſtill vibrated in her
ears. “ Fair and gentle Miſs Mowbray!”
repeated ſhe. “ He knows my name ; yet
“ ſeems ignorant of every thing that relates
66 to his ſiſter !”
· Her aſtoniſhment at this circumſtance
was ſucceeded by reflecting on the unpleae
fant taſk ſhe muſt have if Mr. Godolphin
fhould again enquire into her firſt ac-
quaintance with his ſifter. To relate to...
him the nielancholy ſtory ſhe had heard,
would, ſhe found, be an undertaking to.
which ſhe was wholly unequal; and ſhe was
equally averſe to the invention of a plau-
ſible falſehood. From this painful appre-
henſion ſhe meditated how to extricate her-
ſelf; but the longer ſhe thought of it, the
more the deſpaired of it. The terrors of
F 5
ſuch
W


106
E M M E LINE,
fuch a converſation hourly augmented ;
and wholly and for ever to eſcape from it,
The ſometimes determined to write. But
from executing that deſign, was with-held
by conſidering that if Godolphin was of a
fiery and impetuous temper, he would pro-
bably, without reflection or delay, fly to
vengeance, and precipitate every evil which
Lady Adelina dreaded.
After having exhauſted every idea on
the ſubject, ſhe could think of nothing on
which her imagination could reſt, but to
fend to Mrs. Stafford, acquaint her with the
danger of Lady Adelina, and conjure her if
poſſible to come to her. This ſhe knew
The would do unleſs ſome ſingular circum-
ſtance in her own family prevented her at-
tention to her friends.
Reſolved to embrace therefore this hope,
fhe diſpatched an haſty billet by an expreſs
to Woodfield; and then betook herſe:f to a
bed on the floor, which ſhe had ordered to
be placed by the ſide of that where Lady
· Adelina, in happy tho' dangerous infenfi-
bility,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 107
as
nility, ſtill ſeemed to repoſe almoſt in the
arms of death.
Emmeline could not, however, obtain
even a momentary forgetfulneſs. Tho' ſhe
could not repent her attention to the un-
happy Lady Adelina, ſhe was yet ſenſible
of her indiſcretion in having put herſelf
into the ſituation ſhe was now in; the cruel
unfeeling world would, ſhe feared, condemn
her; and of it's reflections ſhe could not
think without pain. But her heart, her
generous ſympathizing heart, more than ac-
quitted-it repaid her.
Towards the middle of the night, Lady
Adelina, who had made two or three faint
efforts to ſpeak, fighed, and again in faint
murmurs attempted to explain' herſelf.
Emmeline ſtarted up and eagerly liſtened ;
and in a low whiſper heard her aſk for her
child.
Emmeline ordered it inſtantly to be
brought ; and thoſe eyes which had ſo lately
feemed cloſed for ever, were opened in
ſearch of this beloved object : 'then, as if
ſatisfied in beholding it living and well,
F 6
they


108
E M M E LI NE,
they cloſed again, while ſhe imprinted a kiſs
" on it's little hand. She then aſked for Em-
nieline; who, delighted with this apparent
amendment, prevailed on her to take what
had been ordered for her. She appeared
ſtill better in a few moments, but was yet
extremely languid.
“I have had a dreadful dreain, my
• Emmeline," ſaid ſhe, at length " a
« long and dreadful dream! But it is
“ gone-you are here; my poor little boy
56 too is well; and this alarming viſion will
“ I hope haunt me no more.” :
Emmeline, who feared that the dream
was indeed a reality, exhorted her to think
only of her recovery; of which, added the
cheerfully, we have no longer any doubt.
Comfortable and conſoling angel !”
ſighed Lady Adelina-" your preſence is
“ ſurely ſafety. Do not leave me !" -
Emmeline promiſed not to quit the
room; and elate with hopes of her friend's
fpeedy reſtoration to health, fell herſelf into
a tranquil and refreſhing ſlumber.
On awakening the next morning, the
found


"THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 109
found Lady Adelina much better ; but ſtill,
whenever ſhe ſpoke, dwelling on her ſup-
poſed dream, and ſometimes talking with
that incoherence which had for ſome weeks
before ſo greatly alarmed her. Her own
dread of meeting Godolphin was by no
means leſſened; and to prevent an imme-
diate interview, ſhe diſpatched to him a
note.
“ Sir,
“ I am happy in having it in my power
“ to aſſure you that our dear patient is
“ much better. But as uninterrupted tran-
“ quillity is abſolutely neceſſary, that, and
o other conſiderations, induce me to beg
“ you will forbear coming hither to day.
“ You may depend on having hourly intel-
“ ligence, and that we ſhall be deſirous of
is the pleaſure of ſeeing you when the
“ ſafety of my friend admits it.
“ I have the honour to be, Sir,
“ your moſt humble ſervant,
Sept. 20, 17–. EMMELINE Mowbray.”
To
MMELINE
BR


ito E M M E LINE,
To this note, Mr. Godolphin anſwered
- If Miſs Mowbray will only allow me
" to wait on her for one moment in the
“ parlour, I will not again treſpaſs on her
“ time till I have her own permiſſion.
" W. G."
This requeſt, Emmeline was obliged,
with whatever reluctance, to comply with.
She therefore ſent a verbal acquieſcence;
and repaired to the bed-ſide of Lady Ade-
lint, who had aſked for her.
“ Will you pardon my folly, my dear
“ Emmeline,” ſaid ſhe languidly—“ but
“ I cannot be eaſy till I have told you
~ what a ſtrange idea has ſeized me. I
“ ſeemed, laſt night, I know not at what
6 time, to be ſuddenly awakened by a voice
” which loudly repeated the name of Tre-
“ lawny. Startled by the ſound, I thought
“ I undrew the curtain, and ſaw my bro-
rs ther William, who ſtood looking angrily
“ on me. I felt greatly terrified; and
“ growing extremely ſick, I loſt the viſion.
“ But


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. ITI
« But now again it's recollection harraſſes
“ my imagination; and the image of my
« brother, ſterner, and with a ruder
66 aſpect than he was wont to wear, ſtill
« feems preſent before me. Oh! he was
“ accuſtomed to be all goodneſs and gen-
“ tleneſs, and to love his poor Adelina.
« But now he too will throw me from him
“ he too will deteft and deſpiſe me
“ Or perhaps,” continued ſhe, after a ſhort
pauſe--" perhaps he is dead. I am not
“ fuperftitious-but this dream purſues
66 me.”
Emmeline, who had hoped that the very
terror of this ſudden interview had oblite-
rated it's remembrance, ſaid every thing
The thought likely to quiet her mind, and
to perſuade her that the uneaſy images re-
preſented in her imperfect ſlumbers were
merely the effect of her weakneſs and per-
turbed fpirits.
The impreſſion, however, was too ſtrong
to be effaced by arguments. It ſtill hung
heavy on her heart, irritated the fever which
had before been only flight, and deprived
her


12
Ε,
Ε
Ν
Μ
Ι
Μ
Σ
Ε
e CO
her almoſt entirely of ſleep; or if ſhe flept,
- The again fancied herſelf awakened by her
brother, angrily repeating the name of Tre-
lawny.
Sometimes, ſtarting in terror from theſe
feveriſh dreams, ſhe called on her brother
to pardon and pity her; ſometimes in
piercing accents deplored his death, and
ſometiines beſought him to ſpare Fitz-Ed-
ward. Theſe incoherences were particu-
larly diſtreſſing; as names were often heard
by the attendants which Emmeline hoped
to have concealed; and it was hardly poſſi-
ble longer to deceive the phyſician and
apothecary who attended her. .
With an uneaſy heart, and a countenance
penſively expreſſive of it's feelings, ſhe
went down to receive Captain Godolphin
in the parlour.
“ I fear, Miſs Mowbray,” ſaid he, as ſoon
as they were ſeated, “ you will think me
“ too ready to take advantage of your
“ goodneſs. But there is that appearance
" of candour and compaſſion about you,
“ that I determined rather to truſt to your
“ goodneſs


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 113
n 01
“ goodneſs for pardon, than to remain
“ longer in a ſtate of ſuſpenſe about my
os fifter, which I have already found moſt
“ inſupportable. In the note you honoured
" me with to day you ſay ſhe is better. Is
“ The then out of danger ? Has the proper
advice ?"
" She has the beſt advice, Sir. I can-
" not, however, ſay that ſhe is out of
6 danger, but " She heſitated, and
knew not how to proceed.
« But--you hope, rather than believe,
« ſhe will recover,” cried Godolphin, ea-
gerly.
“ I both hope it and believe it. Mr.
“ Godolphin, you yeſterday did me the
“ honour to ſuppoſe I had been fortunate
“ enough to be of ſome ſervice to Lady
“ Adelina ; ſuffer me to take advantage
“ of a ſuppoſition ſo flattering, and to
" claim a ſort of right to aſk in my turn a
66 favour.”
« Surely I ſhall conſider it as an honour
“ to receive, and as happineſs to obey any
“ command of Miſs Mowbray’s.”
“ Promiſe
turn


114 EMMELINE,
• Promiſe me then to obſerve the fame
“ ſilence in regard to your ſiſter as I aſked
" of you laſt night. Truſt me with her
“ ſafety, and believe it will not be neg.
“ lected. But you muſt neither ſpeak of
“ her to others, or queſtion me about her.”
“ Good God! from whence can ariſe
“ the neceſſity for theſe precautions ! What
" dreadful obſcurity ſurrounds her! What
« am I to fear? What am I to ſup-
66 poſe?”
" You will not, then,” ſaid Emmeline,
gravely-" you will not oblige me, by
“ deſiſting from all queſtions 'till this
“ trifling reſtraint can be taken off?”
" I will, I do promiſe to be guided
" wholly by you; and to bear, however
“ difficult it may be, the ſuſpenſe, the
66. frightful ſuſpenſe in which I muſt re-
v náinz Tell me, however, that Adelina
” is not in immediate danger.” But, added
he, as if recollecting himſelf, “ may I not
“ apply for information on that head to
“ her phyſician?”
« Not for the world !" anſwered Emme-
line, :


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 115
line, with unguarded quickneſs not for
o the world !”
“ Not for the world !"-repeated Godol-
phin, with an accent of aſtoniſhment.
66 Heaven and earth! But I have promiſed
.66 to aſk nothing I muſt obey-and will
“ now releaſe you, Madam.”
• Godolphin then took his leave; and Em-
-meline, whoſe heart had throbbed violently
throughout this dialogue, ſat down alone
to compoſe and recollect herſelf. She faw,
that to keep Godolphin many days ignorant
of the truth would be impoſſible : and
from the eager anxiety of his queſtions, the
feared that all the horrors Lady Adelina's
troubled imagination had repreſented would
be realized-apprehenſions, which ſeemned
armed with new terror fince ſhe had ſeen
and converſed with this William Godolphin,
of whoſe excellent heart and noble fpirit
fhe had before heard fo much both from
Lady Adelina and Fitz-Edward, and
whofe appearance ſeemed to confirm the
favourable impreſſion thoſe accounts had
given her.
1. Godolphin, who was now about five and
twenty,


116 E M M E L I NE,
n
Yer
twenty, had paſſed the greateſt part of his
life at ſea. The various climates he had
viſited had deprived his complexion of
much of it's Engliſh freſhneſs; but his face
was animated by dark eyes full of intelli-
gence and ſpirit ; his hair, generally care-
leſsly dreſſed, was remarkably fine, and his
perſon tall, light, and graceful, yet ſo com-
manding, that whoever ſaw him inime-
diately and involuntarily felt their admira-
tion mingled with reſpect. His whole
figure was ſuch as brought to the mind
ideas of the race of heroes from which he
was deſcended; his voice was particularly
grateful to the ear, and his addreſs appeared
to Emmeline to be a fortunate compound
of the inſinuating ſoftneſs of Fitz-Edward
with the fire and vivacity of Delamere. Of
this, however, the could inadequately
judge, as he was now under ſuch depreſſion
of ſpirits : and however pleaſing he ap-
peared, Emmeline, who conceived herſelf
abſolutely engaged to Delamere, thought
of him only as the brother of Lady Adelina;
yet inſenſibly the felt herſelf more than ever
intereſted for the event of his hearing how
inime.
little


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 117
little Fitz-Edward had deſerved the warm
friendſhip he had felt for him. And her
thoughts dwelling perpetually on that ſub-
ject, magnified the painful circumſtances
of the approaching ecclairciſſement; while
her fears for Lady Adelina's life, who con-
tinued to languiſh in a low fever with fre-
quent delirium, ſo harraſſed and oppreſſed
her, that her own health was viſibly af-
fected. But without attending to it, the
paſſed all her hours in anxiouſly watch-
ing the turns of Lady Adelina's diſorder;
or, when ſhe could for a moment eſcape,
in giving vent to her full heart by weep-
ing over the little infant, whoſe birth, ſo
ſimilar to her own, ſeemed to render it
to her a more intereſting and affecting
object. She lamented the evils to which
it might be expoſed; tho’ of a ſex which
would prevent it's encountering the ſame
fpecies of ſorrow as that which had ein-
bittered her own life. Of her friendleſs
and deſolate ſituation, ſhe was never more
ſenſible than now. She felt herſelf more
unhappy


118 E M M E LI NE,
unhappy than ſhe had ever yet been; and
would probably have funk under her ex-
treme uneaſineſs, had not the arrival of
Mrs. Stafford, at the end of three days, re-
lieved her from many of her fears and ap-
prehenſions,
СНАР.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 119
CHAPTER V.
M
R S. Stafford no ſooner heard from
MV Emmeline that Godolphin was yet
ignorant of the true reaſon of Lady Ade-
lina’s concealment, than ſhe ſaw the necef-
ſity of immediately explaining it; and this
talk, however painful, ſhe without heſita-
tion undertook.
He was therefore ſummoned to their
lodgings by a note from Emmeline, who
on his arrival introduced him to Mrs. Staf-
ford, and left them together; when, with
as much tenderneſs as poſſible, and min-
gling with the mortifying detail many repre-
fentations of the neceſſity there was for his
conquering his reſentment, ſhe at length
concluded it ; watching anxiouſly the
changes in Godolphin's countenance, which
ſometimes expreſſed only pity and affection
for his ſiſter, ſometimes rage and indig-
nation againſt Fitz-Edward.
Both


120 EM M E L IN E,
Both the brothers of Lady Adelina had
been accuſtomed to conſider her with pecu-
liar fondneſs. The unfortunate circum-
ſtance of her loſing her mother imme-
diately after her birth, feemed to have given
her a melancholy title to their tenderneſs;
and the relemblance the bore to that dear
mother, whom they both remembered, and
on whoſe memory their father dwelt with
undiminiſhed regret, endeared her to them
ſtill more. To theſe united claims on the
heart and the protection of William Godol.
phin, another was added equally forcible,
in a letter written by his father with the
trembling hand of anxious folicitude,
when he felt himſelf dying, and when,
looking back with lingering affection on
the children of her whom he hoped ſoon
to join, he ſaw with anguiſh his youngeſt
daughter liable from her ſituation to de-
viate into indiſcretion, and ſurrounded by
the nuinberleſs dangers which attend on a
young and beautiful woman, whoſe huſ-
band has neither talents to attach her affec-
tions or judgment to direct her actions.
Lord


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 121
Lord Weſthaven, conſcious of her ha-
zardous circumſtances, and feeling in his
laſt moments the keeneſt anguiſh in know-
ing that his miſtaken care had expoſed her
to them, hoped, by intereſting both her
brothers to watch over her, that he ſhould
obviate the dangers he apprehended. He
had therefore, in all their converſations, re-
commended her to his eldeſt ſon; and as
he was not happy enough to embrace the
younger before he died, had addreſſed to
him a laft letter on the ſame ſubject.
Such were the powerful ties that bound
Mr. Godolphin to love and defend Lady
Adelina with more than a brother's fond-
neſs.' Haſtening therefore to obey the
dying injunctions of his father, and in the
hope of rendering the life of this beloved
fifter, if not happy, at leaſt honourable and
contented, he had heard, that ſhe had
clandeſtinely abſented herſelf from her fa-
mily, and after a long ſearch had found
her abandoned to remorſe and deſpair;
her reputation blaſted ; her health ruined ;
her intellects diſordered ; and all by the
VOL. III.
perfidy


122 E M M E L IN E, ,
perfidy of a man, in whoin he from long
friendſhip, and his ſiſter from family con-
nection, had placed unbounded confidence.
· Tho' Godolphin had one of the beſt
tempers in the world - a temper which the
roughneſs of thoſe among whom he lived
had only ſerved to foften and humanize,
and which was immovable by the uſual
accidents that ruffle others, yet he had alſo
in a great exceſs all thoſe keen feelings,
avhich fill a heart of extreme ſenſibility;
added to a courage, that in the hour of
danger had been proved to be as cool as
it was undaunted. Of him might be ſaid
what was the glorious praiſe of immortal
Bayard--that he was “ fans peur et fans
66 reproche;"* and educated with a high
ſenſe of honour himſelf, as well as poſſeſſing
a heart calculated to enjoy, and a hand
to defend the unblemiſhed dignity of his
family, all his paſſions were rouſed and
awakened by the injury it had ſuſtained
from Fitz-Edward, and he beheld him as
.
Without fear and without reproach.
a monſter


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 123
à monſter whom it was infamy to forgive.
Hardly therefore had Mrs. Stafford con-
cluded her diſtreſſing recital, than, as if
commanding himſelf by a violent effort,
he thanked her warmly yet incoherently
for her unexampled goodneſs to his ſiſter,
recommended her ſtill to her generous care,
and the friendſhip of Miſs Mowbray, and
without any threat againſt Fitz-Edward, or
even a comment on what he had heard,
aroſe to depart. But Mrs. Stafford, more
alarmed by this determined tho' quiet re-
fentment and by the expreſſion of his coun-
tenance than if he had burſt into exclama-
tions and menaces, perceived that the criſis
was now come when he was prevailed upon
to conquer his juft reſentment, or by giving
it way deſtroy the reputation of his lifter,
and expoſe his own life in order to rex
venge it.
She beſought him therefore to ſit down
a moment; and when he had done ſo, the
told him, that if he really thought himſelf
under any obligations to Miſs Mowbray
or to her for the ſervices they had been ſo
G 2
fortunate


124 E M M E LINE,
fortunate as to render Lady Adelina, his
making all they had been doing ineffectual,
would be a moſt mortifying return; and
ſuch muſt be the caſe, if he rafhly flew to
feek vengeance on Fitz-Edward. “ For
“ that you have ſuch a deſign,” continued
ſhe, “ I have no doubt ; allow me, how-
sv ever, to ſuppoſe that I have, by doing
“ your ſiſter ſome good offices, acquired a
“ right to ſpeak of her affairs.”
« Surely,” anſwered Mr. Godolphin,
56 you have; and ſurely I muſt hear with
66 reſpect and attention, tho' poſſibly not
“ with conviction, every opinion with
56 which you may honour me.”
She then repreſented to him, with all
the force of reaſon, how little he could re-
medy the evil by hazarding his own life
or by taking that of Fitz-Edward.
" At preſent,” continued ſhe, “ the
66 ſecret is known only to me, Miſs Mow-
5. bray, and Lady Adelina’s woman; if
56 it is farther expoſed, the heirs of Mr.
s6 Trelawny, who are ſo deeply intereſted,
5.5 will undoubtedly take meaſures to prove
66 that


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 125
“ that the infant has no juſt claim to the
" eſtate they ſo eagerly expect. Mr. Tre-
“ lawny's ſiſter has already entertained
« ſuſpicions, which the leaſt additional in-
“ formation would give her grounds to
“ purſue, and the whole affair muſt then
“ inevitably become public. Surely this
“ conſideration alone ſhould determine
“ you—why then need I urge others,
“ equally evident and equally forcible.”
Godolphin acknowledged that there was
much of truth in the arguments ſhe uſed;
but' denied that any conſideration ſhould
influence him to forgive the man who had
thus bafely and ungenerouſly betrayed the
confidence of his family.
“ However," added he again, checking
the heat into which he feared a longer con-
verſation on this ſubject might betray him
“I have not yet, Madam, abſolutely
66 formed the reſolution of which you feem.
or ſo apprehenſive; and am indeed too
“ cruelly hurt to be able to talk longer on
“ the ſubject. Suffer me therefore once
" inore to bid you a good day!”.
G
3
But


126
L M M E LINE,
But the encreaſing gloom of his counte-
nance, and forced calm of his manner,
appeared to be ſymptoms ſo unfavourable,
that Mrs. Stafford thought there was no
hope of being able to prevent an immediate
and fatal meeting between him and Fitz-
Edward but by engaging him in a promiſe
at leaſt to delay it; this ſhe attempted by
the moſt earneſt arguments, and the moſt
preſſing perſuaſions; but all the could ob-
tain was an aſſurance that he would remain
at Bath 'till the next day, and ſee her again
in the evening.
In the mean time the delirium of Lady
Adelina, which had recurred at intervals
ever ſince the tranſient fight ſhe had of her
brother, frequently, and with more alarming
ſymptoms, returned; and the fever which
had at firſt threatened the loſs of her life,
now ſeemed to be fixing on her brain, and
to menace, by a total deprivation of reaſon,
reducing her to a condition to which death
itſelf muſt be preferable. She ſtill, even in
her wildeſt wanderings, knew Emmeline,
* and ſtill carefled her little boy; but much
of


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 127
of her time paſſed in incoherent and ram.
bling diſcourſe ; in which the talked of
Fitz-Edward and her brother William, and
held with them both imaginary dialogues..
Sometimes ſhe deprecated the wrath of her
elder brother; and then her diſordered
fancy ran to the younger, to him from
whom ſhe had in her early life found pity
and protection in all her little for-
rows.
• Mrs. Stafford thought it too hazardous
to let her again ſee her brother, while her
intellects were thus deranged; as ſhe trem-
bled left the ſhould ſtart into actual mad-
neſs. But it was abſolutely neceſſary to do
fomething; not only becauſe Mr. Godol-
phin's impatience made every delay dan-
gerous, but becauſe it was hardly poſſible
to keep the ſecret from the phyſicians and
attendants, who had already heard much
more than they ought to have known.
She determined, therefore, after conſult-
ing with Emmeline, to introduce Godol-
phin into the room adjoining to that where
Lady Adelina now ſat ſome hours every
no
G4
day


128. E'MM EL IN E,
day in an eaſy chair. The affecting in-
{anity of his unhappy ſiſter, and the mourn-
ful and pathetic entreaties ſhe frequently
uled, were likely, in the opinion of the fair
friends, to effectuate more than their moſt,
carneſt perſuaſions; and prevail on hiin to
drop all thoughts of that reſentment, which
could not cure but might encreaſe her cas
lanities.
Mrs. Stafford had heard from him, that
he gained information as to the place of his
ſiſter's reſidence from the mother of Lady
Adelina's woman; who being the reduced
widow of a clergyman, reſided in the
Biſhop's alms-houſes at Bromley, where her
daughter frequently ſent her ſuch aſſiſtance
as her own ceconomy, or the bounty of her
lady, enabled her to ſupply. A few weeks
before, ſhe had ſent her a note for ten
pounds; and not apprehending that an en-
quiry would be made of her, had deſired her
to acknowledge the receipt of it, and direct.
to her at Bath, where ſhe ſaid her lady was
with a Miſs Mowbray.
Lady Clancarryl, among many expe.
dients


