Ex LIBRIS 
 IRENE DWEN ANDREWS

 
 f 
 
 THE DAVENELS: 
 
 A CAMPAIGN OF FASHION IN DUBLIN, 
 
 *\v 
 
 w. JO 1 Wei 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 III:M;V L.-.LIM UN, NEW-BUBLINOTON-STREET.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE desire of putting a Preface to one's book, 
 is, I believe, common with most authors ; not 
 considering that the reader cares not for you or 
 your motives ; and that, whether you are " com- 
 piled by hunger and request of friends," or 
 seized with the love of fame, " that last in- 
 firmity of noble minds," or a fit of idleness 
 or of diligence any or all of these incitements 
 do not weigh a jot with the critic who yawns 
 over your performance. 
 
 But one owes it to oneself to explain one's 
 reasons and so forth, just as the members lately 
 
 2061105
 
 converted to the catholic persuasion conceived 
 themselves bound to expatiate on their reasons, 
 when they were asked merely for their votes. 
 And on consideration, I do not think I will 
 give any motives for this publication, but con- 
 tent myself with confessing that it was written 
 to be published, and published to be read. 
 One observation also I must make. I have 
 made so few allusions to the political state of 
 Ireland, that they might probably pass unno- 
 ticed; but as they are accompanied by some 
 remarks of a personal nature, I feel myself 
 called upon to say, that the work was written 
 while Ireland was agitated, and the greater 
 part of her population discontented and angry ; 
 and that the foreboding of evil into which 
 I was betrayed, by that unhappy state of 
 things, was, I hope, excusable. Most truly
 
 PHEFACE. vii 
 
 do I rejoice that it has been averted by the 
 wisdom and magnanimity of one party, and 
 the good sense and good feeling of the other. 
 To have anticipated such a blessed termination 
 to this " foul debate " would have demanded 
 more than human foresight. Even the signs 
 of the times were unfavourable. The height 
 to which revengeful passions had risen on one 
 side, had excited a fixed and angry spirit of 
 resistance on the other ; and a contest, horrible 
 in its results, seemed inevitable. What less 
 than the dove-like spirit of God, moving over 
 the troubled face of things, could have allayed 
 the ferment, and " out of evil brought forth 
 good? 11
 
 ERRATA TO VOL. I. 
 
 Page 90, line 11, for performers read performer. 
 
 151, 12, omit I think. 
 
 153, 17, omit but. 
 
 240, 10, for arranged read arrayed. 
 
 244, 12, for a Tamable read a 1'aimable. 
 
 268, 9, for tuille read tulle. 
 
 282, 20, for history read mystery. 
 
 ERRATA TO VOL. II. 
 
 Page 24, line 10, for and passed read and had passed. 
 
 72, 10, for pendent read prudent. 
 
 108, 9, the words meet this person should be initalics. 
 
 118, 12, for by read under. 
 
 152, 12, for were read where. 
 
 188, 13, before with what face insert and. 
 
 224, 3, for consequently read consequent. 
 
 232, 19, for Mrs. Wykeham read Mr. Wykeham.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 And all this tract that fronts the falling sun, 
 A noble peer of mickle trust and power 
 Has in his charge, with tcmperM awe to guide 
 An old and haughty nation. MILTON. 
 
 EVERY one knows that the Irish are the most 
 easily excited to enthusiasm of any people in 
 the world. I do not speak of that lasting fervour 
 which leads to great deeds, but of a more im- 
 petuous, but short-lived feeling, which blazes 
 like stubble and then expires, leaving scarcely 
 a wreck behind. Such a species of enthusiasm 
 is excited generally once every five years, that * 
 being the usual period for the arrival of a new 
 Lord-Lieutenant at the castle of Dublin; and 
 VOL. i. B
 
 2 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 what with new aid -de -camps, new liveries, and 
 new hangings, the whole town is in an uproar, 
 and stands tiptoe on expectation. The shops 
 are supplied afresh, though already overstocked 
 with goods, and the starving manufacturers are 
 induced to bear starvation a little longer, by the 
 hope of employment arising out of the new 
 changes at the vice-regal court. 
 
 At the time we are about to treat of, their 
 Excellencies had been arrived about three 
 months, but had lived in a sort of eastern se- 
 clusion up to the exhibition of a drawing-room ; 
 when, for the first time, they were to gladden 
 the curious eyes of the fashionable world at 
 large : though a few of the highest rank had 
 been propitiated by previous dinners, with a view 
 to conquer the reluctance which those who have 
 been presented at the court in London always 
 betray, to going through the ceremony at that 
 of the viceroy. 
 
 The first sign of life exhibited, was on the 
 occasion of the Lord-Lieutenant's first levee,
 
 THE DAVENKLS. 3 
 
 which, from the almost unprecedented crowd, 
 was called by one of the witlings with which 
 Dublin abounds, the levy en masse. His Excel- 
 lency had professed himself the friend of all 
 parties and favourer of none a declaration 
 calculated to disgust both ; as favour, not jus- 
 tice, is the object of all who enroll themselves 
 under the banners of party. But fortunately for 
 the viceroy's popularity, each gave him credit 
 for opinions more congenial to their own. The 
 Catholics, willing once more to augur some good 
 to their cause, whispered that he was well 
 known to lean that way : while the ultra Pro- 
 testants declared loudly that he was a staunch 
 friend to the Protestant Ascendency. He, mean- 
 while, thought more of his 30,000 a-year, and 
 such portion of patronage as the English cabi- 
 net allowed him to retain, than of the views or 
 wishes of either party. 
 
 But what have novel-writers, or novel-readers 
 to do with party, and party-spirit? From this mo- 
 ment we disclaim the word the thing. Wave 
 
 B*2
 
 4 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 we, therefore, all the feelings which they denote, 
 or excite, and commenfons par le commencement 
 de notre histoire : the first scene of which takes 
 place in the spacious and showy suite of rooms, 
 where, under a canopy, stood the gracious 
 and very handsome representatives of royalty ; 
 receiving in rapid succession all the rank, 
 fashion, and beauty, then assembled in Dub- 
 lin : and if in the two first of those requisites of 
 a court, Ireland must yield to the metropolis of 
 the Empire, it cannot be denied that in the 
 last the daughters of Erin may challenge the 
 world for competitors. 
 
 The new aid-de-camps were the subject of 
 some speculation amongst the knowing mothers 
 and chaperons. Two of them were honourables, 
 and though but younger sons, were of high 
 families, and each was reported to be heir in 
 reversion to the estate of a collateral branch 
 or the elder brother was said to be in bad health 
 or not likely to marry, owing to a disappoint- 
 ment in love, poor young man or he was deep-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 5 
 
 !y attached where marriage was not likely to 
 follow or, in short, any thing but the truth. 
 A third was a young baronet, whose estate was 
 exaggerated, and his debts unknown : the 
 fourth was plain Captain Villiers. But if his 
 name gave no expectations, his appearance 
 soon excited a very general spirit of enquiry 
 amongst the younger part of the female world, 
 made, however, with that air of perfect indif- 
 ference which young ladies can throw into the 
 countenance and manner when they would 
 ask questions, merely for information. Captain 
 Villiers came clearer out of the trial than the 
 enquirers had dared to flatter themselves, though 
 slow was the progress towards the truth : each 
 fair inquisitor being more disposed to keep to 
 herself than to circulate whatever she could 
 discover of the birth, fortune, and expectations 
 of our hero. Notwithstanding this deep arti- 
 fice on the part of so many, Captain Villiers's 
 qualifications could not long remain a secret, 
 and it was soon pretty generally understood
 
 6 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 that he was the eldest son of the late Lord 
 Henry Villiers, who was a younger brother of 
 the Duke of St. Evreraond; but the duke's 
 next brother had left a son, before whose name 
 in the peerage the enviable star was placed, 
 which marked presumptive heirship ; not mar- 
 ried certainly ; but to assume that a young man 
 of four-and- twenty was to remain single all his 
 days, was a flight of imagination not to be in- 
 dulged in. Several, however, mothers as well 
 as daughters, were contented to take Captain 
 Villiers as he was. Such a high connexion, 
 and an English connexion, was not to be re- 
 jected; one could not say what might happen, 
 and he was sure of getting on in the world. 
 
 It is a melancholy truth, that Dublin has, 
 since the Union, sunk into a mere garrison 
 town, in which the young ladies depend almost 
 wholly for fashionable partners, whether for the 
 dance or for life, upon the influx of officers 
 from England. But the officers themselves, in- 
 tending to meet but half those expectations,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 7 
 
 land on her syren shores, clad in a complete 
 panoply of worldly prudence, derived from the 
 advice of mothers, the forewarning of former 
 regiments, and the well-known fate of some in- 
 dividuals of more fashion than fortune, who, 
 having been caught by the beauty and naive 
 manners of some portionless fair one, were now 
 adding to the throng of English fashionables 
 abroad for want of money to enjoy the expen- 
 sive comforts of their own country. 
 
 It must be owned that Dudley Villiers had 
 weighed but very little the hackneyed arguments 
 against making an Irish match; being guarded, 
 as he thought, more securely by a complete 
 dislike of any shackles, until years and know- 
 ledge of the world should enable him to choose 
 a wife. What a misapplied word ! As if any 
 man chooses a wife. Know, fond man, there is 
 no choice left for you. She falls to you as 
 necessarily as the card which the juggler has 
 fixed on, while he seems to lay the whole pack 
 at your disposal.
 
 8 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Besides," said Villiers, " I cannot afford to 
 marry ; so that settles the point." He had not 
 calculated whether he could afford to fall in 
 love. It may seem that I am betraying my 
 hero too soon ; but as he would be a rare hero 
 indeed, if he did not fall in love, I believe I 
 have not anticipated the conjectures of my 
 reader, by hinting that mine did not escape the 
 common lot of mankind. 
 
 The drawing-room of the evening on which 
 I begin my story, has been so well described in 
 the newspapers of that day, that it would be 
 superfluous to dwell now upon the details. 
 The urbanity of their Excellencies, the beauty 
 of the ladies, the abundance and excellence of 
 the refreshments, or the length of the Lady 
 Mayoress's tabinet train. Indeed it would 
 have been unpardonable in her to have stinted 
 in that article, as the Lord Mayor, who was a 
 warm-hearted, liberal old man, desired her to 
 choose the handsomest and richest of those 
 embroidered in gold, which his wareroom con-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 9 
 
 tained ; it being a fine opportunity to show off 
 that beautiful Irish manufacture to the English 
 strangers. 
 
 There are several circles of fashion in Dublin; 
 but that which is uppermost is so limited, that 
 it would hardly supply the numbers requisite 
 for any thing more than a petit souper, without 
 some alloy from the second circle; the compo- 
 nent members of which are far from suspecting 
 that they do not form an integral part of the 
 highest. It is amusing, therefore, to see how 
 these last contrive, one cannot tell how, to seat 
 themselves at the drawing-rooms, in a phalanx 
 so impenetrable, that the others cannot intrude ; 
 or should they fearlessly or artlessly have placed 
 themselves within the magic pale, they soon 
 find, by the whispering conversation from 
 which they are excluded, and the hardy flirta- 
 tions which are carried on in a style they dare 
 not imitate, that they are not placed to their 
 own satisfaction, and they remove to more con- 
 genial society. 
 
 BO
 
 10 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 But, as the drawing-room is open to all per- 
 sons of a certain rank, however ungraced by 
 fashion, there is to be met there a still lower 
 circle than the genteeler private society would 
 acknowledge ; and here I must describe what I 
 conceive to be the relative positions of these cir- 
 cles; and, if it was not wholly unprecedented, 
 I should accompany the description by an en- 
 gfaving to illustrate my meaning. I am also de- 
 terred by an apprehension that such an engrav- 
 ing might be mistaken for a lesson in astronomy, 
 and so frighten away those dear young readers, 
 who have left those lessons too recently to 
 relish the view of any thing which could recall 
 them. 
 
 The circles then are not enclosed one within 
 the other; they may better be represented as 
 piled one above the other, forming a pyramid 
 of circles; the highest being much the smallest, 
 and the upper disk of the second encroaching 
 a little on the lower disk of the first, the third 
 invading in like manner upon the second, and
 
 THE DAVENELS. 11 
 
 so down to the lowest. With the lowest, how- 
 ever, the first can have no intercommunication, 
 except at the Castle entertainments, where 
 they are compelled, not only to breathe the 
 same atmosphere, but sometimes to come in 
 absolute contact with them, when endeavouring 
 to approach the well-covered tables of refresh- 
 ment. Great is the care of the exquisite on 
 such occasions to seem unconscious of the ex- 
 istence of the unhallowed vulgar one, and most 
 grating to the feelings of all the ascendancy, to 
 see how unconscious the new Lord and Lady 
 Lieutenant seem of those shades of distinction, 
 and how cordially his Excellency receives a 
 Catholic barrister, or how politely her Excel- 
 lency enquires of his wife, how long she has been 
 in town ? One lady, whose large family, and 
 the professional duties of her husband kept 
 almost constantly in Dublin, very innocently 
 answered, ten years, madam. 
 
 But the scene, though like the world it in- 
 volves its heart-burnings, its disappointments,
 
 12 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 and its repinings, has, like the world also, its 
 gaieties, its hopes, and its excitements, for the 
 younger part of the crowd ; and all went home, 
 if not equally pleased, yet nearly equally tired ; 
 and many of them to return to it on the fol- 
 lowing Thursday, when a ball and supper were 
 to be held by her Excellency. To this, all 
 who had graced the drawing-room could not 
 be invited ; and the feelings of those who were 
 not, differed materially, it may be supposed, 
 from those of the chosen : but so ingenious is 
 human nature in finding out causes of unea- 
 siness for itself, that even some of the favour- 
 ed persons were discontented, because they 
 conceived that too great an alloy had been 
 admitted of the baser metal. Still the ball was 
 gay and pleasant. The great number of bright 
 military uniforms which enliven the balls at 
 the Castle of Dublin, are far more showy than 
 even the ribbands blue, red, and green, with 
 their appropriate stars, which decorate those 
 conducted into the royal presence : and, as the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 13 
 
 season is there of shorter duration than in 
 London, and the dissipation, even for the time, 
 is less intense, the young ladies have, it must 
 be allowed, a purer bloom, and less languid 
 spirits. All further comparison would seem 
 invidious ; for what place can cope with Lon- 
 don, in the riches, rank, and numbers which 
 compose its society? and where those abound, 
 accomplishments and cultivation of mind will 
 receive a higher polish than a provincial ca- 
 pital can give. 
 
 The crowd was immense : dancing com- 
 menced, and Cupid hovered around, but found 
 no moment favourable for his purposes ; or his 
 shafts fell harmless turned aside sometimes 
 by an impenetrably well-stuffed coat, formed 
 like an ancient breast-plate ; or, though sent 
 from the lips of Hebe, the sounds emitted by 
 those lips betrayed the subdued accents of 
 Connaught or Tipperary, and were repelled by 
 the fastidious ears to which they were ad- 
 dressed.
 
 14 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 The most provoking circumstance of the 
 evening, and one which excited a general feel- 
 ing of disapprobation, (though it was a kind 
 of union in partition,) was the airs Captain 
 Villiers was said to give himself. He paid no 
 attention to any lady ; and even when con- 
 versing with men, there was a coldness, a stiff- 
 ness, which was not by any means prepossess- 
 ing. But, however provoked, the young ladies 
 were not to be intimidated by such a manner, 
 especially in such a man ; nor were there want- 
 ing devices to charm him into the circle of 
 gaiety. We need not enumerate the persons 
 who failed ; it would wear out the alphabet. 
 
 Lady A , Mrs. B -, Miss C ; but, 
 
 Mrs. O'Brien will serve as a specimen. Hav- 
 ing most successfully married off her three 
 eldest daughters, she now brought out her 
 fourth ; a pretty looking girl, with an air of in- 
 nocence and ignorance of the world, which 
 were to be very attractive. She was dressed 
 with great simplicity ; and had the appearance
 
 THE DAVENELS. 15 
 
 of having outgrown her clothes : she was per- 
 petually pulling them up on her shoulders, 
 which would, in spite of her efforts, make their 
 appearance; and her petticoats were rather 
 shorter than the fashion demanded. Mrs. 
 O'Brien affected to scold her for her little awk- 
 ward ways; and frequently occupied herself in 
 settling some part of her dress ; her daughter 
 looking all the time as if she was unconscious 
 what her mother was about, and talking over 
 her shoulder to some one behind her. Mrs. 
 O'Brien would then say to any man near her, 
 " I declare, that child no more knows how she 
 is dressed, or what to put on ! if I did not 
 watch her, I really believe she would go out 
 half naked." A gentleman to whom she said 
 this one evening, remarked, that her mother's 
 care seemed to be thrown away. 
 
 Mrs. O'Brien was piqued to conquer Captain 
 Villiers's reserve. She addressed the chamber- 
 lain, with whom she was intimate : " Pray,
 
 16 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 does Captain Villiers mean to stand all night 
 like a stick, without dancing ?" 
 
 The chamberlain smiled, for it was a part of 
 his office to smile, whenever a lady spoke to 
 him ; but answered in a confidential tone, " I 
 really do not know but, I am inclined to think 
 he has not engaged himself to dance ; perhaps 
 he may in the course of the evening." 
 
 " Do now," said she in a coaxing tone, "just 
 ask him, would he like to dance?" and, glanc- 
 ing back at her daughter, *' you can offer to 
 present him you know." 
 
 The chamberlain, who was not unused to 
 these delicate commissions, merely gave her 
 a look expressive of the tenderest friendship, 
 and then took a circuitous route to where Vil- 
 liers stood. He passed him a few steps, speak- 
 ing to various persons as he went ; then, as if 
 he suddenly thought of it, he turned back to 
 him, and Mrs. O'Brien could perceive that he 
 spoke ; and that in consequence of something
 
 THE DAVENELS. 17 
 
 he said, Villiers moved his eyes in the direction 
 where she was with her Miranda. His lips 
 moved in reply, but so slightly, that they could 
 have formed but one syllable; and to judge 
 from his countenance, that was a negative. 
 The chamberlain moved on without encoun- 
 tering Mrs. O'Brien again ; and she took her 
 daughter on her arm, and passed close under 
 the eyes of our hero, without looking at him ; 
 but Miranda, with the utmost naivete, looked 
 up in his face as she passed, and turned her 
 head back to gaze at him. He was speaking 
 at the time to another aid-de-camp, the honour- 
 able Somerset Hardynge, a very young man 
 the reverse of Villiers in colour and character. 
 
 " A pretty innocent looking girl," said he ; 
 " do you know her?" 
 
 " No ; I have just declined the honour of 
 being presented to her as a partner, by the 
 chamberlain." 
 
 " What a savage you must be!" said Har- 
 dynge, laughing; " I'll profit by your lazi-
 
 18 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ness:" and following Mrs. O'Brien and her 
 daughter, and not waiting for the form of 
 introduction, which he thought could not be 
 necessary with an Irish girl, he bowed, first 
 to the mother, and then asked Miss Miranda 
 to dance. She twisted and writhed like a 
 child that is uncertain whether to accept the 
 toy that is offered it, until her mother said, 
 " You may dance, my dear, with Captain Har- 
 dynge." He was a tall, fair-haired, gentle- 
 manly-looking young man, with a very ani- 
 mated manner ; and he and Miss Miranda got 
 on, as the phrase is, amazingly. Mrs. O'Brien 
 then walked about, telling every one how con- 
 founded poor Miranda was at Captain Har- 
 dy nge's admiration ; and nobody believed her, 
 though nobody had the rudeness to tell her 
 so.
 
 19 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Yet to the beauteous form he was not blind, 
 Tho' now it moved him as it moves the wise, 
 
 AMONGST the persons of fashion whom the 
 prospect of amusement had brought to Dub- 
 lin, were Mr. and Lady Hortensia Davenel, and 
 their two daughters. The eldest had already 
 seen two seasons in Dublin, and some of the 
 London world the summer before ; and had 
 spent three years in Paris with some relations : 
 and the whole family had spent the last sum- 
 mer on the Continent : and being connected 
 with some of the first families in Ireland, were
 
 20 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 qualified to form part of the more immediate 
 Court or Castle circle. The second daughter, 
 Frederica, was formed by nature to be the 
 ornament of society; but, it is too certain, 
 that nature, which has so large a share in the 
 education of young persons in Ireland, cannot 
 bestow that charm de convenance, called tour- 
 nure, which it would be difficult to define, but 
 which all persons conversant with the bean 
 monde, discern at a glance. Frederica was 
 naturally graceful ; but to be naturally any 
 thing, is not sufficient in these times, of what 
 Mrs. Malaprop might truly call ingenuity and 
 artifice; yet, it would be hard to define what 
 she wanted : perhaps, there was rather a re- 
 dundancy her manners might be too gracious, 
 from a disposition to oblige, which no com- 
 merce with the world had as yet chilled into 
 selfishness. That she was beautiful, was al- 
 lowed by all who had seen her in the domestic 
 circle, where alone she had as yet moved ; and 
 many said it was a pity to take her out until
 
 THE DAVENELS. 21 
 
 she went to London. But Mr. DavenePs Irish 
 heart would not permit this abandonment of 
 his native land ; and Lady Hortensia, whose 
 father, the late Earl of Poyntstown, had lived 
 in splendid hospitality at his fine place in the 
 north of Ireland, shared the feelings of her 
 husband ; and, as her girlish days had known 
 no higher festivity than Dublin at that time 
 afforded, she did not like to have the scheme 
 considered as inferior to any degree of merit. 
 But it was not thought necessary to present 
 more than one daughter at the drawing-room 
 of the present year. Frederica was but little 
 more than seventeen, and might go into society 
 for a year at least, without that exhibition. 
 The fame of her beauty, however, or perhaps 
 some mistake of the chamberlain, was the 
 cause of Lady Hortensia receiving a card for 
 herself and the Miss Davenels ; and as Frede- 
 rica was to appear at other places, there could 
 be no objection to her going to the Castle. 
 There was a little triumph too in her being
 
 22 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 invited without the trouble of a presentation ; 
 and she was considered by all impartial ob- 
 servers there as unrivalled in beauty and grace. 
 
 But it is no longer the fashion for a he- 
 roine to refuse coronets by the score, the mo- 
 ment she makes her appearance ; and none 
 was offered to Frederica, though more than one 
 young lord-expectant had the happiness of 
 dancing with her. Sir Martyn Saunders, the 
 young baronet we mentioned, was also amongst 
 her partners, and even paid her particular at- 
 tention; but it was only because she seemed 
 likely to be the fashion ; for nil admirari, 
 might have served for his motto. He did not 
 suppose she had fortune enough to content, 
 his creditors ; and he was grown cautious ever 
 since a mistaken speculation on that subject, 
 had involved him in the disagreeable neces- 
 sity of jilting a young lady of rank in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Dudley Villiere was not disposed to dispute 
 Frederica's claims to beauty, and even to a
 
 THE DAVENELS. 23 
 
 certain degree of elegance ; but he felt no 
 desire to enter the lists with the crowd. He 
 had seen too much of the world to think beauty 
 .(and he was sure she possessed nothing else) 
 the chief requisite in a woman ; and it was 
 safer as well as easier to talk with some mar 
 ried woman, who though neither very young 
 nor very handsome, was fashionable, knew the 
 London world, and would talk and save him 
 the trouble of doing Vaimable. 
 
 He stood for a considerable time near Lady 
 Clara Reeve, who sat with her back towards 
 him, but talked to him incessantly over her 
 shoulder. As Frederica passed near her, she 
 put up her glass, and said aloud : " She is very 
 handsome, certainly ; she has not been so much 
 over praised, as country beauties generally are : 
 her aunt, Lady Poyntstown, did so talk of her, 
 that I was preparing for a disappointment." 
 
 " Her sister is a nice girl too," said Villiers. 
 
 " Yes I remember seeing her in Paris with 
 the Poyntstowns. I assure you, she was very
 
 24 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 much the thing : I wonder they did not keep 
 her there ? Don't you dance ?" 
 
 "I'll waltz with you, if you'll do me the 
 honour." 
 
 " And you won't be presented to the beauty?" 
 said she, rising and preparing for the waltz. 
 
 " I may, in time," said Villiers ; " but I feel 
 so awkward, when I am first presented to a very 
 young lady." 
 
 " Yes, you are very awkward indeed ; I give 
 you credit for that piece of modesty." 
 
 " I assure you, I am in earnest. What can 
 one talk to her of, before she has seen any 
 thing? and compliment is dangerous ground." 
 
 " Oh ! if you must compliment ; but I don't 
 think that is your foible." 
 
 " One never dreams of paying compliments 
 to a woman of sense." 
 
 " I am to thank you then for the implied 
 compliment, in never flattering me." 
 
 " You would think me a coxcomb if I did," 
 said Villiers; though he knew very well she
 
 THE DAVENELS. 25 
 
 would do no such thing ; and they joined the 
 waltzers. 
 
 Frederica, new to the world, felt uncomfort- 
 able at the insolence of Lady Clara Reeve, 
 though it was in the form of praise ; and seeing 
 a very handsome man joining in observations 
 upon her, though she could not hear what 
 he said, did not make it less embarrassing, 
 
 " How ill-bred !" was her mental remark, 
 as she went with her partner into the next 
 room, to look for Lady Hortensia. She had 
 been dancing with Lord Poyntstown's son, 
 Lord Annamult ; who seeing that she was sen- 
 sible of the stare of Lady Clara, said : " You 
 must not mind her, she 's a privileged person ; 
 the man talking to her is Captain Villiers, one 
 of the aid-de-camps ; a very fine man, I assure 
 you, and reckoned as proud as Lucifer." 
 
 " I wish the English would not come over, 
 to show they despise us," said Frederica ; 
 " why can't they give the Lord-Lieutenant 
 Irish aid-de-camps?" 
 
 VOL. i. c
 
 26 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Oh ! he brings whom he likes." Just then 
 Mrs. O'Brien came up, and said, in an affected 
 tone, to Lord Annamult, " Do you know where 
 my Miranda is?" but, before he had time to 
 profess his ignorance, she added : " I am so 
 afraid of her behaving foolishly in so novel a 
 scene to her 'tis mighty foolish to bring girls 
 out so young." 
 
 She passed on, and Lord Annamult laughed, 
 and said to Frederica : " At that rate, I am 
 come out at a very tender age; for Miss Mi- 
 randa and I used to be measured when we were 
 both seven years old, to try which was the 
 tallest ; and there will be some dancing at Ard- 
 laken next August, to celebrate my coming of 
 age ; however, I'll not 'peach." 
 
 Mrs. O'Brien sought her Miranda in every 
 groupe of men in the room ; and at length, 
 finding her waltzing with great zeal, with an 
 officer, her mind was more at ease, and she 
 half laughed, as she told her sufferings to those 
 near her.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 27 
 
 " What a retired, backward sort of man that 
 Captain Villiers is," said she: " I don't think 
 he has been presented to a girl since he came 
 to Dublin." 
 
 " That is a provoking quality in him," said 
 Miss Annesley ; " perhaps he expects the young- 
 ladies to be presented to him." 
 
 Miss Annesley and her younger sister had 
 been going out some years, and the eldest had 
 energy, and decision, and independence of cha- 
 racter. Their mother was dead, and having no 
 female relation, whom they wished to invest 
 with the office of chaperon, Miss Annesley 
 boldly assumed the privilege of a married wo- 
 man, to which she good humouredly said her 
 years entitled her, and with her sister she went 
 into society under the protection of her own 
 experience. 
 
 " He '11 expect long enough," said Mrs. 
 O'Brien, " before my child shall be presented 
 to him. But if I could see him speaking to
 
 28 THE DAY EN ELS. 
 
 any one I know, I'd have him presented to 
 myself, and I'd give him a card for Monday. 
 One doesn't care, you know, provided a man 
 looks well in a ball-room." 
 
 " Indeed," said Miss Annesley, " he'd look 
 well I fancy anywhere ; and, as you say, no 
 ball-room can look the worse for his being in 
 it." 
 
 Then going up to Lady Hortensia, Mrs. 
 O'Brien said : " My dear Lady Hortensia, I 
 hope I shall see you, and both your pretty 
 daughters on Monday." Lady Hortensia was 
 beginning an evasive reply, but Mrs. O'Brien 
 stopped her, saying, " Indeed now, that must 
 not be one of your stay-at-home evenings. 
 I assure you, I expect their Excellencies, at 
 least all the Household ; and, believe me, there 
 is no one I should be so sorry to miss as you ; 
 always excepting Lady Poyntstown, who you 
 know I was always so fond of. Indeed, I'm 
 quite a fool about her."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 29 
 
 " How needless to particularize," whispered 
 Miss Annesley to Lord Annamult ; " yet there 
 is method in her folly too." 
 
 " That Captain Villiers, that they all think 
 so handsome," said Mrs. O'Brien, " strikes 
 me as an odd looking man. Do you know, 
 I am told he laid a wager when he was coming 
 to Ireland, that he would not dance, or speak 
 to a girl while he staid in Dublin." 
 
 " That is insufferable," said Miss Annesley, 
 " if I thought that was the case, I 'd attack 
 him myself." 
 
 " He has lost his wager already," said Lord 
 Annamult, " for I heard him say very to Lady 
 Isabella Floyd." 
 
 " I am sure I don't know why he should 
 give himself more airs than the other aid-de- 
 camps," said Mrs. O'Brien, " they all dance. 
 I never saw a more gentlemanlike young man 
 than Captain Hardynge," and she went to 
 another groupe. 
 
 As soon as supper was over, Lady Hortensia,
 
 30 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 who never staid late any where, announced to 
 her party her intention of going home, and 
 being collected from the different parts of the 
 room, the Davenel-party, well shawled and 
 tippeted, proceeded down the stairs. 
 
 Henrietta Davenel had spent her evening 
 much to her satisfaction ; she had danced with 
 a marquis; a circumstance she told Mr. 
 Davenel with an important toss of her head. 
 She was handsome, with a decided air of fa- 
 shion; but the soul which illumined Frederica's 
 countenance, was wanting in her sister's. 
 
 " Henrietta," said Lady Hortensia, after the 
 party were in the carriage, " who was your 
 last partner? the little boy? You should never 
 dance with a boy, you are too tall for that." 
 
 " Mamma," said Henrietta, " that was the 
 Marquis of Claversham;" but she did not say 
 it with all the spirit with which she had an- 
 nounced it to Mr. Davenel. 
 
 Frederica laughed, and said : "I was near 
 saying he was very small to be a marquis."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 31 
 
 " He might be called a marquisette," said 
 Mr. Davenel ; " but small as he is, I am afraid 
 lie will never be taller, for I am told he has 
 finished his studies at Oxford." 
 
 Henrietta did not like to lose the feather 
 she had gained, by dancing with the little 
 marquis; but not knowing what to say for 
 him, she made the usual remarks upon the 
 heat, the crowd, and the mixture of ranks 
 always to be found at the Castle parties. 
 
 " I hope you had a pleasant ball, young 
 ladies," said their attendant, as she helped 
 them to undress ; " but, my gracious ! how on 
 the earth did this happen?" looking at the 
 usual and unavoidable discoloration of their 
 flounces. 
 
 " Very easily, I should think," said Miss 
 Davenel. " Remember, that we have been 
 dancing, Harris." 
 
 "Why, then isn't it a shame for them 
 housemaids at the Castle not to sweep the
 
 32 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 floors better. Them flounces that 1 put on 
 with my own hands, so new and clane " 
 
 Finding, however, that she could not excite 
 either indignation or concern, she changed her 
 subject, and said : " And how was the Miss 
 Lennox's drest? they have but an unhandy 
 doll of a maid. I am told they pay mints of 
 money to the dressmakers." 
 
 " They were very fine, I assure you," said 
 Miss Davenel. 
 
 " For all that, I dare say they weren't as 
 much admired as ye botli ; to say nothing of 
 Miss Frederica." 
 
 Henrietta loved her sister, but she could not 
 behold the striking beauty of her face and 
 figure, and the effect they produced, with- 
 out some female alarm ; while Frederica 
 would not allow herself to enjoy the superiority, 
 and was really pained by any preference shown 
 to herself. Mrs. Harris seldom failed by her 
 remarks to annoy both sisters, while she hoped
 
 THE DAVENELS, 33 
 
 to flatter both. A sudden silence, which en- 
 sued, brought to her mind some confused 
 notion of the inference to be drawn from her 
 last speech ; and she added : 
 
 " To be sure, every one has their taste, and 
 I may have mine ; and I defy you to say I ever 
 told you which I thought the handsomest." 
 
 " It does not signify, Harris," said Frederica, 
 rather impatiently; " but we are both equally 
 sleepy, and if you look so much at the state of 
 that dress, we shan't be in bed this hour." 
 
 " How am I looking at the dress?" said 
 Harris, turning round with a face of displea- 
 sure, and keeping the dress in her hand ; " is 
 it after sitting up for you to this hour, and my 
 eyes roasted out of my head, that I am to be 
 spoken to in this manner." 
 
 The sisters, accustomed to this irascibility 
 of temper in this their otherwise devoted Abigail, 
 merely looked at each other, and prepared for 
 repose; but even this silence was, in her mind, 
 more offensive than a fair opportunity of ex-
 
 34 THE DA YEN ELS. 
 
 ploding some of the ill humour which two 
 hours of solitude by their fire had engendered. 
 Seeing, however, that no explanation, as she 
 would have called it, was likely to take place, 
 she began to retreat, muttering as she slowly 
 opened and closed the door : 
 
 " A person may put their eyes upon sticks, 
 and after all get no thanks for it; but its 
 always the way, when people " &c. Sec. 
 
 The rest was lost in the distance, as she re- 
 tired to her own room.
 
 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 In various talk the instructive hours were passM, 
 Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last. POPE. 
 
 THE next day, between four and five o'clock, 
 as Sir Martyn Saunders was riding up the 
 narrowest part of Nassau-street, he met the 
 Honourable Reginald Wharton, one of his 
 freres d'armes, and though they Jived too much 
 together to feel any want of each other's society, 
 yet each hating to ride alone, there was an im- 
 mediate draw up; and " where are you going 
 to?" and, " where are you?" 
 
 " I am going to call on Lady something 
 Davenel," said Sir Martyn. " I danced with 
 one of the daughters last night."
 
 36 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " I believe I danced with one of them/' 
 said Wharton. " I suppose I had better go 
 with you." On turning round, his horse, al- 
 ready impatient at the pause amidst the throng 
 of carriages and horses, plunged, kicked a 
 carriage which was drawn up at a shop near 
 them, and splashed the ladies within, whose 
 exclamations of horror, expressed in strong 
 Dublin accents, were wholly disregarded by 
 the courteous aid-de-camps; they, unconscious 
 or indifferent, rode on towards Merrion Square, 
 and continued their conversation. " Which 
 of the Miss Davenels did you dance with ?" 
 said Wharton. 
 
 " With the prettiest." 
 
 " Aye she would be the prettiest, but she 
 has not as much tournure as her sister." 
 
 " I am afraid that is her least want," said 
 Sir Martyn. " I believe they are both poor." 
 
 " Poor or rich is all the same to me," said 
 Wharton. " I am too poor myself to think of 
 either of them ; but when one must dance, it
 
 THE DAVENELS. 37 
 
 is more agreeable and creditable to dance with 
 a pretty girl than with an ugly one." 
 
 " The eldest is handsome too," said Sir 
 Martyn, " and has what you admire, tournure, 
 and all that sort of thing ; and by the way," 
 as if a sudden thought struck him, " why 
 should they be poor? I never heard of any 
 brother ; and if the estate is not entailed, they 
 must be heiresses." 
 
 " Who knows any thing about Irish estates," 
 replied Wharton ; " debts and lawsuits swallow 
 them all up." 
 
 Sir Martyn could get no information in this 
 quarter. On coming to Mr. Davenel's, two of 
 those ragged imps, who besiege every door in 
 Dublin, started up with an offer to " hould 
 their honour's horses/' which was accepted ; 
 both the aid-de-camps having been long enough 
 in Dublin to know they might rely on the good 
 faith and care of those itinerant grooms ; who 
 are, in fact, idle only for want of employment,
 
 38 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 and are ever on the watch for an accidental job 
 which will procure them a few pence. 
 
 Having ascertained that Lady Davenel 
 
 was at home, the gentlemen entered the draw- 
 ing-room. Wharton was tall and slight; and 
 though not even approaching to handsome, 
 looked like a gentleman : but not even the gay 
 uniform of an aid-de-carnp could divest Sir 
 Martyn of a certain je ne sais quoi which na- 
 ture usually impresses on a postillion. His 
 round bullet of a head, slightly covered with 
 reddish hair, and the concomitant foxy whiskers 
 and eyebrows, gave un air commun to his in- 
 expressive countenance. 
 
 Lady Hortensia and Miss Davenel were both 
 seated, apparently at some idle employment, 
 and both very elegantly dressed. The gentle- 
 men were courteously but ceremoniously re- 
 ceived ; and having ascertained that Frederica 
 and Mr. Davenel were gone out on horseback, 
 they endeavoured to be contented. Miss Da-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 39 
 
 venel fell to the lot of Sir Martyn. Wharton, 
 being perfectly indifferent whether he took the 
 mother or daughter, turned to Lady Hortensia, 
 and the usual laborious kind of light conver- 
 sation took place ; each person endeavouring to 
 say something, which though not absolutely 
 foolish, might, without compromising the speaker 
 as a wit, have appeared in the public prints the 
 next day. 
 
 " Do you go to the review to-morrow ?" 
 
 " I don't know. I fear we shall be tired 
 after Lady Rosstrevor's ball." 
 
 " Oh! is it a ball?" 
 
 " I fancy so. She generally gives one about 
 this time of the year." 
 
 " How hot it was at the Castle last night/' 
 said Lady Hortensia, wishing to say something 
 new. 
 
 " O mamma," said Miss Davenel, " the heat 
 here is not worth mentioning : recollect how we 
 felt it in London in the month of June. I am
 
 40 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 sure one night, at the Duke of Devonshire's, I 
 thought I should have fainted." 
 
 This gave a sudden spur to Sir Martyn's 
 ideas. He might now speak of London, the 
 balls, the opera, Almacks. The Lady did not 
 shrink from the subject. She had been at all ; 
 and her aunt Poyntstown had been at Almacks 
 one particular night when the Duke of Welling- 
 ton was refused admittance after the canonical 
 hour ; but that was long before she went out ; 
 but her aunt had told her what a fuss it had 
 made. 
 
 " Do their Excellencies go to the theatre 
 soon ?" 
 
 " They are expected, I believe, to go some 
 night ; but they have so many engagements on 
 their hands ; however, I suppose after Patrick's 
 night they will do something about it." 
 
 At this moment the Miss Annesley's were 
 announced. They enlivened the scene at present 
 very much. The usual slight form of presen-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 41 
 
 tation being performed by Lady Hortensia, the 
 gentlemen and they found themselves at liberty 
 to converse ; and in a few minutes all was ease 
 and good humour. Miss Davenel had writhed 
 gracefully round the room, until she came to a 
 seat she approved of, and then she sank into it, 
 looking as if she had conferred a favour on the 
 company. 
 
 People, not things, are now the daily topics. 
 Abstract ideas can have no place in fashionable 
 conversation. To press a great many names 
 into your discourse to touch upon the most 
 trivial events which have occurred to a number 
 of high people, so as to show by inference that 
 you are lie with them, (for direct boasting 
 would be vulgar,) is the surest way to be list- 
 ened to and valued in society. 
 
 " I met the Chancellor when I was going out 
 to ride this morning," said Wharton. " He 
 told me he was going to sit for his picture." 
 
 " He'll make a fine picture," said Lady Hor- 
 tensia.
 
 42 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " I told him he ought to go to London, and 
 sit for Lawrence ; but he said he could not 
 endure to lose his whole summer vacation in 
 London." 
 
 " It is sitting for posterity, indeed, to sit to 
 Lawrence," said Miss Annesley ; " he keeps 
 you twenty years in doing." 
 
 " I should never have patience," said Sir 
 Martyn. " I would not sit to him if he would 
 make me a present of the picture." 
 
 " Such a compliment from Sir Thomas Law- 
 rence might induce you," said Miss Annesley. 
 
 " O ay ! but its a compliment he'll no more 
 pay than I shall accept of, I believe." 
 
 " I am told he has been taking Lady Clara 
 Reeve's picture these ten years," said Whar- 
 ton, " and it is not half finished." 
 
 " What do you think of Lady Clara Reeve?" 
 said Henrietta. 
 
 " I don't think her the least handsome, if 
 you mean that," said Sir Martyn.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 43 
 
 " But is not she very agreeable?" 
 
 "Is she?" 
 
 " You know her," to Miss Annesley " what 
 do you think?" 
 
 " I cannot think her so. T believe she does 
 not want for esprit, but she has more self-will 
 than talent ; and any person who is regardless 
 of the feelings of others in society, cannot, I 
 think, be reckoned agreeable." 
 
 " Her sister, Lady Isabella Floyd, is a nice 
 girl,'' said Wharton. 
 
 " Yet Lady Clara affects to consider her as 
 an inferior kind of person," said Miss Annes- 
 ley, " and is openly displeased with any one 
 who praises her." 
 
 " How very odd !" said Henrietta ; for she 
 never committed herself further in censuring 
 people of fashion. She was one of those who 
 are called good-natured because their indigna- 
 tion is never roused by any thing short of 
 house-breaking, or such vulgar crimes as are 
 seldom committed by any but the lower orders
 
 44 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of the community, and who see nothing in the 
 polite warfare which is carried on in what is 
 called society, beyond the smooth manner, and 
 the smile which means nothing. Her own 
 heart gave her no warning of malevolence in 
 that of another : her observation was confined 
 to dress and air in her own sex ; and Debrett's 
 Peerage gave her the surest insight into the 
 qualifications of the other. 
 
 " Have you read Scott's last novel?" said 
 the youngest Miss Annesley. 
 
 " I have read the review of it," said Lady 
 Hortensia. 
 
 " That is doing a good deal," said Wharton. 
 " I begin to think it a hard day's study now to 
 learn the names of the new publications." 
 
 " I never read one of them," said Sir Martyn. 
 
 " You are very right," said Miss Annesley ; 
 " for if you attempt to keep pace with them 
 you are sure to be thrown out, and that is a 
 disgrace: by remaining stationary, you show 
 yourself above any idle competition."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 45 
 
 Thrown out, and keep pace, and competition 
 were perfectly comprehensible terms, according 
 to Sir Martyn ; but far from fixing his atten- 
 tion to Miss Annesley's discourse, they had the 
 effect of sending his mind to scenes where he 
 loved to expatiate, but where adverse circum- 
 stances prevented his indulging himself. 
 
 A loud knock at the door seemed to remind 
 the visitors that it was time to go away, and 
 the two aid-de-camps were about to depart, 
 when a glance from the window, showing them 
 the graceful figure of Frederica on horseback 
 as she stopped at the door, checked them : it 
 was incumbent on them to wait, and even 
 Wharton was inclined to admire her artless air. 
 She and Mr. Davenel entered the room, accom- 
 panied by Captain Villiers, whom the sight of 
 the aid-de-camps in the window had determined 
 to accept of Mr. Davenel's invitation to go in. 
 They were accompanied by another gentleman, 
 with whom Villiers had been riding in the 
 park, when they met Frederica, and who had
 
 46 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 presented him to her and Mr. Davenel, and 
 the two parties had joined and rode together. 
 Though Villiers did not seek the introduction, 
 he could not object to it; and Frederica was 
 half pleased, half alarmed at being made ac- 
 quainted with the terrible man of whom Mrs. 
 O'Brien had given so strange an account. But 
 she was not yet arrived at the age of cool ques- 
 tion with which a young lady, a few years out, 
 now fixes a man, from the moment of introduc- 
 tion. She absolutely waited for him to begin 
 but she waited in vain ; the gentlemen con- 
 versed together. Mr. Davenel had too much 
 delicacy to draw his daughter into notice, satis- 
 fied that Frederica must excite admiration 
 wherever she appeared ; and it seemed as if 
 they might have rode on for ever without any 
 further intercourse between her and Villiers, 
 when a slight accident occurred. A cart con- 
 taining some live poultry, and a driver fast 
 asleep, were coming towards them : the ill- 
 trained little horse which drew it, seemed per-
 
 THE DAVEJNELS. 47 
 
 plexed which side of the road to take, as if 
 fearful that whichever he chose he should be 
 rewarded with a shower of blows. He went 
 therefore from one side to the other alternately, 
 while the party on horseback vainly endea- 
 voured to leave him a free choice, at the same 
 time calling to awaken the outstretched owner. 
 They were at length passing in safety, when 
 he awoke, and gave a hasty blow to his horse, 
 who jumped to the other side : the poultry, 
 amongst whom a portion cf the whip fell, set 
 up a violent uproar, and both together so agi- 
 tated Frederica's horse, that he plunged, backed 
 against Villiers, and commenced rearing in a 
 frightful manner. Villiers seized the reins, 
 alighted in an instant, and held the impatient 
 animal, not without surprise and admiration at 
 the grace and composure with which Frederica 
 bore the accident. He led her horse for some 
 yards, and then believing her assurances that 
 he would now be quiet that there was no vice, 
 he remounted ; and all had taken place before
 
 48 THE DAVEHELS. 
 
 Mr. Davenel was aware of the circumstance. 
 Villiers, now finding himself next to her, it 
 seemed incumbent on him to say something. 
 
 " It is a great advantage to a woman to ride 
 so well ; half the accidents which happen to 
 them on horseback are caused by timidity," 
 
 Frederica accounted for her ease on horse- 
 back ; she had been accustomed to ride with 
 her papa from a very early age. 
 
 " Did you learu to ride in Dublin ? Is there 
 a good school here ? " 
 
 " She never had been at any riding-school ; she 
 had never learned from any master." 
 
 Villiers did not understand it. A girl to ride 
 so well, not only with courage, (that might be 
 constitutional,) but to hold the reins and man- 
 age her horse so gracefully without the training 
 of a school ; it was incredible ! He looked at 
 Mr. Davenel to see if he was likely to have 
 formed a young lady's air on horseback. Mr. 
 Davenel was just then discussing some question 
 relative to the exports and imports of Ireland,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 40 
 
 and in the energy of his discourse, he had for- 
 gotten to animate the paces of his horse, who 
 had got into what is termed a dog-trot ; to 
 which Mr. Davenel's right hand, holding his 
 whip almost on a level with his chin, moved in 
 time. No : as a model of graceful horseman- 
 ship, he never could have " 'witched the 
 world:" and as Villiers could not bear to 
 ascribe any excellence to nature, and especially 
 to Irish nature, he for a moment doubted that 
 the lovely lips of Miss Davenel had uttered the 
 precise truth. Yet candour was seated on her 
 open brow, and she seemed so little vain of 
 any of her advantages, that he felt compelled 
 to believe her. He even felt inclined to pity 
 her for her unconsciousness on those subjects 
 "but she'll soon lose that," thought he. 
 
 He did not stop many minutes at Mr 
 Davenel's. The other men, though regardless 
 of time, were careful of their horses ; and after 
 Villiers had been presented to Lady Hortensia 
 and Miss Davenel, and a few common-place 
 VOL. i. D
 
 50 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 remarks were hazarded on both sides, making 
 the usual bows and scrapes, the aid-de-camps 
 clattered down stairs, and soon after, the Miss 
 Annesleys followed with a lighter tread. 
 
 " Do you dine at Lord Rosstrever's to-day, 
 Villiers?" said Wharton, as they rode on to- 
 gether. 
 
 " No ; I am particularly engaged to the 
 Lord-Lieutenant." 
 
 " Those people are very exacting in that 
 way," said Sir Martyn, who was less fre- 
 quently at the private dinners at the Castle, 
 than any of the other aid-de-camps. 
 
 " Those Miss Davenels are certainly fine 
 girls," said Wharton. 
 
 " Aye," said Sir Martyn, " but you say one 
 wants tournure and I conclude both want 
 money." 
 
 " Every Irish girl wants many requisites to 
 form a person of fashion," said Dudley. " They 
 all want confidence without vanity ; they are 
 too timid without being too modest; and their
 
 THE DAVENELS. 51 
 
 good-humour arises less from good-temper than 
 from want of dignity." 
 
 " Come," said Wharton, " I cannot allow- 
 that these remarks apply to the Miss Davenels : 
 I said something of tournure, which Sir Martyn 
 harps on : but really Miss Davenel is a very 
 fashionable, fine girl, and the other is too young 
 to be quite assured enough : but, (looking at 
 his watch,) what a variety of hours they dine 
 at in this town, and all put half-past six on 
 their cards, which led me into a sad mistake 
 the other day. I went to Mr. O'Brien's punc- 
 tually at the hour, and I found the youngest 
 girl, about fourteen, her hair en papittotte, 
 taking her lesson on the piano-forte. The 
 teacher, thinking himself a much more impor- 
 tant person than I was, would have continued 
 the lesson, but the poor little girl darted out 
 of the room, as if she had been shot, and I 
 could only recognize her in the evening by the 
 bashful air with which she sat, half hid behind 
 her mother's chair, as if it was dreadful to her 
 
 D 2
 
 52 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 feelings to see the gentleman who had caught 
 her in that awkward situation. I v<as longing 
 to say to her, ' My dear little Miss, don't sup- 
 pose that T am ignorant that girls of your age 
 practice the piano with hair in papers, having 
 been blessed with five sisters who went through 
 it all ; and they are now, some married and 
 some single, as well off in society as if hair 
 had always curled naturally, and fingers played 
 a ravir on the piano without instruction.' " 
 
 On the departure of the visitors, the family 
 party at Mr. Davenel's had dispersed to their 
 rooms. Frederica, while taking off her habits, 
 was accosted by Mrs. Harris. " Well, Miss, I 
 hope that gentleman has a large fortune." 
 
 " Which do you mean?" said Frederica, 
 amused at Mrs. Harris's perpetual investigation. 
 
 " I mane the handsome one to be sure. Miss, 
 him in the black hair." 
 
 " I don't suppose any of them have large 
 fortunes," said Frederica. 
 
 " Because I never seen Mr. Davenel so kind
 
 THE DAVENELS. 53 
 
 to any of them military before ; and he's very 
 right: mere birds of passage, as one may say." 
 
 " There was no great kindness shown, I 
 think ; but give me that morning-dress quick ' 
 we shall none of us dress until the evening 
 for Lady Rosstrever's ball." 
 
 " Quick, indeed ! and are you going out 
 again to-night? Flesh and blood can't stand 
 it at this rate." 
 
 " O, you must not wait up for us, Harris, 
 we can help each other." 
 
 Without attending to their civility, she said, 
 "And what will you wear? you cannot wear 
 them dresses you spoiled last night."" 
 
 " Oh ! to be sure not. Who ever thought of 
 wearing the same dresses two nights succes- 
 sively ? Have the pink crape ready." 
 
 '* Ready, indeed ! you think very little of 
 any one's trouble." 
 
 " I did not know there was any thing to be 
 done to them. I merely meant to take them
 
 54 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 out of the wardrobe ; but I would not give you 
 unnecessary trouble, Harris, on any account." 
 
 " Oh ! trouble, indeed ! you must have them 
 dresses any way, now you have said it." 
 
 " No, indeed ! let me see what others there 
 are," said Frederica, opening the ward- 
 robe. 
 
 " Lave all to me, Miss Frederica ; you shall 
 have what you like best, depend upon it." 
 
 " But there is nothing wanting to the pink 
 crape I find they are perfect." 
 
 " Well, if they are, so much the better ; but 
 all I know is, I have hardly an eye in my head 
 after them Castle dresses last week." 
 
 " But I thought Margaret did most of the 
 work for you, and that you only cut out and 
 prepared." 
 
 " Margaret, indeed ! is it she, the crature ! 
 If I was not at the head and tail of every thing, 
 you could not wear them at all. I hope Miss 
 Frederica, your mamma won't wear that turban
 
 THE DAVENELS. 55 
 
 it don't become her. I'll make a cap for her 
 myself with pleasure. " 
 
 " I am afraid Dawson would be offended ; 
 besides, how could you find time?" 
 
 " Oh, Miss Frederica, I'd never have time to 
 work for you and for her too." 
 
 Frederica ran down stairs, inwardly laughing 
 at the usual termination to her maid's offers of 
 doing more than was required of her, though 
 she invariably complained of having too much 
 to do,
 
 56 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Still he beheld, nor mingled with the throng, 
 But view'd them not with misanthropic bate : 
 Fain would he now have join'd the dance, the song. BY BOM. 
 
 WHILE the Davenel family arc at dinner, may 
 be a good opportunity to describe them more 
 particularly. Mr. Davenel was an excellent 
 country gentleman ; a character which, in Ire- 
 land, supposes no mean qualifications. The 
 perpetual struggle between the higher and lower 
 classes, arising out of the difference of religion, 
 and other peculiarities of Irish government, 
 which it is not our present business to enter 
 into, makes the life of a resident gentleman of
 
 THE DAVENELS. 57 
 
 fortune there a busy and arduous one. To 
 soothe the angry passions of the oppressed pea- 
 santry ; to make them feel that they might con- 
 fidently look to him for protection against in- 
 justice ; yet to prove that he would not defend 
 or excuse the least violation of the laws, was 
 the constant aim of Mr. Davenel. This strict 
 love of justice, joined to his general benevolence 
 and integrity, made him a real blessing to all 
 around him : not only to his poorer neighbours, 
 but to a large circle of gentry, in whom he en- 
 deavoured to infuse his own mild and impartial 
 spirit, and in whom he encouraged the love of 
 country life, by an easy, frank, but unostenta- 
 tious and well-regulated hospitality. His house 
 was rendered so agreeable to his visitors, that it 
 not unfrequently influenced other families of 
 respectability to settle in his neighbourhood. 
 Shooting and hunting, the never-failing amuse- 
 ments of Irish gentlemen, were sedulously prac- 
 tised, but divested of all the coarseness which 
 in former days was almost necessarily attached 
 
 D5
 
 58 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 to a sporting life ; and some specimens of the 
 fine arts in which he delighted, gave an air of 
 elegance and refinement to his mansion. His 
 appearance was of the finest order of Irishmen 
 tall, and well made: and his handsome coun- 
 tenance, though full of intelligence, was still 
 more expressive of the benevolence, and all the 
 tender affections which dwelt in his breast. 
 That he was idolized in his own family, and 
 cordially beloved by all who knew him, even by 
 those who could not emulate his virtues, cannot 
 be doubted. 
 
 Lady Hortensia, though somewhat fallen into 
 embonpoint, was still a fine woman ; her soft 
 blue eyes, fair placid countenance, and bland 
 manners, gave her the name of being a sweet 
 creature : but though a person of great respec- 
 tability, and fulfilling all the duties of life with 
 propriety, she was not in truth that very sweet 
 creature which her acquaintance chose to de- 
 signate her. She loved her children few mo- 
 thers do not : but her daughters were still more
 
 THE DAVENELS. 59 
 
 the objects of her pride than of her love. 
 From the time Miss Davenel was seventeen, 
 Lady Hortensia thought of nothing but esta- 
 blishing her in the world ; and now that Frede- 
 rica was arrived at the same eventful epoch in a 
 young lady's life, Lady Hortensia, was at times 
 even fretful at having two girls at once to take 
 into the grandc monde. After the usual efforts 
 at education by means of governesses and occa- 
 sional teachers, Henrietta had been sent at the 
 age of fifteen to a celebrated school near Lon- 
 don; and two years afterwards, Lady Horten- 
 sia had gladly accepted a proposal made by her 
 brother, the Earl of Poyntstown and his lady, 
 to take Henrietta with them to Paris, where 
 she could have the advantage of the best 
 teachers for French and dancing, and might 
 profit at the same time by the society at her 
 aunt's. The earl had no daughter, and the 
 project was very agreeable to them and to 
 the Davenel's. Henrietta returned, in the opi- 
 nion of some, spoiled ; in that of others, im-
 
 60 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 proved by the expedition. She was a very fine 
 girl, with a fair clear skin, and a profusion of 
 fair hair, which gave her the appearance still of 
 extreme youth, though she was now four-and- 
 twenty. Her understanding was not first-rate ; 
 but she had a tact in conducting herself amongst 
 persons of fashion, which is sometimes found 
 in common minds. She danced well, and 
 spoke French like a native ; an attainment she 
 lost no opportunity of displaying. 
 
 Frederica was not so tall as her sister, but 
 her height was more exactly the standard 
 for feminine beauty. Her skin was clear, and 
 almost pale, and her eyes and hair .were dark, 
 what is often miscalled black, from the richness 
 of their fringed lids. A frank and playful 
 smile encircled her mouth, when she smiled and 
 showed a beautiful set of teeth. Spirit and 
 grace marked her air and movements ; though 
 she had not that conscious air of the world 
 which Henrietta had acquired. She too had 
 spent some time at the school we have men-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 6l 
 
 tioned ; and was not come home more than 
 a few months. Brothers there certainly were, 
 though Sir Martyn had not found them out. 
 The eldest, a year older than Frederica, was 
 at Oxford ; and three others were where boys 
 should be, at their several schools or academies. 
 
 The ball at Lady Rosstrevor's was full, and 
 intended to be select ; that is, every English 
 person who could be found, from the vice-regal 
 people, down to the subaltern officers and their 
 wives, was there. 
 
 Irish girls have a natural vivacity of man- 
 ner, which makes them appear to flirt more 
 than English girls ; but the married women in 
 Ireland might take lessons in the art from those 
 of England who go there with their husbands, 
 who occupy various departments and capaci- 
 ties. The cool, decided manner in which they 
 take possession of the men, especially of the 
 military, is something to make plain people 
 stare ; and justifies the naive observation of an 
 Irish lady, who said, she supposed the mothers
 
 62 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of the young officers had requested those ladies 
 to guard their sons from the danger of mar- 
 rying Irish girls. It is well understood how 
 apprehensive the young men themselves are 
 of falling victims to these inartificial beauties; 
 and how desirous to avoid the danger, by seem- 
 ing deeply engaged in conversation with some 
 married lady. We hear some one ask And 
 is the danger so great? Are those Irish girls 
 so very pretty and attractive? The fears of 
 all prudent parents, and the precautions taken 
 by whole regiments in a breath, form the best 
 answer to the question.* 
 
 While Lady Hortensia sat, or moved in the 
 immediate circle of their Excellencies, herdaugh- 
 ters did not want partners, and of the best 
 the room afforded. Frederica danced first with 
 Lord Fitzmaurice, a young nobleman of pleas- 
 ing manners and appearance; and Henrietta 
 
 " See the engagement entered into by a certain fashion- 
 able regiment, not to marry an Irish girl under a penalty 
 of a thousand pounds.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 63 
 
 was engaged by Sir Martyn Saunders, who 
 thought he might as well pay her some cautious 
 attentions, until he could ascertain the state of 
 her fortune. He was unwilling to ask any direct 
 questions about it, as he felt he was generally 
 suspected of mercenary views, ever since the 
 affair in England ; but he wisely concluded, 
 that if Mr. Davenel had no son, his eldest 
 daughter was likely to have half his estate 
 at least ; and that if there was not an equal 
 division of it, she would probably have the 
 greater part : and there was a report, that 
 Lord and Lady Poyntstown meant to add to 
 Henrietta's. It was but a small sacrifice of 
 time, therefore, Sir Martyn thought, to dance 
 a few evenings with a handsome and fashion- 
 able girl, and any other way of making himself 
 agreeable, never once entered his head. Judg- 
 ing by his own heart, he felt no fear of any bad 
 consequences to her's. There was no cruelty 
 in his nature ; no love of conquest for conquest's 
 sake. He did not wish that a young lady
 
 64 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 should die, or even lose her health for his sake ; 
 but his mind could not dwell upon more than 
 one view of the subject at once; and his own 
 wishes and interest filled up that view com- 
 pletely. Dudley Villiers was there, but to the 
 terror of all the young ladies, merely looked on, 
 as if dancing was a thing below his sphere. 
 He could not be suffered however, to remain 
 wholly desavre, and after he had spoken or 
 bowed to all the finest people in the room, 
 Lady Clara Reeve managed to engage him 
 in conversation. He neither admired her per- 
 son nor her mind ; but, a man must talk to 
 some one idleness leads to mischief; and there- 
 fore, to be occupied with Lady Clara, was a 
 kind of safety-valve ; and he being the finest 
 man in the room, it was her object to appear to 
 engross him, while she endeavoured to assume 
 all the nonchalance, which he really felt in talk- 
 ing to her. 
 
 He once thought of asking her sister, Lady 
 Isabella Floyd to dance, but she was led out
 
 THE DA YEN ELS. 65 
 
 by Mr. Mardyn, a young man of large fortune, 
 and not long come of age. Villiers rejoiced to 
 see her so well off, and himself spared the 
 effort of dancing out of good-nature ; which 
 might be a very dangerous precedent. 
 
 While some of the Davenels were in the re- 
 freshment room, Miss Anne Carmichael, a tall, 
 elderly lady, of a dignified air and important 
 mien, came up to Lady Hortensia, and after the 
 usual salutations, said, " I hope, Lady Hor- 
 tensia, your young ladies are not enemies to 
 rational amusement, and the higher intercourse 
 of the mind." 
 
 " Any thing in the shape of amusement, I 
 believe, for them," said Mr. Davenel, whose 
 love for his family, and pride in his daughters, 
 led him to accompany them to all places of 
 resort. " On the fourth, I am to have a few 
 intellectual personages at my house ; and I 
 shall hope to see you and yours ; give me 
 leave " putting a card into Lady Hortensia's 
 hand : and then, she swept on, now and then
 
 66 . THE DAVENELS. 
 
 stopping to make a speech of similar import, 
 to some one whom she thought qualified for 
 this higher intercourse of the mind : and, be- 
 tween her good nature and her love of rank, 
 she did not make many exceptions. She had 
 frequent assemblies at her house, which she 
 wished to consider as composed of all that was 
 intellectual in Dublin. The year before, she 
 had attempted to hold reading-parties, and 
 some few were persuaded to read to an inat- 
 tentive audience, portions of popular poems, 
 either new or old ; but, after a very few even- 
 ings, the impatience of the listeners grew too 
 evident. Some very young ladies and gentle- 
 men whispered their observations to each other, 
 not in the spirit of criticism, but of weariness ; 
 and one evening, a young collegian amused 
 himself and those near him, by accompanying 
 the reader in a suppressed murmur, through 
 Collins' Ode on the Passions, which he tra- 
 vestied in so incomparable a manner, that 
 bursts of laughter from the few who heard
 
 THE DAVENELS. 67 
 
 him, interrupted the evening's amusement, 
 Miss Carmichael was greatly displeased, but 
 the readings could not be renewed ; and when 
 next she gave out her cards, she found it better 
 to announce that that unpopular amusement 
 was laid aside ; but that she hoped to supply 
 its place, by rational and refined conversation. 
 To supply this, she said no advantages of rank 
 or beauty should outweigh the more solid pre- 
 tensions of talent, wherever it was to be found ; 
 and from various quarters persons were dragged 
 into light, whom she announced by some such 
 speech as this : 
 
 " A most interesting person, though unblest 
 by ancestry or wealth." " A village Hampden, 
 perhaps or, a mute inglorious Milton : we 
 should not suffer these flowers to blush unseen." 
 
 In the course of the evening, at Lady Ross- 
 trevor's, she addressed Lady Clara Reeve and 
 Dudley Villiers, and gave a card to each. 
 
 " What an old quiz," said Lady Clara; " I 
 am thinking what a chance there is of your
 
 68 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 going to her party." But, she did not know 
 Villiers, who was tired of the sameness of the 
 select balls, and felt immediately disposed to 
 seek amusement at Miss Carmichael's. He 
 said nothing, but put up the card, and began 
 to think a party where Lady Clara was not, 
 might be endured. 
 