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 129
dients to recover traces of her ſiſter, had at
length recollected this widow, and had de-
fired Mr. Godolphin to make immediate
enquiry of her.
He had haſtened therefore to Bromley,
and eaſily found the poor woman, who was
paralytic and almoſt childiſh. Her letters
were read for her by one of her neighbours;
a perſon who being preſent at the arrival
of Mr. Godolphin, immediately found that
ſomething was to be got; and buſily put
into his hands the very letter which had
encloſed the note, and which contained the
direction.
He eagerly copied the addreſs; and leave
ing a handſome prelent for the uſe of the
old widow, he delayed not a moment to fet
out for Bath, where he ſoon found the houſe,
and where he had enquired for Lady Ade-
lina Trelawny.
The ſervant of the houſe who opened the
door aſſured him no ſuch perſon was there.
He ſuppoſed that for ſome reaſon or other
ſhe was denied; and inſiſting on being al-
- lowed to go up ſtairs, had entered the room
G5
111


130 E MM ELIN È,
in the abrupt manner which had ſo greatly
alarmed his ſifter.
In hopes of counteracting the fatal effects
of the diſcovery which had unavoidably fol
Towed this interview, Godolphin was, on his
return in the afternoon, introduced into the
dining-room, which opened into Lady Ade-
lina's bed-chamber. The door was a-jar;
the partition thin; and Mrs. Stafford was
pretty well aſſured that the poor patient would
be heard diftinctly. Godolphin came in,
pale from the conflict of his mind; and all his
features expreſſed anger and ſorrow, with
which he feemed vainly ſtruggling. He
bowed, and ſat down in ſilence.
Mrs. Stafford only was in the room; and
as ſoon as he was ſeated, faid, in a low
voice, yet with forced chearfulneſs
« Well, Sir, I hope that Miſs Mowbray
« and myſelf have prevailed on you to
“ drop at preſent every other deſign than
" the truly generous one of healing the
“ wounded heart of our fair unfortunate
66 friend.”
6 And ſhall he who has wounded it,"
Nowly


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 131
dowly and fternly replied Godolphin-
“ ſhall he whe has wounded it ſo baſely,
« eſcape me."
· At this inſtant Lady Adelina, who had
been ſome time ſilent, exclaimed haſtilyo
“ Oh! fpare him! my dear brother!
“ and ſpare your poor Adelina! who will
“ not trouble who will not diſgrace you:
" long !”
" Where is ſhe?” ſaid Godolphin, ſtart-
ingą" Good God! what is it I hear?”
.Your unhappy lifter," anſwered Mrs.
Stafford; “.whom the idea of your deter-
“ mined vengeance has already driven to
66 diſtraction."
i Again Lady Adelina ſpoke. Her bros
ther liſtened in breathleſs anguiſh.
" Ah! William !-and are you grown:
“ cruel ? You on whom I depended for
“ pity and protection?”
“ Surely,” ſaid he, “ ſurely ſhe knows.
« I am here?”
« No," anſwered' Mrs. Stafford, “ ſhe
s knows nothing. But this fear has in-
“ ceffantly purſued her; and ſince ſhe ſaw
“ you ſhe dwells more frequently on it,
G 6
66 tho


132 EMMELINE,
" tho’ her erring memory ſometimes wan.
“ ders to other objects.”
.“ It is very true, my Lord !” cried Lady
Adelina,with affected calmneſs,her thoughts
wavering again towards Lord Weſthaven-
« It is all very true! I have deſerved all
“ your reproaches! I am ready to make
“ all the atonement I can! Then you will
“ both of you, my brothers, be ſatisfied
" for William has told me that if I died
" he ſhould be content, for then all might
« be forgotten.” She ended with a deep
figh; and Godolphin wildly ſtarting from
his ſeat, faid
- This is too much! you cannot expect
“ me to bear this !- let me go to her!"
“ Would you go then," anſwered Mrs.
Stafford, “ to confirm her fears and to drive
“ her to deeper defperation ? If you ſee
6 her, it muſt be to ſoothe and comfort
* her; to aſſure her of your forgiveneſs,
" and that you will bury your reſentment
" againſt "
* Accurſed ! doubly accurſed be the
• infamous villain who has driven her
6 to this! And muſt I bear it tamely!
Oh!


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 133
“Oh! injured memory of my father!-
“ Oh! my poor, undone fifter !” He
walked about the room ; the tears ran from
his eyes; and Mrs. Stafford, fearing that his
hurried ſtep and deep ſobs would be heard
by Lady Adelina, deterinined to bring the
ſcene to a criſis and not to loſe the influence
The hoped ſhe had gained on his mind.
She therefore went into the other room, and
ſhutting the door, advanced with a ſmile to-
wards the lovely lunatic.
" What will you ſay, my dear Adelina,
“ if I bring you the beſt news you can
“ poſſibly hear?".
“ News!” repeated Lady Adelina, look-
ing at her with eyes which too plainly de-
noted the derangement of her mind
« News !-Ah ! dear, Madam! I know
“ very well that all the world is happy but
“ me; and if you are happy, I am very
“ glad; but as to me--Do you indeed
" think it is reaſonable I ſhould part with
« him?"
6. With whom?” ſaid Mrs. Stafford.
"Why, one condition which they inſiſt
“ upon


134 , EMM E LINE,
“ upon is; that I ſhould give up my poor
“ little one to them, and never aſk to ſee
« him again. William was the moſt ur-
“ gent for this-William, who uſed to be
" ſo good, fo gentle, ſo compaſſionate to
“ every body! Alas! he is now more cruel
"C and relentleſs than the reſt !".
5 So far from it,” ſaid Mrs. Stafford,
"6 your brother William loves you as much
“ as ever; he will come and tell you ſo
“ himſelf if you will only be compoſed,
" and talk leſs ſtrangely.”
46. To ſee me !” exclaimed fhe, as if ſud.
denly recovering her recollection " Oh!
46 when ?where :--how?”.
But again it forſook her; and ſhe con-
tinued
: " Ah! he comes perhaps to tell me of
" the blood he has ſpilt, and to load me:
“ with reproaches for having obliged him
6. to deſtroy a friend whom he once loved.
• If that is indeed ſo, why let him comé
“ and plunge another dagger in this poor
“ heart, which has always loved him !"
She


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 135
She was ſilent a moment and then lan-
guidly went on
“ I thought ſome time ſince that I faw.
him, and Miſs Mowbray was with him;
" but it was only a dream, for I know, he
« is in Jamaica : and when he does come:
“ home, he will harden his heart againſt
66 me-he will be my judge, and ſternly
« will he judge me--he will forget that
so he is my brother !!
“ Never! my poor Adelina,” cried
Godolphin, ruſhing into the room; " never
« can I forget that I am your brother
« never can I ceaſe to feel for you com.
« paſſion and tenderneſs.”
He would have taken her in his arms;
but ſtruck by the dreadful alteration that
appeared in her face and figure, he ſtopt
ſhort, and looking at her with filent horror,
feemed incapable of uttering what he
felt.
She knew him ; but could neither ſpeak
or ſhed a tear for ſome moments. At
length, ſhe held out to him her emaciated
hand.
" It
:


136 E M M E L IN E,
." It is indeed William !” ſaid ſhe. ( He,
o ſeems, too, very ſorry for me. My dear
“ brother, do you then pardon and pity
66 the poor Adelina ?”
." Both ! both !” anſwered Godolphin,
ſobbing, and ſeating himſelf by her. He
threw his arms round her, and her pale
cheek reſted on his boſom, while her eyes
were fixed on his face.
" Stay!” exclaimed ſhe, after a momen-
tary pauſe, and diſengaging herſelf ſuddenly
from him— Stay! I have yet another
“. queſtion, if I dared aſk it! Do you know
" all? and have you no blood to anſwer
“ for, on my account? Will you aſſure
“ me you will not ſeek it?”
“ For mercy's ſake!” ſaid Mrs. Stafford,
“ ſatisfy her, Mr. Godolphin-ſatisfy her
“ at once you ſee to what is owing this
66 alienation of her reaſon."
" No," reaſſumed the afflicted Adelina,
“ you need not anſwer me; I ſee you can-
« not-will not forgive
" Name him not, Adelina !” ſternly and
quickly anſwered hcm my ſoul recoils at
on his


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASILE. 137
10.
« his idea! I cannot, I will not promiſe
“ any thing !”
At this period, Emmeline, who was un-
willing to truſt the ſervants in ſuch a
moment, entered with the infant of Lady
Adelina ſleeping in her arms.
“ See !” ſaid Mrs. Stafford, “ a little
“ unfortunate creature, whoſe innocence
« muſt ſurely plead forcibly to you! He
o comes to join our intreaties to you to
“ ſpare his mother !”
Emmeline laid the infant in the lap of
Lady Adelina, who was yet unable to ſhed
a tear. Godolphin beheld it with mingled
horror and pity; but the latter ſentiment,
ſeemed to predominate ; and Emmeline,
whoſe voice was calculated to go to the
heart, began to try it's influence, and im-
ploring him to be calm, and to promiſe:
his ſiſter an eternal oblivion of the paſt, ſhe
urged every argument that ſhould convince
him of it's neceſſity, and every motive
that could affect his reaſon or his com-
paſſion.
He gazed on her with reverence and ad-
miration
as


138, EMMELINE,
miration while ſhe ſpoke, and ſeemed
greatly affected by what ſhe ſaid. Animated
by the hope of ſucceſs, her eyes were light-
ened up with new brilliancy, and her glow-
ing cheeks and expreſſive features became
more than ever attractive. A convulſive
laugh from Lady Adelina interrupted her,
and again drew the attention of Godolphin
entirely to his ſiſter. Emmeline, who ſaw
her reaſon again forſaking her, took the
ſleeping baby from her lap. She had
hardly done ſo, before trying to riſe froin
her chair, ſhe ſhrieked aloud for again the
image of Fitz-Edward dying by the hand
of her brother was before her.
« See !” cried fhe, “ ſee! there he lies!
" he is already expiring, yet William for-
« gives him not! What would you ſtrike
6 him again now, while he is dying ? -..
« Go! cruel, cruel brother !” attempting
to put Godolphin from her' Go! :
« Oh! touch me not with thoſe polluted
“ hands, they are ſtained with human-
&c. blood !” A convulſive fhudder and a
deep figh feemed to exhauft all her re-
maining


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 139
maining ſtrength, and ſhe fell back in her
chair, pale and faint; and with fixed un-
meaning eyes appeared no longer conſcious
even of the terrors which purſued her.
But the look of miſerable anguiſh which
her features wore, the wild import of her
words, and the light of the unfortunate
child, who ſeemed born only to ſhare her
wretchedneſs, could not long be beheld
unmoved by a heart like Godolphin's,
which poffefſed all that tenderneſs that dif-
tinguiſhes the truly brave. Again he threw
his arms round his Gfter, and ſobbing,
faid-
“ Hear me, Adelina--hear me and be
66 tranquil ! I will promiſe to be guided
« by your excellent friendsI will do
“ nothing that ſhall give pain to them or
6 to you!”
“ Thank God !” exclaimed Emmeline,
k that you at laſt hear reaſon ! Remember
er this promiſe is given to us all."
: «. It is," anſwered Godolphin; 6 but
65 try to make poor Adelina ſenſible of it.”
She no longer underſtood any thing; but
with


140. E M M E L I NE,
with her eyes ſhut, and her hands claſped in
each other, was at leaſt quiet.
" I cannot bear it!” continued Godol-
phin--" I muſt go for a few moments to
" recover myſelf !”. He then left the room,
deſiring Emmeline to comfort and compoſe
his ſiſter, who ſoon afterwards aſked haſtily
what was become of him?
· Emmeline, pleaſed to find ſhe had a clear
recollection of his having been with her,
now told her that he had moſt folemnly
aſſured them he would think no more of
ſeeking Fitz-Edward on account of this un-
happy affair. As ſhe ſeemed ſtill, in fearful
apprehenſion, to doubt the reality of this
promiſe, Godolphin, who was only in the
next room with Mrs. Stafford, returned, and
aſſured her of his pity, his forbearance and
his forgiveneſs.
After fomne farther efforts on the part of
Emmeline, and proteſtations on that of
Godolphin, tears, which had been long de-
nied to Lady Adelina, came to her relief.
She wept, careſſed her infant, and bleſſed
and thanked her brother and her friends,
When


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 141
When capable of recollection, ſhe knew
that towards thofe whom he had once par-
doned, he was incapable of reproach or
unkindneſs; and her mind, eaſed of the
fears which had ſo long harraſſed it, ſeemed
to be recovering it's tone. Still, however,
the ſenſe of her own incurable unhappineſs,
her own irretrievable unworthineſs, and the
diſgrace of having ſullied the honour of her
family, and given pain to ſuch a brother,
overwhelmed her with grief and confuſion;
while her reaſon, as it at intervals returned,
ſerved only to ſhew her the abyſs into which
ſhe had fallen ; and the ſometimes even
regretted thoſe hours of forgetfulneſs, when
ſhe poſſeſſed not the power of ſteady re-
flection, and when the fad reality was ob-
literated by wild and imaginary horrors.
CHAP.


142. EMME LINE,
CHAPTER" VI.;.
COME few days elapfed before there
was any great alteration for the better
in Lady Adelina. But the inceſſant atten-
tion of her friends, the ſoothing pity of her
brother, and the ſkill of her phyſician,
ſlowly conquered the lurking fever which
had ſo long hung about her, and her intel-
lects, tho’ ſtill diſordered at times, were
more collected, and gave reaſon to hope
that ſhe would ſoon entirely recover.
In the mean time Captain Godolphin
communicated to Mrs. Stafford the reſolu.
tion he had taken about his filter. He
ſaid that the ſhould renounce for ever all
claim on the Trelawny eſtate, except only
the ſtipend ſettled on her as a conſideration
for the fortune ſhe was to receive at the
death of the dowager Lady Weſthaven,
and which was only three hundred a year;
a ſum which he thought made her but à
paltry


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 143
NOVO
paltry and inadequate compenſation for
having paſſed two years in the ſociety of
ſuch a man as Trelawny.
He added, that he had a houſe in the
Iſle of Wight, (almoſt all the patrimony
his father had been able to give him,)
where, as his ſhip was now out of commiſ-
ſion, he propoſed reſiding himſelf; and
whither he ſhould inſiſt upon Lady Ade-
lina's retiring, without any future attempt
to fee or correſpond with Fitz-Edward.
As to the child, he aſked if Mrs. Staf-
ford would have the goodneſs to ſee that
it was taken care of at ſome cottage in her
neighbourhood, 'till he could adjuſt mat-
ters with the Trelawny family, and put an
end to all thoſe fears which inight tempo
them to enquire into it's birth; after which
he ſaid he would take it to his own houſe,
and call it a ſon of his own; a precaution
that would throw an obfcurity over the
truth which would hardly ever be re-
moved, when none were particularly in.
tereſted to remove it.
Theſe deſigns he deſired Mrs. Stafford
to


144 É M M E LINE,
to communicate to Lady Adelina ; and as
ſhe was obliged to return home in two days,
ſhe took the earlieſt opportunity of doing
fo.
To the conditions her brother offered,
Lady Adelina thought herſelf moſt happy
to conſent. The little boy was immediately
baptized by the name of William Godol.
phin, and his unfortunate mother now began
to flatter herſelf that her diſaſtrous hiſtory
might be concealed even froin her elder
brother, Lord Weſthaven; of whoſe indig-
nation and reſentment ſhe had ever the moſt
alarming apprehenſions. But while the
hope of eſcaping them by her brother Wil-
liam's generous compaſſion, gave to her
heavy forrows fome alleviation, they were
renewed with extreme poignancy by the
approaching ſeparation from her ineſtimable
friends. Mrs. Stafford could no longer
delay her return to her family; and Emme-
line, who now ſaw Lady Adelina out of
danger and in the protection of her brother,
was deſirous of accompanying her back to
Woodfield.
Lady


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLÉ. 145
Lady Adelina ineffectually tried to bear
this early departure with ſome degree of
fortitude and reſolution. Nor was it ber.
heart alone that felt deſolate and unhappy
at it's approach. That of her brother, had
received an impreſſion from the mental and
perſonal perfections of Emmeline, which
being at firſt deep, had foon become inde-
lible ; and ignorant of her engagement, he
had indulged it till he found it no longer
poſſible for him to forbear making her the
firft object of his life, and that the value
of his exiſtence depended wholly on
her.
Emmeline was yet quite unconſcious of
this : but Mrs. Stafford had ſeen it almoſt
from the firſt moment of her ſeeing Godol-
phin. In their frequent converſation, ſhe
obſerved that the very name of Emmeline
had the power of faſcination; that he was
never weary of hearing her praiſes; and
that whenever he thought himſelf unob-
ſerved, his eyes were in purſuit of her; or
fondly gazing on her face, he ſeemed to
Vol.III.
drink


146 E M M E LINE,
drink deep draughts of intoxicating pal-
fion.
Mrs. Stafford, who knew how ardent and
how fatal a love ſuch excellence of perſon
and underſtanding might produce in a
heart ſuſceptible of all their power, was
alarmed for the happineſs of this amiable
man; and with regret ſaw him nouriſhing
an affection which ſhe thought inuft be en.
tirely hopeleſs.
Theſe apprehenſions, every hour's obſer-
vation encreaſed. Yet Mrs. Stafford deter-
mined not to communicate thein to Em-
meline; but to put an end to the flattering
deluſion which led on Godolphin to in-
dulge his paſſion, by telling him, as ſoon
as poſſible, of the engagement Emineline
had formed with Mr. Delamere.
Accident foon furniſhed her with an op-
portunity. While they were all fitting te-
gether after dinner, a packet of letters was
brought in, and among others which were
forwarded to Mrs. Stafford from Wood-
field, was one for Emmeline
Mrs. Stafford


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 147
Mrs. Stafford gave it to her, ſaying,
“ Froin France, by the poſt-mark ?” .
Einmeline replied that it was. She
changed colour as ſhe opened it.
“ Froin Mr. Delamere?” enquired Mrs.
Stafford.
" No," anſwered ſhe, " it is from Lady
66 Weſthaven. Your brother and her
“ Ladyſhip are well,” continued ſhe, ad-
dreſſing herſelf to Mr. Godolphin, " and
« are at Paris, where they propoſe ſtaying
“ 'till Lady Montreville and Miſs Dela-
“ mere join them as they come to Eng-
so land.”
« And when are they expected ?” ſaid
Godolphin.
66 In about a month,” replied Emmeline.
“ But Lord and Lady Weſthaven do not
“ propoſe to return till next ſpring-they
« only paſs a few days all together at
66 Paris.”
" And where is Mr. Delamere wander-
« ing to?" ſignificantly and ſmilingly aſked
Mrs. Stafford.
56 Lady Węſthaven ſays only,” anſwered
H 2 Emmeline,
OUIC


145 ::£ M M E LINE,
Emmeline, bluſhing and caſting down her
eyes, “ that he has left Lady Montreville,
5 and is, they believe, gone to Geneva.”
“ However," reaſſumed Mrs. Stafford,
“ we ſhall undoubtedly ſee him in England
65 in March.”
Emmeline, in ſtill greater embarraſſment,
anſwered two or three other queſtions which
Godolphin aſked her about his brother, and
ſoon after left the room.
Godolphin, who ſaw there was ſomething
relative to Delamere with which he was un-
acquainted, had a confuſed idea imme-
diately occur to him of his attachment :
and the pain it gave him was ſo acute, that
he wiſhed at once to know whether it was
well founded.
" Why does Mr. Delamere certainly re-
56 turn in March 1” faid he, addreſſing
himſelf to Mrs. Stafford, “ rather than
66' with his mother?”
“ To fulfil his engagement,” gravely
and coldly replied the.
Of what nature is it?" aſked he.
Mrs. Stafford then related the hiſtory of
Delamere's
.my


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 149
Vas
Delamere's long and violent paſſion for Em-
meline; and the reluctant conſent he had
wrung from Lord and Lady Montreville,
together with the promiſe obtained from
Miſs Mowbray.
While Mrs. Stafford was making this
recital, ſhe ſaw, by the variations of Godola
phin's countenance, that ſhe had too truly
guelled the ſtate of his heart. Expreſſive
as his features were, ic was not in his power
to conceal what he felt in being convinced
that he had irrecoverably fixed his affections
on a woman who was the deſtined wife of
another. And awaking from the ſoft viſions
which Hope had offered, to certain defpon-
dence, he found himſelf too cruelly hurt to
be able to continue the converſation, and
after a few faint efforts, which only betrayed
his internal anguiſh, he hurried away. . ,
Such, however, was the opinion Mrs.-
Stafford conceived of his honour and his,
underſtanding, that ſhe had no apprehenſion
that he would attempt imparting to the
· heart of Emmeline any portion of that pain.
with which his own was penetrated ; and
H 3
. ſhe


150. E M M E LI NE,
The hoped that abſence and reflection, to-
gether with the conviction of it's being
hopeleſs, would conquer this infant paffion
before it could gather ſtrength wholly to
ruin his repoſe.
She was glad that their departure was ſo
near; and haftened it as much as poſſible.
The ſhort interval was paſſed in inournful
ſilence on the part of Godolphin-on that
of Lady Adelina, in tears and regret ; while
Emmeline, who was herſelf ſenſible of great
pain in the approaching parting, ſtruggled
to appear chearful; and Mrs. Stafford at-
tempted, tho' without much ſucceſs, to re-
concile them all to a feparation which was
become as neceſſary as it was inevitable.
At length the hired coach in which they
were to return to Woodfield was at the
door.
Lady Adelina, unable to ſpeak to either
of them, brought her little boy in her arms,
and paſſionately kiſſing him, gave him into
thoſe of Emmeline. Then taking a hand of
each of her friends, ſhe preſſed them to her
throbbing heart, and haſtened to conceal
the


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 151
the violence of her forrow in her own
room..
Godolphin approached to take leave.
He kiſſed the hand of Mrs. Stafford, and
inarticulately expreſſed his thanks for her
goodneſs to his ſiſter.
- I know,” continued he, “ I need
“ not recommend to you this poor infant :
“ the ſame generoſity which prompted you
" to ſave his mother, will effectually plead
66 for him, and ſecure for him your pro--
“ tection 'till I can take him to that of his
os own family. And you, Miſs Mowbray,"
ſaid he, turning to Emmeline and taking
her hand " moſt amiable, lovelieſt of
66 human creatures ! where ſhall I find
6 words to thank you as 1 ought?”
His emotion was too great for utterance.
Emmeline felt it but too ſenſibly; and
haſtening into the coach to hide how much
ſhe was herſelf affected, ſhe could only
ſay-
« All happineſs attend you, Sir! Re-
“ mind Lady Adelina of my hopes of foon.
66. hearing from her.”
H 4 Mrs. Stafford


152 Σ Μ Μ Ε L IN E,
Mrs. Stafford being then ſeated, and the
ſervant who had been hired to attend the
infant following her, the coach drove from
the door. Godolphin purſued it with his
eyes to the end of the ſtreet; and then, as!
if deprived of all that made life deſirable,
· he gave himſelf up to languor and deſpon-
dence, afraid of examining his own heart,
leaſt his reaſon ſhould condemn an incli-
nation, which however hopeleſs he could,
not reſolve to conquer.
But while he found charms in the indul.
gence of his unhappy love, he determined
never to diſturb the peace of it's object.
But rather to ſuffer in ſilence, than to give
pain to a heart fo generous and ſenſible as
her's, merely for the melancholy plea-
ſure of knowing that ſhe pitied him.
As ſoon as Lady Adelina could bear the
journey, they departed together to his houſe
in the Iſle of Wight ; where he left her, and
went in ſearch of Mrs. Bancraft, the ſiſter
of Trelawny, of whom he enquired where
Trelawny himſelf might be found. .
This woman, apprehenſive that he medi-
tated


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 153
tated a reconciliation between her brother
and his wife, which it was ſo much her
intereſt to prevent, refuſed for ſome time
to give him the information he deſired.
Having however at length.convinced her
that he had no wiſh to renew a union which
had been productive only of miſery to his -
ſiſter, ſhe told him that Mr. Trelawny was
returned to England, and lived at a houſe
hirel in the name of her huſband, a few
miles from London.
There Godolphin fought him; and found
the unhappy man funk into a ſtate of per-
petual and unconſcious intoxication; in
which Bancraft, the huſband of his fiſter,
encouraged him, foreſeeing that it muſt,
foon end in his ſon's being pofſeffed of an
income, to which the meanneſs of his own
origin, and former condition, made him :
look forward with anxious avidity. ,
It was difficult to make Trelawny, ſink-
ing into ideotiſm, comprehend either who
Godolphin was, or the purport of his buſi-
neſs. But Bancraft, more alive to his own
intereſt, preſently underſtood, that on.con-
H 5
dition
S
in


154 E M M E L I NE,
dition of his entering into bonds of ſepara-
tion, Lady Adelina would relinquiſh the
greater part of her claim on the Trelawny
eftate; and he undertook to have the deeds
ſigned as ſoon as it could be drawn up. In
a few days therefore Godolphin ſaw Tre-
lawny's part of them compleated; and re-
farned to Lady Adelina, ſatisfied in having
releaſed her from an engagement, which,
fince he had ſeen Trelawny, had rendered
her in his eyes an object of tenderer pity;
and in having acquitted himſelf according
to his ſtrict ſenſe of honour, by cauſing her
to relinquiſh all the advantages Trelawny's
fortune offered, except thoſe to which ſhe
. had an abfolute right.
This affair being adjuſted, he again re.
figned himſelf to the mournful but pleaſing
contemplations which had occupied him
ever ſince he had heard of Emmeline's en
gagement. While Lady Adelina, whoſe
intellects were now reſtored, but who was
loſt in profound melancholy, ſaw too evi-
dently the ſtate of her brother's heart; and
could not but lament that his tenderneſs
for
-


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 155
for her had been the means of involving him
in a paſſion, which the great merit of it's
object, and his own ſenſibility, convinced
her muſt be incurable.
The letters of Emmeline were the only
confolation ſhe was capable of receiving.
They gave her favourable accounts of her
child, and of the continued affection of
her ineſtimable friends. Whenever one of
theſe letters was brought, Godolphin ea-
gerly watched her while ſhe was reading.
it; and then, faultering and impatient,
aſked if all were well ? and if Mr. Dela--
mere was yet returned ?. She fomețiines :
gave him the letters to peruſe ; after which :
he generally fell into long abſence, broken
only by deep drawn: and involuntary
fighs-Symptoms which Lady Adelina
knew too well to doubt of the cauſe.
In the mean time. Mrs. Stafford and
Emineline viſited every day their inno-
cent charge, who paſſed for the child of
one of Emmeline's friends gone to the
Weſt Indies. Emmeline inſenſibly grew
fo. fond of hiin, that ſhe was uneaſy if:
IS
H6
any


E M M E L I N E ,
any accident prevented her daily viſit;
and her friend ſometimes laughingly re-
proached her with the robbery little Wil-
liam committed on her time.
When they were alone, their converſa-
tion frequently turned on Lady Adelina
and her brother. The ſubject, tho' ine-
lancholy, was ever a favourite with them
both; and perhaps the more ſo becauſe
it led them to mournful reflections for
Mrs. Stafford was unhappy, and Emme-
line was not gay; nor were her fpirits
greatly heightened by finding that in
ſpite of herſelf ſhe thought as much of the
brother as the ſiſter, and with a degree of
ſoftneſs and complacency which could
not be favourable to her happineſs.
When ſhe firſt diſcovered in Godolphin
thoſe admirable qualities of heart and un-
derſtanding which he ſo eminently poſ-
fefled, ſhe alked herſelf whether ſhe might
indulge the admiration they excited with-
out prejudice to him whom ſhe conſidered
as her huſband? And ſhe fancied that
ſhe might ſafely give him that eſteem,
which


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 157
which his tenderneſs to his unhappy fil-
ter, the ſoftneſs of his manners, the ele-
gance of his mind, and the generoſity of
his heart, could hardly fail of extorting
from the moſt indifferent obſerver...
But inſenſibly his idea obtruded itſelf
alarmingly on her imagination ; and ſhe
determined to attempt to forget him, and
no longer to allow any partiality to rob
Delaniere of that pure and ſincere attach-
ment with which he would expect her to
meet him at the altar. It was now long
ſince ſhe had heard from him ; but ſhe ac-
counted for it by ſuppoſing that he was
rambling about, and the knew that letters
were frequently loſt. . '
It was at this time ſomething more than
two years ſince they had firſt met at Mow-
bray Caſtle, and in a few weeks Dela-
mere would complete his twenty-firſt
year--a period to which Lord: Montre-
ville had long looked forward with anxious
folicitude. And now he could not but
think with bitterneſs that his ſon would
not be preſent to animate the joy of his
dependants,
1
.


158 EMME E IN E,
dependants, at this period. But was kept
in another country, in the vain hope of
extinguiſhing a paſſion which could not
be indulged without rendering abortive all
the pains. his Lordſhip had taken to
reſtore his family to the eminent rank it
had formerly borne in his country.
To Sir Richard Crofts, his ſons had
communicated the ſucceſs of thoſe plans,
by which they had fown, in the irritable
mind of Delamere, jealouſy and miſtruſt
of Emmeline-; and he failed not to ani-
mate and encourage their endeavours,
while he uſed his power over the mind of:
Lord Montreville to limit the bounty
and leſſen the affection his Lordſhip was.
diſpoſed to thew. her as the daughter of
his brother.
She received regularly her quarterly
payment, but ſhe received no more; andı
inſtead of hearing, on thoſe occaſions,
from Lord Montreville himſelf, ſhe had:
twice only a methodical letter from.
Maddox, the London ſteward..
This might, however, be merely accio
dental;


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 150
dental; and Emmeline was far from fup-
poſing that her uncle was eſtranged from
her; nor could the gueſs that the malice
of Mrs. Afhwood, and the artifices of the
Crofts,' had occaſioned that eſtrangement.
Lord Montreville rather connived at
than participated in their ungenerous pro-
ceedings; and as if fearful of truſting his
own ideas of integrity with a plan which
ſo evidently militated againſt them, he
was determined to take advantage of their
endeavours, without enquiring too mi-
nutely into their juſtice or candour. Sir
Richard had aſſured him that Mr. Dela-
mere was in a great meaſure weaned from
his attachment; and that Mr. Crofts was
almoſt ſure, that if their meeting could
be prevented for a few months longer;
there would be nothing more to fear from
this long and unfortunate prepoffeffion.
Crofts himſelf, who had at length torn
himſelf from his bride to pave the way
for his being received by her family as
her huſband, ſoon appeared, and confirmed
all


1:00
E M M E LINE,
all this. He told Lord Montreville tliat:
Delamere had conceived fufpicions of Em--
meline's conduct, tho' he knew not from
what cauſe, that had at firſt excited the
moſt uneaſy jealouſy, but which had at
length ſubſided with his love; that he had
regained his ſpirits; and, when he left his
mother and ſiſter, ſeemed reſolved to
make a vigorous effort to expel from his
mind a paſſion he was aſhamed of having:
ſo long indulged.
. In ſaying all this, Crofts rather attended
to what his Lordſhip wiſhed to hear, than
to what was really the truth. He knew
that a mecting between Delamere and
Einmeline would probably at once explain
all the unworthy artifices which had been
uſed to divide thein, and render thoſe
artifices abortive. He therefore told Lord
Montreville, that to prevent all probability
of a relapſe, it would be adviſeable to re-
move Emmeline to ſome place where De-..
kamere could not meet her: and his Lord.
fhip, forgetting at once all the obligations
he:


. THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 161
he owed Emmeline, thought only of fol-
lowing this advice.
Embarraſſed, however, himſelf with pub-
lic buſineſs, he was unable to give to theſe
domeſtic politics all the attention which
they demanded. He threw himſelf more
than ever into the power of the Crofts', to
whoſe policy he left it to contrive the
means, between the months of November
and March, of raiſing an invincible bar-
rier between his fon and his niece.
Tho’Delamere's being of age encreaſed
the difficulties of this undertaking, Crofts
having no ſcruples about the methods he
was to purſue, had no doubt of accom-
pliſhing his end; and to ſtimulate his en-
deavours, he needed only the particular
advantages which would accrue to himſelf
from the pardon and reception which he..
hoped to obtain from Lord Montreville
and his family.
Every engine therefore that ambition,
avarice, malice and cunning could em-
ploy, was now put in motion againſt the cha--
racter


162
E M M E LINE,
racter and the peace of the unprotected
and unſuſpicious Emmeline.
In conſcious innocence and unſullied
'purity, ſhe dreamed not that ſhe had an
enemy on earth ; for of Mrs. Afhwood,
now Mrs. James Crofts, ſhe only remem-
bered that ſhe had once been obliged to
her. The little malicious envy which had
given her ſome pain at the time it was
ſhewn, ſhe now no longer recollected;
and tho’ ſhe always continued to diſlike
James Crofts, yet his impertinence ſhe had
forgiven, and had written in the uſual
forin to congratulate them both on their
marriage.
Of Delamere, ſhe heard nothing; but
imputing his ſilence to his frequent change
of place, the conceived no anger againſt
him on that account; and ſtill felt her-
ſelf bound to keep from her mind as
much as poſſible the intruſive image of
Godolphin.
С НАР. "


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE.
CH A P T E R
VII.
ITHATEVER reſolution Emmeline
W might form to drive from her
heart thoſe dangerous partialities which
would be fatal to her repoſe, ſhe found it
impoſſible to be accompliſhed while Lady
Adelina's frequent letters ſpoke only of the
generous tenderneſs and excellent qualities
of her brother. Of what elſe, indeed, could
ſhe ſpeak, in a ſolitude where his goodneſs
made all her conſolation and his converſa-
tion all her pleaſure; where he dedicated
to her all his time, and thought of pro-
curing for her every alleviation to her re-
tirement which books and domeſtic amuſe-
ments afforded. While he taught her ſtill
to reſpect herſelf; and by his unwearied
friendſhip convincing her that ſhe had ſtill
much to loſe, made her life receive in her
own eyes a value it would otherwiſe have
loft; and prevented her relapſing into that
unhappy
YY


164 EMME LINE,
rc
unhappy felf-condemnation which makes
the ſufferer careleſs of the future. He
thought, that ſituated as ſhe was, ſolitude
was her only choice; but to render it as
happy as her circumſtances allowed, was
his continual care, And tho* oppreſſive
forrow ſtill lay heavy on heart; tho’ it ſtill
ached with tenderneſs and regret towards
an object whom ſhe had ſworn to think of,
to ſpeak of no more; her gratitude and af-
fcation towards her brother were as lively
as if it's acute feelings had never felt the
benumbing hand of deſpair. . -
In the total ſequeſtration from the world
in which ſhe lived, ſhe had no other topic
to dwell upon than her brother, and ſhe
gave it all it's force. Perfectly acquainted,
however, with Emmeline's engagements,
ſhe never ventured to mention the paſſion
which ſhe was too well aſſured Godolphin
felt; but ſhe ſtill, almoſt unknown to her-,
ſelf, cheriſhed a lurking hope that her con-
nection with Delamere might be diffolved,
and that her lovely friend was deſtined to.
bleſs her beloved brother..
This:


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 165
This diſtant hope was warm enough to
animate her pen in his praiſe; and Emme-
line, tho' every letter ſhe received made on
her mind a deeper impreſſion of the merit
of Godolphin, yet found ſuch painful plea-
ſure in reading them, that ſhe was unhappy
if at the uſual periods they did not regularly
arrive. -
She tried to perſuade herſelf, that the
ſatisfaction ſhe felt in reading theſe letters
aroſe purely from the delight natural to
every uncorrupted mind in contemplating
a character honourable to human nature.
But accuſtomed to examine narrowly her
own heart, ſhe could not long impofe upon
herſelf; and notwithſtanding all her en-
deavours to ſtifle it, ſtill found the idea of
Godolphin mixing itſelf with all her
thoughts, and embittering the proſpect of
her certain marriage with Delamere.
In the anſwers Emmeline gave her friend,
ſhe related whatever ſhe thought likely to
amuſe the fair reclufe ; gave a regular ac-
count of her little charge ; but avoided
puncti-


166 E M M E LI NE,
ven
WE
punctiliouſly the leaſt mention of Fitz-Ed-
ward.
Fitz-Edward had received from Mrs.
Stafford an account of all that had paſſed
at Bath, except the pains which had been
taken to prevent any meeting between him
and Godolphin. But notwithſtanding her
cautious filence on that head, Fitz-Edward,
who knew Godolphin well, could hardly
be perſuaded not to inſiſt on his taking his
chance of depriving him of a life which he
ſaid he had deſerved to loſe; and could
little brook being ſuppoſed to hold it on
courteſy. Nothing but his conſideration for
the unhappy Lady Adelina prevented his.
purſuing the fanguinary projects that agi-
tated his mind. To her peace he owed it
to conquer them; and while he was yet
ſtruggling againſt that ſenſe of honour
which impelled him to give Godolphin
imagina'y reparation, by allowing him an
opportunity of putting an end to his ex-
iſtence or loſing his own, his brother, Lord
Clancarryl, wrote to deſire his attendance in
Ireland on ſome family buſineſs of im-
portance ;
Sn


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE
portance; a ſummons, which after ſome
heſitation, Mrs. Stafford and Miſs Mowbray
prevailed with him to obey.
Before he went, his eager and affecting
entreaties prevailed on Mrs. Stafford to let
him fee his ſon, whom he embraced with an
ardour of affection of which the fair friends
believed ſo gay and faſhionable a man in-
capable.
The errors of Fitz-Edward, however,
were not thoſe of the heart. Among the
diffipation of faſhion and the indulgences
of libertiniſm, his heart was ſtill ſenſible,
and his integrity retrievable. He felt,
therefore, with great keenneſs, the injury
he had done Lady Adelina ; and deſirous
of making all the reparation he could to
the infant, he again placed in the hands of
Emmeline, a will by which he made it his
heir and recommended it to the protection
of Godolphin, whom he beſought to con-
ſider as his nephew, the ſon of a man whom
he had once loved, and who had dearly
paid for having forfeited all claim to his
friendthip.. When he was departed, no-
thing


168
E M M E L I NE,
thing ſeemed likely to interrupt the tran-
quillity of Emmeline but her'encreaſing..
apprehenſions for Mrs. Stafford and her
children. The derangeinent of Stafford's
affairs, and his wife's unavailing efforts to
ward off the ruin which he ſeemed obfti-
nately bent on incurring, were every day
more viſible. While his capricious and
unreaſonable temper, and a ſtrange opinion
of his own fagacity, which would never al-
low him to own himſelf in the wrong, made
him ſeek to load his wife with the blame
of thoſe misfortunes which he had volunta-
rily fought, and now as obdurately refuſed
to avoid while it was yet in his power.
Mrs. Stafford, who faw too plainly that
the deſtruction of their fortune which fhe
had ſo long dreaded was now with haſty
ſtrides advancing, yet endeavoured to con-
vince him of his infatuation; but he ſtill
improved his houſe and garden, ſtill
ſchemyed away all the money he could
raiſe or gain credit for, and ſtill repaid with
rudeneſs and inſult her anxious ſolicitude to
fave him,
Ip


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 160
In Emmeline, ſhe ever found pity and
tenderneſs; but pity and tenderneſs was all
ſhe had to beſtow. The affairs of Stafford
required intereſt and money ; and Emme-
line could command neither. Lord Mon-
treville now took no other notice of her,
than to remit her quarterly ſtipend by the
hands of his ſteward ; and tho' he had pro-
miſed to double it, that promiſe yet re-
mained unfulfilled.
It was at this time near the end of No.
vember, and the mornings were cold and
gloomy. But Emmeline, however deli-
cate in her frame, had a conſtitution which
had not, by early and falſe indulgencies,
been unfitted for the duties of life : and
to perſonal inconvenience ſhe was always
indifferent when the ſervice of thoſe the
loved engaged her to brave fatigue or cold.
She therefore ſtill continued her morning
viſit to Woodbury Foreſt, where ſhe gene-
rally paſt an hour with little William ; and
in his improving features and intereſting
ſmiles loved to trace his reſemblance to his
mother. Lady Adelina was very like her
Vol. III. I brother,


170
E M M E LINE,
brother, and the little boy was not the leſs
tenderly careſſed for the ſimilitude ſhe ſaw
to them both.
The appearance of rain had one morning
detained her at home later than uſual, She
went, however, about eleven o'clock, and
was buſied in playing with the infant, who
began now to know her, and was therefore
more attractive, when, while ſhe yet held
him in her arms, ſhe heard the woman of
the houſe, who was in the outward room,
fuddenly exclaim-" Indeed Sir you can-
“ not go in-pray--I beg your honour !"
There was hardly time for Emmeline to
feel ſurprize at this buſtle before the door
opened, and Delamere ſtood before her.
In his countenance was an expreſſion com-
pounded of rage, fierceneſs and deſpair,
which extorted from Emmeline an involun-
Cary ſhriek !. Unable to ariſe, ſhe remained
motionleſs in her chair, claſping the baby
to her boſom ; Delamere ſeemed trying to
ſtifle his anger in contempt; vengeance,
diſdain, and pride, were ſtruggling for
ſuperiority. While his eyes, ſternly turned
ance
More au
upon


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 171
upon Emmeline, and ſiniling indignantly,
he exclaimed - Till I Saw this
inarticulately and tremulouſly he ſpoke-
« Till I ſaw this, all the evidence they
« brought me was inſufficient to cure my
66 blind attachment. But now-oh! in-
56 famy-madneſs-damnation! It is then .
poffible-It is then truc! But what is ir
to me? Torn-torn for ever from this
66 outraged heart-never, never, ſhall this
“ fight blaſt me again !--But what?” con-
tinued he, ſpeaking with more quickneſs,
66 what? for Fitz-Edward! for the infa-
“ mous plunderer of his friend's happineſs!
“ However, Madam, on you I intrude no
“ longer. Oh ! loft-loft-wretched !"-
He could not go on; but in the ſpeechleſs
agony of contending paſſions he leaned his
head againſt the frame of the door near
which he ſtood, and gazed wildly on Em-
meline, who, pale as death, and trembling:
like a leaf, ſtill fat before him unable to re-
call her ſcattered ſpirits.
He waited a moment, gaſping for breath,
and as if he had ſtill ſome feeble expecta-
tion
I 2
-


172
E M M E LINE,
tion of hearing her ſpeak. But the child
which the held in her arms was like a
baſiliſk to his fight, and made in his opi-
nion all vindication impoſſible. Again con-
viction appeared to drive him to deſpera-
tion; and looking in a frantic manner round
the room, as if entirely bereft of reaſon, he
dalhed his hands furiouſly againſt his head,
and running, or rather flying out of the
houſe, he immediately diſappeared.
In terror and aſtoniſhment, Emmeline
remained immoveable and ſpeechleſs. She
almoſt doubted whether this was any other
than a fearful dreain, 'till the woman of the
houſe, and the maid who attended on the
child, ran into the room frightened
“ Lord, Madam,” cried the woman,
“ what is the matter with the young gen-
66 tleman?” .
“ I know not,” anſwered Emmeline,
faintly-- I know not where he is now?”
“ Hes run away into the wood again
“ like any inad,” anſwered the woman.
" And from whence,” enquired Emme-
line, "did he come?”
roma
66 Why,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 177
..“ Why, Miſs,” ſaid ſhe, “I was a going
“ out croſs our garden to hang out my
cloaths; ſo up a comes to the hedge
66 fide, an a ſays-Good woman, pray be’nt
s here a lady here as comes from Wood-
$6 field, one Miſs Mowbray ? I thought
“ how he looked oddiſh as 'twere about
« the eyes ; but howſever thinking no
( harm, I ſays yes. So he runs up to the
« door, and I called to un to ſay as I'd
cs come in and let you know; but before I
* could get thro' the wicket, whiſk he was
" in the kitchen; then I tried agin to ſtop
“ un, but I were as good try to ſtop the
ir wind.”
The agitation and uneaſineſs of Eminem
line encreaſed rather than ſubſided. She
looked ſo pale, and ſo difficultly drew her
breath, that the women were alarmed leaft.
the ſhould faint : and one of them per-
fuaded her to ſwallow ſomething, while the
other ran out to ſee if the perſon who had
fo terrified her was yet in fight. But no
traces of him were viſible; and after a few
moments, Emmeline recalling her preſence
13
of


174 EMME LINE,
of mind, and feeling proudly conſcious of,
her own innocence and integrity, recovered
in ſome degree her ſpirits and reſolution.
That Delamere ſhould be in England
did not greatly aſtoniſh tho'it grieved her;
but that he ſhould have conceived ſuch
ſtrange ſuſpicions of her and Fitz-Edward,
equally ſurprized and diſtreſſed her; ſince,
had ſhe an opportunity of undeceiving him,
which he did not ſeem willing to allow her,
ſhe could not relate the truth but by be-
traying the confidence of her unfortunate
friend, and embittering the life ſhe had ran
fuch hazards to preſerve. As ſoon as the
had apparently recovered from the ſhock of
this abrupt intruſion, ſhe was deſirous of
returning to Woodfield, anxious to know
if Delamere had been there, or by what
means he had been enabled to find her at
the cottage in the foreſt. The women,
who fancied the gentleman they had ſeen
was a lunatic who might lay in wait to
hurt her on her way home, would not ſuffer
her to ſet out 'till they had called a wood-
cutter from the foreſt to accompany her,
Then,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 175
Then, ſlowly and with difficulty, ſhe re-
turned home, where ſhe heard from Mrs.
Stafford that Delamere hiad neither been or
ſent there. This information encreaſed her
wonder and her diſquiet. She related to
Mrs. Stafford the diſtreſſing interview of
the morning; and ſhe having ſeen fre-
quent inſtances of thoſe exceſſes of which
Delamere was capable, heard the relation
with concern and apprehenſion.
I +
I 4
CHAP.