 The mothers, one and all, began now to con- 
 sider Viliiers merely as a fine man, who looked 
 well, and was therefore to be invited to all 
 parties ; but to speculate upon him even as a 
 dancer, was allowed to be time thrown away ; 
 and Mrs. O'Brien openly declared her contempt 
 for such a character. Her Miranda, as usual, 
 committed several interesting mistakes on this 
 evening, pardonable only in so inexperienced a 
 creature, and her mother told and deplored 
 them to the whole room. Mr. Mardyn's mother 
 was another who could not see, with an un- 
 ruffled mind, the provoking way in which Vil- 
 liers kept aloof from danger ; and as she had 
 three daughters going out, she felt it to be
 
 THE DAVENELS. 69 
 
 almost a personal affront ; but there was no tell- 
 ing him how odious he was making himself, 
 and he must therefore be left to his fate. 
 
 The ball at Lady Rosstrevor's was followed 
 by others of the same kind ; composed of the 
 same persons, who said and did nearly the 
 same things ; and her Excellency gave another 
 ball, and one or two select concerts, to all of 
 which the Davenels were invited of course. 
 Though Lady Hortensia's house was one merely 
 hired for the season, and was not splendidly 
 fitted up, yet it was spacious, and admirably 
 suited for dancing ; and it was therefore incum- 
 bent on her to give a ball, which did not differ 
 materially from other balls of the season, and 
 was graced by the presence of their Excellen- 
 cies. The aid-de-camps were infallible at all 
 fashionable balls. Villiers seldom waltzed, and 
 had not yet committed himself in a quadrille. 
 He frequently conversed with Mr. Davenel ; 
 and always bowed, and sometimes spoke six 
 words to Lady Hortensia and the Miss Davenels.
 
 70 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 But Captain Hardynge made amends for the 
 contempt of Villiers, the caution of Sir Martyn, 
 and the sang froid of Wharton. He fell in love 
 every night. On his self-introduction to Miss 
 Miranda O'Brien, at the first ball at the Castle, 
 he betrayed so much admiration, that the 
 O'Briens were sure of him, and invitations to 
 dinner and supper followed. It is provoking, 
 however, that one is not allowed to enjoy un- 
 molested the attentions of a young man of 
 fashion, and Miranda's rights were contested 
 by too many to hold their ground. He was 
 said to be rather volatile, and parents did not 
 think much about him ; but he became a prime 
 favourite with some half dozen young ladies, to 
 each of whom he said something so marked, as 
 he put on her shawl, or assisted her into her 
 carriage, that she could not help pitying the 
 infatuation of the other five ; but the Miss Da- 
 venels were not to be assailed in this manner, 
 and were besides under the surveillance of a 
 mother who knew the world and their worth
 
 THE DAVENELS. 71 
 
 too well to permit it. There was no fun there- 
 fore to be made out of his acquaintance with 
 them. His delight was to watch the struggles 
 for his notice amongst his particular favourites, 
 and the anxious glances with which each re- 
 garded his attentions to any of the others. To 
 raise and allay jealousy to excite a little pet- 
 tish displeasure, and then to soothe the angry 
 fair one, and to explain away some compliment 
 he had been heard to pay in another quarter 
 all this gave him indescribable pleasure, and 
 became an occupation ; but to this unworthy 
 occupation we shall leave him, as poor Miss 
 Carmichael, having been twice obliged to put 
 off her soiree for others, which would infallibly 
 have crushed it, at length saw the evening 
 arrive when she was permitted to hold the in- 
 tellectual banquet she had promised to her 
 friends : and though some called her a bore, 
 and others a quiz, yet as she was well con- 
 nected, and visited all the first people, a great 
 many of rank and fashion thought it a good 
 lounge to go there.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 To stick to my rout, 
 
 'Twill be hard if come novelty cant be struck out. 
 Ii there no Algerine, no Kamcbatkiu arrived f 
 No plenipo-Pacha, three-tailed, and ten-wived t 
 No Russian, whose dissonant, consonant name, 
 Half rattles to fragments the trumpets of fame t 
 I remember the time, two or three winters back, 
 When, provided their wigs w ere but decently black, 
 A few patriot-monsters from Spain were a sight 
 That would people one's house for one night after night. 
 
 MOORE. 
 
 Miss Carmichael made the usual prologue to the 
 exhibition of her menagerie, as Wharton called it. 
 " You have heard perhaps of Mr. Daunt ? He 
 has written some very pretty things in the Even- 
 ing Mail. He teaches the use of the globes at 
 Lady Hanby's. He reads delightfully; but I 
 believe" looking round her " there are too 
 many here: people don't like reading now-a- 
 days. The young lady in the blue crape and 
 artificial flowers is a Neapolitan. She is look-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 73 
 
 ing for a situation in some nice family. I 
 assure you she is an excellent improvisatrice. 
 She plays also on the lute." 
 
 " And will endeavour to play on Miss Car- 
 michael, I conclude," said Wharton, in a whis- 
 per, to Miss Annesley. 
 
 " She was a stranger," added Miss Car- 
 michael, feelingly, " and I took her in." 
 
 " A compliment she will return very soon," 
 said Miss Annesley to Wharton. 
 
 " Lute is such a pretty word," said Lady 
 Floranthe Ross, daughter of the Earl of Beech- 
 mount, a very young lady, with light blue eyes 
 and flaxen hair ; who was always charmed, or 
 shocked, or enchanted, or horrified at some- 
 thing, " but O heavens ! who is that dreadful 
 looking monster just come in ? Why he looks 
 like the pictures of the night-mare." 
 
 Miss Carmichael turned round, and instead 
 of answering her, went up to the person, and 
 taking him by the hand, led him to a chair, 
 into which he flung himself, looking like a 
 
 VOL. i. E
 
 74 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 fortuitous concourse of bones, slightly kept to- 
 gether by his clothes. His hair was of the 
 deepest black, and hung in masses on one side 
 of his head, so as nearly to shade one eye ; 
 but suddenly turning round to surrey the com- 
 pany, he dashed his hand along his temple, 
 and flung his hair on the opposite side of his 
 head ; his black piercing eyes and deep swarthy 
 skin giving a most demoniacal expression to his 
 countenance, and relieving the dazzling white- 
 ness of his teeth. When Miss Carmichael 
 spoke to him, he grinned and muttered some- 
 thing, but in a low and gutteral tone, and so 
 inarticulately, that those nearest to him were 
 uncertain if he spoke a language or merely 
 growled like some animal ; and a rumour 
 went round the room that it was a baboon 
 dressed up : the idea was dismissed, however, 
 on the entrance of a dark-coloured servant in a 
 rich old-fashioned livery, who brought a splen- 
 did snuff-box, on a silver salver, and presented 
 it to the monster. He grinned his approbation,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 75 
 
 and opening the box, helped himself to a pinch 
 of snuff. The box lay on his hand, and those 
 who stood near him observed that on the lid 
 was the picture of a woman, young and beau- 
 tiful. Lady Floranthe was by this time less 
 dreadfully horrified, and she came near to the 
 object of her fright, and looked with some 
 earnestness towards the snuff-box. He held it 
 towards her, grinning as before, and said in a 
 gutteral tone, " c'est ma femme." 
 
 A look of horror now indeed was impressed 
 on more faces than Lady Floranthe's. This 
 monster, this outcast of nature, was married ! 
 and to a beautiful woman ! Miss Carmichael 
 took occasion to go to various parts of the 
 room, and to tell his story. Don Perez de 
 Moncaldo was a grandee of Spain ; his mar- 
 riage with his cousin, Donna Magellina de Ber- 
 toldi, was arranged by their families before they 
 had seen each other. Don Perez had*been im- 
 plicated in the late revolution, and obliged to 
 fly his country; " leaving," as Miss Car-
 
 76 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 michael said, " his poor wife to lament his 
 absence, after being united to her but three 
 months." It was not easy to persuade any one 
 who heard the story, that the Donna Magellina 
 was an object of pity now, whatever she might 
 have been some months ago. Miss Carmichael 
 was evidently much pleased to have such a lion 
 to parade. A banished member of the Spanish 
 Cortes was no every day sight, and one at 
 whose very appearance the candles might be 
 expected to burn blue. Miss Carmichael in 
 vain proposed to various persons to allow her 
 to present them. Every one shrunk back ; the 
 young with disgust or affright, the old declar- 
 ing they could not speak Spanish. 
 
 " But the signer speaks French," c'est egal. 
 
 The monster, tired of his position, arose, and 
 giving a general shake to his frame, as if to 
 hang the parts together, limped across the 
 room. He stopped near Mr. Davenel, who, in- 
 fluenced by his naturally courteous disposition, 
 bowed to him. Don Perez, taking it as a wish
 
 THE DAVENELS. 7? 
 
 for conversation, addressed him, first in Spa- 
 nish, and then in French. Mr. Davenel knew 
 nothing of Spanish, and did not feel equal to 
 conversing in French, though he understood 
 it : he made signs therefore, good-humouredly, 
 that his daughter Frederica, who was holding 
 his arm, should speak for him. Don Perez 
 immediately addressed her in Spanish, seem- 
 ingly much pleased at the permission. She 
 answered, but in so low a tone, that it was not 
 possible for Villiers, who was at a little dis- 
 tance, and attentively observing her, to know 
 what language she spoke ; but as Don Perez 
 continued to speak Spanish, it was to be pre- 
 sumed that she both understood and spoke that 
 language. In truth she loved foreign languages, 
 and had seized some favourable opportunity for 
 acquiring Spanish, without much hope of its 
 ever being useful to her. Her accent, though 
 imperfect, derived from her soft voice and man- 
 ner a peculiar grace. But the discovery of this 
 accomplishment did not help to endear her to
 
 78 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the young ladies of the circle. Some disdain- 
 ful looks, accompanied by the term blue, were 
 evident. A young lady is called upon to speak 
 French Italian might be forgiven, but Spanish 
 must have been surreptitiously acquired, and for 
 the purpose of shining at Miss Carmichael's. 
 But Frederica never thought of shining. She 
 answered in Spanish, through politeness, and 
 would gladly have receded from any further 
 display, especially when she perceived that she 
 and the monster were fixing the attention of the 
 company, and that Villiers had drawn nearer, 
 and was evidently observing her closely; but 
 her strange admirer was not disposed to let her 
 off: he did not speak any language but his 
 own fluently, and to find any person in this 
 country acquainted with it, was an unexpected 
 and unusual pleasure, heightened by the charms 
 of the speaker. 
 
 Her position soon became unpleasant : by 
 degrees, even those who had shown reluctance 
 before to approach the monster, as he was still
 
 THE DAVENELS. 79 
 
 called, closed around him and Frederica ; some 
 to ascertain if she really spoke Spanish, others 
 amused at the contrast between her and her 
 companion ; and many scrupled not to apply to 
 them the hackneyed comparison of the beauty 
 and the beast, and in no inaudible voice, which 
 distressed her, though she felt convinced Don 
 Perez could not understand them. She spoke 
 as little as she could, in hopes of putting an 
 end to a colloquy which was on many accounts 
 become painful to her, and her distress became 
 evident in her countenance. She looked up, 
 and saw that Villiers was looking earnestly at 
 her, which added to her embarrassment. He 
 made a movement towards her, however, which 
 by breaking the circle displaced Don Perez a 
 little, and Villiers entered into conversation 
 with him. Frederica found the moment favour- 
 able for taking a seat next to Mr. Davenel, who 
 had sat down some time before, happy to see 
 her able to converse with the distinguished 
 stranger, and seeing nothing in the whole affair
 
 80 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 but the triumph of his daughter's charms and 
 accomplishments. Not long afterwards, an 
 unusual bustle at the furthest end of the other 
 drawing-room, called off the attention of most 
 of the circle, and amidst shouts of laughter, 
 and the discord of many voices, was heard dis- 
 tinctly at intervals " Jacquot mon ami. plait-il 
 mon maitre ? connoissez vous la table ? oui mon 
 maitre la chaise ? oui monmaitre recritoire," 
 &c. &,c. It was plain that Miss Cannichael's 
 attempts at intellectual intercourse had degene- 
 rated into a scene of small plays, in which her 
 Hampdens and Miltons, however inglorious, 
 were certainly not mute ; and foreigners of all 
 ages and capacities being expert at such amuse- 
 ments, the scene became animated and noisy to 
 excess. The attraction was irresistible to every 
 one but Don Perez, whose mind was set to a 
 loftier theme, and who took the opportunity, 
 when every one's eyes were turned towards the 
 scene of obstreperous merriment, to glide out 
 of the room. By the time the Davenels and
 
 THE DAVENELS. 81 
 
 Villiers had gone into the other room, Jaquot et 
 son maitre were laid aside for a new game, 
 more noisy, and full as spirituelle ; and poor 
 Miss Carmichael, who with all her affectation 
 of learning and sentiment, was thoroughly good- 
 natured, was contented to see these children of 
 a larger growth amusing themselves as they 
 liked, though it was in a manner so very dif- 
 ferent from what she had planned for them. 
 She let things take their course, therefore, and 
 even condescended to put something into the 
 corbeillon, and to pass le petit bon homme qni 
 vit encore to her next neighbour. The lighted 
 paper required for this last play was rapidly 
 passing from one to another of a noisy circle, 
 amidst shouts of laughter, when a lady, too 
 apprehensive of its expiring in her hands, let 
 it drop into the lap of Lady Floranthe Ross. 
 She chose to imagine herself all in flames, and 
 jumped up, screaming that she should be 
 burned to death, and the still lighting paper 
 fell on the floor, and was extinguished by a 
 
 E 5
 
 82 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 gentleman. But Lady Floranthe was resolved 
 not to be in safety, until she had made the 
 tour of one drawing-room, and rushed into the 
 next; where, it being ascertained that no 
 flames were issuing from her dress, she was 
 obliged to be only terribly agitated and greatly 
 frightened, and wine and water was brought 
 by several persons at once ; and then every 
 person told some story of dreadful accident by 
 fire ; and lectures were given to Lady Floranthe 
 on the danger she incurred by running through 
 the rooms if her dress had been on fire ; and 
 she was cautioned, whenever she caught fire, 
 to lie flat on the floor, and call to some one to 
 smother her in the hearth-rug. 
 
 The genius of the sports seemed to have been 
 put to flight by this little fracas, and Miss 
 Carmichael ventured to call on some of the 
 more gifted part of her company, though un- 
 known to fame, to exhibit in some way for the 
 amusement of the rest. A harp was brought 
 forward from an angle of the room, and a large,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 83 
 
 heavy-looking young man, with white hair and 
 eye-brows, whom she presented as Mr. Cor- 
 coran, a junior fellow of Trinity College, 
 swept the strings, and expended some time 
 in tuning them ; at length all was complete, 
 he hemmed two or three times, and then with 
 stentorian voice sang " The Blue Bells of 
 Scotland." This brought forth some compli- 
 ments from the audience, which were followed 
 by an assurance on his part, that he was half 
 choked with a cold, and Wharton whispered to 
 Miss Annesley, that it was to be regretted 
 the cold had but half done its office. The 
 young Neapolitan was now entreated to play 
 on the lute, which she did ; accompanying her 
 voice in a little monotonous sort of air, with a 
 few words of no meaning, eked out by a re- 
 frein of la ri la, la ri la. The song was an- 
 nounced to be a barcarole, as sung by the 
 gondoliers; and by moonlight, on the water, 
 when there was nothing better to listen to, 
 might soothe the dull ear of a drowsy person;
 
 84 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 but Politeness herself would grow weary of it 
 in a room blazing with lights and company. 
 Impatience was growing audible, and the mo- 
 ment the signora suspended her song, a mur- 
 mur of entreaty was heard from a knot of 
 young people, and Miss Annesley was led with 
 gentle violence to the piano-forte ; she obligingly 
 pressed the keys, and a well-organized qua- 
 drille was instantly formed, to the surprise of 
 the signora and others, who had not heard the 
 arrangements making for the dance long before 
 her lute was silent. 
 
 After all, the most popular exhibition in a 
 private assembly, is a dance, because it takes 
 in so many; and those who cannot join in it, 
 find more liberty of speech under shelter of 
 Rossini's sweetest airs, cramped and fettered 
 into passages of eight and sixteen bars. As 
 no one was afraid of Miss Carmichael, the 
 young people enjoyed this defeat of her at- 
 tempts to show off her lions. 
 
 Villiers had been rather interested that even-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 85 
 
 ing by Frederica's intercourse with the Spa- 
 niard, and just wished he could talk to her a 
 little; but then she was always dancing, and 
 there is no talking to a dancing-girl without 
 asking her sometimes to dance. When the 
 dance was formed, therefore, and he saw ar- 
 rangements making for a second quadrille, 
 and two or three men making from different 
 parts of the room for the quarter where she sat, 
 he yielded to a sudden impulse and asked her ; 
 she was surprised, but they stood up together, 
 and of course not a word was said by either. 
 He walked his part with a very good air, and 
 she danced hers on ne peut pas niieux. The 
 Honourable Mrs. Mardyn and Mrs. O'Brien 
 called heaven and earth to witness it, and their 
 dear girls could scarcely keep from laughing 
 whenever they looked at them, it was so droll. 
 Frederica's speaking Spanish was forgotten in 
 the offence of being the first person with whom 
 Villiers had danced in Dublin. 
 The quadrilles being finished, a hint was
 
 86 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 given, that as it was Saturday evening, it was 
 time to go down to the refreshment-room, 
 where some ate and all talked. 
 
 " What do you think of the Spaniard ?" 
 said Villiers to Frederica. 
 
 " I don't know in what particular you mean; 
 his appearance to be sure is hideous, but he 
 seems to have some eloquence ; at least as well 
 as I, in my ignorance, could judge." 
 
 " His eyes at least are eloquent," said Vil- 
 liers, " and they spoke his admiration most 
 unequivocally." 
 
 Frederica blushed : not that she was over 
 sensitive to a common-place compliment, of 
 which she knew the real value, but she was 
 afraid of Villiers; his manners were reserved, 
 and he was said to be proud; and some imper- 
 tinent speeches, which he was incapable of 
 making, had been invented, and industriously 
 circulated by several young ladies, who, as he 
 had not sought their acquaintance, were de- 
 sirous to prevent others from seeking his.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 87 
 
 Fastidious he certainly was, but though not 
 thinking highly of the crowd of misses whom 
 he met every day in society; he did verily 
 believe, that now and then a very charming 
 young person was to be found, though he was 
 not disposed to begin the search. 
 
 Frederica was half inclined to be as proud 
 and reserved as Villiers himself; but to be 
 silent might be mistaken for a readiness to un- 
 derstand his speech in a flattering sense; and, 
 after a moment,, she said, " He paid me the 
 compliment to say I had a resemblance to 
 Donna Magelline, and he spoke so feelingly of 
 his absence from her, that I really pitied him." 
 
 " And what sentiment does she inspire? 
 do you feel pity for her also?" 
 
 Frederica felt embarrassed, and then said : 
 " One cannot imagine any one liking Don 
 Perez, yet his manner of speaking of his wife 
 had so much noble tenderness in it, that I 
 don't like to think she has no regard for 
 him."
 
 88 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " I fancy he was driven away by the noisy 
 small plays," said Villiers. 
 
 " I rather think he took that opportunity to 
 go away ; for he seemed to me weary of being 
 stared at, and I think he began to wonder for 
 what purpose he had been invited." 
 
 " Why, yes ; it would be difficult to make 
 him comprehend the pleasure Miss Carmichael 
 took in parading him, as she speaks no lan- 
 guage but her own, and knows little, and cares 
 less about the cause in which he has embarked 
 his hopes. But what is to become of the sig- 
 nora? What a mode of recommending a 
 governess! Miss Carmichael is a famous 
 mistress of the ceremonies to needy geniuses. 
 And the fellow of the college ! how his pupils 
 must increase after this night's exhibition." 
 
 Frederica laughed, and said ; " Yet you see 
 every one comes here." 
 
 " Very true," said Villiers smiling ; " you 
 have explained the whole thing. How stupid 
 I have been ! Miss Carmichael is not the in-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 89 
 
 judicious protector I was supposing. I begin 
 to have a great respect for her. Mr. Corcoran is 
 the Sampson who has made us sport." 
 
 Miss Carmichael now came up and made 
 many apologies to Villiers, who, she had heard, 
 did not love dancing, for the interruption the 
 dance had put to many specimens of talent 
 which she had intended producing that evening : 
 adding that he would have had a delightful 
 treat in hearing the two Miss Armigers's, who 
 played duets on the piano-forte in a superior 
 style ; and that as a single performer on that 
 instrument, Miss Corcoran was unrivalled ; 
 and she ended by assuring him that she should 
 exclude from her next party all those young 
 persons who had been instrumental to this 
 night's bustle and noise. 
 
 Villiers made her a low bow, and when she 
 had turned away, he said " I don't know whe- 
 ther to thank Miss Carmichael in my own 
 name, or in that of the young persons she 
 meant to exclude."
 
 90 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " She means to pay you a compliment," 
 said Frederica, " by sacrificing so many young 
 persons to your love of lions and geniuses." 
 
 " I am unworthy of it then I assure you, for 
 I think geniuses are seldom good company, and 
 lions never." 
 
 " But don't you love music." 
 
 " I delight in it ; and therefore cannot regret 
 that we had not the duet by two performers on 
 the piano-forte, which must be inferior to a hand- 
 organ in the street : and the single performers 
 would probably have given us Robin Adair 
 with six-aud-thirty variations, which is saying 
 in many words, what was better said in few." 
 
 It seemed as if a simultaneous wish to enjoy 
 Frederica 's conversation, now brought a number 
 of young persons to where she and Villiers were 
 standing : but as if all were animated by the 
 spirit of court etiquette, which forbids any un- 
 profitable variety of discourse. " How do you 
 like your Spaniard r and " What have you done 
 with your Spaniard?" or "What does your
 
 THE DAVENELS. 91 
 
 Spaniard say ?" was the utmost range of their 
 efforts at conversation. Frederica was greatly 
 amused; but though quick to perceive folly 
 and impertinence, she never permitted herself 
 any of those sharp, or blunt set downs by which 
 some heroines have subjected themselves to the 
 charge of ill-humour, or ill-breeding. No very 
 direct reply being necessary, she evaded giving 
 any; and the company shortly after dispersed 
 for their several homes. 
 
 The next day, as Villiers was galloping in 
 the Park, he heard horses coming quietly after 
 him, and turning round, he saw Lady Clara 
 Reeve, who called out " will you ride slower, 
 for my horse is impatient." He drew up of 
 course, and they rode together. " Come, tell 
 me all about that party at Miss Carmichaers ; 
 I am told it was composed of teachers and go- 
 vernesses." 
 
 " You must allow something for Irish ex- 
 aggeration ; there were some odd people, cer-. 
 tainly," said Villiers.
 
 92 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " And what was done ? do tell me." 
 
 " I am very bad at describing," said Villiers. 
 " The lion of the night was an unfortunate 
 Spaniard, who was soon tired of being a show, 
 and made off." 
 
 " You had small plays, had you not ?" 
 
 " There were small plays," said Villiers. 
 
 " Was there dancing ?" 
 
 " Yes, every thing here ends in a dance." 
 (She laughed.) " I think I see you looking so 
 grave, and with such contempt at the whole thing. 
 I wish I could have seen you without being of 
 the party ; it would have been a difficult thing 
 to get you to dance in such a set." 
 
 " Not at all, I assure you," said Villiers ; " I 
 did dance." 
 
 " Oh/you monster ! what could possess you ? 
 Why you will be invited to all the two-roomed 
 parties in Dublin, as a nice young man that 
 dances" and she laughed maliciously at him. 
 " Did you go to Lady Morgan's afterwards ?" 
 
 " No, it was too late to go anywhere. I
 
 THE DAVENELS. 93 
 
 intended staying but a very short time at Miss 
 Carmichael's." 
 
 " And you were induced to remain, Oh ! 
 dear. And which of the governesses did you 
 honour with your hand?" 
 
 " I had the honour," said Villiers, " of danc- 
 ing with the beautiful Miss Frederica Davenel.'" 
 
 " Worse and worse ; she will think she has 
 made a conquest of you, and in another week 
 it will be in the papers that you are to lead her 
 to the hymeneal altar." 
 
 " If it is," said Villiers, " I shall know whom 
 to accuse as the author." 
 
 " No; I am too much your friend, I assure 
 you ; for I know those things often accomplish 
 themselves. So if you see yourself in print, 
 don't accuse me."
 
 94 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The downy songsters of the Spring, 
 With joy elate mount on the wing, 
 
 And channt their matin lay. 
 The youthful Iambi transported bound, 
 The abamrock decki the verdant ground, 
 
 To hail St. Paddy's Day. OLU SONG. 
 
 A MAN'S life is not bound up in balls and 
 routes, even for the season, like a young lady's. 
 She finds ample employment in preparing for a 
 ball in counting her conquests, and repairing 
 her forces after a ball in meditating on some 
 change of dress for a ball ; while to a young 
 man, a ball is only one of the many ways of 
 lounging away a few hours. If his professional 
 or official duties do not occupy him in the morn- 
 ing, he goes to hunt to play at cricket to see
 
 THE DAVENELS. 95 
 
 a race twenty miles off. As the evening re- 
 turns, he goes to any fashionable house to which 
 he has been invited. Often forgetting the name 
 of the inviter, sometimes, without remembering 
 the invitation itself, till carried along by the 
 stream of brother-fashionables, who help to re- 
 mind each other of the circumstance. Dinners 
 also are events in the life of man, not to be 
 thought lightly of: while by a lady, that is, a 
 very young lady, they are held to be weary and 
 unprofitable. To what purpose should she sit 
 in the fumes of turtle and turbot, with soups, 
 white and brown, smoking near her. She has 
 had her light repast at two or three o'clock, 
 and she prudently prefers reposing, or quietly 
 employing herself in a room of temperate heat, 
 till the time for dressing arrives ; and then fresh 
 and revived, she enters the ball-room all plumed 
 for conquest. Whatever difference of opinion 
 men may entertain of the evening amusements 
 in Dublin, there can be but one as to the agree- 
 ableness of the dinners. There is a joyous but
 
 96 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 well-bred frankness at the tables of the higher 
 orders there, which, it must be owned, the Lon- 
 don dinners have not. The professional men in 
 Ireland are remarkable for their ready talent in 
 conversation, and for playful wit, and irony, 
 divested of all wounding properties, which no 
 other people can boast of in the same degree. 
 These, united with sound sense, refined taste, 
 and worth never surpassed, are characteristics 
 of so many, that no person who is generally 
 acquainted amongst them, can, for a moment, 
 be at a loss to find originals for the picture. 
 
 Villiers had, since arriving in Ireland, lived 
 chiefly amongst the castle-people, and was not 
 prepared to find such various and extensive 
 powers of mind, as had lately unfolded them- 
 selves to him at some private dinners to which 
 he had been invited. A dinner became to him 
 a new kind of pleasure : he used to accept an 
 invitation to dinner as a thing of course, but 
 from which he anticipated nothing beyond find- 
 ing himself in fashionable company, where all
 
 THE DAVENELS. 97 
 
 was in good style, and perhaps served on plate ; 
 but now there was an expectation of higher 
 enjoyment. Though not formed of that lively 
 temperament which characterizes the sons of 
 Erin, Villiers possessed a quick relish for real 
 wit and humour ; and as the more estimable 
 qualities of head and heart developed them- 
 selves on closer acquaintance, in some of the 
 leading characters in Dublin, his esteem and 
 admiration were excited and fixed in no com- 
 mon degree. He had often heard that Irish- 
 men continued too long at table after the de- 
 parture of the ladies ; and he had always felt 
 disposed to condemn them for a preference so 
 coarse; but since his acquaintance amongst 
 them, he learned to think that they were bound 
 by a spell of more refined enjoyment than their 
 detractors represented; and he could forgive 
 them the apparent want of gallantry in such 
 conduct ; for many an evening has he remained 
 to a late hour at the festive board, where only 
 two or three besides still lingered, chained by 
 VOL. i. F
 
 98 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the tasteful eloquence and playful wit of some 
 dignitory of the Irish bar, in whom gray-head- 
 ed wisdom seemed to have borrowed the grace 
 and freshness of early years, without forfeiting 
 the respect and honour which should accom- 
 pany old age. On those occasions, something 
 of an anacreontic character played about the 
 fancy of many whose blameless lives and private 
 virtues might have done credit to the sacred habit. 
 Amongst the duties of the Irish Court, an 
 occasional attendance at charity sermons is ex- 
 pected ; and on those occasions, the Lord 
 Lieutenant goes to church in state, attended by 
 his aid-de-camps and household. Church ora- 
 tory is most successfully cultivated in Ireland, 
 where the people are by nature eloquent ; and 
 vast sums are annually collected by this means 
 for the suffering poor, whose claims are allowed 
 with the more readiness, as there is no legal 
 provision for them. But, charity sermons do 
 not as formerly consist merely of pathetic de- 
 scriptions of want and woe ; the tale became
 
 THE DAVENELS. 99 
 
 hackneyed ; every one could anticipate the 
 details ; and the fidelity of the picture, it was 
 often convenient to doubt. The discourses of 
 the zealous and powerful preachers of the pre- 
 sent day, take a deeper station in the heart. 
 To convince man of sin, to show him his own 
 weakness, wickedness, and utter helplessness, 
 and to raise him by the might of love omnipo- 
 tent, to hope and faith in a blessed immor- 
 tality, is a nobler aim ; and the fruits of those 
 convictions and hopes will be charity, in its 
 most extended sense. Many go to a charity 
 sermon, who never think of going to church at 
 other times : they go as to the reading of a 
 tragedy or a fine poem ; and for many years, 
 this taste was cultivated and indulged by the 
 preachers. To draw tears from a congregation, 
 was supposed to be a proof of eloquence : yet, 
 who that has experienced calamity, can hear 
 unmoved the bare recital of any of the various 
 throes that affection is heir to ? But, to turn 
 the eye of the sinner inwards, to rouse the 
 
 F 2
 
 100 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 conscience of the careless and still harder task, 
 to open the eyes of the self-righteous, church- 
 going Pharisee; these demand all that argu- 
 ment, and eloquence, and zeal, aided by Chris- 
 tian love and charity can perform ; and these 
 Villiers found in many a clergyman in Dublin. 
 He was charmed, almost convinced he thought 
 he teas convinced ; perhaps, he mistook the 
 pleasure he received from the union of close 
 reasoning and eloquence, on a subject which 
 he allowed to be of the last importance, for con- 
 viction. But, the progress from darkness to 
 light is often slow. Let us hope, that where 
 one ray is granted, it will in time, by the aid 
 of divine grace, shine more and more unto 
 the perfect day. Villiers asked Why is not 
 this a land of plenty and of peace ? why are 
 her products, whether of mind or soil, sent 
 forth to enlighten and to feed other lands, 
 while she remains in ignorance and want? 
 Hard as it may be to give an answer to that 
 question, it would be less difficult than to find
 
 THE DAVENELS. 101 
 
 a remedy for the evil. Let us leave it to wiser 
 heads than yours or mine, gentle reader, and to 
 Him who guides the unruly wills and affections 
 of men as he thinks fit. 
 
 In his search after subjects of observation 
 peculiarly Irish, Villiersdid not neglect to visit 
 the mock senate, held by the Roman Catholics 
 of Ireland ; and if he was sometimes disgusted 
 by coarse invective, vulgar sarcasm, and low 
 scurrility, he was as often surprised by brilliant 
 imagery and genuine humour, at this theatre 
 of ultra-Irish oratory. 
 
 O'Connell and Shiel, so often named toge- 
 ther, formed in his opinion, the most striking 
 contrast. On Shiel's tongue, some fairy or 
 other enemy of the human race, seemed to have 
 imposed the baleful power of dropping toads 
 and vipers in every sentence ; while to O'Con- 
 nell's eloquence, bludgeons and shilelahs would 
 be the more appropriate accompaniments. Shiel's 
 eloquence could rouse the spirit of direst ha- 
 tred and revenge in the breasts of others.
 
 102 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 O'Connell seemed to wield all the powers of 
 warfare in his own person : Shiel might goad 
 men to the conflict, but they would follow 
 O'Connell. In both, mischief was sure to find 
 ready and skilful workmen. 
 
 Unhappy land ! driven by your legal gover- 
 nors into the arms of factious demagogues ! 
 Villiers quitted the scene with disgust and 
 heavy foreboding. 
 
 But, in spite of the attractions of wit and 
 wisdom, of politics and theology, Villiers found 
 himself every night in some scene of fashionable 
 dissipation, in which were generally to be found 
 the Miss Davenels. Some evenings of repose, 
 or as Lady Hortensia called it, of domestic 
 comfort, were insisted on. She knew too well 
 the value of her daughters' bloom, to waste it 
 in continual dissipation ; but she was careful to 
 choose her evenings at home, from those on 
 which the balls were the least stylish. 
 
 At length, St. Patrick's night arrived, and 
 was as usual celebrated by high and low, ac-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 103 
 
 cording to their several capacities. The univer- 
 sal shamrock was paraded all the morning, and 
 at night a ball was held at the Castle, in the 
 fine room called St. Patrick's hall. Perhaps, 
 few sights of the kind are more imposing. It 
 is the etiquette on St. Patrick's night, for 
 ladies to wear feathers as at Court ; and their 
 dresses are generally ornamented according to 
 fancy, with shamrocks, formed in green or 
 gold ; for on that night at least, to be national 
 is good taste. 
 
 Lady Hortensia swept up to the red benches, 
 followed by her daughters, who placed them 
 selves behind her. Next to her, came Mrs. 
 Mardyn, whose father having been lately made 
 a peer, she was entitled to a seat amongst the 
 thinned ranks of the nobility. Behind her, 
 and next to the Miss Davenels, were three Miss 
 Mardyns. The usual civilities took place. 
 
 The youngest Miss Mardyn was a year older 
 than her brother; a circumstance Mrs. Mardyn
 
 104 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 was at great pains to conceal, especially since 
 her son's coming of age a period which had 
 been observed with some eclat. They were all 
 rather fine girls, and with a great deal of tulle, 
 and white satin, and pink feathers, did very 
 well. Miss Annabella Mardyn was next to 
 Henrietta Davenel, and immediately set off in 
 the following spirited style of conversation : 
 " Oh dear ! I am sure I must look very 
 pale to night, for I was in the greatest fright 
 all the evening. Our dresses did not come 
 home till ever so late, and then mine was a 
 mile too short ; so I was sure I could not come 
 at all, and such a piece of work as there was: 
 mamma and our maid, and the milliner's girl, 
 and all at it; but luckily there was enough 
 turned up at the tail, and after ever so much 
 fuss it was made long enough ; but mamma 
 says she will never employ Miss Fleming again, 
 because it was such usage. I was resolved, I 
 assure you, not to come if it could not be
 
 THE DAVENELS. 105 
 
 settled ; for I would not come out drest differ- 
 ently from my sisters for any consideration in 
 the whole world." 
 
 " Oh ! dear," said Henrietta, " Frederica 
 and I do not mind that. Mamma does not 
 even wish us to dress alike." 
 
 " That is because your complexions are so 
 different; but we are all fair you know." 
 
 Miss Mardyn now leaned behind her sister 
 and Henrietta, and tapping Frederica on the 
 back of the neck with her fan to gain her at- 
 tention, said : "I am dying, I assure you, 
 to see who you will dance with to-night. I 
 have a very particular reason." 
 
 " Have you?" said Frederica. " I can save 
 your life by telling you at once, for I am en- 
 gaged." 
 
 " Really, to whom?" 
 
 " To your brother; he asked me just as we 
 came into the room." 
 
 " Well, that is very odd. I wonder he did 
 not ask Lady Isabella Floyd." 
 
 F5
 
 106 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " You are very good," said Frederica, laugh- 
 ing. 
 
 "Oh! I mean because I know he admires 
 her very much." 
 
 Mrs. Mardyn was at this time speaking to 
 Lady Hortensia in a tone of displeasure, caused 
 by some occurrence at the opposite side of the 
 room. Lady Hortensia only waved her plumes 
 gently in assent, but looked as soft, and fair, 
 and cool as usual. Mrs. Mardyn, whose feel- 
 ings flew too readily to her countenance, turned 
 round to her daughters and said : " I never 
 saw such Impudence. Look at Lady Margaret 
 O'Neil over there ; she has seated her daughter 
 by her side, in front, on the red bench, instead 
 of putting her behind her, as she should do, 
 and as Lady Hortensia and I have done." 
 
 " I suppose," said Miss Mardyn, " she is 
 afraid Miss O'Neil would not get a partner if 
 she was not full in view." 
 
 At that moment Captain Wharton went to
 
 THE DAVENELS. 107 
 
 Miss O'Neil, and said something, received a 
 bow in return, and went away. 
 
 " I think," said Miss Davenel, " Captain 
 Wharton has asked her to dance." 
 
 " God save the King" performed by the or- 
 chestra, announced the arrival of the Lord and 
 Lady Lieutenant and their cortege, most of 
 them in splendid uniforms. 
 
 The company all arose as the procession 
 moved up the room, and their Excellencies, 
 when they had reached the chairs of state, 
 turned round and graciously and courteously 
 saluted generally, which being returned, they 
 sat down, and so did every one. 
 
 In a few minutes the national air of " St. 
 Patrick's Day" was struck up ; and, however, 
 inapplicable it may be to the present style of 
 dancing, no one refuses to join in the country 
 dance,, which always opens the ball to that tune 
 on St. Patrick's night. Partners are partners 
 still, and young ladies have many reasons for 
 not refusing them. Young Mardyn came to
 
 108 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 claim Frederica's hand. He was a good look- 
 ing young man, but little more than one-and- 
 twenty, and had, on the day he was of age, 
 got possession of a large house, and place, and 
 a good estate. His mother and three sisters 
 continued to live with him, and a fine house 
 was taken in Dublin for the season. Lady 
 Hortensia looked at the chances in that quarter 
 with approbation. Mrs. Mardyn affected to 
 pay her great attention, and the young ladies 
 were by way of being great friends of the Miss 
 Davenels ; that is, the six miles which separated 
 their houses in the country, were sufficient to 
 keep them from meeting sometimes for many 
 weeks together. 
 
 But Lady Hortensia in secret sighed for a 
 high English connexion, though she should not 
 dream of refusing Mardyn if he was to propose. 
 Of Sir Martyn she had not yet fixed her opinion. 
 He was said to be a fortune-hunter, and to 
 want money, how to reconcile that with his at- 
 tention to Henrietta ?
 
 THE DAVENELS. 109 
 
 Sir Martyn had his doubts and difficulties 
 as well as Lady Hortensia ; but dancing with a 
 girl is not making love, and once more he went 
 to ask her, but finding her engaged to Lord 
 Fitzmaurice, he asked Lady Floranthe Ross. 
 Miss Mardyn was led out by a friend and bro- 
 ther sportsman of her brother, and the other 
 two closed up to each other and talked and 
 laughed a great deal. Miss O'Neil stood up 
 with Captain Wharton, and the Miss Mardyns 
 observed, that after all Lady Margaret was a 
 very sensible woman. Lady Floranthe now ran 
 out of the dance, and sidling up to Lady 
 Hortensia, said: " I'll sit by you, if you please, 
 until this odious jig is over. See how asto- 
 nished my partner is ; he cannot conceive what 
 is become of me, but I cannot dance a step in 
 time to that tune. Positively I will speak to 
 the Lord Lieutenant to forbid it any more." 
 
 " Who is your partner?" said Lady Hortensia. 
 
 " Oh ! Sir Martyn Saunders. He sees me 
 now he '11 wonder so."
 
 110 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 He came up to her, and hoped she was not 
 ill, in a tone not expressing either sympathy or 
 concern. She told him, she hated, detested 
 that tune. 
 
 " You are quite right ; it is only fit to be 
 danced at some fair or wake, or any other Irish 
 merry-making. I can understand why it is 
 played at the theatre : the mob would otherwise 
 pull down the house ; but I want to know who 
 would be offended if it was left out here ? and 
 to please whom is it played?" 
 
 To please the fiddlers I fancy," said Lady 
 Floranthe. 
 
 Sir Martyn had intended asking Henrietta 
 Davenel for the next quadrille ; but Lady Flo- 
 ranthe chose to consider him as her partner 
 still, and their dancing together merely post- 
 poned until the odious tune was over. Though 
 standing near her, he forgot her very existence, 
 for some minutes, and the stopping of the mu- 
 sic reminding him that it was time to secure 
 Henrietta, he turned briskly round in order to
 
 THE DAVENELS. Ill 
 
 find her, when Lady Floranthe, taking it as a 
 signal for going to their places, passed her arm 
 in his, and most undoubtingly led, while she 
 seemed to follow him, to the top of the room. 
 " Very odd, faith," he muttered as he found 
 himself standing by her, and the quadrille 
 forming around them. Henrietta was not long 
 disengaged, which did not lessen the disap- 
 pointment to Sir Martyn. She danced with 
 Captain Wharton, and Frederica with Lord 
 Fitzmaurice. 
 
 The first set of quadrilles being over, the 
 dancers went into the refreshment-room. Sir 
 Martyn came up to Henrietta to ask her for 
 the next set, and then helped her to some ice, 
 and tried to talk to her while he ate his own. 
 
 " Where shall you pass the summer?" 
 
 " At Glenlow Castle ; and in the autumn we 
 shall make a tour along the Rhine. We are 
 trying to persuade papa to spend next winter 
 abroad." 
 
 " Do you leave town soon ?"
 
 112 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " In May, I believe. We always leave horridly 
 early." 
 
 " That is deucedly early, certainly : you ought 
 to go to London then." 
 
 " Oh ! indeed we ought, and we should like 
 it; but papa so loves Glenlow Castle, and so 
 does Herbert." 
 
 " And who the deuce," thought Sir Martyn, 
 " is Herbert?" 
 
 " Papa says he must spend three months in 
 the country, and when the boys are returning 
 to school after vacation, we shall go to England 
 on our way to the Continent." 
 
 Herbert aud the boys ! it was too clear a 
 case in Sir Martyn's mind, that these were 
 brothers : and it is strange how much of height, 
 and fairness, and fashion, Henrietta lost in a 
 moment by the discovery. 
 
 He became absent forgot to take the empty 
 glass from her hand, as she played with it, 
 swinging it by the handle on one finger : and 
 he scraped the bottom of his own with his
 
 THE DAVENELS. 113 
 
 spoon which he put into his mouth repeatedly, 
 as if it had been full, making a face as though 
 he gulped down mouthfuls. Henrietta thought 
 him grown rather odd of a sudden, but wishing 
 to rouse him from his absent fit, she remarked 
 " how very beautiful Miss Hervey looks to- 
 night." 
 
 " Of course, of course," said Sir Martyn. 
 
 " Do you go to London soon ?" said she. 
 
 " O, by no means," was the pertinent reply. 
 
 Henrietta could not but perceive that he 
 spoke without knowing what he said. Sir Mar- 
 tyn did not intend to mark any sudden slight. 
 Some confused notions of conduct, called gen- 
 tleman-like, and ungentleman-like, would have 
 restrained him : but he was so surprised at the 
 sudden starting into life of several brothers, to 
 the demolition of all his views and plans, that he 
 was occupied in re-tracing his past steps, to see 
 how far he might be said to have gone in his at- 
 tentions to Miss Davenel ; and in considering 
 whether he had given any indirect intimations to
 
 114 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 her of attachment. But there was no room for 
 self-accusation on that score. Any one might 
 see that he had danced with her pretty often, and 
 she could not but be aware of the circumstance 
 herself; but all their conversations together 
 were of the kind of which we have endeavoured 
 to give some specimens. Still he was aware 
 that fathers and mothers have a right to form 
 expectations and claims from the coldest atten- 
 tions, if they have been constant, and in the 
 eyes of the world ; and this point he was en- 
 deavouring to settle ; resolving to ask leave of 
 absence the next morning, and go off to Lon- 
 don immediately. His mind being made up 
 on this point, he next resolved to conduct him- 
 self irreproachably by Miss Davenel for the re- 
 mainder of the evening ; that is, to dance with 
 her, as in honour bound ; and to say still less 
 than usual. They went back to the dancing- 
 room, but before they could take their places, 
 a sudden pressure of the crowd prepared them 
 for the progress of the Lord Lieutenant round
 
 THE DAVENELS. 115 
 
 the room. His Excellency spoke to most of 
 those whose names he was acquainted with, 
 extending his discourse according to the rank 
 and pretensions of the party. To Lady Horten- 
 sia, he supposed both her beautiful daughters 
 were dancing; and asked for Mr. Davenel, 
 supposing he did not love balls. To Mrs. Mar- 
 dyn he made a polite bow ; but not being able 
 to recollect her name, he merely hoped her 
 family were well. She replied, glancing back 
 at her two daughters, who arose and curtsied, 
 and she then said, stoutly : " My son, Mr. Mar- 
 dyn, has just been dancing, I believe." 
 
 His Excellency took the hint : said he liked 
 to see young men fond of dancing, and bowing, 
 passed on; but he had not gone far, when 
 Captain Hardynge came back and asked Miss 
 Mardyn to dance, at the same time presenting 
 a young officer to her sister. 
 
 Mrs. Mardyn was now in high good-humour, 
 and could bear to see her second daughter come 
 back and sit near her. " You had better not 
 dance any more, dear," said she ; " but you
 
 116 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 may sit in front : I see many do it, and now 
 the glory of the night is over." The Lady 
 Lieutenant just then sent a page to Lady Hor- 
 tensia to say she requested her company near 
 her, and accordingly she arose, and not unwill- 
 ingly left Mrs. Mardyn, who, though shrewd 
 and clever, was vulgar, and Lady H. felt less 
 easy with her, than with sillier women. As 
 soon as she was gone : " Do you know, mamma," 
 said Miss Annabella, " I do think Captain Vil- 
 liers flirts with Frederica Davenel." 
 
 " Nonsense, my dear," said Mrs. Martyn ; 
 " he knows he is worth his weight in gold, and 
 that is a price the Davenels cannot come up to, 
 I promise you." 
 
 " Why, mamma, she is the only girl he has 
 danced with in Dublin, and he always talks a 
 little to her, and, indeed, to all the Davenels. 
 For my part, I think him a disagreeable kind 
 of man." 
 
 " Oh," said Mrs. Mardyn, " I'll trust to Lady 
 Clara Reeve to keep him from the Davenels." 
 
 " I thought," said Annabella, " that may be
 
 THE DAVENELS. 117 
 
 Frederica imagined George liked her, which 
 made me say he admired Lady Isabella, and 
 I declare she looked as if she could box me.' 1 
 
 " Hold your foolish tongue. George indeed ! 
 as if he could think of marrying at his age. 
 Why I assure you I look upon him quite as a 
 boy still. Sure he has not travelled, or any 
 thing yet." 
 
 " The Davenels are going abroad in the 
 autumn," said Annabella. 
 
 "Whereto?" 
 
 " I believe to the Rhine, and then to Italy." 
 
 " With all my heart," said Mrs. Mardyn, 
 settling out her flounces ; " I hope the world's 
 wide. George will have enough to do this year 
 in completing thut wall and planting Malahore 
 mountain; and he will no doubt be high sheriff 
 next year, so his travels cannot begin quite so 
 soon." 
 
 Miss Annabella stood up for a moment, and 
 then said : " He is dancing with Lady Isabella 
 Floyd, and I declare and vow Captain Villiers
 
 118 THE DAVENKLS. 
 
 is dancing with Frederica. I guessed how it 
 would be." 
 
 Villiers was indeed dancing with Frederica. 
 It was above three weeks since he had applied 
 for leave of absence ; but a brother officer hav- 
 ing just obtained it, caused some delay. On 
 returning home to dress, the day of the ball, 
 he found a packet on his table; it contained 
 permission to absent himself for two months. 
 The permission was very desirable. He wanted 
 to go to London : it was the very thing he had 
 solicited. He could not imagine why he did 
 not receive it with more satisfaction. He felt 
 he had begun to find some amusement in Dub- 
 lin. Later in the season would do better for 
 London : but then the main object for which 
 he had wished to go, to see his cousin, Burrell 
 Villiers, before his departure for the Continent, 
 would be lost. He made his arrangements, 
 therefore, resolved to set off in the morning for 
 Holyhead, andto dance one quadrille with Fre- 
 derica.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 119 
 
 The dancing being ended, it was evident that 
 the hour of supper was approaching, from the 
 general movement of the company towards the 
 doors leading to the supper-rooms. The Dave- 
 nel party were collected near each other, with 
 their partners and friends, and were now and 
 then impeded in their progress by a retrograde 
 movement on the part of the crowd that prece- 
 ded them. The usual hum of voices went 
 round. 
 
 SirMartyn, with Henrietta on his arm, being 
 near Villiers, who was held by Frederica, 
 " Villiers," said he, " can you attend for me 
 to-morrow at the Castle ? I want to go to 
 Howth to meet some friends." 
 
 " I should be very happy," said Villiers ;" but 
 I must go to Howth myself at six o'clock to- 
 morrow morning." 
 
 " What time do you come back ?" 
 
 " Not for two months." 
 
 " What ! have you leave of absence ?"
 
 120 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Yes ; I am going to London to see Burrell 
 Villiers before he goes abroad." 
 
 " That is cursed unlucky for me," said Sir 
 Marty n ; " I intended asking for leave myself." 
 
 " I am sorry to stand in your way, but so 
 it is." 
 
 This disclosure seemed to raise Frederica's 
 spirits. She spoke of the party at Miss Car- 
 michael's, and laughed at the recollection. 
 
 " Do you love small plays?" said Villiers. 
 
 " O yes, with children sometimes. When I 
 am at Ardlaken with my cousins, I play them 
 with all my heart. Some young ladies in the 
 neighbourhood have a French governess, who 
 sets them going ; and the French are so ingeni- 
 ous that way: but I don't feel the same satis- 
 faction in them amongst grown people, and in 
 large companies." 
 
 " What is become of Don Perez?" said 
 Wharton, " or was he a Don anything? Do 
 you know I began to suspect it was a bit of a
 
 THE DAVENELS. 121 
 
 masquerade. What do you think, Miss Frede- 
 rica?" 
 
 " He spoke Spanish like a Spaniard, at 
 least," said she. 
 
 " Perhaps he was a Spanish teacher," said 
 Wharton, " so many cheats go about in so- 
 ciety : and the Neapolitan Improvisatrice who 
 is she, I wonder?" 
 
 " She at least professes to be a teacher," 
 said Frederica. 
 
 " Ah ! Frederica," said Miss Mardyn, " you 
 wont give up your Don." 
 
 " Don is a good travelling title, I fancy," 
 said Sir Martyn. 
 
 Frederica, though too timid to undertake the 
 Spaniard's cause against so much prejudice, yet 
 felt convinced he was not an impostor. Villieis 
 relieved her by saying, " I have good reason to 
 know that he is not only a Spaniard, but that 
 he has been a very influential person in the 
 Cortes, just dissolved. He showed me letters 
 to some persons of consequence in London, and 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 their answers, which prove him to be every 
 inch a Don. He goes to-morrow to England, 
 and I hope to have his company in the mail to 
 London." 
 
 " You speak Spanish then," said Frederica. 
 
 " Not as well perhaps as I ought, having 
 spent six months in Spain. Your acquaintance 
 with the language shames my poor proficiency, 
 I assure you." 
 
 By this time the crowd was wedged closely 
 into the door-way leading to the supper-rooms. 
 A few minutes arc generally passed very dis- 
 agreeably while effecting this passage. Gentle- 
 men, in their care for the ladies they are indi- 
 vidually conducting, involuntarily and unavoid- 
 ably crush other ladies, who in their turn are 
 obliged to be careless of the comfort of all but 
 themselves. No choice is allowed : you are 
 carried on by an irresistible tide, and find your- 
 self blessing your stars, at length, in a spacious 
 room, with tables well covered, obsequious at- 
 tendants, and every thing but the possibility ot
 
 THE DAVENELS. 123 
 
 placing yourself with any kind of comfort. This 
 want of accommodation, however, is merely 
 artificial, caused by the eagerness of every one 
 to be first, or amongst the first. What be- 
 comes then of that politeness which prompts 
 them at other times to yield their claims and 
 wishes to the rest of the company ? 
 
 Supper being ended that is, piles of food 
 being wantonly cut up and wasted, and costly 
 delicacies and ornaments disfigured, Lady Hor- 
 tensia gave the signal for departure, which made 
 it necessary for her family to keep together ; 
 but many interruptions occurred before they 
 reached the last of the suite of rooms ; and 
 Dudley Villiers contrived to form one of their 
 party to the last moment, nor left them until ho 
 had handed the three ladies into their carriage. 
 
 " He is grown quite polite," said Henrietta, 
 as they drove off.
 
 124 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 For her own breakfast, she'll project a scheme, 
 Nor take her tea without a stratagem. YOUNG. 
 
 THE next morning at eight, Villiers found him 
 self on board the packet for Holyhead. He 
 conversed mostly with the Spaniard, to beguile 
 the time, which, disguise it as you will, is al- 
 ways tedious and triste in crossing the channel. 
 What scenes of gaiety he had in London with 
 his cousin Burrell, and a long et cetera of high 
 connexions, and what success Don Perez had 
 in his mission, history does not say. We must 
 therefore return to the Davenel family. 
 
 Frederica could not imagine what it was
 
 THE DAVENELS. 125 
 
 that displeased her in the next ball. Young 
 Mardyn paid her some attention ; and she re- 
 ceived him better than she did any one else, 
 because having known him from her childhood, 
 she considered him almost as a relation. Her 
 good humour encouraged him to stay near her, 
 while to others her absent manner was repelling. 
 She involuntarily compared all the men who 
 spoke or danced with her, to Captain Villiers, 
 and their inferiority was in her estimation very 
 striking. The Miss Mardyns rallied her on the 
 loss of her faau, and it was of service to her. 
 Hating that they should think his absence had 
 left a blank to her, she assumed particular 
 gaiety whenever any of that family were near 
 her. This was flattering to young Mardyn, 
 and alarming to his mother and sisters. They 
 did not spare him on the occasion. Nothing 
 was too coarse. It was 
 
 " Now that Captain Villiers has deserted 
 Frederica, she is very kind to you, George." 
 George never took such attacks in good part.
 
 126 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " What do you mean by deserting ?" said 
 he : " he did not make love to her, I am sure ; 
 if he did, and was capable of deserting her, she 
 must heartily despise him ; but you are quite 
 mistaken, I assure you. I was near her, going 
 into supper at the Castle, the very night before 
 lie went away, and he was talking of going to 
 London, and I never saw her in better spirits in 
 my life." 
 
 " A learned wife, Oeorge, would not do for 
 you." 
 
 " I am not thinking of a wife of any kind," 
 said George, sulkily; " but if she is learned, I 
 am sure she makes no parade of it." 
 
 " No parade ! Oh George ! what do you say 
 to her speaking Spanish before a whole room 
 full of company at Miss Carmichael's?" 
 
 " Why, that if any of you could have done 
 it, you would have made twice the parade of 
 it." 
 
 And with this retort courteous, George took 
 up his hat and walked out of the house. Mount-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 127 
 
 ing the box of his four-in-hand, he drove about 
 the town, sometimes meditating on the great 
 superiority of the Miss Davenels over his sisters, 
 and at other times wishing Fitzmaurice would 
 sell that horse he kept for his cabriolet, in which 
 case he would sell Skipper, who was a less per- 
 fect match for his other three, than Fitzmau- 
 rice's horse. These two subjects of meditation 
 occupied his mind until he found himself under 
 the Davenels' windows, and wishing to show 
 them how prime he was, he stopped, was ad- 
 mitted, and entered the drawing-room. His 
 long intimacy with the family ensured him al- 
 ways a frank reception, and the morning occu- 
 pations were not even suspended on his arrival. 
 Lady Hortensia was working a hearth-rug : the 
 pattern, a little dog ready to start up and tear 
 you, was neatly drawn on the canvass j the 
 stitches numbered and marked, and one leg and 
 the ear and mouth ready worked at the Maga- 
 zin de Nouveautes. Mr. Davenel was reading 
 the newspapers, and the Miss Davenels were
 
 ]'28 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 trying a duet on the harp and pianoforte. A 
 smile from the young ladies as they glanced at 
 him, and a cordial shake of the hand from Mr. 
 Davenel, set him at ease at once. Lady H. 
 was more than usually kind in her reception : 
 but he felt that the duet must be finished be- 
 fore he could call their attention to his equi- 
 page. The moment it was over, he mentioned 
 it first to Mr. Davenel, who went to the win- 
 dow ; but the young ladies could assure him 
 they liked handsome horses too; and all the 
 party went to look ; and he went down stairs, 
 mounted the box, and performed some evolu- 
 tions for their approbation. In a few minutes 
 he returned up stairs, and said, " Do, Lady 
 Hortensia, let me drive you and the young 
 ladies to the park, or somewhere. I assure you 
 I am a most careful whip." The girls looked 
 as if they should like it ; and on Mr. Davenel 
 consenting to be of the party, they all set off, the 
 four Davenels inside. The park was thought 
 too distant, and the day too cold for the coun-
 
 THE DAVENELS, 129 
 
 try, and a little promenade in town was substi- 
 tuted. Mardyn made the most of all the prin- 
 cipal streets, contriving to go twice round Mer- 
 rion Square. He then went over the water, and 
 with a feeling between fear and defiance, drove 
 past his own house, and glancing towards it 
 from the corner of his eye, he perceived, by 
 the bustle of figures in the window, that the 
 party in the carriage was recognized. Imme- 
 diately the most lively kissing of hands took 
 place between the Miss Mardyns and the Da- 
 venels, but there was no thought of stopping. 
 It was time shortly afterwards to return home ; 
 and Mr. Davenel called to Mardyn to say the 
 ladies were perfectly satisfied with his skill as a 
 coachman, and begged to be taken home, which 
 was done; and leaving the Davenels at their 
 own house, he drove off. 
 
 Mrs. Mardyn had been out for some hours ; 
 but the moment she returned, all the daughters 
 vociferated what had happened, telling her also 
 
 G 5
 
 130 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of the excellent airing they had given their 
 brother before he went out. 
 
 " Well girls," said she, " I can only tell you 
 that you will do no good by teazing George 
 about it ; if you do, he'll fall in love and marry, 
 just to show he is his own master. That is not 
 the way to manage men, I assure you. I never 
 say any thing to vex George, and you see he 
 thinks he governs me entirely; but I know 
 better than he does. How bent he was on 
 going to Paris this spring ; and how I brought 
 him off, without a word of dispute, just by 
 seeming to wish it as much as he did, and la- 
 menting over and over that I could not have 
 the pleasure of his company either here or there ; 
 and making the most of that little law-suit; 
 and now finding himself amused here, he stays 
 on without any more fuss : but you fret him, 
 and you will drive him out of the house at 
 last." 
 
 The Miss Mardyns each declared it was not
 
 THE DAVENELS. 131 
 
 she that fretted him ; that she had hardly said 
 a word, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 George did not return to dinner, so there was 
 no immediate opportunity of putting in prac- 
 tice these new lessons in the art of managing 
 men. 
 
 From this time Mardyn grew more and more 
 enamoured of Frederica. Her superiority to 
 his sisters in accomplishments and talents were 
 less visible to him, and would be less likely to 
 attract him than her extreme sweetness of dis- 
 position. Miss DavenePs rate of understand- 
 ing would have suited him better, but she was 
 more occupied with herself than Frederica, who 
 possessed a delicacy which led her unconsciously 
 to veil her talents when conversing with a man 
 of inferior understanding ; and the regard she 
 felt for Mardyn from early years, gave her an 
 ease and good humour in her manner with him, 
 which he began to mistake for a preference he 
 could not inspire in a person of her taste and 
 discernment. Her perfect indifference towards
 
 132 THE DAVENEL9. 
 
 the men she met in society every day, made it 
 troublesome to her to attend much to their con- 
 versation or their compliments, and she there- 
 fore gladly accepted Mardyn as a partner when- 
 ever he asked her, which was once at least 
 every night that, they met. His visits became 
 more frequent at the Davenels, and the parents 
 on both sides could not avoid making their ob- 
 servations. Mr. Davenel, though he justly ap- 
 preciated Frederica's endowments, yet looking 
 on the chances of life, and reflecting on the 
 happiness of having his favourite daughter 
 settled near him, married to a young man 
 of large fortune and unexceptionable character, 
 began to feel a decided wish for the match. 
 Lady Hortensia also looked on it as desir- 
 able. Her eldest daughter, who was consi- 
 dered to have come out with some eclat, was 
 still unmarried, and this strengthened her ap. 
 probation of Mardyn; and when she and 
 Mr. Daveael had consulted together, the result 
 was a perfect agreement of opinion ; Mr. Da-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 133 
 
 venel always conditioning for Frederica's abso- 
 lute preference, of which Lady Hortensia made 
 but little account. The consequence of this con- 
 ference was, that Mardyn was frequently invited 
 to dinner, which did not strengthen the intimacy 
 between the ladies on both sides. But Lady 
 Hortensia began to perceive that Mardyn was 
 too much in love to submit to any control 
 which his family might attempt to exercise, and 
 things were allowed to take their course. If 
 they were to presume to make objections, it 
 would be a good excuse for keeping them at a 
 distance, and she could not like Mrs. Mardyn ; 
 and now that she felt assured of the young- 
 man's attachment, she almost wished for his 
 mother's disapprobation, and she looked for an 
 early declaration. 
 
 But as true love is always diffident, in pro- 
 portion as Mardyn's passion for Frederica in- 
 creased, his self-confidence decreased. The 
 estate, the house, and the four-in-hand, which 
 he used to think ought to ensure him accept-
 
 134 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ance with any woman, were now held in con- 
 tempt when weighed with the charms and 
 merits of Frederica ; and when he endeavoured 
 to flatter himself that he might be personally 
 agreeable to her, her superiority rose to his view, 
 and damped his hopes. 
 
 Lady Hortensia did not approve of much 
 delay, and took all opportunities of leaving 
 them together; but Frederica, who with all her 
 good-nature did not think it necessary to waste 
 the time she could employ more agreeably in 
 conversing with George Mardyn, generally con- 
 trived to frustrate any scheme of the kind. 
 
 Amongst the Englishmen who held official 
 situations in Dublin, Mr. Decourcy was one of 
 the highest. He was not married, and having 
 two sisters who resided chiefly with an aunt, 
 he invited them over to enjoy the pleasures of 
 his house, and of the Irish capital. They had 
 about thirty-thousand pounds each ; which in 
 England is considered as a comfortable, and in 
 Ireland as a very large fortune. They were what
 
 THE DAVENELS. 135 
 
 is called young enough, though they had been 
 some years out in the world ; principally at 
 Bath and the watering-places. They were just 
 neat-looking every body understands that 
 phrase. Slight fair no particular expression, 
 and with figures that required ample dressing : 
 very much at their ease, and disposed to consi- 
 der Ireland as an inferior place, where they 
 should cut a figure amongst the natives. They 
 et out in great style : dressed, danced, talked, 
 and sang were run after for a while, and 
 then rated at their true value, of which their 
 fortunes were considered as forming the greater 
 part. 
 
 Mrs. Mardyn had no particular wish to have 
 her son married, but she had discernment enough 
 to see that his was no distant day, and she 
 began to speculate upon the youngest of 
 the Decourcys for him. After all, thirty thou- 
 sand pounds with Alicia Decourcy, was better 
 than Frederica Davenel with five j and having 
 lived always near the Davenels, and being ra-
 
 136 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ther envious of the girls, and even of the mo- 
 ther, she felt no slight satisfaction in disappoint- 
 ing any scheme of theirs, especially one which 
 would bring the two families closer together 
 than mere neighbourhood. When two sisters 
 have equal fortunes, it is safest to speculate 
 upon the youngest: the eldest is then voted 
 never to marry, and the double portion is likely 
 to fall into the lap of the youngest. 
 