L M M E L I NE;
CHAPTER VIII.
e
COME days were paſſed by Emmeline
in painful conjectures on what meaſures
Delamere would take, and in uncertainty
what the ought to do herſelf. Sometimes
The thought of writing to Lord Montreville;
but againſt that Mrs. Stafford remonſtrated,
repreſenting, that as ſhe was undoubtedly
the injured perſon, in having been inſulted
by ſuſpicions ſo unworthy, ſhe ſhould leave
it wholly to Delamere to diſcover and re-
cant his error; which, if he refuſed on
cooler reflection to do, ſhe would be for-
tunate in eſcaping from an engagement
with a man who had ſo little command of
his own temper, ſo little reliance on her
principles, as to be driven on a inere ſufpi-
cion into rudeneſs and inſult.
• Greatly inortified at finding it poſſible
for Delamere to think ſo injuriouſly of her,
and depreſſed by a thouſand uneaſy appre-
henſions,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 17hing
IS
n
W
Kenſions, the yielded implicitly to the
counſel of her friend. But of her coun-
fel and conſolation ſhe was now on the
point of being deprived : Stafford, who
had been ſome time in London, fent an ex-
preſs to fetch his wife thither a few days.
after the interview between Emmeline and
Delamere. His affairs were now growing
deſperate. Jaines Crofts demanded im-
mediate payment of a ſum of money be-
longing to his wife that was left her by her
father, and which ſhe had till now ſuffered
to remain in the hands of her brother.
Stafford had made no proviſion to pay it.
His boundleſs profufion had diſſipated all
the ready money he could command; and
this claim of his fifter’s, which James Crofts
feemed determined to urge, would he knew
be the ſignal for every other creditor to be-
fet him with demands he had no means of
diſcharging.
Tho' Mrs. Stafford had long tho'vainly
inplored hiin to ſtop in his wild career, and
had repreſented to him all the evils, which
were now about to overtake him, ſhe could
not ſee their near approach without an at-
tempt
I 5


178 MM EL IN E,
tenipt again to reſcue him. And he was
accuſtomed in every difficulty to have re-
courſe to her; tho' while he felt none, he
fcorned and even reſented her efforts to
keep them at a diſtance. He now fancied
that her application might prevail on
James Crofts to drop a ſuit he had com-
menced againſt him : ſhe haſtily therefore
ſet out for London ; leaving to Emmeline
the care of her children, who promiſed, by
the utmoſt attention to them, to obviate
part of the inconvenience of ſuch a jour-
ney.
It was unhappily, however, not only in-
convenient but fruitleſs. Mr. and Mrs.
James Crofts were inexorable. The ſuit
was tried ; Stafford was caſt; and nothing
remained for him but either to pay the
money or to be expoſed to the hazard of
loſing his property and his liberty. His
conduct had ſo much injured hiş credit,
that to borrow it was impoſſible. Mrs.
Stafford attempted therefore to diveſt her-
felf of part of her own fortune to aſlift him
with the money. But her truſtees were
not
Te


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 179
not to be moved; and nothing but deſpair
ſeemed darkening round the head of the
unfortunate Stafford.
Mrs. Stafford ſaw too evidently that to
be in the power of James Crofts, was to
truſt to avarice, meanneſs and malignity;
and ſhe trembled to reflect that her huſband
was now wholly at his mercy. - The addi-
tional motives he had to uſe that power
rigorouſly ſhe knew not: ſhe was ignorant
that the buſineſs had ſo eagerly been
puſhed to a criſis, not merely by the avidity
of James Crofts to poſſeſs the money, but
alſo by the directions of Sir Richard, who
hoped by this means to drive the family
with whom Emmeline reſided to another
country ; where Delamere might find ac-
ceſs to her ſo difficult, that he might never
have an opportunity of explaining the cauſe
of his eſtrangement, or of hearing her vin-
dication.
It was now that Mrs. Stafford remem-
bered the frequent offers of ſervice which
ſhe had repeatedly received from Lord
Montreville ; and to him the determined
16
to


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 181
fion of fearful fuſpence marked them for
thoſe of petitioners and dependants. Thoſe
of the former deſcription were ſeparately
called to an audience ; and each, after a.
longer or ſhorter ſtay, retired ; while Mrs.
Stafford, tho' with an heart but ill at eaſe
for obſervation, could not help fancying
ſhe diſcerned in their looks the ſucceſs of
their reſpective treaties.
As ſoon as theſe gentlemen were all de.
parted, Mrs. Stafford, who had already
waited almoſt three hours, was introduced
into the ſtudy, where, with many gracious
bows and ſmiling apologies, Lord Mon-
treville received her.
Sir Richard Crofts had that morning
warmly repreſented to his Lordſhip the
neceſſity of Stafford's going abroad and
taking Emmeline with them. Lord Mon-
treville knew that Delamere was returned,
and was embroiled with Emmeline; he was
therefore eager enough to follow advice.
which appeared fo neceſſary, and to pro-
mote any plan which might prevent a re-
newal of the attachment. He enquired not
102
W
into


182 EMMELINE,
into the cauſe of this eſtrangement, ſatisfied
with it's effect; and had ſecretly determined
to give Mrs. Stafford no aſſiſtance in the
endeavours ſhe was uſing to keep her fa-
mily from diſperſion and diſtreſs.
But ſtateſman as he was, he could not
entirely forget that he once felt as other
men; and he could not hear, without ſome
emotion, the melancholy deſcription that
Mrs. Stafford gave of the impending ruin
of her family and all it's fearful confe-
quences; which ſhe did with ſo much clear
fimplicity, yet with ſo much proper dignity,
that he found his reſolution ſhaken; and
recollecting that he had a conſcience, was
about to aſk it by what right he aſſumed
the power of rendering an innocent family
wandering exiles, merely to ſave himſelf
from a ſuppoſed poſſible inconvenience.
But while every lingering principle of
goodneſs and generoſity was riſing in the
bofoin of his Lordſhip to aſſiſt the ſuit of
Mrs. Stafford, a ſervant entered haſtily and
announced the Duke of N . His Grace


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 183
of courſe waited not in the anti-room, but
was imineciately introduced.
Lord Montreville then civilly apologiſed
to Mrs. Stafford for being unable to con-
clude the buſineſs; adding, that if ſhe
would fee Sir Richard Crofts the next day,
he would take care it ſhould be ſettled
to her ſatisfaction. She withdrew with a
heavy heart; and feeling infinite reluctance
in the propoſed application to Sir Richard
Crofts, the employed the whole afternoon
in attempting to move, in favour of her
huſband, ſome of thoſe friends who had
formerly profeſſed the moſt unbounded and
diſintereſted friendſhip for him and his fa-
mily.
Of many of theſe, the doors were ſhut
againſt her; others affected the utmoſt con-
cern, and lamented that their little power
and limited fortunes did not allow them to
aſlift in repairing the misfortunes they de-
plored. Some told her how long they had
foreſeen Mr. Stafford's embarraſſments,
and how deſtructive building and ſchem-
ing were to a moderate fortune ; while
others
GE


184 EMMELINE,
others made vague proffers of inadequare
ſervices, which on farther converſation ſhe
found they never intended to perform if
unluckily ſhe had accepted their offers. In
all, ſlie faw too plainly that they looked on
Mr. Stafford's affairs as deſperate; and in
their coldneſs and ſtudied civility, already
fele all the miſery and mortification of re-
duced circunſtances.
With encreaſed anguiſh, ſhe was now:
compelled to go, on the following day, to :
Sir Richard Crofts; whoni ſhe knew only
from Emmeline's deſcription..
He alſo, in imitation of his patron, had: :
his anti-chamber filled with ſoliciting faces.
She waited not quite ſo long, indeed, for
an audience, but with infinitely leſs.
patience. At length, however, ſhe was
ſhewn into the apartment where Sir Richard
tranſacted buſineſs.
Bloated proſperity was in his figure,
ſupercilious ſcorn in his eyes. He roſe half
off his feat, and Nightly inclined his head
on her entrance.
66. Madam,


186
EM M E LI NE,
“ ſtraitly, and directly to the point; there-
« fore I will chalk out, and deſcribe,
«s and point out to you a line of conduct,
66 which if you chuſe to follow, and adopt,
“ and purſue, it appears to me that all may
“ be adjuſted, fettled, and put to rights.”
“ You will oblige me, Sir Richard, by
“ doing ſo.”
- Well then, it is this - As it appears,
" and is evident and viſible that you have
“ not the money in queſtion, you muſt
“ immediately ſell, and diſpoſe of, and
6 make into money, your houſe and effects
“ in Dorſetſhire, and after paying, and
“ ſatisfying, and diſcharging the debt to
“ my fon Jaines, you muſt (as I under-
“ ſtand your huſband is beſides deeply in
“ debt,) withdraw, retire, and remove to
“ France, or to Normandy, or Switzerland,
6 or ſome cheap country, 'till your affairs
66 come round, and are retrieved, and ac-
66 comodated and adjuſted.”
“ This we might have done, Sir Richard,
" without troubling you with the preſent
• application,”
66 No,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 187
“ No, Madam, you might not. I af-
“ ſure you I have talked, and reaſoned,
“ and argued ſome time with Mr. James
“ Crofts, before I could induce, and pre-
“ vail upon, and diſpoſe him to wait, and
“ remain, and continue unpaid, until
“ this arrangement and diſpoſition could
“ take place. He wants the money,
• Madam, for a particular purpoſe; and
“ tho’ from my heart I grieve, and la-
" ment, and deplore the neceſſity of the
“ meaſure, I do aſſure you, Madam,
“ nothing elſe will give you any chance
“ of winding up, compleating, and ter-
“ minating the buſineſs before us. You
will therefore, Madam, think, and con-
65 ſider, and reflect on it's neceſſity, and
“ give your final anſwer to my ſon
“ James, who will wait for it only 'till to-
" morrow morning."
He then rang his bell; and ſaying he
had an appointment with Lord Montre-
ville, who muſt already have waited for
him, he made a cold bow and haſtened out
of the room.
CHAP


188
EM ME LINE, .
CHAPTER IX.
M R S. Stafford now faw that nothing
IVI remained but to follow her huſband
to a priſon, or prevail on him to go to the
Continent while ſhe attempted anew to
ſettle his affairs.
Obſtinate even in deſpair, ſhe had the
utmoſt difficulty to convince him of the
neceſſity of this ineaſure; and would never,
perhaps, have done it, if the more perſua-
live argument of a writ, taken out by
James Crofts, had not driven him to em-
brace it rather than go into confinement.
Mrs. Stafford, with difficulty procured
money to furniſh him for his journey, and
faw him depart for Dover; while ſhe her-
felf returned to Emmeline, who had paffed
the three weeks of her abſence in great
uneaſineſs. No news had been received
of Delamere; and ſhe now believed, that
of the promiſe he had forced from her he
meant


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 189-
meant not to avail himſelf; yet did not
relinquish it ; but in proud and ſullen re-
ſentment, diſdained even to enquire whe-
ther he had juſtly harboured anger againſt
her. She wilhed to have withdrawn a pro-
miſe ſhe could no longer think of without
pain and regret; but ſhe found Mrs. Staf-
ford ſo unhappy, that ſhe could not reſolve
to oppreſs her by complaints ; and after
ſome ſtruggles with herſelf, determined to
let the matter take it's courſe.
Willingly, however, ſhe conſented to
accompany her friend to France, where
Mrs. Stafford, at her huſband's requeſt,
now determined to go with her family.
She had found an opulent tradefian in a
neighbouring town, who engaged, on re-
ceiving a mortgage on the eſtate, and ten
per cent. intereſt, (which he ſo managed
as to evade the appearance of uſury,) to
let her have the money to pay Mr. Crofts,
and a farther ſum for the ſupport of her
family. And having got a tenant for the
houſe, and ſatisfied as inany of the cla-
morous creditors as the could, ſhe pre-
pared,
now


- Igo E M M E L IN E, .
pared, with a heavy heart, to quit her
abode, with Emmeline and her infant
family.
As it was neceſſary that little Williain
ſhould be ſent to the Inle of Wight before
their departure, Emmeline wrote to fix
a day at the diſtance of a month, on which
The deſired Lady Adelina to ſend ſome
careful perſon for him. But ten days be-
fore the expiration of that period, letters
came from Mr. Stafford, in which he
directed his wife, who intended to em-
bark at Brighthelmſtone and land at
Dieppe, to change her route, and fail
from Southampton to Havre. He alſo
deſired her to haften her journey: and
as every thing was now put on the beſt :
footing it would allow, Mrs. Stafford im-
mediately complied, and with her own
unfortunaté family, Emmeline, and little
William, whom they now meant to carry
themſelves to Lady Adelina, they left
Woodfield.
The pain of quitting, probably for ever,
a favourite abode, which ſhe feared would
at


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 191
at length be torn from her children by the
rapacity of the law, and the fatigue of
travelling with infant children, under ſuch
circumſtances, almoſt overcame the re-
ſolution and ſpirits of Mrs. Stafford. Em-
meline, ever reaſonable, gentle, and con-
ſoling, was her principal ſupport; and on
the evening of the ſecond day they ar-
rived at Southampton.
While Emmeline almoſt forgot in her
attention to her friend her own uncer-
tain and unpleaſant ſtate, Delamere re-
mained in Norfolk, where he had hid him-
ſelf from the enquiries of his father and
from the importunities of his mother, who
was now, with her eldeſt daughter, ſettled
again in Berkley Square. Here he nou-
riſhed inveterate reſentment againſt Fitz-
Edward : and finding it impoſſible to
forget Emmeline, he continued to think
of her as much as ever, but with indig.
nation, jealouſy and rage.
· He had, immediately on receiving, as
he believed, a confirmation of all thoſe
fufpicions with which the Crofts' had ſo
artfully


192
E M M E LINE,
artfully inſpired him, reſolved to demand
ſatisfaction of Fitz-Edward; and hearing
on enquiry that he was in Ireland, but
his return immediately expected, he waited
with eager and reſtleſs uneaſineſs till the
perſon whom he had commiſſioned to in-
form himn of his return ſhould ſend notice
that he was again in London.
Week after week, however, paſſed away.
He ſtill heard, that tho' expected hourly
Fitz-Edward arrived not. Time, far from
ſoftening the aſperity with which his
thoughts dwelt on this ſuppoſed rival,
ſeemed only to irritate and inflame his re-
ſentment ; and ingenious in tormenting
himſelf, he now added new anguiſh to
that which corroded his heart, by ſup-
poſing that Emmeline, aware of the dan-
ger which threatened her lover from the
vengeance of his injured friend, had writ-
ten to him to prevent his return. This
idea was confirmed when the agent whom
he employed to watch the return of Fitz-
Edward al length informed him that he
had obtained leave of abſence from his
regiment,


194 : EMM E LI NE,
10
He ſet out therefore, attended only by
Millefleur, and gave Lord Montreville
no notice of his intention till he reached
Holyhead; from thence he wrote to his
Lordſhip to ſay that he had received an
invitation to viſit ſome friends at Dublin,
and that he ſhould continue about, a
month in Ireland. His pride prompted
him to do this, leaſt his father, on hear-
ing of his abſence, ſhould ſuppoſe that he
was weak enough to ſeek a reconciliation
with Emmeline, whoſe name he now never
mentioned, being perſuaded that his Lord-
ſhip knew how ill ſhe had repaid an af-
fection, which, tho' he could not diveſt
himſelf of, he was now aſhamed to acknow-
ledge.
Lord Montreville, happy to find he
had really quitted her, was extremely
glad of this ſeaſonable journey; which,
as the Crofts' afſured him Emineline was
on the point of leaving England, would
he thought prevent his enquiring whither
the was gone, and by introducing him
into a new ſet of acquaintance, turn his
thoughts


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 195
thoughts to other objects and perfect his
cure.
• While Delamere then was travelling to
Ireland in purſuit of Fitz-Edward, Mrs.
Stafford and Einmeline left Southampton
on a viſit to Lady Adelina in the Iſle of
Wight, being deſirous of delivering little
Williain into the arms of his mother and
his uncle. Tho' it was now almoſt the
end of January, they embarked in an open
boat with the ſervant who waited on the
child; but being detained 'till almoſt noon
on account of the tide, it was evening
before they reached a village on the ſhore
three miles beyond Cowes, where they
were to land.
On arriving there, they found that the
houſe of Captain Godolphin was ſituated
two miles farther. Mrs. Stafford, ever
attentive and conſiderate, was afraid that
the ſight of the child ſo unexpectedly,
might overpower the ſpirits of Lady Ade-
lina, and cauſe ſpeculation among the ſer-
vants which it was abſolutely neceſſary to
avoid. Emmeline therefore undertook to
K2 - walk


1962 мм ELINE,
walk forward, attended by a boy in the
village, who was to ſhew her the way, and
apprize Lady Adelina of the viſitor ſhe
was to expect.
Pleaſure, in ſpite of herſelf, glowed in
her boſom at the idea of again meeting
Godolphin ;-tho' ſhe knew not that he
had conceived for her the moſt pure and
ardent paſſion that was ever inſpired by a
lovely and deſerving object.
He had long ſince found that his heart
was irrecoverably gone. But tho’he ſtrug-
gled not againſt his paſſion, he loved too
truely to indulge it at the expence of Emn-
meline; and had therefore determined to
avoid her, and not to embitter her life
with the painful conviction that their ac-
quaintance had deſtroyed the happineſs of
bis. For this reaſon he did not intend
going himſelf to fetch his nephew from
Woodbury Foreſt, but had given a care-
ful ſervant directions to go thither in a
few days after that when Emmeline her-
ſelf prevented the neceſſity of the journey.
Her walk lay along the high rocks that
bounded


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 197
bounded the coaſt; and it was almoſt
dark before ſhe entered a ſmall lawn ſur-
rounded with a plantation, in which the
· houſe of Godolphin was ſituated. About :
half an acre of ground lay between it and
the cliff, which was beat by the ſwelling
waves of the channel. The ground on
the other ſide roſe more ſuddenly; and a
wood which covered the hill behind it,
ſeemed to emborom the houſe, and take
off that look of bleakneſs and deſolation
which often renders a ſituation ſo near the
ſea unpleaſant except in the warmeſt
months of fummer. A fand walk. lead
round the lawn, Emmeline followed it,
and it brought her cloſe to the windows
of a parlour. They were ſtill open ; The
looked in ; and faw, by the light of the
fire, for there were no candles in the room, .
Godolphin ſitting alone. He leaned on a
book, which there was not light enough
to read; ſcattered papers lay round him,
and a pen and ink were on the table.
Emmeline could not forbear looking at
him a moment before the approached the
K 3
door.


198 E M M E LINE,
door. She could as little command her
curioſity to know on what he was thus
deeply thinking. The boy who was with
her ran round to the kitchen, and ſent up
a ſervant to open the door ; who imme-
diately throwing open that of the parlour,
ſaid " A lady, Sir !”
Godolphin ſtarting from his reverie,
aroſe, and unexpectedly beheld the ſubject
of it.
His aſtoniſhment at this viſit, was ſuch
as hardly left him the power to expreſs the
pleaſure with which that aſtoniſhment was
mingled. " Miſs Mowbray !” exclaimed
he' Is it indeed Miſs Mowbray ?”
For a moment he ſurveyed her in ſilent
extaſy, then congratulated himſelf upon
his unhoped for good fortune; and anſwer-
ing her enquiries about Lady Adelina, he
ſuddenly feemed to recollect the papers
which lay on the table, hurried them into
a drawer, and again returning to Emmeline,
told her how happy he was to ſee her look
fo well. He thought indeed that he had
never ſeen her ſo infinitely lovely. The
ſharpneſs


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 199
ſharpneſs of the air during her walk had
heightened the glow of her complexion;
her eyes betrayed, by their ſoft and timid
glances, the partiality of which ſhe was
hardly yet conſcious; ſhe trembled, with-
out knowing why; and could hardly re-
cover her compoſure, while Godolphin,
who would truſt no other perſon to deliver
the meſſage, ran eagerly up ſtairs to ac-
quaint Lady Adelina. “My ſiſter,” cried
he, immediately returning, “ will be with
“ you inſtantly; a ſlight pain in her head
“ has kept her on the bed almoſt all day.
“ But to what do we owe the happineſs of
« ſeeing you here, when we thought you
« on the point of ſailing for France by ano-
ther route?”
Emmeline then haſtily explained the
change in their plan; adding, gravely-
“ You will have another viſitor, who can-
“ not fail of being welcome both to you
«6 and Lady Adelina. Mrs. Stafford ſtays
« with him at the village, while ſhe deſired
“ me to come on to prepare you for his
K 4 " reception,


200 EMMELINE,
« reception, and to know how you will
« have him introduced ?”
66 As my child,” anſwered Godolphin.
“ My ſervants are already prepared to ex-
"spect ſuch an addition to my family.
as Ever amiable, ever lovely Miſs Mow-
so bray !" continued he, with looks that
encreaſed her confuſion--" what obliga-
“ tions does not our little boy- do we
** not all owe you?”
At this moment Lady Adelina, who had.
been obliged to wait fome nioments to re-
cover he felf from the joyful ſurprize into
which the news of Emmeline's arrival had
thrown her, ran into the room, and em-
bracing with tranſport her lovely friend,
fighed; but unable to weep, ſat down, and
could only kiſs her hands with ſuch wild
expreſſions of rapture, that Emmeline was
alarmed leaſt it ſhould have any ill effect on
her intellects, or on a frame ever extremely
delicate; and which now had, from her
having long indulged incurable forrow,
aſſumed an appearance of ſuch languor and
weakneſs,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 201
weakneſs, that Emmeline with extreme
concern looked on her as on a beautiful
ſhadow whom ſhe probably beheld for the
laſt tiine.
She ſtood' a moment penſively gazing on?
her face. Godolphin ſaid gently to his.
fifter, who ſtill held the hand of. Einmeline
"Adelina, my love, recollect yourſelf
“ you keep Miſs Mowbray ſtanding."
" What is yet more material," anſwered:
Emmeline, ſmiling, is, “ that you keep
“ me from writing a note to Mrs. Stafford,
“ which the boy who waits here is to take
6 back to her."
Godolphin anſwered that he would go
himſelf to Mrs. Stafford, and inſtantly de-
parted"; while Emmeline began to talk to.
Lady Adelina of the immediate arrival of
her child. She at length ſucceeded in
getting her to ſpeak of him, and to weep,
extremely;, after which, ſhe grew more:
compoſed, and her full heart ſeemed re--
lieved by talking of her brother.
Her words, tho' faint, and broken by the
emotion ſhe felt, yet forcibly conveyed to
K. 5
the:


202 EMMELIN E,
the heart of Emmeline impreſſions of that
uncommon worth they deſcribed.
“ Never,” ſaid ſhe, “ can I be fuffi-
“ ciently grateful to heaven for having
“ given me ſuch a brother. 'Tis not in
“ words, my Emmeline, to do him juſtice !
“ He is all that is noble minded and gene-
“ rous. Tho' from the loſs of his vivacity
and charming ſpirits, I know too well
how deeply my unworthy conduct has.
“ wounded him; tho’I know, that by hav-
« ing fullied the fair name of our family,
“ and otherwiſe, I have been the unhappy
cauſe of injuring his peace, yet never has a
“ reproach or an unkind word eſcaped him.
" Penſive, yet always kind; melancholy,
“ and at times viſibly unhappy ; yet ever
" gentle, conſiderate, and attentive to me;
" always ready to blame himſelf for yield-
« ing to that deſpondence which he can-
« not without an effort conquer; trying to
« alleviate the anguiſh of my mind by füb-
" duing that which frequently preys on his
“ own; and now burying the memory of
my fault in compaſſion to my affliction,
“ he


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 203
he adopts my child, and allows me with-
6 out a bluſh to embrace the dear infants,
af for whom I dare not otherwiſe ſhew the
66 tenderneſs I feel.”
Emmeline, affected by this eulogium, to
which her heart warmly aſſented, was fi-
lent.
" There is," reaſſumed Lady Adelina,
" but one being on earth who reſembles
" him. It is my Emmeline! If ever two
6 creatures eminently excelled the reſt.
“ of their ſpecies, it is my friend and my
6 brother !"
Something throbbed at the heart of Em-
meline at theſe words, into which ſhe was
afraid to enquire. Her engagement 'to.
Delamere, yet uncancelled, lay like a weight
upon it, and ſeemed to impreſs the idea of
her doing wrong while ſhe thus liſtened to
the praiſes of another ; and felt that the
liſtened with too much pleaſure. She aſked.
herſelf, however, whether it was poſſible to,
be inſenſible of the merit of Godolphin?
Yet conſcious that ſhe had already thought
of it too much, ſhe wiſhed to change the:
к6 , topic


204 E MM EL IN E,
topic of diſcourſe--But Lady Adelina ſtill
purſued it.
“ Lord Weſthaven,” ſaid ſhe, “ my
“ elder brother, is indeed a moſt reſpecta.
« ble and excellent man. Equally with
“ my brother William, he inherits from
“ my father, integrity, generoſity and noble-
“ neſs of mind, together with a regularity
“ of morals and conduct, unuſual in fo
“ young a man even in any rank of life,
« and remarkable in him, who has palled
56 almoſt all his in the army. But he is,
tho' not yet thirty, much older than I
"5 am, and has almoſt always been abſent
from me; thoſe who know him better,
“ have told me, that with as many other
s good qualities as William, he has leſs
« ſoftneſs of temper; and being almoſt free
“ from error himſelf, makes leſs allowance
s for the weakneſs of others. Such, how-
" ever, has been the management of my
66 younger brother, that the elder knows
" not the truth of my circumſtances-he
“ does not even fufpect them. You may
s very poflibly fee him and Lady Weſt-
“ haven


206 EMMELINE,
Lady Adelina_" Does then any doubt re-
“ main of it?”
« An affair of that ſort,” replied Em-
meline, aſſuming as much unconcern as
fe could, “ is always doubtful where ſo
“ many claſhing intereſts and oppoſite
“ wiſhes are to be reconciled, and where ſo
“ very young a man as Mr. Delamere is
“ to decide.”
Do you ſuſpect that he wavers then?”
very earneſtly aſked Lady Adelina, fixing
her eyes on the bluſhing face of Emine-
line.
“ I really am not ſure,” anſwered fhe-
“ you know my promiſe reluctantly given,
“ was only conditionał. I am far from
“ being anxious to anticipate by firmer
“ engagements the certainty of it's being
« fulfilled; much better contented I ſhould
“ be, if he yet took a few years longer to
“ conſider of it. You, Lady Adelina,”
continued ſhe, ſmiling, “ are ſurely no
« advocate for early marriages; and Mrs.
“ Stafford is greatly averſe to them. You
4. muſt therefore ſuppoſe that what my two
6 friends


-
THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 207
-
-
-. --
“ friends have found inimical to their hap-
“ pineſs, I cannot conſider as being likely
" to conſtitute mine."
This ſpeech had the effect Emmeline in-
tended. It brought back the thoughts of
Lady Adelina from the uncertainties of her
friend to her own actual ſorrows. She
fighed deeply.
" You ſay.truly,” ſaid ſhe. “ I have no
“ reaſon to wiſh thoſe I love may precipi-
“ tately form indiſſoluble engagements; nor
w do I with it. Would to God I had not been
“ the victim of an haſty and unhappy mar-
« riage; or that I had been the only victim..
“ Emmeline,” added ſhe, lowering her
voice, now hardly audible, “ Emmeline,
“ may I aſk ?-Where is-ſpare me the
“ repetition of a name I have ſolemnly
“ vowed never to utter--you underſtand
me?”
“ I do," anſwered Emmeline, gravely,
66 He has been in Ireland ; but is now
“ I ſuppoſe in London, as the time he
“ told me he ſhould paſs there is long ſince -
s6 elapſed. I heard he was to return no:
as more


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 209
The unhappy Adelina, who notwith-
ſtanding all her efforts was devoured by an
incurable affection for a man whom the
had ſworn to baniſh froin her heart for ever,
and whoſe name her brother would not
ſuffer her to pronounce, now gave way to
an agony of paſſion which ſhe could indulge
only before Emmeline; and ſo violently
was ſhe affected by regret and deſpair, that
her friend trembled leaſt her reaſon ſhould
again forſake it's ſeat. She tried, by footh-
ing and tenderneſs, to appeaſe this ſudden
effuſion of grief; and had hardly reſtored
her to fome degree of compoſure, before
Mrs. Stafford entered the room and em-
braced moſt cordially Lady Adelina, while
Godolphin followed her with the little boy
in his arms. In contemplating the beauty
of his nephew, he had forgotten the miſery
of which his birth had been the occaſion;
for with all the humanity of a brave man,
Godolphin poffeffed a ſoftneſs of heart,
which the helpleſs innocence of the ſon,
and the repentant ſorrow of the mother,
melted into more than femenine tenderneſs.
He


210
E M M E L I NE,
He carried the child to his ſiſter, and put
it into her arms
« Take him, my Adelina !” ſaid he
“ take our dear boy; and while you em-
« brace and bleſs him, you will feel all
“ you owe to thoſe who have preſerved
« him.”
Lady Adelina did indeed feel ſuch com-
plicated ſenſations that ſhe was unable to
utter a word. She could only preſs the lit-
tle boy to her heart and bedew his face with
tears. Her affecting filence and pale coun-
tenance alarmed both Mrs. Stafford and
Emmeline; and the former, willing to give
her thoughts a new turn, ſaid
“ You do not ſuppoſe, my dear friends,
“ that weintend to go back to Southampton
" to night; ſo I hope you will give us
or ſome ſupper and beds in this hoſpitable
" iſland.”
Godolphin, who had been too much
enchanted to think before, immediately
ſaw that the meaning of Mrs. Stafford's ſo-
licitudę was merely to call the thoughts of
his fifter from herſelf to her gueſts; he
feconded


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 211
ſeconded therefore this intention, by deſiring
Lady Adelina to give proper orders about
the apartments for her friends; and to take
his little boy to that which had been pre-
pared for his reception. The three ladies
therefore withdrew with the child; where
Lady Adelina ſoon recovered ſome degree
of ferenity, and was able to ſit at table while
they ſupped.
Had Mrs. Stafford been before unſuſpi-
cious of the paſſion of Godolphin for Em-
meline, ſhe would have been convinced of
it during the courſe of this evening. His
voice, his countenance, his manner, evi-
dently betrayed it; and whenever the eyes
of Emmeline were turned to any other ob-
ject, his were fixed on her face, with looks
fo expreſſive of tender admiration, yet
tempered by a kind of hopeleſs dejection,
that the moſt unintereſted obſerver could
hardly have miſtaken his thoughts.
But it was not her face, however intereſt.
ing; or her form, however graceful; that
rivetted the chains of Godolphin. He had
feen many faces more regularly beautiful,
and


212
EM ME L IN E,
and many figures equally elegant, with in-
difference. He had heard, with coldneſs,
the fineſt ſentiments uttered by the fairert
mouths; and had liſtened to the brilliant fal-
lies of faſhionable wit, with contempt. In
Emmeline, he diſcovered a native dignity
of ſoul, an enlarged and generous heart, a
comprehenſive and cultivated underſtand-
ing, å temper at once ſoft and lively, with
morals the moſt pure, and manners ſimple,
undeſigning and ingenuous. To theſe ſolid
perfections, genius had added all the lighter
graces; and nature, a form which enchant-
ing as it muſt ever have been, ſeemed to
receive irreſiſtible charms from the ſoul by
which it was informed.
All his philoſophy could not prevent his
being ſenſible of the attractions of ſuch a
woman; nor was his reſolution ſufficiently
ſtrong to enable him to ſtruggle againſt ..
their influence, even when he found he
had nothing to hope. But yielding to the
painful delight of loving her, he perſuaded
himſelf that tho' he could not conquer he.
could conceal it; and that while ſhe was
ignorant.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 213
ignorant of his paſſion it could be injurious
only to himſelf. .
His abſence and filence during ſupper
was broken only by his natural politeneſs.
After it concluded, they drew round the
fire; and the three ladies entered into one
of thoſe intereſting converſations that are,
ſo pleaſant where mutual confidence and
eſteem reign among the party.
Godolphin continued ſilent; and inſen-
ſibly fell into a train of thought the moſt
dangerous to that appearance of indifference
which he believed he could obſerve.
Looking at Emmeline as ſhe talked to
his ſiſter, and remembering all the friend-
ſhip ſhe had ſhewn her, hearing the found
of her voice and the elegance of her ex-
preſſions, he began inſenſibly to conſider
how bleſſed he might have been, had he
known her before her hand was promiſed
and her affections given to the fortunate
Delamere.
" Had it but been my lot !” ſaid he to
himſelf—" had it been my lot ! -ah, what
ss happineſs, after the fatigues and dangers .
-
“ of


214 EMM EL IN E,
“ of my profeſſion, to return to this place
66 which I love ſo much, and to be received
" by ſuch a friend ſuch a miſtreſs-fuch
“ a wife as ſhe will make!” He indulged
theſe ideas, 'till abſolutely loſt in them, he
was unconſcious of every thing but their
impreſſion, and ſtarting up, he ſtruck his
hands together and cried
" Merciful heaven !-and can it then
$6 never be!"
Alarmed at the ſuddenneſs of an excla-
mation ſo cauſeleſs, Lady Adelina looked
terrified and her friends amazed.
“What? brother-what are you ſpeak-
« ing of?” enquired ſhe.
“ I beg your pardon,” ſaid Godolphin,
inſtantly recollecting himſelf, and bluſhing
for this unguarded ſally--" I beg your
“ pardon. I was thinking of ſome buſi-
“ neſs I have to ſettle; but I do not de-
“ ſerve to be forgiven for ſuffering my
“ mind in ſuch company to dwell on any
“ thing but the pleaſure I enjoy; and for
“ yielding to a fooliſh cuſtom I have ac-
“ quired of uttering aloud whatever is im-
o mediately


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 215
“ mediately in my mind; an habit,” added
he, ſiniling, “ that has grown upon me by
“ living fo much alone. Since Lady
“ Adelina is now fixed with me, I hope I
6 ſhall ceaſe to ſpeak and think like an
( hermit, and be again humanized. Ade-
“ lina, my love, you look fatigued.”
“ Ah!” replied ſhe, “ of what fatigue
“ can I be ſenſible when with thoſe who I
“ moſt love and value; and from whom,
“ to-morrow-to-inorrow I muſt part !”
" I doubt that extremely,” ſaid Godol-
phin, trying to carry the converſation en-
tirely from his own ſtrange behaviour. “ If
“ I have any ſkill in the weather, to-
“ morrow will bring a gale of wind, which
“ will opportunely make priſoners of our
“ twº fair friends for another day.”
“ How infinitely,” cried Lady Adelina,
* ſhall I be obliged to it.
The riſing of the wind during the whole
evening had made Godolphin's conjecture
highly probable. Mrs. Stafford, impatient
to return to her children, whom ſhe never
willingly left wholly in the care of ſervants,
heard


216
E M M E LI NE,
heard it's encreaſing violence with regret.
Emmeline tried to do ſo too; but ſhe
could not prevail on herſelf to regret a cir-
cumſtance likely to keep her another day
with Lady Adelina and her little boy. She
wanted too to ſee a little of this beautiful
iſland, of which ſhe had heard ſo much;
and found ſeveral other reaſons for wiſhing
to remain, without allowing herſelf to ſup-
poſe that Godolphin had on theſe wilhes
the ſmalleſt influence.
---
СНАР.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 21"
CH A P T E R
X
TARLY the next morning, Emmes
line aroſe, and looking towards the
ſea, ſaw a ſtill encreaſing tempeſt gather-
ing viſibly over it. She wandered over
the houſe; which tho’not large was chears
ful and elegant, and the fancied every
thing in it bore teſtimony of the taſte and
temper of it's maſter. The garden charmed
her ſtill more, ſurrounded by copſe, wood,
and evergreens, and was equally adapted to
uſe and pleaſure. The country behind it,
tho' diveſted of it's foliage and verdure,
appeared more beautiful than any ſhe liad
ſeen ſince the left Wales; and with un-
common avidity ſhe enjoyed, even amid
the heavy gloom of an impending ſtorm,
the great and magnificent ſpectacle af:
forded by the ſea. By reminding her of
her early pleaſures at Mowbray Caſtle, it
brought back a thouſand half-obliterated
Vol. III. Le
and


2:18
E M M E L I NE,
and agreeable, tho’ inelancholy images ;
and its grandeur gratified her taſte for the
ſublime.
While ſhe was indulging theſe contem-
plations, the wind ſuddenly blew with aſto-
piſhing violence; and before Mrs. Staf-
ford aroſe, the ſea was become ſo tem-
peſtuous and impracticable, that eagerly
as ſhe wiſhed to return to her children ſhe
could not think of braving it.
Godolphin had ſeen Emmeline wander-
ing along the cliff, and had refolutely de-
nied himſelf the pleaſure of joining her ;
for from what had paſſed the evening be-
fore, he began to doubt his own power to
forbear ſpeaking to her of the ſubject that
filled his heart.
They now met at breakfaſt; and Emme. .
line was charmed with her walk, tho’ſhe had
been driven froin it by the turbulence of the
weather, which by this time had ariſen to
a hurricane. When their breakfaſt ended,
Mrs. Stafford followed Lady Adelina, who
wanted to conſult her on ſomething that
related to the little boy; Godolphin went
- out


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 219
out to give ſome orders; and Emmeline
retired to a bow window which looked
towards the fca.
Could ſhe have diveſted her mind of it's
apprehenſions that what formed for her
a magnificent and ſublime ſcene brought
ſhipwreck and deſtruction to many others,
The would have been highly pleaſed with a
fight of the ocean in it's preſent tremen-
dous ſtate. Loft in contemplating the aw-
ful ſpectacle, ſhe did not ſee or hear Godol-
phin ; who imagining ſhe had left the
room with his ſiſter, had returned, and
with his arms croſſed, and his eyes fixed
on her face, ſtood on the other fide of the
window like a ſtatue.
The guft grew more vehement, and
deafened her with it's fury; while the
mountainous waves it had railed, burſt
thundering againſt the rocks and ſeemed
to ſhake their very foundation. Emmė.
line, at the picture her imagination drew of
their united powers of deſolation, ſhud-
dered involuntarily and fighed.
L 2
66 What


220 E M M £ L IN E,
- What diſturbs Miſs Mowbray ?" ſaid
Godolphin.
Emmeline, unwilling to acknowledge
that ſhe had been ſo extremely abſent, as
not to know he was in the room, anſwered,
without expreſſing her ſurprize to ſee him
there . I was thinking how fatal this,
66 ſtorm which we are contemplating, may,
“ be to the fortunes, and probably the
s lives of thouſands.”
“ The gale," returned Godolphin, “ işi
« heavy, but by no means of ſuch fatal
“ power as you apprehend. I have been
“ at ſea in ſeveral infinitely more violenta,
" and ſhall probably, be in many others.”
" I hope not,” anſwered Emmeline,
without knowing what ſhe ſaid " Surely
66 you do not mean it?"..
" A profeſſional man,” ſaid he ſmiling,
and flattered by the eagerneſs with which
the ſpoke," has, you know, no will of
“ his own. I certainly ſhould not ſeek
" danger; but it is not poſſible in ſuch,
5 ſervice as ours to avoid it.”
“ Why then do you not quit it?”
66 If
.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 221
*** If I intended to give you a high idea
* of my prúdence, I'fhould fay, becauſe I
* am a younger brother. But to fpeak
« 'honeſtly, that is not my only inotive;
« my fortune, limited as it is, is enough
6 for all my wifhes, and will probably
“ fuffice for any I ſhall not ever form;
“ but a man of ny age ought not ſurely
1166 to waſte in torpid idleneſs, or trifting
« diffipation, time that may be ufefully
" employed. Beſides, I love the profeſſion
" to which I have been brought up, and,
5.6. by engaging in which, I owe a life to
w my country if ever it ſhould be called
6c for.”
" God forbid it ever ſhould !” faid Em--
meline, with quickneſs; “ for then,” con-
tinued ſhe, heſitating and bluſhing, “ what
66 would poor Lady Adelina do ? and what
a would become of my dear little boy ?”
• Godolphin, charmed yet pained by this
artleſs expreſſion of fenfibility, and thrown
almoſt off his guard by the idea of not be-
ing wholly indifferent to her, anſwered
mournfully~"" To them, indeed, my life
- L3
“ may


222 EMMELINE,
“ may be of ſome value; but to myſelf
“ it is of none. Ah, Miſs Mowbray! it
“ might have been worth preferving had
“I- But wherefore preſume I to trouble
“ you on a ſubject ſo hopeleſs? I know
• not what has tempted me to intrude
“ on your thoughts the incoherencies of
~ a mind ill at eaſe. Pardon memand
« ſuffer not my folly to deprive me of
“ the happineſs of being your friend,
“ which is all I will ever pretend to."
He turned away, and haſtened out of
the room ; leaving Emmeline in ſuch con.
fuſion that it was not 'till Mrs. Stafford
came to call her to Lady Adelina's dreſs-
ing-room, that ſhe remembered where ſhe
was, and the neceſſity of recollecting her
ſcattered thoughts. When they met at
dinner, ſhe could not encounter the eyes
of Godolphin without the deepeſt bluſhes.
Lady Adelina, given wholly up to the
idea of their approaching ſeparation, and
Mrs. Stafford, occupied by uneaſineſs of
her own, did not attend to the fingularity
of her manner.
The


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 223
Tas no
The latter had never beheld ſuch a tem-
peſt as was now raging; and ſhe could not
took towards the ſea, whoſe high and foam-
ing billows were breaking ſo near themy,
without ſhivering at the terrifying recol-
lection, that a very few hours her children,
all ſhe held dear on earth, would be ex-
poſed to this capricious and furious ele-
ment. Tho' of the ſteadieſt reſolution in
any trial that merely regarded herſelf, the
was a coward when theſe dear objects of
her fondneſs were in queſtion; and the
could not help expreſſing to Mr. Godols
phin ſome part of her apprehenſions.
“ As I have gained ſome credit,” an-
fwered he, “ for my fagacity in foreſeeing
" the gale, I inight perhaps as well not
as hazard the loſs of it, by another pro- -
• phecy, for which you, Lady Adelinay
« will not thank me. It will be fine, I,
56 ain afraid, to-morrow.”
" And the day following we embark
5 for France,” ſaid Mrs. Stafford; “how
o providential that we could not fail yeſ-
a terday.”
114 6 Your


THE ORPHÁN OF THE CASTLE. 225
caſt down ; but he could not find that
they expreſſed any diſpleaſure at his offer.
He therefore aflured Mrs. Stafford that lie
fhould conſider it as a pleaſurable ſcheme
with a party to whom he was indifferent.
« But when," added he, “ it gives me
" the means of being of the leaſt uſe to
" yout, to Mifs Mowbray, and your chil-
“ dren, I ſhall find in it not only pleafure
6 but happineſs. Alas! how poorly it
" will repay the twentieth part of the obli-
“ gation we owe you!"
It was fettled therefore that Mr. Godol.
phin was to croſs the channel with them.
Again Emmelinë tried to be ſorry; and
again found herſelf incapable of feeling
any thing but ſatisfaction in hearing that
he would be yet longer with them.
: During the reſt of the evening, he tried
to aſſume a degree of chearfulneſs; and did.
in ſome meaſure feel it in the proſpect of
this farther temporary indulgence.
· Lady Adelina, unable to conceal her
concern, drooped without any effort to imi-
L 5 - tate


226 EMMELINE,
tate him; and when they parted for the
night, could not help deploring in terms of
piercing regret their approaching ſepara-
tion.
The aſſurances Godolphin had given
them of a favourable morning were ful-
filled. They found that tho' there was yet
a conſiderable ſwell, the wind had ſubſided
entirely, and that they might fafely croſs to
Southampton. The boat that was to con-
vey them was ready; and Emmeline could
not take leave of Lady Adelina without
ſharing the anguiſh which ſhe could not
mitigate. They embraced filently and in
tears; and Emineline preffed to her heart
the little boy to whom ſhe was tenderly at-
tached.
Godolphin was a ſilent ſpectator of this
melancholy farewel. The ſoftneſs of Em-
meline's heart was to him her greateſt
charm, and he could hardly help repeat-
ing, in the words of Louis XIV " She
“ has ſo much ſenſibility that it muſt be
“ an exquiſite pleaſure to be beloved by
“ her!”
He


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 227
He ſighed in remembering that ſuch
could not be his happineſs; then wiſhing to
ſhorten a ſcene which fo violently affected
the unſettled ſpirits of Lady Adelina, he
would have led Mrs. Stafford and Emme-
line away ; but Lady Adelina inſiſted on
following them to the ſhore ; ſmiled thro'
her tears; and promiſed to behave better..
Silently they walked to the ſea ſide. Mrs.
Stafford haſtily embracing her, was handed
into the boat by Godolphin; who then ad-
vancing with forced gaiety to Emmeline,
about whom his fifter ſtill fondly hung,
faid" Come, come, I muſt have no
“ more adieus—as if you were never to
“ nieet again.”
« Ah! who can tell,” anſwered Lady
Adelina, “ that we ever ſhall.”
Emmeline ſpoke not; but kiſſing the
hand of her weeping friend, gave her own
to Godolphin; while Lady Adelina, reiting
on the arm of her woman, and over-
whelmed with ſorrow, ſuffered the boat to
depart.
It rowed ſwiftly away; favoured by the
L 6
tide,
Vn


228 EMMELIN E,
tide. Lady Adelina remained on the ſhore
as long as ſhe could diſtinguiſh it; and then
Nowly and reluctantly returned to folitude
and tears; while her two friends, attended
by her brother, landed ſafely at Southamp-
ton, where he buſied himſelf in ſettling
every thing for their departure the next
morning in the packet which they had
hired, and which now lay ready to receive
them.
During their paſſage to Havre, which
was ſhort and proſperous, the attention of
Godolphin was equally divided between
Mrs. Stafford, her children, and Emmeline.
But when he aſſiſted the latter to leave the
veſſel, he could not forbear preſſing her to
his heart, while in a deep figh he bade
adieu to the happineſs of being with her ;
for he concluded the would not long re-
main fingle, and after ſhe was married he
determined never more to truft himſelf
with the dangerous pleafure of beholding
her.
He had never inentioned the name of
Delamere ; and knew not that he was re-
turned


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 229
turned to England. Having once been
aſſured of her engagement, he was unable
to enquire into the circuinſtances of what
had deſtroyed his happineſs. He knew
they were to be married in March, and
that Delamere had promifed to remain on
the Continent 'till that period. He doubted
not, therefore, but that Emmeline, in com-
pliance with the entreaties of her lover, had
conſented to accompany Mrs. Stafford to
France, and by her preſence to charm away
the months that yet intervened ; after which
he ſuppoſed they would be immediately
united.
Notwithſtanding ſome remarks he had
made on the intereſt ſhe feemed to take in
regard to himſelf, he imputed it merely to
her general ſenſibility and to his relation-
ſhip to Lady Adelina. He ſuppoſed that
Delamere poſſeſſed her heart; and tħo' it
was the only poſſeſſion on earth that would
give him any chance of happineſs, he envied
this happy lover without hating him. He
could not blame hiin for loving her, who
was in his own opinion irreſiſtible; nor for
having


230 E M M E LINE,
S.
having uſed the opportunity his good for --
tune had given him of winning her affec-
tions. The longer he converſed with her,
the more he was convinced that Dela-
mere, in being as he believed maſter of
that heart, was the moſt fortunate of human
beings. But tho? he had not reſolution
enough to refuſe himſelf the melancholy
yet pleaſing gratification of contemplating,
perfections which he thought could never
.be his, and tho' he could not help fome-
times betraying the fondneſs which that
indulgence hourly encreaſed, he never ſeri-
ouſly meditated on ſupplanting the happy
Delamere. He did not think that to at-
tempt it was honourable ; and his integrity
would have prevented the trial, had he ſup-
poſed it poſſible to ſucceed.
· Mrs. Stafford had at firſt ſeen with con-
cern that Godolphin, whom ſhe ſincerely
eſteemed, was nouriſhing for her friend a.
paſſion which could only ſerve to make
him unhappy. But ſhe now ſaw it's pro-
greſs rather with pleaſure than regret. She
was piqued at the groundleſs jealouſy and
raſh


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 231
U
raſh injuſtice of Delamere towards Emme-
line ; and diſappointed and diſguſted at
Lord Montreville's conduct towards her-
ſelf; ſickening at the little ſincerity of the
latter, and doubtful of the temper of the
former, ſhe feared that if the alliance took
place, her friend would find lefs happineſs
than ſplendour; and ſhe looked with par-
tial eyes on Godolphin; who in morals,
manners, and temper, was equally unex-
ceptionable, and whoſe fortune, tho' infe-
rior to his birth, was yet enough for happi-
neſs in that ſtyle of life which ſhe knew
better calculated for the temper and taſte
of Emmeline than the parade and grandeur
ſhe might ſhare with Delamere.
Godolphin had no parents to accept her'
with diſdainful and cold acquieſcence-no
fiſter to treat her with ſupercilious conde-
ſcenſion. But all his family, tho’of a rank
ſuperior to that of Delamere, would receive
her with tranſport, and treat her with the
reſpect and affection ſhe deſerved.
Mrs. Stafford, however, ſpoke not to Em-
meline of this revolution in her ſentiments, but
choſe


232 E M M E L I NE,
choſe rather to let the affair take it's courſe
than to be in any degree anſwerable for it's
conſequences. .
The hour in which Godolphin was to
leave them now approached. Unable to
determine on bidding Emmeline farewel,
he would ſtill have lingered with her, and
would have gone on with them to Rouen,
where Stafford waited their arrival. But
this, Mrs. Stafford was compelled to de-
cline ; fearing leaſt this extraordinary atten-
tion in a ſtranger fhould induce her huſ-
band to make enquiry into their firſt ac-
quaintance, and by that means lead to diſa
coveries which could not fail of being in-
jurious to Lady Adelina.
Of all that related to her, he was at pre-
fent ignorant. He had been told, that the
infant which his wife and Miſs Mowbray ſo
often vifited, was the ſon of an acquaintance
of the latter, who being obliged foon after
it's birth to go to the Weſt Indies, had ſent
it to Bath to Emineline, who had under-
taken to overlook the nurſe to whoſe care
it was commicted.
Into


234 EMMELINE,
“ ſituation, and of all that happens worth
“ her knowing.”
« We ſhall hear then,” ſaid he, forcing
a melancholy ſmile, 6 we ſhall hear when
“ you meet the fortunate, the happy Mr.
" Delamere."
“ Lady Adelina," bluſhingly replied
Emmeline, " will certainly know it if I
" ſhould meet him; but nothing is at pre-
66 ſent more improbable.”
« ?Tis now," reaſſumed Godolphin;
" the laſt week of January-February-
66 March-Ah! how ſoon March will
“ come! Tell me, how long in that
“ month may Adelina direct to Miſs Mow. :
or bray?”
:56 Mr. Delamere, Sir," ſaid. Emmeline;
gravely, “is not now in France.” .
“ But may he·not iminediately return
«r thither from Geneva or any other place:
“ Is my ſiſter, Lady Weſthaven, to be pre-
“ ſent at the ceremony?”
« The ceremony,” anſwered the, half
angry and half vexed, “ may perhaps never
" take place."
. : The


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 235
The awkwardneſs of her ſituation in re-
gard to Delamere aroſe forcibly to her mind,
and ſomething lay very heavy at her heart.
She tried to check the tears which were
filling her eyes, leaſt they ſhould be im-
puted to a very different cauſe; but the ef-
fort ſhe made to conquer her feelings ren-
dered them more acute. She took out a
"handkerchief to wipe away theſe involuntary
betrayers of her emotion, and fitting down,
audibly fobbed.
Godolphin had aſked theſe queſtions, in
that ſort of deſperate reſolution which a
perſon exerts who determines to know, in
the hope of being able to endure, the
worſt that can befal him. But he was
now ſhocked at the diſtreſs they had occa-
fioned, and unable to bear the ſight of her
tears.
“ Pardon me,” cried he, “ pardon me,
66 moſt lovely, moſt amiable Emmeline!“
“ Oh! pardon me for having given a mo-
“ ment's pain to that ſoft and ſenſible bor
“ ſom. Had I ſuſpected that a reference
“ to an event towards which I ſuppoſed
“ you
als.