 The Miss Mardyns were now to be amazingly 
 fond of the Miss Decourcys : and they, in re- 
 turn, found the Mardyns a charming family. 
 Miss Alicia admired Mr. Mardyn's manner of 
 driving his barouche; and having had some ac- 
 quaintances amongst the barouche club, she 
 could speak en connoisseuse upon the subject. 
 George wanted nothing better than to show oft' 
 in that way; and the Davenels not being dis- 
 engaged or willing to go with him, he had no 
 difficulty in prevailing on the Miss Decourcys 
 always provided one of the dear Miss Mardyiis 
 would be one of the party. As the Miss Mar-
 
 THEDAVENELS. 13? 
 
 dyns were really not ill-tempered girls, they 
 were easily induced to leave off teazing their 
 brother, and good-humour and gaiety were the 
 order of the day. The Miss Decourcys were 
 praised continually, and many charms were dis- 
 covered which were not so self-evident to a man 
 whose fancy was pre-occupied by the surpassing 
 beauty of Frederica : but easy and amiable as 
 Frederica seemed to him, he could not find a 
 moment favourable for the awful declaration. 
 Though she was incapable of coquetry, there 
 was nothing in her to frighten away the young 
 and gay amongst the fashionable men with 
 whom Dublin at that time abounded ; and the 
 numbers who eagerly contended for her hand in 
 the dance, wherever she appeared, might be sup- 
 posed to flatter a young lady ; so that Mardyn 
 found too many competitors to be as much 
 by her side as he wished to be. Whenever he 
 was disappointed of dancing with her, he gene- 
 rally asked Henrietta, and then the Miss De- 
 courcys came next of course. But sometimes,
 
 138 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 by the manoeuvres of Mrs. Mardyn, he found 
 himself called upon to secure the fair hand of 
 Miss Alicia Decourcy, before going to a ball. 
 This was done in various ways : sometimes by 
 talking of dancing " When you and George 
 were dancing together the other night" or, 
 " if you wear that beautiful dress dancing to- 
 night, don't let it be so long a pretty foot need 
 not be so carefully hid. I heard a gentleman 
 say so, I assure you." In short there was no 
 saying the many ways Mrs. Mardyn had of 
 drawing her son's attention to Miss Alicia. At 
 length she had the hardiness to propose going 
 to visit the Davenels in George's carriage. 
 George could not refuse : he even thought it 
 might not be a bad thing to show Frederica 
 what high favour he was in with the Decour- 
 cys : and accordingly they went: Mrs. Mardyn, 
 Miss Alicia Decourcy, and Miss Mardyn : the 
 other two remained at home with Miss De- 
 courcy, who was to teach them some fashiona- 
 ble work. Lady Hortensia was not at home,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 139 
 
 but the intimacy between the families procur- 
 ed the party admission to the young ladies. The 
 Miss Annesleys were with them. They had 
 both been a little perplexed by the sudden de- 
 parture of Captain Villiers, in the middle of 
 what they had established to be a flirtation. 
 They never teazed any one, however, though 
 loving gossip : a sort of worldly prudence, 
 mingled with good-nature, taught them not to 
 make enemies by teazing observations: but 
 Miss Mardyn was determined to probe Frederi- 
 ca in the presence of her brother. 
 
 " When is Captain Villiers to return?" said 
 she, addressing her when George was speaking 
 to her : but it happened that Frederica cared 
 too little about Mardyn, and feared him too little, 
 to be embarrassed by the question, andshe merely 
 laughed and said, " indeed I do not know.' 1 
 
 " I dare say," said Mrs. Mardyn, loooking 
 full at Henrietta, " Sir Martyn Saunders keeps 
 an account of the days of Captain Villiers's 
 absence ; for he is only waiting for his return to
 
 140 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 get leave for himself : he seems quite tired of 
 Dublin." 
 
 " I am surprised any one can be tired of 
 Dublin," said Miss Alicia Decourcy ; " for my 
 part, I never was in so delightful a place in my 
 life : so many agreeable people as I have met 
 here ! I am sure I have formed friendships in 
 Dublin that I hope to keep all my life." 
 
 " I hope you will, my dear creature," said 
 Miss Mardyn, " and I hope you will allow us 
 to keep yours : I am sure I grieve to think you 
 will one day leave Ireland." 
 
 " May be not," said Mrs. Mardyn, " who 
 knows but she may be kept here yet." Miss 
 Alicia affected to blush, and then to sigh, and 
 unasked, walked round to the pianoforte, and 
 asked if the harp was in tune with it : but the 
 movement was not seconded, and after striking 
 a few chords, she returned to her place, and be- 
 gan to talk to Frederica in a style of fulsome 
 compliment, which surprised and disgusted her, 
 as she had never met with any particular civili-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 141 
 
 ty from those ladies, who affected to be the cen- 
 tre of a circle of their own, to which the Dave- 
 nels did not pay court. 
 
 Apropos to something, or to nothing, the fol- 
 lowing profound question was proposed by Miss 
 Mardyn to Miss Annesley. 
 
 " Which do you prefer in a young lady 
 learning or accomplishments?" 
 
 " I cannot decide in a moment," said Miss 
 Annesley : " it would require some time to 
 make so critical a choice."" 
 
 " For my part/" 1 said Miss Alicia, *' I have 
 no hesitation in saying, that I would rather 
 possess accomplishments : learning may be very 
 satisfactory to oneself, but accomplishments are 
 the means of pleasing those one loves esteems 
 I mean,"" said she, as if she had slipped out a 
 word which she ought not to have used. 
 
 " O yes !" said Henrietta, " one may as well 
 be out of the world as not speak French perfect- 
 ly, for instance." 
 
 ** French is quite necessary," said Miss Mar-
 
 142 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 clyn, " but beyond that I own I see no great 
 use in foreign languages. It is allowed by 
 every one, that one may travel all over the con- 
 tinent by means of French, and the fewer Dons 
 and Segnors a lady converses with the better." 
 
 Mardyn coloured violently at this insinua- 
 tion of his sisters ; but after a few moments he 
 said, " Young ladies really do not require all the 
 accomplishments they learn ; why need they be 
 so very charming ? I declare they make us plain 
 country gentlemen look very foolish." 
 
 " Oh !" said Miss Alicia, eager to raise him in 
 his own opinion, " those accomplishments 
 which please in a woman, would be superfluous 
 in a man. A man's endowments should be ot 
 another kind : strength and personal skill, for 
 instance. And then, men have so much more 
 sense then we silly women, who have need of 
 protectors and guides all our lives." 
 
 " Aye when women have the modesty, like 
 you my dear, to wish to be guided," said Mrs. 
 Mardyn, " it is happy for themselves." Miss
 
 THE DAVENELS. 143 
 
 Annesley was puzzled : in the line of conversa- 
 tion established by the new visitors, there seem- 
 ed to me more meant than met the ear : but be- 
 fore any light could be thrown upon it, Lady 
 Hortensia sailed in, with her usual smile of com- 
 placency, though a little startled at the intima- 
 cy which she perceived increasing between the 
 Mardyns and the Decourcys : but she never 
 betrayed the least humeur in society : that being 
 the worst weapon a manceuvrer can employ ; 
 and safe only in the hands of an adored mistress. 
 Her presence checked the tendency to point 
 in the conversation, and the usual polite no- 
 things were said ; but a movement having been 
 excited, those who stood up when she entered, 
 seemed to think there was no time for sitting- 
 down again ; and the object of the visit being 
 answered to Mrs. Mardyn in having paraded 
 her son with Alicia Decourcy, she felt no parti- 
 cular desire to remain longer under the superior 
 grace and dignity of Lady Hortensia; whose 
 superiority however she affected to despise, 
 when she was not in her presence.
 
 144 
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 But Lady Hortensia did not intend to let 
 Mardyn slip through her hands without one 
 effort. She talked to him so as to make it diffi- 
 cult for him to leave her, until Mrs. Mardyu 
 had twice said, " George, I declare we shall be 
 late consider, we have to set down this dear 
 creature at the Castle, and we must first go 
 home for Miss Decourcy." At length George 
 was obliged to move away, and the ladies having 
 shook hands with each other over and over, and 
 laughed, as is usual in Ireland when dear friends 
 and intimates are saying good bye, they began to 
 descend the stairs. Lady Hortensia suddenly 
 stepped towards the door, as Mardyn, who went 
 last, glanced back at Frederica, and in a low 
 voice asked him to dine and go to the play with 
 them that evening adding, " We have a box." 
 
 Mardyn could scarcely signify a pleased as- 
 sent, when hearing his mother's voice calling him 
 at the foot of the stairs, he leaped down a flight 
 at a time, and was on the box before the ladies 
 could step into the carriage. 
 
 Having gone home for the Miss Decourcy's
 
 THE DAVENELS. 145 
 
 and taken both sisters to the Castle, he drove 
 home again at a great rate, and then telling his 
 servant to keep the carriage at the door, he was 
 going in haste into the house to dress; when 
 Mrs. Mardyn said, in a careless tone, " Well 
 George, I have invited the Miss Decourcys to 
 dine with us, and go to Matthews's benefit." 
 
 " Not for this day I hope," said George. 
 
 " To be sure, for this day you know we have 
 a box." 
 
 " But I am engaged to dine at Mr. Davenel's." 
 
 " My dear George, that is unlucky : when ? 
 how ?" 
 
 " Lady Hortensia asked me just as" 
 
 " Lady Hortensia indeed ! what a time too ! 
 Why could not Mr. Davenel have sent, if he 
 wished for your company." 
 
 " O, mother, there need be no ceremony, I 
 think, between the Davenels and me." 
 
 " I don't wish to stand upon mere ceremony 
 I am sure, but it is so odd that they will still 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 treat you as a boy that is the worst of such 
 near neighbours and close intimates : one never 
 appears to be of the same consequence to them 
 that one is to the rest of the world and it will 
 be making little of yourself I think to dine out 
 when we have company and people of fashion 
 too ! it will look as if you were not the master 
 of this house." 
 
 By this time they had reached the drawing- 
 room, and George was looking rather perplexed. 
 Though wishing much to dine and go to the play 
 with the Davencls, he had been bred up in too 
 strict an observance of all the duties of hospita- 
 lity, to be easily reconciled to such a violation of 
 its rules : he had not learned with fashionable 
 selfishness to consult coolly his own wishes 
 merely, and he felt the awkwardness to his 
 mother, who had invited those ladies on the 
 faith of his dining at home. He did not know 
 Mrs. Mardyn : nor perceive that her quick eye 
 had detected the motive of Lady Hortensia for
 
 THE DAVENELS. 147 
 
 engaging him in conversation, and had seen how 
 she followed him to the door. Mrs. Mardyn had 
 also seen, as she glanced back from the lower 
 flight of stairs, George's assenting bow, as 
 he stood half within the drawing-room door, 
 and she felt as convinced as if she had heard 
 the words, that an invitation to dinner was 
 given. Resolved if possible to foil this, as soon 
 as Miss Decourcy got into the carriage, she pro- 
 posed that they should return to dinner, and go 
 to the play with her and her family, and after a 
 little hesitation, it was so settled. 
 
 As usual, Mrs. Mardyn did not seem to con- 
 trol her son. It was " I am sure, my dear 
 George I am very much vexed, and if you had 
 given me a hint when you came down stairs, I 
 should not have asked them : I declare I would 
 rather you dined where you liked best, but then 
 I know how stupid those girls will think it to 
 dine with only your sisters and me : and your 
 taking care of them to the play was another 
 inducement but what is to be done ?" 
 
 H2
 
 148 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 George looked at his watch 
 Mrs. Mardyn looked at the pendule : there 
 were only five minutes difference ; but it was 
 not a question of time ; a note could be written 
 and sent as quickly as George could dress and 
 go there. 
 
 " Hang it," said George, " this is cursed 
 unlucky." 
 
 " Indeed I am quite angry with myself," 
 said Mrs. Mardyn, " and I ought to have asked 
 you were you disengaged ; but knowing you 
 were so this morning, it never occurred to me." 
 " O, my dear mother, it was not your fault 
 there was no fault in the case," said George, 
 good-naturedly. 
 
 " But I cannot imagine when Lady Hortensia 
 asked you; for I am sure / never heard it, and 
 we were not ten minutes there after she came 
 in." 
 
 " O, it was just as I was leaving the room : 
 you were on the stairs." 
 
 " And what will you do, my dear?"
 
 THEDAVENELS. 149 
 
 " Why, send an excuse, I suppose," said 
 George, twirling the lash of his whip on the 
 floor, till he had accomplished forming some- 
 thing like a capital F. 
 
 " Indeed, I fear so," said Mrs. Mardyn, 
 looking mortified ; and then turning to a writ- 
 ing-table, she arranged, with a dejected air, the 
 paper for a note, with a pen and blotting- 
 book. 
 
 George sat down : of all things he was not 
 ready at note-writing. Like the Frenchman, 
 who travelled fifty miles to answer a letter on 
 some trifling business, alleging* as a reason, 
 that he was not fort sur Vorthographe. George 
 would have preferred taking any personal trou- 
 ble to writing an explanatory note on any sub- 
 ject. This was not to be a card in the usual 
 way : he could accept or refuse invitations in 
 the common form ; but this must be a friendly 
 note. He must express himself grieved, he 
 could indeed hardly venture to say how much ; 
 yet he felt it might seem ridiculous (and where 
 his own guests were concerned not very
 
 150 THE DAY EN ELS. 
 
 polite) to be more than very sorry. He con- 
 sulted Mrs. Mardyn, who did not choose to 
 desert him in this dilemma, lest he should do, 
 as she had often seen him do, go himself to ex- 
 plain, after tearing up two or three unsatisfac- 
 tory notes. He began : Mi/ dear Mr. Davenet, 
 lam very sorry but, stopping, " Is not it odd 
 for me to write to Mr. Davenel ? it was Lady 
 Hortensia asked me : and I did not even see 
 him." 
 
 " Very true : and perhaps he does not even 
 know of the invitation." 
 
 " Very likely, indeed," said George, nibbing 
 his pen, which wrote too thick, and which was 
 now too stiff and fine, and made his hand, 
 which was not a good one, look particularly 
 school-boyish. Having tried it, however, on 
 the condemned note, until he made it write 
 freer, he took fresh paper and began again. 
 
 " Dear Lady Hortensia." 
 
 This looked, he thought, too familiar, for he 
 never had felt as much at his ease with Lady
 
 THE DAVENELS 151 
 
 Hortensia as with Mr. Davenel. In spite of 
 her placid countenance, and courtly politeness, 
 none of the Mardyn family had ever been able 
 to pass the invisible fence, which her real con- 
 tempt for them marked out as the boundary to 
 their intercourse. It was now Mrs. Mardyn's 
 object to keep up this distance. When George 
 therefore asked her if that was too familiar a 
 style to Lady Hortensia, she encouraged him to 
 think it was. 
 
 " Why, indeed, I think now that you are a 
 man, I may say, and your own master, I think 
 you had better write as any gentleman may be 
 supposed to do to a lady of her rank and years. 
 It will show that you no longer think yourself 
 a boy." This was the string to touch, and he 
 set out afresh, on another sheet of paper, in a 
 manly, gentleman-like style, thus : 
 
 Mr. Mardyn presents his compliments to 
 Lady Horlensia Davenel 
 
 " What excuse am I to make ?"
 
 152 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Oh, tell the truth, by all means." 
 Is much concerned that he cannot have the 
 " honour or pleasure?" said George. 
 
 " Honour, by all means," said Mrs. Mardyn, 
 in a decided tone. 
 
 Honour of dining with her " Shall I say 
 anything of Mr. Davenel?" 
 
 " Not a word he did not ask you." 
 this day, as some friends have promised to dine 
 with him and Mrs. Mardyn. 
 
 " That will do," said Mrs, Mardyn, taking 
 and folding the note, that he should not read it 
 over, and perhaps be struck with its stiff style, 
 in which Veloquence du billet was certainly not 
 conspicuous. But she wished the note to be 
 stiff, and if she could have hoped to be able to 
 make him write anything likely to offend Lady 
 Hortensia, she would have attempted it: but 
 the note was a good note in its way, and being 
 sealed and directed, was sent off. The carriage 
 was dismissed, " For we shall have my job in 
 the evening, you know/" said she, "and the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 153 
 
 Miss Decourcys will have theirs, and we shall 
 be very comfortable ; and now I must go and 
 dress, and so will you, I suppose. There is 
 not a moment to lose, for I have ordered dinner 
 precisely at half-past five :" and having con- 
 trived to move George towards his own room, 
 she went to hers, secretly rejoicing at having 
 out- managed Lady Hortensia. 
 
 The Miss Decourcys came just in time. 
 George tried to do the civil at his own table, 
 and took a few glasses of champagne extraor- 
 dinary to keep himself up : and the Miss De- 
 courcys, not accustomed to receive any very 
 ardent admiration, were satisfied. It seemed, 
 as if by tacit consent, the mother, and the sisters 
 on both sides, had marked out Miss Alicia for 
 George. She being but three or four years 
 younger than her sister, and but three or four 
 years older than George, was perhaps one rea- 
 son, if not the reason : but the parties did not 
 make any regular agreement on the subject. 
 
 Dinner being over, and coffee swallowed, the 
 
 H 5
 
 154 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 carriages were announced. There was no ques- 
 tion about the mode of dividing, until just as 
 they were in the hall, and then Mrs. Mardyn 
 said : " I had better take one of you with me. 
 Come, Miss Alicia, will you step in. George, 
 you and Annabella will make up the four. Now, 
 if Miss Decourcy, and Harriet, and Maria, will 
 call on Miss Carmichael, that will be complete. 
 We'll stop at the same time, you know." Then 
 giving all the proper directions herself to the 
 coachman, the party drove off to the play. 
 
 Lady Hortensia was surprised at the formal 
 tone of Mardyn's note, and vexed at the refusal. 
 That company had been invited, she was sure 
 was by Mrs. Mardyn's contrivance, as George 
 had accepted her invitation with alacrity ; but 
 the note was his writing. They were separated 
 from the Mardyns at the play by one box only. 
 The usual bows and smiles took place, and then 
 each party seemed occupied, either with the 
 stage, or with their own concerns. 
 
 Lady Hortensia was not, after all, a clever
 
 THE DAVENELS. 155 
 
 manoeuvre!-. She dreaded the name too much 
 to practice the thing with spirit, She was too 
 tenacious of her character for sweetness; even 
 to her daughters, or Mr. Davenel, she was re- 
 served in her minor tactics. Mrs. Mardyn was 
 of firmer mould. Provided they could not but 
 say she had the crown, her hardy vulgarity was 
 proof against any other observations. Xot that 
 her feelings or ideas ever clothed themselves in 
 a sentence of Shakspeare or any other poet. 
 More probably, she settled the point in some 
 such words as these . " What need I care 
 what people say ! If I gain my point they may 
 tattle as they will. Hard words break no bones. 
 I am not to be put off by any foolish delicacy.'' 
 Unincumbered, therefore, with any such impe- 
 diments, she boldly placed George on the se- 
 cond row of the box with Miss Alicia Decourcy, 
 and Annabella Mardyn; while she and Miss 
 Decourcy, and Miss Carmichael occupied the 
 front, her two daughters sitting on the third 
 row, until the arrival of some of the many gen-
 
 156 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 tlemen, to whom they had offered seats, should 
 enable them to make a more agreeable disposi- 
 tion of themselves. Mrs. Mardyn had, in fact, 
 great power over her son, to whom her undoubt- 
 ing manner seemed the result of strong sense, 
 and whom she flattered, where flattery was most 
 agreeable to him. He was in reality a weak 
 young man, of a vacillating temper ; and she 
 contrived to make him imagine he had directed 
 and managed, when he was ruled most by her. 
 Her influence, however, had its limits: she 
 could not make him see Alicia Decourcy with 
 her eyes ; or prevent his seeing Frederica Dave- 
 nel with his own; but her hope was to keep 
 him from proposing until the Davenels should 
 leave town ; and then she trusted to absence, 
 and other pursuits, and his boyish character, for 
 further obstacles. 
 
 Lady Hortensia, from similar considerations, 
 wished to bring on the proposal now ; for other- 
 wise, the youth of both parties would 1iave made 
 delay desirable ; but she saw into Mardyn's 

 
 THE DAVENELS 157 
 
 character, and judged that he would be incon- 
 stant until he was married, when it was suffi- 
 cient that his wife was his to fix his affections. 
 His liking for Frederica not being founded on 
 suitableness or sympathy, nor yet on a just 
 value for her charming qualities, but merely on 
 the attractions of beauty and good-humour, 
 might decline if he was to be separated from her 
 even for a short time ; and Lady Hortensia be- 
 came really impatient for the proposal. But 
 there was no putting Frederica into her confi- 
 dence. She feared she would be intractable to 
 the plan of giving any opportunity for Mardyn 
 to explain himself, and she lamented that Hen- 
 rietta had not equal good fortune at her dis- 
 posal. 
 
 After the first act of the play, Mardyn left 
 his seat, and went round to the Davenels' box, 
 where he stood for some time inside the door, 
 without being able to gain the attention of any 
 one but Lady Hortensia. Mr. Davenel was oc- 
 cupied in presenting to his family an English
 
 158 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 gentleman, just arrived, whom he had known 
 some years before in England, but not when 
 Lady Hortensia and his daughters were with 
 him. His character and large fortune were re- 
 commendations not to be passed over. He was 
 a sensible, gentlemanly man, of about nine-and- 
 thirty, or forty. A seat was given him in the 
 box, between Frederica and her father. She 
 happened to look back, and seeing Mardyn, she 
 greeted him with her usual frank smile, but 
 immediately turned to give her attention to the 
 stranger, for whom she saw her father had a 
 high consideration. Poor George stood in the 
 back of the box during the whole of the second 
 act, hoping the stranger would quit his seat 
 when it was over ; but Mr. Manvers was very 
 well where he was ; an utter stranger in Dublin, 
 and seated with a handsome and agreeable 
 family, he could not hope to better his situation 
 by moving to any other part of the house : be- 
 sides, all the boxes were crowded, and those 
 who had seats were glad to keep them. Mardyn,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 159 
 
 after some time, went sulkily back to his, near 
 Miss Alicia Decourcy, who said, " We had 
 some trouble I assure you to keep your place for 
 you, but \\e were very determined were we 
 not, Annabella ?" " Indeed," said Annabella, 
 " I was afraid we must have given it away at 
 last, so many men of our acquaintance looked 
 wistfully at it." George tried to look obliged, 
 but he felt out of spirits, and perhaps out of 
 humour. He saw there was no chance of any 
 intercourse with the Davenels that evening, as 
 they had a box full of men with them, and he 
 was, in a manner, bound to take care of the 
 Miss Decourcy s.
 
 160 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Welcome ye shades! ye bowery thickfeU, hall! 
 Ye lofty pines! ye venerable oaki! 
 Ye uhes wild, resounding o'er the steep I 
 Delicious is your shelter to the soul. THOMSON. 
 
 THE month of May was now commenced, and 
 people took advantage of the unusually fine 
 weather to form parties to the Dargle, and other 
 parts of the county of Wicklow. The Davenels 
 were to go there : but Lady Hortensia affected 
 not to like a large party their own family, and 
 one or two more. Nothing is however more 
 difficult than to limit the numbers on such occa- 
 sions. Neighbours in the country sometimes ex- 
 pect to be allies in town : an expectation gene- 
 rally more favourable to one party than to the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 161 
 
 other, and therefore not to be checked but at 
 the expense of that good understanding which 
 it is the interest of both to preserve on their re- 
 turn. Lady Hortensia was very desirous not to 
 have any of the Mardyns but George ; yet it 
 was not easy to manage it so. Her barouche 
 would be filled by herself, Mr. Davenel, and her 
 two daughters. There was certainly a very 
 pleasant outside seat ; but though it might be 
 an acceptable one to many a young man, it 
 would be ridiculous to offer it to the conductor 
 of a four-in-hand ; and she knew Mardyn liked 
 to have his equipage in requisition : to ask him 
 to bring it, however, without naming his family 
 to accompany him, would be awkward, and 
 might give offence. As her plan was always to 
 suppose that every thing went on smoothly, she 
 did not take any one into council, and her 
 daughters were not in the habit of obtruding 
 their advice. 
 
 She talked before them of going to the Dar- 
 gle, as if there were to be no previous arrange-
 
 162 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 merits beyond sending a hamper of provisions, 
 which she would settle with her cook. To go 
 alone, however, was not her intention. She 
 spoke of the intended excursion in a careless 
 way to several young men, who she knew had 
 carriages of various construction, and told them 
 if they could meet her at the Dargle, she would 
 give them their dinner. By delaying to ask 
 Mardyn until a day or two before the excursion, 
 she hoped the ladies of his family might be en- 
 gaged ; and when she did mention it at a crowd- 
 ed party, he felt pleased, and acceded, as was 
 always his first movement ; but he was embar- 
 rassed in a moment afterwards. It had been 
 settled for some time that he was to take the 
 Miss Decourcys some day to see the Dargle, and 
 to go any day previously without them would 
 give offence. After a few minutes' consideration 
 he took the part of speaking to Henrietta, and 
 stating his dilemma. Both the Miss Davenels 
 had an intuitive fear of deranging some plan of 
 Lady Hortensia's, by proposing any thing, and
 
 THE DAVENELS. 163 
 
 dared not on this occasion undertake to enlarge 
 the party. After a few minutes' conversation, 
 however, Henrietta, who was not deficient in 
 perceiving what was safest to be done, said to 
 Mardyn, " you had better tell mamma how you 
 are circumstanced with the Miss Decourcys." 
 George was ashamed to acknowledge the awe in 
 which he was held by the lofty courtesy of Lady 
 Hortensia, as well as the double motive which 
 had in this instance co-operated with fear ; for 
 he would in fact have preferred going without 
 the Decourcys and with the Davenels, to whom 
 he might then devote himself: but the promise 
 to the Miss Decourcys had been very positive 
 to take them soon this Jine weather the Jirst 
 disengaged day, to see the Dargle and waterfall. 
 This, to him gordian knot, he could not untie, 
 and was afraid to cut. He longed to consult his 
 mother, but she was not in the room ; at length 
 recollecting her frequent assurances that he was 
 now of an age to act a manly part, and resolv- 
 ing noi to be cowed by any one, he made his
 
 164 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 way through the crowd to Lady Hortensia, and 
 rather abruptly, and with some precipitation in 
 his manner, told her the case that has been de- 
 scribed. Lady Hortensia was off her guard for 
 a moment; and supposing the obstacle had been 
 just contrived by Mrs. Mardyn to frustrate her, 
 she coolly replied that she was very sorry, and it 
 was very unlucky, and was turning from him to 
 finish her conversation with some one else, when 
 suddenly recollecting that she was perhaps doing 
 the very thing Mrs. Mardyn wished, she changed 
 her tone, and said, " And cannot we form one 
 party? Will you ask Mrs. Mardyn and the Miss 
 Decourcys." 
 
 This was a great relief to poor George, who 
 said they were not arrived, but he would speak 
 to them the moment they came. But to do the 
 thing would not content Lady Hortensia. She 
 would make it a double obligation by her man- 
 ner of doing it. As soon as Mrs. Mardyn, at- 
 tended by her daughters and protegees, entered
 
 THE DAVENELS. 165 
 
 the room, she swam towards them, invited them, 
 and a few more, and all was settled ; and no one 
 could say that she was not the most amiable, 
 pleasing-mannered, delightful woman ! She had 
 very lately begun to feel some doubts of Frederi- 
 ca's acceptance of Mardyn. Though incapable 
 of ill-natured ridicule, Frederica's lively spirits 
 sometimes betrayed her into what seemed like ri- 
 dicule, and she had indulged in laughing once or 
 twice at Mardyn as well as at his sisters. This 
 was not a vein to be encouraged. Lady Hor- 
 tensia thought it better therefore to give her a 
 hint of her views, that she might be prepared 
 with a favourable reception to his proposal, 
 whenever it should come. But she would not 
 do this in the form of a command, as she well 
 knew how easily a young lady can prevent a 
 disagreeable proposal from being made. She 
 contented herself with saying what an amiable 
 young man he was ! what a fine fortune he had, 
 and how happy it would make her to see one of
 
 166 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 her daughters married to him. She at length 
 saitf, " I think, Frederica, he is very attentive 
 to you of late." 
 
 " O, mamma, I hope not, I am sure," said 
 Frederica, looking much annoyed. 
 
 " Why hope not, my dear ? I hope you would 
 not be so silly as to refuse him at least without 
 consulting your papa and me." 
 
 Frederica evaded any answer. If Mardyn 
 should ask her to marry him, she could not con- 
 sult her papa and mamma unless she intended 
 to be guided by their opinion, and she saw 
 clearly what that would be : she resolved there- 
 fore to give him less of her society than she had 
 hitherto unsuspectingly done, and she com- 
 menced this cautious conduct on the day of the 
 excursion to the Dargle. As it was necessary, 
 however, to allow herself to be engaged by some 
 one, she found herself conversing for a consi- 
 derable part of the day with Mr. Manvers, who, 
 equally pleased with her beauty and her man- 
 ners, omitted no opportunity of walking by her
 
 THE DAVENELS. 167 
 
 side. She found him rational and well bred ; 
 and with the feelings of a very young lady, she 
 thought a man so much advanced in years could 
 consider her only as a child, to whom it was 
 condescension to pay attention. Mardyn, though 
 he thought he had less to fear from Mr. Man- 
 vers than from many of the other men of the 
 party, was fretted at not being able to gain In- 
 attention ; while his mother and her party were 
 inwardly delighted, and the sisters could not 
 refrain from some insinuations that she was a 
 coquette. 
 
 The carriages and horses were ordered round 
 to the lower gate of Povverscourt, and the com- 
 pany walked through the Dargle and Tinne- 
 hinch. Recollections, " pleasant yet mournful 
 to the soul," crept over the hearts of some few 
 of them as they contemplated that house, so 
 long the residence of the immortal Grattan : but 
 it was not a time to indulge such feelings ; and 
 remounting their equipages, they drove through 
 the beautiful valley of Powerscourt to the water-
 
 168 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 fall, where, by the hospitable care of Lady Hor- 
 tensia, they found an excellent cold dinner laid 
 out on the green sward, under the shade of some 
 trees, and within an agreeable distance of the 
 sound of the water : and all declared that it was 
 far preferable to the banqueting-room, or to any 
 room ; and a woodland life was pronounced to 
 be charming, always provided a good dinner 
 could start up under a tree when wished for. 
 The beauty of the place, and the balmy softness of 
 the air, could not indeed be exceeded. A horn, 
 which had been stationed amongst the rocks, by 
 its mellow tones, and the echoes they produ- 
 ced, gave an additional charm to the truly syl- 
 van scene. 
 
 Mr. Manvers, who went with the Davenels, 
 was disposed to take the scene and the company 
 as an epitome of Ireland, and to be charmed 
 with both. 
 
 Soon as the rage of hunger was repressed, 
 Lady Hortensia looked round in dismay at per- 
 ceiving that Lady Floranthe was not arrived.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 169 
 
 She had been invited with a sort of governess 
 whom she governed, and whom Lord Beech- 
 mount had retained after her education was no- 
 minally finished, that she might always have a 
 companion to go out with ; or, which was still 
 more requisite, who could stay with her when 
 he was from home. Her absence was now ob- 
 served for the first time by any of the party ; 
 and half ashamed of their unceremonious attack 
 upon the dinner, they soon began to consult their 
 watches, and that which was latest being taken 
 as the regulator of time, it was agreed that she 
 could not intend coming: but this conclusion 
 did not quite satisfy Lady Hortensia's notions 
 of politeness, and for some time she continued 
 to lament and to account to every one present 
 for the error, without once ascribing it to the 
 true cause an utter forgetfulness of Lady Flo- 
 ranthe and her engagement. In a little time, 
 however, she began to conclude with the others 
 that she would not come, and the last reserve of 
 the repast was devoured. Dinner being over, 
 VOL. i. i
 
 1/0 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 some of the more active of the party began to 
 ascend the hill, calling to those below that they 
 were losing the most delightful views in the 
 world, and all that was worth seeing. But there 
 were many who could not be persuaded that 
 scrambling up rocks and precipices after a good 
 dinner was the way to enjoy anything. Some 
 made the attempt, and were quickly discouraged ; 
 others made more progress : a few only won the 
 heights, whence they looked down with con- 
 tempt upon the unambitious few, who preferred 
 the " cool sequestered vale" below. 
 
 In the valley some had found a little rural draw- 
 ing room, on a grassy knovvle, commodiously fur- 
 nished with a few moss-covered rocks, half im- 
 bedded in the green sod, into which they seemed 
 to have been precipitated by the force of some 
 torrent, of which the traces had outlived the 
 record. 
 
 There are few persons who do not feel the in- 
 fluence of the delicious evening air in such 
 scenes, and at such a season, to the forgetful-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 171 
 
 ness of town and its artificial pleasures ; but 
 happily there is generally in the party some ci- 
 devant jeune homme, with rheumatic bones, whc 
 disinterestedly warns the company that it is time 
 to return ; or some prudent mother, who fears 
 the dews of evening, if not for herself, at least 
 for her own and her daughter's dress. 
 
 The company below now began in their turn 
 to whoop and halloa to the adventurers above ; 
 and the carriages and impatient horses being- 
 assembled, and the party with difficulty collect- 
 ed, they set off in a scattered line. Some little 
 change was permitted from the more severe eti- 
 quette of the morning; and Lord Fitzmaurice 
 had the honour of driving Miss Davenel home 
 in his curricle. Miss Alicia Decourcy loved a 
 box-seat in the evening by moonlight so passion- 
 ately, that Mardyn was forced to share his with 
 her, and to listen to sundry complimentary com- 
 parisons between his driving and that of many 
 a titled coachman whom she had known at 
 various places of resort in England. Mr. Dave- 
 
 i 2
 
 172 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 nel, who had occupied the outside seat of his 
 own carriage in the morning, now took the in- 
 side with Lady Uortensia, Frederica, and Mr. 
 Manvers. 
 
 Two of the Miss Mardyns were prevailed on 
 to go in the curricles, tilburies, stanhopes, or 
 whatever they might be called, of two very ttict 
 young men : and the whole company being en- 
 gaged to stop at Lady Hortensia's for tea and 
 supper, the arrangements were complete. 
 
 The Davenels, who were foremost, were pre- 
 paring to pass the last gate of the park, when 
 they saw Lady Floranthe and her governess in 
 a barouchette, approaching the gate which leads 
 into it from the high road. 
 
 " My dear Lady Floranthe," said Lady Hor- 
 tensia, " I hope nothing unpleasant no acci- 
 dent." 
 
 " O dear ! I assure you," said Lady Floran- 
 the, " I was very near losing my way : Mrs. 
 Simmons and me, we thought." 
 
 " Yes," said Mrs. Simmons, "Lady Floranthe
 
 THE DAVENELS. 1/3 
 
 imagined the best way was round by Kings- 
 town." 
 
 " By Kingstown ! why it was miles out of 
 your way." 
 
 " O, but I thought it a good opportunity to pay 
 Lady Halket a visit and she was showing me 
 her pheasants, and then there was luncheon 
 and I did not know it was so late." 
 
 " Did you come through the Dargle ? " 
 
 " The Dargle ! no, I thought this was it but 
 I can look at it, and then follow you to town." 
 
 Lady Hortensia would not suffer the poor 
 girl to play any more folly that day, and begging 
 Mrs. Simmons's pardon, she requested Lady 
 Floranthe to come into her carriage, that she 
 might have her company at least returning : and 
 Mrs. Simmons thinking it would ensure their 
 getting to town in reasonable time, which under 
 Lady Floranthe's guidance was not to be depend- 
 ed on, consented with a good grace, and even 
 urged her to accept of the proposal.
 
 174 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " But I shall so crowd you," said Lady Flo- 
 ranthe, " you are four already." 
 
 Mr. Davenel who saw Lady Hortensia's mo- 
 tive, gallantly offered to accompany Mrs. Sim- 
 mons in the barouche, and the exchange was ef- 
 fected. 
 
 The stopping of Lady Hortensia's carriage 
 had occasioned a general halt, and had given 
 time for some who were not ready when the ca- 
 valcade left the waterfall to join it : and great 
 was the amazement to find Lady Floranthe com- 
 ing at that hour, for it was past seven o^clock, to 
 a dinner on the grass. She had indeed chatted 
 and lunched with Lady Halket with as little 
 thought of time, but as much resolved to 
 keep her engagement, as if it was but at the 
 next door, and to go back with the Davenels 
 seemed to her as good as going to the waterfall 
 with them. 
 
 " Once more then the party moved on, and 
 in closer order, and arrived at Mr. DaveneFs,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 175 
 
 where the ladies having arranged their hair, 
 which was all too ruffled by exposure to the 
 evening breeze, and tea and coffee being produ- 
 ced, the party scattered through the rooms some 
 attempting to make some music, others seated, 
 chatting over the day^s adventures. 
 
 Mardyn came up to Frederica, looking rather 
 gloomy, and said, " You don't like going in an 
 outside seat." 
 
 " Not much, 11 said Frederica. " What a de- 
 lightful evening it was f 
 
 " To you perhaps/ 1 said Mardyn "you seem- 
 ed to enjoy the whole day very much, but you 
 cannot suppose I was so happy." 
 
 Frederica, off her guard, and accustomed to 
 use the greatest plainness and simplicity of man- 
 ner with him, asked why, and what did he mean ? 
 " Ah, Frederica ! how can you ask me that 
 question ? When I saw you the whole day occu- 
 pied with a new acquaintance whom you never 
 saw until a week ago, while 1 could not get one 
 word from you.""
 
 176 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Frederica tried to laugh off this tone of con- 
 versation, and said, " I assure you I was not oc- 
 cupied by any one in particular. Mr. Manvers, 
 if you mean him, chose to walk with me."" 
 
 " But I had no choice allowed me,"" said 
 Mardyn ; "yet how I looked forward to this day ! 
 and I cannot help dating the change in your 
 manner towards me, from the evening of Mr. 
 Manvers's arrival at the theatre."" 
 
 " Oh, really this is too ridiculous," said Fre- 
 derica, " there is no change in my manner at 
 least not intentionally." 
 
 " Ah ! dearest Frederica," said Mardyn, " if 
 that is really the case, will you then let me hope 
 that that you will resume your former charm- 
 ing manner with me, and that I may ask Mr. 
 Davenel " 
 
 He would have taken her hand, but she re- 
 pressed the movement, yet did not discourage 
 him from speaking, as she feared an interrup- 
 tion now, might lead him into the error that she 
 had accepted him. She looked confused, how-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 177 
 
 ever, for it is not possible for a young person of 
 any feeling, to receive a proposal of marriage, 
 even from a man totally indifferent to her, with- 
 out some emotion ; and Frederica felt besides 
 some concern at the thought of giving pain to 
 Mardyn : she would willingly have spared him 
 and herself any further embarrassment, but it 
 was better she thought to have the declaration 
 over, and she evidently waited for what he had 
 further to say, but at that moment, Mrs. Mar- 
 dyn came up to them and said, "My dear 
 George, Lady Jerpoint will take the girls and 
 me home, so you would probably like to dismiss 
 your carriage, as the horses have been out all 
 day." 
 
 " I have done so already," said George. 
 " You cannot suppose I would suffer them to 
 stand all this time : and I desired my servant to 
 order your job-carriage here." 
 
 " Well! what it is to have a kind and 
 thoughtful son/ 1 said Mrs. Mardyn. " That 
 
 i 5
 
 178 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 was so like you, George !" and she sat down on 
 the other side of Frederica, saying, " your 
 sister and Miss Decourcy are going to sing, 
 vnd I ana so fond of music, I wish people hang- 
 ed when they speak a word during a pretty 
 song."" Frederica, though not anxious to speak, 
 did not think she was required to sit next to 
 Mrs. Mardyn, in order to help her to listen ; and 
 after a minute or two she arose gently, and 
 went towards Mr. Davenel, who putting his arm 
 round her, fondly asked her was she tired? and 
 how did she like her day ? questions that arose 
 not so much from solicitude on those subjects, 
 as to throw off some of the fondness which 
 swelled at his heart whenever he looked at Fre- 
 derica. 
 
 Mardyn was in a more agreeable frame of 
 mind than he had been in all day and he re- 
 solved as he could not look for a decided answer 
 from Frederica then, to call the next morning, 
 and if he was again disappointed of an opportu-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 179 
 
 nity, he could not fail of one at Lady Halket's 
 breakfast, which was to take place on the day 
 following. 
 
 The next day Mardyn eluded the vigilance 
 of Mrs. Mardyn, and declining to take out his 
 horses again before the breakfast, he walked 
 off with a stout heart to Mr. Davenel's. He 
 found the Miss Annesleys as usual, chatting' 
 with Lady Hortensia and her daughter, and he 
 inwardly remarked that they were very tiresome 
 women. There was for some time no favourable 
 opportunity to speak to Frederica, but at length 
 the bustle caused by the departure of the Miss 
 Annesleys, aided by Lady Hortensia, enabled 
 him to follow Frederica as she went into another 
 room: the door of which, he but half closed. 
 Lady Hortensia was careful to detain Henrietta 
 in the one she was in, and for about ten minutes 
 they could only hear the murmuring of voices- 
 but suddenly was heard the slapping of the door 
 of the next room which opened upon the stair- 
 case, and George's steps rushing hastily down.
 
 180 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Lady Hortensia ran out of the drawing-room, 
 calling him as he passed through the hall he 
 looked back at her with a face disturbed and half 
 angry, and making a kind of bow, was going to 
 open the hall -door : but Lady Hortensia, beg- 
 ging of him to wait, joined him, and forcing 
 him to go with her into a parlour, asked in a 
 voice of tender friendship, what was the matter ? 
 He struggled for a moment for utterance, bit 
 his lip, and at length, in a voice half choked 
 with vexation and disappointment, said, " Lady 
 Hortensia, I have had the presumption to ask 
 Frederica to marry me, and she has refused me 
 in the most decided manner." 
 
 ," How could she have done so!" said Lady 
 Hortensia. " My dear Mardyn (growing sud- 
 denly more than usually tender to him) there 
 must be some mistake she was confused and 
 did not know what she said." 
 
 " No mistake, I am sorry to say," said Mar- 
 dyn, stamping on the ground, " nor was she 
 confused.""
 
 THE DAVENELS. 181 
 
 " Perhaps," said Lady Hortensia, " she 
 thought you had paid attention elsewhere I 
 am sure several persons thought " 
 
 " No," said Mardyn, " she is well assured 
 that I never loved, never thought of any one but 
 her : but she told me," and tears stood in his 
 eyes though he endeavoured to repress them, 
 " that she regards me as a brother, but that she 
 never could think of marrying me." 
 
 Lady Hortensia felt greatly incensed by this 
 decided refusal on the part of Frederica, without 
 any reference to her or Mr. Davenel, or without 
 taking any time for consideration ; and anxious 
 to know the whole affair, she contrived to lead 
 Mardyn on until he told her every word that 
 had passed, even to the half declaration of the 
 night before. 
 
 Frederica's silence on that, proved but too 
 well, that she had resolved to refuse Mardyn, 
 and would not therefore consult any one. Af- 
 ter some vain attempts to raise his hopes, Lady 
 Hortensia was obliged to let him go away.
 
 182 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Her offers of interference seemed to give him no 
 satisfaction : his love was too sincere and too 
 delicate to be satisfied with Frederica's hand 
 given against her inclinations, at the command 
 of her parents, and he returned home in a state 
 of mind which could only vent itself in anger 
 against himself and the whole world. 
 
 He went into his own study, so called by 
 courtesy, where no one ever studied, and re- 
 mained there until his mother and sisters re- 
 turned from their usual employments of shopping 
 and visiting. Mrs. Mardyn, ever curious and 
 anxious about her son's movements, asked the 
 servant was Mr. Mardyn come home ; a mode 
 of speech she had substituted since his coming 
 of age, for the title by which he had till then 
 been known of Master George. 
 
 " Yes, ma'am ; he is in the study," was the 
 answer 
 
 Mrs. Mardyn was satisfied. She did not 
 suppose he would remain there longer than 
 might be necessary to examine the lock of a
 
 THE DAVENELS. 183 
 
 gun, or to try on a new pair of boots. Her 
 daughters tripped up stairs before her, and 
 George, half opening the study-door, called out 
 " mother," in a tone which marked that he did 
 not mean to go to her. Accordingly she re- 
 turned, and going into the study, said, " well 
 dear, have you anything to say tome?" and 
 she flung herself on the sofa. " Down Jessy : 
 though I love you for your master's sake, I can- 
 not let you jump on me, and spoil my dress j" 
 and she patted and fondled the dog while keep- 
 ing him at a distance ; but looking up at her 
 son, " Good gracious ! George, what is the mat- 
 ter with you?" 
 
 " Indeed, my dear mother," said George, " I 
 little thought I should have such a story to tell 
 you." 
 
 Mrs. Mardyn now really frightened, started 
 up, and said, " whatever it is, my dear George, 
 tell it to me at once. 1 ' 
 
 " Indeed," said George, " it is neither more
 
 184 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 nor less than that I have just been refused by 
 Frederica Davenel." 
 
 " Refused ! " cried Mrs. Mardyn, almost 
 equally surprised, pleased, and angry " re- 
 fused ! my dear George ; indeed I am very sorry 
 you ever put it in her power. The Davenels 
 were proud enough before ; and if you had con- 
 sulted me" 
 
 " Ah, my dear mother, that is a point on 
 which one hardly ever consults any one ; and I 
 am sure it is the only one in which I have not 
 consulted you ; besides but in short it has been 
 done ; and I'll leave town to-morrow, and the 
 girls and you can amuse yourselves until the end 
 of the month ; and " 
 
 " Ah, my dear George, don't talk so : how 
 can you imagine that I could amuse myself here 
 when you went off in that humour ; besides, 
 wo'nt you go to-morrow to Lady Halket's?" 
 
 " I cannot bear it : every one will look so." 
 
 "And who will know it ?" said Mrs. Mardyn.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 185 
 
 " If you leave town, indeed, there is no know- 
 ing what they may say ; for every one will en- 
 quire and talk of course, and that may lead to 
 surmises, and then the Davenels will so triumph. 
 No, my dear George, I entreat you to behave 
 like a man, and don't let any one think you 
 have been rejected with scorn by a girl of no 
 fortune." 
 
 " O, as to fortune," said George, " when I 
 marry I need not care about that ; and she 
 showed no scorn ; on the contrary, she was very 
 kind in her expressions, and said she regarded 
 me as her brother." 
 
 " Well!" said Mrs. Mardyn, " if that is not 
 the very language of a coquette ! I used to 
 scold your sisters for saying she was one. And 
 if she regarded you so much, what should pre- 
 vent her marrying you? Nothing but vanity 
 and coquetry. She wants a title, I suppose; 
 for I am sure I know nothing else she can want 
 that you have not got." 
 
 Mrs. Mardyn at length succeeded in rousing
 
 186 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 her son's anger, and that inspired the force to 
 encounter the Davenels in society the next day, 
 a frame of mind which his mother took every 
 pains to keep alive. 
 
 Though Mardyn had not accepted Lady Hor- 
 tensia's offer of speaking to Frederica, she was 
 resolved to try its effect ; and if she succeeded 
 with her, she felt -no doubt of being able to 
 bring him back. She went to her own room, as 
 soon as he had left the house, and sent her 
 maid to acquaint Miss Frederica she wished to 
 speak to her. Frederica entered her mother's 
 room with more of positive fear than she had 
 ever felt in her life before. Though her daugh- 
 ters had not that ease and confidence in Lady 
 Hortensia which they felt with their father, yet 
 there was no vulgar violence about her, and it 
 was rather reserve than terror she inspired. Nor 
 did she now mean to act by terror, and she 
 began in a mild tone : " Why Frederica, you 
 must have behaved very strangely to young 
 Mardyn : I have been speaking to him in the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 187 
 
 parlour ; he seems very unhappy. He says you 
 have refused him, which I can scarcely believe ; 
 at least without consulting your papa and me, 
 you would not have taken such a step." 
 
 " Indeed, mamma," said Frederica, "I thought 
 as I could not bring myself to marry him" 
 
 " What do you mean by not bring yourself to 
 marry him, child ? how could you bring your- 
 self to refuse him ? Do you know, there is not 
 a girl in Ireland would have done so but your- 
 self? But perhaps you want to distinguish your- 
 self by some folly. I wish my daughters to leave 
 folly to Lady Floranthe Ross, or any girl who 
 has not had the advantage of such parents as 
 you have had, Frederica. Come, I have pro- 
 mised Mardyn to make you understand yourself 
 better; and I shall acquaint him that you were 
 a little jealous of his attentions to Alicia De- 
 courcy : indeed, I have given him a hint of that 
 already, and I am inclined to think it was your 
 motive. You need not be ashamed of it ; it was 
 a very delicate one, but I am sure misplaced. I
 
 188 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 will never let your papa know you refused Mar- 
 dyn." 
 
 " O mamma, pray don't," said Frederica. 
 
 " No, I promise you I will not tell him of 
 your folly ; so now " 
 
 " O mamma, I mean don't deceive Mardyn 
 by" 
 
 " How is it deceiving him child, to make him 
 happy ? And what do you want ? As to the 
 young man himself, you can have no objection 
 to him; and for his mother and sisters, they 
 will not live with you ; and you will not see 
 more of them than you do now, probably less. 
 If you are afraid of their opposition, that is ab- 
 surd ; on this point he will act for himself. So 
 be satisfied. I'll see him before the breakfast, 
 and settle all ; and you will be a very happy 
 creature, my dear ; and it will make your papa 
 and me very happy." 
 
 Frederica could not bear this : to be supposed 
 into a very happy creature married to George 
 Mardyn, for whom, mingled with habitual re- 
 gard, she felt something bordering on contempt !
 
 THE DAVENELS. 189 
 
 His manner, his air, his attainments seemed to 
 her of an inferior stamp to those of the men 
 (and she involuntarily thought of Dudley Vil- 
 liers) whom she was accustomed to consider as 
 polite and accomplished. She burst into tears, 
 and said, " Indeed, mamma, I am not in haste to 
 be married. I wish you would let the matter 
 rest as it is, and say nothing to my papa." 
 
 But Lady Hortensia had practised all the for- 
 bearance she was mistress of; and standing up 
 to relieve the energy of rage which possessed 
 her, she said, " And how do you suppose you 
 are to marry, if you refuse, without any just 
 ground, such a match as this ? With a poor 
 five thousand pounds, at least while I live, what 
 chance have you amongst the rich English, if 
 you carry your thoughts that way ? Nor can I 
 go on year after year struggling to make a 
 figure, and taking you and Henrietta from one 
 scene of fashion to another. Let me hear no 
 more of this childish folly. I don't know that 
 Mardyn would now listen to any explanation ;
 
 190 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 but if he should, I beg you will receive him pro- 
 perly." 
 
 Her raised voice, and Frederica's sobs, caught 
 the ear of Mr. Davenel, who was going into his 
 dressing-room, and tapping at Lady Hortensia's 
 door, he said, " May I come in?" As no an- 
 swer was immediately given, he partly opened 
 the door, and was greatly shocked to see symp- 
 toms of anger in one countenance, and of dis- 
 tress and vexation in the other. Lady Horten- 
 sia was the first to attain some composure of 
 feature and voice, and she said, affecting to 
 laugh, " only think of this silly child having re- 
 fused George Mardyn ; he has just left the 
 house in despair, and I want to persuade her to 
 let me call him back." Mr. Davenel, taking his 
 daughter's hand, and drawing her towards him, 
 said, " How is this, Frederica? you must have 
 some strong reason for refusing so good a match, 
 and with so good a young man." Frederica, 
 softened and overcome by the kindness of her 
 father's manner, could only sob on his shoulder.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 191 
 
 At length Lady Hortensia said, " I'll leave you 
 together, and I hope you will be able to bring 
 her to reason; such folly!" and she went out 
 of the room, to the great joy of Frederica, who, 
 now alone with her father, felt no difficulty in 
 explaining all her feelings about the whole Mar- 
 dyn family. He said what a reasonable father 
 might be supposed to say ; but when he heard 
 from her lips of the very strong manner in which 
 she had given her refusal, and of Mardyn's ac- 
 quiescence in it as a decided one, Mr. Davenel 
 declared he would not compromise her delicacy 
 by any attempt to bring him back, nor ask her 
 to marry a man she seemed to like less than any 
 man of her acquaintance. 
 
 This being stated to Lady Hortensia, there 
 was no more to be said. Her habitual deference 
 for her husband secured Frederica from any far- 
 ther persecution ; and Lady Hortensia resolved 
 to have the only satisfaction she could now de- 
 rive from the proposal, that of letting the world
 
 192 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 know, in confidence, what a match her daughter 
 had refused. 
 
 There was nothing worth going to that even- 
 ing ; and it was settled that both the girls should 
 stay at home, and that Lady Hortensia should 
 keep her engagement to a small card-party, at the 
 Dowager Lady Farrendale's. Henrietta was 
 scarcely less surprised than her mother had been 
 at Frederica's refusal of Mardyn ; but she soon 
 talked of the breakfast the next day, and other 
 matters j and Mr. Davenel spent the evening with 
 his daughters, and they were very happy to- 
 gether. The conversation was now and then 
 interrupted, however, by Henrietta's exclama- 
 tions of " How such a one will be astonished 
 when she hears of your having refused Mardyn ; 
 and 1 am sure I should not wonder ; for I never 
 heard of anything so odd; did you, papa?" 
 Mr. Davenel having said all that he thought 
 reasonable on the subject, would not wound 
 Frederica unnecessarily ; and by degrees her
 
 I 
 
 THE DAVENELS. 193 
 
 natural spirits returning, she made herself so 
 agreeable, that he would not encourage any 
 regret for a refusal which ensured him her so- 
 
 O 
 
 ciety for some time longer. Yet it was his love 
 of that society which had induced him to wish 
 her married to Mardyn, as he felt her superio- 
 rity, and owned her worthy of a man of higher 
 endowments. He thought for a moment of 
 Mr. Manvers, but he did not think he seemed 
 a marrying man, and he was gone for the pre- 
 sent to Killarney to meet a friend, with whom 
 he was to make a tour in the West of Ire- 
 land. 
 
 The family-party retired early to rest, and 
 Mrs. Harris was unusually alert in her attend- 
 ance on the young ladies, and did not take 
 some hints that she could be dispensed with ; 
 for they had still much to say to each other in 
 deep privacy ; but Harris, on that particular 
 night, could not bear to leave anything unfolded 
 or out of its place. While she was busy in ex- 
 
 VOL. i. K
 
 194 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 tending a dress upon the bed, for the purpose, 
 as she said, of taking out the erases, she sud- 
 denly said : " Is'nt it a great wonder that young 
 Mr. Mardyn doesn't get married ? and he with 
 such a fine fortune." No immediate answer 
 being made, she continued " O but they say 
 his mother keeps a great eye over him, and 
 thinks he is much better without a wife." 
 
 " You have accounted so well for his being 
 single, Harris," said Frederica, laughing, " that 
 1 suppose you will not wonder at it any more." 
 
 " Well, Miss Frederica, " you do take one 
 up so ; you're never at a loss, indeed : but I 
 only make the remarks I hear others make. It 
 was said he was to be married to one of the 
 Miss Decourcys at laste that Mrs. Mardyn 
 tried to bring it about." 
 
 " Which does not look as if she thought him 
 better without a wife," said Frederica. 
 
 " There again," said Harris. " I had better 
 not spake a word at all."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 195 
 
 " But what prevented the match, Harris?"" 
 said Henrietta : " I am sure you know all about 
 it, if you would speak out." 
 
 " Me, Miss ! How should I know about it ? 
 But I know at laste I wish he'd propose for one 
 of you ?" 
 
 " For which of us ? Harris," said Henrietta. 
 
 " Why for Miss Frederica ; because he'd be 
 too young for you, Miss Henrietta." 
 
 This want of delicacy on the part of Harris 
 often annoyed the Miss Davenels ; and Frede- 
 rica once took an opportunity to warn her never 
 to touch upon the subject of Henrietta's being 
 older, or to pay her compliments at the expense 
 of her sister; but it was not possible, by any 
 general advice, to guard against the many awk- 
 wardnesses into which Harris was led by her 
 want of tact, and Frederica almost thought she 
 was prompted at times by a wish to teaze. She 
 perceived, by Frederica's countenance, that she 
 had offended against the directions given her, 
 and to get out of the difficulty, she said, " Not 
 
 K2
 
 196 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 that either of you can be called old ; and may 
 be when Miss Frederica is out in the world as 
 many years as you, Miss Henrietta, she'll not 
 look so well; for they say fair complexions 
 wears best." 
 
 " Indeed I begin to perceive it," said Frede- 
 rica ; " for I am sure Henrietta looks younger 
 than I do to-night." 
 
 " But, Harris," said Henrietta, longing to 
 circulate the news, " what would you think of 
 a young lady refusing Mr. Mardyn ?" 
 
 " Indeed," said Harris, " I can only say that 
 if I was Lady Hortensia, I'd be very angry if 
 Miss Frederica was to do so." 
 
 " I declare Harris," said Henrietta, " I believe 
 you are a witch." 
 
 " No indeed, Miss, I am not ; but sometimes 
 I drame things that comes to pass. And now 
 tell me, did young Mr. Mardyn propose for 
 Miss Frederica?" 
 
 " He did as sure as you are there," said 
 Henrietta.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 197 
 
 " And I wo'nt have him," said Frederica, 
 " as sure, Harris, as you are leaving this room, 
 which you must do, for I am tired :" and she 
 good-humouredly put her hands on her shoulder 
 to aid her out of the room, a mode of dismissal 
 which pleased Harris better than a less familiar 
 or formal order for departure would have done. 
 
 Having got rid of their loquacious attendant, 
 " I am convinced," said Henrietta, " that Harris 
 must have listened at the door, when mamma 
 and you were talking over that affair to-day." 
 
 " O yes," said Frederica, " that is her usual 
 mode of draining things that come to pass." 
 
 " But, my dear Frederica, what could possess 
 you after all to refuse Mardyn ?" 
 
 " Why, Henrietta, I am tired of his company 
 as an acquaintance, and to pass my life with 
 him! 
 
 " Ridiculous!" said Henrietta; " you talk as 
 if a husband and wife were to sit making agree- 
 able conversation together continually. I wish 
 you could see how married people of fashion
 
 198 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 live ill Paris. It does not signify what sort of 
 man you marry there, provided he has rank and 
 fortune." 
 
 " I could not be indifferent any where to the 
 sort of. man I was to marry," said Frederica ; 
 " and I should hate to see very little of my 
 husband. I have no idea of married life, but 
 as my papa and mamma live together." 
 
 " I believe such couples are very rare," said 
 Henrietta ; " but perhaps you would have found 
 Mardyn " 
 
 " Not such another as my papa," said Fre- 
 derica. " Ah ! Henrietta, he is very dull ; and 
 I don't like the society of his mother and sisters ; 
 and I should not like to be so closely connected 
 with people I must always wish to avoid. The 
 girls, presuming upon long intimacy, say the 
 rudest things to both you and me." 
 
 " Well, how can you mind them? I would 
 soon let them see I would have no intercourse 
 with them if they made themselves disagreeable 
 to me."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 199 
 
 ." But they don't know how to make them- 
 selves otherwise: for really they are not bad- 
 hearted girls, and they are obliging and not 
 less amiable than half the girls one meets : but 
 they want tact and delicacy to avoid saying 
 what they think, which they mistake for honesty 
 perhaps. In short, I am more easily annoyed 
 perhaps than you : and I really believe you have 
 a better temper than I have." 
 
 " Oh ! no one can have a better temper than 
 you have, Frederica, but we are different cer- 
 tainly I don't know how it is but I believe it 
 may be because I have seen more of the great 
 world than you have. I have seen society in 
 Paris for instance." 
 
 "Where," said Frederica, " on s'amusesi bien 
 qtie ton pent se passer de bonheur is it not so ?" 
 
 " I think happiness and amusement are one 
 and the same thing," said Henrietta. And both 
 sisters being now retired to their separate beds, 
 the conversation ended. 
 
 Lady Hortensia in the mean time played her
 
 200 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 part at Lady Farrendale's. On first entering 
 the room she found the two card-tables already 
 filled, so she seated herself next to Miss Car- 
 michael, who was constant in her attendance 
 on card-parties and balls, though she neither 
 danced nor played cards. Lady Hortensia pur- 
 posely led the conversation to marriages to be, 
 or spoken of as likely ; and she listened with 
 apparent curiosity to what Miss Carmichael 
 could detail in that way. At length she said, 
 in her sweetest manner, " Now, my dear Miss 
 Carmichael, I am going to tell you a secret 
 but, really, I would not have it repeated for the 
 world, for the Mardyn family are such friends 
 of ours ; nor should I mention it at all, but that 
 think every one must have perceived George 
 Mardyn 's attention to my Frederica; and there- 
 fore I think it but right to tell you, that he 
 proposed for her this day, and she refused him 
 in the noblest manner." 
 
 " Refused him !" said Miss Carmichael ; 
 " but for what reason ?"
 
 THE DAVENELS. 201 
 
 " Indeed for a reason which few young per- 
 sons would have the delicacy of mind to consider 
 as an objection. She said she did not feel for 
 him that love and respect she should wish to 
 feel for the man she was going to be mar- 
 ried to." 
 
 Miss Carmichael was just the person to re- 
 ceive this reason in the lofty style in which 
 it was given, and remembering the cruelty she 
 had practised in her youth, she drew up, and 
 said : " Ah ! Lady Hortensia, I can well under- 
 stand that delicate feeling ; but I hope your 
 Frederica will not indulge it too frequently, and 
 so remain, as some have done, all her life in 
 single blessedness." 
 
 " Indeed I tell her," said Lady Hortensia, 
 " that I hope she will not live to repent of it: 
 but Mr. Davenel and I could not think of 
 forcing our child's inclinations, and so the 
 matter rests. But I believe they want me to 
 cut in," and she got up and went towards the 
 card-table. They did not want her however, 
 
 K 5
 
 202 THE DAVENKLS. 
 
 and she moved into the next room, where she 
 met the Dowager Lady Archdale, with whom 
 she talked of every thing in the world, until 
 the Mardyn family were mentioned, and then 
 Lady Archdale said: " I rather believe the 
 young man is likely to be married to the young- 
 est Miss Decourcy : I think he pays her a good 
 deal of attention." 
 
 " Pardon me, Lady Archdale," said Lady 
 Hortensia, " I cannot agree with you. The 
 families are intimate, but if there is any atten- 
 tion it is from the other side." 
 
 " She may be as willing as he," said Lady 
 Archdale, " and 1 think she could not do 
 better." 
 
 " I can assure you," said Lady llortensia, 
 " there is nothing in it as far as he is con- 
 cerned. I have the best reason in the world 
 for knowing." 
 
 " Perhaps he is going to be married to one 
 of your own daughters," said Lady Archdale, 
 " in which case 1 wish you joy."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 203 
 
 " Since you have guessed so near the truth," 
 said Lady Hortensia, " I may as well tell you 
 the whole truth. He proposed for my youngest 
 daughter this day, and she has refused him. 
 I should not mention it, of course, but really 
 I have been asked if they were not going to be 
 married, and you know one must make some 
 explanation." 
 