236 EM MELIŃ E,
CC
“ you looked forward with pleaſure, could
“ thus affect you, I had not prefurried to
name it. Whenever it happens," added
he, after a ſhort pauſe " whenever it hap-
V pens, Delamere will be the inoſt enviable
as of human beings. And may you, Ma-
“ dam, be as happy as you are truly de-
for ferving of happineſs."
He dared nợt truſt his voice with ano.
ther word: but under prétence of fetching
a glaſs of water left the room, and having
recovered himſelf, quickly returned and
offered it to Emmeline, again apologiſing
for having offended her.
She took the glaſs from him; and faintly
ſmiling thro’ liér 'tears, ſaid in the gentleft
accents". I am not offended-I am only
“ low fpirited. Tired by the voyage, and
“ ſhrinking from the fatigue of a long
“ journey, yet you talk to me of a jour-
* ney for life, on which I may never ſet
Co out in the company you mention--and
“ ſtill more probably never undertake at
* all.”
The entrance of Mrs. Stafford, who came


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 237
to entreat, ſome directions from Godolphin,
prevented the continuance of this critical
converſation ; in which, whatever the words
imported in regard to Delamere, he found
but little hope for himſelf. He attributed
what Emmeline had ſaid to mere evaſion,
and her concern to ſome little accidental
neglect on the part of her laver which had
excited her diſpleaſure. Ignorant of the
jealouſy Delamere had conceived from the
misrepreſentation of the Crofts', which the.
ſolicitude of Emineline for the infant of Lady.
Adelina had lo immediately, matured, he
had not the moſt diſtant idea of the truth ;;
nor ſuſpected that the paſſion of Delamere,
for Emmeline, which he knew had within
a few weeks been acknowledged without
heſitation, and received with encouragea,
ment, was now become to him a ſource of
inſupportable torinent; that ſhe had left
England without bidding him adieu, or
even informing him that ſhe was gone.
The two chaiſes were now ready; and
Godolphin having placed in the firſt, Mrs.
Stafford


238 EMM E L IN É,
Stafford and her younger children, ap-
proached Emmeline to lead her to the
ſecond, in which ſhe was to accompany the
elder. He ſtopped a moment as they were
quitting the room, and ſaid " I cannot,
“ Miſs Mowbray, bid you adieu till you
6 ſay you forgive me for the impertinence
« of my queſtions
“ For impertinence?" anſwered Emme-
line, giving him her hand—“ I cannot
66 forgive you, becauſe I know not that you
« have been guilty of it. Before I go,
“ however, allow me to thank you moſt
“ fincerely for the protection you have af-
“ forded us."
“ And not one word,” cried he, * not
“ one parting good wiſh to your little
" protegé - to my poor William?” .
" Ah! I ſend him a thouſand," an-
fwered Emmeline.
66 And one laſt kiſs which I will carry
« him.” She ſuffered him to falute:
her; and then he haſtily led her towards
the chaiſe; and, as he put her in, ſaid very
folemnly-


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 239
folemnly—“ Let me repeat my wiſhes,
" Madam, that whereſoever you are,
“ you may enjoy felicity-felicity which
" I ſhall never again know; and that
6. Mr. Delamere--the fortunate Dela-
“ meremay be as ſenſible of your value
as
"
Emmeline, to avoid hearing this ſen-
tence concluded, bade the chaiſe proceed.
It inſtantly did fo with all the velocity a
French poſtillion could give it; and hardly
allowed her to obſerve the mournful coun-
tenance and deſponding air with which
Godolphin bowed to her, as the, waving
her hand, again bade him adieu!
The travellers arrived in due time ſafe at
Rouen, where Mrs. Stafford found that
her huſband had been prevented meet-
ing her, by the neceſſity he fancied him-
ſelf under to watch the early neſts of his
canary birds, of which he had now made
a large collection, and whoſe encreaſe he
watched with greater ſolicitude than the ar-
rival of his family. Mrs. Stafford ſaw with
an


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 240
calm; and he fat down on the deck,
where, after they had got a few leagues
from France, all was profoundly quiet.
Only the man at the helm and one fai-
lor were awake on board. The veſſel
glided thro' the expanſe of water ; while
the ſoul of Godolphin filed back to Em-
meline, and dwelt with lingering fondnets
on the object of all 'it's affection.
Voi. III. M
CHAP:


E M M E LINE,
CHAPTER XI.
11
геру
TMMELINE having thus quitted
England, and Delamere appearing
no longer to think of her, the Crofts,
who had brought about an event ſo de-
ſireable for Lord Montreville, thought it
time to claim the reward of ſuch eminent
ſervice.
Miſs Delamere, in meeting Lady Weſt-
haven at Paris, had ſeverely felt all the
difference of their ſituation; and as the
had repented of her clandeſtine union al-
moſt as foon as ſhe had formed it, the
compariſon between her fifter's huſband
and her own had embittered her temper,
never very good, and made her return to
England with reluctance; where ſhe knew
that ſhe could not long evade acknow-
ledging her marriage, and taking the in-
ferior and humiliating name of Mrs. Crofts.
To avoid returning was however not in
her
wee


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE 243
her power; nor could ſhe prevail on Crofts to
delay a declaration which muſt be attended
with circumſtances, to her moſt mortifying
and unpleaſant. But impatient to demand
a daughter of Lord Montreville as his
wife; and ſtill more impatient to receive
twelve thouſand pounds, which was hers
independant of her father, he would hear of
no delay; and the preſent opportunity of
conciliating Lord and Lady Montreville,
was in the opinion of all the Crofts' family
not to be neglected.
Sir Richard undertook to diſcloſe the
affair to Lord Montreville, and to party
the firſt effufions of his Lordſhip's anger
by a yery common, yet generally ſucceſsful
ſtratagem, that of affecting to be angry
firſt, and drowning by his own clamours
the complaints of the party really injured.
For this purpoſe, he waited early one
morning on Lord Montreville, and with a
countenance where ſcornful ſuperiority was
diſmiſſed for pufillanimous dejection, he
began.
"My Lord when I reflect and conſi-
M2
ss der
CO


244 E M M E L IN E,
“ der and remember the innumerable,
66 invaluable and extraordinary favours,
“ kindneſſes and obligations I owe your
:66 Lordſhip, my heart bleeds- and I la-
« ment and deplore and regret that it
" is my lot to announce and declare and
« diſcover, what will I fear give infinite
*6 concern and diſtreſs and uneaſineſs to
66 you-and my Lord "
" Whaç is all this, Sir Richard?” cried
Lord Montreville, haftily interrupting him,
-" Is Delamere married ?”
« Heaven forbid !" anſwered the hypo-
critical Crofts." Bad, and unwelcome,
66 and painful as what I have to ſay is, it
.66 does not amount, or ariſe to that misfor-
66 tune and calamity."
"Whatever it is Sir,” ſaid his Lord.
ſhip impatiently, “ let me hear it at once.
46 Is it a diſiniſſion from my office ?"
“ Never, I hope !” replied Sir Richard.
“ At leaſt, for many years to come, may
s this country not know and feel and be
56 ſenſible of ſuch a loſs, deprivation and
“ defection. My Lord, my preſent con-
os cern


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 245
.cern is of a very different nature; and I
“ do aſſure and proteſt to your Lordſhip-
w that no tinte nör intreaties nor perſua-
“ fion will eraſe and obliterate and wipe
“ away from my mind, the injury and
“ prejudice the parties have done me, by
“ thus "!
66 Keep me no longer in ſuſpenſe!””
almoſt angrily, cried Lord Montreville.
“ Mr. Crofts, my Lore; Mr. Crofts is;
• I find, married !"
“ To my daughter, Sir Richard.Is it
166 not for".
or He is indeed, my Lord ! and from this
6 moment I diſclaim, and renounce and
66 proteſt againſt him ; for my Lord "
Sir Richard continued his harangue, to
which Lord Montreville did not ſeem to
attend. He was a moment filent, and
then, ſaid
si I have been more to blame than the
6.6 parties. I might have foreſeen this..
66 But I thought Fanny's pride a ſufficient
66. defence againſt an inferior alliance..
M. 3.
« Pray


246 EMME LINE,
“ Pray Sir, does Lady Montreville know
“ of this marriage?"
Sir Richard then related all that his ſon
had told him; interlarding his account
with every circumſtance that might induce
his Lordſhip to believe he was himſelf en-
tirely ignorant of the intrigue. Lord Mon-
treville, however, knew too much of man-
kind in general, and of the Crofts' in par-
ticular, to give implicit credit to this artful
recital. But Sir Richard was now become
ſo neceſſary to him, and they had ſo many
ſecrets in common of great conſequence to
the political reputation of both, that he
could not determine to break with him.
He conſidered too that reſentment could
not uninarry his daughter; that the lineal
honours of his family could not be affected
by her marriage; and that he owed the
Crofts' fome favour for having counteracted
the indifcretion of Delamere. Determin-
ing therefore, after a ſhort ſtruggle, to facri-
fice his pride to his politics, he diſmiſſed
Sir Richard with infinitely leſs appearance
of reſentment than he expected ; and after
long


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 247
long contention with the furious and iraſ-
cible pride of his wife, prevailed upon her
to let her daughter depart without her ma-
bediction. She would not ſee Crofts, or
pardon her daughter; proteſting that ſhe
never could be reconciled to a child of
hers, who bore ſuch an appellation as
• Mrs. Crofts.” Soon afterwards, how-
ever, the Marquiſate which Lord Montre-
ville had been ſo long promiſed was to be
granted him. But his wife could not bear
that by aſſuming a title which had be.
longed to the Mowbray family, (a point
he particularly wiſhed to obtain) he ſhould
drop or render ſecondary thoſe which he
derived from her anceſtors. Wearied by
her perſecution, and accuſtomed to yield to
her importunity, he at length gratified her,
by relinquiſhing the naine he wiſhed to
bear, and taking the title of Marquis of
Montreville, while his ſon aſſumed that of
Viſcount Delamere. This circumſtance
feemed more than any other to reconcile
Lady Montreville to her eldeſt daughter,
whoſe ſurname ſhe could evade, under
M 4
the


248 EMMELINE,
the more ſatisfactory appellation of Lady
Frances. She was now therefore admitted
to her mother's preſence. Crofts received an
haughty and reluctant pardon; and ſome des
gree of tranquillity was reſtored to the noble
houſe of Mowbray-Delamere ; while the
Crofts', more elated and conſequential than
before, behaved as if they had inherited
and deſerved the fortune and ſplendor that
ſurrounded them: and the table, the build-
ings, the furniture of Sir Richard, vied in
expence and magnificence with thoſe of
the inoſt affluent of the nobility
Lord Delamere, to whom the acquiſition
of a title could offer nothing in mitigation
of the anguiſh inflicted by diſappointed
love, was now at Dublin ; where, immedi-
ately on his arrival, he had enquired for.
Colonel Fitz-Edward at the houſe of his
brother Lord Cancarryl.
As the family were in the country, and
only a ſervant in it, he could not for forne
days obtain the information he wanted. He
heard, however, that Lord Clancarryl was very
foon expected, and for his arrival he deter-
mined


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 249
1CC.
inined to wait. In this interval of ſuſpenſe,
he heard from a correſpondent in England,
that Miſs Mowbray had not only diſap-
peared from Woodfield, but had actually
quitted England; and was gone no one
knew preciſely whither ; but it was gene-
rally ſuppoſed to France.
Tho' he had ſworn in bitterneſs of heart
to drive for ever from it this perfidious:
and fatal beauty, it ſeemed as if forgetting
his reſolution, he had in this intelligence
received a new injury. He ſtill fancied that
ſhe ſhould have told him of her deſign to:
quit England, without recollecting that he
had given her no opportunity to ſpeak to
him at all.
Again he felt his anger towards Fitz-
Edward animated almoſt to madneſs; and
again impatiently ſought to haſten a meet-
ing when he might diſcuſs with him all the
miſchief he had ſuſtained.
Lord Clancarryl coming for a few
days to Dublin, found there letters from
Lord Montreville, in which his Lordſhip
beſpoke for his ſon the acquaintance of the
M 5 Clancarry!


250 EMMELINE,
ev
CO
Clancarryl family. Deſirous of ſhewing
every attention to a young man ſo nearly
connected with his wife's family, by the
marriage of her brother Lord Weſthaven
to his younger ſiſter, and related alſo to
hiinſelf, Lord Clancarryl immediately ſought
Delamere; and was ſurpriſed to find, that
inſtead of receiving his advances with
warmth or even with politeneſs, he hardly
returned them with common civility, and
feemed to attend to nothing that was ſaid.
The firſt pauſe in the converſation, how-
ever, Delamere took advantage of to en-
quire after Colonel Fitz-Edward.
“ My brother,” anſwered Lord Clan
carryl, “ left us only three days ago.”
66 For London, my Lord ?"
“ No; he is gone with two other friends
on a kind of pleaſurable tour. They
6 hired a floop at Cork to take them to
« France.”
“, To France !” exclaimed Delamere
“Mr. Fitz-Edward gone to France ?”
“ Yes,” replied Lord Clancarryl, ſome-
what wondering at the ſurpriſe Delamere
expreſſed
,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 251
expreſſed – and' I promoted the plan as
“ much as I could ; for poor George is, I
56 am afraid, in a bad ſtate of health; his
“ looks and his ſpirits are not what they
“ uſed to be. Chearful company, and
" this little tour, may I hope reſtore them.
“ But how happens it that he knew not,
“ Sir, of your return? He was perſuaded
“ you were ſtill abroad; and expreſſed
“ ſome pleaſure at the thoughts of meeting
“ you when you leaſt expected it.” .
“No, no, my Lord,” cried Delamere,
in a voice rendered almoſt inarticulate by
contending paſſions - his hope was not
66 to meet me. He is gone with far other
66 deſigns.”
" What deſigns, Lord Delamere ?"
gravely aſked Lord Clancarryl.
" My Lord,” anſwered Delamere; re-
collecting himſelf, “ I mean not to trouble
" you on this matter. I have ſome buſi-
" neſs to adjuſt with Mr. Fitz-Edward;
" and fince he is not here, have only to
“ requeſt of your Lordſhip information
! when he returns, or whither a letter may
.6 follow him?"
M 6
• Sir,"


E M M
E L IN E,
- Sir,” returned Lord Clancarryl withi
great gravity, “I believe I can anſwer for
“ Colonel Fitz-Edward's readineſs to fet-
" tle any buſineſs. you may deſire to adjuſt.
" with him; and I wiſh, ſince there is
“ buſineſs between ye, that I could name
" the time when you are likely to meet
“ him. All, however, I can decidedly
“ ſay is, that he intends going to Paris,
" but that his ſtay in France will not ex-
“ ceed five or ſix weeks in the whole; and
" that ſuch letters as I may have occaſion
.6 to fend, are to be addreſſed to the care
“ of Monſieur de Guifnon, banker, at
« Paris.”
Delamere having received this intelli-
gence, took a cold leave; and Lord Clan-
carryl, who had before heard much of his
impetuous teinper and defective education,
was piqued at his diſtant manner, and re-
turned to his houſe in the country without
making any farther effort to cultivate his
friendſhip.
Debating whether he ſhould follow Fitz-
Edward to France or wait his return to Ire-
land,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 253
land, Delamere remained, torn with jea.
louſy and diſtracted by delay. He was.
convinced beyond a doubt, that Fitz-Ed-
ward had met Emmeline in France by her
own appointment. “ But let them not,”.
cried he—“ let them not hope to eſcape
“ me! Let them not ſuppoſe I will relin-
“ guiſh my purpoſe 'till I have puniſhed
their infamy or ceaſe to feel it !-Oh,
“ Emmeline! Emmeline! is it for this I
« purſued for this I won thee!”
The violence of thoſe emotions he felt
after Lord Clancarryl's departure, ſubſided
only becauſe he had no one to liſten to, no
one to anſwer him. He determined, as
Lord Clancarryl ſeemed ſo certain of his
brocher's return in the courſe of ſix weeks,
to wait in Ireland 'till the end of that period,
ſince there was but little probability of his
meeting him if he purſued him to France.
He concluded that wherever Emmeline
was, Fitz-Edward might be found alſo;
but the reſidence of Emmeline he knew
not, nor could he bear a moment to think
that he might ſee them together.
The


254 E M M E L I NE,
The violence of his reſentment, far from
declining, ſeemed to reſiſt all the checks
it's gratification received, and to burn with
accumulated fury. His nights brought
only tormenting dreams ; his days only a
repetition of unavailing anguilh.
He had ſeveral acquaintance among
young men of faſhion at Dublin. With
them he ſometimes aſſociated; and tried to
forget his uneaſineſs in the pleaſures of the
table; and ſometimes he ſhunned them
entirely, and ſhut himſelf up to indulge
his diſquiet.
In the mean time, Lady Clancarryl was
extremely mortified at the account her huſ-
band gave her of Delamere's behaviour.
She knew that her brother, Lord Weſt-
haven, would be highly gratified by any
attention ſhewn to the family of his wife ;
particularly to a brother to whom Lady
Weſthaven was ſo much attached. She
therefore entreated her Lord to overlook
Delamere's petulance, and renew the invi-
tation he had given him to Lough Carryl.
But his Lordſhip, diſguſted with the recep-
en
V
tion


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 255
tion he had before met with, laughed, and
deſired her to try whether her civilities
would be more graciouſly accepted. Lady
Clancarryl therefore took the trouble to go
herſelf to Dublin; where ſhe ſo preſſingly
inſiſted on Delamere's paſſing a fortnight
- with them, that he could not evade the in-
vitation without declaring his animoſity
againſt Fitz-Edward, and his reſolution to
demand ſatisfaction-a declaration which
could not fail of rendering his purpoſe,
abortive. He returned, therefore, to Lough
Carryl with her Ladyſhip; meaning to ſtay
only a few days, and feeling hurt at being
thus compelled to become the inmate of a
family into which he might fo foon carry
grief and reſentment.
Godolphin, after his return to the Iſle of
Wight, abandoned himſelf more than ever
to the indulgence of his paſſion. He ſoothed
yet encreaſed his melancholy by poetry and
muſic; and Lady Adelina for ſome time.
contributed to nouriſh feelings too much in
uniſon with her own. He now no longer
affected to conceal from her his attachment
vn.
OW I
to


256. EMMELIN E,
to her lovely friend; but to her only it was
known. Her voice, and exquiſite taſte,
he loved to employ in ſinging the verſes
he made; and he would ſit hours by her
piano forté to hear repeated one of the many
ſonnets he had written on her who occu--
pied all his thoughts.
S
ο
Ν
Ν
Ε
Τ..
When welcome flumber ſets my ſpirit free
Forth to fictitious happineſs it flies,
And where Elyſian bowers of bliſs ariſe
I ſeem,.my Emmeline-to meet with thee!..
Ah! Fancy then, diſſolving human ties,
Gives me the wiſhes of my ſoul'to ſee ;;
Tears of fond pity fill thy ſoftened eyes ;
In heavenly harmonymour hearts agree..
Alas! theſe joys are mine in dreams alone,
When cruel reaſon abdicates her throne !
Her harſh return condemns me to complain
Thro’ life unpitied, unrelieved, unknown.
And as the dear deluſions leave my brain,
She bids the truth recur-with aggrayated pain.
hown.
But


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 259
VA
But Lady Adelina herſelf at length grew
uneaſy at beholding the progreſs of this un-
happy paſſion. His mind ſeemed to have
loſt all its ſtrength, and to be incapable of
making even an effort to ſhake off an af-
fection which his honour would not allow
him to attempt renlering ſucceſsful. His
fpirits, affected by the liſtleſs ſolitude in
which he lived, were ſunk into hopeleſs
deſpondence; and his ſiſter was every day
more alarmed not only for his peace but
for his life. She therefore tried to make
him determine to quit her, for a ſhort
abode in London; but to do that he ahfo-
lutely refuſed. Lord Clancarryl had long
preſſed hiin to go to Ireland : he had not
ſeen his eldeſt ſiſter for ſome years; and
ardently wiſhed to embrace her and her
children. · But Fitz-Edward was at her
houſe; and to meet Fitz-Edward was im-
poſſible. Lady Clancarryl, deceived by a
plauſible ſtory, which had been framed to:
account for Lady Adelina's abſence, was,,
as well as her Lord, entirely ignorant of
the ſhare Fitz-Edward had in it. They
believed