 The conversation was interrupted by Lord 
 Beechmount, who came up to pay his compli- 
 ments to Lady Hortensia. He was an old, gal- 
 lant, card-playing nobleman, whose pursuits 
 were so much at variance with his daughter's, 
 that though he affected great strictness in his 
 treatment of her, it rarely happened that they 
 were in one room together. Lady Hortensia 
 inquired for her, hoping she was well. 
 
 " Very well. She is gone with Mrs. Sim- 
 mons to the play." 
 
 " There is no play to-night," said Lady Arch- 
 dale ; " this^is Friday, and being Lent" 
 
 "No play?" said Lord Beechmount, " where 
 can they have gone to then?"
 
 204 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 "Oh, perhaps, to the conjuror's; there is 
 an exhibition close to the theatre," said Miss 
 Annesley, who had now joined the party. 
 
 Lord Beechmount looked disturbed, but said 
 no more. 
 
 Lady Hortensia now began to say something 
 of the party to the waterfall, apologizing for 
 having gone to dinner before Lady Floranthe's 
 arrival, but she found he had not been informed 
 of his daughter's egarement. 
 
 " I hope she did not keep you waiting," said 
 he : " I sent her off at eleven o'clock." 
 
 She merely answered, " waiting quarter of 
 an hour at a cold dinner is no great evil." 
 
 " And who was your party?" said Lord 
 Beechmount. 
 
 Lady Hortensia named most of them, and 
 then stopped. 
 
 " And the Mardyns of course," said Miss 
 Annesley. 
 
 " I see what you are at," said Lady Hortensia, 
 smiling ; " but I assure you," whispering,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 205 
 
 " that is all over ; she refused him this morn- 
 ing." 
 
 "Who refused him?" said Miss Annesley. 
 " Do you mean Frederica?" 
 
 " Whom has the lovely Frederica refused?," 
 said Lord Beech mount. 
 
 " I am quite distressed," said Lady Hortensia, 
 " to have been obliged to tell it, but unless I 
 let it be supposed they are going to be married, 
 I must tell the truth." 
 
 " And may I ask again," said Lord Beech- 
 mount, " what is the truth, and who is the 
 unhappy man ?" 
 
 Lady Hortensia, still imposing secrecy, related 
 to her present auditors, in the manner she 
 thought most fitting, the refusal of Mardyn by 
 Frederica, and said it was merely because she 
 did not like him well enough to marry him. 
 
 " And a very good reason 'pon my honour," 
 said Lord Beechmount, who in theory was all 
 indulgence and compliance for young ladies. 
 
 " Why, I think it is a good reason," said
 
 206 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Miss Annesley, " for it is clear she must have 
 liked him very little indeed, bordering on dis- 
 like, if she did not like him well enough to 
 marry him. Oh! dear, what luck was thrown 
 away upon her. Why did not he go and ask 
 Henrietta." 
 
 " Henrietta would not have accepted of a 
 man, who was just refused by any woman, 
 especially by her sister," said Lady Hortensia. 
 
 " Certainly not," said Lord Beechmount ; 
 " Miss Davenel's other admirers would have a 
 right to resent it if she did." 
 
 " I am not a friend to very early marriages, 
 I own," said Lady Hortensia : " the cares of 
 life, (looking sentimental) will come time 
 enough." 
 
 " True," said Lord Beechmount; " nor is it 
 fair to deprive the world so soon of its brightest 
 ornaments." 
 
 " I don't perceive," said Miss Annesley, 
 " that married women retire from the world 
 sooner, or frequent it less than we girls," laugh-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 207 
 
 ing; " but some are born to ornament it in one 
 way, and some in another and my corps has 
 encouragement in our great Captain, Miss Car- 
 michael." 
 
 Lady Hortensia, having thus safely deposited 
 her secret, could now go to the card-table with 
 a clear conscience, sending now and then an 
 excursive glance to observe if her confidants 
 were busy in propagating the news. She retired 
 early to prepare for the labours of the next day. 
 She would gladly have made Frederica feel the 
 weight of her displeasure, but it would have 
 answered no purpose, and would have spoiled 
 her spirits and beauty for the party. Lady 
 Hortensia was, therefore, all smiles at breakfast, 
 called her a naughty girl, but gave her her hand 
 as she entered the room. 
 
 And now, if the two mothers could have 
 laid open to each other their petty views and 
 proceedings for the last three weeks, they might 
 have been struck with the futility of that spe- 
 cies of conduct, which, in the fashionable world,
 
 208 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 is dignified by the name of manoeuvring. 
 Things were precisely in the state they would 
 have been in, had neither of them taken a single 
 step. Mrs. Mardyn might have spared herself 
 the trouble she took to prevent her son from 
 proposing for Frederica, and Lady Hortensia 
 the pains she took to bring him to it.
 
 209 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A " mix'd company" implies, that save 
 
 Yourself and friends, and half a hundred more 
 Whom you may bow to without looking grave 
 The rest are but a vulgar set. BYRON. 
 
 THE numbers invited by the hospitable givers 
 of the dejeune, to which we are now hastening, 
 would have been, sufficient for every purpose of 
 society and enjoyment; but every friend invited 
 had a friend to bring, either with or without 
 permission. The notes of supplication multi- 
 plied during the last two or three days preceding 
 the fete so preposterously, that poor Lady 
 Halket, bewildered and amazed, grew desperate, 
 and resolved to read or open no more, and take 
 her chance for the supplicants coming or stay-
 
 210 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ing away. The scene, five miles from Dublin, 
 was the most brilliant that can be imagined. 
 The grounds were extensive, and to their natu- 
 ral beauty were added rustic seats, moss-houses, 
 temples, arcades of verdure and open terraces. 
 The company were received in a spacious hall, 
 decorated for the occasion with plants of every 
 description, and opening into a sitting-room, 
 which communicated with a terrace command- 
 ing a view of the beautiful bay, and the rich 
 country on its shores. The guests, as they 
 passed from the host and hostess into the 
 drawing-room, were attracted from it to the 
 terrace, and descending a few steps, they scat- 
 tered, as fancy led, through the grounds. 
 Under a temporary tent, pitched on a romantic 
 rock, a band of music was placed, and imme- 
 diately at the foot of the rock, a spot of well- 
 shorn grass, almost surrounded by cypress trees, 
 formed a little rural ball-room. It is a mistake 
 to suppose that daylight is less favourable to 
 beauty than candlelight. The latter may rays-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 211 
 
 tify defects, or age, but the young, the fresh, 
 the fair, never look so young, so fresh, so fair, 
 as under the influence of a moderate sun, and 
 of that shaded summer sky, which is so usual 
 in Ireland. The simple, yet showy morning- 
 dress, the muslin, the feathers, and ribands, 
 are all bewitchingly becoming; and the cos- 
 tume being under less rigid rules than that of a 
 ball-room, fancy has freer range, and the toute 
 ensemble gains as much as individual loveliness. 
 
 The Miss Davenels looked even more than 
 usually beautiful : their dresses, though simple, 
 were particularly elegant, and set off their fi- 
 gures; and being different in height and com- 
 plexion, they formed a contrast, which was not 
 unfavourable to either. 
 
 While Sir James and Lady Halket were still 
 detained in the hall, receiving the later arrivals, 
 and obliged to be much honoured by the intru- 
 sion of many whom they had never heard of 
 before, the guests dispersed in groupes to va- 
 rious parts of the demesne. The Davenels and
 
 212 THE DAVENELS 
 
 their set were attracted by the music to the 
 dancing-ground, where they had scarcely ap- 
 peared, before the Miss Davenels were engaged 
 in a quadrille, Frederica with Lord Jerpoint, 
 and Henrietta with Sir Martyn, who began to 
 think he had sufficiently proved his non-inten- 
 tions, and that he might safely dance with her, 
 without involving himself in any awkwardness; 
 and she was, after all, one of the handsomest 
 and most fashionable girls in Dublin. Lady 
 Hortensia found a seat, at no great distance, 
 with her sister-in-law, Lady Poyntstown, and 
 some others, to whom the chief interest of the 
 day arose from the superintendence of their 
 young people. Lord Beechmount came up and 
 sat near them. 
 
 " Where is Lady Floranthe?" said Lady 
 Hortensia, " why is she not dancing ?" 
 
 " She is gone with the Miss Hemmings to 
 the cascade they all voted dancing a bore. 
 I cannot conceive why," said Lord Beech- 
 mount. " I remember in my youth, all young
 
 THE DAVENELS. 213 
 
 people loved dancing: the world was gayer 
 then ; and yet Floranthe has great spirits too." 
 
 " Her spirits are too great, perhaps," said 
 Lady Hortensia. " She considers dancing as a 
 sort of confinement ; it limits her to one place." 
 " Ah ! perhaps so : I don't understand those 
 things. Miss Frederica looks all beauty and 
 innocence as if she had not done any mischief. 
 But what is become of the wounded knight?" 
 
 " Hush !" said Lady Hortensia, affecting to 
 keep it a secret ; " I have not seen any of that 
 family yet. I am half afraid to meet them." 
 
 Lord Beech mount beginning to feel that a 
 rustic seat in the open air was not the most 
 suitable for a gouty man, arose and said : " I 
 think I had better return to the house I fear 
 I cannot hope for your company you are en- 
 gaged here with your lovely charge." 
 
 " By no means," said Lady Hortensia, "I'll 
 walk with you ; the air is not yet warm enough 
 to remain sitting. I can return again ; my girls 
 have so many friends that they are never at a
 
 214 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 loss :" and they moved together in the direction 
 of the house, from whence fresh parties were 
 pouring. They had not gone far ere they met 
 all the Mardyns, the Miss Decourcys, the Miss 
 Annesleys, Captain Wharton, and several gen- 
 tlemen, as if going towards the music. George 
 had given his arm to Miss Alicia Decourcy at 
 his mother's suggestion, to do away the idea, 
 as she said, that he was a disappointed man ; 
 but any one who looked at him, could see, not 
 only disappointment, but anger, in his coun- 
 tenance. Mrs. Mardyn bowed and smiled cor- 
 dially to Lady Hortensia. She could afford it ; 
 Lady Hortensia might triumph, but Mrs. Mar- 
 dyn could rejoice : them Davenels, as she called 
 them, should not look down upon her and her 
 daughters. 
 
 George looked darker than usual, but returned 
 Lady Hortensia's salute with a respectful bow. 
 It now occurred to Mrs. Mardyn, that Frederica 
 could not be far off, and it might not be safe 
 to meet her, as George, who seemed in irons
 
 THE DAVENELS. 215 
 
 while in the tender grasp of Miss Alicia, looked 
 ready to break away upon the first opportunity. 
 As they came nearer to the dancers, Mrs. Mar- 
 dyn caught a view of the Miss Davenels in the 
 quadrille, and turning suddenly to the Miss 
 Decourcys, she said : " What, would you think 
 of going first to the cascade, and the aviary ? 
 You are not anxious to dance immediately." 
 
 " By all means, the aviary," said Miss Alicia, 
 whose quick eye had discerned Frederica, before 
 whom her genius felt cowed, as Anthony's was 
 by Caesar's. 
 
 The Miss Mardyns perceiving their mother's 
 meaning, seemed as eager for the aviary as the 
 Miss Decourcys, and the whole party turned into 
 the walk which led to it. 
 
 There is no passion more likely to succeed to 
 love, in vulgar minds, than anger; and Mardyn's 
 was not above entertaining that substitute. He 
 began to be quite at a loss to understand why 
 Frederica had refused him. He thought she 
 had put an affront on him, which no gentleman
 
 216 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 so favoured by fortune, ought to put up with. 
 He even thought for a moment, what a good 
 thing it would be to marry Alicia Decourcy, of 
 whose acceptance he could not doubt, and to 
 show Frederica that he was a fit match for a 
 girl of large fortune. But some comparison 
 which arose in his mind between the two, pre- 
 vented his putting this plan of vengeance into 
 immediate execution. " I can do it any day," 
 thought he. 
 
 Frederica was enjoying the dance with re- 
 lieved spirits, and only wishing that poor Mar- 
 dyn had not, by his proposal, produced an 
 awkwardness between them for some time to 
 come : when her partner perceived she grew 
 suddenly inattentive to the figure of the dance, 
 and the link she should have formed in the 
 Chaines dcs Dames, was wanting. As she 
 danced really well, this carelessness surprised 
 him, and looking at her, he perceived her colour 
 heightened ; she recovered her place, however, 
 laughing at herself, and the dance was com-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 217 
 
 pleted. A fresh set succeeded, and she was 
 retiring, when Captain Villiers came up and 
 paid his respects to her and to Miss Davenel. 
 And in reply to the enquiry of " When did you 
 arrive ?" he answered, " not three hours ago." 
 Almost the first person I met was Wharton, 
 who told me of this fete, and assured me I was 
 invited, which I was very willing to believe, 
 and I yielded to his request and my own in] 
 clination." 
 
 Then followed, from the by-standers, the in- 
 terminable queries of had you a fair wind ? 
 how long were you coming? whom had you 
 on board ? All which were receiving their appro- 
 priate answers, when Lady Floranthe rushed 
 up to Frederica, followed at a faint distance by 
 Mrs. Simmons, and said : " So I find you have 
 refused Mr. Mardyn : what a strange creature 
 you are. I assure you every one abuses you 
 for it : that is, except his mother and sisters." 
 
 Frederica, who, in the simplicity of her 
 heart, imagined this was a profound secret, 
 
 VOL. i. L
 
 218 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 looked very much confused, and hardly knew 
 what to say ; then, in rather a low voice, " I 
 don't see how it concerns any one, and pray, 
 Lady Floranthe, don't talk about it." And she 
 was taking her arm to move away, but Lady 
 Floranthe, who hated anything that looked like 
 restraint, fluttered off to another part of the 
 grounds, beckoning to Mrs. Simmons, who, 
 panting, " toile.d after her in vain." 
 
 Villiers could not doubt the intelligence con- 
 veyed by Lady Floranthe, as Frederica did not 
 deny it. He made no observations on it, how- 
 ever ; but, after the usual remarks on the beauty 
 of the grounds, the view, and the company, he 
 joined in a walk with her and her sister, ac- 
 companied by their partners, and Lady Isabella 
 Floyd. They went towards the scene so much 
 resorted to the cascade and aviary. As they 
 were about to enter the enclosure which sur- 
 rounded the latter place, the group, of which 
 the Mardyns formed a part, issued from it. 
 Where neither party wished to stop, nothing
 
 THE DAVENELS. 219 
 
 was more easy than for both to pass on ; but 
 some bows and smiles were exchanged. Mar- 
 dyn's bow, however, had not the accompani- 
 ment of a smile, nor was it very evident to 
 whom it was addressed; he lifted his hat off' 
 his head, and brought it on a level with his 
 face, so as to prevent the possibility of ex- 
 changing a glance with Frederica ; but this 
 precaution put him on a line with Villiers, 
 whose sudden appearance struck him as being 
 an explanation of Frederica's, otherwise to him, 
 unaccountable conduct. He remembered all 
 his sisters used to say about that flirtation, as 
 they called it, and he almost fancied that she 
 had expected Villiers on this very day. 
 
 Having viewed the aviary, which the ladies 
 found charming, but which the gentlemen de- 
 clared to be a stupid kind of amusement, 
 affording no manner of sport, the party pro- 
 ceeded through some deep shady alleys, sun- 
 proof, until they came to a charming canopy of 
 honeysuckle, supported by pillars covered with 
 
 L2
 
 220 THE DAVEHELS. 
 
 their native bark, and twined with roses ; and. 
 as if with one accord, they seated themselves 
 on the rustic seats with which it was furnished. 
 Mr. Davenel, who never wished to be far from 
 his daughters, came up and joined the party, 
 and shaking hands with Villiers, welcomed him 
 back to Ireland. Sir Martyn Saunders stoutly 
 congratulated himself on Villiers's return, as he 
 should now get leave ; and said, he should have 
 a better time of it in London than Villiers had. 
 
 " With all my heart!" said Villiers; " this 
 is not a time and place to make me envy you. 
 I have seen nothing so beautiful as this fete 
 since I left this." 
 
 "Where did you leave Burrell?" said Sir 
 Martyn. 
 
 " I parted with him at Calais." 
 
 " What ! you went to Calais, and no fur- 
 ther?" 
 
 " I could not go further in the time." 
 
 The place they were in was in view of the 
 cascade, and the full choir of birds, who chose
 
 THE DAVENELS. .221 
 
 that retired spot as an asylum, filled the air 
 with their most vigorous notes. 
 
 " How delightfully that thrush sings," said 
 Frederica : " and how pleasant the smell of the 
 new-mown hay!" 
 
 " Is that hay ?" said Sir Martyn ; "I thought 
 there was an agreeable smell. Those birds make 
 a confounded noise !" 
 
 " There is no danger of your becoming ro- 
 mantic, Sounders," said Villiers. 
 
 " I can be as romantic as any man," said 
 Sir Martyr^ " on a fine scenting morning ; but 
 I hate the country in summer." 
 
 " One wants occupation in the country," said 
 Villiers, " otherwise it must be allowed that 
 the air, and all that presses upon the senses, is 
 much more delightful than in town." 
 
 " If you lived in our country, Captain Vil- 
 liers," said Mr. Davenel, " we would find you 
 occupation enough all the year round. I have 
 more than I can do, very often, between sun- 
 rise and sun-set."
 
 222 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " I mean pleasurable occupation," said Vil- 
 liers. 
 
 " 1 believe/' said Mr. Davenel, " that occu- 
 pation is often agreeable, simply because it 
 occupies; and enforced occupation leaves less 
 languor on the spirits afterwards, than what 
 you call pleasure ; with the exception of coun- 
 try sports: those always exhilarate, and the 
 fatigue they leave is not mingled with ennui. 
 I believe that cannot be said of town amuse- 
 ments." 
 
 " I love country sports very much," said 
 Villiers ; " but it is a great pity that, with the 
 exception of angling, there are none fit for 
 summer. One is compelled, therefore, to go 
 to a hot watering-place, until the shooting 
 season." 
 
 "Ah!" said Mr, Davenel, 
 
 " ' You gentlemen of England, who live at home at ease,' 
 
 are not aware of the labours that fall on us 
 poor fellows owning some acres in Ireland. If
 
 THE DAVENELS. 223 
 
 we all spent our springs in London, and our 
 summers at the watering-places, our green acres 
 would slide from under our feet." 
 
 " It is a country well worth watching, I must 
 own," said Villiers, " and you must not expect 
 compassion for having a share in its soil. If 
 you will procure me a grant of lands here, I 
 will try to become useful myself; but I fear the 
 ladies will think they have got into a meeting 
 of the Agricultural Society." 
 
 " I am half asleep myself," said Sir Marty n. 
 
 Happily to rouze Sir Martyn's spirits, Lady 
 Clara Reeve came in, accompanied by a tall 
 officer, just arrived, and Lady Floranthe. She 
 looked contemptuously at the party ; but Lady 
 Floranthe exclaimed, " What on earth are you 
 all doing ? Why, what makes you all so grave ? 
 You look so foolish, you cannot think." 
 
 What would you have us do," said Lord 
 Jerpoint, " to show our sense?" And the 
 whole party arose, as if they felt ashamed of 
 looking foolish.
 
 224 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Do ! why, my goodness, do as all the rest 
 are doing walk about and see the company. 
 All the world is collected round the dancing- 
 ground, to see an. Irish jig by a footman of 
 Mr. Mardyn's, and one of Lady Halket's 
 maids." 
 
 " This must be worth seeing," said Villiers. 
 
 " I would not miss it for a hundred pounds," 
 said Sir Martyn ; and, as if animated by one 
 mind, the whole party moved towards the scene 
 of action. 
 
 Lady Clara watched Villiers, who walked by 
 Lady Isabella Floyd ; and as the tall officer, on 
 whom she leaned, was not sufficient, she spoke 
 to Villiers several times in so loud a voice, that, 
 at length, to avoid answering her across the 
 party, he moved towards her ; and she, putting 
 her disengaged arm through his, walked on be- 
 tween the two. The jig had begun: it was 
 danced with more strength than grace, by a 
 tall footman and a fresh-coloured dairymaid. 
 The man, with an assured swagger, seemed to
 
 THE DAVENELS. 225 
 
 pursue his partner in an irregular but continued 
 circle, without any variety of figure, beyond an 
 occasional wheel round upon his heel, accom- 
 panied by a ichoop, which almost startled the 
 band from its propriety. The little dairymaid 
 performed the same figure as the man, but in a 
 receding movement, her feet seeming to move 
 but little ; though, on a closer observation, it 
 was perceived that she performed some neat 
 and difficult steps, with the instep, heel and 
 toe, most curiously involved. With a demure 
 countenance, and eyes fixed on the ground, she 
 danced amidst the plaudits of the company ; 
 and when she had received her partner's salute, 
 she stepped up to Villiers, and dipping a cour- 
 tesy, said, " Will your honour plase to dance a 
 
 jig?" 
 
 Great was the amusement of the by-standers 
 at her selection of him ; and Lady Clara and 
 Lady Floranthe vowed he must accept the in- 
 vitation, and that he could not refuse a lady's 
 challenge. He smiled, and said, he hoped she 
 
 L5
 
 226 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 would allow him to find a substitute, as he was 
 quite ignorant of the dance. 
 
 " Cursed impudent !" said Sir Martyn; " who 
 would have expected so much assurance from 
 such a demure-looking little person?" 
 
 Mr. Davenel, eager to exculpate the poor 
 girl from the charge of forwardness, hastened to 
 explain to the English spectators, that she 
 acted only by the rules of the humble ball- 
 rooms where those dances were practised ; the 
 lady who has danced the first jig, having a 
 right (as they say in Ireland, when they mean, 
 being in duty bound) to ask the smartest man 
 in the company to dance with her ; and when 
 her second jig is finished, her last partner has 
 an equal right to select another lady : double 
 jigs are sometimes performed in this manner 
 the first couple choosing each a partner. 
 
 " You must be flattered Villiers, however, by 
 the lady's preference," said Wharton. 
 
 " And so I am ; and if you will waltz with 
 me," bowing to the poor girl, who stood blush-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 227 
 
 ing, and half repenting of her temerity, "why 
 I will try afterwards to learn the jig, in hopes 
 of being your partner another time." 
 
 " I does'nt know them strange dances, your 
 honour." 
 
 " Suppose we show her," said Lady Clara, 
 and the hint was taken immediately by half a 
 dozen couples : Sir Martyn waltzing with Hen- 
 rietta Davenel, Wharton with Lady Isabella 
 Floyd, and Lady Clara with the tall officer, be- 
 fore mentioned. Villiers did not waltz. 
 
 The sod was less favourable to the giddy 
 whirl of the waltz, than to the steady footing of 
 the jig; and to the rosy-cheeked dairy-maid, 
 it appeared a much less agreeable, as well as 
 less fitting sort of dance : and she whispered 
 to one of her companions, that no man alive 
 should dare to pull her about that way ; and if 
 that was what the gentleman meant when he 
 offered to dance with her, she'd soon show him 
 the differ. 
 
 " Who on earth is that tall man, Lady Clara
 
 228 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Reeve is waltzing with," said Mrs. O'Brien. 
 " That," said Lord Annamult, " is Lord Alex- 
 ander Glencairn, son of the Marquis of Loch- 
 loraond : he came in the packet with Captain 
 Villiers to day," 
 
 " Ah indeed ! I thought he was somebody, 
 by Lady Clara catching hold of him in that 
 manner. Will you present me to him by-and- 
 bye. Where on earth is that child ? Miranda ! 
 my dear, don't run about so ; you'll heat your- 
 self ; stay quiet here by me. I declare I won't 
 bring you out again for ever so long f and she 
 parted her daughter's hair on her forehead, 
 which it must be owned was white, calling her 
 a giddy creature and other reproachful names. 
 
 Captain Hardynge had a difficult part to 
 play that day : but the difficulty formed the 
 pleasure. He had become intimate with two 
 Miss Hemmings, pretty girls, who had figur- 
 ed and flirted for two or three years in a pro- 
 vincial town, where there was always a regiment 
 quartered He took them for iguorant country
 
 THE DAVENELS. 229 
 
 girls, and had flirted with both without mea- 
 sure. But neither was disposed to keep secret 
 from the other, the conquest she had made ; 
 and one confession inducing another, it was 
 found he had said the same things to both, in- 
 spiring hopes, which could be realized but to 
 one. On his joining them at Lady Halket's, 
 reproaches were made with more point and cool- 
 ness than he expected from country practition- 
 ers, and he was at first staggered. He paraded 
 the grounds, or sat in arbours between the two, 
 excusing and explaining ; and at length lament- 
 ing his unhappy destiny, which made him so 
 entirely dependent upon hard-hearted parents, 
 that even if the separate claims of his two fair 
 enslavers could be settled, he had nothing to 
 offer but his eternal remembrance and regrets. 
 His feigned, and their real tears at this disclosure, 
 made a scene which could not pass wholly un- 
 noticed, and whispers and conjectures, not far 
 from the truth, were circulated through the 
 company. Great indeed was Mrs. O'Brien's
 
 230 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 triumph and wonder, that the Miss Heramings 
 could be taken in by that flirt, Captain Har- 
 dynge : and many a mother present, congratu- 
 lated herself that her daughter was incapable of 
 such folly. 
 
 A loud and continued bell from the house, 
 gave notice that the hour for the banquet was 
 come, and from every quarter of the grounds, 
 the guests began to take that direction. In the 
 struggle which always takes place in door ways 
 and passages, upon those occasions, Frederica 
 and her sister, with the rest of the party who 
 had been assembled together in the summer- 
 house, contrived to keep near each other, and 
 finally to sit at the same table ; on which was 
 piled all the various kinds of light and elegant 
 food, usually provided for a dejeunt a lafourchette. 
 The Miss Davenels found themselves well 
 placed : Henrietta was taken care of by Lord 
 Jerpoint ; Frederica by Villiers, and the Mar- 
 dyns were at the furthest end of the room. 
 Sir Martyn, on pretence of leaving room for the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 231 
 
 ladies, declined sitting with them ; and soon 
 found a place for himself, at a supernumerary 
 table, where there were only two or three men 
 where he could unrestrained, take that care of 
 himself, which otherwise he must have bestow- 
 ed on some lady, and from which he could oc- 
 casionally intercept a bottle of champagne or 
 burgundy, in its progress to the upper end of 
 the room. 
 
 Villiers was surprised on seeing Frederica af- 
 ter this short absence, to find how much she 
 had gained in beauty and agreeability ; and, 
 insensibly, he gave himself up to the pleasure 
 of her society : while she on her part, felt as if 
 the parties that had taken place in his absence, 
 had formed the least agreeable part of it, and 
 her enjoyment of this hour was complete. 
 
 The repast over, the company arose ; some to 
 depart, others to enjoy the fresh air. Amongst 
 the latter, the Miss Davenels and their party 
 went once more into the grounds, which seem- 
 ed more beautiful than in the full blaze of day.
 
 232 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 People of fashion are not so dead to all the in- 
 fluences of balmy air and lovely scenery, as some 
 suppose. There is a cant which some affect 
 against every thing that is purely natural : and 
 there are a few, whose organs are noi delicate, 
 and who, like Sir Martyn, require the more vio- 
 lent excitements of field sports to make them re- 
 lish the country : but most persons would (if 
 they could annihilate space and time) spend 
 some part of every fine summer's day in groves 
 and shrubberies : and the party we are speaking 
 of, did not disdain to express the pleasure they 
 felt, while walking, towards the evening of a 
 lovely day, on shaven turf, with flowers of all 
 hues growing around, lofty trees meeting over 
 head, and thousands of birds straining the little 
 bill at liberty. 
 
 But the country in its rudest form, had an 
 interest for Frederica. Even in the frosts of Ja- 
 nuary, her willing feet often led her to the cot- 
 tages of the poor in the neighbourhood of 
 Glenlqw Castle: and accustomed to observe
 
 THE DAVENELS. 233 
 
 nature in all the changes of the year, she felt 
 her to be " in every charm supreme." Those 
 charms lost nothing on the present occasion by 
 the society of Dudley Villiers ; but the envious 
 summons came for returning home, and it was 
 necessary to obey it. 
 
 " What hour may I hope to find you at home 
 to-morrow ?" said Villiers, as he assisted Lady 
 Hortensia into her carriage. " I shall do my- 
 self the honour to call." 
 
 " We are going to Glenlow Castle to-mor- 
 row, and shall be happy to see you there if you 
 come in that direction between this and Sep- 
 tember." 
 
 Mr. Davenel cordially seconded the invita- 
 tion, as he followed his daughters into the car- 
 riage, and the party drove off. 
 
 After a few minutes, Dudley absolutely start- 
 ed at perceiving how much he was disappoint- 
 ed : and he began to think Fate had been 
 kinder to him than he deserved, in taking Fre- 
 derica away. " It would be folly madness,
 
 234 THE DAVENKLS. 
 
 to get entangled in that manner." In that man- 
 ner, meant with an Irish girl: but the next mo- 
 ment he abjured the invidious distinction. 
 " With any girl," he added : " I am myself 
 poor" for poor he was in the habit of think- 
 ing himself, though with an income on which 
 many a gentleman with a family, would find 
 himself well off: but such is the rate of ex- 
 pense at which single men of fashion now live, 
 even without any marked folly. 
 
 Villiers was the acknowledged heir of his 
 grandmother, the Duchess Dowager of St. 
 Evremond ; but it was at her option. And rich 
 relations who have kind intentions towards the 
 junior branches of their family, generally re- 
 quire, in return, the trifling sacrifice of their 
 happiness in the important point of marriage.
 
 235 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 O friendly to the best pursuits of man, 
 Domestic life in mral pleasures pass'd '. 
 
 Could pageantry and dance and feast and song, 
 
 Be quell'd in all our summer-months retreats, 
 
 How many self-deluded nymphs and swains, 
 
 Who dream they have a taste for fields and groves, 
 
 Would find them hideous nurseries of the spleen. COWPBR. 
 
 THE Davenels left town the next day, and 
 though expecting to have their house shortly 
 filled by relations and friends, they felt some- 
 thing cast down at the thoughts of various per- 
 sons and amusements left behind. Never before 
 did Frederica feel sorry to return to Glenlow. 
 Henrietta had considered it a bad omen the 
 year before; and now it was almost a mortifica- 
 tion. Lady Hortensia had her own feelings on 
 the subject, but she did not think proper to di- 
 vulge them. The last day's meeting between
 
 236 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Villiers and Frederica had done more towards 
 making them acquainted, than the month of 
 winter amusements previously. He felt, when 
 she was gone, how much she had embellished 
 every scene, and the parties of which he par- 
 took afterwards, seemed to want their only 
 charm. He dreaded Lady Clara Reeve, des- 
 pised Lady Floranthe Ross, hated the Miss 
 Mardyns, and was perfectly indifferent to all 
 the other ladies and misses he met. Frederica's 
 rejection of Mardyn was the general theme of 
 conversation for a few days, until it was chased 
 by some newer wonder. By some Mr. Davenel 
 and Lady Hortensia were blamed for not having 
 exerted their authority to make her marry him ; 
 by others she was said to be a fine spirited girl, 
 who would not marry a man she did not like ; 
 while a few shook their heads, and said it was 
 clear that she must have a preference for some 
 one else. 
 
 Weeks flew on at precisely the same rate they 
 have ever travelled. Herbert Davenel, a fine
 
 THE DAVENELS. 237 
 
 young man of nineteen, came home from Ox- 
 ford j and the three younger boys returned, one 
 from Eton, one from Rugby, and one from 
 Sandhurst ; and endless were the demands for 
 horses, ponies, gigs, and fishing-tackle. The 
 Miss Davenels, though they could not partake 
 in all their brothers' sports, yet were exhilarated 
 by the bustle they made, and took an interest 
 in whatever belonged to them ; riding-parties 
 were formed, and visits paid and received. 
 Mr. Davenel, though sometimes overwhelmed, 
 as he thought, by country business, never was 
 so truly happy as at Glenlow ; and Lady Hor- 
 tensia was also pleased to be there. Mr. 
 Davenel's influence in the neighbourhood, from 
 his high character, even more than from his ex- 
 tensive property, gave her a degree of tranquil 
 consequence which suited her, and to exercise 
 the rights of hospitality she considered as a 
 dignified occupation. 
 
 As the arrivals and departures in a country 
 neighbourhood are known with wonderful
 
 238 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 quickness without the aid of a Morning Post ; 
 the Mardyns had not been many hours at their 
 residence of Castle-Mardyn, before it was 
 known at Glcnlow Castle ; and some little em- 
 barrassment was felt as to the sort of intercourse 
 to be kept up. Lady Hortensia, however, soon 
 decided, that as the Davenel family had nothing 
 to complain of, she and Henrietta should go 
 immediately to visit the ladies at Castle- 
 Mardyn; and Mr. Davenel would ride over 
 some morning, and both families having com- 
 pany staying with them, dining together was 
 not likely to be necessary. The Miss Decourcys 
 and the O'Briens, and some men, were expected 
 at Castle-Mardyn, and each family would have 
 enough of society at home. But Mrs. Mardyn's 
 was a spirit of a higher order than to remain 
 forgotten in the country, and, as it were, disap- 
 pointed. The visits were duly paid and returned 
 without the ladies having met, and Mr. Davenel 
 had paid his visit and shaken hands with 
 Mardyn, when cards arrived, announcing a ball
 
 THE DAVENELS. 239 
 
 at Castle-Mardyn in ten days from the given 
 time, with a request engraved at the bottom, that 
 every one would come in costume or character, 
 masked or unmasked. Similar invitations 
 were sent to the nobility and gentry within 
 twenty miles ; and even more distant friends 
 were written to, to say, if they could find ac- 
 commodations near enough, their company was 
 wished for. 
 
 The agitation caused by a country ball, is 
 not confined to the house at which it is given. 
 All the neighbours are called upon to offer beds 
 to their own or the inviter's friends ; and no 
 one can presume to retain an empty corner in 
 their house. To Lady Hortensia this was an 
 absolute nuisance. She loved the world on a 
 quiet and elegant plan; balls were for town; 
 but, in the country, she hated anything beyond 
 a few friends, or, in winter, an accidental 
 dance, composed of the persons staying in her 
 house. To go six miles to a ball, some steep 
 hills too in the way, with the chance of the
 
 240 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 servants getting drunk, and the necessity of 
 offering beds to more than her house could accom- 
 modate with comfort, discomposed her nerves. 
 To refuse, however, was not to be thought of 
 it would be worse than the rejection of Mardyn 
 by Frederica. Besides, the Poyntstowns were 
 all to be with her, and they would like it of 
 course. The young Davenels were all more or 
 less delighted. Henrietta already saw herself 
 in imagination arranged as a sultana; and 
 what the boys were to be was a point of deep 
 consultation amongst themselves all day long : 
 sailors, robbers, watchmen; sweeps; whatever 
 would permit them to make most noise with 
 impunity. Frederica almost wished to be al- 
 lowed to wear a mask, that she might not en- 
 counter the eyes of Mardyn; but this feeling 
 was quickly scouted by Henrietta, who at 
 length succeeded in inspiring her with more 
 courage, or, rather, with more indifference. 
 But choosing dresses was not the only difficulty. 
 A private note to Lady Hortensia accompanied
 
 THE DAVENELS. 241 
 
 the card, requesting that any friends now at 
 Glenlow Castle, or who might be expected 
 there, would come to the ball. Some invita- 
 tions, therefore, which the Davenels had given 
 for an indefinite time, it was desirable should 
 be accepted, if at all, during the ball at Castle- 
 Mardyn. Wharton was to visit somewhere in 
 that neighbourhood ; that is, within thirty 
 miles, and he had promised to call at Glenlow 
 he must be written to. Lord Beechmount had 
 promised to stop a couple of days in his way 
 home, with his daughter and Mrs. Simmons. 
 Lord Jerpoint and Lord Fitzmaurice ; Lady 
 Margaret O'Neil and her daughter; it would 
 be so vexatious if they came a day after the 
 ball ; and proper notices were sent. 
 
 The arrangements were all made ; the ex- 
 pected guests, all but Wharton, were arrived, 
 and all was agreeable bustle and gaiety at Glen- 
 low Castle ; when, on the morning of the ball, 
 before the family was assembled to breakfast, a 
 little bare-legged urchin, apparently not more 
 
 VOL. i. M
 
 242 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 than ten, but in reality bearing the weight of 
 fourteen years upon his naked shoulders, arrived 
 with a note, dated the night before, and writ- 
 ten from Monoghmore, a little town about eight 
 miles off. It was in a bad scrawly hand, and 
 was as follows : 
 
 " Dear Lady Hortensia, 
 
 " Mr. Reeve, Isabella, and myself are 
 on our way to pass some time at Henchtown, 
 and having been invited to a bal masqni by 
 Mrs. Mardyn, we should like to go, if you can 
 give us beds. Pray, if you cannot, say so 
 and believe me ever truly yours, 
 
 " CLARA REEVE." 
 
 The note had been folded, and then half 
 opened again, and with a pencil was written, 
 " Can you accommodate Lord Alexander Glen- 
 cairn?" 
 
 Except the standing evil of Henrietta's not 
 getting married, and the late calamity of Fre-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 243 
 
 derica's refusal of Mardyn, (though that was 
 viewed with still more of anger than of sorrow,) 
 Lady Hortensia had never met any thing more 
 vexatious than this note. It was very unplea- 
 sant and really distressing and what should 
 she do? She had already disposed of all the 
 best beds in her house she hated leaving her 
 own room it was indeed a rule she made never 
 to do so : besides, she hated Lady Clara Reeve ; 
 who always seized upon the best men, and 
 laughed them out of dancing with girls, or 
 paying them any attention. Lady Floranthe 
 Ross gave trouble and was silly, but Lady Hor- 
 tensia was not afraid of her. Lady Poyntstown 
 shook her head, and could not but think it a 
 contre temps. But yet, to refuse, as Lady Hor- 
 tensia said, would be unpleasant. Mrs. Mardyn 
 knew every room in Glenlow castle, and would 
 not fail to teil Lady Clara how she would have 
 settled for her accommodation, had it been her 
 case : and, besides, it would not tell well in 
 Dublin. " As for Lord Glencairn indeed " 
 
 M2
 
 244 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Have him by all means if you have her," 
 said Lady Poyntstown ; " she can waltz with 
 but one man at a time, and let her bring the 
 one she chooses :" and then, in compassion to 
 the weaker nerves of her sister-in-law, Lady 
 Poyntstown insisted on giving up her room to 
 Lady Clara; for though there were others as 
 good, yet this had been more lately fitted up, 
 and contained some elegancies, which she knew 
 Lady Hortensia would wish should fall to the 
 lot of Lady Clara, though she did hate her. 
 
 This being settled a I'amable, Lady Hortensia 
 was rising from the breakfast-table rather sooner 
 than usual, when the arrival of the post letters 
 detained her, and she stopped to read the only 
 one which was addressed to her. 
 
 " My dear Madam, 
 
 " I am on my way to Killarney, ac- 
 companied by Captain Wharton. We intend 
 having the pleasure of calling at Glenlow Castle 
 to-morrow between four and five o'clock, and if
 
 THE DAVENELS. 245 
 
 your house is not full, we shall be happy to 
 avail ourselves of your kind invitation for a day 
 or two. 
 
 " Believe me to be, 
 " Your ladyship's very truly, &c. 
 
 " D. B. VILLIERS." 
 
 It might be supposed from all that had been 
 said, that any addition to the party would be 
 felt as an inconvenience ; but, on the contrary, 
 the arrival of these gentlemen was hailed with 
 pleasure by all the family : with the exception 
 of Frederica, who was so much engrossed by a 
 long letter, filled and crossed in every direction, 
 from one of her school-fellows, that she made no 
 remark whatsoever : but was she really indif- 
 ferent to it ? No one asked her, nor shall we. 
 
 Scarcely had the arrangements consequent 
 upon this new accession of guests passed through 
 Lady Hortensia's brain, when a chaise drove up 
 to the door, and from it stepped Mr. Manvers, 
 on his return from his tour ; and exact to the
 
 246 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 day on which he had said, when leaving Dublin, 
 that he should visit Glenlow Castle. The day 
 had passed from the minds of the Davenels, 
 but he was welcome nevertheless. Mr. Manvers 
 had no doubt that he was expected, and prided 
 himself on being punctual to the hour. 
 
 " I have still a contrivance," thought Lady 
 Hortensia: and now she began seriously to 
 hope that this might be the last demand on 
 her for welcome and a bed, and she set about 
 ordering the further changes in the sleeping 
 department. The boys must give up a room in 
 which they had hitherto revelled when a wet 
 day prevented their being quite as much out of 
 doors as usual ; and which bore evident marks 
 of having been the scene of manly sptirts. Into 
 this room a bed was put for Herbert ; and his 
 room, with his books, prints, and all his house- 
 hold gods, was given up to Mr. Manvers. 
 
 Villiers's visit to Glenlow was certainly incon- 
 sistent with his reflections after parting with 
 the Davenels in Dublin : but a man cannot be
 
 THE DAVENELS. 247 
 
 wise at all times : and he really wished to see 
 Killarney. Wharton proposed the journey, and 
 he had no good reason to give for declining. 
 He should not stop long at Glenlow, and he 
 would be very cautious, both for the young 
 lady's sake and his own. How easy it is to 
 reason ourselves into doing what we like ! 
 
 The dinner was earlier that day than usual 
 at Glenlow Castle, to give time for dressing 
 after it. It had been suggested that they 
 should dress early, and dine, en grand costume ; 
 but some of the party had not yet made up 
 their dresses, and others their minds, and the 
 plan was abandoned. Lady Clara sent a second 
 note, to say that she and her party would meet 
 the Davenels at the ball, and return at night, 
 or rather in the morning, to Glenlow : and this 
 was a great relief to. the young people. 
 
 Lady Floranthe had been running about all 
 day from room to room, proposing groups, and 
 changes of costume, and impenetrable disguises : 
 but the Miss Davenels and Miss O'Neil de-
 
 248 THE DA YEN ELS. 
 
 clared against any disguise, and she then vowed 
 she would astonish and deceive them all ; and 
 neither she nor Mrs. Simmons appeared at 
 dinner, being engaged in contriving something 
 wonderful. 
 
 Villiers did not behave like a man who de- 
 spised danger; and he appeared to Frederica 
 a much less agreeable person than when she 
 walked with him at Lady Halket's. He was 
 reserved to the young ladies, cordial to Mr. 
 Davenel, and respectful to Lady Hortensia. 
 
 Lady Hortensia managed to leave to Mrs. 
 Simmons the whole care of her own interesting 
 pupil ; but Lord Beechmount being down stairs, 
 and at the hall-door before his daughter was 
 quite ready, gallantly accepted a seat with his 
 hostess and her lovely daughters, and Mr. Da- 
 venel went with Lady Poyntstown. The rest 
 divided as they could. Most of the guests 
 having some kind of carriage, there was no 
 difficulty about conveyance, and any thing on 
 wheels would do for boys.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 249 
 
 Lady Hortensia, who hated to deviate from 
 the strictest laws of fashion in the important 
 article of dress, could not be prevailed on to 
 wear any thing more fanciful than her court 
 costume ; and Lady Poyntstown was in a simi- 
 lar one. But Henrietta had given loose to her 
 love of display, and by the help of her aunt's 
 and her mother's diamonds, and other orna- 
 ments, she made out a grand Circassian dress, 
 or what in the country would pass for one, and 
 Lord Annamult attended her as the Grand 
 Signer. She prevailed on her two youngest 
 brothers to go as her pages or train-bearers, 
 promising them liberty to dance as much as 
 they pleased, and assuring them they would 
 never get partners if they went in noisy vulgar 
 characters. Frederica, though looking beautiful 
 as an Illyrian peasant, was displeased with her 
 dress from the time of Dudley Villiers's arrival. 
 She was dazzled at the sight of Henrietta's 
 costume, and sorry for a moment that she had 
 not adopted something equally splendid : but 
 
 M5
 
 250 THE DAVKNELS. 
 
 it was now too late and after all, there was no 
 telling whether he would like her better in any 
 thing else and her mamma and aunt, and 
 every one approved so much of the one she 
 had chosen, that she would endeavour to be 
 satisfied. 
 
 Herbert Davenel was a hunter of the Alps 
 and Charles, the next brother, a shepherd of the 
 Alps and the young Poynts's were more or less 
 Alpine the Alps were the rage. Lord Jerpoint 
 and Lord Fitzmaurice were more or less Spanish ; 
 and Villiers and Wharton wore their uniforms. 
 Mr. Davenel and Lord Poyntstown begged to 
 go in plain clothes ; Mr. Davenel declaring that 
 the only charucter he could support was that 
 of a peace-officer, to which his daughters would 
 not consent. Lady Margaret and Miss O'Neil 
 were of the innumerable tribe of peasants, though 
 they could hardly be recognised as such in the 
 country they affected to represent. 
 
 But the person most difficult to suit was 
 Mr. Manvers. He set out with a declaration
 
 THE DAVENELS. 251 
 
 that he would not make a fool of himself : but 
 his proposal to go in plain clothes was over- 
 ruled by the young people, who did not like to 
 see any one on that night wiser than them- 
 selves ; and perhaps he felt also that it would 
 be putting himself on a level with their father 
 and uncle. He wished to wear a court-dress, 
 but the only one in the house was worn by Lord 
 Beechmount. A peasant who would not dance 
 (and Mr. Manvers had left off dancing) would 
 be out of character : Spaniards were already 
 too numerous, and every thing which could con- 
 tribute to eastern magnificence was preoccupied 
 by Henrietta and Lord Annamult. Men of 
 sense should not be too much bent on showing 
 their sense in every trifle ; the crowd, on whom 
 they affect to look down, will have their revenge. 
 It must be owned that the young people, girls 
 as well as men, maliciously endeavoured to in- 
 crease Mr. Manvers's perplexity, by starting 
 objections to every dress that was proposed ; 
 till time pressing, and it being necessary to
 
 252 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 settle something, they encouraged him to go in 
 a palmer's weeds : men at all ages had worn 
 that dress in the Holy Land, and no palmer, 
 however juvenile, could be expected to dance. 
 After some contrivance, the palmer's dress was 
 complete, and by degrees the party from Glen- 
 low Castle arrived in tolerable order at Castle- 
 Mardyn.
 
 253 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 And there were dresses, splendid but fantastical, 
 Masks of all times and nations, Turks and Jews ; 
 And harlequins and clowns, with feats gymnastica], 
 Greeks, Romans, Yankee-doodles, and Hindoos.- BYRON. 
 
 BUT trifling was the fuss at Glenlow Castle 
 compared with that at Castle-Mardyn. Not 
 a room or bed in the house but changed its 
 occupant. 
 
 " The Miss Decourcys shall have my room 
 Captain Hemmings can sleep in the dressing- 
 room : there is a very nice little bed in it 
 your room, George, will do for Henry O'Brien 
 and his brother Andrew William can sleep in 
 the study near it : he is a sailor, and does not 
 care where he sleeps Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien
 
 254 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 and Miranda shall have the leopard-room and 
 dressing-room Captain O 'Sullivan shall have 
 the little blue room, and I'll go up stairs to the 
 flounced attic your sisters shall have the ba- 
 chelor's room, all to themselves the Miss Char- 
 tress's shall have the leopard no, that's for the 
 O'Brien's oh ! they shall have the pink-room 
 on the return, and the Jocelyn girls can sleep in 
 the little white-room inside it. As for the Joce- 
 lyn men, I have a contrivance for them ay, 
 they can have your sisters' rooms then the 
 ladies' maids and valets can sleep in the old 
 school-room, and the room over it. I hope the 
 Decourcys won't bring two maids : however, if 
 they do, I know what I'll do ; but one thing I 
 am determined on ; I'll keep the chintz-room 
 and dressing-room, in case Lady Clara Reeve 
 should come." Her son and daughters exclaim- 
 ed that they hoped she would not. 
 
 But all these changes, which would have 
 weighed down Lady Hortensia, only served to 
 exhilarate Mrs. Mardyn. She felt the pride and
 
 THE DAVENELS. 255 
 
 enthusiasm of a commander on the eve of a 
 battle. She went into every room in the house ; 
 arranging, consulting, ordering. Work-girls 
 were employed making or repairing curtains, 
 blinds, toilette-covers, except when they were 
 seized on by the Miss Mardyn's maid to assist 
 her in her extra labours. The business of dress- 
 ing was not forgotten. Mrs. Mardyn had read 
 in the papers that her majesty, the late Queen 
 of Wurtemburgh, when she expected to receive 
 Jier brother, the King of England, established 
 herself at an inn by the road he was to pass, 
 habited as the hostess of an auberge, and in 
 that character gave him his first repast in her 
 territories. Mrs. Mardyn enquired much about 
 the form of this dress ; and having by advice 
 written to a friend in Dublin, who had some 
 interest at the theatre, a dress was sent to her, 
 being one that Mrs. M'Cullagh always wore in 
 the part of the hostess of any inn, whether in 
 Germany, France, or Switzerland ; but which 
 looked so fatally suited to Mrs. Mardyn, that
 
 256 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 her son and daughters were unanimous in re- 
 questing she would not wear it; and a dress, 
 which had nothing of character but what it 
 derived from the wearer, was substituted. 
 
 The Miss Mardyns examined all the Swiss 
 costumes that could be collected ; but having 
 no idea of disfiguring themselves to humour 
 any country, they selected the prettiest parts of 
 each dress ; and thus, with the apron of one 
 canton, the boddice of another, and the head- 
 dress of a third, and wreaths of roses, added at 
 discretion, they looked very well. 
 
 But George was not so easy under the exhi- 
 bition of himself as his sisters. After long con- 
 sultations, during which he looked gloomy, as 
 if he did not, would not, care one farthing how 
 he was adorned, he at length found himself in 
 the habit of a brigand from the Appenines, with 
 pistols and other offensive weapons stuck all 
 round his belt, and at his side : and thus ac- 
 coutred, he presented a most formidable aspect 
 to his guests, as he received them at the door :
 
 THE DAVENELS. 257 
 
 but it was not necessary to speak a prologue, 
 explaining that he was only Snug the joiner, as 
 he wore no mask. He begged hard to be al- 
 lowed to wear his cravat, or at least a black 
 stock ; but Miss Alicia Decourcy would not 
 hear of this violation of all truth of costume : 
 " And Lord Byron always wore his throat un- 
 covered." Mardyn, if not convinced, was 
 " fondly overcome," as others have been before 
 him, and yielded. 
 
 To reconcile him to his metamorphosis, she 
 dressed herself as a shepherdess of the Appe- 
 nines ; and her sister, to complete the harmony, 
 was a Milanese peasant, and so they were all 
 suited. 
 
 The fine people of the neighbourhood con- 
 tented themselves with adding some magnifi- 
 cence to their usual ball-dresses ; or at most, 
 with some dress which might by courtesy be 
 called Spanish, eastern, or peasant : having- no 
 idea, as they said, of taking trouble to cut a 
 figure amongst the lesser squires and their fami-
 
 258 THE UAVENELS. 
 
 lies. But the inferior gentry were more ambi- 
 tious of distinction. Ingenuity was racked ; 
 and as talent is not confined to rank, some cer- 
 tainly made up in humour and truth of repre- 
 sentation, what was wanting in refined taste. 
 Some characters, however, excited nothing but 
 disgust. A party of tall young men, dressed as 
 a troop of charity girls, conducted by a little 
 woman, the sister of one of them, paraded the 
 room, were stared at, and then avoided wher- 
 ever they appeared. Girls would not dance 
 with them ; and though a few boys did for a 
 short time, the exhibition was declared to be so 
 vulgar and unpleasing, that they were reduced 
 to dance with each other, or to remain still. 
 Two young men, of rather good appearance, 
 walked about dressed in short green coats, or- 
 namented with buttons and braids and tags ; 
 hunting-caps, covered with plumes of black 
 feathers, and small bugle-horns, which however 
 they could not sound, in their hands. As they 
 neither sang nor spoke, it was not easy to guess
 
 THE DAVENELS. 259 
 
 what this meant ; at length Wharton took the 
 liberty of asking one of them. He laughed, 
 and answered with the most good-humoured 
 and undisguised brogue, " Why indeed, Sir, 
 my brother and me, we are in the character of 
 the Fryschuitz." 
 
 " I shall inform the company, Sir," said 
 Wharton. 
 
 " Thank you, Sir," said the young man. 
 
 This innocent mistake excited laughter; but 
 Messrs, the Fryschuitz danced the rest of their 
 part, and gave no offence ; while the throng of 
 watchmen bawling the hour, tinkers clattering 
 their ware, and ballad-singers shouting out their 
 songs, proved that to perform a character to the 
 life is not always the way to amuse. Even 
 basket-women and fish-women, those outcasts 
 of nature and fortune, some thought it good fun 
 to represent ; but be it known to those so gifted 
 and so disposed, that to be disgustingly vulgar, 
 and to address polite ears in such language as 
 some of them could never have heard before, is
 
 260 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the acme of bad taste ; and that no man who 
 wishes to be considered as good company for 
 the rest of his days, should commit himself in 
 such characters. But some were in better taste. 
 The witches of Macbeth, by some young ladies 
 and gentlemen, who performed the music very 
 agreeably, gave universal satisfaction. 
 
 Mr. Manvers staid near Frederica rather lon- 
 ger than she thought necessary. He conversed 
 better anywhere than in such a scene as the 
 present. He expected blunders or Ion mots 
 from every mouth, and he criticised too gravely 
 the attempts and failures in character. Now and 
 then he adverted, with something like discon- 
 tent, to his own dress. Had he known of this 
 ball before his coming to Glenlow, he would 
 have brought this, or that ; and even of its 
 kind it was not precisely what it ought to have 
 been. 
 
 " What does it signify ?" Frederica was near 
 saying to him : and she longed to join the younger 
 part of the throng, who were contented to take
 
 THE DAVENELS. 261 
 
 things as they were, and to laugh at every- 
 thing. A sweep came up, and asked her to 
 dance, holding out a sooty hand ; for which 
 Mr. Manvers, who fancied himself bound to 
 take care of her, reproved him, and this threw 
 Frederica into a fit of laughter. She looked so 
 charming at the time, and her dress, notwith- 
 standing her fears on the subject, was so infi- 
 nitely becoming, that Villiers felt it to be a 
 duty he owed to the hospitality of Mr. Davenel 
 to ask his daughter to dance ; and, waving for 
 the present his intended caution, he came up 
 to her. Most gladly did she quit Mr. Manvers 
 to dance with him, and a short time was spent 
 together, waiting for the next quadrille to begin. 
 Though the party from Glenlow Castle were by 
 this time scattered through several rooms, a 
 sort of concatenation might be traced by the 
 buzz of enquiry which passed from one to the 
 other, till it reached the furthest apartment, 
 where Lady Hortensia and Lord Beechmount 
 were at a refreshment table. The question
 
 262 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 which travelled in this manner was, Where is 
 Lady F/oranthe? She and Mrs. Simmons were 
 to have come in Lord Beech mount's chaise ; 
 and, as she had called to him from her room, 
 that she was just coming down, he supposed 
 she would be ready to step into her carriage as 
 soon as Lady Hortensia's drove off. Frequent 
 experience of the fallacy of such expectations 
 had not taught Lord Beechmount, that Lady 
 Floranthe's just coming down, might mean, that 
 she had not begun to dress, and sometimes, 
 that the dress itself was not finished ; and he 
 was always surprised at the subsequent delay, 
 though instinct seemed to have prompted him, 
 on this occasion, to take care of himself, by 
 accepting Lady Hortensia's offer of a seat with 
 her. It was Lady Poyntstown who set on foot 
 the enquiry, and an unsuccessful one it proved . 
 Lord Beechmount was too gallant to express 
 anger against any one present, but he bustled 
 and fumed a good deal at Mrs. Simraons's 
 thoughtlessness. At last the younger Davenels
 
 THE DAVENELS. 263 
 
 and Poynts's were caught and questioned seve- 
 rally, as to when and how they had left the 
 house, and whether Lady Floranthe had pre- 
 ceded or followed them ; but they knew little, 
 and cared less. They had come, three or four 
 in one gig, and one or two behind somebody's 
 carriage they did not know whose ; they had 
 overtaken it by hard running, just as it was at 
 Glenlow gate, and had jumped up behind ; and 
 that was all they knew of Lady Floranthe. 
 
 Though this disturbed Lord Beechmount, 
 and engaged Lady Hortensia's attention, it did 
 not produce any general sensation. The news- 
 men bawled, the ballad-singers sang, the watch- 
 men rattled, and the dancing went on, as if no 
 such person as Lady Floranthe existed ; and 
 the arrival of Lady Clara Reeve, and her party, 
 occupied those who were beginning to wish for 
 something new. She was habited as a nun, 
 which contrasted very pleasantly with the dress 
 of the bold dragoon, whose arm she held. 
 Mr. Reeve. wore a domino: and Lady Isabella
 
 264 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Floyd was a flower-girl. Some fresh charac- 
 ters poured in fortune-tellers without fore- 
 sight, and scholars without learning. Mr. 
 Manvers addressed one of the latter, and find- 
 ing him ignorant of the Latin tongue, he was 
 disgusted. 
 
 Mr. Manvers was a man of literature and 
 sense ; but, though possessing an ample for- 
 tune, he had never lived in the very gay world. 
 He resided almost entirely on his own property ; 
 and when he visited London, he amused him- 
 self, like Lady Grace, soberly. He went to 
 exhibitions, and institutions, and dinners, and 
 sometimes to the theatre ; which he had, how- 
 ever, discontinued a good deal, since Miss 
 O'Neil left the stage. He had but one idea of 
 a bal masque, and that was taken from Cecilia, 
 which he had read in his early days with de- 
 light. He was waiting, therefore, for the wit 
 to begin, and could not find amusement in the 
 want of it. Ridicule was not his forte ; nor 
 was he a man who could laugh at a bad trd-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 265 
 
 gedy, though he might chance to be grave at a 
 comedy. He had found considerable pleasure 
 in conversing with Frederica ; but though pos- 
 sessing an understanding which made her a 
 companion for a man of sense, she had also 
 the gay spirits of seventeen ; and while he 
 talked, she was inwardly amused with all she 
 saw that was incongruous or odd, and longing 
 to dance, when Villicrs asked her. 
 
 Though Villiers seemed at first to be what 
 Mrs. O'Brien had called him, " a retired, back- 
 ward sort of young man," yet there was no 
 want of sympathy between him and Frederica. 
 He did not talk a great deal, but he felt all the 
 humour of the scene, and a look exchanged, 
 sometimes expressed the opinion each had 
 formed of the attempts at pleasantry or cos- 
 tume. The danger of Dudley's society, though 
 great, was unfelt by Frederica, and she never 
 once reflected on it. To dance with a man 
 whom all the world called handsome, fashion- 
 able, and proud, was at first felt to be a distinc- 
 
 VOL. i. N
 
 266 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 tion ; but the feeling of triumph soon subsided 
 into enjoyment, and she fancied dancing to be 
 her supreme delight, until, being asked by Lord 
 Fitzmaurice for the next quadrille, she suddenly 
 became conscious of weariness, and wondered 
 people could dance so much in such a place. 
 
 About this time a discussion was going on 
 between Lady Clara and Mrs. Mardyn : the 
 latter pressing on her acceptance the chintz- 
 room and dressing-room ; and offering beds, 
 though she knew she had .them not, to Lady 
 Isabella Floyd, and Lord Alexander Glencairn. 
 But Lady Clara had, as we have seen, made 
 her own arrangements more to her satisfaction, 
 and she assured Mrs. Mardyn that she could 
 not change them without offending Lady Hor- 
 tensia, who would never forgive her. Mrs. 
 Mardyn declared it was not fair in Lady Hor- 
 tensia to take Lady Clara from her ; but her 
 son and daughters inwardly rejoiced. 
 
 It would be endless and tiresome to name all 
 the strange and unusual sights and characters
 
 THE DAVENELS. 267 
 
 of the night. One gentleman thought it an 
 excellent joke to go as Death ; with a dress 
 painted as a skeleton; but in spite of his ticket, 
 his entrance was over-ruled. Another took a 
 cobler's stall on his back, and hammered, and 
 mended shoes, for the amusement of the spec- 
 tators. But the prettiest exhibition was a jig- 
 danced by Miss Miranda O'Brien, drest as an 
 Irish peasant-girl, with Captain O'Sullivan, 
 who had applied himself with such diligence, 
 while at country quarters, to learning it, that 
 every one allowed he danced it like a native. 
 Lord Annamult was greatly amused at seeing 
 Miss Miranda in this very novel situation, and 
 he humoured Mrs. O'Brien in her observations 
 on the innocence of her dear child, " who quite 
 forgot where she was, dancing put her into such 
 spirits." 
 
 Through all the performances of the night, 
 a running passage was at times distinctly heard, 
 having for its subject, the non-appearance of 
 Lady Floranthe Ross. The anxiety of a few,
 
 268 THE DA V EN ELS. 
 
 and the wonder of many, became more and more 
 audible ; bul at a late hour, a sensation was 
 felt through the room, communicated by those 
 nearest to the door of entrance, at her arrival. 
 She made her way rapidly, telling to some in 
 few, and to others in many words, what had 
 detained her : and they helped to spread the ac- 
 count far and wide. She was dressed in a plain 
 tuille dress, with some flowers cart-lessly placed 
 in her hair ; and this simple costume was on 
 such a night, so singular, that it excited uni- 
 versal observation . Mrs. Simmons sidled aftir 
 her, trying to satisfy enquiries, but evidently 
 scarcely able to repress the tears and sobs, 
 which must have been, violent, as she came 
 along; but between them both, the story, such 
 as it was, was quickly spread ; and it turned 
 out to be nothing but that everything went 
 wrong. In plain English, Lady Floranthe had 
 been displeased with everything that was done, 
 and having tried on various dresses, and had 
 them altered, and re-altered, at one o'clock she
 
 THE DA YEN ELS. 269 
 
 dressed herself in less time than could be sup- 
 posed, and they drove as quick as they could 
 to Castle-Mardyn : Mrs. Simmons crying, and 
 Lady Floranthe scolding her the whole way. 
 She consoled herself now by dashing into the 
 waltz with the first man that asked her; while 
 Mrs. Simmons was obliged to answer Lord 
 Beechmount's questions over and over, and to 
 hear him repeat as often, that " it was very 
 unaccountable." 
 
 Supper being over, dancing re-commenced 
 with redoubled spirit. Those danced now who 
 would not dance before, and some waltzed now 
 who had always protested against waltzing, 
 till " the nice morn" began to throw her search- 
 ing light on faded flowers, dimmed eyes, and 
 painted cheeks. A few of the younger part of 
 the throng, however, feared her not, and de- 
 lighted to taste the fresh air, would have step- 
 ped into the near pleasure-ground ; but they 
 were stopped by finding that all before the 
 house a cordon of the peasantry, some twenty
 
 270 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 deep, had collected to catch a view of the danc- 
 ing through the open windows ; and their re- 
 marks would not have been unedifying to some 
 of the company, if they could have over-heard 
 them. 
 
 " Oh ! then, look at Miss Henrietta Davenel ! 
 if she wasn't born to be a queen !" " Why, 
 then, why not Miss Frederica, too, father? 11 
 " Hould your tongue, you fool ! I'd wish Miss 
 Frederica better off any day." " Ah, shame 
 on that Mother Abbess, to let that tall man 
 pull her about that way." " The young ladies 
 dances with great lightness, as one may say,"- 
 " and the young master too ! I wonder when 
 he'll be getting himself a wife ?" " Oh, there's 
 time enough ; he doesn't want to be made un- 
 easy yet awhile." " And the madam is in 
 good heart I declare." " But look now at 
 Miss Frederica : who is that tall, dark officer 
 she's dancing with?" " I'll be bale he's an 
 Irishman." " He's a jontleman, any how." 
 " Look how gay, yet bash fu 1-1 ike, she dances,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 27] 
 
 a feather would not bend under her." " See 
 how nately he takes her by the hand ; not pull- 
 ing and hauling like the dragoon and the Lady 
 Abbess." " Bow, wow, who's that in the 
 kercher and apron ? may I never stir, but I 
 thought it was Anstey Reilly ; why, then, 
 doesn't she do it mighty pretty, and never was 
 taught it, to be sure." " And why wouldn't 
 she? sure she's one of the ould race: she's an 
 O'Brien." " O, for all that, she's not the raiel 
 thing: them O'Briens is great persecutioners of 
 the Catholics." " May be its the Catholics 
 will be even with them one day," said a savage- 
 looking man, muttering between his closed 
 teeth. "And who is it at all she's dancing 
 with ? well done both of ye." " Oh, never 
 fear him : that's Captain O 'Sullivan, of the 
 Castle Connell Militia." " My curse light on 
 him and all his pedigree/' said the same savage- 
 looking man. " Arrah ! have done with your 
 curses, Paddy : is not your father dead ? and is 
 not his father that hanged him dead ? and what
 
 272 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 would you have more ? any way, don't be curs- 
 ing while the people's dancing there quite inno- 
 cent Go, wet your mouth with some of the 
 beer the young master ordered, and drink the 
 company's health." " I'll drink the beer, but 
 never a health :" and he walked away to the 
 place where it was distributing. Others took 
 the hint; and as day-light was now advanced, 
 the carriages began to collect, and the crowd 
 made an opening for them, but stood to take a 
 last view of the company. 
 
 As the more grotesque characters made their 
 appearance, they were received with shouts, 
 and " what's your character" was called out on 
 all sides. As Lady Clara got into her carriage, 
 one of the mob called out, " My Lady Abbess, 
 we'll not tell father Murphy." When Henrietta 
 appeared, " Och ! then," cried one, " here comes 
 the queen of diamonds :" " of hearts, you 
 mane, you rogue you." But on Frederica's ap- 
 pearing, " No, here's the queen of hearts," said 
 another. The fair Miranda came for a moment
 
 THE DAVENELS. 273 
 
 to the door, and one called out, " Miss, Td be 
 proud to dance the next jig with you myself." 
 In short, scarcely any one passed without re- 
 ceiving some appropriate address, and always 
 within the bounds of civility and decorum ; till, 
 by degrees, the throng of guests found them- 
 selves on their way to their respective homes. 
 
 Few were awake on their arrival, and fewer 
 still felt any thing but weariness, either of mind 
 or body. There is no species of amusement, 
 from which so much pleasure is anticipated as 
 from a bal masque ; and if there was no other 
 reason, that would be sufficient to produce dis- 
 appointment. We shall, therefore, spare our 
 readers the other forty-nine, which might be 
 adduced by reason and philosophy. 
 
 The party did not reach Glenlovv Castle, un- 
 til seven o'clock, and all retired to their rooms 
 to rest if not to sleep. 
 
 " You have at length tamed that man, Fre- 
 derica," said Henrietta, as soon as they were in 
 their own room. 
 
 N 5
 
 274 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Tamed him! what do you mean ?" 
 
 " Why, made him dance : you are the only 
 girl he danced with in Dublin, and he danced 
 with you twice last night." 
 
 " Your dress looked beautiful Henrietta." 
 
 " I believe it did ; but the jewels were very 
 heavy : when I began to dance, the weight of 
 those in my hair, gave me a terrible head-ache." 
 
 " Ah ! w said Frederica, " uneasy lies the 
 head that wears a crown." 
 
 " Give me the crown notwithstanding : pray 
 how did you and Mardyn meet?" 
 
 " 0, very well : there was no time for speak- 
 ing when we entered the room : and when he 
 asked rne to dance I was engaged." 
 
 " To whom ?" 
 
 " To Captain Villiers." 
 
 " Ah, Frederica ! be on your guard against 
 that man." 
 
 " There is no time for danger," said Frederi- 
 ca, " he goes to Killarney the day after to-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 275 
 
 " And when returns ?" 
 
 " I assure you Henrietta," said Frederica 
 laughing, but colouring, "I do not care one 
 straw for him." 
 
 " I am glad to hear that, for then you can 
 bear to be teazed a little about him." 
 
 " O dear !" yawning, " I am glad Harris 
 did not sit up; but I think she may get up 
 now to disrobe me." 
 
 " We are better without her/' said Frederi- 
 ca ; and offering her assistance, they helped 
 each other to undress, and retired to rest. 
 
 There is a feverishness attends excess, which 
 prevents that deep and sweet repose which the 
 young enjoy at other times, and notwithstand- 
 ing the late hour at which they had lain down, 
 the family-party began to assemble in the 
 breakfast-room before one o'clock. 
 
 Lady Hortensia, who loved to preside, was 
 ready to receive them. 
 
 Villiers and Wharton soon came down, pre- 
 pared to ride out with Herbert after breakfast.
 
 276 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Wo'nt the young ladies honour us with 
 their company," said Wharton. 
 
 Villiers said nothing ; and Frederica saw 
 once more the redoubtable man whom she used 
 to dread in Dublin. The proposal was assented 
 to however. The girls loved riding, and Her- 
 bert always encouraged their going with him. 
 
 " No chance of Lady Clara Reeve's compa- 
 ny," said Wharton. " She has had but one 
 sleep yet. I saw her maid going into her room 
 with her breakfast, a delicate mutton-chop, to 
 recruit her strength." A 
 
 This intelligence seemed to quicken the 
 movements of the young ladies they disap- 
 peared instantly to put on their riding-habits, 
 and being all mounted, the party rode off'. 
 'None of the other young ladies were come 
 down ; and Herbert declared against disturbing 
 them, as they would send word like Lady Flo- 
 ranthe, that they were coming down, and then 
 keep the party waiting all day. 
 
 " How happy Lady Floranthe must be," said
 
 THE DAVENELS. 277 
 
 Villiers, " contemplating the elements of all 
 the characters and costumes she meant to have 
 worn last night." 
 
 " What an enviable lot her Dame de, Cam- 
 pagnie has got !" said Wharton. 
 
 " But where is the palmer?" said Villiers. 
 
 " What business has he in bed after ma- 
 tins?" 
 
 " No such thing," said Herbert. " He 
 breakfasted two hours ago with my father, and 
 they are gone on an agricultural tour round the 
 desmesne." Herbert and his sisters chose the 
 road most favourable for showing the country 
 to the strangers, and in some parts it was very 
 beautiful : that is, the views were fine, and 
 some of the gentlemen's seats were pretty, and 
 nicely kept, but the eye was glad to wander 
 away from the objects that presented themselves 
 at the road side. Immediately near Glenlow 
 Castle, and as far as Mr. Davenel's power and 
 influence went, there was an air of comfort, 
 and cleanliness about the smallest cottages ;
 
 278 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 but after a mile or two, the universal dunghill, 
 on which lay the domestic pig, the friend and 
 companion of every poor man in Ireland, was 
 offensive to the eye of taste : though it was not 
 in all cases to be taken as an indication of ex- 
 treme poverty. Even the more substantial far- 
 mers, have no great horror of living on rather 
 familiar terms with the animal to whom they 
 are so much indebted for comfort : their firm 
 belief is, that the poor things would lose much 
 of nourishment and happiness, by being banish- 
 ed to a separate apartment and denied access to 
 the family : and it is only by the most active 
 exertions of the local magistracy, that they are 
 prevailed on to keep them off the high road. 
 With the very poor this is next to impossible, 
 and the party from Glenlow, witnessed in their 
 ride one of those unequal contests which are 
 sometimes carried on between the law and its 
 meaneat violators in Ireland. 
 
 Passing through a little miserable hamlet of 
 about fifty or sixty houses, where dunghills,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 279 
 
 supporting and supported, lay against the mud 
 walls of the habitations, with a regularity which 
 might lead an Englishman to suppose they 
 were not only permitted, but enjoined ; they 
 were struck with a general appearance of dis- 
 may and displeasure, in the countenances of the 
 occupants, who stood, some in the street, and 
 some in the door-ways. One woman with di- 
 shevelled hair and tattered garments, was de- 
 claiming to some others, while tears of anger as 
 well as sorrow, streamed down her cheeks. 
 Two men, leaning on their spades, listened to 
 her without offering any interruption. As the 
 party rode up, Herbert asked one of the men, 
 what was the matter. 
 
 " O, nothing, your honour, only young Mar- 
 dyn and his agent that rode through, awhile 
 ago, and has been at the ould work about the 
 pigs : and sure the cratur has'nt a fut of 
 ground to lave it on, barring that handful of 
 dung before the door." 
 
 " Well, where is the pig ?"
 
 280 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Oh ! she was forced to lock it up in the 
 house, with the childer, 'til them is gone oft': 
 what else would she do with it, your honour ? 
 sure, all the pigs of the town is obliged to be 
 shut up now until evening; but she forgot Ju- 
 liana when she went to the praty-garden ?" 
 
 " Who is Juliana?" 
 
 " That's the name of the pig your honour. 
 And so he was just enjoying himself there in the 
 sun, when them corned by and then the agent 
 had the pig seized and was going to carry him 
 off to pound." 
 
 " And how did she prevail upon him to let 
 the pig go r 
 
 " Why, promising to sell him at the fair to- 
 morrow : but what would the cratur do that for 
 your honour, and he not half industered?" 
 
 " Industered ?" said Wharton as they rode 
 on. This to him, new agricultural phrase, was 
 explained by Herbert to mean the practice of 
 buying a young pig as soon as he can leave his 
 mother, and nourishing him till he is full grown ;
 
 THE DAVENELS. 281 
 
 when he is sold to pay the rent of his owner's 
 cottage : this being the only mode by which 
 many a helpless widow in Ireland, keeps a shed 
 over herself and her orphans. 
 
 " Pray how do you prevent pigs and dung- 
 hills about Glenlow Castle ?" said Villiers. 
 
 " I have heard my father say it was difficult 
 at first/ 1 said Herbert, " but he gives a bit of 
 ground at the rear of every cottage, however 
 small; on condition that there is neither dung- 
 hill nor pig in front : and by giving trifling re- 
 wards for neatness, he has induced the people 
 near him to be clean, and now I believe they 
 like it : and the rising race are trained in the 
 schools to order and cleanliness." 
 
 Henrietta now requested that the gentlemen 
 would not enter into the state of Ireland ; that 
 being a subject she never permitted, except to 
 her papa, who was a privileged person : and a 
 short silence was the consequence of this pro- 
 hibition. At length, Villiers gravely begged to 
 know what topics of conversation Miss Davenel
 
 282 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 preferred : assuring her, he should consider any 
 blockade she imposed as effective. A wide 
 range was granted ; but the least approach to 
 the forbidden subject was watched with vigi- 
 lance; and many agreeable nothings were said 
 in consequence; and traps were laid, which it 
 required some ingenuity to avoid. There was 
 danger in even praising the view : the transi- 
 tion from the landscape to the soil and its inha- 
 bitants, was so natural. The strangers were, in 
 fact, much pleased with what they saw. Very 
 moderate cultivation and ornament are sufficient 
 to make the glens, rocks, and brilliant streams, 
 with which Ireland abounds, charming. The 
 goodness of the roads surprised Wharton, who 
 expected to find himself wading bogs, or scal- 
 ing precipices, whenever he went off the mail- 
 coach road: had he been with Mr. Davenel 
 and Mr. Manvers, he would have heard the 
 whole history of road-making by presentment, 
 laid open. But there was no danger of getting 
 too much information from the present party.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 283 
 
 Herbert had not yet got deep into country-life. 
 An occasional hunt, or a few days' shooting, 
 comprised the whole of it with him. Frederi- 
 ca interested herself in her flower-garden and 
 her schools, which answered her notions of bu- 
 siness ; and even these light cares were too 
 much for Henrietta. She often wondered what 
 pleasure Frederica could take in seeing a num- 
 ber of very plain children, frightfully drest, 
 and most ungraceful in air and figure, seated 
 on benches at a long deal table, covered with 
 dirty books, and coarse needle-work. " As for 
 flowers, she loved them very much indeed : but 
 for the culture of them, she thought the gar- 
 dener a much fitter person than she was ;" and 
 Wharton agreed with her, as he would have 
 done, if she had said the direct contrary. 
 
 After a delightful ride, our party reached the 
 gate of Glenlow, about six o'clock. As they 
 were entering, they met Lady Clara driving 
 Lord Alexander Glencaira in a curricle.
 
 284 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ," Do you come back to dinner?" said Her- 
 bert innocently. 
 
 " Of course," said she. " We shall not be 
 out more than a couple of hours." And with 
 rather a toss of her head than a bow to the 
 Miss Davenels, she drove on. 
 
 " I think," said Herbert, " neither my father 
 nor mother will like dining by candlelight at 
 this season. My father is the easiest man in 
 the world; but yet he hates leading a town life 
 in the country." 
 
 " I cannot help wishing," said Frederica, 
 " that she had accepted the chintz room Mrs. 
 Mardyn offered her." 
 
 " And dressing-room," said Wharton. " I 
 heard the offer repeated many times, and never 
 without that adjunct. Nay, her regrets through 
 the night ran to the self-same tune and words." 
 
 Though Lady Clara had been self-invited to 
 Glenlow Castle, Lady Hortensia could not re- 
 concile herself to such a breach of good man-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 285 
 
 ners as going to dinner before her return ; she 
 therefore rang the bell, and ordered the dinner 
 hour to be changed from seven, to half-past 
 eight; and all the necessary regulations to be 
 made. What confusion and dismay this caused 
 in the department of the kitchen, she wisely 
 resolved not to enquire ; but things do not go 
 on quite so smoothly there, as in the drawing- 
 room. Cooks are privileged persons ; so after 
 the usual number of curses, not deep but loud, 
 against the helpless kitchen-maids, things were 
 in train for a late repast. But lo ! in half an 
 hour after the orders had been given, Lady 
 Clara drove back to the house, saying, one of 
 the horses did not go well, and she fancied it 
 was likely to rain, and she should now go and 
 dress for dinner. What wonderful command of 
 temper people of fashion can assume ! Lady 
 Hortensia absolutely looked as sweet, and as 
 well pleased, as if Lady Clara had studied to 
 please her. A counter-order was now sent to 
 the cook, but that potentate, disdaining to be
 
 286 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the sport of contingencies, returned a round an- 
 swer, that " dinner could not be ready before 
 the hour last appointed, half-past eight." 
 
 The Miss Davenels and the other young 
 ladies, attended by most of the gentlemen, had, 
 on the faith of the new arrangement, walked 
 off into the desmesne, and a messenger was 
 dispatched after them at the same time as the 
 new mandate to the cook ; and a second was 
 sent with speed, on receiving the last fiat of 
 the head of the kitchen ; and there was nothing 
 but orders and counter-orders, marching and 
 counter-marching; a state of things Lady Hor- 
 tensia had a particular aversion to. Lady 
 Clara saw (or might have seen) all this without 
 one word of apology or concern. Self-love 
 was with her the spring of action, unbalanced 
 by any consideration for the comforts or feel- 
 ings of others, or even for the opinion they 
 might form of herself. 
 
 Notwithstanding this little disturbance to 
 the domestic tranquillity of Lady Hortensia,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 287 
 
 the dinner was a remarkably gay one. A 
 number of persons suiting, in general age and 
 circumstances, and disposed for enjoyment, 
 will always find it at a well-appointed table in 
 a country-house, where the guests feel they are 
 welcome, and the host and hostess are popular. 
 
 Lady Clara did not keep them waiting long; 
 and nobody thought of waiting for Lady Flo- 
 ra-nthe, who did a pleasant thing. Just as they 
 were seated, she entered the dining-room, ha- 
 bited in one of the many dresses she had re- 
 jected the night before ; and the pleasantry and 
 compliments which this drew forth, so charmed 
 her, that she fooled it for them all the evening, 
 by arraying herself in different dresses, or parts 
 of dresses for nothing was complete. 
 
 Mr. Davenel, in his heart, was tired of Lady 
 Clara, who sat next to him at dinner, and who 
 called out each moment some nothing across 
 the table to any man she saw engaged for a 
 moment in conversation with one of the young 
 ladies. But with all her efforts she could
 
 288 THE DAVENF.LS. 
 
 not prevent a quadrille in the evening. Lord 
 Annamult and Herbert were passionately fond 
 of dancing, and out of the other men who 
 could dance, it was not difficult to subtract two 
 who performed with alacrity. Of the young 
 ladies, it was necessary for one to declare she 
 preferred playing the quadrille to dancing it, 
 and a generous contest ensued. 
 
 On the first symptom of dancing, Lady 
 Clara challenged Villiers to a game at tcarte, 
 which she proposed having in the library, 
 where they should not be disturbed by the 
 dancers ; and those who wished to bet fol- 
 lowed. How sincerely did Frederica wish her 
 in the chintz-room and dressing-room at Mrs. 
 Mardyn's. 
 
 It had been previously understood that 
 Wharton and Villiers were to go the next 
 morning towards Killarney; and Mr. Davenel, 
 having pressed them to stay longer, as much 
 as was consistent with leaving them at liberty 
 to follow their own inclinations, had given them
 
 THE DAVENELS. 289 
 
 some useful hints as to the best and prettiest 
 roads, with letters of introduction to some 
 friends who would help to make their tour 
 agreeable, and a cordial invitation to come 
 again to Gienlow Castle on their way back. 
 
 Leave was to be taken that night, as they 
 were going off early the next morning. Lady 
 Hortensia did not encourage staying up late, 
 after the fatigues of the night before ; so after 
 every thing had been said on both sides, of plea- 
 sure, and happiness, and kindness, and all that 
 sort of thing, the gentlemen bowed the ladies 
 out of the room as they retired for the night. 
 
 Mr. Manvers, after staying two days longer 
 at Gienlow, was, very deliberately, falling in 
 love with Frederica ; but found it convenient 
 to check the propensity on receiving some news 
 from England, which made it incumbent on 
 him to go thither ; and, as business was to 
 him a consideration paramount to every other, 
 he made no delay; and, without telling Frede- 
 rica that he was leaving a part of his heart in 
 
 VOL. i. o
 
 290 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 her keeping, he took a grateful leave of the 
 Davenels; assuring them he should ere long 
 revisit Ireland. He was missed by Mr. Davenel 
 more than by the younger part of the family ; 
 and other visitors coming in succession, he 
 seemed to be quickly forgotten. 
 
 The same day that Whartoii and Villiers 
 left, relieved the Davenels from Lady Clara 
 Reeve. Even Lady Isabella Floyd's sweetness 
 and pleasing qualities could not neutralize the 
 inconsiderate selfishness of her sister. Mr. 
 Reeve was nothing, and Lord Alexander Glen- 
 cairn made himself nothing to every body but 
 Lady Clara. The Beechmount party too went 
 in a few days, and though not disliked, they 
 were not regretted. Lady Floranthe, without 
 meaning to annoy, was, even in her efforts to 
 please, too fleeting a pleasure. No one could 
 depend on her for a walk, a ride, hardly for a 
 dance. Mrs. Simmons no one ever thought of 
 except to laugh at her ineffectual efforts to re- 
 strain her volatile pupil; and Lord Beech-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 291 
 
 mount's gallantry was out of fashion. The 
 O'Neils staid just the proper time and no longer. 
 Lords Fitzmaurice and Jerpoint had engage- 
 ments for shooting, and Lady Hortensia saw no 
 reasons for pressing them to stay. They were 
 both very gentlemanly young men ; but she 
 comforted herself with the reflection that one 
 (Lord Jerpoint) was said to have an attachment 
 which his father did not approve of; and Lord 
 Fitzmaurice's property was in an almost irre- 
 trievable state of embarrassment. The Poynts- 
 towns lingered still : they could not stay too 
 long. 
 
 Lady Hortensia, ever mindful of the reason- 
 able expectations of her neighbours, now in- 
 vited the Mardyns and their friends to dinner : 
 and the ladies accepted ; but Mardyn managed 
 to be engaged. In fact, he chose to accept, in 
 a manly manner, an invitation to go on a shoot- 
 ing party to Scotland ; and as this put an end 
 for the present to Miss Alicia Decourcy's hopes, 
 
 o 2
 
 292 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 she and her sister found it high time to return 
 to their brother. 
 
 Now that all danger of Mardyn's marrying 
 Frederica was over, Mrs. Mardyn no longer 
 chose to play off Miss Alicia's charms against 
 his heart ; and she had changed her conduct on 
 that head, very perceptibly, from the time of 
 the bal masqut; and had privately encouraged 
 George to act the independent part we hav 
 stated : but as she had always avoided any open 
 communication with the Decourcys on the sub- 
 ject, they had no pretence for complaint, and 
 all separated very good friends.
 
 293 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Dunque addio, care selve, 
 
 Care mie selve addio. GUARINI. 
 
 Lakes, forests, cities, plains, extending wide, 
 The pomp of kings, the shepherd's humbler pride. 
 
 GOLDSMI 
 
 THE time for breaking up at Glenlow was at 
 length arrived, and the cousins parted with 
 regret on both sides. But what could compare 
 with the sorrow of the three younger Davenels, as 
 the day approached on which they must return 
 to school. The precious fishing-tackle ; the 
 beloved ponies ; and even the unconscious little 
 boat, in which they used to row their sisters 
 and cousins on the lake, were beheld for the 
 last time with grief of heart. Herbert, indeed, 
 might still amuse himself until October; and
 
 294 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 for that purpose would accompany his family as 
 far as Brussels. To all the parting was to be 
 lightened, however, as much as possible, by 
 their setting out together ; and the boys were 
 pleased to think that no mirthful sounds would 
 enliven Glenlow Castle until the next summer 
 vacation should assemble the whole family once 
 more within its walls. 
 
 It is a melancholy sight to the poorer neigh- 
 bours of a splendid mansion, to witness the de- 
 parture of the family for any length of time ; 
 and it is peculiarly afflicting to the poor Irish 
 peasant, whose daily labour could not procure 
 the most indispensable necessaries of life for 
 himself and family, without some assistance 
 from the affluent. Mr. Davenel did what he 
 could to supply to his labourers, in his absence, 
 those comforts which he and Lady Hortensia 
 were in the habit of dispensing when at home ; 
 and large powers were lodged with the clergy- 
 men of the parish, both Protestant and Catho- 
 lic, for that purpose. At length the hour for
 
 THE DAVENELS. 295 
 
 departure came ; and the Miss Davenels could 
 not witness, unmoved, the tears of their domes- 
 tics and dependants. 
 
 " God bless you, ladies !" and " God bless 
 you ! " was repeated on both sides over and 
 over until the carriages drove off. 
 
 Villiers and Wharton had not availed them- 
 selves of the invitation to return to Glenlovv 
 Castle. In fact, the illness of the Duchess ot 
 St. Evremond required Villiers's presence in 
 England. Being her acknowledged heir as well 
 as favourite grand-child, she was in the habit 
 of summoning him on every attack, however 
 slight; and he could not decline going, nor 
 plead professional duties, as the Irish court was 
 then living retired at a bathing-lodge, hired for 
 the season. 
 
 The Davenels scarcely stopped in Dublin, 
 which was a scene of dusty desolation ; and in 
 due time they arrived in London, which was 
 not much better ; so as soon as they had made 
 the necessary regulations, and obtained pass-
 
 296 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ports, they set out for Ostend, from whence 
 they proceeded to Brussels. They met the 
 usual things : had heat, dust and rain to em- 
 barrass or retard them, yet were amused, as 
 much as occasional weariness would permit. 
 
 Having rested at Brussels long enough to 
 admire its beautiful exterior, they pressed on, 
 it being their object to travel by the Rhine to 
 Switzerland. 
 
 Villiers had certainly been cautious in his 
 conduct to Frederica : but it is scarcely possi- 
 ble for a man to converse, in the intimacy of a 
 country-house, with a beautiful girl for whom 
 he feels something more than esteem, without 
 betraying his admiration, and without her per- 
 ceiving it. Frederica was certainly flattered by 
 Villiers's dancing with her, though it was but 
 twice in Dublin, and twice in the country, be- 
 cause he had danced with no other girl ; and 
 his generally grave manners were agreeably set 
 off by occasional frankness, and even by flashes 
 of suppressed humour. She certainly thought
 
 THE DAVENELS. 297 
 
 of him very often, and used to fancy the plea- 
 sure it would be to meet him on their journey ; 
 and the most unlikely places presented them- 
 selves to her as the probable scene of meeting. 
 But no such pleasure awaited her ; and happy 
 for her was the seemingly untoward circum- 
 stance of his not having returned to Glenlovv 
 Castle, as another meeting there, unwatched by 
 Lady Clara, might have raised in her young and 
 hitherto careless heart, a feeling of decided pre- 
 ference and attachment. Villiers was not a 
 flirt : he had not even that empressment of man- 
 ner towards women, which some men have from 
 character or habit ; and this gave double value 
 to his lightest attentions. 
 
 With unsubdued spirits, however, Frederica 
 pursued her journey. Palaces, churches, water- 
 falls, all had their due share of attention. 
 Whenever the landscape possessed more than 
 ordinary beauty, it reminded her of Glenlow : 
 and if it happened that they met any comfort 
 or elegance which w r as not to be found there, 
 
 o 5
 
 298 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 (and this was of rare occurrence,) she hoped her 
 papa would provide it at Glenlow Castle on 
 their return. 
 
 Henrietta's thoughts recurred less frequently 
 to home : her feelings had not taken root there. 
 Her mind was, as she thought, more lofty, be- 
 cause it was filled with aspirations after all that 
 glitters in the eye of the world. The sight of 
 a palace filled her imagination for several days, 
 while she felt no emotion at those wonders of 
 nature which delighted the taste of Frederica. 
 
 Not relishing the tedious passage up the 
 Rhine by water, the Davenels kept to the road, 
 which, in some places, overpaid the sacrifice 
 they made of others. But it would be trite to 
 give a detailed account of their journey near 
 its beautiful banks, as the charming " Autumn 
 near the Rhine" has been in everybody's hands, 
 and renders superfluous the attempts of later 
 tourists. 
 
 On arriving at Berne, it was settled that they 
 should go by Geneva and Mount Cenis to
 
 THE DAVENELS. 299 
 
 Turin, and thence to Genoa and Rome : at the 
 latter place to stop the winter. A circum- 
 stance, however, which took place before they 
 reached Mount Cenis, materially deranged their 
 plans. Lady Hortensia had for some days been 
 suffering from a cold, which had seized her in 
 one of those sudden changes of atmosphere, to 
 which the climates of the Continent are sub- 
 ject in the autumn : a fault ascribed, with 
 much less justice, to our own. 
 
 At the little town of , therefore, it be- 
 came necessary to stop early in the day, and 
 with but little hope of proceeding on the day 
 following. A room being quickly arranged, 
 with as much comfort as could be procured, 
 Lady Hortensia was settled for repose : and the 
 rest of the party then began to look after their 
 own accommodations. The season was ad- 
 vanced, and notwithstanding a brilliant sun out 
 of doors, it was cold the moment they got 
 within the impenetrable shade of a thickly- 
 built auberge. The strong, bright-eyed, but
 
 300 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 clumsy daughter of the house, undertook to 
 show the Miss Davenels a room, and she walked 
 before them, along an open gallery, up one 
 staircase, down another, across a court, and 
 through a bewildering number of corridors and 
 passages, swinging her keys, and saying at in- 
 tervals, " C'est une chambre excellente un jeune 
 capitaine Anglois y a passe deux jours entiers 
 c'est a dire, deux nuits Une se portoit pas bien, 
 voyez vous." 
 
 Henrietta now said to Frederica, in French, 
 that she should not like to sleep in a room so 
 lately occupied by an invalid. But the voluble 
 girl laughed and said, " Ne craignez rieii" as- 
 suring her that he was bien portant, tout de 
 meme; that it was only mal de tele ou auelaue 
 chose decette espece; but that he was jeune et 
 beau comme un ange : et genereux, O mon Dieu ! 
 and that his courier had said, he was " Vn 
 milord des plus riches de V Angleterre." 
 
 While talking in this strain of the handsome 
 captain, she unlocked a door, and opened the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 301 
 
 window, which had been well closed ever since 
 the departure of her hero. Two beds, such as 
 the Miss Davenels had ceased to think unin- 
 viting, a marble-topped table in the pier, above 
 which a large mirror was fixed against the 
 wall ; a wild-looking hearth, on which still lay 
 the ashes, mingled with the sweepings of the 
 room ; the walls covered with coarse painting 
 in fresco, the subject of which was not to be 
 comprehended without some study, formed the 
 coup-d'ail of the apartment ; out of which their 
 conductress hastened, leaving them, as she 
 thought, in possession of every comfort in life. 
 Accustomed by this time to a variety of inns, 
 the Miss Davenels scarcely thought of making 
 an observation on this, though they were suffer- 
 ing from cold ; but Mrs. Harris, who never 
 failed to be surprised, on coming to every new 
 place, at the great deference between the Con- 
 tinent and England, made herself heard outside 
 the door by, " And where is it at all? Where 
 is the ladies?"
 
 302 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Come in, Harris," said Henrietta. She 
 entered. 
 
 " Well, this bates all : there isn't a place in 
 the world fit for a Christian to sit down in, but 
 where they are frying below ; and such rabble 
 as is there ! and such dirt ! I declare I'm lost 
 for want of a dacent room to sit down in." 
 
 " But where is your bed-room, Harris?" 
 
 " O, there is no hurry, I assure you, to pro- 
 vide me with a bed-room ! They think here 
 that anything is good enough for the domes- 
 tique, as they call us.* 1 And she stood, trem- 
 bling and shivering, sometimes on one foot, and 
 sometimes on the other. 
 
 " Well, sit down here, Harris," said Frede- 
 rica, and as soon as we can see the chamber- 
 maid, we'll make her give you a proper room." 
 
 " O, my room is just near here," said Harris, 
 who loved to complain, though she had been 
 attended to ; " and now, ladies, I believe I had 
 better go and unpack the things ; but you don't 
 know all one goes through. I declare I some-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 303 
 
 times think I'll lie down and die outright." 
 And she left the room. 
 
 Frederica burst out laughing and said, " I 
 protest I was taken in at first ; I really thought 
 she had not where to lay her head." 
 
 " She is very tiresome," said Henrietta, " with 
 her eternal complaints. I am sure nothing 
 should induce me ever to travel with her 
 again." 
 
 " If one seems to pity her," said Frederica, 
 " she will bear anything ; indeed she has very 
 little to bear, more than any of us, and I was 
 longing to stop in the kitchen, though they 
 were frying." 
 
 " We must have a fire here," said Henrietta. 
 
 " Why, yes. I can understand that Harris 
 may be melting with hate one hour, and perish- 
 ing with cold the next." 
 
 They looked in vain, however, for a bell, or 
 any mode of acquainting the people of the 
 house with their wants.
 
 304 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Suppose we try to find our way to mamma," 
 said Frederica. 
 
 " We should only disturb her, and Dawson 
 never lets her want for anything. I wish Harris 
 would take example from her." 
 
 " I'll tell Harris to go down stairs and order 
 a fire." 
 
 " O, no! for heaven's sake !" said Henrietta, 
 growing peevish : " she will exclaim, and talk 
 so like a fool!" 
 
 At length a yellow, grinning, monkey-faced, 
 dirty little man, entered and begged to know, 
 " Si ces dames vouloient bien avoir du feu?" 
 Which being gladly accepted of, a bright fire 
 was quickly kindled, and gave a different as- 
 pect to things. Mr. Davenel now came to see 
 how his daughters were accommodated, and 
 having acquainted them that Lady Hortensia 
 was asleep, he left them again, to make arrange- 
 ments for an early supper. As soon as he was 
 gone, Mademoiselle Louise (for so the daughter
 
 THE DAVENELS. 305 
 
 of the house was called) came eagerly into the 
 room, with a torn back of a letter in her hand. 
 " La voila ! mademoiselle, la voila !" It had 
 evidently been employed to wrap up something, 
 and was twisted out of all shape ; but, being 
 opened and pressed out, Henrietta read aloud, 
 " To Captain D. B. Villiers, paste restante a 
 Paris." The inside contained nothing but the 
 mark of some cigars, which the courier had, 
 probably, put into it for himself. As soon as 
 Henrietta had read the address, Louise ex- 
 claimed, " C'estjustement cela .'" and repeated, 
 " le Capitaine Doodely Villiars." Henrietta 
 and Frederica both joined in asking questions 
 leading to a description of le beau capitaine- 
 and, from all the answers, they had no doubt 
 that it was Villiers himself. The next enqui- 
 ries were, as to the route he had taken on 
 
 leaving . Louise was not sure " To 
 
 Milan, or Rome, or Genoa." Here was a great 
 choice of places. When they were again alone,
 
 306 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Henrietta laughed at Frederica, and said, 
 " Really your beau seems to have been follow- 
 ing you abroad." 
 
 " I fear not," said Frederica, " or he might 
 easily have found me out." 
 
 " Well, I hope we shall meet him, and I hope 
 you'll do faimable by him a little : for really, 
 Frederica, you are, I must tell you, rather stiff' 
 with men. If you would but be half as agree- 
 able with men in general as you are with your 
 brothers and cousins! but when you ought to 
 please most, you grow so quiet, and lose all 
 your spirits." 
 
 " Ah ! Henrietta, if I am more pleasing when 
 I am with my brothers and cousins, it is be- 
 cause I am not endeavouring to please ; and 
 I am, besides, so happy with you and them." 
 
 " Come, you shall not pretend you are less 
 happy with an agreeable young man. I feel 
 very happy when I am with you and my bro- 
 thers, but I am not at a loss how to be agreeable
 
 THE DAVENELS. 307 
 
 when I am with men I like," said Henrietta, 
 with a little vanity of manner, which Frederica 
 thought became her. 
 
 The back of the letter was carefully pre- 
 served ; and, as if by tacit consent, they did 
 not think it necessary to mention this little 
 circumstance when they joined Mr. Davenel 
 at supper. 
 
 Frederica was now really anxious to go on, 
 in hopes they might come upon the traces of 
 le jeune capitaine ; but on visiting Lady Hor- 
 tensia, they found her complaining of severe 
 headache, and some degree of fever : and the 
 report brought by travellers of the state of the 
 mountain was unfavourable ; some snow had 
 fallen, and was said to be still falling, and the 
 cold intense. Mr. Davenel, tenderly alarmed, 
 announced that they should remain the next 
 day at least where they were ; an arrangement 
 which, however unpleasant, could not be ob- 
 jected to under the circumstances.
 
 308 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 The young ladies retired for the night, and 
 (after dismissing the unhappy Harris to the 
 comforts of a long table covered with a plentiful 
 repast, and surrounded by all the couriers, lady's 
 maids, voituriers, and chance travellers who are 
 not above partaking of a good supper in such 
 company at a cheap rate) called for the com- 
 municative Louise, and telling her they were 
 acquainted with Captain Villiers, endeavoured 
 to draw from her some further particulars, which 
 might throw a light on our hero's movements. 
 Their good-humour and gaiety encouraged hers, 
 and at length she said she supposed he was the 
 ami of one of them ; and she would show them 
 something she had found on his table, when he 
 was gone too far to hope to return it to him. 
 She then produced a very small note-case, evi- 
 dently the work of a female hand, embroidered 
 in colours on the outside, and within his cypher 
 worked in hair. This Louise offered very cour- 
 teously to Miss Davenel, saying, that as they 
 knew him, perhaps they would like to keep it
 
 THE DAVENELS. 309 
 
 until they could meet him. Henrietta, seeing 
 that Frederica eyed the toy, yet was ashamed 
 to accept of it, immediately thanked Louise, 
 and forcing upon her acceptance a trifling pre- 
 sent, she took the note-case, assuring her that 
 ere long it should be in Captain Villiers's hands : 
 and that she should make a large report of the 
 probity and correctness of the house. 
 
 Having now heard all they were likely to 
 hear of Villiers, they were glad when the girl 
 took her leave. 
 
 " I suppose," said Henrietta, " you expect 
 me to give you this, though I was forced to 
 purchase it at a dear rate, while you stood 
 wishing and looking at it, and would have left 
 it after all with that girl." 
 
 Frederica laughed, but said she had no wish 
 to have it. 
 
 " Now, if you will not confess that you would 
 like to have it, you shall not get it." 
 
 " Well I should like it rather," said Fre- 
 derica laughing, " but after all, why should it
 
 310 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 be mine more than yours ? for I am sure there 
 was nothing " 
 
 " Be quiet, and take your treasure," flinging 
 it at her ; " you know, unless there was a coro- 
 net on it, I would not give a straw for it ; and 
 I don't like your very handsome young men. 
 Give me a man of high station, holding some ap- 
 pointment of dignity, which very few young men 
 ever do. How I should like to be Vice-Queen 
 of Ireland for five years ! I assure you, if Lord 
 
 had not provided himself, I would have 
 
 tried for it." 
 
 " And would you have married him?" 
 
 " Indeed I would ; and I should prefer such 
 a match a thousand times to your Dudley 
 Villiers." 
 
 " Don't call him mine there is not the 
 smallest chance of that." 
 
 "I wish," said Henrietta, " we knew which 
 way he was gone, we might prevail on papa 
 and mamma to go after him." 
 
 " Ah ! my dear Henrietta, don't mention it :
 
 THE DAVENELS. 311 
 
 I would not for the earth have the appearance 
 of doing such a thing." 
 
 "How silly ! who would know you were 
 going after him? Surely we may go to one 
 place as well as to another." 
 
 " No," said Frederica, " I could not bear to 
 give mamma the smallest hint. I know her 
 maxim of taking one's opportunity, and she 
 would reproach me about Mardyn." 
 
 " I should be very angry with you about that 
 too, I assure you; but that after all there was 
 neither rank nor fashion. Villiers has such high 
 connexions! and though that is not precisely 
 what I like, yet it would suit you." 
 
 " And why should it not suit you?" 
 
 " Ah ! you never will understand me, child ! 
 I don't want to have a young man and all his 
 parents and relations to please. A gentleman, 
 past his youth, is too much obliged by my 
 condescension in accepting him to expect any 
 further sacrifice : he must try to please me ; 
 and he is not so likely to be troubled with a
 
 312 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 tiresome father or mother, uncles or aunts, to 
 whom I must show respect and consideration. 
 But above any other rank or station, I should 
 like to be at the head of a government, where, 
 without the deep cares of royalty, I should hold 
 a little court : in short, I should like to repre- 
 sent " 
 
 Frederica laughed" Really I did not know 
 your ambition was so deep-seated : you must 
 marry an ambassador." 
 
 " They are changed too often : but come, I'll 
 not refuse the ambassador, and you shall have 
 Monsieur le capitaine plus grand que monsieur 
 votre pZre, avec les cheveux et les yeux noirs." 
 
 The next day, Lady Hortensia, though free 
 from fever and headache, found quiet and bed 
 so necessary, that there was no question about 
 staying. Various attempts were made at an 
 English breakfast. The hot water was brought 
 up in an open can ; the tea was made in a jug 
 without a cover, and a fork was held across the 
 mouth of it when pouring out the tea, to pre-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 313 
 
 vent the leaves from escaping in too great 
 abundance. Harris afterwards related, with a 
 woeful face, similar disastrous circumstances 
 which had befallen her ; but they excited no- 
 thing but merriment in the young ladies, who 
 having contrived to give Lady Hortensia her 
 breakfast in tolerable comfort, despised all notion 
 of such petty inconveniences to themselves. 
 
 After breakfast, Mr. Davenel set out with his 
 daughters to take a long walk, and taking their 
 sketching books, they were supremely happy. 
 Little was done, but the day passed agreeably 
 notwithstanding; and in the excitement of fine 
 weather and new scenery upon youth and health, 
 Henrietta forgot fora while her dreams of ambi- 
 tion, and Frederica her beau capitaine. 
 
 In the evening Lady Hortensia was consider- 
 ably better ; but Mr. Davenel did not think it 
 well to proceed, and another day must be passed 
 in that tiresome place, while Italy lay all before 
 them. 
 
 The young are always impatient at what they 
 
 VOL. i. P
 
 314 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 call loss of time, while to those who have less 
 time before them, the love of delay seems na- 
 tural. The Miss Davenels did not however 
 venture to complain : sensible of the value of 
 their mother's health, they submitted with a 
 good grace, and endeavoured to amuse them- 
 selves by books or drawing, and a ramble 
 amongst the hills. When they met at dinner 
 Mr. Davenel said : " I have been so fortunate 
 as to procure some numbers of Gaglinani for 
 you : an English gentleman who was passing 
 through had some, and was so obliging as to 
 leave them with me." 
 
 Dinner being over, each took a newspaper, 
 and glanced over, or read the contents, accord- 
 ing to their several tastes : suddenly Mr. Dave- 
 nel read aloud : " The late Duchess of St. 
 Evremond has made her grandson Captain 
 Dudley Bellasyse Villiers, her sole heir. Cap- 
 tain Villiers was with her Grace at the time of 
 her death. We understand he is gone abroad 
 to visit his cousin, Mr. Burrell Villiers, who is 
 at Nice for the benefit of his health."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 315 
 
 " That is good for Captain Villiers;' said 
 Mr. Davenel. " He is a very fine young man, 
 and very sensible, and well bred." Both his 
 daughters were silent for a few minutes, and 
 pretended to be occupied with their papers 
 Henrietta in a suppressed fit of laughter, and 
 Frederica, knowing Henrietta was amusing her- 
 self at her expense, could not take the paper 
 from between her and Mr. Davenel. At length, 
 Henrietta said : " Really I am glad Captain 
 Villiers has got such a fine fortune : are not you 
 Frederica ?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said Frederica ; and having 
 by this time found something in her paper 
 worth communicating, Villiers was mentioned 
 no more. 
 
 The following morning, Lady Hortensia was 
 pronounced by her anxious husband well enough 
 to leave , and the party arrived with- 
 
 out further obstacle at Turin. Though it was 
 not, in sober reason, to be expected that they 
 should overtake, much less meet Villiers on
 
 316 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the road, yet Frederica could not avoid casting 
 a curious glance into every English caleche they 
 saw ; and Henrietta aided this restlessness by 
 always declaring she saw a gentleman the image 
 of Villiere. They did not even hear of him 
 again, though they made enquiries as often as 
 they dared, in going along. 
 
 They did not stay long at Turin. Lady Hor- 
 tensia was not well enough to go into society 
 and after Mr. Davenei had taken his daughters 
 to the opera, and had shown them what was 
 worth seeing, they proceeded to Genoa. 
 
 But Genoa appeared to them a gloomy resi- 
 dence. The palaces of her merchant-kings 
 might astonish, and the other buildings and 
 works of art might amuse for awhile, but the 
 foreign society was less frank and amiable than 
 they had met elsewhere ; and the English so- 
 ciety was very limited, and seemed to have 
 formed themselves upon the model of the in- 
 habitants. The climate, too, did not seem 
 likely to restore Lady Hortensia, who continued 
 languid ever since her late attack ; and the cli-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 317 
 
 mate of Nice was strongly recommended by the 
 English physician at Genoa : the movement was 
 strongly seconded by Henrietta, and not op- 
 posed by Frederica ; and for Nice they set out 
 by the perilous corniche. 
 
 Though assured by numbers, who had made 
 the passage of the corniche in safety, that there 
 was no real danger, yet it requires strong nerves 
 to look from the carriage, which seems sus- 
 pended high in the air, right down upon the 
 restless waves below, to which a plummet-line 
 would find its way over the ill-defended road : 
 and Lady Hortensia had nerves too delicate, 
 and her daughters imaginations too lively, to 
 pass it without some emotions of terror : but it 
 was performed without accident, and on the 
 fourth day from leaving Genoa, they found 
 themselves at the Hotel des Etr angers at Nice. 
 Immediately on their arrival, the girls eagerly 
 examined the livre des etrangers, but Captain 
 Villiers was not in it. Mr. Villiers was. They 
 asked the waiter where he lived; the name 
 seemed new to him : he asked, was he a little
 
 318 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 man? a tall man ? a fat man ? le nez court 
 long ? 
 
 The ladies knew nothing of him but his 
 name, and the waiter seemed to pique himself 
 on never remembering any English names. 
 
 For two days the Davenels were employed in 
 looking for a house, and though it was late in 
 the season, they succeeded in procuring a very 
 good one in the English quarter. Mr. Davenel 
 disliked small rooms, and the ladies were not 
 sorry to be well lodged. 
 
 Lady Hortensia had not been many days 
 settled, before she found the benefit of the cli- 
 mate in her restored strength and spirits ; and 
 the whole family were charmed with the beauty 
 of Nice. The bay, with its indented shores, 
 the amphitheatre of mountains, so beautifully 
 pointed, or waving, with outlines so sharply 
 defined ; the groves of orange and olive tree, at 
 a season when nature, in our climate, is so bare 
 of foliage, made a very imposing coup (Tail: 
 and the weather was so clear, bright, and still, 
 presenting each day such an unvaried sky, that
 
 THE DAVENELS, 319 
 
 it seemed as if the seasons were arrested in their 
 progress, and that " nature made a pause." 
 
 Lady Hortensia was immediately visited by 
 all the foreigners and English of distinction ; 
 and she resolved to open her house, and give 
 soirees, which her own manners, and the beauty 
 of her daughters, rendered deplus a la mode. 
 
 They had no difficulty in finding out Mr. 
 Burrell Villiers, who had got a house in the 
 town, for the benefit of warmer air ; and Mr. 
 Davenel visited and invited him. It was soon 
 understood that he expected his cousin Dudley 
 Villiers. " I myself," said Burrell, " appointed 
 him to meet me at Rome ; but I was afterwards 
 persuaded to try this place : and now Dudley 
 is so kind-hearted a fellow, that he is leaving 
 pleasant society and amusements at Rome, to 
 come and take care of me. It is a task I never 
 can perform when I am alone ; and I am told I 
 am always doing wrong : but what can a poor 
 solitary wretch do with himself?" 
 
 Mr. Davenel, with the sincerest feeling of con- 
 cern, said : " Mr. Villiers, I have too much house- 
 room ; if you will come to us, you shall be as
 
 320 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 much your own master as you are here ; and I 
 can give you a whole suite of rooms to yourself." 
 
 Burrell felt pleased and obliged, but said he 
 expected his cousin so soon, that he would bear 
 his solitude a little longer; and he had taken a 
 large house on purpose to have his society. In 
 the meantime, it was agreed, that with proper 
 precautions, in a close carriage, he should go to 
 the Davenels in the evenings. 
 
 Burrell, though not precisely handsome, had 
 a very interesting appearance, and his manners 
 were mild and prepossessing. Dudley's name 
 was the medium of intimacy between him and 
 the Davenels, and all ceremony was abolished. 
 He cordially availed himself of Mr. Daveners 
 invitation to join his family party that evening. 
 A kind of demi-soirce was, however, held by 
 Lady Hortensia, on the evenings that she was 
 not out, and this kind of society suited best the 
 fluctuating state of Burrell's health and spirits. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 LONDON: 
 
 I BOTSON AMD PALMER, PRIM IRS, 8AYOY SIR KIT, STRAND.
 
 THE DAYENELS: 
 
 A CAMPAIGN OF FASHION IN DUBLIN, 
 
 IX TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 HENRY COLBURN, NEW-BURLINGTON-STREET.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Tis an old lesson. Time approves it true, 
 
 And those who know it best, deplore it most ; 
 
 When all is won that all desire to woo, 
 
 The paltry prize is hardly worth the cost : 
 
 Youth wasted, minds degraded, honour lost ; 
 
 These are thy fruits, successful passion ! these ! BYRON. 
 
 AND now, having brought Mr. George Burrell 
 Villiers on the scene, it is but fair to give some 
 account of him to our readers. Though but 
 twenty-four, at this time, he had known some 
 of the varieties of life, and had felt the conse- 
 quences which must, sooner or later, attend 
 upon weakness and folly. Though naturally of 
 an amiable disposition, and never premeditating 
 evil, early indulgence had so strengthened his 
 passions, that they had too successfully invaded 
 
 VOL. II. B
 
 2 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 and lessened the empire of reason over his 
 mind ; and before he was two-and-twenty, some 
 imprudent liaisons were already the subject of 
 alarm to his family, and were fraught with dan- 
 ger to himself. His father dying while he was 
 yet a child, he was left to the sole guardianship 
 of his mother. His delicate constitution, and 
 his great expectations, seemed to her reasons 
 for keeping him under her own eye, as the best 
 mode of preserving him from all dangers, phy- 
 sical and moral: but the physical and moral 
 powers equally require exercise to bring them 
 to perfection ; and his were enervated by the 
 very solicitude which was intended to preserve 
 them. A tutor, who was not allowed to re- 
 strain, or punish ; and, at a later period, the 
 lax government of a private seminary, was all 
 that Burrell had known of discipline, when he 
 launched into the world of pleasure. His heart 
 was still good, in the common acceptation of 
 the word, and his principles, when he recurred to 
 them, were just ; but he seemed to take counsel
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of nothing but his desires ; and he could not 
 be said to go, but to be carried along the stream 
 of life. Notwithstanding his errors, there was 
 something so sweet in his temper, and so kind 
 and amiable in his character, that he was a 
 general favourite in his family. His cousin 
 Dudley loved, while he lectured him ; and 
 would have thrown around him the shield of 
 his stronger mind, and longer experience, if 
 Burrell would have permitted it : but the pri- 
 vileges of friendship and relationship have their 
 limits, and Dudley felt and respected them. 
 
 About two years before the time we treat of, 
 Burrell Villiers, and three other young men 
 friends, in the worldly sense of the word made 
 an excursion to the lakes of Westmoreland, 
 where they passed some days in the enjoyment 
 of the beauties of natural scenery, the purest 
 pleasure that sense can taste of. One of these, 
 Charles Everard, though but a new acquaint- 
 ance, was more particularly Burrell's favourite. 
 In information, wit, and other agreeable quali- 
 
 B 2
 
 THE DA YEN ELS. 
 
 ties, he surpassed most of his associates, and 
 Burrell and he became inseparable. 
 
 After three or four days spent at the lakes, 
 it was proposed that the party should go on to 
 Edinburgh ; and there seemed to be but one 
 mind on the subject. But on the morning fixed 
 on for setting out, Everard imparted to Burrell 
 that he did not find himself very well, and 
 would prefer remaining quietly at Windermere 
 until the return of the party. Burrell immedi- 
 ately resolved to stay with him, both from pre- 
 ference for his society, and from a wish not to 
 leave him alone. The proposal was most cor- 
 dially accepted by Everard ; and the party 
 being equally divided, it was agreed that nei- 
 ther division should be under restraint or en- 
 gagement, but go on, or return, in whatever 
 manner was most agreeable to each. 
 
 Everard and Burrell, being left alone, the 
 former congratulated himself that they were no 
 longer gened by two men, whose society he 
 found uninteresting; and he proposed to take
 
 THE DAVENELS. 5 
 
 provisions in a boat, and to spend the day upon 
 the lake. 
 
 Burrell, always ready for any scheme of 
 amusement, assented; and the two friends found 
 subjects of conversation, or objects to admire, 
 without finding time hang for a moment on 
 their hands. Having finished their cold re- 
 past, Everard proposed putting into a little cove 
 or creek, at the opposite side of the lake from 
 where they were staying ; saying, " I should 
 like to enquire if a family I remember seeing 
 here about two years ago, are still residing at 
 the cottage where I saw them. They are 
 very nice people, I assure you/' added he, 
 " though living quite out of the world. A widow 
 lady, and her daughter ; since become a widow 
 also. Most interesting people." As he talked 
 in this manner, without however exciting much 
 curiosity in Burrell, they approached a small 
 hamlet, consisting of two or three farm-houses ; 
 and a little detached from them stood a cottage, 
 such as one sees many of in England, where
 
 G THE DAVENELS. 
 
 genteel indigence may retire with grace, and 
 not blush to receive visits from the great and 
 affluent. It was very small, but covered with 
 roses and various kinds of clematis, which, 
 being supported by some rustic frame-work, 
 formed in summer an impervious veranda.. The 
 door was half open, and Everard stepped into the 
 little passage, which, dividing the kitchen from 
 the sitting-room, served as a hall, he tapped at 
 the door, and a soft voice said, " Come in." 
 They both entered; and Burrell would have been 
 surprised at the air of elegance which reigned 
 under this humble roof, if his eyes or his atten- 
 tion could have turned from the person who 
 received them. The beauty of her face and 
 figure could only be surpassed by the grace of 
 her manner ; which, if not precisely that of the 
 fashionable world, was something of a more 
 fascinating stamp. She blushed at their en- 
 trance, and spoke to Everard as to a person she 
 had known before, but not intimately. He 
 presented his friend Mr. Villiers, and then apo-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 logized for his intrusion : telling her how his 
 friend and he had been for some time viewing 
 the lakes ; of the division which had taken 
 place in their party ; and of his reluctance to 
 pass so near, without enquiring for her and 
 Mrs. Villamont. Before half of this was said, 
 however, she had motioned them to be seated, 
 and had herself taken a seat. There was no 
 unwillingness on her part to converse ; but Bur- 
 rell was struck with the air of abattement in her 
 countenance and manner which rather aided 
 than diminished her charms. She spoke of 
 their retirement as so complete, that she and 
 mamma had not seen a visitor for the last six 
 months. 
 
 " How is Mrs. Villamont ?" said Everard. 
 
 Her mamma was well, and had gone out to 
 visit a poor neighbour who was in bad health. 
 
 " Always on charitable errands," said Eve- 
 rard. " Do you think she will be at home 
 soon?" 
 
 " Yes ; I expect her every moment."
 
 8 THE DA YEN ELS. 
 
 Burrell had never seen Everard so grave : not 
 an attempt to be amusing ! he that used to be 
 all life and humour : but he understood his 
 friend's delicacy. Like Sterne, " he would not 
 be guilty of uttering a jest in the venerable 
 presence of misery ;" and it was plain that a 
 <* silent sorrow" still preyed on the heart of 
 Mrs. Clement, for so the young lady was 
 called. 
 
 Burrell, whose character was strongly tinged 
 with romance, could not take his attention from 
 this interesting creature. Her history must be 
 affecting: he longed to hear her tell it. He 
 spoke but little ; but his eyes rested so conti- 
 nually on her, that she was at times almost dis- 
 concerted by their gaze. At length the de- 
 scending sun seemed to remind Everard that it 
 was time to return to their boat ; but Mrs. Cle- 
 ment just then grew anxious for her mother's 
 return, which was delayed to a later hour than 
 usual. She checked her apprehensions, how- 
 ever, and observed that there would be a full
 
 THE DAVENELS. 9 
 
 moon : but the gentlemen still perceiving that 
 she was not quite at ease on the subject, offered 
 their services to go in quest of her mother ; and 
 while they were inquiring as to the road they 
 should take, the good lady arrived from her 
 charitable mission. Not expecting to find stran- 
 gers with her daughter, she came hastily into 
 the room, with her bonnet and shawl, and was 
 absolutely startled at the sight of the two young 
 men ; but on Everard recalling himself to her 
 recollection, she received him very cordially, 
 and was civil to his friend : and then saying 
 she wished much for tea, and hoped the gentle- 
 men would stay for it, she left the room again 
 to make the necessary arrangements, and to 
 disencumber herself of her bonnet and shawl. 
 
 " Mrs. Villamont is just as ever," said Eve- 
 rard, " active and obliging." 
 
 " Yes/ 1 said her daughter, casting down her 
 eyes, " that is her secret for happiness to live 
 for others. I endeavour sometimes to follow 
 her example, but" and she arose, and turned 
 
 B 5
 
 10 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 aside to arrange some flowers in a vase ; but in 
 a few moments she resumed her place, and the 
 conversation was renewed. 
 
 " Your harp must be an amusement to you," 
 said Everard. 
 
 She glanced at it with an expression of me- 
 lancholy, and said : " I seldom touch it now." 
 But upon Burrell saying something expressive 
 of a wish to hear her, she seated herself at it ; 
 and as, unlike most harps that " neglected lie," 
 it was in perfect tune, she accompanied her- 
 self in an air of great sweetness and pathos. 
 During the performance, tea was quietly brought 
 in by a " neat-handed Phillis," such as every 
 hamlet in England can supply ; and Mrs. Vil- 
 lamont distributed it with a " stealthy pace," 
 as fearing to interrupt sounds so seldom heard 
 in that house. 
 
 Notwithstanding the visible inferiority in 
 Mrs. Villamont to her daughter in all external 
 elegance, yet Burrell was pleased to see that 
 she possessed the tact and refinement of feeling
 
 THE DAVENELS. 11 
 
 which should belong to the mother and guar- 
 dian of such a daughter. When Mrs. Clement 
 had once struck the chords of her harp, it 
 seemed as if its tones soothed her soul as much 
 as they charmed the ears of her auditors j and 
 she continued to .play at intervals the most 
 touching airs, accompanied by words which 
 corresponded in their tendency, and which must 
 have had some reference to her own sad story; 
 but she made pauses which would permit the 
 gentlemen either to converse, or to depart, if 
 either were more agreeable to them than listen- 
 ing. In short, never were men less gencd by a 
 lady's music. She gave it freely, but not op- 
 pressively ; and her performance partook so 
 much of inspiration, that though delighted, 
 they were not called upon to utter those com- 
 mon-place praises which are so frequently a bar 
 to true enjoyment of music ; as soon would 
 they have thought of commending her dis- 
 course. 
 The sun had set and the moon had risen
 
 12 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 had reached her highest noon, and was com- 
 mencing her downward course, ere the charmed 
 travellers took their final leave ; for one or two 
 attempts at departure had been made by Eve- 
 rard, but so slightly seconded by Burrell, that 
 they had been given up. As they traversed the 
 lake, in the silence of the night, both were 
 silent for a considerable time. Burrell spoke 
 first ; it was to express his sense of the witchery 
 of Mrs. Clement's beauty and manners, and his 
 surprise that she could have been permitted to 
 bury so many charms in- obscurity. Everard 
 smiled at his friend's enthusiasm ; and said, 
 " Of course she will one day return to the 
 world. I remember her story was one which 
 excited general interest. Her father was an 
 emigrant; he had been dead some time, and 
 she and her mother were staying at Winder- 
 mere, when I saw them. I did not know much 
 of them however. She had not been long mar- 
 ried at the time to a Mr. Clement ; I believe a 
 man of respectable family, but only a lieutenant
 
 THE DAVENELS. 13 
 
 in the navy. I often wondered her family let 
 her marry so badly, but it was a love match. 
 In short, they were married, and in a few 
 months afterwards, he was suddenly ordered 
 abroad ; she was not in a condition to travel, 
 and a few weeks after he went, the news of his 
 death hurried her confinement ; the infant died, 
 and the double loss altogether affected her 
 health, and, I believe her reason ; her happiness 
 at least seems gone." 
 
 " If you had known her when she was sin- 
 gle," said Burrell, smiling, " I should suspect 
 your frequent visits to the lakes." 
 
 " Ay, if I had ; but you know I am not 
 very susceptible." 
 
 Burrell was greatly interested. What a pity, 
 he thought, that such a creature should have 
 her heart seared, closed against all the tender 
 affections in the very Spring of life. He could 
 think of nothing else ; and what little he spoke 
 was on the same subject. 
 
 The next morning he was found by his friend,
 
 14 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 standing at the edge of the lake, looking to- 
 wards the hamlet, whose smoke, curling up- 
 wards, marked the scene of the night before. 
 
 " Come to breakfast, Villiers," said Everard. 
 They returned towards the inn. 
 
 " What shall we do to-day," said he, not 
 seeming to notice his friend's abstraction. 
 
 " Are you for another day's boating? for 
 my part, I do not find myself up to a long 
 walk." 
 
 The boat was readily agreed to ; and the day 
 was charming. At length Burrell said, " Do 
 you think we should be thought to do an intru- 
 sive thing, if we were to calt on those ladies 
 again to-day ?" 
 
 Everard thought not ; but, looking at his 
 watch, he said, it would be better not to go 
 there until the evening, for fear of disturbing 
 them at their simple meal, and he proposed 
 landing and dining at a little inn not a mile 
 from the cottage; and this being done, they 
 arrived at Mrs. Villamont's at what might be
 
 THE DAVENELS. 15 
 
 called evening that is about five o'clock. 
 They met Mrs. Villaraont and her daughter 
 going to visit the poor invalid who had been 
 the object of her visit the evening before; and 
 though the ladies proposed returning to the 
 house, the gentlemen would not hear of such an 
 interruption, and offered to accompany them. 
 Mrs. Villamont however arranged it better. 
 She would go to the invalid, and her daughter 
 should remain with the visitors, or accompany 
 them to see some pretty views in the neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 There was a simplicity and ignorance of the 
 world in this proposal, which struck even Bur- 
 rell, and he fancied Mrs. Clement looked an- 
 noyed; but it was not his part to object, and 
 the mother went off, having first pointed out to 
 her daughter the best route to take. Mrs. Cle- 
 ment and the two young men rambled together 
 through some very beautiful scenery, not alpine 
 perhaps, nor sublime, but more favourable to 
 that strolling kind of exercise which induces
 
 16 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 conversation : and the close of the day found 
 them once more round Mrs. Villamont's tea-ta- 
 ble. The harp was again resorted to, and ull 
 was enchantment. Burrell, though not under- 
 standing music, was passionately fond of it; 
 and Mrs. Clement's was precisely of the kind 
 to captivate him. Of instrumental music, he 
 knew nothing ; and fine execution rather gave 
 him pain, but Mrs. Clement's singing was the 
 very language of the soul, and seemed to reveal 
 its inmost feelings. 
 
 But why need we describe the days that fol- 
 lowed ; of which one was like the other, except 
 that each succeeding day, developed thoughts 
 and feelings to which, in their intensity at least, 
 Burrell had hitherto known no parellel. A 
 fortnight had passed in this manner, during 
 which, Everard had once or twice proprosed to 
 Burrell to go to some watering-place, or to re- 
 turn to the Duke of St. Evremond's: but Bur- 
 rell refused, declaring he had infinitely more 
 enjoyment where he was, than he could find in
 
 THE DAVENELS. 17 
 
 the bustling sameness of a watering-place, or 
 the heavy grandeur of the Duke's. 
 
 One morning Everard looked very grave, and 
 said to Burrell, he feared he should be thought 
 to have led him into danger, if it was known 
 how fond he was grown of the society of Mrs. 
 Clement. It did not require this from Everard 
 to enlighten Burrell on the state of his heart. 
 He had not only become sensible of his pas- 
 sion, but had on the evening before, invo- 
 luntarily betrayed it to the object of it, and 
 had received a hurried confession of return. 
 There had been full opportunity for the expla- 
 nation; for Mrs. Villamont, besides her charit- 
 able expeditions, had other claims on her time 
 in her domestic arrangements, in which she 
 never suffered her daughter to partake ; and 
 Everard had lately become passionately fond of 
 angling, and having found a very nice trout- 
 stream, not far from the cottage, he used to 
 bring his fishing apparatus in the boat ; and 
 would stand or stroll along the bank, forgetful
 
 18 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of all time. Burrell found the hours, thus left 
 to his own disposal, too delightful to make any 
 observations on his friend's conduct : sometimes 
 he and Mrs. Clement used to accompany Eve- 
 rard when he went to fish, and then, at his re- 
 quest, linger behind, lest they should disturb 
 the " finny prey." Seats were sometimes pro- 
 cured from the cottage, if they did not present 
 themselves by chance, on which the enamoured 
 pair would sit, and love and idleness ruled the 
 hour ? The morning after the first open and 
 mutual confession of attachment, was that on 
 which Everard first began to see danger to his 
 friend in this kind of intercourse, and he very 
 freely acquainted him with his fears : but, the 
 tiger rushing on his prey, the torrent in its 
 course, the flowing tide, or any other uncon- 
 trollable circumstance, may serve as compari- 
 sons for the headlong force with which poor 
 Burrell rushed towards his object, impelled by 
 passion, and unguarded by prudence. Fearing, 
 however, the severity of Everard 's judgment, he
 
 THE DAVENELS. 19 
 
 stoutly denied that any danger existed, and pro- 
 posed to cross the lake once more, on the daily 
 visit to the cottage : but Everard declined this 
 day, accompanying him, and, half laughing, 
 said, " If there is no danger, you are safe with- 
 out me and if it is as I fear, I will not be an 
 accessary." 
 