258 EM M E LINE,
believed it to have been occaſioned ſolely
by her antipathy to Trelawny, and her fear
leaſt her relations ſhould inſiſt on her again
reſiding with him : and it was neceffary
that nothing ſhould be ſaid to undeceive
them.
Godolphin had therefore been obliged to
form ſeveral excuſes to account for his de-
clining the preſſing invitations he received ;
and he found that his eldeſt ſiſter was al-
ready much hurt by his apparent neglect.
In one of her laſt letters, ſhe had men-
tioned that Fitz-Edward was gone to
France; and Lady Adelina pointed out to
Godolphin ſeveral paſſages which convinced
him he had given pain by his long abſence
to his beloved Camilla, and prevailed upon
hiin to go to Ireland. He arrived there-
fore at Lough Carryl two days after his ſiſter
had returned thither with Lord Delamere.
С НАР.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 259 -
----
--
---------
-
---
-
CH A P T E R XII.
M R . Godolphin was extremely ſur-
TV1 priſed to find in Ireland, Delamere,
the happy Delamere! who he ſuppoſed had
long ſince been with Emmeline, waiting the
fortunate hour that was to unite them for
ever. A very few weeks now remained of the
year which he had promiſed to remain un-
married; yet inſtead of his being ready to
attend his bride to England, to claim in
the face of the world his father's conſent,
he was lingering in another country, where
he appeared to have come only to indulge
dejection ; for he frequently fled from
ſociety, and when he was in it, forgot him.
ſelf in gloomy reveries.
Nobody knew why he came to Ireland,
unleſs to ſatisfy a curioſity of which nothing
appeared to remain; yet he ſtill continued
there ; and as Lord and Lady Clancarryl
were now uſed to his fingular humour, they
never


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 261
with aſtoniſhinent on a man, who on the
point of being the huſband of the moſt
lovely woman on earth, could ſaunter in a
country where he appeared to have neither
attachments or ſatisfaction. Soinetimes he
alınoſt ventured to hope that their engage-
ment was diſſolved. But then recollecting
that Lady Adelina had aſſured him the pro-
miſe of Emmeline was ſtill uncancelled, he
checked ſo flattering an illuſion, and re-
turned again to uncertainty and defpon-
dence.
On the third day after Godolphin's ar-
rival, Delamere, who intended to return to
Dublin the following morning ſave one,
joined Lady Clancarryl and her brother
in the drawing-room, immediately after
dinner.
Godolphin, on account of the expected
return of Fitz-Edward, had deterinined to
make only a thort ſtay at Lough Carryl.
He wilhed to carry with him to his own
houſe, portraits of his ſiſter and her chil,
dren; and was expreſſing to her this wiſh
65 I ſhould like to have them,” ſaid he,
inner.
.66 in


262
,
E
E
M
I N
M
L
E
LL-
" in a large miniature ; the ſame ſize as
“ one I have of Adelina.”
“ Have you then a portrait of Adelina,"
enquired Lady Clancarryl, “ and have not
" yet ſhewn it me?”
“ I have,” anſwered Godolphin; “ but
my ſiſter likes not that it ſhould be ſeen.
“ It is very like her now; but has little
“ reſemblance to her foriner pictures. This
“ is painted by a young lady, her friend.”
He then took it out of his pocket, and gave
it to Lady Clancarry).
" And is Adelina ſo thin and pale,”.
aſked her Ladyſhip, “ as ſhe is here repre-
ſented ?"
“ More fo,” anſwered Godolphin.
" She is then greatly changed. Yet
" the eyes and features, and the whole air
" of the countenance, I ſhould immediately
" have acknowledged.” Continuing to
look penſively at the picture, ſhe added,
“ 'Tis charmingly coloured ; and might
“ repreſent a very lovely and penitent
" Magdalen. The black veil, and tearful
“ eye, are beautifully touched. But why
"did


264 ÉM M E L IN E,
to her friend; and the name was in het
own hair ;--a circumſtance that inade it as
dear to Godolphin, as the likeneſs it boré
to her ſiſter: and the whole was rendered in
his eyes ineſtimable, by its being painted
by herſelf. Delamere, aſtoniſhed and pained
he knew not why, determined to hear from
Godolphin himſelf the name of the paintreſs,
returning it to him, he faid-“ A lady,
" you ſay, Sir, drew it. May I aſk her
" name ?"
Godolphin, now firſt aware of the indiſ-
cretion he had committed, and flattering
himſelf that the chryſtal had not been in-
fpected, anſwered with an affectation of
pleaſantry -- Oh! I believe it is a fecret
“ between my ſiſter and her friend, which
"I have no right to reveal ; and to
tell you the truth I teized Adelina to
“ give me the picture, and obtained it
* only on condition of not ſhewing it.”
Delamere, who had ſo often fworn to
forget her, ftill fancied he had a right to be
excluſively acquainted with all that related
to Emmeline. He felt himſelf piqued by
this


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 265
Dica
this evaſion, and anſwered ſomewhat
quickly" I know the drawing, Sir; it is
“ done by Miſs Mowbray.”
Godolphin was then compelled to an-
ſwer " that it was.”
* I envy Miſs Mowbray her charming
“ talent,” cried Lady Clancarryl. “ Pray
“ who is Mifs Mowbray?”
" A relation of Lord Delainere's," an-
fwered Godolphin ; " and a moſt lovely
" and amiable young woman.”
Delamere, whoſe varying countenance
il ſeconded his attempt to appear indifferent
on this ſubject, now grew pale, now red.
" Are you acquainted then with Miſs
ró Mowbray, Sir?” ſaid he to Godolphin."
** I have ſeen her,” replied Godolphin,
os with my ſiſter, Lady Adelina Trea
or lawny." .
· He then hurried the diſcourſe to ſome
other topic; being unwilling to anſwer any
other queſtions that related either to his
ſiſter or her friend. .
":
But Delamere, whoſe wounds bled afreſh
at the name of Emmeline, and who could
VOL. III.
not
N


266
E ,
E M
E L I N
M
not reſiſt enquiring after her of a perſon
who had ſo lately ſeen her, took the earlieſt
opportunity of ſeeking Godolphin to renew
this diſcourſe.
They met therefore the following morn-
ing in the breakfaſt parlour; and Delamere
ſuddenly turning the converſation from the
topics of the day, faid—“You are, I find, ac->
-66 quainted with Miſs Mowbray. You may
66 perhaps know that fhe is not only a rela-
* tion of mine, but that I was particularly
66 intereſted in whatever related to her.”
Godolphin, whoſe heart fluttered ſo as
almoſt to deprive him of ſpeech, anſwered
very gravely—“ I have heard ſo from Mrs.
66 Stafford.”
« Then you know, perhaps - But
"s you are undoubtedly well acquainted
56 with Colonel Fitz-Edward ?”
“ Certainly,” replied Godolphine “ He
56 was one of my moſt intimate friends."
“ Then Sir,” cried Delamere, loſing all
temper, “ one of your moſt intimate friends
86 is a villain !"
Godolphin, fhocked at an expreſſion
which


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLĖ. 267
which gave him reaſon to apprehend Lady
Adelina's ſtory was known, anſwered with
great emotion—" You will be ſo good,
w my Lord, as to explain that affertion;
66 which, whatever may be it's truth, is very
extraordinary when made thus abruptly
< to me.”
“ You are a man of honour, Mr. Godol.
* phin, and I will not conceal from you
so the cruel injuries I have ſuſtained froin
66 Fitz-Edward, nor that I wait here only
« to have an opportunity of telling him
" that I bear them not tamely.” He then
related, in terms equally warm and bit-
ter, the ſuppoſed alienation of Emme-
line's affections by the artifices of Fitz-
Edward, enumerated all the imaginary
proofs with which the invidious artifices
of the Crofts' had furniſhed him, and
concluded by aſſerting, that he had hiin-
felf ſeen, in the arms of Einmeline, a
living witneſs of her ruin and the perfidy
of his faithleſs friend.
To this detail, including as it did the
real hiſtory of his ſiſter under the falſe colours
Taro
N 2
in


68
E M M E L I NE ,
in which the Crofts' had dreſt it to miſlead
Delamere and deſtroy Emmeline, Godol-
phin liſtened with ſenſations impoflible to
be deſcribed. He could not hear without
horror the character of Emmeline thus
cruelly blaſted; yet hervindication he could
not undertake without revealing to a
ftranger the unhappy ſtory of Lady Adelina,
which he had with infinite difficulty con-
cealed even from his own family.
The fiery and impatient ſpirit of Dela-
mere blazing forth in menace and invective,
gave Godolphin time to collect his thoughts;
and he almoſt immediately deterinined,
whatever it coſt him, to clear up the repu-*
tation of Emmeline.
Tho' he ſaw, that to explain the whole
'affair muſt put the character of his ſiſter,
which he had been ſo ſolicitous to preſerve,
into the power of an inconſiderate young
man, yet he thought he might truſt to the
honour and humanity of Delamere to keep
the ſecret; and however mortifying ſuch a
meaſure appeared, his juſtice as well as his
love would not allow him to ſuffer the in-
nocent


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 269
nocent Emmeline to remain under an im-
putation which ſhe had incurred only by
her generous and diſintereſted attentions to
the weakneſs and misfortunes of another.
• But reſolutely as he bore the pain of theſe
reflections, he ſhrunk from others with
which they were mingled. He foreſaw,
that as ſoon as the jealouſy of Delamere
was by his information removed; his love,
which ſeemed to be as paſſionate as ever,
would prompt him to ſeek a reconciliation..
His repentance would probably be followed
by Emmeline's forgiveneſs and their imme-
diate union.
Farewel then for ever to all the hopes he
had nouriſhed ſince his unexpected meet-
ing with Delainere !--Farewel to every ex-
pećtation of happineſs for ever!
But tho’in relinquiſhing theſe delightful
viſions he relinquiſhed all that gave a value
to life, ſo truly did he love and revere her,
that to have the ſpotleſs purity of her name
ſullied even by a doubt ſeemed an inſup-
portable injuſtice to himſelf; and his affec-
tion was of a nature too noble to owe it's
N. 3 - fucceſs


270 E M M E L I N E ,
ſucceſs to a miſrepreſentation injurious to
it's object. That the compaſſion which had
ſaved his ſiſter, ſhould be the cauſe of her
having ſuffered from the ſuſpicious malice.
of the Crofts' and the rath jealouſy of Dela-
mere, redoubled all his concern; and he
was ſo much agitated and hurt, that with-
out farther conſideration he was on the
point of relating the truth inſtantly, had
not the entry of Lord Clancarryl for that
tiine put an end to their diſcourſe. From
this reſolution, formed in the integrity of
his upright heart, nothing could long divert
him; yet he reflected, as ſoon as he was
alone, on the violent and ungovernable
paſſions which ſeemed to render Dela-
mere, unguided by reaſon and incapable of
hearing it. He was apprehenſive that the
diſcovery, if made to him at Lough Carryl,
might influence him to ſay or do ſoinething
that might diſcover to Lady Clancarryl the
unhappy ſtory of her ſiſter ; and he thought
it better to delay the explanation 'till he
could follow Delamere to Dublin, which he
determined to do in a few days after he left
Lough Carryl.
This


THE ORP HAN OF THE CASTLE. 276
This interval gave hiin time to feel all
the pain of the ſacrifice he was about to
Inake. Nor could all his ſtrength of mind,
and firmneſs of honour, prevent his re-
luctance or cure his anguiſh.
· He was about to reſtore to the arms of
his rival, the only woman he had ever really
loved ; and whom he adored with the moſt.
ardent paſſion, at the very moment that his
honour compelled him to remove the im--
pediments to her marriage with another.
Sometimes he thought that he might at
leaſt indulge himſelf in the inelancholy
pleaſure of relating to her in a letter, what
he had done, as ſoon as the explanation
ſhould be made. But even this gratifica-
tion he at length determined to refuſe him-
ſelf.
« If ſhe loves Delamere," ſaid hè, “ The
56 will perhaps rejoice in the effect and for-
get the cauſe. If ſhe has, as I have
"" ſometiines dared to hope, ſome friend-
66 ſhip and eſteem for the leſs fortunate:
65 Godolphin, why ſhould I wound, a
“ heart fo full of ſenſibility by relating the
N 4 . “ conflicts


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 273
painful delight of thinking of Emmeline,
and to the conſcious ſatisfaction of be-
coming the vindicator and protector of her
honour even unknown to herſelf.
. Emmeline, in the inean time, unhappy in
the unhappineſs of thoſe ſhe loved, and by
no means fiattered by the proſpect of de-
pendance thro’ life, of which Lord Mon-
treville now made her ſee all the drezrineſs
and deſolation, by the careleſs and irregular
manner in which even her ſinall quarterly
ſtipend was reinitted to her, yet exerted all
her fortitude to ſupport the ſpirits of Mrs.
Stafford. Calm in the poffeffion of conſcious
innocence, and rich in native integrity and
nobleneſs of nature, de was, tho’ far from
happy herſelf, enabled to mitigate the ſor-
rows of others. Nor was her reſidence, .
(otherwiſe diſagreeable and forlorn enough,)
entirely without it's advantages. It afforded :
her time and opportunity to render herſelf
perfectly iniſtreſs of the language of the
country; of which ſhe had before only a.
flight knowledge. To the ſtudy of lan-
guages, her mind ſo fucceſsfully applied it-
N 5
felf,


274 EMMELINE,
felf, that ſhe very ſoon ſpoke and wrote
French with the correctneſs not only of a
native, but of a native well educated.
While ſhe thus ſuffered baniſhment in
conſequence of the ſucceſsful intrigues of
the Crofts' family, they enjoyed all the ad-
vantages of their proſperous duplicity; at
leaſt they enjoyed all the ſatisfaction that
ariſes from accumulating wealth and an
oftentatious diſplay of it. Sir Richard, by
the political knowledge his place afforded
him, had been enabled (by means of truſty
agents) to carry on ſuch ſucceſsful traffic in
the ſtocks, that he now ſaw hinſelf poſſeſſed
of wealth greater than his moſt fanguine.
hopes had ever preſented to his imagina-
tion. But as his fortune enlarged, his fpi-
rit ſeemed to contract in regard to every
thing that did not adminiſter to his pride
or his appetite. In the luxuries of the ta-
ble, his houſe, his gardens, he expended
iminenſe ſumns; and the aſtoniſhed world
faw, with envy and indignation, wealth,
which ſeemed to be ill-gotten, as profuſely
ſquandered. But dead to every generous and
truly


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 275
truly liberal ſentiment, theſe expences were
confined only to himſelf; and in regard to
others he ſtill nouriſhed the ſordid preju..
dices and narrow ſentiments with which he.
ſet out in life-a needy adventurer, truſting
to cunning and induſtry for fcanty and pre-
carious bread. Mr. Crofts, who had re-
ceived twelve thouſand pounds with his
wife, (whoſe clandeſtine marriage had pre-
vented it's being ſecured in ſettlement,)
uſed it, as his father directed, in gaming in
the ſtocks, with equal'avidity and equal
ſucceſs. Lady Frances, in having mar-
ried beneath herſelf, had yet relinquiſhed
none of the privileges of high birth. She
played deep, dreſſed in the extremity of
expence, and was celebrated for the whim-
ſical ſplendor of her équipages and the
brilliancy of her aſſemblies. Her huſband
loved money almoſt as well as the fame ace.
quired by theſe faſhionable diſplays of her
Ladyſhip’s taſte; but on the ſlighteſt hint
of diſapprobation, he was awed into filence :
by her ſcornful indignation; and with
af perity bade to obſerve, that tho' thé
,N6 daughter


276 EMMELIN 5
daughter of the Marquis of Montreville
had ſo far forgotten her rank as to marry
the ſon of Crofts the attorney, ſhe would
allow nobody elſe to forget that ſhe was
ſtill the daughter of the Marquis of Mon-
treville.
This right honourable eloquence ſub-
dued the plebeian ſpirit of Crofts; while
he was alſo compelled to ſubmit patiently,
leaſt Lord Montreville ſhould be offended,
and withhold the fortune he farther ex-
pected to receive. Lady Frances there-
fore purſued the moſt extravagant career
of diſſipation unchecked. She was young,
handſome, and vain; and ſaw every day
new occaſion to lament having thrown
herſelf away on Crofts: and as ſhe could
not now releaſe herſelf from him, the
ſeemed determined to render him at leaſt
a faſhionable huſband.
Mrs. James Crofts trod as nearly as ſhe
could in the footſteps of Lady Frances;
whoſe name ſhe ſeemed to take exquiſite
pleaſure in repeating, tho' it's illuſtrious
poffeffor ſcarce deigned to treat her with
common


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 277
common civility; and never on any ac-
count admitted her to any thing but her
moſt private parties, with a few dependants
and perſons who found the way to her fa-
vour by adulation. Mrs. James Crofts
however conſoled herſelf for the flights ſhe
received from Lady Frances, by parading
in all inferior companies with the names of
-her high and illuſtrious relations. And ſhe
employed rhe ſame tradeſpeople ; laid out
with them as inuch money ; and for ſome
time paid them better than Lady Frances
herſelf.
Her chariot and job horſes were diſcarded
for a faſhionable coach; her houſe at Clap-
ham, for an elegant town reſidence. She
tried-to hide the approaches of age, by
rouge; and dreſs and amuſements effectu.
ally kept off the approaches of thought;
her huſband, Nowly yet certainly was
creeping up the hill of preferment; her
daughters were certainly growing more
beautiful and accompliſhed than their mo-
ther; and Mrs. James Crofts fancied ſhe
was happy.
CHAP
ore


-
278 EMMELINE
CHAPTER XIII..
TT was now early in May; and in the
1 blooming orchards and extenſive beech:
woods of Normandy, Emmeline found
much to admire and ſomething to lament.
The Seine, winding thro’ the vale and.
bringing numberleſs ſhips and veſſels to
Rouen, furrounded by. hills fringed with
foreſts, the property of the crown, and ex-
tending even to that of Arques, formed a
rich and entertaining ſcene. But however:
beautiful the outline, the landſcape ſtill
appeared ill finiſhed. Dark and ruinous:
hovels, inhabited by peaſants frequently
ſuffering the extremes of poverty; half
cultiyated fields, wanting the variegated :
encloſures that divide the lands in England;
and trees often reduced to bare poles to
fupply the inhabitants with fewel; made.
frer recollect with regret the more luxuriant
and happy features of her native country.
The


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 279:
The earth, however, covered with graſs
and flowers, offered her minute objects on
which ſhe delighted to dwell; but the da-
red not here wander as in England far from
home. The women of the villages, who
in this country are robuſt and maſculine,
often followed her with abuſe for being.
Engliſh ; and yet oftener the villagers clat-
tered after her in their fabots, and addreſſed.
her by the name of la belle Demoiſelle. Ano.
glaiſe, with a rudeneſs and familiarity that
at once alarmned and diſguſted her.
The long avenue of fir and beech which:
led to the chateau, and the parterre, pota--
gerie, and vergeg* behind it, were therefore
the ſcenes of her morning and evening:
walks. · She felt a penſive pleaſure in re-
tracing the lonely rambles ſhe uſed to take
at the ſame ſeaſon at Mowbray Caſtle;,
and memory bringing before her the events
of the two years and an half which had
elapſed ſince ſhe left it, offered nothing that:
did not renew her regret at having bid
* Flower garden, kitchen garden, and orchard.
it's


280 E M M E LINE,
it's ſolitary ſhades and unfrequented rocks
adieu!
The idea of Godolphin ftill obtruded it-
ſelf continually on her mind : nor could
all her reſolution prevent it's obtruding
with pleaſure, tho' ſhe perpetually con-
demned herſelf for allowing it to recur to:
her at all. Lady Adelina, in her two or
three laſt letters, had not mentioned him
farther than to ſay he was in Ireland; and
Emmeline was aſhamed of ſuffering her
thoughts to dwell on a inan, whcſe prefer-
ence of her ſeemed uncertain and perhaps
accidental, ſince he had neither abſolutely
declared himſelf when preſent or ſought to
engage her favour when abſent; and tho'
ſhe was now fully perſuaded that of Dela-
mere the ſhould hear no more as a lover,
yet while her promiſe remained in his hands
uncancelled, ſhe fancied herſelf culpable
in indulging a partiality for another.
· Nor could ſhe reflect on the jealouſy.
which had tortured Delamere, and the pain
he muſt have ſuffered in tearing her from
his.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 281
V
his heart, without mingling with her reſent-
ment ſome degree of pity and ſorrow.
She was one afternoon ſitting at an open
window of the chateau, revolving in her
mind theſe reflections, when raiſing her
eyes at a ſudden noiſe, ſhe ſaw driving
along the avenue that led to it, an Engliſh
poſt chaiſe and four, preceded by a valet
de chambre, and followed by two livery
ſervants.
To thoſe who are driven by misfortune
to ſeek a melancholy afylum in a foreign
country, there is an inconceivable delight
in beholding whatever forcibly brings back
to the memory the comforts and conveni-
encies of their own. Emmeline, who had
for many weeks ſeen only the boors or the
curé of the village, gazed at Engliſh ſer-
vants and Engliſh horſes with as much avi-
dity as if the beheld ſuch an equipage for.
the firſt time. -
Inſtantly however her wonder was con-
verted into pleaſure. Lady Weſthaven
was aſſiſted out of the chaiſe by a gentle-
man, whoſe likeneſs to Godolphin con-
va
vinced


282 EMMELIN E,
vinced the fruttering heart of Emmeline
that it was her Lord; and eagerly en-
quiring for Miſs Mowbray, ſhe was im-
mediately in her arms.
As ſoon as the joy (in which Mrs. Staf-
ford partook,) of this unexpected meeting
had a little ſubſided, Lady Weſthaven re-
lated, that hearing by a letter they had
received at Paris from Mr. Godolphin, that.
Einmeline was with Mrs. Stafford in or
near Rouen, ſhe had entreated Lord Weſt-
haven to make a journey to ſee her.
“ And I aſſure you Emmeline,” added
ſhe, “ I had no great difficulty to perſuade
“ hiin. His own curioſity went as far as.
66 my inclination; for he has long wilhed
66 to ſee this dangerous Emmeline, who
66 began by turning the head of my brother,
66 and now I believe has turned the more
“ ſage one of his for Godolphin's letters
“ have been filled only with your praiſes.”
Emmeline, who had changed colour at
the beginning of this ſpeech, bluſhed more
deeply at it's concluſion. Involuntary plea-
fure penetrated her heart to hear that Godol-
phin


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 283
P
.
phin had praiſed her. But it was imme-
diately checked. Lady Weſthaven ſeemed
to know nothing of Delamere's defertion;
of the hiſtory of Lady Adelina ſhe was un-
doubtedly ignorant. How could Emme-
· line account for one, without revealing the
other? This reflection overwhelmed her
with confuſion, and the hardly heard the
affectionate expreſſions with which Lady
Weſthaven teſtified her ſatisfaction at ineet-
ing her.
.“ I truſt, my Lord,” ſaid her Ladyſhip,
" that the partiality which I foreſee you
or will feel for my fair couſin for her own
"" fake, will not be a little encreaſed by
66 our reſemblance.-Tell me, do you
66 think us ſo very much alike?”
"I never," anſwered he, 66 ſaw a
“ ſtronger family likeneſs between fiſters.
- Our lovely couſin has ſomewhat the
66 advantage of you in height.”
“And in complexion, my Lord, not-
“ withſtanding the improvement I have
66 learned to make to mine in France.”
" I ſhould not,” anſwered his Lordſhip
ſmiling,