 As there is no time when a friend's company 
 can be so easily dispensed with, as when one is 
 making love, Burrell went alone, and found 
 Mrs. Clement ready for a walk, and much sur- 
 prised at not seeing Everard. The unrestrained 
 disclosure of their sentiments for each other, 
 was not calculated to allay the flame which was 
 kindled in Bun-ell's breast ; but he was not so 
 intoxicated yet as to propose marriage, and she 
 anticipated his reluctance to do so, by declaring 
 with a fervour and self-devotion of which women 
 are often capable, that she would not be the 
 means of bringing on him the displeasure of 
 his friends; her want of fortune being, she 
 feared, an insurmountable bar to their union.
 
 20 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 She seemed ignorant of the world, and of Bur- 
 reirs high expectations, and when, by degrees, 
 he told her of them and of the matrimonial views 
 entertained for him, her agony increased, and 
 she said, the gulph between them was impassa- 
 ble, and she implored him to leave her to her 
 wretched fate. It was not in Bun-ell's nature 
 to follow this advice : but as the speeches of 
 lovers, whether happy or unhappy, are generally 
 very tiresome, we are giving merely the sense of 
 what was said, because a large volume would , 
 not contain the words uttered on both sides. 
 
 Whole days were now passed together, each 
 day being said to be the last ; and the enivre- 
 ment of Burrell was at its height. Everard at 
 length resolved to leave him, saying he would 
 not remain to sanction such folly ; and on his 
 departure, Burrell left the place they had hither- 
 to occupied together, and took up his residence 
 at the little Inn we mentioned before, not a 
 mile from the cottage. He now spent the whole 
 of every day there, partaking of their simple
 
 THE DAVENELS. 21 
 
 meal, which, however, under the admirable skill 
 of Mrs. Villaraont, was not deficient in either 
 comfort or elegance. The nightly injunction of 
 Mrs. Clement to Burrell at parting, was, that he 
 would set out the next day for his uncle's or his 
 mother's, and fulfil their views for him by making 
 a splendid marriage. But her words seemed as 
 swords plunged into her own bosom ; for she 
 called heaven and earth to witness that she 
 should never survive the news : and then she 
 would cast wilful and mysterious looks at the 
 lake, as if she meant to throw herself into its 
 cold bosom. We do not mean to excuse Bur- 
 rell's want of self-command, or to say that all 
 this would have subdued and overcome the pru- 
 dence of every young man : but such was his 
 temperament, such was his facility, and so 
 much was he under the influence of present 
 circumstances, that in a paroxysm of love and 
 despair, he resolved to do what some men have 
 done under circumstances less seducing brave 
 the displeasure of his family, and marry the
 
 22 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 only woman on earth who could make him happy. 
 Mrs. Villamont could not be expected to op- 
 pose this resolution : she lived but for her 
 daughter : and she knew her to be deserving of 
 any rank, however exalted : indeed, she never 
 saw the man she thought worthy of her. Poor 
 Mr. Clement seemed at that moment to be for- 
 gotten ; and as for the last fortnight Burrell 
 had heard her called only by the endear- 
 ing name of Fanny, (and she was even his 
 Fanny,) he almost forgot she had any other : 
 even the slight indications of mourning which 
 she had worn when he first saw her, were lately 
 exchanged for hues more in harmony with a state 
 which was in future to be all couleur de rose. 
 
 Burrell felt it to be due to Everard, short as 
 their friendship had been, to write to him as 
 soon as his resolution was formed ; and he even 
 invited him to come and give away his bride. 
 To this letter he received a refusal, written how- 
 ever in friendly terms, and observing, that as it 
 seemed now too late to make remonstrances, he
 
 THE DAVENELS. 23 
 
 should merely add his cordial wishes for their 
 happiness. 
 
 It happened most fortunately, that on that 
 very day, a gentleman (a friend of Mrs. Villa- 
 mont) was making a tour, and came to the inn 
 where Burrell lodged : and Mrs. Villamont hap- 
 pening to meet him in one of her walks of cha- 
 rity or business, she asked him to stop until 
 after the ceremony, which was to take place 
 on the following day, and to act the part of 
 father to the bride. He assented, but being a 
 lover of the picturesque, he declined dining ei- 
 ther that day or the next with her, and promis- 
 ing to be in attendance at the church the next 
 morning, he proceeded to view the lakes. 
 
 This arrangement was communicated to the 
 young couple, who were of course satisfied with 
 any contrivance which could facilitate their 
 union. Burrell now saw less than ever of Mrs. 
 Villamont : she was the most indefatigable 
 housekeeper and Lady Bountiful ; and, as each 
 hour he passed near his beloved Fanny, seemed
 
 24 THE DA YEN ELS. 
 
 to him but a moment of time, he never, even 
 in thought, enquired what became of her mo- 
 ther. 
 
 On the evening before the day fixed for 
 their marriage, after their early dinner, which 
 took place about three o'clock, Burrell must go 
 to the clergyman who was to unite them, to settle 
 about the time, and some other trifling preli- 
 minaries ; and as his Fanny was rather agitated 
 and tired, and passed a sleepless night, Mrs. 
 Villamont requested she would remain within, 
 and lie down, and, if possible, procure some re- 
 pose. Fanny reluctantly yielded to the pru- 
 dent remonstrances of her mother, though evi- 
 dently regretting the pleasure of walking with 
 her lover, whom she accompanied to the gate of 
 the enclosure before the cottage door, and fond- 
 ly watched, until she had received his last sa- 
 lute as he turned the corner of the road which 
 hid him from her view. Burrell, though in 
 love bewitched was not quite insensible to 
 the folly of the act he was about to commit.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 25 
 
 He knew he should be considered by his family 
 as having filled up the measure of his often- 
 reproved follies by this marriage ; but he could 
 not now recede, and he would not therefore 
 dwell upon that side of the picture. 
 
 The village where the clergyman lived was 
 about two miles off, and Burrell walked on, his 
 mind occupied by fancies in which the bitter 
 sometimes overcame the sweet ; but he had not 
 gone a quarter of the way ere he met the worthy 
 man, riding in the direction of the cottage. In 
 fact, he was going to one of the farm-houses 
 near it, on a little business in which some hay 
 was a party, and Burrell, turning about made his 
 arrangements with him chemin faisant. The 
 lover then returned mechanically to the cottage, 
 hoping in the presence of his Fanny to lose that 
 uneasiness which weighed upon his spirits when 
 she was not in his sight : but recollecting, as 
 he came near the house, that her mother had 
 prescribed repose for her, he would approach 
 with noiseless tread, for fear of disturbing her. 
 VOL. n. c
 
 26 
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 As he came near that end of the house in which 
 was Mrs. Villamont's apartment, (a room on the 
 ground floor, and which he knew to be hers, 
 though he had never been in it,) he heard 
 voices, loud, as if in dispute. Mrs. Villamont's 
 was distinctly heard, and mingled with her's was 
 the voice of a man he fancied, of two men : 
 but he did not pause a moment, conceiving she 
 was carrying on some domestic affairs; nor did 
 he reflect a moment on the circumstance ; but 
 entering the sitting-room, he flung himself on 
 the sofa. Close to one end of it, being that 
 on which Burrell had laid his head, was what 
 is commonly called a jib-door. It was one 
 which communicated with Mrs. Villamont's 
 room, but was so seldom opened that Burrell 
 was not aware that it opened directly into it ; 
 for any thing he knew, it might have been a 
 press or closet, sacred to some of the mysteries 
 of housekeeping, into which he never desired to 
 penetrate. It must now however have been 
 lately opened ; for it was not perfectly closed
 
 THE DAVENELS. 27 
 
 that being a frequent fault in jib-doors: but 
 Burrell, not seeing his Fanny, looked for no- 
 thing else, and the back of his head being 
 towards the aperture, he could not be expected 
 to see that. One instant of time however had 
 not elapsed ere the same voices were heard 
 again ; and one, which sounded like Everard's, 
 said in a tone of displeasure, " I should like to 
 know what you have to fear? and if the bond 
 is not cancelled now, when is it when can it 
 be done?" 
 
 He was interrupted by Mrs.Villamont saying, 
 " No bond shall be cancelled till mine is com- 
 pleted. If any thing prevents the marriage to- 
 morrow, what security have I ? and you know, 
 the next day, at furthest, his mother will be 
 here." 
 
 A man's voice, which Burrell did not recog- 
 nise, interrupted by saying, in a civil and per- 
 suasive manner, " Cannot Mr. Everard sign 
 this sketch of a conditional promise, to be 
 executed after the marriage to-morrow ?" 
 
 c 2
 
 28 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Mrs. Villamont raid something of security, 
 and a soft Toice, which Burrell knew too well, 
 said, " O do not trust him Everard, you know 
 I cannot trust you. If the bond is cancelled 
 to-night, something tells me we shall never be 
 married." 
 
 " Hush ! Miss Clement," said Mrs. Villaraont, 
 " you had better leave all to me, and don't spoil 
 your looks by getting into a tantrum." 
 
 The strange man said something, and she 
 rejoined : " I tell you, Adams, I'll not give up 
 the bond until the knot is tied. I saw Parson 
 Bennet ride by, and if he sees me he'll suspect 
 and blow up all." 
 
 It may seem strange that Burrell could hear 
 so much, without making any movement, or 
 betraying himself in any manner to the party 
 within. Far from wishing to listen, however, 
 his first impulse on hearing Everard's voice had 
 been to rush into the room, and learn the cause 
 of his arrival; but starting up on the sofa, he 
 had been transfixed in suspense by the first
 
 THE DAVENELS. 29 
 
 sentence that was uttered ; and then astonish- 
 ment, and a train of black suspicions, paralyzed 
 and deprived him of the power of moving. His 
 heart beat quick his temples throbbed. Each 
 word that was spoken seemed to tear a veil from 
 before his eyes, till the whole black transaction 
 was revealed to his view. 
 
 It would be impossible to give an idea of the 
 troubled thoughts which revolved through his 
 mind in succession ; but when he reflected on 
 the disgrace which was to have been inflicted 
 on him for life, the spirits of wounded friendship 
 and insulted honour seemed to goad him to re- 
 venge, and opening the door with a violence 
 which startled the band of conspirators, he 
 stood before them, looking not less aghast than 
 they did, and both parties were for some minutes 
 equally unable to speak. The four were seated 
 at a table, on which were writing materials and 
 some unfinished papers, which the man of law 
 hastily gathered up. A momentary attempt at 
 a fond welcome by his Fanny was repulsed with
 
 30 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the scorn it merited ; but it seemed to restore 
 to him the power of speech. Looking at Ever- 
 ard, who had started up from the table on his 
 entrance, he said in a low but articulate manner, 
 " Villain ! if you are not coward as well as 
 villain, you will give the only satisfaction in 
 your power." 
 
 " You are deceived, Villiers," said Everard, 
 with assumed coolness. 
 
 " Not now I have been," said Burrell, " but 
 you will, I trust, show yourself to be a man." 
 
 The attorney (who was indeed the very tourist 
 who was to have performed the paternal part 
 the next morning, but whose love of the pic- 
 turesque had given way to his wish to accom- 
 modate Mr. Everard and those ladies by some 
 touch of his office on that evening) now said, 
 " Gentlemen, if I can be of any use in settling 
 
 this little affair " But Everard now seeing 
 
 that all was discovered, and wishing to breathe 
 more at liberty than he could do in Mrs. Villa- 
 raont's confined little room, snatched up his
 
 THE DAVENELS. 31 
 
 hat, and rushing past Burrell, who stood in the 
 door- way, went into the drawing-room. Thither 
 Burrell and the rest followed, with the exception 
 of Fanny, who flung herself on the bed in an 
 agony of tears, which it is not to be supposed 
 were feigned. 
 
 Burrell then said, " Everard, this admits of 
 no delay." 
 
 Everard made some attempts at explanation, 
 beginning with " Villiers, did I not advise you 
 more than once to quit this place ? Did I not 
 leave you when I found you obstinate? Did 
 I not refuse to witness your marriage?" 
 
 But Burrell, recollecting that those weak 
 efforts to detach him from Fanny were not 
 made by Everard until he saw him completely 
 entangled, and disgusted by his duplicity, as 
 well as mortified by a sense of his own weak- 
 ness and folly, disdaining to hear more, said : 
 " Everard, there is but one way by Heaven I 
 will hear no vain exculpation this gentleman," 
 pointing to Adams, " will act for both of us,"
 
 32 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 and he rushed into the open air to cool the fever 
 which throbbed through his veins. 
 
 Mr. Adams went from one to the other, ne- 
 gociating and explaining, or rather trying to do 
 so, but all ended in his being prevailed on to 
 go to his own house for a brace of pistols, and 
 the two, so late friends, now such bitter foes, 
 agreed to remain: Burrell in the adjacent field ; 
 Everard in the house. By the time, however, 
 that the attorney came back, it was so late, 
 that the " small-sword light" which remained, 
 was insufficient for the purpose of a " long 
 shot," and the affair was necessarily put off 
 until the next morning at day break. Burrell 
 went, therefore, to his inn, with feelings, how 
 different from those with which he had quitted 
 it in the morning; but, by the time he reached 
 it, the cool air operating upon his senses, 
 enabled him to reflect upon what had happened, 
 and he could not sufficiently rejoice at his es- 
 cape. His satisfaction on that score diminished 
 those feelings of rancour and revenge which had
 
 THE DAVENELS. 33 
 
 been excited by the first discovery of the truth ; 
 and he could now call that a sacrifice to wounded 
 honour, which, under the first impulse, would 
 have been murder. This was at least poor 
 Burrell's view of the subject, and such, perhaps, 
 would be the view taken of it by all those who 
 respect the institutions of man rather than 
 those of God. But it is our business to narrate, 
 not to preach. Passion being lulled, Burrell 
 sat down with great composure to write some 
 letters ; one was to his mother, one to the Duke 
 of St. Evremond, and one to his cousin Dudley; 
 to whom alone he gave a detailed account of 
 the whole transaction ; and having given orders 
 to be called before day-break, he went to bed 
 and slept soundly. At this moment of repose, 
 " when the hamlet is still," we shall give such 
 lights as are wanted in our narrative. Of 
 Fanny Clement's early history, we shall say 
 but little. Educated (not to say trained) for 
 the stage, after an unsuccessful debut, hers be- 
 came an oft- told tale of villainy and vice. Suf- 
 
 c 5
 
 34 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 fice it to say, that Everard had grown tired, 
 not only of her, but of the payment of a cer- 
 tain annuity of, we know not precisely how 
 many hundreds a year. His debts and difficul- 
 ties increasing, the annuity became burthen- 
 some, and she was willing to relinquish it, if, 
 by his means, she could obtain a better settle- 
 ment, or be respectably established in marriage. 
 It must be owned, that when Everard presented 
 Burrell Villiers to her, he did not anticipate 
 such a result as his marrying her ; but she in- 
 sisted on trying that ground first ; and so well 
 did she play her part, that, as we have seen, 
 Burrell's excitable imagination was duped ; and 
 so suddenly, that reason and observation went 
 to sleep ; otherwise, he would have been more 
 alive to some inconsistencies in the position of 
 his fair one. As, the long and convenient ab- 
 sences of the mother, who was in fact her maid, 
 who, besides her necessary avocations, felt the 
 propriety of appearing as little as possible in 
 the presence of a young man of fashion, lest he
 
 THE DAVENELS. 35 
 
 should perceive how unlikely she was to be the 
 mother of an elegant and accomplished young 
 lady; the manifest contrivance of both mo- 
 ther and friend to leave the lovers the greater 
 part of every day together, would also have 
 struck any man less blinded than Burrell was 
 by passion. 
 
 Under the care of Mr. Adams, the combat- 
 ants met the next morning at the time appointed. 
 Burrell cool and collected ; Everard betraying 
 in his haggard looks the sleepless night he had 
 passed ; for the failure and the discovery of 
 his plan were doubly torturing. 
 
 Notwithstanding the advantages which Bur- 
 rell might be supposed to derive from his more 
 composed frame of mind, his ball but grazed his 
 adversary's shoulder, without penetrating be- 
 yond the clothes; while Everard's entered 
 Burrell's breast. Though the wound did not 
 instantly prove mortal, it seemed to Everard 
 and his second, that he could not survive many
 
 36 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 minutes; and having received Mr. Adams's 
 promises (no doubt for value received) never 
 to divulge the cause of the duel, and leaving to 
 him the care of Burrell, Everard set off in- 
 stantly for Paris; from thence he went to Italy; 
 and having had some fashionable acquaintances 
 in England who gave him introductions, he 
 soon got into the best society at Rome, Flo- 
 rence, and Naples. It was very generally un- 
 derstood that he had fought a duel with Mr. 
 Burrell Villiers, and wounded him ; and it was 
 rumoured that it was about a lady, and the 
 public prints had mentioned the duel, with the 
 initials only of the parties; each journal pro- 
 fessing to know the particulars, though, from 
 motives of delicacy, they suppressed them. 
 
 Burrell felt too much ashamed of the blind- 
 ness and folly with which he had seconded the 
 villainy of Everard, to relish a disclosure of the 
 particulars; and, except to Dudley, he never 
 divulged them. Mr. Adams, finding it was the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 37 
 
 wish of both parties, kept the secret, and it was 
 not the interest of Fanny or her maid to disclose 
 them. 
 
 Lady George Villiers, having heard a rumour 
 that her son was engaged in a foolish love 
 affair, had written to him to announce her in- 
 tention of joining him at the lakes; and this 
 letter had been intercepted by Everard, and, 
 after due consideration, opened and suppressed. 
 The expected arrival of Lady George made 
 Fanny doubly anxious to complete the marriage; 
 and fixed Everard in the resolution to have 
 the bond cancelled the day before. 
 
 Lady George arrived but a few hours after 
 the time which was to have made her the 
 mother-in-law of Fanny Clement; but, if she 
 was spared the misery of such a connexion, she 
 was not less wretched at finding her son appa- 
 rently at the point of death. Her care, how- 
 ever, the surgeon's skill, and the will of heaven, 
 (for we cannot add, as is generally done, a 
 naturally good constitution,) combined to restore
 
 38 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 him to her; but his formerly slight stock of 
 health was materially and permanently shaken, 
 and in a year from that time, he was advised 
 to try a warm climate. His mother was no 
 more at the time of his going abroad, when 
 Dudley accompanied him as far as Calais, and 
 he was left to himself. 
 
 After so severe a lesson, there was but little 
 danger of his falling again into an error like that 
 he had escaped from ; but prudence could never 
 be his forte; experience and reflection may do 
 much, but they seldom effect a total change of 
 character; and even the caution required for 
 his health, was more than Burrell could often 
 practice. But for the advice and remonstrances 
 of the Davenels, he would have encountered 
 heat and cold at Nice, without precaution or 
 restraint; but though thoughtless, he was not 
 obstinate, and to show his sense of their care, 
 he yielded implicitly to what they recom- 
 mended. He became almost one of the family, 
 and used to accompany Mr. Davenel and his
 
 THE DAVENELS. 39 
 
 daughters in their rides, when his strength 
 would permit. Nothing warmer, however, than 
 admiration and cordial regard were excited. 
 Though Fanny Clement had no power over his 
 heart, from the time he discovered her worth- 
 lessness, yet the flame she raised had ravaged 
 and consumed its powers, and he felt convinced 
 that it could " bloom no more." 
 
 Dudley's arrival at Nice was delayed by the 
 injury done to the road by torrents, and Burrell 
 became all impatience.
 
 40 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 On that lady's eye 
 
 He looked, and met in beam without a thought, 
 Save admiration glancing hannleu by : 
 
 Love knew his votary, often loit and caught, 
 Bat knew him for hi* votary no more. BTROK. 
 
 LADY HORTENSIA had given out cards for a 
 ball, to which all the persons of fashion at Nice, 
 of whatever country, were invited. Burrell was 
 to go, as usual, however, well guarded from the 
 night air, and to return home at an early hour. 
 
 About eight in the evening, while he was 
 sipping his tisane, and endeavouring to beguile 
 the time with a book, his servant entered. 
 
 " I find, Sir, that Captain Villiers is arrived 
 at the Hotel des Etrangers." 
 
 " What happiness !" said Burrell, his wan
 
 THE DAVENELS. 41 
 
 cheek glowing with the hectic blush of quick 
 surprise ; " go and conduct him here instantly." 
 
 But this was only a delicate delay of Dudley, 
 who feared that any sudden emotion might be 
 hurtful to Burrell, for he was, in fact, at the 
 foot of the stairs ; and not another moment was 
 lost the cousins met, shook hands cordially, 
 and were soon seated in friendly chat ; hours 
 were forgotten, until ten o'clock striking, Bur- 
 rell said, " Dudley, you have, perhaps, saved 
 me from an imprudence I was near committing 
 this evening : I was going to a ball, but you 
 shall go in my place, and I will go to bed." 
 
 " We will neither of us go, if you please," 
 said Dudley ; " I have not been in bed these 
 three nights, and I have had balls enough at 
 Rome. I suppose there is nobody here." 
 
 Yes there are several bodies here ; and to 
 begin with the ball I was going to, it is given 
 by friends of yours, and very nice people, and 
 so kind !" 
 
 " Friends of mine! Who?"
 
 42 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " The Davenels, from Ireland." 
 
 " The Davenels !" said Dudley. And though 
 it may seem ridiculous to assert of a man, that 
 he blushed at the sound of a name, yet Dudley's 
 face certainly glowed as he repeated it. " Is 
 Mr. Davenel here ?" 
 
 " Yes, and the Miss Davenels, and Lady 
 Hortensia. I never saw a more pleasing family, 
 and the girls are charming : you never gave me 
 an idea of them. I remember your mentioning 
 them as fine girls ; but really Frederica is one 
 of the most beautiful creatures I ever saw, and 
 so agreeable ! I spend half my time there ; but 
 now that you are with me," added he, smiling, 
 " I shall have no occasion, and I would not 
 lead you into danger." 
 
 " Never fear for me," said Dudley ; " but your 
 own health is the thing to be considered." 
 
 " But you will go to this ball?" 
 
 " Not I," said Dudley, " who felt ashamed 
 to retract, as he would have done, had they 
 been common acquaintances.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 43 
 
 " You will call on them to-morrow, how- 
 ever ?" 
 
 " Perhaps I may." 
 
 " Come Dudley, you feel there is danger, or 
 you would not be so very stand-off." 
 
 This Burrell said without really meaning it ; 
 for knowing how difficult Dudley was on the 
 subject of female attractions, he really supposed 
 that even the Miss Davenels had failed to ex- 
 tort any admiration from him. 
 
 Dudley now affected to feel a want of repose, 
 which he knew was indispensable to Burrell ; 
 yet he would have been very well pleased to go 
 to the Davenels that night, and he was even 
 curious to prove, whether the charms and graces 
 of Frederica were, in reality, all he had been in 
 the habit of thinking them ; or whether there 
 had been some illusion, when he saw her sur- 
 rounded by persons who, to his fastidious eye, 
 were beneath the standard of elegance and 
 fashion. Burrell, taking au pied de la lettre
 
 44 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Dudley's plea of weariness, willingly agreed to 
 his proposal of retiring for the night. 
 
 Dudley was shocked at his cousin's looks, so 
 much altered for the worse since he had accom- 
 panied him to Calais in May ; and fearful that 
 he had indulged, without restraint, in the even- 
 ing amusements of which he was fond, and to 
 which he was driven by the want of society at 
 home, Dudley resolved to devote himself to him 
 every evening, and not again to leave him to his 
 own counsels, and the care of a domestic. This 
 devotion to his friend would, he thought, be in- 
 compatible with any very dangerous indulgence 
 in the society of Frederica ; and chance, which 
 had twice before favoured his escape from the 
 danger, having now whimsically brought it near 
 him, he resolved to be more on his guard than 
 he had been at Glenlow Castle. 
 
 Dudley and Burrell had scarcely breakfasted 
 the next morning, when Mr. Davenel called to 
 know how the latter was ; fearing, by his ab-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 45 
 
 senting himself the evening before, that he was 
 less well than usual. He was glad to find that 
 Dudley's arrival was the only cause, and a very 
 cordial meeting took place between them. 
 
 " I think Burrell is doing very well," said 
 Dudley ; " but I am furnished with such a 
 positive order from Maton, not to allow him to 
 go out after three o'clock in the day, that I was 
 peremptory against his attending your ball last 
 night. But we will both ride out presently, to 
 enquire after the health of your ladies." 
 
 " Why had not we the pleasure of seeing 
 you, Captain Villiers?" said Mr. Davenel. 
 
 Dudley made the most of his late fatigue ; but 
 Mr. Davenel perceived, and gave him credit for 
 a less selfish reason. 
 
 " And shall you be so strict, as to forbid Mr. 
 Villiers's evening visits to us ?" 
 
 " Indeed I shall. We must induce a friend 
 or two to come and see us in the evening some- 
 times, but we must be at home every evening 
 ourselves."
 
 46 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " I must be no restraint upon you, Dudley," 
 said Burrell; " I make one condition with you." 
 
 " Ncr conditions, if you please," said Dudley. 
 
 " I have invested myself with unconditional 
 powers, and if you rebel, you know, as I told 
 you last night, I am off." 
 
 Mr. Davenel now left the cousins, and they, 
 mounting their horses, were in a few minutes at 
 Lady Hortensia's. Their arrival caused some 
 sensation. Frederica felt, she knew not how : 
 Dudley was now a man of large fortune, and 
 absolutely his own master. His manners to 
 her, on his return from England, during the 
 short time they met at Lady Halket's, were more 
 than formerly attentive ; and at Glenlow Castle, 
 though he set out with coldness, there was no 
 mistaking the proofs he involuntarily gave of 
 increased admiration ; yet, though invited to 
 return thither, he had not availed himself of the 
 invitation, and their meeting now at Nice was 
 purely accidental. These thoughts floated 
 through her mind, while she waited in her own
 
 THE DAVENELS. 47 
 
 room to compose herself, after hearing the news 
 of his arrival, afraid of betraying some emotion 
 at seeing him, yet resolving to give him the re- 
 ception which, as a favoured acquaintance, he 
 might look for. She went to the glass, to see 
 if her colour was at its usual standard, and the 
 scrutiny brought an unusual flush into her 
 cheeks. It was better to let this subside, and 
 she walked about for some time. At length she 
 resolved to go to the salon, as her delay might 
 look strange ; and the consequence of so much 
 reflection was, as might be expected, that she 
 entered with an air of bashfulness, which, if it 
 did not strike Dudley as anything new, was to 
 Burrell altogether strange : her reception of him 
 being always unaffectedly frank and cheerful. 
 She had, however, recovered so far, as to acquit 
 herself with tolerable grace, when the note-case, 
 lying then in her work-box on the table, flashed 
 across her mind, and she regretted that she had 
 not prevailed on Henrietta to be the keeper and 
 the restorer of it : her nerves being always in a
 
 48 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 state of tranquillity, and this not being a case 
 to put them to the proof, even if they were more 
 irritable. StUl Frederica lost nothing in Dud- 
 ley's eyes by her embarrassment, and he grew 
 rather absent, as he involuntarily made some 
 reflections on her improved air, and matchless 
 beauty. 
 
 Lady Hortensia was divided in her feelings 
 towards the two cousins. One was the undoubt- 
 ed heir to a dukedom, but his state of health 
 made it unlikely that he would think of marry- 
 ing at present ; and though he seemed cordially 
 to like the society of all the Davenels, his in- 
 valided state made him rather receive attentions 
 than pay them : and the motherly advice and 
 care of Lady Hortensia seemed at least as wel- 
 come to him as the gayer conversation of the 
 daughters. Lady Hortensia had not indulged 
 in any speculations for Dudley, when in Ireland. 
 A young aid-de-camp, not rich, and by report 
 not prepossessed in favour of women and mar- 
 riage, he seemed to her not worth much study
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 49 
 
 or effort : aware also of the existence of a cou- 
 sin, his junior, who was heir to the title, she 
 had never thought of investigating Dudley's 
 chances. Now indeed, if there was no nearer 
 heir, they were trebled by the ill-health of his 
 cousin : and even without that chance, the in- 
 heritor of the Duchess of St. Evremond's pro- 
 perty was a very great match. She longed to 
 look into the Peerage, which unluckily she had 
 not brought, and which is much less studied in 
 Ireland than in England. 
 
 But it must not be supposed that those con- 
 siderations occupied her at the present moment, 
 so as to betray her into absence of mind or man- 
 ner. She never suffered any aberration of the 
 kind to prevent her from saying the proper 
 thing at the proper season. She was there- 
 fore all sweetness and attention. Glad to see 
 Captain Villiers hoped he found Mr.Villiers 
 better than he expected to her eye, he was 
 sensibly improved since her coming to Nice 
 was sorry to hear that he must now observe a 
 
 VOL. IT. D
 
 50 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 stricter discipline ; but though she could not 
 think, nor would allow herself to think (such 
 precautions as had been taken) that the even- 
 ings he had spent with them could have done 
 him the least injury, yet such was her respect 
 for the orders of Dr. Maton, that she would not 
 say a word in favour of disobedience. 
 
 Some visitors entered to interrupt this flow of 
 kindness. A Mr. and Mrs. Harewood, and with 
 them a young man of about twenty, of the 
 name of Norton a ward of Mr. Harewood, and 
 a relation of his wife. He had a large fortune 
 in the funds ; and there was no danger that it 
 would be diminished by the management of Mr. 
 Harewood, whose taste for economy led him as 
 anxiously to calculate upon every possible aug- 
 mentation of his ward's property, as if he ex- 
 pected the savings to fall into his own pocket. 
 But this was not the case : he had really no 
 views of the kind ; nor could he with honour 
 (and no other way ever entered his mind) de- 
 rive any advantage from its accumulation. He
 
 THE DAVENELS. 51 
 
 was, in fact, an amateur in economy, and could 
 not endure to see money laid out, except to the 
 best advantage. He loved to have all the com- 
 forts, and many of the elegancies of life ; but he 
 had a conscious satisfaction in the belief that he 
 had them at the lowest rate for which they could 
 be procured. He was truly attached to his 
 pretty and amiable wife, for whose health he 
 travelled, and nothing that money could procure 
 was denied her ; but she heard so much of the 
 prices of every article such eternal calculations 
 of the best that is, the cheapest mode of doing 
 everything, and such lamentations on discover- 
 ing that any bargain might have been made 
 closer, that she would willingly have dispensed 
 with many indulgences to be allowed to enjoy 
 the remainder more peacefully. But there was 
 no making such a compromise with Mr. Hare- 
 wood ; as, though giving up any luxury, he 
 would not be less anxious to have the others a 
 great bargain. He was almost as well pleased 
 to help another to a good bargain, as to obtain
 
 52 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 one for himself. He never failed to ask every 
 acquaintance how much he paid for his house 
 his wine his horses or any other part of his 
 expenditure ; and whatever was the answer, he 
 generally found out that it was too much ; and 
 lold how he would have managed to get them 
 cheaper. 
 
 The arrival of this party at Lady Hortensia's 
 soon drew the conversation into the channels so 
 usual with English travellers when they meet 
 abroad : roads, inns, scenery, posting, climate 
 and then followed endless stories of the imposi- 
 tions practised by all the innkeepers, couriers, 
 voituriers, and shopkeepers on the continent; 
 one would suppose that cheating, in all its 
 branches, was unknown in England. Mr. Da- 
 venel was amazed at the number of rascals who 
 were quoted in a few minutes ; he had not met 
 so many in the course of his life. He said at 
 last good-humouredly, " Well, we have been per- 
 haps lucky, for I have nothing of the kind to re- 
 cord : the posting is regulated beyond the power
 
 THE DAVENELS. 53 
 
 of imposition ; and for the inns why, after all, 
 they are more moderate than with us." 
 
 " Ay but do you know," said Mr. Hare- 
 wood, " how much these fellows have raised 
 their prices within the last ten or twelve years?" 
 
 " Perhaps they have," said Mr. Davenel ; 
 " but the number of travellers has increased 
 ten-fold ; and by all the laws of trade, an in- 
 creased demand for any article will raise its 
 price." 
 
 Mr. Harewood would not give up ; and he 
 told how he had served a fellow, an innkeeper, 
 who wanted to make him pay for a second bed 
 in his room, though he should not use it ; offer- 
 ing him a single-bedded room instead, as two 
 gentlemen, just arrived, would take the one he 
 had chosen. 
 
 " I should not have contested the reasonable- 
 ness of this," said Mr. Harewood, " but that 
 I had chosen that room on first arriving, and a 
 bargain is a bargain ; so I was determined to be 
 up to him. I had luckily learned that there was
 
 54 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 another inn in the town, so by Jove, late as it 
 was, I went off to it." 
 
 " Are you speaking, my dear, of that dreadful 
 wet night that you went to the little inn, where 
 you got the damp bed ?" said Mrs. Harewood. 
 
 " Aye, it was a little damp to be sure ; but I 
 never let the first fellow know that : I did not 
 suffer Mrs. Harewood of course to leave the 
 place she was in and Norton was in his first 
 sleep, I believe : but it would have been glorious 
 if we could have all decamped." 
 
 " You caught a severe cold, I remember," 
 said Mrs. Harewood. 
 
 " Why yes, I did catch a cold ; but one hates 
 to be conquered by those fellows in a dispute." 
 
 " I find the best way to avoid disputes," said 
 Dudley, " is to pay the demand at once, as we 
 do in England. It is seldom exorbitant; and 
 we English give more trouble than all the world 
 besides. We require all that a Frenchman or 
 an Italian is contented with, and we must have 
 the comforts of our own country superadded."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 55 
 
 But Mr. Harewood had not yet done his list 
 of impostors ; and above all, his clever manner 
 of outwitting them : and Dudley, tired of so 
 unedifying and unamusing a conversation, re- 
 minded Burrell that it was time to take their 
 ride, and they both took their leave.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Know you the l.ind of the cedar and vine, 
 
 Where U>- fluwen ever blossom, the beam* ever thine; 
 
 
 
 Where the citron and olive are fairest of fruit. 
 
 Where the tint* of the earth, and the hoef of the iky, 
 
 In colour though varied, in beauty may vie, 
 
 And the purple of Ocean ii decpett in dye 1 B TRO.I. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING Dudley's strict observ- 
 ance of the rule he had laid down of spending his 
 evenings at home with Burrell, the opportuni- 
 ties of meeting Frederica in the mornings, and 
 at balls after Burrell had retired to rest, were 
 sufficient to confirm her empire over him. In 
 vain did he resolve to disentangle himself. 
 How could he, when Burrell, with the most un- 
 suspecting confidence in his cousin's coldness 
 and insensibility, proposed daily, that they
 
 THE DAVENELS. 57 
 
 should begin and end their morning by a visit 
 to those kind Davenels. Burrell loved society, 
 and he found in that family the most unexact- 
 ing good-breeding and heart-felt kindness, join- 
 ed to sense and beauty, all which pleased with- 
 out interesting him too deeply. In fact, he 
 could not spend too much time there, and these 
 visits became indispensable to him. 
 
 One day, as the cousins were making their 
 accustomed visit, Burrell said, " I don't see 
 why I should lose all my privileges by Dudley's 
 arrival. I used to have the pleasure of riding- 
 out with you and your sister, Miss Davenel." 
 
 The proposal was very agreeable : in fact, the 
 practice had been discontinued from a fear on 
 the part of the Davenels, that Burrell did not 
 limit his airing to his own wishes and strength, 
 and the latter was evidently growing less. 
 
 After making all the proper stipulations, there- 
 fore, the whole party set out from Mont Alban, 
 on one of those days so treacherously bright, 
 of which the winter at Nice is composed. They 
 
 D5
 
 58 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 were highly gratified by the ever-varying views, 
 as they ascended the hill. Nice, with >its gaily 
 painted houses, and fantastic steeples, lay 
 stretched out below them; and, scattered amongst 
 the olive-yards and orange-gardens, were innu- 
 merable villas, all glittering in the unclouded 
 sunshine. 
 
 " When I first came here," said Frederica, 
 " every villa I saw at a distance looked to me 
 so gay and pretty, that I longed to visit it : but 
 a few trials have cured every thought of the 
 kind. I have walked into several, and found 
 them all comfortless; and the grounds, which 
 look so gay at a distance, are all laid out in the 
 same monotonous bad taste. Stone borders 
 confining the water, and huge cabbages inter- 
 spersed amongst the orange-trees. There is also 
 a want of shade, for the olive-trees give but lit- 
 tle." 
 
 " We must not/' said Dudley, " look for 
 such true loveliness of landscape anywhere as 
 in England. Nature to advantage dressed,' is
 
 THE DAVENELS. 5fiT 
 
 not understood elsewhere except perhaps in 
 Switzerland and yet even there it is in a differ- 
 ent taste. The features of Switzerland are so 
 grand, that one disdains to dwell upon the want 
 of that exquisite finish, which taste bestows in 
 England on rural beauty. And yet it strikes 
 me that the people are happier in most coun- 
 tries than in England. Whether it arises from 
 our climate, as has been supposed, it would be 
 hard to say ; but the lower orders with us have 
 not that air of bonhomie and contentment, 
 which you see in the countenances of the pea- 
 santry even in this benighted land." 
 
 " They think too deeply in England/ 1 said 
 Burrell : " they exercise their free-born Eng- 
 lish liberty to look and to be as unhappy as they 
 please. Here, if a man was to look discontent- 
 ed or even grave, it would be suspected he was 
 plotting against the government. The people 
 are forced to be happy here, on pain of death. 
 I begin to think too much liberty is the worst 
 thing possible ."
 
 60 THE DAVENEI.S. 
 
 " Bun-ell," said Dudley, " You must not 
 turn the blessings of our free constitution into a 
 source of evil. I am inclined to think that 
 part of the cheerfulness of these people, arises 
 from the climate : a climate, which admits of 
 living so much out of doors, is more favourable 
 to cheerfulness than our moist and changeable 
 one." 
 
 " That," said Mr. Davenel, " would account 
 in part for the discontent and misery of the 
 peasantry in my country : where the labourer 
 is working half the year in rain or mist, against 
 which his poor cottage is no security, even 
 when he is within doors." 
 
 " My dear papa," said Frederica, " don't 
 say that. I am sure all round Glenlow the cot- 
 tages are very comfortable, and I have often 
 thought the labourers looked so cheerful at 
 night going to their supper of potatoes and 
 milk, by a blazing turf fire." 
 
 " I am afraid," said Dudley, " that only 
 proves what resident landholders might effect in
 
 THE DAVENELS. 61 
 
 Ireland but I must not forget Miss Davenel's 
 prohibition of the subject : which I suppose 
 continues in force, even at this distance. Don't 
 you think the air cold ?" said he, shortly after 
 and the Davenels took the hint, which they un- 
 derstood was in care of the invalid, and turned 
 to descend the hill. Arrived at Burrell's house, 
 he and Dudley stopped, and the Davenels, after 
 lamenting that they could not hope to see them 
 in the evening, rode on. 
 
 The sudden frosty coldness of the air, though 
 it was not four o'clock, contrasted so unpleasant- 
 ly with the fervid sun, which had oppressed the 
 riders at setting out, that Dudley began to fear 
 Burrell had chosen ill for his winter residence. 
 
 On entering their apartment, they found a 
 note, intimating that Lady Emily Wykeham 
 (Dudley's aunt) her husband and family, were 
 arrived at Nice to spend the winter. They came 
 for the health of Miss Danvers, Lady Emily's 
 daughter by her first marriage. A large family 
 besides of Wykehams of all ages, from sixteen
 
 62 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 down to seven, with a governess and numerous 
 domestics accompanied, and a large house was 
 to be taken immediately. 
 
 This arrival was very agreeable to Burrell and 
 Dudley. Lady Emily was very good-natured, 
 Mr. Wykeham was well liked by them, and 
 their cousins would help them to pass away their 
 evenings. 
 
 Dudley went to them after dinner, and soon 
 returned with some of the family to visit Bur- 
 rell. 
 
 The next day, Dudley thought Burrell had suf- 
 fered from the unexpected and unusual cold of 
 the day before ; and home and rest were insist- 
 ed on : but in compliance with BurrelKs request, 
 after calling on the YVykehams, he went to visit 
 the Davenels. He found only Mr. Daveneland 
 his daughters, and as Lady Hortensia was not 
 thereto scatter conversation by making speeches, 
 they were passing a very agreeable half hour. 
 Mr. Davenel was called out of the room before 
 Dudley's visit was ended, and Frederica sud-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 63 
 
 denly recollected the long-forgotten note-case, 
 and felt again the awkwardness, yet the necessi- 
 ty of restoring it. In as careless a tone as 
 she could assume, she said : " I have long had 
 some property of yours in my possession, but 
 have always forgot to give it you. I believe 
 you passed a day at and left this by mis- 
 take "and handing from her work-box the pre- 
 cious toy, she added, " the daughter of the 
 innkeeper was so honourable as to give us this, 
 under the idea that we were more likely to meet 
 its owner than she was." 
 
 Dudley received it, much surprised ; and said, 
 " But how did you did she, I mean know it 
 was mine ?" 
 
 " Your initials are inside," said Frederica 
 and she felt herself blush deeply, for the recol- 
 lection of all that was said at the inn came 
 across her mind : but Henrietta, who had no 
 feelings of the same nature, said, very coolly, " I 
 assure you the girl described you very acurate-
 
 64 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ly, and besides showed us the back of a letter 
 which your courier had left, having your address, 
 and so connecting all these circumstances toge- 
 ther, we were not so stupid as to be at a loss for 
 the owner." 
 
 " 1 am much honoured and obliged," said 
 Dudley, colouring in his turn, " by your taking 
 charge of it : however trifling in its value before, 
 (and I really was unconscious when or where 
 I lost it,) I shall certainly not hold it so lightly 
 in future : I feel too much indebted to it for 
 bringing me to your remembrance." The blush, 
 which had nearly subsided from Frederica's 
 cheek, now rushed back, but as rapidly retreat- 
 ing, left her paler than usual. She was uneasy 
 lest Dudley should perceive that she had taken 
 an interest in the affair as connected with him, 
 but whatever indications she might have betray- 
 ed, they were no more than sufficient to kindle 
 his admiration into hope, and leaving the house, 
 his feelings rose so rapidly to love, that he reach-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 65 
 
 ed home he scarcely knew how, bowed to one 
 or two persons he never saw before, and was on 
 the point of cutting Mr. Harewood, who how- 
 ever would not be put off. He stopped him, 
 " How is Mr. Villiers to-day ?" 
 
 " Why, indeed," began Dudley. 
 
 " Aye, I saw how it would be this climate 
 will never do for him. It is too penetrating, de- 
 pend upon it." 
 
 " If that is so certain, 11 said Dudley, his feel- 
 ings returning with their usual warmth towards 
 Burrell, " we must endeavour to remove him 
 yet that is difficult, travelling at this season." 
 
 " And then what will he do with his house," 
 said Harewood : " it will be very hard to dis- 
 pose of it at this season." 
 
 " We must only be at the loss," said Dudley, 
 " where health is concerned." 
 
 " Aye, to be sure," said Harewood ; " but it 
 would vex any one that those people, the owners, 
 should get such a sum ; and you pay high 
 and they would let it in a moment for them-
 
 66 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 selves, and so be twice paid ; so I'd have you 
 consider that." 
 
 And having suggested this choice of diffi- 
 culties, as he thought them, to Dudley, he suf- 
 fered him to proceed. Dudley, though pretty 
 decidedly in love with Frederica, would not 
 allow any consideration to interfere with his 
 care of his cousin's health, and he went home 
 resolved to propose his going on to Pisa or 
 Rome. But on arriving at home, he met the 
 physician leaving the house, and the answer to 
 his enquiries was, that Burrell had caught a 
 fresh cold, and that even if change of climate 
 was desirable, he must not travel until the pre- 
 sent indisposition was removed. Finding he 
 had acquiesced in the necessity of confinement 
 to his house for a few days, Dudley resolved to 
 try and make the restriction less disagreeable to 
 him, by collecting some friends at an early hour 
 in the evening ; for Burrell loved society at all 
 times ; and reading being now laborious to him, 
 he more particularly required to have company.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 67 
 
 Dudley quickly arranged with the Wykehams, 
 that as many of them as were not going to the 
 opera, should visit Burrell from seven to nine. 
 Lady Emily was obliged to stay at home with 
 Miss Danvers, who was fatigued, but they both 
 hoped to be of the party the following evening. 
 
 Lady Hortensia, in the meantime, was be- 
 ginning to have strong hopes that Dudley's 
 attentions to Frederica had more of meaning 
 than a common observer would perceive : and 
 her curiosity to investigate his pretensions to 
 the dukedom was at a painful height. To see 
 that "golden round" encircling the brows of 
 either of her daughters, would be the highest 
 bliss of which she could form an idea, though 
 her approbation of the match by no means 
 hung upon that chance. She began to consider 
 who amongst her acquaintances was likely to 
 have the book which was to clear up her doubts, 
 but it did not suit her usual style of proceeding 
 to make a direct enquiry ; that might lead to 
 inferences she wished to avoid, and she devised
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 a mode of borrowing the Peerage, which would 
 not lay her open to suspicions of her motives. 
 
 On the morning that Dudley visited alone at 
 the Davenels, she had found it easy to discourage 
 the Miss Davenels from going with her to pay 
 visits. 
 
 " I'll leave your names, you know it is not 
 likely they will be at home." 
 
 This was a great relief, as, in general, she 
 required their attendance, and without enquiring 
 her reasons, they gladly took the permission to 
 stay at home. Lady Hortensia had heard of 
 the arrival of Lady Emily Wykeham, but it was 
 too soon to call on her. Some previous intima- 
 tion through the young men would, she thought, 
 be a necessary introduction. She called, unsuc- 
 cessfully, on several families : no one was at 
 home. At length, she was admitted at Mrs. 
 Harewood's. After the usual affectionate en- 
 quiries as to her progress to health, and having 
 shaken her head at the climate for which so 
 many had come to Nice, she talked of books,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 69 
 
 and the difficulties of procuring English books : 
 and then followed a polite offer from Mrs. Hare- 
 wood of any in her collection, and Lady Hor- 
 tensia would just take the liberty of examining. 
 She did, and chose one : but after all her search, 
 the precious Peerage was not amongst them. 
 " Indeed, what should she want of it?" thought 
 Lady Hortensia, as she went down stairs disap- 
 pointed. At her own door, she met young 
 Norton, who had been amusing himself, and, 
 as he thought, the Miss Davenels, by various 
 stories of Mr. Harewood's cleverness in making 
 bargains ; in which art, Mr. Harewood had 
 made him, if not a proficient, at least a very 
 willing disciple. As he assisted Lady Hortensia 
 from her carriage, he said : " Do you know the 
 Wykehams, Lady Hortensia ?" 
 
 " No : but I shall know them, I hope." 
 " Then, 1 assure you, you'll find them very 
 nice people, and much to be liked. How many 
 carriages do you suppose they had travelling 
 from Paris here?"
 
 70 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " I don't know how many they are in family." 
 " Only guess : upon my honour they had 
 three besides a fourgon that made twelve and 
 three, that was fifteen horses all the way from 
 Paris ; what a pretty sum it must have cost 
 them ! But Mr. Harewood says they might 
 have sent half the servants by the Diligence, 
 
 and that would have saved ." 
 
 But Lady Hortensia would not wait on the 
 stairs to hear a calculation of the saving which 
 would have accrued, and wishing him good 
 morning, she entered the drawing-room. She 
 then heard of Dudley"^ visit, and his having 
 said that Lady Emily Wykeham wished to be 
 acquainted with her, and she settled to visit 
 her the next day. Mr. Davenel was not at 
 home, but on returning, it proved that he 
 had gone with Dudley to visit them, and 
 liked them very much. He had also called on 
 Burrell, who had mentioned that his cousins 
 intended to keep him at home in the even- 
 ings, by coming to sit with him, and that the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 71 
 
 next evening Lady Emily and Miss Danvers 
 would come, and he hoped all the Davenels 
 would honour him and Dudley, by taking tea 
 with them. 
 
 Mr. Davenel could not refuse any request of 
 the amiable invalid, who lamented, in strong 
 terms, that he was condemned to such excessive 
 care of himself, as to be prevented from going 
 in the evenings, as formerly, to Lady Horten- 
 sia's. Lady Hortensia at once declared her 
 readiness to beguile the hours of confinement to 
 poor Villiers ; and it cannot be supposed that 
 the young ladies felt any reluctance. They 
 were all engaged to a ball at the Marchioness of 
 Beaconsfield's, but they would dress early, and 
 go to Burrell's in their way thither. 
 
 But Lady Hortensia would visit Lady Emily 
 in the morning. The Wykehams were already 
 established in a good house, not far from the 
 Croix de Marbre that being a matter quickly 
 arranged at Nice ; and the next day Lady Hor- 
 tensia and the Miss Davenels went to pay 
 them their first visit. Lady Emily was a person
 
 72 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of considerable pretensions to beauty, though at 
 the age of forty-five, and possessing all the un- 
 calculating goodness of heart which Lady Hor- 
 tcnsia aimed at seeming to possess. Her eldest 
 daughter, Miss Danvers, was not in any respect 
 like her She had been taught, or disposed to 
 think herself ill-used by her mother's second 
 marriage ; though Mr. Wykehara's large for- 
 tune and good character made it a measure equal- 
 ly pendent and agreeable : but Miss Danvers, 
 who was said to inherit some of the peevish dis- 
 content which her father had possessed, would 
 see nothing but what was vexatious in the 
 match. Though but ten years old when it 
 took place, the feeling had been so carefully 
 nourished in her mind, that every succeeding 
 child of Lady Emily she considered as a fresh 
 invader of her rights. She became, therefore, 
 very anxious as she grew up, to establish for 
 herself rights which could not be injured by 
 them : but whether her anxiety on the subject 
 defeated its own purposes, or what other cause 
 retarded hitherto the happy event, it would be
 
 THE DAVENELS. 73 
 
 hard to say, but she was still, at the age of 
 twenty-six, an inmate of her mother's house, 
 and a sharer with her other children of her care 
 and affection, for Lady Emily certainly never 
 betrayed any diminution of regard, though the 
 amiable temper of her second daughter, Miss 
 Wykeham, now just sixteen, deserved, and pro- 
 bably inspired some preference. Miss Dan- 
 vers's health was latterly not good, and Nice 
 being recommended, the whole family set out 
 from Paris, where they had intended passing 
 the winter. But Miss Danvers, though she 
 experienced the most tender care, would still 
 lev el sarcasms against second marriages, as ab- 
 sorbing those affections which were due to the 
 offspring of the first. Miss Wykeham was 
 pretty and gentle ; and two sisters, younger than 
 her, and a stout boy of nine, and another of 
 seven, made what is called a fine family. 
 
 Lady Emily, and Lady Hortensia, the Miss 
 Davenels, Miss Danvers, and Miss Wykeham, 
 had a great deal to say on this their first meet- 
 
 VOL II. E
 
 74 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 ing. Their several journeys were discussed : 
 one could speak of Paris the other of the 
 Rhine : fashions were offered, views promised ; 
 books were not forgotten. Lady Hortensia, 
 who really never read, was eloquent in deploring 
 the difficulty of procuring English books : but 
 the Wykehams had none worth offering none 
 but nursery or school-books. They were so 
 much encumbered with all the materiel of edu- 
 cation, that for general literature, they were 
 obliged to trust to the chance of finding libraries 
 wherever they went. While this sort of chat 
 was going on, Lady Hortensia, whose light- 
 blue eyes searched, without seeming to do so, 
 saw, or thought she saw, amidst a pile of maps, 
 guides and portfolio*, Sam's peerage. Much 
 did she wish for it; but it would seem so odd 
 to ask for it. " Conscience makes cowards of 
 us all." She thought of every possible excuse : 
 she asked, was that Mary Anne Starke? point- 
 ing to a book just under it. No : that was a 
 book of Henry Wykehams's, and the boy civilly
 
 THE DAVENELS. 75 
 
 brought it to her, and asked would she like to 
 read it. It was a compendium of natural history, 
 and with very pretty engravings in it. She 
 thanked the dear boy in the most maternal 
 manner, and then resolved to trust to a note 
 neatly penned for procuring the book of fate. 
 
 Burrell's bad health was spoken of, and un- 
 affectedly deplored by Lady Emily, who said 
 how much obliged he felt for the kindness he 
 had received from the Davenel family ; and 
 then, it being settled that they must all try to 
 keep up the poor fellow's spirits, and that they 
 were to meet in the evening in his apartment, 
 the Davenels took their leave. 
 
 Lady Emily and Miss Wykeham were quite 
 surprised at the beauty and elegance of the 
 Miss Davenels, and Lady Hortensia was pro- 
 nounced to be a most charming woman ; but 
 Frederica's beauty and agreeability were most 
 commented on, and they were in the middle of 
 an euldgium on her when Dudley walked into 
 the room. It was immediately, " Why, Dudley, 
 
 E 2
 
 76 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 you never said how very handsome and charm- 
 ing those Miss Davenels were." 
 
 " Did not I? I thought as Burrell said so 
 much, that there was no occasion. Over-praise 
 is sure to cause disappointment." 
 
 " It would be difficult to over-praise them," 
 said Miss Wykeham. 
 
 " And which do you like best ?" said he care- 
 lessly. 
 
 " The youngest," was answered by both mo- 
 ther and daughter. 
 
 " And which do you like best, Charlotte ?" said 
 Dudley, turning to Miss Danvers. 
 
 " My opinion goes for nothing, you know/" 1 
 said she. 
 
 Lady Emily's only fault was that of living 
 too much in fear of her eldest daughter, who 
 so constantly insinuated that she had been a 
 sufferer by her mother's marriage, that Lady 
 Emily fancied she could never do enough to 
 remove the impression : though, knowing it to 
 be a false one, she should have treated it with
 
 THE DAVENELS. 77 
 
 severity. She now looked imploringly at her, 
 and said, " Indeed, Charlotte, that is far from 
 being the case. There are few persons whose 
 judgment I would sooner rely on than on 
 yours." 
 
 " There are a few, however," said Miss 
 Danvers ; as if she would have said all the 
 family. 
 
 " Then, my fair cousin, I am to infer," said 
 Dudley, " that you do not agree in what my 
 aunt and Clementina have said of the Miss 
 Davenels?" 
 
 " Infer what you please," said she ; for his 
 friendly manner and the word cousin were far 
 from having the conciliatory effect he intended 
 they should : Miss Danvers had formerly wished 
 him a little more than kin, and as she had a 
 good fortune, she was for some years not with- 
 out hope. It was during that period that she 
 worked for him the little note-case of which so 
 much mention has been made : but as the 
 pledge was unsolicited by him, he received and
 
 78 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 valued it merely as a lady-like token of friendly 
 regard ; and when he lost it, he scarcely be- 
 stowed a thought on it ; and the mode by which 
 he recovered it, gave it a charm in his eyes 
 which it never had before. He continued to 
 treat her with the easy friendly manner of a 
 brother, such as he practised towards all his 
 cousins, and she had latterly given up the pro- 
 ject, though she never ceased to resent its 
 failure. Though an only child, she had but 
 about 30,000/. j her father's estate having been 
 entailed on the next male heir, charged with a 
 considerable jointure to Lady Emily. This en- 
 tail too, though it could not be avoided, she 
 seemed to think a just subject of complaint, and 
 used often to say how hard the laws of England 
 were to women on the score of property. " Had 
 I been born a son," she used to say, " I should 
 now have the enjoyment of 7000/. a year, instead 
 of a poor 30,000/." This 30,000/. would have 
 been considered by most girls as an ample for- 
 tune ; but she was discontented on the same
 
 THE DAVENELS. 79 
 
 ground that Haman was wroth : a comparison 
 so obvious that it has served all the writers of 
 histories, whether true or false, from his day 
 to the present. 
 
 " I hope," said Dudley, " you will be able to 
 come this evening to our the" 
 
 Miss Danvers could not hope by declining to 
 vex any one so much as herself, except perhaps 
 Lady Emily ; but she was not always disposed 
 to make sacrifices even for this laudable pur- 
 pose ; and she consented the more readily, as 
 she was under restrictions in her hours, which 
 would prevent her partaking of later amuse- 
 ments.
 
 80 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 And I forsooth in love I 
 
 I that have been Lore'* whip ! 
 
 A domineering pedant o'er the boy ! SHAKIHARE. 
 
 THE two families of Davenel and Wykehara met 
 at BurreH's soon after seven; and the gaiety 
 that reigned there was of that moderate kind 
 suited to the spirits of the invalid. Burrell was 
 very happy too lively ; but the hectic bloom 
 on his cheek, and the brilliance of his sunk eye, 
 gave, to all who were conversant in such symp- 
 toms, a melancholy presage of early dissolution. 
 He proposed dancing, and when his doing so 
 was over-ruled, he begged at least that a qua- 
 drille might be performed, that he might have
 
 THE DAVENELS. 81 
 
 the pleasure of seeing the Miss Davenels dance. 
 A piano- forte was in the room, on which Lady 
 Hortensia proposed to be the performer ; and 
 the two Miss Davenels, Miss Danvers, Miss 
 Wykeham, and a younger sister, who though 
 not going out was allowed to join this party, 
 stood up with Dudley, Mr. Norton, (who had 
 been at the Wykehams in the morning and was 
 invited,) and Henry Wykeham. This familiar 
 party was most favourable to the display of 
 Frederica's charming qualities ; her kind heart 
 dictated the most prompt compliance with every 
 wish of the invalid's, and she never had seemed 
 in Dudley's eyes so captivating. The compli- 
 ments she received on her dancing would in 
 more crowded scenes have embarrassed her, but 
 she was inspired with a wish to please from the 
 purest benevolence, and she gave herself up to 
 the pleasing excitement with the grace of a 
 nymph. Her manner was involuntarily different 
 with the two cousins : with Burrell it was the 
 frankness of an amiable sister ; but though her 
 
 E 5
 
 82 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 original reserve and fear of Dudley had worn 
 off, she still preserved towards him that retenue 
 which to a man of the world is more flattering 
 than too great ease. Dudley would not have 
 been deceived as Mardyn was by a careless 
 good-humoured manner towards himself. Mr. 
 Davenel was in delight, and could hardly refrain 
 from calling on eveiy one in the room to join in 
 praise of Frederica. Lady Hortensia too was 
 pleased ; but she considered all those graces as 
 the means, not the end ; and she devised several 
 plans for bringing the young people together in 
 this familiar manner. 
 
 Burrell could hardly bear to part with his 
 nimables convives as he called them, and half 
 an hour beyond the stipulated time was accorded 
 him ; after which the party went to the ball at 
 Lady Beaconsfield's. When Burrell retired for 
 the night, Dudley followed to the ball, and soon 
 engaged Frederica to dance. She was greatly 
 admired by the company in general ; but Dud- 
 ley was pleased to see that the sportive gaiety
 
 THE DAVENELS. 83 
 
 of her manner at Burrell's was laid aside for the 
 quiet dignified deportment due to a full assembly. 
 She will not, thought he, be intoxicated by the 
 admiration of a crowd ; her highest enjoyment 
 is to please in domestic life. Men who never 
 seem to have known life but in a round of 
 amusements, still choose to fancy scenes of re- 
 tirement with the woman they love, in which 
 she shall aim at pleasing them, and them alone. 
 Miss Danvers could not go to the ball, a cir- 
 cumstance she deplored very much, though she 
 never seemed to enjoy greatly any scene of 
 amusement ; but some people are not made for 
 enjoyment, and poor Miss Danvers was of that 
 number. 
 
 The native society at Nice is very limited, and 
 with a few lofty exceptions is not composed of 
 persons of consequence even in their own coun- 
 try, and still less of persons distinguished by 
 education or accomplishments ; the highest 
 society there consisting of a few military or 
 official people, placed by his Sardinian majesty
 
 84 TH-E DAVENELS. 
 
 in situations of small trust or emolument, but 
 with power to be insolent and oppressive to 
 all who are rendered, by whatever means, ob- 
 noxious to the government, as they style them- 
 selves. The greater number of those persons 
 were of course at the ball at Lady Beaconsfield's, 
 as well as some Russians and Germans, of that 
 dubious rank which the title of Prince confers, 
 but which sounded high and mighty, and were 
 addressed as leurs Altesses : though, in fact, they 
 looked up to the English, who with their usual 
 pride, national and individual, felt as if they 
 monopolized all the rank, riches, wisdom, pro- 
 bity and fashion of the place ; always designating 
 the people of the country in which themselves 
 are strangers as foreigners. 
 
 " Who is that?" said Miss Davenel to Norton, 
 pointing to a young lady with dark piercing eyes 
 and sallow complexion, whose tournure, whether 
 good or bad, was certainly not English. 
 
 " I don't know," said Norton, " one of those 
 foreigners."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 85 
 
 " Is she German or French?" 
 
 " I believe she is of this place, I have seen 
 her here ever since I came." 
 
 Miss Davenel had been long enough abroad 
 to feel the absurdity of calling people in their 
 own country foreigners ; and she said laughing, 
 " I think we are the foreigners here." 
 
 " But we make ourselves at home every 
 where," said Norton. " What amusements 
 could these people have without us ? They 
 could not even support a theatre. I suppose 
 there are English families here who spend more 
 in one month, than the government, as it calls 
 itself, does in six." 
 
 " They have enjoyments," said Mr. Davenel, 
 " in this country at a small expence, which 
 cannot be procured in England for any money ; 
 and, first, they bring with them a disposition to 
 be pleased, which would be badly exchanged 
 for all the wealth in England." 
 
 " How can we be sure," said Mr. Harewood, 
 " that they are better pleased than we are?"
 
 86 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 For Miss Davenel and Norton were now gone to 
 join the dancers, leaving the two gentlemen to 
 discuss a point, which never can be settled, 
 namely, the positive and relative happiness of 
 nations; for what is happiness to one, would 
 not seem happiness to another, if an exchange 
 could be effected in toto. John Bull would lose 
 even what spirits he has, if he found himself 
 suddenly obliged to practise the strict economy 
 of a light-hearted Italian peasant or artisan, 
 with his pollenta and his maccaroni, his olives 
 and his sour wine ; while an Italian would feel 
 oppressed by the coal fires, foggy air, and strong 
 beer of England. 
 
 But if Frederica's spirits were chastened, 
 under the observation of a crowded ball-room, 
 Dudley's rose to an unusual pitch. He could 
 not refrain from some flattering remarks, and 
 she was flattered. In short, they had both 
 made considerable progress towards that stage 
 of liking, which is called being desperately in 
 love.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 87 
 
 Before separating for the night, it was settled 
 that the Miss Davenels and Mr. Davenel should 
 accompany Burrell, the next day, in a little ex- 
 cursion on the water, riding being too fatiguing, 
 and boating, during the fine part of the day, 
 being permitted. Lady Hortensia hated the 
 water, and Mr. Davenel would take care of the 
 girls. Burrell was not sorry his cousin Char- 
 lotte disliked boating, as she always depressed 
 him; but Miss Wykeham would go, and the 
 hour would happily interfere with some of the 
 teachers, who were engaged for the edification 
 of the rest of the family. He protested against 
 any of the Harewood party. There was no 
 making an exception in favour of Mrs. Hare- 
 wood ; and as for her husband and Norton, he 
 would not hear of them : " They would prove 
 to me, incontestibly," said he, " that I ought 
 to have got the boat for a frank less, and that 
 two boatmen could have done the work of four. 
 Mr. Davenel I like, and those dear girls ; and
 
 88 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Clementina will be so soothing, and I can go to 
 sleep, and you, Dudley, can make love." 
 
 " I make love !" said Dudley. 
 
 " Well, you shan't then make love : but, 
 perhaps, it may be expected from one of us, and 
 I must be excused ; but I would not put you 
 out of your way, Dudley, on any account," said 
 he, smiling. 
 
 The day proved delicious ; and the party, well 
 guarded against all probable changes of atmo- 
 sphere, being gone, Lady Hortensia instantly 
 v. rote and dispatched the following note : 
 
 " My dear Madam, 
 
 " I am writing a letter.on business to 
 England, and I am not sure of the address of a 
 person, whose name must, I think, be in the 
 Peerage. Will you excuse my requesting you 
 to lend it to me for a few minutes ; if, as I 
 think, I saw it at your house. Mr. Davenel 
 and my girls are gone out for the morning with
 
 THE DAVENELS. 89 
 
 Mr. Burrell, and I have no means of knowing 
 how to direct my letter in time, for a courier 
 who leaves Nice in an hour. 
 
 " Believe me, most truly, 
 
 " Your Ladyship's, &c. 
 
 " H. DAVENEL." 
 " To the Lady Emily Wykeham," 
 
 There was nothing in this note which had 
 not its foundation in truth : every thing, in 
 fact, was true, but the motive ; not that truth, 
 in the abstract, was any particular favourite 
 with Lady Hortensia, but she had that sense of 
 honour, which is keenly alive to the disgrace of 
 being found out. She prided herself, therefore, 
 that if the note should lie open on Lady Emily's 
 table, for the benefit of all who might come in, 
 she could stick to the letter of it, and be safe 
 from detection. O, for Mrs. Mardyn's vulgar 
 hardihood of soul ! how little she would have 
 regarded such minute possibilities. The Peer- 
 age, neatly packed in paper, was returned by
 
 90 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Lady Hortensia's messenger ; and opening it, 
 and beginning at St. Alban's, she had not far to 
 go ere she found St. Evremond, English duke, 
 forming a voluminous page in the English 
 peerage. 
 
 ST. EVREMOND, ENGLISH DUKE. 
 
 VILLIERS. 
 
 3rd Duke or St. Evremond 1743 ; 6th Earl Villien 1630 ; Baron and 
 Vlicoont Villien 1021. 
 
 ADOLPHVS-DUDLEY, b. 11 Jan. 1760, sue. 15 March 1799. 
 
 DUCHESS DOWAGER-STEPMOTHER. 
 
 Lady Adelaide-Bellasyse, dau. and heiress of Henry, 4th and 
 
 last Marquess Bellasyse, 2nd wife and widow of 
 Adolphus, 2nd Duke, b. 10 NOT. 1731, m. Sndly 1771, f 1799. 
 
 BROTHERS and SISTERS. 
 
 Iiue of 
 AHOLPHUS, 2nd Duke, 
 
 by 1st m. 1759, with 
 
 Georgians, dan. of Lord Henry Fitxlierbert, 
 of St K . . 
 
 I'Lord George, b. 6 Aug. 1761, f 5 Jan. 1812, having m. 9 
 
 March 1802, 
 
 Lady Elizabeth Burrell, 7th dau. of John, 1st Earl of Barstel- 
 bane, f 1827.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 91 
 
 Issue: 
 George Bnrrell, b. 1 Feb. 1804. 
 
 2 Lord Henry, b. 14 Sept. 1762, f an infant. 
 
 3 Lady Augusta, b. 18 June 1763, f 1 May 1800. 
 
 4 Lady Mary, b. 9 July 1764, Countess of Dalcaral. 
 
 5 Lady Louisa, (m. 1st Marcus, Viscount Holburne, which 
 
 m. was dissolved 1790,) Sndly Robert Dashwood, Esq. 
 
 6 Lord Edward, f 18 June 1815, at Waterloo. 
 
 7 Lady Georgiana, Marchioness of Belmont. 
 
 8 Lord Augustus, b. 1768, f 1807, having m. 1794, 
 
 Emilia, dau. of John Murray Maynard, Esq., whose m. 
 with Sir Roger Williams was dissolved 1794. 
 
 9 Lady Mellicent, Duchess of St. Ives. 
 10 Lady Dorothea, b. 1 May, 1770. 
 
 HALF-BROTHERS and SISTERS. 
 
 Issue of 
 ADOLPHUS, 2nd Duke, 
 
 by 2nd m. 
 
 1 Lady Adelaide, b. 18 July 1772, Countess of Planestown. 
 
 2 Lady Charlotte, b. 12 Aug. 1773, m. in Scotland, 1 Feb. and 
 
 in London, 3 Aug. 1790, 
 
 Lord Albert Marley, 10th son of John, 1st Marquess of 
 Hartmore. 
 
 3 Lady Emily, b. 9 Oct. 1774, m. 1st 1800, William Gulston 
 
 Danvers, f 1807, Sndly 1809, 
 Honble. Monkton Wykeham. See Lord Mountdangan. 
 
 4 Lord Henry, b. 1 Feb. 1776, f 1819, having m. 1799. 
 Honble. Araminta, 9th dau. of James, 8th Lord Gladstanes 
 
 Issue : 
 
 1 Dudley-Bellasyse, b. 17 March 1801. 
 
 2 Adelaide, b. 9 June 1802, Viscountess St. Edmonds. 
 
 3 Araminta, b. 4 July 1804, m. 1824, 
 
 George Dartmont, Esq. (See Lord D'Esterre.) 
 
 4 Adolphus-Henry, b. 15 April 1807.
 
 92 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 f> Lord Almeric, b. 18 July 1777, m. 2ndly, 12 June 1815, 
 Honble. Caroline Amelia, llth dau. of George, 2nd Lord 
 
 Mordaunt. 
 
 Lne 
 
 by lit m. 17 March 1805, with 
 Sophia-Clarimla, 4th dau. of Stanhope Vering- 
 
 ham, EM). 
 1 Mary, b. 7 June 1806. 
 
 2 Sophia, b. 10 July 1807. 
 
 3 Talavera- Elizabeth, b. 1 Jan. 1809. 
 
 4 Janet-Beatrice, b. 3 Feb. 1800. 
 
 5 George-Canning, b. 16 April 1811. 
 
 6 Dudley, b. 9 June 1812. 
 
 7 Marianne, b. 3 Jane 1813. 
 
 by 2nd m. 
 
 8 Carol ine-Georgiana, b. Oct. 1816. 
 
 9 Annabel-Augusta-Geraldine, b. 6 March 1818. 
 
 10 Adolphtna-Sara-Filiberta, b. 10 June 1819. 
 
 11 Mcliora-Georgiana Felicia-Emily, b. 16 Aug. 1820. 
 
 12 Arthurina Wellington, b. 1 May 1822. 
 
 6 Lord Emelius, b. 4 Nov. 1778, m. 18 May 1807, 
 
 Mdlle. Gabrielle-Amelie, dau. of the Marquess de Montre- 
 mont. 
 
 Issue: 
 
 1 Emillui Theodore, b. 1809. 
 X Rotalie-Gabrielle-Anna, b. 1811. 
 3 Dorothee Clementine, b. 3 May 1816. 
 
 FIRST COLLATERAL BRANCH, 
 (not in descent from the dukedom,) 
 by m. 1701 of ARTHUR, 3rd Earl, with 
 Theodora, dan. of Henry Graves, Esq. 
 
 Honble. James, b. 1703, f 1788, having m. 1740. 
 
 Elizabeth -Bridget, dau. of John Smytheson, Esq. dec. 1790. 
 
 btae: 
 
 Jamet-John, b. 1741, t 1799, having m. 1770. 
 
 Mary Anderlechtia, 10th dau. of George Graham, Esq.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 93 
 
 ISSUE : 
 
 1 Graham- John, b. 1771, m. 1800, 
 
 Clarissa -Dorothy, dau. of Fitzwilliam Bridgeman, Esq. 
 
 Issue : 
 
 1 Mr , b. 1802, t 1803. 
 
 2 Mr , b. and t 1803. 
 
 3 Miss , b. 1803, t 1809. 
 
 4 Mr. , b. 1804. 
 
 5 Miss , b. 1809. 
 
 2 Anderlechtia, b. 1772, m. 1796, 
 James-Augustus-Williamson, Esq. 
 
 3 Sacheverellina-Bridget, b. 1773. 
 
 4 Vera-Rachel, b. 1774, m. 1799. 
 Andrew- Anthony Me Cartliy, Esq. 
 
 5 Grahamina-Deborah, b. 1775. 
 
 6 Marcius- Archibald, b. 1776, m. 1800. 
 Wilhelmina-Joanna, dau. of Augustus Williamson, Esq. 
 
 Issue: 
 
 1 Marcins-Angnstus, b. 1802. 
 
 2 Nicholas-Arthur, b. 1803. 
 
 3 Simeona, b. 1804. 
 
 7 Anne-Elizabeth, b 1778. 
 
 8 Janet, b. 1779. 
 
 9 James- Alexander, b. 1780, m. 1806, 
 , dau. of 
 
 Issue : 
 
 1 Alexandrina-Rachel, b. 1807. 
 
 2 James-Archibald, b. 1808. 
 
 3 Mr , b. 1809. 
 
 4 Misa b. 1800. 
 
 5 Mr , b. 1811. 
 
 6 Elioor-Malvina, b. 1816. 
 
 SECOND COLLATERAL BRANCH.
 
 94 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Lady Hortensia could read no longer. Those 
 Misters and Misses names unknown were not 
 interesting. The descendants of the earldom 
 might be very respectable, but collateral branches 
 were unimportant. She was satisfied, however, 
 with Dudley's affinity to half the house of Lords. 
 She was amazed at the extent of his connexions. 
 " Not many elopements either, for an English 
 peerage !" Her heart was not hard, though its 
 nobler feelings were checked, or warped by 
 too great love of this world, and the things of 
 this world ; and she could not fail to be struck 
 with the disinterested care and affection which 
 Dudley showed his cousin ; nor did a doubt of 
 his sincerity arise in her mind. There was no 
 display of concern or anxiety in Dudley : for so 
 genuine was his regard for Burrell, that it never 
 crossed his mind that he could be suspected of 
 a selfish view in that quarter. Lady Hortensia 
 having hastily copied, for her own more dili- 
 gent study, the ample page, containing the St. 
 Evremond-titles and numerous family, she re-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 95 
 
 turned the book immediately to Lady Emily, 
 with her compliments and thanks. 
 
 The boating was prosperous. Burrell, as he 
 reclined under a temporary contrivance, by way 
 of awning, to protect him from the sun, seemed 
 to derive much tranquil pleasure, and occa- 
 sionally took a part in the conversation. But 
 he was most amused by hearing the rest of the 
 party talk, and he purposely led Dudley to de- 
 scribe some scenes and adventures in Spain 
 and this, by degrees, brought on an account 
 from Dudley, of the scene at Miss Carmichael's, 
 in which Frederica's conversing in Spanish with 
 Don Perez had given so much offence. It ap- 
 peared that not one of the amiable remarks in 
 which the young ladies, who were listening, in- 
 dulged, was lost upon Dudley. Burrell was 
 highly amused. " What diligence you ladies 
 have," said he : " to acquire Spanish you must 
 have studied hard ; but Dudley learned what 
 lie knows by conversing with the natives, which 
 implied no industry in fact, it was while he
 
 96 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 was pre-eminently idle; and he found such 
 willing teachers in the black-eyed nuns at the 
 convent gates." 
 
 " You are very obliging," said Dudley : " can 
 you not compliment Miss Frederica, without 
 making me cut such a deplorable figure ; but, I 
 assure you, my principal teacher was an old 
 priest, during six weeks that I spent at Seville. 
 The rest of my time I was in continual move- 
 ment, and except through the muleteers, or au- 
 bergisters, I had no opportunities of learning 
 the language." 
 
 From the language, the conversation fell upon 
 the climate of Spain ; and Burrell suddenly said, 
 " The moment I shake off this cold I will go to 
 Spain; that is , M looking at Dudley. 
 
 " If I go as interpreter," said Dudley: "with 
 all my heart ; I shall be glad to see Spain 
 again." 
 
 " No : that would be too hard," said Bur- 
 rell. " I think I'll have an old priest." 
 
 " You are getting well already, I perceive,"
 
 THE DAVENELS. 97 
 
 said Dudley, " by this symptom of insubordi- 
 nation. You evidently want to shake of my 
 yoke, but I'll not suffer it." 
 
 " I must indeed go somewhere," said Burrell, 
 with the restlessness of disease upon him ; " for 
 this place does not agree with me. I could ride 
 when I first came here." 
 
 " And we will resume our rides together," 
 said Mr. Davenel, "as soon as you have reco- 
 vered from this attack." 
 
 " I shall not shake it off completely, I fear, 
 while I remain here. And yet, where I have so 
 many kind friends, it would be, perhaps, foolish 
 to leave it, or useless.'" 1 
 
 " Nothing is foolish," said Dudley, " where 
 health is concerned, and especially if undertaken 
 by two such wise persons as you and I, Burrell. 
 Is that an English ship ?" glad to change the 
 subject of conversation. 
 
 " It is a frigate, I think," said Mr. Davenel. 
 " How beautifully she sweeps over the ocean ! 
 how like the queen of it !"
 
 98 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Conjectures of her rate, her captain, her des- 
 tination, occupied the party for some time, until 
 they saw her turn into Villefranche. Burrell 
 was anxious to ride there the next day, but 
 Dudley discouraged him. " You may be sure 
 some of the officers will come on shore, and 
 mount every animal they can find, and gallop, 
 in spite of wind or tide, into Nice to-morrow, 
 and we shall hear all about it. However, we 
 could go in a carriage, if you like ; but wait 
 until to-morrow, before you decide." 
 
 The Miss Davenels and Miss Wykeham ex- 
 pressed a wish to ride to Villefranche also, and 
 Mr. Davenel undertook to escort them. " And 
 I am sure my sister Charlotte would like to ride 
 also," said Miss Wykeham. 
 
 " Dudley, you must join the riding party," 
 said Burrell : " Mr. Davenel cannot take care 
 of so many ladies." 
 
 Mr. Davenel, though he seldom ventured to 
 make arrangements for Lady Hortensia, said he 
 \*as sure she would be happy to take Burrell in
 
 THE DAVENELS. 99 
 
 her carriage, and his offer was cordially ac- 
 cepted. 
 
 The sudden swelling of the sea now gave in- 
 dication of a distant storm : the waves rose, and 
 fell with a weight and force which seemed wholly 
 unprovoked, for there was not a breath of wind, 
 but which might be traced to the influence of the 
 dark atmosphere in the horizon. 
 
 " There is a storm somewhere," said Mr. Da- 
 venel, " and we had better not go to meet it." 
 
 The boatmen saw no danger of encountering 
 it ; but as the motion of the boat became more 
 rough than was generally agreeable, they turned 
 towards the land. Burrell wished to prolong the 
 excursion. " Such a party," said he, " is sel- 
 dom to be found collected in this manner. John- 
 son's post-chaise is not to be compared to it. 
 We are more secure here from interruption, and 
 he never could have had so many or such agree- 
 able friends." 
 
 " I think we must not risk the loss of a boat- 
 full of agreeable friends," said Dudley, " in 
 
 F2
 
 100 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 order to prolong our pleasure. I remember, the 
 first time I was at Rome, meeting the celebrated 
 
 S i. He was relating, with that tenderness 
 
 of heart for which he is distinguished, the un- 
 happy fate of twenty persons who had all 
 perished in a boat, within a short distance of 
 the shore, and in view of a number of spectators, 
 who had no means of rendering assistance. 
 
 "' Pray,' said Madame J me B p te, 
 
 who happened to be present, ' were they all 
 agreeable people?' 
 
 " ' Really I never asked,' said S i. 
 
 " ' Were they all genteel people ?' said she 
 again. 
 
 " ' Do you suppose/ said he, ' that none 
 have lives to lose, or souls to be saved, but gen- 
 teel or agreeable people?' " 
 
 " There are many, I fear, who have no sym- 
 pathy for any other,"" said Mr. Davenel. 
 
 They were now at the shore ! and Frederica, 
 who was the first out of the boat, walked up the 
 beach. She was accosted by a fine looking man,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 101 
 
 apparently not more than thirty years of age, 
 who with difficulty supported his athletic frame 
 on crutches ; one leg having been cut off consi- 
 derably above the knee. He asked'courteously 
 for charity. The man's appearance and manner 
 interested her ; and while she looked for some 
 money to give him, she enquired into the cause 
 of his misfortune. He told her, in a few words, 
 that he had been a mason, and while working 
 at his trade, fell from a scaffolding, and his leg 
 was so much shattered, it was necessary to have 
 it cut off to save his life : et me voila un meu- 
 diant pour la vie. 
 
 Frederica was greatly touched by the mild 
 and submissive tone in which he uttered these 
 words; and though she had just given him one 
 piece of money, she yielded to the compassion 
 he inspired, and gave him a second. The Hare- 
 woods and Norton were coming up at the time, 
 and saw the transaction, which Mr. Harewood 
 could not approve of; and with his usual zeal 
 for saving his neighbour's money as well as his
 
 102 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 own, he said : " Good God ! Miss Davenel, you 
 don't know what you are doing ; he may be an 
 impostor :" then turning to the cripple, he said, 
 " Mon ami la demoiselle s'est trompee;" and as 
 the man held out his hand with the two pieces 
 of money, Mr. Harewood absolutely took one 
 of them, and putting it into Frederica's hand, 
 said, " he is too well off to get half : only think, 
 if every one gave him but the quarter, what a 
 fortune he would make in a short time." 
 
 Frederica, though a little annoyed, could not 
 help laughing ; and the rest of the party having 
 reached her time enough to see the money re- 
 stored, could not tell what to make of it. The 
 poor man looked as if he did not comprehend 
 it; but made no objection, and bowing, was 
 going away, when Frederica, whispering some- 
 thing to Mr. Davenel, he followed, and directed 
 him to call in the evening at his house : where 
 it cannot be doubted that ample amends were 
 made to him for the temporary disappointment. 
 Frederica would not dispute with Mr. Harewood,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 103 
 
 nor say anything to detain Burrell, who was 
 fatigued, and to whom Dudley gave his arm to 
 lead him to the carriage, which was in waiting. 
 " I must not be at home again to-night, I 
 fear," said Burrell, as he kissed hands to the 
 ladies; and Dudley, looking at them signifi- 
 cantly, shook his head.
 
 104 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 And oh ! the little world within ! 
 
 The well-reev'd gun*, the netted canopy, 
 
 The h..ars< command, the busy -humming din, 
 
 When, at a word, the topi are raann'd on high. BYRON. 
 
 EARLY the next morning Dudley was at Lady 
 Emily's, to settle the party to Villefranche. The 
 family were still at the breakfast-table, and the 
 subject had been already under discussion. To 
 the enquiries for Burrell, Dudley said, " he is 
 not worse, I hope but" 
 
 " 1 should be surprised if he was better," said 
 Miss Danvers : " such a life as he leads boat- 
 ing under a hot sun!" 
 
 " I think the boating could not hurt him/' 
 said Dudley, " and he must be amused."
 
 THE DAY EN ELS. 105 
 
 " Not at the hazard of his life," said she, 
 with a keen glance, which she knew how to 
 direct so as to wound. Dudley was quick in 
 his feelings, and could scarcely refrain from re- 
 plying with some asperity to his cousin Char- 
 lotte ; and it seemed as if she had a particular 
 pleasure in irritating him, since all hope of ex- 
 citing any other interest was extinct. He turn- 
 ed from her, however, to Lady Emily, and spoke 
 of the project of the day, to which she readily 
 consented, as far as she was concerned, and said 
 she should go in the caleche,and could take some 
 of the party, evidently fearing to name any one 
 until Miss Danvers had decided her mode of 
 going. 
 
 "What will you do, Charlotte?" said Mr. 
 Wykeham. 
 
 " When the rest have chosen, I may, per- 
 haps/' said she : " there would not be horses 
 for us all, otherwise " 
 
 " My dear," said Lady Emily, " there are 
 two horses for you and Clementina, if you like 
 
 F5
 
 106 THE DAVENEL9. 
 
 to ride, and I will take Mary Anne with me. 
 Mr. Wykeham, you'll ride your own horse, I 
 suppose." But Miss Danvers did not wish to 
 have things made so easy to her ; there would 
 then be no grievance : and not really wishing to 
 go through the fatigue, she said, " I cannot 
 bear the horses here : if I had my own Juno, in- 
 deed but I had better go in the caliche." 
 
 " Charlotte," said Dudley, anxious to conquer 
 her ill-humour, if possible, " will you ride my 
 horse Leopard, which you rode at Stokeville, 
 and liked so much." 
 
 " And how would you go?" 
 
 " O, never mind me. I can easily get a 
 horse." 
 
 " No," said she, affecting good humour, " I'll 
 not be answerable for breaking your neck." 
 
 " Well, my aunt perhaps will take me." 
 
 " Certainly," said Lady Emily. 
 
 This suited Miss Danvers admirably ; as she 
 should by that means separate Dudley from the 
 Miss Davenels ; and putting as much satisfac-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 107 
 
 tion into her countenance as it was capable of 
 expressing, she accepted the proposal, and Leo- 
 pard was to be sent forthwith. 
 
 The Davenels in the mean time were antici- 
 pating much pleasure from Villefranche, and 
 Lady Hortensia and her daughters were al- 
 ready in the drawing-room, prepared to go, 
 when the door was opened, and Lord Al- 
 exander Glencairn was announced. He was ac- 
 companied by a gentleman, whom he present- 
 ed as Mr. Acheson. Lord Alexander apologized 
 for calling so early, but he had found so many 
 English families who conformed to the conti- 
 nental hour of dining, that he was afraid, if he 
 came later, they might be at dinner, or gone 
 out and he wished to have the pleasure of see- 
 ing them. 
 
 The first sight of Lord Alexander, brought 
 Lady Clara Reeve (long unthought of) into the 
 minds of all the ladies, and the reflection this 
 speech suggested was, that in the two days he 
 passed at Glenlow Castle, he had not uttered
 
 108 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 BO many words, or so civil, to any of the family : 
 and therefore that a state of cicisbeism is un- 
 favourable to the exercise of general courtesy. 
 Lord Alexander seemed now to have eyes and 
 ears for more than one, and he attended and re- 
 plied with great politeness to the usual ques- 
 tions about his route to Nice his probable 
 stay the state of English society at Florence 
 with did you meet this person ? and do you know 
 that person? After a few minutes of silence, on 
 the part of his companion, he also began to 
 make himself agreeable. He was a nice look- 
 ing man, under the middle size very dark, with 
 neat features, and sparkling black eyes : and he 
 made such amusing comments and remarks, 
 that if Lord Alexander wished to have a talking 
 tiger, he could not have been better suited. 
 Lady Hortensia, who always talked of persons, 
 aeked him, did he know the VVykehams : and 
 finding he did not, she told him who they were : 
 then turning to Lord Alexander, she said : " You 
 know Captain Villiers ? Dudley Villiers ?"
 
 THE DAV.ENELS. 109 
 
 He assented. " He is here he is taking care of 
 his cousin Mr. Burrell Villiers : Mister Vil- 
 liers, who is in wretched health do you know 
 them?" turning to Mr. Acheson. He said some- 
 thing, which though not audible, looked like a 
 negative, and his face became for a moment of 
 a darker hue for we cannot call it a blush. 
 Lady Hortensia continued : " They are going 
 with us to Villefranche to-day, to see the Eng- 
 lish frigate. I take Mr. Villiers in my car- 
 riage perhaps you are going " addressing 
 both the gentlemen at once. Lord Alexander 
 said he thought he should go : Mr. Acheson said 
 nothing on that subject, or any other, and in 
 a few minutes afterwards, Captain Villiers was 
 announced. He called to mention the arrange- 
 ments made with the Wykehams, and after 
 telling them to the ladies, he spoke to Lord 
 Alexander, but then suddenly drew up with an 
 air of gravity and even sternness, which would 
 have justified all the stories Mrs. O'Brien used 
 to hear and propagate of him in Dublin. Mr.
 
 110 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Acheson arose, as if he thought Lord Alexander 
 was going away but seeing that was not the 
 case, he sat down again, looking disappointed. 
 
 Dudley suddenly took his leave, saying he 
 must go back to the Wykehams, as Lady Emi- 
 ly was to take him in her carriage. Mr. Davenel 
 then entered, ready to accompany the ladies, 
 and once more Mr. Acheson was presented. 
 Lady Hortensia's carriage being then announced, 
 and the horses at the door, the whole party set 
 out ; and Lord Alexander and his friend joined 
 and accompanied those on horseback, to the 
 town : but they had scarcely reached the 
 esplanade, when Mr. Acheson said something 
 to Lord Glencairn and bowing to the ladies, 
 rode off in another direction. 
 
 " Won't your friend come ?" said Mr. Da- 
 venel. 
 
 " No ; he says he must go and write letters 
 though what letters he can have to write, I can- 
 not conjecture I am sure." 
 
 Great was the vexation of the Miss Davenels
 
 THE DAVENELS. Ill 
 
 at the arrangement by which they were to lose 
 Dudley's company during the ride : even Mr. 
 Davenel took a part in their chagrin ; and he 
 would have offered his horse to Dudley, and 
 gone in the carriage himself, but that he could 
 not relinquish the care of his daughters. 
 
 Young persons attach great importance to the 
 success of a project of amusement, and this 
 was considered as the most untoward event, and 
 Miss Danvers was the greatest spoil-sport the 
 most odious person ! but how much more sin- 
 cerely would the Davenels have applied those 
 epithets to her, had they known that she was 
 really actuated by no wish but that of keeping 
 Dudley away from them. Lord Alexander was 
 a poor substitute but they had soon the satis- 
 faction to see that the wind, the dust, all the 
 elements seemed combined to excite her displea- 
 sure ; and every reply to their courtesies was a 
 sarcasm : until her otherwise handsome face, 
 took in their eyes its impress from the unamia- 
 ble feelings of her soul. Her sister was too well
 
 112 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 acquainted with her temper to venture to ride 
 near her, and Lord Alexander was the only per- 
 son to whom she was civil. When the party 
 had rode through the town, and were past the 
 gate leading to Villefranche, she complained of 
 the horse's movements as being too rough, and 
 begged to be taken into the caleche, saying the 
 servant could lead home the horse. 
 
 " I am sorry he does not suit you," said Dud- 
 ley, as he handed her into the carriage, " and 
 for fear that should be the case, I had the pre- 
 caution to have a saddle brought : v this was 
 now produced from the boot of the carriage, 
 and being exchanged for the side-saddle, Dud- 
 ley mounted, and galloping off, in a few minutes 
 he overtook the equestrians, to whom his society 
 gave unlooked-for pleasure. He rode by Fre- 
 derica no longer keeping off, as at the first time 
 he met her on horseback. He reminded her of 
 that meeting, and she reminded him of his hav- 
 ing checked her horse in the middle of his rear- 
 ing. " I am afraid I must not flatter myself
 
 THE DAVENELS. 113 
 
 that I saved you from any imminent danger," 
 said Dudley : " you were perfect mistress of 
 the animal ;" but Frederica would not allow her 
 danger to be slight : she had a conscious satis- 
 faction in owning her safety to him. What a 
 companion ! he reflected as he looked at her ; 
 whether riding, boating or in a ball-room the 
 same even gentle gaiety of spirits ! nor were the 
 benevolence of her heart, or the excellence 
 of her understanding unnoticed by him and 
 more than once his heart was on his lips, and he 
 could scarcely restrain the declaration of his at- 
 tachment. But his situation respecting Burrell 
 was an obstacle to an immediate proposal. He 
 had undertaken from motives of friendship and 
 affection the care of his cousin ; and with what 
 face could he solicit an acknowledgement of a 
 preference from a young lady, and then leave 
 her for an indefinite time, to devote himself to 
 other cares and duties j and he was sure that 
 were he to do so, Burrell would neither enjoy 
 nor permit such devotion. He was heir to the
 
 114 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Duke of St. Evremond in the event of Burrell's 
 death another strong reason to his delicate 
 mind for not making any engagement at this 
 moment. It might appear as if he derived some 
 importance from the prospect, painful as it was 
 to him, and even Frederick's delicacy would be 
 compromised in the suspicion. To be silent 
 therefore until Burrell's recovery, or, if that 
 must be, his release from suffering, was his 
 fixed determination. This conflict gave an in- 
 equality to his manner during their ride, aa love 
 or caution gained the mastery ; but love, the 
 most subtle of all the feelings of the soul, had 
 transpired by so many delicate proofs, that Fre- 
 derica did not require an explicit avowal to be 
 convinced of his attachment, though that avowal 
 must be made before she could acknowledge a 
 reciprocal feeling. In the mean time, the pre- 
 sent state of things was delightful. She almost 
 dreaded any change she felt no doubts of 
 Dudley, no difficulties with herself, and riding 
 with him was perfect happiness.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 115 
 
 Before the party had reached Villefranche, 
 they met, as Dudley had predicted, a lieutenant 
 and midshipman making their way to Nice, and 
 from them they learned that the frigate was the 
 Woden, commanded by Captain Mordaunt, a 
 friend of Burrell. She was on her way to Malta, 
 and had put into Villefranche for some trifling 
 want. This gave great pleasure to both Burrell 
 and Dudley, and the whole partly arrived shortly 
 after at the port, where they found a barge from 
 the frigate, ready to take them on board. The 
 size, comfort, and motion of the boat seemed to 
 give Burrell great pleasure; and the ladies, to 
 most of whom a man-of-war was a new sight, 
 were equally pleased. They found the accom- 
 modation-ladder ready for those who disliked 
 being swung up in the chair; and each, at 
 arriving on deck, was received with that cordial 
 courtesy which distinguishes a British sailor 
 when doing the honour of his floating home. 
 
 " We saw your party from the moment you 
 reached the top of the hill," said Captain Mor-
 
 116 THEDAVENELS. 
 
 daunt, " and flattered ourselves we were to be 
 honoured with a visit." 
 
 Dudley presented each of the ladies, Lord 
 Glencairn, and Mr. Davenel, by name ; and 
 after some conversation, it was settled that all 
 the ladies, except Miss Danvers, would like to 
 see the ship ; and an officer being presented to 
 each as an escort, and Captain Mordaunt giving 
 his arm to Lady Emily, they proceeded through 
 the various decks heard a description of the 
 uses of places and things so strange to them 
 wondered and asked questions admired politely 
 whatever they saw, and would gladly have seen 
 less ; for after the second deck, the interior of 
 the nicest ship appears, to those unaccustomed 
 to it, and especially to ladies, confined and dis- 
 mal ; and the motion, even when lying at anchor, 
 is perceptible to persons not used to the sea. 
 Miss Danvers and Burrell were spared the 
 fatigue of visiting the world below decks ; and 
 when the rest of the party returned to the 
 captain's cabin, they found them waiting, and
 
 THE DAVENELS. 117 
 
 a handsome collation set out : cold meats, fo- 
 reign preserves, and wines and liqueurs of 
 exquisite flavour and variety. The order and 
 elegance which prevailed were truly admirable ; 
 and how it could be preserved on board ship 
 was a subject of unrepressed wonder. Captain 
 Mordaunt smiled compassionately at the igno- 
 rance of these remarks ; for a sailor knows that 
 order and elegance are to be found no where but 
 on board a man-of-war. Some of the officers' 
 sleeping-rooms, though not so large as small 
 dressing-closets, appeared, from their neatness 
 and commodious arrangements, to be perfect 
 boudoirs; and every one fancied that sickness 
 could not be felt in such steady, comfortable 
 apartments. 
 
 The ride, the sea-air, and the fatigue in visit- 
 ing the vessel, had given unusual appetite and 
 spirits to all. Even Miss Danvers relaxed as 
 she ate her perigord-pie, and sipped the exqui- 
 site noyeau, which Captain Mordaunt helped 
 her to, gravely assuring her that it was not " as
 
 118 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 strong in reality as common port wine, and was, 
 besides, indispensable on board ship." 
 
 She had been deeply annoyed, however, by 
 the failure of her contrivance to keep Dudley 
 from the Miss Davenels, and at the loss of his 
 society to herself in the caliche ; and the evi- 
 dent alacrity with which he had joined the 
 riding-party, was mortifying to her; even his 
 suspicion, that she should not like riding, and 
 his providing a saddle for himself in that event, 
 vexed her : but all those feelings of irritation 
 gave way, or were repressed for the time, by 
 the influence of Captain Mordaunt's politeness, 
 and that of his officers, and general good-hu- 
 mour reigned at the repast. 
 
 Captain Mordaunt, on hearing that Burrell 
 did not improve in health at Nice, said : " You 
 had better take a cruize with me, Burrell ; and 
 I'll land you where you please. I am going to 
 Malta, which is a fine climate, and if you don't 
 like it after awhile, I will engage to get you a 
 passage in a good vessel to Naples." Burrell look-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 119 
 
 ed at Dudley, for he had now some of the help- 
 less indecision of habitual illness; feeling, besides, 
 strong suspicion of Dudley's attachment for 
 Frederica, he was afraid to cross his views and 
 hopes. But Dudley, resolving that no personal 
 feeling should interfere with the task he had 
 undertaken, gaily said : " Do, Burrell :" and 
 turning to Captain Mordaunt, he said : " You 
 must take me with you if he goes, for I know 
 too well his mode of taking care of himself, 
 to trust him alone." Captain Mordaunt cor- 
 dially said he included Captain Villiers in the 
 proposal, and said : "I can make some changes 
 by which you, Burrell, can have my sleeping- 
 apartment;" but this was opposed by Burrell, 
 who hearing besides that the ship was to sail 
 the next evening, if the wind continued favour- 
 able, declared he could not be ready so soon ; 
 and as the subject seemed to cause him some 
 fretful agitation, it was dropped. 
 
 Notwithstanding the pleasure which this little 
 entertainment seemed to give to the whole party,
 
 120 THE DAVENEL3. 
 
 Dudley, ever watchful for his friend, proposed 
 returning home early ; and the ladder and the 
 barge being once more in requisition, they all 
 departed ; Captain Mordaunt, at Mr. Davenel's 
 request, accompanying him to dinner. Dudley 
 had declined doing so, though strongly pressed 
 by Burrell ; but on the arrival of some of the 
 Wykehams, and Mr. and Mrs. Harewood, to 
 visit him at six o'clock, he urged him once 
 more, and successfully, to join the party at Mr. 
 Davenel's, where Norton also was fortunately 
 engaged. Mrs. Harewood's gentleness made 
 her a favourite with Burrell ; and though he did 
 not like her husband, he was glad to have so- 
 ciety, to give Dudley an opportunity of dining 
 with so agreeable a party ; and he promised to 
 be silent when he pleased, and to dismiss his 
 visitors when he was tired. 
 
 Mr. Harewood, who loved to give advice, 
 strongly recommended his quitting Nice, and 
 Burrell then mentioned Captain Mordaunt's 
 offer.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 121 
 
 " That would never do for you," said Hare- 
 wood. " The rules on board of a man-of-war 
 are so terribly strict: you must be up every 
 morning at six, and your birth cleared out; 
 and think on the changes of weather you may 
 be liable to, how ill able you would be to bear 
 that." 
 
 " I could never support it," said Burrell, 
 chagrined that it could have been tacitly ex- 
 pected of him by Captain Mordaunt. " But 
 could an invalid be liable?" 
 
 " My dear fellow, he cannot take you as an 
 invalid : you go as a friend. He may be put 
 under quarantine, if he takes sick passengers." 
 
 " Then it is all over," said Burrell : " I could 
 not attempt it." 
 
 " I assure you," said Mr. Harewood, bent 
 on consoling him for the disappointment he 
 seemed to feel, " it would not be as economical 
 a mode of going- as one would think. You 
 would feel yourself called on to give great lar- 
 gesses to the men, and to entertain the officers 
 
 VOL. II. G
 
 122 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 on landing j and what would you do with your 
 carriage ?" 
 
 " Oh/' said Burrell, " there is no need of 
 calculating now, nor is that the consideration." 
 
 " No, to be sure," said Harewood : " yet 
 without calculation one is never on the safe 
 side." 
 
 This part of Hare wood's argument only 
 amused Burrell, as affording a proof of his 
 eternal love of balancing the possible expense 
 of every mode of proceeding through life, with- 
 out putting into the scale any other considera- 
 tion. 
 
 Much fatigued, he retired early, and his 
 visiters departed. Dudley returned to see how 
 he was ; but finding he had been some time in 
 bed, he would not disturb him, but went to a 
 ball, of which there were two or three every 
 week, at the house of some English family, and 
 where, of course, he met the Davenels. Dud- 
 ley, no longer practising either caution or self- 
 denial, danced two quadrilles with Frederica,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 123 
 
 and an intermediate one with Henrietta any 
 further remove from Frederica he felt to be im- 
 possible. 
 
 The parting that night was more than usually 
 easy : it was merely au revoir at the opera the 
 following evening. 
 
 At the moment of bidding Mr. Davenel good 
 night, Dudley detained him, with a significant 
 grasp of the hand, and said : " I know I speak 
 to one who will take counsel without commit- 
 ting himself or his friend : there are not many 
 on whom I would obtrude my advice, but I 
 cannot help warning you that the Mr. Everard 
 who is arrived at Nice, would not be a fit ac- 
 quaintance for your family ;" and then hurry- 
 ing away, he left Mr. Davenel surprised, but 
 gratified by the regard and interest which dic- 
 tated the warning, and resolved to be on his 
 guard against this Everard, of whom, how- 
 ever, he had as yet heard nothing : nor did his , 
 non-appearance, subsequently, excite either sur- 
 prise or anxiety, so many persons had lately 
 
 G2
 
 124 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 made Nice their way to or from Italy, without 
 stopping more than a day or two : but, conceiv- 
 ing the caution to be given in strict confidence, 
 Mr. Davenel resolved not to speak of it, even 
 to his own family, unless it was called for by 
 circumstances.
 
 125 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 And fast the white rocks faded from his view, 
 And soon were lost in circumambient foam ; 
 And then it may be of his wish to roam 
 Repented he : but in his bosom slept 
 The silent thought, nor from his lips did come 
 One word of wail. BYRON. 
 
 As soon as Burrell was up, on the morning 
 after the visit to Villefranche, he sent to speak 
 to Dudley : it was to say that he wished much 
 to be on the water again ; and company was 
 too great excitement and fatigue, and always 
 kept him out too late : and if Dudley had no 
 objection, he should like to go once more on 
 board the Woden but as soon as possible, that 
 they might not be liable to any offers of joining 
 them. 
 
 " By all means," said Dudley : " we will
 
 126 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 go in your carriage : the horses shall be ordered 
 immediately, and we will not say a word to any 
 one." 
 
 To prevent any interruption to what seemed 
 a favourite scheme of Burrell's, Dudley would 
 not walk out, even for a moment, as he gene- 
 rally did at an early hour, to give the Wyke- 
 hams news of Burrell's health, but set off with 
 him, as soon as breakfast was over, for Ville- 
 franche. They met the same kind reception 
 from Captain Mordaunt ; and Burrell seemed 
 so much delighted with the ship her space 
 her appointments, that Mordaunt said I am 
 sorry you would not come with me. I'll show 
 you where I had intended lodging you, and 
 then you would have had all this space for 
 lounging in, when you wished to be alone ; and 
 Captain Villiers would not have been badly oft' 
 either." 
 
 " My dear friend," said Burrell, " I am not 
 equal to observing the strict discipline of a man- 
 of-war the rules, I mean."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 127 
 
 " You should observe no rules but of your 
 own choosing and making," said Mordaunt. 
 
 " I mean the early rising, and all that sort 
 of thing.'' 
 
 " Oh," said Captain Mordaunt, laughing, 
 " those rules are very properly enforced in 
 general; but if you will come with me, you 
 shall not be disturbed night or day, but when 
 you like it : you shall have your breakfast and 
 dinner too in your own birth, and at your own 
 hour;" and then he so good-naturedly pressed 
 his acceptance, and showed the further arrange- 
 ments which could be made for him, with such 
 goodwill, that Burrell, though he had thought 
 the time too short the day before, now that it 
 was lessened, felt anxious to be compelled to 
 accept of the offer. He looked again at Dudley 
 for help, saying, " It is a pity I was so irreso- 
 lute yesterday : it might have been done then, 
 but now it is impossible : I should be too much 
 fatigued by the time I could return to Nice,
 
 128 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 and arrange matters, to come back to the ship 
 this evening." 
 
 Dudley felt the appeal to be irresistible : 
 Burrell was evidently better each time he was 
 on the sea, whilst his strength had materially 
 diminished at Nice ; and while Captain Mor- 
 daunt was engaged in speaking to one of his 
 officers, Dudley went near Burrell, and said, 
 " Burrell, I advise you to accept this proposal 
 it will be useful and agreeable to you ; but you 
 must remain here from this moment, if you in- 
 tend sailing with Captain Mordaunt. I will go 
 back instantly to Nice, and settle your affairs 
 there, and return here before the ship's anchor 
 is weighed. Let no consideration of business 
 occupy or influence you, for I can do what is 
 necessary in an hour. Our Consul will under- 
 take anything which I cannot stay to complete." 
 " Is it possible," said Burrell, looking all sa- 
 tisfaction, " that you will be so kind ? And is 
 it no sacrifice?"
 
 THE DAVENELS. 129 
 
 " Kindness out of the question," said Dudley, 
 " I shall be glad to see a little of the world by 
 sea as well as yourself." 
 
 This he forced himself to say in a gay and 
 careless manner, knowing that if Burrell sus- 
 pected his real feelings towards Frederica, he 
 would hesitate, until the opportunity of going 
 by sea would be lost ; and believing it to be a 
 last resource, he was anxious, at whatever sa- 
 crifice to himself, to have it tried. The close 
 pressure of Burrell's cold and emaciated hand, 
 almost rewarded him for what he felt to be a 
 painful effort, and stepping up to Captain Mor- 
 daunt, he told him, in a few words, their deter- 
 mination, and his strong reason for keeping 
 Burrell to it. A few more words with Burrell 
 were sufficient for their arrangement; and Dud- 
 ley was put on shore, and set off, with as much 
 speed as the nature of the road would permit, 
 for Nice. 
 
 Here dispatch was indeed necessary : car- 
 riages and servants were to be disposed of, 
 
 G 5
 
 130 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 money matters to be settled at the bank, effects 
 to be packed up, and bills paid ; and all in an 
 incredibly short space of time. Until all was 
 in readiness, he would not trust himself with a 
 sight of Frederica. He took leave of the Wyke- 
 hams merely by a note ; but to the Davenels 
 he would, if possible, pay a visit, though but 
 for five minutes. He feared, otherwise, that 
 this sudden departure might leave an unfa- 
 vourable impression on Frederica's mind : yet 
 time flew, and the carriage was in readiness, 
 with four fresh horses, to take him back to 
 Villefranche. He looked at his watch, got into 
 the carriage, and ordered it to Mr. Davenel's. 
 " Vite, vite ! au plus vite /" The horses flew 
 the carriage stopped the whole family was out 
 the young ladies riding with Mr. Davenel ; 
 the servant could not tell which way they had 
 gone. He left a hurried message with the ser- 
 vant, stating the fact; but he resolved to write 
 to Lady Hortensia from Villefranche, or from 
 the ship, if he could not stop long enough on
 
 THE DAVENELS. 131 
 
 the shore. While driving at a great rate, he 
 watched every possible route by which the Da- 
 venels might be returning home ; and when he 
 turned off into the road which leads exclusively 
 to Villefranche, he reluctantly gave up all hope. 
 It was a keen disappointment. An interview 
 of five minutes, had he even met her riding, 
 would have been invaluable. Though he could 
 not, consistent with his notions of delicacy, 
 make her a declaration of his attachment, he 
 might by a look reveal to her the pain he felt 
 at this sudden separation; while a note to Lady 
 Hortensia could contain nothing but friendly or 
 common-place regrets, in which Burrell might 
 be supposed to share as sincerely as himself. 
 He could not but flatter himself that she re- 
 turned his preference, but there was no saying 
 how the idea, that he had willingly left her 
 now, might operate against him in her mind. 
 These thoughts harassed him so much during 
 his return to the vessel, that his countenance 
 struck both Burrell and Mordaunt ; but, on
 
 132 THE DAVENEL9. 
 
 their questioning him, he endeavoured to as- 
 cribe it to the extreme dispatch he was obliged 
 to use in his arrangements, and which made 
 him fearful he had forgotten some; and then, 
 finding there were yet some moments to spare, 
 he begged to retire to write a letter, which he 
 must send back by the boat which had brought 
 him from the shore. This note bore evident 
 marks of the hurry and agitation in which it 
 was written, and no time could be given to com- 
 position. He was obliged to be contented with 
 what first fell from his pen ; and amidst some 
 blots and hasty erasures, there appeared only 
 the usual forms of deep regret on the part of 
 Burrell and himself, and a never-to-be-forgotten 
 sense of the friendship they had experienced 
 from her ladyship and Mr. Davenel. One sepa- 
 rate sentence to Frederica he dared not form : 
 she was, necessarily, included in their compli- 
 ments and regards to the young ladies. 
 
 While this note was being written the anchor 
 was got up, and the sails were beginning to
 
 THE DAVENELS. 133 
 
 swell with the favouring breeze, so that another 
 moment would have distanced the little bark 
 that lay dancing alongside on the rippling wave. 
 Dudley could only fling the letter to the boat- 
 man, who had before received his directions and 
 his reward, and the ship was in full sail. 
 
 Dudley knew Burrell's nice sensibility and 
 proud feelings, and how firmly he would have 
 resisted the sacrifice which friendship now re- 
 ceived at the hand of love ; and with an effort 
 which, during his drive to Villefranche, he did 
 not think himself capable of making, he re- 
 turned to his friend with a cheerful counte- 
 nance, and gave him such details of the busi- 
 ness he had been on, as were interesting to him. 
 " Did you see any friends? The Davenels 
 or Wykehams ?" 
 
 " No : but I wrote to both." 
 " And mentioned me of course ?" 
 " Aye every thing you could wish. I am 
 certain the measure will have their fullest ap- 
 probation,"
 
 134 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 The sailors met some changes of weather in 
 their voyage, enough to retard their course, but 
 not materially to disturb their comfort. Burrell 
 improved daily in strength and evenness of spi- 
 rits : his sleep returned, his cough ceased, and 
 Dudley felt rewarded for his sacrifice; and 
 doubly so, by the satisfaction Burrell expressed 
 at having his society. 
 
 " The fact is, I could not have come without 
 you, Dudley," said he. 
 
 Besides this ease of body which Burrell ex- 
 perienced, he met with one who could minister 
 to the mind diseased, by applying to it that 
 healing medicine which Heaven, in its mercy, 
 has revealed to suffering mankind. The Chap- 
 lain of the Woden was a man who honoured his 
 sacred profession by a strict and feeling atten- 
 tion to its duties ; and as Captain Mordaunt 
 was not one of those who call every appearance 
 of religion amongst their crew methodism, Mr. 
 Stamford had every encouragement given him 
 to invite those on board, who were willing, to
 
 THE DAVENELS. 135 
 
 hear the gospel of peace. Burrell's manner 
 and character interested him, and judging from 
 the advanced state of his disease that the pre- 
 sent amendment was but temporary, he applied 
 himself, while time was, to the awakening of 
 his soul from that lethargy, in which the young 
 and thoughtless plunge their immortal concerns. 
 He was a man of gentlemanly manners and at- 
 tainments, and of a mild disposition, and one 
 who did not think even his sacred office could 
 excuse abrupt or coarse intrusion upon the feel- 
 ings of those he wished to serve. He conversed 
 at first with Burrell upon general topics, as a 
 gentleman and a scholar; and when, at length, 
 he introduced more important, or, to speak 
 more properly, the only important ones, he ap- 
 peared to suppose the subject was already fami- 
 liar to his mind ; and, divesting himself of the 
 character of a monitor or teacher, he led Bur- 
 rell to disclose his own heart with freedom and 
 sincerity. Not that Mr. Stamford was ashamed 
 of that cross which he daily took up, but he
 
 136 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 wished by all means to win some, and he feared, 
 by disgusting Burrell with him or his profes- 
 sion, he should lose a precious opportunity, 
 which might never return. He did not think it 
 necessary to warn him of his peculiar or imme- 
 diate danger: he supposed all men liable at 
 each moment to be called to their account, 
 and therefore all equally called upon to examine 
 themselves on the account they must one day 
 give. His manner first won Burrell's attention, 
 and ere long the great subject of eternity be- 
 came the one most interesting to his mind. 
 
 On stopping at Malta, Burrell and Dudley, 
 with the assistance of the governor, established 
 themselves with tolerable comfort, and Mr. 
 Stamford did not fail to pay daily visits to the 
 interesting invalid ; but, in a few days, Bur- 
 rell's feverish nights and hard cough returned, 
 and when Captain Mordaunt, on preparing to 
 put to sea again, proposed to him to try that 
 element once more, it was joyfully accepted. 
 But his greatest inducement now was to have
 
 THE DAVENELS. 137 
 
 the counsel and conversation of Mr. Stam- 
 ford ; for as the body decayed, the spirit 
 gained strength to look beyond this earthly 
 scene, and he said he felt it to be rather a duty 
 than a pleasure to endeavour to prolong a frail 
 and feverish existence ; but he added, " Mr. 
 Stamford was sent to me to take me out of that 
 state of destructive security in which I had 
 lived, and should have died if left to myself; 
 and, lest I should relapse into carelessness for 
 want of his friendly aid, I shall once more en- 
 cumber you, Mordaunt, with my society." 
 Independent of former friendship, his sweet- 
 ness of disposition, and the gentle playfulness 
 of his temper even in illness, had greatly en- 
 deared him to Captain Mordaunt, who from his 
 heart made him welcome once more on board 
 the Woden, and added to his former accommo- 
 dations every thing that the kindest care could 
 suggest. Dudley was indefatigable in endea- 
 vouring to render Burrell's abode in the ship 
 comfortable, and finding that the conversation
 
 138 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of Mr. Stamford, far from lowering, rather ele- 
 vated his spirits, he encouraged it as much as 
 he saw his strength would bear. Sometimes, if 
 he perceived or fancied that Stamford's zeal led 
 him to continue longer than his friend's strength 
 would bear, of which he was warned by the 
 brightening eye and glowing cheek, he would 
 delicately contrive some interruption ; for which 
 he had afterwards the thanks of Mr. Stamford 
 himself. 
 
 But, in the care of his friend, was Frederica 
 forgotten? far from it. He suffered much at 
 times from an apprehension that her uncertainty 
 respecting his sentiments might lead her to try, 
 and but too successfully to forget him ; or to 
 yield to the solicitations and commands of her 
 friends in favour of another. This last appre- 
 hension made him restless and feverish, and his 
 friends remarked that the sea, which had so 
 good an effect on Burrell, seemed to have de- 
 prived Dudley of rest and appetite. He had 
 written immediately on his arrival at Malta to
 
 THE DAVENELS. 139 
 
 Lady Emily Wykeham, and mentioned the 
 Davenels with the warmth of regard which he 
 thought was allowable ; and, in requesting to 
 hear from her, he begged to hear how that 
 family were; but his sudden departure from 
 Malta, whither he had desired his aunt to direct 
 to him, made it very uncertain when he should 
 get the letter, and this added to the depression 
 of his spirits ; and now, that Burrell took such 
 a deep interest in the great truths which he had 
 formerly rather assented to than believed, his 
 desire to hear Mr. Stamford on that subject, 
 made it less necessary for Dudley to assume a 
 gaiety which was foreign to his feelings. Bur- 
 rell loved him as fervently as before, but he had 
 no strength to spare for common-place subjects; 
 he had sent his thoughts and heart there, where 
 he hoped soon to follow. At length it was 
 found that the sailing, which for a considerable 
 time had been so soothing to him, was now 
 more exercise than he could bear ; and by the 
 advice of the physician on board the Woden,
 
 140 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 he was landed at Naples. Mr. Stamford parted 
 from him with regret, but he left him not com- 
 fortless ; and giving him his parting prayers and 
 blessings, and such books as in his weak state 
 he could listen to, he was consigned to the un- 
 divided care of his devoted friend and cousin.
 
 141 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Alas ! poor lady ! desolate and left. 
 
 S HAKSPEARE. 
 
 MR. DAVENEL and his daughters had just dis- 
 mounted, and were ascending the stairs, when 
 the message left by Dudley was repeated to 
 them by the servant. At first they could 
 scarcely believe it, and were at a loss to com- 
 prehend how a scheme which Burrell had re- 
 jected the day before, because the time was too 
 short for his preparations, had been found prac- 
 ticable the next day, when that short space 
 was lessened so considerably. All were disap- 
 pointed, but Frederica's feelings, though less
 
 142 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 openly expressed, were too acute for conceal- 
 ment, and she hastily went into her own room, 
 where she could give way to the burst of pain- 
 ful feeling which oppressed her. That he 
 should go away without a word of open decla- 
 ration, after having in so many ways betrayed 
 the interest she inspired him with, seemed no- 
 thing less than a resolution on his part not to 
 shackle himself with any engagement. That 
 she was dear to him, she could not doubt; but 
 it was too plain his affections were under strong 
 control, and had yielded to some notions of 
 prudence, or what the world calls prudence. 
 Her want of fortune she concluded was his 
 only motive. What other could he have? Yet 
 he was independent, and had lately inherited a 
 fine fortune himself; she could not bear to think 
 he was actuated by so mean a motive; she 
 would endeavour to suspend her censure ; per- 
 haps some further explanation might come ; or 
 there might be some mistake ; he might be gone 
 for a few days only. Yet to Malta was the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 143 
 
 message, and there was nothing said of return- 
 ing. 
 
 Lady Hortensia arrived soon after, and re- 
 ceived the news with outward composure and 
 inward rage. She too had but little doubt that 
 Dudley loved Frederica, but that he was swayed 
 by motives of interest or ambition. She 
 thought but little about the state of Frederica's 
 heart, but the disappointment of her ambition, 
 and the mortification in the eyes of all Nice 
 were keenly felt; and she resolved to take into 
 consideration some mode of establishing her 
 soon. Could she once more have Mardyn near 
 them, unaccompanied by his wily mother, she 
 had but little doubt that he would be as much 
 captivated as ever; and she persuaded herself 
 that pride would conquer Frederica's former 
 aversion to the match. Mardyn was a poor 
 substitute for Dudley, but the appearance of 
 being deserted was not to be endured ; and one 
 thing she was decided on : not to remain at
 
 144 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Nice. Now that the Villiers' were gone, there 
 was not a man there worth the acceptance of 
 either of her daughters; and Henrietta had 
 latterly become discontented, and had often 
 expressed a wish to go somewhere, where so- 
 ciety was not depending on families encumbered 
 with invalids; but the prospect of Dudley's 
 proposing for Frederica had prevented Lady 
 Hortensia from attending to these representa- 
 tions, and Henrietta from pressing them more 
 strongly. Independent of her affection for 
 Frederica, she felt that her marriage would 
 leave a more open field for herself; and Hen- 
 rietta could not tell how, but certainly Frederica 
 did attract all the men wherever they went. 
 
 Each of the family had their several modes 
 of viewing the subject, and to all it was a 
 painful one ; though but little was said on it 
 amongst them. But on this subject, Lady 
 Hortensia did open her mind to Mr. Davenel, 
 and it cannot be doubted that he felt with her.
 
 THE DAYENELS. 145 
 
 Liking Dudley, and having anticipated a bril- 
 liant establishment for his daughter, it was a 
 disappointment. 
 
 The friendly warning of the night before, 
 against a gentleman of the name of Everard, 
 (who, however, did not make his appearance,) 
 had, at the time, struck Mr. Davenel as pro- 
 ceeding from more than common interest in his 
 family : but this sudden departure, without fur- 
 ther explanation was discouraging; and if no 
 letter, more favourable to his expectations, ar- 
 rived in a short time, Mr. Davenel felt that his 
 hopes, and his good opinion of Dudley, were 
 gone for ever. But let it not be thought 
 strange, that he did not touch on the subject 
 to Frederica. He respected her feminine deli- 
 cacy too much ; and Lady Hortensia thought 
 it wiser not to understand the depth of her dis- 
 appointment : she would rather suppose her 
 ready for a new admirer. There was a latent 
 hope, perhaps, indulged by all the family, that 
 some letter of explanation would arrive ere long ; 
 
 VOL. n. H
 
 146 THE DA YEN ELS. 
 
 though this hope was destroyed by the arrival 
 of Dudley's note, which explained nothing, as 
 far as respected himself, and merely stated what 
 they knew before that Burrell had been in- 
 duced OP a second visit to the Woden, to accept 
 of Captain Mordaunt's offer. 
 
 The Davenels were to go to the opera that 
 evening, and to meet the Wykehams, as well as 
 many other acquaintances : and Lady Hortensia 
 was now most desirous that they should all ap- 
 pear there. She was alarmed for this plan, 
 when Henrietta came down to dinner, however, 
 and said Frederica had got so bad a head-ache, 
 that she could not leave her room; and she 
 talked much, in the presence of the servants, of 
 the heat of the sun, and riding at that time of 
 the day ; and having said all she could think 
 of without imposing upon any one, she sent 
 some light refreshment to Frederica by Hen- 
 rietta, to prevent her maid from perceiving the 
 real state of the case. But Mrs. Harris was not 
 to be put off that way. From an angle of the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 147 
 
 back stairs she had watched Henrietta leaving 
 Frederica's room, and she immediately entered 
 it. " Wo'nt you go down to dinner, Miss Fre- 
 derica?" and she proceeded to put aside the 
 riding-habit, which had just been taken off; 
 " but, my goodness ! who helped you to dress V 
 
 " Henrietta," said Frederica, trying to avoid 
 her eyes. 
 
 " And what made her take into her head to 
 do that? but people sometimes takes fancies, 
 and thinks people is n't good enough for them." 
 
 " Nonsense, Harris," said Frederica ; " you 
 know it was no such thing : but my sister hap- 
 pened to be in my room when I was taking oft' 
 my habit." 
 
 " Well, now, I'll tell you what, Miss Frede- 
 rica, you cannot go down before them men- 
 servants with your eyes that way ; for I know 
 right well what they'd say. Its only for your 
 
 good I am, you know 1 knew a young lady, 
 
 and she was left that way by an officer after a 
 great deal of flirtation " 
 
 H2
 
 148 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Left what way, Harris ? what are you 
 talking of?" said Frederica, applying cold water 
 to her eyes and cheeks. 
 
 "Well, now isn't it better I should know it, 
 than them that would make bad remarks, may 
 be." 
 
 Frederica could scarcely help laughing, and 
 her maid said : " Ah ! now I knew I'd make 
 you smile let me settle your hair for you but 
 no, you cannot go down ; well, let me get you 
 a glass of wine." 
 
 This panacea of Mrs. Harris's was rejected, 
 however ; and when Henrietta came up with a 
 plate of something, and a request from mamma, 
 given most audibly below, that she would " put 
 eau de cologne to her temples," Frederica was 
 able to send for answer, that she was better, 
 and that she would go down before dinner was 
 over; a symptom of determination and pride, 
 which gave equal satisfaction to Mr. Davenel 
 and Lady Hortensia, though not exactly from 
 the same feelings. She joined them shortly
 
 THE DAVENELS. 149 
 
 afterwards ; and it is probable that the vulgar 
 remarks of Mrs. Harris, stimulated her to make 
 the effort, though more serious argument might 
 have failed. 
 
 It was with difficulty, however, that she kept 
 her seat at table, and when Lady Hortensia 
 talked of the opera, her first impulse was to 
 beg to be allowed to stay at home ; but she had 
 not voice to make the request, and as they 
 dined rather late, the carriage was at the door 
 just as they were leaving the table, She whis- 
 pered to Henrietta as they were going out of 
 the room, to ask for her to stay : but Henrietta 
 was as averse to her doing so as Lady Hortensia 
 herself, and said : " Recollect what remarks 
 will be made on your absence." 
 
 " I fear I shall be liable to remarks either 
 way," said Frederica. 
 
 " No matter, they cannot say you were not 
 able to go to the opera, and that you were in 
 fits ; which is the least that will be said. Go, 
 for heaven's sake, and be courageous as if your
 
 160 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 life was at stake; and don't leave it in the power 
 of that odious Miss Danvers to pity you." 
 
 There was good sense at the bottom of this 
 advice : and as there is nothing so offensive to 
 the pride and delicacy of a young lady as being 
 forsaken, the appearance must, at all hazards, 
 be avoided. 
 
 Before setting out, Lady Hortensia received 
 the note we have mentioned from Dudley ; but 
 as there was nothing of a consoling nature in it, 
 she was fearful of exciting a fresh burst of tears, 
 and she therefore chose to say nothing of it to 
 Frederica until after her return from the opera. 
 
 Lady Hortensia had too much consideration 
 to place Frederica in front ; but it was evident 
 to the Wykehams that she was there, and that 
 was sufficient. As she entered, Henrietta 
 whispered to her, " Now, look yourself, and 
 remember, on your behaviour to-night depends 
 the power of the Danvers over you for ever." 
 
 They had not been long seated at the opera, 
 when one of those official militaires, who rule Nice
 
 THE DAVENELS. 151 
 
 in all the insolence of a little brief authority, 
 entered the box, with that cringing air which 
 foreigners alone can bear to assume. He seated 
 himself behind Lady Hortensia, and next to 
 Frederica: his elbows close to her sides his 
 legs crossed and twisted, so as to point his knee 
 considerably upwards. Though the Davenel 
 family spoke to him in French, he was so 
 anxious to show off the little English he had 
 acquired during a stay in London, of some 
 months, the year before, that no efforts of theirs 
 to keep him to his own language, with which 
 they were familiar, were of any use. This em 
 barrassed a conversation which would otherwise 
 have been easy to all parties. " Ah !" said he 
 to Frederica, " you see very worse dance in dis 
 place dan at Londres: but, for all that, Londres 
 is not de country of de dance : and mon Dieu 
 you dere pay so dear. I have been enchanti of 
 de opera at Londres." He was surprised to mid 
 she had never seen it. Lady Hortensia ex- 
 plained to him, that Frederica was not going
 
 152 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 out until the spring before, and she tried to 
 make him comprehend the distinction between 
 London and Dublin. Of the latter place, he 
 could not conceal his contempt, when he heard 
 it did not possess an opera : nor would he allow 
 it to be a capital without one. He asked why 
 the king did not order one ? and he was near 
 doubting his claim to that title, when he found 
 how many things he could not do. He had 
 been much pleased with all he saw in London, 
 especially with the exhibitions of pictures, so 
 commodiously arranged, and were so many 
 prettiest ladies went to look every day. Of the 
 pictures, he had retained a most accurate recol- 
 lection ; his remarks were judicious, and had 
 they been communicated in his own language, 
 might have been agreeable. He was particu- 
 larly struck with some of Hogarth's painful 
 delineations of human nature, in all its sinful 
 deformity, and exclaimed : " Ah ! c'est etonnant 
 dat picture dat make represent le marriage 
 after a fashion" This translation of Love a la
 
 THE DAVENELS. 153 
 
 mode he was evidently proud of, for he repeated 
 it more than once, but, added he, " de young 
 persons English make de marriage now after an 
 oser fashion. You not take counsel now of 
 fader, moder, broder, no one : you marry dere, 
 no matter how." 
 