284 E M ME LINE,
ſmiling, “ have ventured ſuch a remark.
“ I was merely going to add that you have
“ the ſame features as Miſs Mowbray,
“ with darker hair and eyes; if however
“ our charming Emmeline had a form
«« leſs attractive, I have heard enough of
“ her to be convinced that her underſtand-
“ ing and her heart juſtify all that Lord
66 Delainere or Mr. Godolphin have ſaid
« of her.”
Lady Weſthaven then expreſſed her won-
der that ſhe had heard nothing of Dela-
mere for ſome months.-". And it is moſt
aſtoniſhing to me,” ſaid ſme to Emme-
line, “ that the month of March ſhould
“ elapſe without your hearing of him.”
The diſtreſs of Emmeline now redoubled,
and became ſo evident, that Lady Weſt-
haven, convinced there was ſomething re-
lative to her brother of which ſhe was ig-
norant, deſired her to go with her into ano-
ther room.
Incapable of falſehood and deteſting con-
cealment, yet equally unwilling to ruin the
reputation of the unhappy. Adelina with her
brother's


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 285
brother's wife, and having no authority to
divulge a ſecret entruſted to her by her
friend, Emmeline now felt the cruelleſt
conflict. All ſhe could determine was, to
tell Lady Weſthaven in general terms that
Lord Delamere had undoubtedly altered
his intentions with regard to her, and that
the affair was ſhe believed entirely and for
ever at an end.
However anxious her Ladyſhip was to
know from what ſtrange cauſe ſuch a change
of ſentiments proceeded, the found Emme-
line fo extremely hurt that the forbore at
preſent to preſs the explanation. Full of
concern, ſhe was returning to the company,
having deſired Emmeline to remain and
compoſe herſelf; when, as ſhe was leaving
the room, The ſaid ,
.“ But I forgot, my dear Emmeline, to
65 aſk you where you firſt became ac-
66 quainted with Mr. Godolphin?”.
- Again deep blulhes dyed the cheeks of
the fair orphan; for this queſtion led di-
rectly to thoſe circumſtances ſhe could not
relate. . .
56 I knew


2
E,
5
x
6
1
x
:
x
:
“ I ken bin," anſwered the, fauter-
isg as the ipoke, “ at Bath.”
“ And is he,” enquired Lady Weſt-
haren, “ fo cery charming as his brother
" and his family repreſeat him?”
“ He is indeed very agreeable,” replied
the-“ very much fo. Extremely pleaſant
“ in his manner, and in his perſon very
“ like Lord Wefthaven.”
- He never told us bow be firſt became
“ acquainted with you; and to tell you the
os truth Emmeline, if I had not thought,
« indeed known, that you was engaged
" to Lord Delamere, I ſhould have thought
~ Godolphin your lover.”
This ſpeech did not ſerve to haſten the
compoſure Emmeline was trying to regain.
She attempted to laugh it off; but ſuc-
ceeded ſo ill, that Lady Weſthaven rejoined
her Lord and Mr. and Mrs. Stafford, full
of uneaſy conjectures; and Emmeline with
a ſtill more heavy heart ſoon after fol.
lowed her.
The preſſing and earneſt invitation of
Mrs. Stafford, induced her gueſts to pro-
miſe


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 287
COUN
YO
miſe her their company for ſome days.
But Lady Weſthaven was ſo aſtoniſhed at
her brother's defertion of Emmeline, and ſo
deſirous of accounting for it without find-
ing occaſion to impute cruelty and caprice
to him or imprudence and levity to Em-
meline, that ſhe took the earlieſt opportu-
nity of aſking Mrs. Stafford, with whom
the knew Miſs Mowbray had no ſecrets,
to explain to her the cauſe of an event fo
contrary to her expectations.
Mrs. Stafford had heard from Emme-
line the embarraſſment into which the
queſtions of Lady Weſthaven had thrown
- her; and with great difficulty at length
perſuaded her, that ſhe owed it to her own
character and her own peace to ſuffer her
Ladyſhip to be acquainted with the truth.
That ſhe could run no riſk in telling her
what, for the ſake of her Lord (whoſe hap-
pineſs might be diſturbed, and whoſe life
hazarded by its knowledge) the certainly
would not reveal. Beſides which motives
to ſecreſy, the gentleneſs and humanity of
Lady Weſthaven would, Mrs. Stafford
- faid,


238 E M M E LINE,
ſaid, be alone fufficient to ſecure Lady
Adelina from any poſſible ill conſequences
by her being made acquainted with the
unhappy ſtory.
Theſe arguments wrung from Emme-
line a reluctant acquieſcence. And Mrs.
Stafford related to Lady Weſthaven thoſe
events which had been followed by Dela-
mere's jealouſy and their ſeparation.
The love and regard, which on her firſt
knowledge of Emmeline Lady Weſthaven
had conceived for her, and which her ad-
mirable qualities had ever ſince encreaſed,
was now raiſed to enthuſiaſm. She knew
not (for Mrs Stafford and Emmeline were
themſelves ignorant) of the artful inifre-
preſentations with which the Crofts' had
poiſoned the mind of her brother; and was ·
therefore aſtoniſhed at his ſuſpicions and
grieved at his raſhneſs. She immediately
propoſed writing to him; but this deſign
both her friends befought her for the pre-
ſent to relinquiſh. Emmeline aſſured her
that ſhe had ſo long conſidered the affair as
totally at an end, that ſhe could not now
regret


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 289
regret it; or if ſhe felt any regret, it was
merely in reſigning the hope of being re-
ceived into a fainily of which Lady Weſt-
haven was a part. Her Ladyſhip could
not however believe that Emmeline was
really indifferent to her brother; and ac-
counted for her preſent coldneſs by fup-
poſing her piqued and offended at his be.
haviour, for which ſhe had ſo much reaſon.
Anxious therefore to réconcile them, the
ſtill continued deſirous of writing to Dela-
mere. And ſo much did her affectionate
heart dwell on the happineſs ſhe ſhould
have in re-uniting her brother and her
friend, that only the difficulty which there
ſeemed to be in vindicating Einmeline
without injuring Lady Adelina, withheld her;
and ſhe promiſed to delay writing 'till means
could be found to clear up the reputation of
the one without ruining that of the other.
Lord Weſthaven had, during his ſtay,
learnt from Mrs. Stafford the circumſtances
that had driven her and her family abroad;
and had heard them with a ſincere wiſh to
alleviate the inconveniences that oppreſſed
Vol. III.
a woman


290 E M M E LINE,
a woman whoſe manners and conduct con-
vinced him the deſerved a better fate.
Unwilling however to hold out to her hopes
that he was not ſure he ſhould be able to
fulfil, he contented himſelf with procuring
fronı Emmeline general information of the
itate of their affairs, and ſilently medi-
tated the noble project of doing good, as
ſoon as it ſhould be in his power.
Her children, for whoſe fake only ſhe
ſeemed to be willing to ſupport with pa-
tience her unfortunate lot, were objects par-
ticularly intereſting to Lord Weſthaven;
and for the boys he thought he might,
on his return to England, aſſiſt in pro-
viding. To their father, conſoling him-
ſelf in trifling follies and dirty intrigues
for his misfortunes, it ſeemed more diffi-
cult to be ſerviceable.
While theſe benevolent purpoſes en-
gaged his attention, Lady Weſthaven re-
flected with regret on her approaching
departure, which muſt divide her from
Emmeline, whoin ſhe ſeemed now to love
with redoubled affection. His Lordſhip,
ever :


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE 201
ever ſolicitous to gratify her, propoſed that
Emmeline ſhould go with them into Swit-
zerland with the Baron de St. Alpin, his
Lordſhip's uncle; who, after a life paffed
in the ſervice of France, now prepared to
retire to his native country.
The Baron had ſeen his nephew åt Paris.
He had embraced with tranſport the ſon of
a beloved ſiſter, and inſiſted on his and
Lady Weſthaven's going back with him
to his eſtate in the Pais de Vaud, as ſoon
as he ſhould have the happineſs of being
rejoined by his only ſon, the Chevalier de
Bellozane, who was expected with his regiz :
ment from Martinique. Lord Weſthaven,
on his firſt viſit to the paternal houſe of
his mother, had found there only one of
her ſiſters, who, with the Baron, were the
laſt ſurvivors of a numerous family. He
could not therefore reſiſt his uncle's earneſt
entreaties to accompany him back; and
Lady Weſthaven, who was charmed with
the manners of the reſpectable veteran and
intereſted by his affection for her Lord,
readily conſented to delay her return to
02
England


294 E M M E L IN E,...
family to St. Germains, ſhe was convinced
that Mrs. Stafford would be in a pleaſant
and advantageous ſituation; and that ſhe
ought even for the fake of her and her chil-
dren, whom Lord Weſthaven had ſo much
the power of ſerving, to yield to an arrange-
ment which would ſo much oblige him.
The chateau they inhabited was ready
furniſhed; their cloaths were eaſily re-
moved; and the Staffords and their chil-
dren fet out at the ſame time with Lord
Weſthaven, his wife, and Emmeline; who
having ſeen them ſettled at St. Germains
greatly to the ſatisfaction of Mrs. Stafford,
went on to Paris; where in about a week
they were joined by the Baron de St. Alpin,
and the Chevalier de Bellozane.
СНАР.


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE, 295
CH A P T E R
XIV.
THE Baron de St. Alpin was a vene-
1 rable ſoldier near fixty, in whom
the natural roughneſs of his country
was polilhed by a long reſidence among
the French. He was extremely good hu-
moured and chearful, and paſionately fond
of the Chevalier de Bellozane, who was the
youngeſt of three fons, the two elder of
whom had fallen in the field. The mili-
tary ardour however of the Baron had not
been buried with them; and he ſtill en-
truſted the ſole ſurvivor of his houſe and
the laſt ſupport of his hopes, in the ſame
ſervice.
With infinite ſatisfaction he embraced
this beloved ſon on his return from Marti-
nique, and with exultation preſented him
to his nephew, to Lady Weſthaven and
Miſs Mowbray. The Baron was indeed
perſuaded that he was the moſt accompliſhed
young
04


Ε
Ε,
Μ
Ν
Μ
Ι
Ε
L
young man in France, and had no notion
that every body did not behold him with
the ſame eyes.
Bellozane was tall, well made, and hand-
fome; his face, and yer more, his figure,
bore ſome reſemblance to the Godolphin
family; his manners were elegant, his air
military, his vivacity exceſſive, and he was
ſomething of a coxcomb, but not more
than is thought becoming to men of his
profeſſion in France at two and twenty.
Having lived always in the army or in
faſhionable circles at Paris, he had con-
ceived no advantageous ideas of his own
country, where he had not been ſince his
childhood. His father now retiring thither
himſelf, had obtained a long leave of ab-
ſence for him that he might go alſo; but
Bellozane would willingly have diſpenſed
with the journey, which the Baron preſſed
with ſo much vehemence, that he had
hardly time to modernize his appearance
after his American campaigns; a point
which was to him of ſerious importance.
He had therefore with reluctance looked
forward


298* EMME LINE,
During the day, however, the Chevalier
gave her no time for reflection. He waited
on her with the moſt affiduous attention,
watched her looks to prevent her Nighteſt
wilhes, talked to her inceffantly, befought
her to teach him Engliſh, and told her all
he had ſeen in his travels, and much that
he had done. A Frenchman talks without
heſitation of himſelf, and the Chevalier was
quite a Frenchman.
Too polite however for excluſive adula.
tion, Lady Weſthaven ſhared all his flat-
tery; and her real character being now
unrepreſſed by the ſeverity of her mother,
ſne, all gaiety and good humour, was ex-
tremely ainuſed with the extravagant gal-
lantry of the Chevalier and at Emmeline's
amazeinent; who having been little uſed to
the manners of the French, was ſome-
times alarmed and ſometimes vexed at the
warinth of his addreſs and the admiration
which he profeſſed towards them both.
· Lady Weſthaven aſſured her that ſuch
converſation was ſo uſual that nobody ever
thought of being offended at it; and that
Bellozane was probably ſo much uſed to
apply
wa


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 299
apply the figures of ſpeech which the
thought ſo extraordinary, to every woman
he ſaw, that he perhaps knew not himſelf
and certainly never thought of what he was
ſaying.
Emmeline therefore heard from him re-
peatedly what would from an Engliſhman
have been conſidered as an abſolute decla-
ration of love, without any other anſwer
than ſeeming inattention, and flying as ſoon
as poſſible to ſome other topic.
In the progreſs of their journey theſe
common place ſpeeches and this deſultory
gallantry was gradually exchanged for a
deportinent more reſpectful. He befought
Emmeline very ſeriouſly to give him an op-
portunity of ſpeaking to her apart; which
the with the utmoſt difficulty evaded. His
extreme gaiety forſook him—the poor
Chevalier was in love.
It was in vain he communicated his
malady to la belle couſine, (as he uſually
called Lady Weſthaven); la belle couſine
only laughed at him, and told him he had
according to his own account been ſo often
O 6


302 • EMMELINE,
IC
hood worth their curioſity. They often
left their carriages to walk, to faunter, to
dine on the graſs on proviſions they had
brought with them; and whenever a beau-
tiful view or uncommon ſcene preſented
themſelves, they ſtopped to admire thein;
and Bellozane drew ſkerches, which were
put into Emmeline's port feuille.
· As they were travelling between Mar-
ſeilles and Toulon they entered a road
bounded on each ſide by mountainous
rocks, which ſometimes receding, left be-
tween them finall but richly cultivated
vallies; and in other parts fo nearly met
each other, as to leave little more room
than fufficed for the carriage to paſs ; while
the turnings of the road were ſo angular
and abrupt, that it ſeemed every moment
to be carrying thein into the boſom of the
rock. Thro' this defile, as it was quite
Ahady, they agreed to walk.
In ſome places huge maſſes impended
over them, of varied form and colour, with-
out any vegetation but ſcattered moiles; in
others, aromatic plants and low thrubs ;
the


304 EMMELINE,
ITV
was ſurrounded, and her inind aſſociating
with it the idea of him on whom it now
perpetually dwelt, ſhe had brought Godol.
phin before her, and was imagining what
he would have faid had he been with her;
with what warmth he would enjoy, with
what taſte and ípirit point out the beauty
of ſcenes fo enchanting. . .
She had now left her companions at ſome
diſtance, yet as ſhe heard their voices ſwell
in the breeze along the defile, ſhe felt no
apprehenſion. In the narroweſt part of it,
where ſhe ſaw only ſteep craggs and the
ſky, which their bending tops hardly ad-
mitted, ſhe was ſtopped by a tranſparent
ſtream, which burſting ſuddenly with ſome
violence out of the rock, is received into a
Imall rciervoir of ſtone and then carried
away in flone channels to a village at fome
diſtance..
. While Emmeline ſtood contemplating
this beautiful ſpring, ſhe beheld in an
excavation in the mock cloſe to it, two per-
ſons fitting on a bench, which had been
rudely cut for the paſſenger to reft. One
of


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASILE. 305
of them appeared to be a man about
fifty; he wore a ſhort light coloured coat,
a waiſtcoat that had once been of em-
broidered velvet; from his head, which was
covered firſt with a red thrun night-cap,
and then with a finall hat, bound with tar-
niſhed lace, depended an immenſe quelle ;
his face, tho' thin and of a mahogany
darkneſs, ſeemed to expreſs penetracion
and good humour; and Emmeline, who
had at firſt been a little ſtartled, was no
longer under alarm; when he, on perceiving
her near the entrance of the cavern, flew
nimbly out of it, bowed to the ground, and
pulling off inoſt politely his thrum night-
cap, enquired " Si Mademoiſelle voudrez
66 bien ſe repoſer ?” *
- Emmeline thanked him, and advanced
towards the bench; from which a girl about
ſeventeen, very brown but very pretty, had
on her approach ariſen, and put up into a
kind of wallet the remains of the proviſions
they had been eating, which were only
fruit and black bread. As ſoon as the old
* If tlie young lady would pleaſe to ſit down. ,
Frenchman


306
E M M E LINE,
Frenchman perceived that Emmeline in-
tended to fit down, he ſprung before her,
bruſhed down the ſeat with his cap, and
then making ſeveral profound bows, aſſured
“ Mademoiſelle qu'elle pourroit s'aſſeoir ſans
« incommodité."*
The young woman, dreſſed like the
paiſannes of the country, was modeſtly re-
tiring; but Emmeline deſired her to re-
main ; and entering into converſation with
her, found the was the daughter of the
aſſiduous old Frenchman, and that he was
going with her to Toulon in hopes of pro-
curing her a ſervice.
The Baron and Lord Weſthaven now
approached, and laughingly reproached
Emmeline for having deſerted them. She
told them ſhe was enchanted with the ſeat
ſhe had found, and ſhould wait there for
the Chevalier and Lady Weſthaven.
" I am only grieved," ſaid ſhe, " that I
“ have diſturbed from their humble ſupper
" theſe good people.”
The two gentlemen then ſpoke to the
* That ſhe might fit down without inconvenience.
old
,


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 307
old Frenchman; whoſe countenance had
ſomething of keen intelligence and humble
civility which prejudice both in his favour.
“ Je vois bien,” ſaid he, addreſſing him-
ſelf to Lord Weſthaven, " je vois bien que
“ j'ai l'honneur de parler a un Milor An-
“ glais."*
" Eb! comment ?” anſwered his Lord-
ſhip " comment ? tu connois donc bien les
« Anglais ?”+
.Ob oui !_jai paſſé a leur ſervice une
“ partie de ma jeuneſe. Ils ſont les meil-
" leur maitres-"I
“ Parle tu Anglais, mon ami ?”S
“ Yes Milor, I ſpeak little Engiſh.
« Mais,” continued he, relapſing into the
volubility of his own language-“ Mais il
“ y’a a peu pres dix neuf ans, depuis que
« mon maitre-mon pauvre maitre mouroit.
66 dans mes bras belas !--s'il «voit vecu
* I perceive I have the honour to ſpeak to an
Engliſh nobleman.
+ How are you then well acquainted with the
Engliſh ?
I I paſſed part of my youth in their ſervice,
They are the beſt maſters in the world.
$ Do you ſpeak Engliſh, my friend?
66 Com


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 300
The old Frenchman feemed ready to
thank his Lordihip with his tears. -
Without ſolicitation or ceremony, ſeeing
that the gentlemen were diſpoſed to liſten
to him, he began to relate his " ſhort and
ſimple” ſtory.
Lady Weſthaven and the Chevalier now
arrived. But ſhe ſat down by Emmeline,
and deſired the old man to continue what-
ever he was ſaying.' ".
“ He has been praiſing our country,"
ſaid Lord Weſthaven, “ and in return I
có ain willing to hear the hiſtory of himſelf,
which he ſeems very deſirous of relating."
.“ I was in the army,” ſaid he, “ as we
« all are ; 'till being taken with a pluriſy
« at Calais, and rendered long incapable
" of duty, I got my diſcharge, and hired
“ myſelf as a travelling valet to a Milor
“ Anglais. With him (he was the beſt
56 maſter in the world) I lived - fix years.
6I went with him to England when he
“ came to his eitate, and five years after-
66 wards came back with him to France.
* He met with a misfortune in loſing une
or dame


310 .. E M M E LI NE, .
“ dame tres aimable, and never was quite
“ well afterwards. To drive away trouble,
“ pour ſe diſper, he went among a ſet of
“ his own countrymen, and I believe le
“ chagrin, and living too freely, gave him
“ a terrible fever. Une fievre ardente lui
“ ſaiſit a Milan, ſes compagnons apparem-
" ment n'amoit gueres les malades ;* for
“ nobody came near him except a young
“ ſurgeon who arrived there by accident,
« and hearing that an Engliſhman of
“ falhion lay ill, charitably viſited him.
“ But it was too late. He had already
“ been eleven days under the hands of an
“ Italian phyſician, and when the Engliſh
“ gentleman ſaw him he ſaid he had only
" a few hours to live.
“ He ſat by him however. But my
“ poor maſter was ſenſeleſs ; 'till about an
“ hour before he died he recovered his
“ recollection.
“ He ordered me to bring him two little
" boxes, which he always carried with him,
* A burning fever ſeized him at Milan ; his
companions ſeemed to have but little affection for
the fick,
" and


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 313
S.
66 of which province I was a native; but
s ſome of my family were dead, and the
“ reſt had neither power or inclination to
" alift their poor relations. The ſeigneur
or of the village had bought a poft at Paris,
66 and was about to quit his chateau. He
“ heard I was honeſt; and therefore, tho'
36 he had very little to loſe, he put ine into
it. I worked in the garden, and raiſed
6 enough, with the little wages we had, to
66 keep us. My wife learned to work, and
* my two little girls were healthy and
66 happy.
« Oui Meſſieurs, nous etions pouvre a la
« verité! mais nous étions tres contunts! *
" 'till about eight months ago; and then
« an epidemical diſtemper broke ont in
“ the village, and carried off my wife
• and my eldeſt daughter.
“ Oh, Theréſe ! et toi ma petite Suzitte, je
“ te p'eurs; encore emerement je te pleurs.”I
* Yes, gentlemen, we were indeed poor ; but we
were very, very happy!
I Oh! The cfa!--and you, my poor Suzette, I
lament ye !--- bitterly I itill deplore your loſs!
Vol. III.
Р
The


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 317
“ Milor Moubray,” anſwered Le Li-
moſin.
« Comment? Milor Mowbray?"
os Oui Milor-regardez s'il vous plait.
« Voila yon Chijfre, Henri-Charles Mou-
“ bray—et voila le cimier du famille."*
Emmeline, who no longer doubted but
this was her father's ſervant, was ſo much
affected, that Lady Weſthaven, apprehend-
ing ſhe would faint, called for artiſtance;
and the Chevalier, who during this con.
verſation had attended oniy to her, ſnatclied
up the beechen cup out of which Le Li-
mioſin and Madelon had been drinking,
and which flill ſtood on the ground, and
flying with it to the ſpring, brought it in-
ftantiy back filled with water; while Lady
Weſthaven bathed her temples and held to
her ber falts. She foon recovered ; and
then ſpeaking in a faint voice to his Lord-
fhip, faid- My Lord, this is the ſervant
66 in whoſe arms my poor father expired.
* Yes, my Lord ; be ſo good as to obſerve,
There is his cypher H. C. M, and there the family
creit.
« Do


318 EMMELINE, ..
en
“ Do allow me to intercede with your
“ Lordſhip for him and for his daughter;
but let him not know, to-night at leaſt,
“ who I am. I cannot again bear a cir-
« cumſtantial detail about my father.”
Lord Weſthaven now led Le Limofin
out of the cave; told him he had deter-
mined, as he had known his maſter's fa-
mily, to take him into his own ſervice, and
that Lady Weſthaven would provide for
his daughter. At this intelligence the poor
fellow grew almoſt frantic. He would
have thrown himſelf at the feet of his bene-
factor had he not been prevented; then
flew back to fetch his Madelon, that ſhe
might join in prayers and benedictions;
and hardly could Lord Weſthaven per-
fuade him to be tranquil enough to under-
ſtand the orders he gave him, which were
to hire ſome kind of conveyance at the next
village to carry his daughter to Toulon;
where he gave him a direction to find his
Engliſh benefactor the next day.
| It was now late, and the party haſtened
to leave this romantic ſpot, which had been
marked


THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE. 319
marked by ſo ſingular a ineeting. On their
arrival at Toulon, they equipped, and ſent
away before them to St. Alpin, Le Limoſin
and Madelon, the latter of whom Lady
Weſthaven took entirely to wait on Em-
meline.
The ſoft heart and tender fpirits of Em.
meline had not yet recovered the detail the
had heard of her father's death. A penſive
inelancholy hung over her, which the Che-
valier, nothing doubting his own perfec-
tions, hoped was owing to a growing af-
fection for himſelf. But it had ſeveral
ſources of which he had no ſuſpicion; and
it made the remaining three weeks of their
tour appear tedious to Emmeline; who
languiſhed to be at St. Alpin, where ſhe
hoped to find letters from Mrs. Stafford
and from Lady Adelina. She thought it
an age ſince ſhe had heard from the latter ;
and ſecretly but anxiouſly indulged an
hope of meeting a large pacquet which
might contain ſome intelligence of Godol-
pliin.
END OF THE THIRD VOLUME:


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