 The young ladies disclaimed on behalf of 
 England such proceedings, and Lady Hortensia 
 endeavoured to give him a higher idea of En- 
 glish decor 1 i. He now undertook to explain 
 to them le fait du ballet, which he seemed to 
 think of great importance ; assuring them they 
 would be gratified by la chute du Tyran, and 
 a beau pont, qui va se casser, and in his eager- 
 ness to explain he forgot his English to their 
 great relief, and launched out in good French, 
 assuring them every moment that they would 
 be amused charmed astonished. He did not 
 seem to remark le pen d'atlention which Fre- 
 derica paid to his discourse, and Lady Hortensia 
 took pains to keep him from observing it by 
 affecting a lively interest in le pont, and la chute 
 
 H5
 
 154 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 du Tyran. While she endeavoured to engage 
 the Frenchman in conversation Norton came into 
 the box, and instantly began with " How very 
 odd the two Villiers's going off in that man- 
 ner !" 
 
 " Not so very odd," said Henrietta. " It was 
 very wise in them to accept of Captain Mor- 
 daunt's proposal: this place did not agree with 
 Mr. Villiers." 
 
 " Oh ! but didn't you hear how it happened ? 
 it was all a trick of Dudley's. They went oft 
 just after breakfast, without saying a word to 
 any one; and though they met Mr. Wykeham 
 and Henry, they merely bowed to them, and 
 didn't stop or speak. So when Dudley got 
 Burrell on board, he said so much to him about 
 the advantage and all that, that he persuaded 
 him to accept Captain Mordaunt's invitation ; 
 and then, by Jove, Dudley came back as hard 
 as he could, and he and Mr. Harewood and the 
 consul were settling matters; and he" sent one 
 carriage to one place, and the other to another
 
 THE DAVENELS. 155 
 
 place : and Mr. Harewood said he never saw a 
 man go about business in such a capital style 
 with such dispatch, that is, but so little regard 
 to economy scattering money right and left. 
 Mr. Harewood offered to settle the bills after he 
 was gone ; but, as if he liked to be cheated, 
 it was nothing but pay every thing and every 
 body, so he could but be off. He seemed to 
 fear Burrell would change his mind if he did 
 not cut his cables, as Mr. Harewood did." 
 
 This was wormwood to Frederica, who saw in 
 the haste with which Dudley set out, an anxiety 
 to escape from the influence she could not but 
 be conscious she possessed over him. Her pride 
 was roused, and wishing to show even to Lady 
 Hortensia and Henrietta that she would not 
 sink under his desertion, she endeavoured to 
 join in the conversation with the Frenchman, 
 for with Norton she found it impossible ; but 
 long and weary did the opera appear, and most 
 desirous was she to be at home, where she need 
 no longer put any constraint on her spirits or
 
 156 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 her manner. On leaving the box it was neces- 
 sary to stop and speak to the Wykehams and 
 to many others; but this did not occupy much 
 time, and being handed into the carriage by the 
 obsequious French colonel, they drove home. 
 Dudley's note was handed to Henrietta by Lady 
 Hortensia, who having read it gave it to Fre- 
 derica, to whom, though it was read and viewed 
 over and over, it did not, could not give any 
 comfort. % 
 
 The next day the Wykehams and Miss Dau- 
 vers came to pay an early visit at Lady Hor- 
 tensia's, before their riding hour, as they kindly 
 said; a civility which Frederica would gladly 
 have excused. However, she must not only see 
 them, but hear the subject of the departure 
 of the two cousins discussed again in all its 
 bearings. The colouring given to Dudley's im- 
 patience was a good deal heightened by Miss 
 Danvers, who had assured Mr. Harewood that 
 she knew her cousin had been very anxious to 
 leave Nice : " Perhaps indeed," said she, can-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 157 
 
 didly, " because he thought it did not agree 
 with Burrell." In going over the same ground 
 at the Davenels, she qualified the admission 
 by saying, or from some other cause ; " but he 
 has often said to me, ' If Burrell would but quit 
 this odious place !'" 
 
 " I am sure," said Lady Hortensia, looking 
 more than usually placid, " I cannot wonder at 
 any one wishing to quit it. It was but last 
 Sunday I was saying to Mr. Davenel, that if we 
 could dispose of this house, I should be very 
 glad to go somewhere else." 
 
 Lady Emily politely expressed her concern 
 that such should be Lady Hortensia's wish, 
 and then Lady Hortensia explained that her 
 head never was well at Nice. She had cer- 
 tainly recovered h%r strength immediately on 
 coming, " but her poor head/' shaking it sig- 
 nificantly. 
 
 So every thing being said on the subject of 
 heads and climates which sympathy or expe- 
 rience could suggest, Miss Danvers again said :
 
 158 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " It was, after all, not strange that Dudley 
 should be tired of Nice. There was really no- 
 thing to interest or amuse a young man like 
 him. The fine arts unknown ; music execrable ; 
 and such a limited society ! he that was used to 
 the best that London could afford ; and he was 
 such a favourite in his own circle, and had such 
 friends at Rome, which must have made this 
 place appear contemptible. He was, she knew, 
 ambitious ; it was indeed, she believed, his only 
 fault he was said to be proud, but she rather 
 thought k should be called ambitious." 
 
 The Daveuels were silent. It was not for 
 them to take his part against his own relation, 
 who assumed a right to know his feelings and 
 his failings. But Lady Emily, who was on 
 thorns during this tirade, safd : " I really think, 
 Charlotte, that Dudley was influenced entirely 
 by anxiety for Burrell's health." 
 
 " I am certain/' said Miss Danvers, gravely, 
 " that he thought he was doing what was best 
 for Burrell in taking him away, and that had
 
 THE DAVENELS. 159 
 
 he imagined the place agreed with him, he 
 would have sacrificed his own taste to serve 
 him. But I merely repeat what I have often 
 heard him say of Nice, and the alacrity and 
 dispatch with which he managed all their com- 
 plicated affairs, showed at least that it suited his 
 own views and feelings to go away." 
 
 Mr. Harewood, who loved visiting, 'and al- 
 ways timed his visits so as to meet other visitors, 
 had entered a little time before, without however 
 changing the tone of conversation. Every one 
 was so accustomed to see him every day, that 
 his entrance did not excite the smallest sensa- 
 tion. He seemed to live every where more than 
 at home. On this occasion he felt himself to 
 be a person of importance; in fact, the subject 
 could not be properly discussed without him. 
 Having seen Dudley arrive from Villefranche, 
 and learning the motive of his return without 
 Burrell, he had entered into the house, and 
 volunteered his services and advice ; and though 
 neither were very effective, yet as he actually
 
 160 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 would go himself for the consul, he acquired a 
 sort of right to be present at most of the arrange- 
 ments. He could speak to the latest moment 
 of Dudley's stay, and it was " / wanted him to 
 do this," and " / proposed his doing that," 
 " / offered so and so ;" and he seemed to derive 
 consequence from having offered advice, though 
 only to have it rejected. 
 
 During the greater part of this conversation, 
 Henrietta managed to engage Clementina Wyke- 
 ham in some subjects which would give Fre- 
 derica an opportunity of turning from that which 
 occupied the rest of the company ; but as every 
 one's secret transpires, and all that can be ex- 
 pected is that it will not be mentioned to one- 
 self, there was not a person at Nice who did 
 not firmly believe an4 know that Captain Vil- 
 liers had paid great attention to Miss Frederica 
 Davenel, and that his sudden departure had 
 been a severe disappointment to herself and her 
 family. When Miss Danvers heard these ob- 
 servations, she used to say, she did not know
 
 THE DAVENELS. 161 
 
 what expectations had been formed, but she 
 knew they were very unfounded. Lady Emily 
 did not say much, and she could not be ill- 
 natured ; but as it is seldom an object with the 
 collateral branches of a young man's family to 
 have him married, she could not be supposed 
 to lament very much this failure of the Davenels. 
 The Davenels in the mean time shut their eyes, 
 and flattered themselves no one could see them ; 
 and so successfully did pride aid Frederica to 
 disguise an aching heart, that when Lady Emily 
 replied to Dudley's letter, she could with truth 
 say of the Davenels how very gay and agreeable 
 she found them ; that they met every where, 
 and made parties together in the morning. 
 This letter did not reach Dudley until he was 
 absorbed in constant and painful attendance on 
 his dying friend, and though he was not cox- 
 comb enough to expect that a young lady, 
 whose affections he had not solicited, should 
 quit the world and mope in solitude for his sake,
 
 162 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 yet the idea of amusement was at that time so 
 repulsive to his feelings, that, like Falkland, he 
 could have wished her to be somewhat pen- 
 sively gay.
 
 163 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 I, under pretence of friendly ends, 
 
 And well-placed words of glo/.ing courtesy, 
 
 Baited with reasons not implausible, 
 
 Wind me into the easy-hearted man. MILTON. 
 
 FROM the day that the two cousins left Nice, 
 Mr. Acheson became almost a daily visitor at 
 Lady Emily's. He endeavoured to improve his 
 introduction to the Davenels, but he found he 
 did not gain ground with them. To Frederica, 
 all men were now indifferent : he did not hold out 
 any attraction to the ambition of Henrietta; and 
 Mr. Davenel could not tell why, but he did not 
 like him. Lady Hortensia felt with Henrietta, 
 and therefore suffered Mr. Acheson to glide into 
 the society of the Wykehams, without an ef- 
 fort.
 
 164 THE DAVENEL8. 
 
 After some days spent at Nice, Lord Alexan- 
 der proposed to leave it for Paris ; but his friend 
 was not disposed to set out. Two days longer 
 were granted him, but at the end of that time, 
 finding Acheson's reluctance to depart was not 
 lessened, Lord Alexander made him a frank pro- 
 posal, either to set out immediately or to remain 
 without him. 
 
 " I accept the latter alternative," said Ache- 
 son coolly. 
 
 " Why what a fellow you are to travel with ! 
 Do you call this keeping your engagement ?" 
 
 " Glencairn," said Acheson, " I told you at 
 setting out, that I hated all ties even those 
 which Love has made" laughing : " shackles 
 of any kind don't suit me, and though sorry to 
 lose your company, I must enjoy my liberty to 
 the fullest extent." 
 
 " But what in the name of wonder can you 
 find here to detain you ? There are two or three 
 pretty girls, but you are not such a fool as to 
 marry without a good fortune, and that Miss
 
 THE DAVENELS. 165 
 
 Danvers, who is the only one that has any 
 thing, could not tempt such a lover of liberty to 
 put himself in shackles, to use your own phrase." 
 
 " Miss Danvers will never put any shackles 
 on my liberty, you may depend upon it," said 
 Acheson, " and, as you justly observe, those 
 pretty girls are out of the question : but here 
 I stay and if you must go back to Paris I can 
 only say bon voyage." 
 
 " I shall go to Paris to a certainty I would 
 not stay at such a bout du monde for half a king- 
 dom." 
 
 " Pray were you not quartered in Ireland ?" 
 said Acheson significantly. 
 
 " I hope you don't mean to compare Ireland 
 with this place. I never saw so many pleasant 
 people or so much gaiety in my life, as in Ire- 
 land." 
 
 " Yes the bogs and turf-stacks must have 
 set off the claret, of which I am told the peo- 
 ple are very liberal." 
 
 " You are not going to plead the beauty of
 
 166 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 tliis parched land as a reason for remaining, I 
 hope. If so, you are driven hard for an excuse, 
 and you must have some deeper reason which I 
 cannot fathom : so if you are resolved to stay, 
 say so, and I am off in an hour." 
 
 As Acheson merely smiled and nodded in 
 confirmation, Lord Alexander walked out, and 
 putting as much dispatch as he could in his 
 movements, he set off the same day ; and as 
 soon as he was gone, Acheson went off to pay 
 his daily visit at the Wykehams. 
 
 Though Mr. Wykeham could not be said to 
 stand in awe of Miss Danvers as Lady Emily 
 did, yet he frequently found it desirable to 
 shield himself from her ill-humour, by having 
 some stranger to dinner ; and on finding Mr. 
 Acheson was left alone, he invited him to join 
 their family party that day. Perceiving the 
 cheering effect his presence had on that hour, 
 so momentous to every Englishman, he got into 
 the habit of asking him almost every day. 
 Miss Danvers became for the time a new crea-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 167 
 
 ture : her health was decidedly better : she 
 studied her dress more, and her looks were con- 
 sequently improved. She could even ride with- 
 out giving much trouble when Mr. Acheson 
 was of the party ; and Mr. Wykeham, however 
 inobservant in general, could not fail to be 
 struck at last with the metamorphosis. 
 
 Between the happiest married couples there 
 is generally some one subject, which by tacit 
 consent is not touched upon ; and Miss Dan- 
 vers's temper, and the influence she possessed 
 in her family by its means, was the interdicted 
 one with the Wykehams. She was never dis- 
 cussed by them ; and when in making any new 
 arrangement, it was necessary to mention her, 
 it was always as poor Charlotte : by which they 
 seemed to throw upon her the whole weight of 
 that imperfection which belongs to all subluna- 
 ry things, and from which, not even the laws of 
 harmony are exempt. Now that poor Charlotte 
 appeared to derive enjoyment from the addition 
 of Mr. Acheson's society, it seemed as if the
 
 168 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Wykeharas were still unwilling to broach the 
 subject, least a breath should destroy some illu- 
 sion, and disturb a serenity so new and delight- 
 ful. Miss Wykeham was too young and too 
 modest to make any observations, and the chil- 
 dren were not often in the way. Mr. Acheson 
 had been presented to Mr. Wykeham by Lord 
 Alexander Glencairn : who also mentioned that 
 he was a gentleman of some fortune a proper- 
 ty having lately fallen to him by the death of a 
 cousin a Sir Thomas Acheson, whose title had 
 become extinct : Mr. Wykeham felt himself 
 warranted by such a recommendation, to en- 
 courage Mr. Acheson's attentions to Miss Dan- 
 vers, nor could Lady Emily see any objection. 
 Mean time, Lady Hortensia took her daugh- 
 ters to every thing that offered in the way of 
 society, though complaining to every one of the 
 bad effects of the climate upon her health : and 
 when her recovered looks were opposed to that 
 idea, she would only smile, and say they did 
 not speak truth if they proclaimed her to be
 
 THE DAVENELS. 169 
 
 well, " For still this head Ah ! I assure you 
 it is not well." 
 
 Mr. Davenel, though a man of sound under- 
 standing, where a man's understanding is 
 usually called into use, never saw further than 
 Lady Hortensia chose into those minor politics 
 in which she delighted : he began therefore to 
 fear that her head-aches were really severe, and 
 ever careful and affectionate, he grew as anxious 
 to leave Nice as she was. 
 
 It may seem strange that she would not put 
 him in possession of the true motive ; but 
 though he was always willing to do anything 
 for the advantage of his children, he might re- 
 quire to be convinced that this step was for their 
 advantage : or (for there is no putting any spe- 
 cies of manoeuvring into some men's heads, 
 and his was very simple and direct) he would 
 second, but awkwardly, her attempts to blind 
 the society at Nice ; and it was better there- 
 fore to give him a motive which would come 
 direct from his heart; and if that failed, the
 
 170 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 truth could be resorted to at any time. But 
 though he was really an affectionate husband 
 and a liberal man, it did not accord with his 
 notions of justice to his family to throw money 
 away, and he therefore delayed a little time in 
 order to dispose of his house at Nice. Mr. 
 Harewood offered to let it for him, after his de- 
 parture, but this was declined. Mr. Harewood 
 was, in fact, in all his offers of service, actuated 
 less by a wish to serve than to meddle ; and in 
 disposing of Mr. Davenel's house, he would 
 probably be as well pleased to procure a bargain 
 for the new comer as a good price for Mr. Da- 
 venel. After a little delay, however, the house 
 was disposed of, at such a moderate loss as 
 Mr. Davenel could afford ; and with the full ap- 
 probation of his whole family he conducted 
 them to Paris. The change was very agreeable 
 to them. Lord and Lady Poyntstown were 
 there, and their favourite Henrietta, was de- 
 lighted to renew her acquaintance with Paris 
 and its amusements under their auspices. Mr.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 171 
 
 Davenel had written to Herbert to meet them, 
 and he was not slow to obey the summons. 
 
 This circle of dear friends was more condu- 
 cive to Frederica's peace of mind, than the 
 amusements they forced her into. Her brother 
 and cousins had great spirits, and her aunt, 
 Lady Poyntstown, was clever and animated. 
 There was but little time for thought, for both 
 families were perpetually together, and the whole 
 business seemed to be comprised in going out 
 and dressing a la parisinm. No half measures 
 were admissible. No dowdy English costume 
 could be permitted to mingle with the elegantes 
 of the Tuilleries. Henrietta was in all her 
 glory. Her aunt, always partial to her, pre- 
 ferred her still to Frederica, whose beauty she 
 allowed to be superior, but whose more reflect- 
 ing turn of mind did not suit Lady Poyntstown. 
 She loved to see young ladies governed wholly 
 and implicitly by the laws of fashionable life 
 as promulgated by herself. Girls, she used to 
 say, should have no feelings, and she flattered 
 
 i 2
 
 172 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 herself that if she had had daughters, her family 
 would have been a perfect epitome of an abso- 
 lute government. " Sons, indeed," she used to 
 say, " must have their own way in some things;" 
 and, strange to say, she indulged hers in every 
 thing, and was more like their elder sister than 
 their mother.
 
 173 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 * * * down on your knees, 
 
 And thank heaven fasting, for a good man's love. SHAKSPEARE, 
 
 LADY HORTENSIA who relied much on the 
 stronger character of the sister-in-law, had not 
 been long in Paris before she had confided to 
 her all her late disappointment in her views 
 about Dudley. Lady Poyntstown listened with 
 great interest. " Well/' said she, " we must 
 if possible get her a match before she returns to 
 Ireland. As for London, I do look upon it to 
 be the very worst place in the world for an 
 Irish girl, however charming, if she has not a 
 large fortune or a powerful connexion : in short, 
 if she is Irish bred and born, as we all are
 
 174 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 you know. As for Ireland, it is a mere chance 
 there, and I should so dread this story getting 
 home before her ; a disappointment is so pitiable 
 a case. She would be obliged to take up at 
 last with some squire. I mean nothing disre- 
 spectful to Mr. Davenel, my dear Hortensia, for 
 you know he is a man in ten thousand : but 
 that Mardyn for instance : he may do very well 
 as a pis aller but I hope it is not come to that." 
 
 " I did think," said Lady Hortensia, " that 
 Mr. Manvers admired Frederica." 
 
 " To be sure he did admire her," said Lady 
 Poyntstown : " but he is one of your orderly, 
 sage men, who never do any thing out of its 
 place : he had some mortgage on his estate, 
 and, he had always said he would not marry 
 till it was paid off, though he had seven thousand 
 a-year to pay it out of. But I wish we had him 
 here : for you know, by the death of his uncle, 
 he is now Sir Charles Manvers, and has got a 
 large property in addition. It would be worth 
 your while to go to London in spring, in hopes of
 
 THE DAVENELS. 175 
 
 meeting him ; for I am much mistaken or the 
 impression was deep." 
 
 Lady Hortensia found great comfort in this 
 dashing sort of counsel, and looked up to her 
 sister-in-law as to a second Daniel. " But 
 Henrietta," said she, " grieves me ; for though 
 she certainly does not look more than eighteen 
 or nineteen, she is, as you know, past twenty- 
 five." 
 
 " I know it," said Lady Poyntstown. " I'll 
 tell you what I think : Henrietta will do best 
 amongst the foreigners, and if you go to Lon- 
 don, you must leave her with me in Paris. She 
 has all the air of a finished Parisian belle. I 
 mean no disparagement to Frederica, who is 
 really very beautiful and very pleasing ; but she 
 has not that perfect tournure which Henrietta 
 has got. She is too modest, I was going to 
 say : and she has one great fault she is often 
 very absent ; in short, she is too natural. Ex- 
 cuse me, Hortensia, I don't mean to hurt your 
 feelings, but you must own I am right."
 
 176 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Lady Hortensia, finding she was called upon 
 to be hurt, tried to feel so, but she was ashamed 
 at the evenness of temper with which she could 
 have heard Frederica accused of being too na- 
 tural and too modest, if Lady Poyntstown had 
 not apologized. 
 
 " She has spent too much time in the coun- 
 try," added Lady Poyntstown : " that may ac- 
 count for it. I assure you I think it a bad plan 
 to let young persons return in summer to their 
 country places, they rusticate so quickly ; they 
 should always spend their summers at the 
 watering-places, where they can practice the 
 manners and habits they have acquired in 
 town." 
 
 Lady Hortensia felt herself to be a poor crea- 
 ture. She had, in a small way, practised a 
 little miserable maneuvering, but this bold 
 avowal of it, as a laudable system, inspired her 
 with respect and awe : and, as if the mere sug- 
 gestions of Lady Poyntstown's energetic charac- 
 ter were to accomplish themselves, lo ! to her
 
 THE DAVENELS. 177 
 
 wishes, arrived Sir Charles Manvers ; who, 
 having met Herbert Davenel in the street, and 
 hearing that his family was in Paris, accompa- 
 nied him now to pay them a visit. He was 
 most graciously received by the two ladies, 
 whose conference his arrival had interrupted ; 
 and as cordially by Mr. Davenel, who regretted 
 he should have so little time to enjoy the plea- 
 sure of his company, being prepared to set out 
 for England the next day. He had some busi- 
 ness in London, and his family were so well 
 placed, and had so many friends, that he would 
 leave them a fortnight or three weeks ; and he 
 felt particular satisfaction in knowing they 
 would have Sir Charles's society. 
 
 An Irishman's politeness differs from that of 
 an Englishman, and a Frenchman's from both. 
 In the civility of a Frenchman, certain exag- 
 gerated expressions flow from him, in periods 
 which have served generations before him, and 
 will be in use with those that follow. It would, 
 in his opinion, be ill-breeding to omit them ; 
 
 i 5
 
 178 
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 but the application of them, at the proper time 
 and place, is all that originates with himself. 
 
 An Englishman's good breeding is of a more 
 negative description : it consists of a certain 
 tact, which prevents his ever saying or doing 
 an awkward or intrusive thing. An Irishman's 
 civility is not exempt from the possibility of 
 either; but he puts so much of heart in his 
 commonest intercourse with you ; if he dines 
 with you, or you with him, there is a libation 
 to friendship ; and there is such a warmth and 
 glow in his whole manner, as cast a spell over 
 his very imperfections. But when, as in Mr. 
 Davenel, sterling worth and nice tact accom- 
 pany this Irish warmth of feeling, the charm is 
 irresistible, and is universally felt and acknow- 
 ledged. 
 
 Mr. Davenel left Paris for England the next 
 day : his absence was always felt by his family 
 to be a loss, but it was an evil they seldom had 
 to complain of. Sir Charles Manvers was spee- 
 dily established in the coterie of the Davenels
 
 THE DAVENELS. 179 
 
 and Poyntstowns ; and Lady Poyntstown used 
 to look triumphantly at Lady Hortensia, on 
 every fresh proof of his admiration for Frede- 
 rica. She prided herself also on her discern- 
 ment in another quarter ; for it was certain, that 
 the air distingue of Henrietta, joined to he 
 beauty, produced a sensation whenever she ap- 
 peared in French society ; and she was so con- 
 scious of her advantages there, that she gladly 
 availed herself of Lady Poyntstown's guidance, 
 to make it her champ de bataille. She had ad- 
 mirers, whose admiration meant nothing ; but 
 she more particularly attracted the devoirs of 
 the Marquis de Bellerive, a man of considerable 
 fashion and consequence, and who was in ex- 
 pectation of being appointed governor of . 
 
 A wife of Henrietta's beauty, manners, and 
 address, would, he thought, set off his new 
 government : and he merely waited to have his 
 appointment made out, to commence a nego- 
 ciation with her family. In the mean time he 
 approached her with the most profound respect :
 
 180 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 no silly attempt at flirtation was to precede his 
 proposals ; but Henrietta was acquainted with 
 French manners, and feeling her conquest, she 
 purposely avoided holding that frank and flip- 
 pant tone of conversation, which is practised 
 amongst unmarried people in England, and she 
 received the homage of the Marquis with the 
 most dignified gravity. He was a fine-looking 
 man, with an air tres imposant: about forty- 
 four, with a quantity of hair and whiskers, 
 most of it of le plus beau noir, but having a few 
 white hairs slightly scattered through it, which 
 seemed to be the effect of the rays of light fall- 
 ing strongly on his short-rounded curls, and 
 which gave additional elevation to his lofty 
 stature. 
 
 As Lady Poyntstown now undertook the 
 whole conduct of Henrietta, the latter removed 
 into her aunt's hotel, that there might be no 
 interruption to the system of French politics 
 by which they were to be governed ; and Frede- 
 rica was left to Lady Hortensia, and their con-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 181 
 
 stant attendant, Sir Charles Manvers, whom 
 the young Poynts's used to call John Bull. 
 Both parties, however, met at some part of 
 every day, though it often happened that the 
 sisters had not a moment for private communi- 
 cation, or interchange of thought. Frederica 
 deplored the privation, and Henrietta would 
 have it felt at any other time, but she was now 
 fully occupied by her main object; and as she 
 and Frederica viewed that object in very diffe- 
 rent lights, she thought it might be, perhaps, 
 as well that they could not confer in private. 
 Their intercourse was, therefore, chiefly when 
 driving about in the carriage, with their mother 
 or aunt, or both ; or while walking in the Tuil- 
 leries, accompanied by them, or their brother 
 and cousins. Their evenings were not often 
 spent in the same society, though both were 
 perpetually at some scene of gaiety. 
 
 A fortnight had elapsed after the departure 
 of Mr. Davenel, when one day, as Frederica 
 was standing at the window of a marchande de
 
 182 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 modes, in while Lady Poyntstown 
 
 and Henrietta were looking over some finery, 
 she was struck with the rapid movement of an 
 open travelling-carriage, stained with many a 
 soil, and announced by the brisk cracking of 
 the postilion's whips. One is always strongly 
 tempted to observe a travelling set out. This 
 stopped a few yards before reaching the window 
 where Frederica stood, but in the middle of the 
 street, and apparently for some trifling pur- 
 pose. There was but one person in the caliche 
 a gentleman, who leaned considerably out of 
 the window, while giving some directions to his 
 courier, who sat behind. A glance sufficed to 
 show Frederica that the traveller was Dudley. 
 He was in mourning, as well as a servant who 
 sat with the courier. She thought of Burrell, 
 it was evident, otherwise Dudley would not now 
 be travelling, and alone. He was on his way 
 out of Paris the road to Calais ; the horses 
 were fresh. The courier descended, and came 
 to the side of the carriage, and the conference
 
 THE DAVENELS. 183 
 
 lasted some minutes. Dudley looked paler and 
 thinner than she had ever seen him. No won- 
 der his kind heart must have suffered much. 
 He looked up for a moment, but not particu- 
 larly at the window she occupied : at least she 
 thought so, for he showed no sign of recogni- 
 tion ; then throwing himself back in the car- 
 riage, it drove on at a great rate, and was soon 
 out of sight. Lady Poyntstown and Henrietta 
 were so much occupied by the object of their 
 shopping, that no interruption was given to her 
 thoughts for some minutes, until Henrietta, 
 calling for her opinion of some merveilleuse 
 article, saw her pale and trembling Both then 
 asked her what was the matter ; but trying to 
 smile, she said the room she believed was too 
 hot, and she would go down to the carriage. 
 " The stove, perhaps," said Lady Poyntstown, 
 and she was hurried into the carriage, and re- 
 quested to remain there until their important 
 business was finished. 
 
 Frederica had no inclination to tell Henrietta
 
 184 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 of her having seen Dudley. It was painful to 
 her to hear him abused, which Henrietta was 
 wont to do; with the good-natured intention of 
 curing her sister of her ill-placed partiality. 
 
 Frederica had learned much by that short 
 view of Dudley : it told her of BurrelFs death, 
 and of Dudley's return to England, without 
 endeavouring to see her ; for had he wished it, 
 how easily he could have learned from the 
 Wykehams, with whom he corresponded, that 
 her family had come to Paris. To so many 
 proofs of his indifference, she could only op- 
 pose his looks, his voice, his manner, during his 
 stay at Nice ; and then came the bitter reflec- 
 tion, that men do permit themselves all these 
 tokens of attachment and admiration, and call 
 them common-place, and care not for the hearts 
 they wound and leave to mourn. 
 
 Frederica's spirits had latterly sunk consi- 
 derably after the first excitement occasioned by 
 the meeting between the two families ; and this 
 view of Dudley, with the reflections which it
 
 THE DAVENELS. 185 
 
 gave rise to, were not calculated to raise them : 
 but as her natural sweetness of character made 
 her always desirous to please and oblige, there 
 was nothing in her manner likely to strike an 
 inobservant person, as indicative of unhappi- 
 ness ; and Sir Charles was not long in coming 
 to the conclusion that she was the most charm- 
 ing person in the world, and therefore the very 
 properest wife for him the very sort of person 
 he had been looking for ever since he was five- 
 and-twenty : but there was so little of the lover 
 in his manner, that Frederica, who looked upon 
 him as the friend, and almost the contemporary 
 of her father and uncle, never once suspected 
 his intentions ; and the day and hour appointed 
 by Sir Charles for making them known had 
 come, and he was actually stating them to 
 Lady Hortensia's willing ear in one room, while 
 Frederica was chatting with her brother and 
 cousins in the next. 
 
 Sir Charles did not fail to mention his own 
 fortune and expectancies ; the settlements he
 
 186 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 intended to make on Miss Frederica all very 
 handsome : and to some allusion made by Lady 
 Hortensia to the smallness of Frederica's for- 
 tune, he said he should leave that entirely to 
 Mr. Davenel, who would of course make her 
 equal to her sister, he asked no more. 
 
 Nothing could be more fair or more liberal: 
 and he then retired, hoping to be received in 
 the evening in a new and more flattering rela- 
 tion to her ladyship. 
 
 Lady Hortensia's first impulse was to fly to 
 Lady Poyntstown with the intelligence; for 
 something whispered to her that the satisfaction 
 would be greater in that quarter. Lady Poynts- 
 town was truly delighted at the proposal, and 
 much pleased by the prompt communication 
 for governing characters love to have people to 
 govern : it was settled, however, that Lady 
 Hortensia should communicate the proposal to 
 Frederica alone, and that Lady Poyntstown 
 would follow quickly to offer her congratula- 
 tions.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 187 
 
 " My dear Frederica, you are now indeed 
 going to make a splendid match," said Lady 
 Hortensia, as she entered the room ; and then 
 rapidly, and with exultation at every circum- 
 stance, she related all that Sir Charles had said, 
 which she expatiated on to her own satisfaction; 
 and might have gone on still longer ; for Fre- 
 derica, who now felt how deeply Dudley was 
 fixed in her heart, had not power to speak or 
 move; but Lady Hortensia, observing her 
 change colour repeatedly, and at length grow 
 pale almost to fainting, said : " What can be 
 the matter, my dear child ? This cannot be a 
 great surprise, though it is very agreeable ; for 
 I assure you your aunt Poyntstown and I have 
 perceived and expected it all along, and so I 
 am sure must you have done." 
 
 " No, indeed," said Frederica, bursting into 
 tears with the attempt to speak, " I never did 
 suspect such a misfortune." 
 
 " Misfortune!" repeated Lady Hortensia; 
 " why, you silly girl ! but I wo'nt have the
 
 188 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 business of Mardyn acted over again, Frede- 
 rica ; and don't let your aunt Poyntstown per- 
 ceive that you could have received the news so 
 like an idiot. Think what would people say if 
 it was known you even hesitated about such a 
 match : why Sir Charles has not less than 
 eighteen thousand a-year now, and he has ex- 
 pectancies besides." 
 
 Frederica could do nothing but cry. She 
 could not plead, as in Mardyn's case, the vul- 
 garity of the connexion, or the man's deficiency 
 in education, sense, or knowledge of the world : 
 with what face could she acknowledge that her 
 partiality for a man who had not proposed for 
 her, was an impediment to her accepting a 
 match which seemed to give such joy to her 
 whole family. 
 
 Lady Poyntstown arrived at that moment: 
 she stepped up gaily to Frederica, and kissing 
 her, said : " Well, is it greatly surprised and 
 overcome at its conquest ? but you must not 
 look so frightened : you will make yourself ap-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 189 
 
 pear little in the eyes of Sir Charles ; and he 
 will be here after dinner before we go to the 
 opera." 
 
 " I cannot see him," said Frederica, burst- 
 ing again into tears : " I am not fit to see any 
 one." 
 
 " Why what a pretty idiot it is ! did any 
 2firl ever behave in this manner before ! What 
 
 O 
 
 excuse could be made for not seeing him ?" 
 
 " There is no use in seeing him," said Fre- 
 derica, " as I cannot rnarry him." 
 
 Lady Hortensia absolutely screamed at this 
 disclosure, while Lady Poyntstown burst into a 
 violent fit of laughter, and flung herself into a 
 chair. " Dear Hortensia, don't make yourself 
 uneasy: this little fit of heroics will go off: 
 Frederica is not really the fool she seems at 
 this moment. My dear child, what would you 
 have? or what do you expect?" but again 
 seeming to think it a subject of mirth, she 
 said, " Do, my love, go to your room, and settle
 
 190 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 your looks, or Sir Charles may say, ' that is 
 not the face I proposed for.' " 
 
 Frederica, glad to be dismissed, ran to her 
 own room, leaving her mother and aunt to won- 
 der and comment together. Lady Hortensia 
 cried with vexation ; and even Lady Poynts- 
 town did not seem to think it quite as good a 
 joke as when Frederica was present. 
 
 " But what can be the meaning of it? 1 " said 
 she. 
 
 " Ah !" said Lady Hortensia, " I am afraid, 
 indeed, that the meaning is her having formed 
 a stronger attachment to Villiers than I sus- 
 pected." 
 
 " Perhaps," said Lady Poyntstown, " she 
 has good reason to expect he will propose for 
 her; in which case I cannot wonder at her 
 wishing to hold back for a while. Have you 
 ever questioned her; for he may have said 
 something not amounting to an express pro- 
 posal."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 191 
 
 " I never spoke to her on the subject," said 
 Lady Hortensia : " I thought it better not to 
 seem to suspect any attachment." 
 
 " Every one has their own way of proceed- 
 ing," said Lady Poyntstown : " I own I should 
 have insisted on knowing what had passed be- 
 tween them, and if you will allow me to speak 
 to her." 
 
 " With all my heart," said Lady Hortensia. 
 " You cannot oblige me more ;" for in fact she 
 felt she had but little power over Frederica, and 
 she was desirous to avail herself of Lady 
 Poyntstown's boasted tactics. 
 
 Lady Poytnstown lost not a moment in com- 
 mencing her operations, and going to Frederica's 
 room, she tapped : " May I go in Frederica." 
 
 Frederica, not daring to decline seeing her 
 aunt, opened the door, and Lady Poyntstown, 
 without taking further notice of her disturbed 
 countenance, sat down and drew her gently to 
 a chair next to her, and then said, " My dear 
 Frederica, I am beginning to think you have
 
 192 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 some reason you have not given us, for your 
 aversion to this match. Do tell me. I know 
 Captain Villiers was a good deal with you both 
 at Nice and in Ireland. Has he given you any 
 that is, has he made you any proposal or said 
 any thing like a promise in the event of his 
 cousin Burrell's death? because," without 
 minding Frederica's start of horror, " if so, I 
 must say, the heir of the Duke of St. Evremond 
 would be such a match as I should not wonder 
 at your wishing to wait for; he might have 
 made some distant " 
 
 Frederica could not, even to save herself 
 from persecution, say this was the case, and 
 she hastily answered, " Never, never, but ' 
 
 " That is sufficient," said Lady Poyntstown. 
 " I am satisfied, because I know you are a 
 person of truth." 
 
 Frederica wished her aunt would question 
 her as to her feelings for Dudley, but she 
 could not volunteer the confession after having 
 declared that he never solicited her affections ;
 
 THE DAVENELS. 193 
 
 and Lady Poyntstown, who used to say that 
 the word feelings ought to be expunged 
 from a young lady's vocabulary, was satisfied 
 without any further investigation. Frederica, 
 however, summoned up courage to detain her 
 as she was going away, and to say, " but my 
 dear aunt, I cannot see Sir Charles this even- 
 ing; it is impossible I can appear if he comes." 
 
 " Frederica," said Lady Poyntstown with 
 some severity, " I begin to think you are, what 
 I have often heard you were, a spoiled child. 
 But I will yield thus far to your folly. Though 
 we cannot doubt that your papa will rejoice at 
 the match, yet we will say that it is necessary 
 to have his answer, before you can receive Sir 
 Charles as any thing more than an acquaint- 
 ance. In that light it cannot distress you very 
 much to see him this evening." 
 
 " Oh ! my dear aunt/' said Frederica but 
 
 Lady Poyntstown would not hear another word, 
 and went out of the room to Lady Hortensia ; 
 they both consulted and lamented for some 
 
 VOL. II. K
 
 194 THE DAVENEJLS. 
 
 time, and imagined they had decided for the 
 best; but at length it was agreed that it would 
 be well to see Frederica once more; as such a 
 manner and countenance as she lately presented 
 would be too discouraging to Sir Charles ; who 
 would expect to be received, if not as a favoured 
 lover, at least as a welcome friend. But ano- 
 ther interview with her, proved to both the bad 
 policy of allowing his visits until she could be 
 more reconciled ; and here Lady Poyntstown's 
 genius showed itself. Lady Hortensia was to 
 write a note to Sir Charles, saying how sure 
 she was that Mr. Davenel would be charmed 
 at his proposal ; but that her daughter had a 
 great repugnance to giving any answer until 
 sanctioned by her papa ; that Lady Hortensia 
 hoped Sir Charles would not feel displeased at 
 this delicacy on the part of her dear child, and 
 as any explanation under these circumstances 
 would be awkward and painful to her and to 
 him, she thought it would be better if they 
 were to meet in the mean time, merely as ac-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 195 
 
 quaintances, and in mixed society. She then 
 hoped to see him at the opera, and concluded 
 with many expressions of attachment. 
 
 This note was sent, and Lady Hortensia 
 having, as a great condescension, repeated the 
 substance of it to Frederica, she was left to her 
 own most painful meditations. When Dudley 
 left Nice she had felt unhappy, but she never 
 anticipated such an aggravation to her unhap- 
 piness as the present. It had been her deter- 
 mination to endeavour to conquer an attach- 
 ment, which was not, she was persuaded, 
 returned in the degree she once hoped ; but she 
 had made little or no progress towards its con- 
 quest. Of Dudley she thought perpetually; 
 and there were moments when she still believed 
 he loved her truly devotedly ; though some- 
 thing prevented or retarded his telling her so. 
 Yet how could she hold out such a hope to her 
 friends as a reason for refusing Sir Charles, 
 without being able to give one explicit sentence 
 of Dudley's, expressive of attachment. 
 
 K 2
 
 196 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Lady Hortensia's note was not every thing 
 Sir Charles could desire ; but never before 
 having gone so far on the road to matrimony, 
 he was not aware what his rights and privileges 
 might be ; and, as his cue now was to be all 
 acquiescence, he could only return an answer 
 full of acknowledgment and submission, and 
 availing himself of her permission to meet her 
 at the opera, where he hoped he should have 
 the pleasure at least of seeing Miss Frederica. 
 
 Though Lady Hortensia did not tell Frederica 
 that she expected Sir Charles at the opera. 
 Yet she was really too ill to encounter any so- 
 ciety that evening. She was feverish, and a 
 violent head-ache, was but the simple truth. 
 
 Henrietta was now so constantly at her aunt's 
 and so much occupied with her scheme of be- 
 ing Madame la gortvernante, that there was no 
 opportunity for Frederica to confide in her; 
 besides, she felt it was not a case in which she 
 could look for sympathy from her sister. Hen- 
 rietta had thought her foolish for refusing
 
 THE DAVENELS. 197 
 
 Mardyn ; now she would think her mad ; and 
 Villiers's desertion of her, as Henrietta would 
 have it to be, would appear to her a tenfold rea- 
 son for accepting Sir Charles. Not being able 
 to consult with Henrietta, she felt utterly friend- 
 less and forsaken. Mrs. Harris, indeed, would 
 willingly have acted the part of counsellor and 
 friend, for which she fancied herself eminently 
 fitted, but the vulgarity of her ideas, as well as 
 of her expressions, were revolting to Frederica, 
 who avoided conversing with her whenever she 
 could. Being charged, however, with the care 
 of Frederica when the family went to the opera, 
 she brought her some tea, at the usual time, and 
 then exclaiming at her appearance, said, " Well, 
 Miss Frederica, I declare I wish you would not be 
 always bringing yourself into trouble that way." 
 
 " How do you know I bring myself into 
 trouble, Harris ? Is it not as likely that trouble 
 comes to me without my fault?" 
 
 " Why, indeed, that is true Miss Frederica j 
 but there 's one thing I remark : this is just
 
 198 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the third time I seen you in trouble ; onc't about 
 Mr. Mardyn, onc't at Nice, and this turn makes 
 the third ; and after this will come good luck, 
 you '11 see. I was draining last night of white 
 gownds ; and I thought I had the most elegant 
 white gownd and white ribbands, that your 
 mamma gave me and that 's a sure sign of a 
 wedding ; so you '11 see all this trouble will end 
 in marriage." 
 
 This prognostic had not all the effect on Fre- 
 derica's spirits which Mrs. Harris hoped for; 
 though not superstitious, it brought vividly to 
 her mind the tie by which she was expected to 
 unite herself to Sir Charles Manvers, and Dud- 
 ley's image rose to her heart to forbid the 
 thought. 
 
 Sir Charles was disappointed at not meeting 
 Frederica at the opera, but he was given to 
 understand by Lady Hortensia that a young 
 lady was naturally agitated on such occasions, 
 and that altogether it had given her a head- 
 ache, and it was better not to encounter the
 
 " THE DAVENELS. 199 
 
 heat and crowd; and "Lady Hortensia smiled 
 so complacently, that Sir Charles was forced to 
 conclude he was the happiest of men. She 
 then represented in such strong colours, the 
 awkwardness of their meeting without any al- 
 lusion being made to his proposals, and Frede- 
 rica's determination to say or hear nothing on 
 the subject until the arrival of Mr. Davenel's 
 answer, that Sir Charles, perplexed by so much 
 delicacy, at length proposed, to Lady Hortensia's 
 great relief, to accept of an invitation which 
 his hopes had hitherto interfered with, to visit 
 a friend who was settled at Fontainebleau, and 
 to wait there for the return of the post; which 
 would, he said, be less painful to him than to 
 see Frederica under the interdiction proposed ; 
 which he would not call hard, because her will 
 was his, but which he should find difficult to 
 obey if he was admitted to her presence. He 
 had hoped to be admitted to plead his cause to 
 
 herself, but if that could not be 
 
 Lady Hortensia snatched at the idea of his
 
 200 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 going to Fontainebleau, and commended it so 
 highly, that he had no alternative ; and having 
 calculated the nearest day on which the answer 
 could arrive, and taken a respectful leave of 
 Lady Hortensia, he set out the next morning 
 for his friend's at Fontainebleau, in no very 
 agreeable frame of mind. 
 
 Lady Poyntstown, who was energetic in mind 
 and body, was an early riser, and arrived the 
 next morning at Lady Hortensia's, while she 
 and Frederica were sitting at the breakfast- 
 table. Some traces of displeasure were visible 
 on the mild brow of Lady Hortensia, and Fre- 
 derica's face betrayed the sleepless and wretched 
 night she had passed. Lady Poyntstown en- 
 tered in high good-humour. 
 
 " How is this naughty child to-day ?" kissing 
 her cheek. " I hope every thing is now to your 
 satisfaction. Poor dear Sir Charles puts him- 
 self in banishment until your papa's letter 
 arrives, so you will have ample time to compose 
 your nerves and recover your looks, which are
 
 THE DAVENELS. 201 
 
 really shocking. In the mean time," turning to 
 Lady Hortensia, " you and I may take a glance 
 at some finery ; for the fuss and hurry will be 
 very great when once we have Mr. Davenel's 
 answer; of course he will follow his letter imme- 
 diately: and you may be certain Sir Charles 
 has all his papers, I mean the necessary ones, 
 here; so that there will be no great delay." 
 
 The mention of the papers and the finery 
 almost threw Frederica into hysterics. It was 
 plain that her aunt would hold no contest with 
 her on the subject, but would act as if her con- 
 sent was obtained, and she exclaimed, " Oh ! no 
 preparations I must entreat." 
 
 " Why, you goose, I don't mean to order your 
 clothes ; I merely mean that your mamma and 
 I should in an underhand manner" (laughing) 
 " see some things, and then we shall know 
 where to get them at a moment's notice. I left 
 Henrietta in bed : she was tired, and early rising 
 don't agree with her. I assure you," looking 
 grave and important, " I am highly pleased with 
 
 K5
 
 202 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 her conduct. No young person could behave 
 with more good sense and propriety. The Mar- 
 quis is quite charmed with her, and has told me 
 that he only waits for an appointment worthy of 
 her acceptance, to make his proposals in form. 
 And now, my dear Hortensia, I must tell you 
 that, as you know, Poyntstown and myself we 
 have always loved Henrietta as if she was our 
 daughter and having none of our own and 
 our boys, thank God, will be very well off. In 
 short, Poyntstown has declared that he will 
 give her five thousand pounds on the day of her 
 marriage, in addition to the five her father gives 
 her and ten thousand pounds is a very fair 
 fortune in France and no Frenchman is inde- 
 pendent of fortune with his wife ; and the Mar- 
 quis understands how all this is." 
 
 This information was not altogether a sur- 
 prise, it having some way or another transpired 
 that Lord Poyntstown would add to Henrietta's 
 fortune ; but as it had never before been dis- 
 tinctly expressed to the Davenels, it called forth
 
 THE DAVENELS. 203 
 
 all due acknowledgements on the part of Lady 
 Hortensia, and even Frederica, in the midst of 
 her own vexation, felt pleased and obliged, as if 
 the gift had been to herself. But what gift to 
 herself could at that moment have given her 
 any satisfaction ? All the wealth of the Indies 
 seemed to her as dross, compared with the com- 
 fort it would give her to be free from Sir Charles's 
 addresses ; could that wish have been accom- 
 plished, no doubt another would have succeeded 
 to it, but at present she did not dare to turn her 
 thoughts that way. She looked therefore to 
 Henrietta's brighter prospects for consolation, 
 though to herself the view was clouded by the 
 feeling that she was about to lose a sister whom 
 she fondly loved, in spite of the dissimilarity in 
 their tastes and opinions. 
 
 Lady Poyntstown then took Lady Hortensia 
 out in the carriage, and Frederica was left at 
 home. She had not seen her brother, or sister, 
 or cousins since the proposal : they were told 
 she had a heavy cold, and Lady Poyntstown
 
 204 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 contrived that none of her boys should intrude. 
 Frederica now sat leaning her head on both her 
 hands, sunk in despair at the uncontrollable fate 
 which seemed to await her, when Herbert came 
 into the room, calling for some breakfast. On 
 seeing Frederica he came up to her " Indeed 
 I am glad to see you so well, Frederica," said he, 
 snatching her hand, but when she turned her 
 face to him he started ; " why, my dearest Fre- 
 derica, what can be the matter? this is not 
 illness;" and he tenderly embraced her, and 
 begged she would tell him what had vexed her ; 
 " for I know," added he, " you have the sweet- 
 est temper in the world." 
 
 Frederica was not under any promise of 
 secrecy, and being deprived of Henrietta's coun- 
 sel and sympathy, and feeling that her brother, 
 even if he should blame, would pity her, she 
 told him the truth. 
 
 Herbert was surprised : though not thinking 
 much on the subject, he had imbibed some con- 
 fused notions that young ladies went into public
 
 THE DAVENEL'S. 205 
 
 to get married, or that their mothers took them 
 out for that purpose, and he did not think the 
 evil seemed so great as to justify Frederica's 
 distress ; but when, on asking her objection, she 
 said, " I cannot like him, Herbert," he replied, 
 with the generous warmth of youth, " then, my 
 dear Frederica, you shall not marry him. Indeed, 
 I dare say you think him too old I am sure he 
 is a good forty, though a well-looking fellow, 
 that is, a gentleman-like ; and really, Frederica, 
 I used to think you liked him very much 
 I have seen you conversing with him so much 
 at your ease, and looking so happy, that I 
 thought " 
 
 " Ah ! Herbert, I was at my ease because 
 I did not care about him." . 
 
 " Well, that is odd enough," said Herbert ; 
 " but have you told my mother that you do not 
 like him?" 
 
 " Yes ; but she does not mind that and my 
 aunt Poyntstown is carrying all before her :" 
 and then Frederica more minutely related what
 
 206 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 had been said on all sides, and what had been 
 resolved on. 
 
 " I'll tell you what I'll do," said Herbert, 
 " to circumvent these ladies. My mother wrote, 
 you say, yesterday there is no great time lost 
 I'll write this very day to my father to tell him 
 that you do not like Sir Charles Manvers that 
 is for a husband and you know he never will 
 insist on your having him." 
 
 " O my dear Herbert," said Frederica, " will 
 you ? I was thinking at one time of writing my- 
 self, but I was ashamed, for both my mamma 
 and aunt say that is no reason for refusing so 
 good a match." 
 
 " But if it is your only reason," said Herbert, 
 " have you any better ? Do you prefer any one 
 else ?" said he with great simplicity. 
 
 This question embarrassed her: at length 
 she said, "I may have seen persons I could 
 like better, and yet not want to marry any one, 
 Herbert." 
 
 " Very true !" said Herbert, " for you are
 
 THE DAVENELS. 207 
 
 very young : you are a year and three months 
 younger than I am : and I am sure," said he, 
 laughing, " I should be very sorry to marry for 
 some time to come. Not but I know women 
 marry younger than men. I have often thought 
 it hard," said he, looking very wise, " that a 
 woman must wait to be asked and therefore 
 may be asked by fifty men whom she does not 
 like, and the very person she does like, may not 
 ask her." 
 
 " How easy my misfortune is to hit !" thought 
 Frederica. " But, my dear Herbert, if you are 
 not afraid to write to my papa " 
 
 " I am not afraid, Frederica, of doing any 
 thing which I know ought not to offend a rea- 
 sonable man and you know he is the very 
 most reasonable, just, considerate man and 
 father, that ever existed." 
 
 " But you must take care," said Frederica, 
 " not to mention my mamma with anything 
 like disrespect, or anger ; or, I mean, as if she 
 was in the wrong."
 
 208 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Of course not," said Herbert, who had that 
 moment in his own mind, been turning a sen- 
 tence with considerable severity, sur son compte ; 
 but which Frederica's caution made him in- 
 stantly resolve to transfer to his aunt Poynts- 
 town. 
 
 " Nor of my aunt Poyntstown," said Frede- 
 rica, "for it would all come out afterwards, and 
 we should both be blamed, and I should suffer." 
 
 " Why, Frederica," said Herbert, " I must 
 blame some one ; and if neitner my mother nor 
 aunt Poyntstown are in the wrong, it will follow 
 that you are." 
 
 " Qh, no, my dear Herbert ; people may be 
 mistaken only : for my mamma and aunt mean 
 everything for my happiness, though I unfor- 
 tunately cannot be happy in the way they think 
 best." 
 
 " Very true," said Herbert : " you really are 
 very reasonable and candid, Frederica; just like 
 my father. So I'll tell you what we will do : 
 we'll write the letter together. You shall die-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 209 
 
 tate, or correct. The moment I have taken 
 some breakfast, let us go into your room, that 
 we may not be disturbed ; for those boys may 
 be coming here, and I'll leave word I am gone 
 out." 
 
 These measures being taken, the brother and 
 sister retired to pen a letter which was to be at 
 once candid, dispassionate, and persuasive.
 
 210 
 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 How like a dream ii this I tee and bear ! 
 
 Love lend me patience to forbear a while. SHAKISPEAKE. 
 
 TH E letter being written, and approved of by 
 both, was sealed ; and Herbert, with a sense of 
 importance which he had never felt before, took 
 it himself to the post-office. 
 
 Frederica's mind being considerably relieved 
 by this step, on which she built a good deal, 
 and being free from the apprehension of meet- 
 ing Sir Charles, recovered rapidly her looks, 
 and seemed, indeed, so much at her ease, that 
 her mother and aunt saw every thing to hope : 
 but they agreed it was better not to teaze her 
 by speaking much on the subject.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 211 
 
 In the meantime, every thing prospered with 
 Henrietta. On the evening of Sir Charles's 
 departure for Fontainebleau, she accompanied 
 her aunt to a French soiree, where they met, as 
 usual, the Marquis de Bellerive. Henrietta 
 danced her best, and flirted not at all. As each 
 quadrille was ended, she retreated to the side 
 of her chaperon, with an air of the most perfect 
 retenue, while the Marquis seemed to pay his 
 devoirs altogether to Lady Poyntstown. The 
 declaration was not to be made in form till his 
 appointment was confirmed ; but in the mean 
 time, he did not think it inconsistent with deli- 
 cacy, to ascertain la dot, and though not splen- 
 did, it was in his opinion sufficient to cover the 
 expense of a partner in his government. No 
 surprise awaited Henrietta. She saw every 
 step the Marquis was making towards her and 
 his government at the same time, and she kept 
 her steady course undismayed. 
 
 Notwithstanding Lady Poyntstown's confi- 
 dence in the attractions of Henrietta, she did
 
 212 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 not think it necessary or prudent to bring her 
 sister into the same society : it would be of no 
 use to Frederica, and it might divert attention, 
 and rouse comparisons. 
 
 As Frederica's engagement (as Lady Horten- 
 sia would have it to be) was unknown to any 
 but their own family, she thought it allowable 
 and better to take her moderately into society : 
 solitude being favourable to reflection ; and re- 
 flection unfavourable to that passive obedience 
 which Lady Poyntstown taught, was the whole 
 duty of a young lady. As there was no one to 
 stay at home with, Frederica went out without 
 a murmur, and strange to say, without remorse 
 or concern for poor Sir Charles, whom she had 
 exiled : and she could even smile when her 
 mother and aunt ventured to rally her on her 
 cruelty : but her real comfort was in moments 
 of private conference with Herbert, which were 
 spent in calculations of the time which must 
 yet elapse before an answer could arrive from 
 Mr. Davenel : and then Herbert would remind
 
 THE DAVENELS. 213 
 
 her, that his answer, accepting of Sir Charles, 
 might, and probably would, arrive first ; and 
 would warn her not to be alarmed and then 
 would follow the consideration of what she 
 should say and do in that case. 
 
 At length, the day on which Lady Hortensia 
 had calculated on receiving an answer arrived, 
 and soon after the post hour, a note came from 
 the punctual Sir Charles, hoping his happy des- 
 tiny was fixed by the expected letter from Mr. 
 Davenel, and begging permission to wait on 
 her, and on the object of his affections. 
 
 No letter having arrived, and Lady Poynts- 
 town not being in the way, Lady Hortensia, who 
 since she had put herself into leading-strings, 
 had forgot to walk alone, felt considerably at 
 a loss what answer to return. Something must 
 be done, however, and after some consideration, 
 she thought it best to accept a visit from Sir 
 Charles herself, and then to endeavour to pre- 
 'vail on Frederica to see him. 
 
 The following careless, unpremeditated note,
 
 214 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 the fourth edition, corrected and revised, was 
 sent, twisted, not sealed, that it should appear 
 as if she had made no delay. 
 
 " Dear Sir Charles, 
 
 " No letter from Mr. Davenel as yet ; 
 he may not have got mine time enough to an- 
 swer it by that day's post. I think, however, 
 you may, at least, make me a visit. 
 
 " Yours very sincerely, 
 
 "H. D." 
 
 She instantly wrote to Lady Poyntstown, 
 and having dispatched both notes, she went in 
 search of Frederica, who was in her own room, 
 and dressing to go out in the carriage with her 
 aunt and sister. Lady Hortensia entered smil- 
 ing, and mentioned Sir Charles's note, as what 
 she had been expecting, and his intended visit. 
 She then added, " I insist on your being present 
 at the visit : there shall not be one word said, 
 or the least allusion to the proposal. That, you
 
 THE DAVENELS. 215 
 
 know, cannot be, after the agreement I made 
 with him to that effect." It was plain she 
 would not be disobeyed ; and Frederica, re- 
 assured by her mother's promise that nothing 
 was to be said on the great subject, accompa- 
 nied her to the salon, where she was seated at 
 her drawing, when the door opened, and Mr. 
 Davenel entered the room. Both mother and 
 daughter felt surprise and joy at his arrival ; 
 but Frederica's feelings were not unmixed with 
 fear, in spite of the fond and strict pressure of 
 his arms, as he held her to his heart. She 
 clung to him, as if for protection, and he felt 
 the appeal, but he would not enter upon the 
 subject in the presence of both ; and, after a 
 few kind expressions, he said to Frederica, " I 
 must have some conversation with your mamma 
 first : we will go to the dining-room, for fear of 
 being disturbed here." 
 
 " By all means,'' said Lady Hortensia ; " and 
 do you, my love, go to your own room, and I 
 will give directions, that when Sir Charles
 
 216 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 comes he is shown in here, and your papa and 
 I told of it." 
 
 Mr. Davenel and Lady Hortensia then left 
 the room, and Frederica made her escape into 
 her own, (which was separated from it only by 
 a passage,) glad to be spared Sir Charles's 
 dreaded visit alone. 
 
 But she had scarcely shut her door, when it 
 occurred to her, that the most prudent step for 
 her to take would be to see Sir Charles before 
 his meeting Mr. Davenel. He would naturally 
 speak of his expectations ; and she would, like 
 many a heroine that she had heard and read of, 
 confess she could not love him, and throw her- 
 self on his mercy. He was a gentleman, and 
 she believed a man of good feeling, and would 
 withdraw his suit when he found it was likely 
 to make her wretched. Not, however, to lessen 
 the-value of the sacrifice he was called upon to 
 make, she took a slight view of herself in the 
 glass, made some improvements in the sit of 
 her hair, and was going back to the salon, when
 
 THE DAVENELS. 217 
 
 she perceived the servant showing a gentleman 
 into it. Her courage failed her for a moment, 
 and she drew back to recover her presence of 
 mind, which another moment's reflection, how- 
 ever, restored ; and with an air of modest dig- 
 nity she threw open the door, and advancing a 
 few steps, was commencing a rather ceremo- 
 nious courtesy, when her astonishment at seeing 
 Dudley Villiers made her start with something 
 like a scream. He met her with agitation even 
 greater than her own, and with an eagerness in 
 his voice and manner, which did not contribute 
 to compose her. He then hoped he had not 
 startled her; and when she had repeatedly as- 
 sured him she was not startled in the least, and 
 he had several times feared she was, they both 
 thought of sitting down. He asked for Lady 
 Hortensia and Miss Davenel twice over, with- 
 out seeming to hear the reply ; but when he 
 told of a mistake, by which he had been led 
 into the belief that the whole family was in 
 London, and that, consequently, he had stopped 
 VOL. n. L
 
 218 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 in Paris merely to change horses that word, 
 consequently, was as good as a volume of ex- 
 cuses he would not then have passed without 
 calling on them ; and before she was aware of 
 what she was saying, she told him of her having 
 seen him, as he stopped for a moment on his 
 way out of Paris. 
 
 " You saw me then ! How could I be so 
 blind as not to see you ?" 
 
 " I had nothing to do but to look out of the 
 window while my aunt and sister were making 
 purchases; but you had other business you 
 were evidently in haste." 
 
 " And do you know," said he, approaching 
 her, " what impelled me ? I thought I was fol- 
 lowing you to London." But suddenly start- 
 ing, he said, " Tell me, for heaven's sake, whe- 
 ther I am too late whether I am fortunate 
 enough to find you disengaged ? There was a 
 horrid report I heard it at Mr. Davenel's lodg- 
 ings, but your servant could give no particu- 
 lars. He said, nothing was fixed. But re-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 219 
 
 lieve ray mind, and tell me if this hand is still 
 free?" 
 
 Frederica did not instantly withdraw it, and 
 an explanation took place, of which the parties 
 themselves declare they have not the smallest 
 recollection. The speeches, or rather broken 
 sentences, which were uttered on the occasion, 
 have therefore never transpired : which is, pro- 
 bably, no great loss, as common sense and 
 grammar are usually set at nought on such oc- 
 casions. Such as it was, however, they had 
 not said half what they wished to say, when 
 Mr. Davenel and Lady Hortensia, having been 
 made acquainted that a gentleman had been 
 some time in the drawing-room, and having 
 come to an amicable arrangement, that Frede- 
 rica should be given time for consideration, and 
 not urged, if she still declared her aversion to 
 the match proposed, entered the room. Frede- 
 sica hastily quitted it, not wishing to hear the 
 proposal which Dudley was all impatience to 
 make ; and great as was their surprise, it may 
 
 L 2
 
 220 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 he supposed that their satisfaction was still 
 greater. Mr. Davenel, as we have elsewhere 
 said, liked Dudley for himself; and the worldly 
 advantage of the match could not be forgotten. 
 As for Lady Hortensia, it appeared to her a 
 dream, from which she dreaded to awake ; and 
 she could scarcely listen to Mr. Davenel's re- 
 gret, that Sir Charles Manvers should suffer a 
 disappointment and mortification, which would 
 have been spared him, but for the mistake 
 which led Dudley to suppose the Davenels 
 were in London. Dudley succeeded in con- 
 vincing both Mr. Davenel and Lady Hortensia, 
 that his not proposing at Nice was not owing to 
 want of decision on his part, but to a delicacy 
 and nicety of feeling, perhaps overstrained, and 
 which was near losing him what he most loved 
 on earth. 
 
 They had not said half what this view of 
 the subject seemed to call for, when Lady 
 Poyntstown, Miss Davenel, and Sir Charles, 
 arrived. Her Ladyship, who loved scenes,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 2'2l 
 
 thought such an opportunity was not to be lost, 
 and wishing, besides, to give her sister-in-law 
 the benefit of her assistance, in compelling the 
 stubborn character of Frederica to receive Sir 
 Charles, she had instantly, on getting the note 
 we have mentioned, called on him, and pro- 
 posed bringing him to Lady Hortensia ; but 
 thinking a little time in preparing Frederica 
 might not be unacceptable to Lady Hortensia, 
 she first took Sir Charles to some of the va- 
 rious places of resort, which she and Miss Da- 
 venel had daily occasion to visit ; all the time 
 accounting to him so clearly for the non-arrival 
 of Mr. Davenel's answer, and showing herself 
 to be so au fait at posts, winds, tides, times, 
 and seasons, that he began to think that thing, 
 called a clever woman, might in some cases 
 prove a great bore. This was his latest conclu- 
 sion, when the party stopped at Mr. Davenel's. 
 The sight of Villiers was a surprise to all, but 
 not a moment was given to conjecture : Mr. 
 Davenel, shaking hands with Sir Charles,
 
 222 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 begged to speak with him in another room ; 
 and there, all that could be expressed of esteem 
 and regard, and high consideration, could not 
 prevent Sir Charles from feeling deeply morti- 
 fied, and somewhat angry, at having been al- 
 lowed to remain so many days in the pleasing 
 belief, that he was accepted by Frederica, sub- 
 ject only to her father's approbation. He was 
 pleased, however, at the assurance, that the 
 secret had been faithfully kept ; but how could 
 that long remain a secret, which was already 
 known to seven or eight persons? He felt no 
 wish, it may be supposed, to return to the 
 party in the salon ; and without wasting much 
 time in compliments, he left the house. Mr. 
 Davenel would have been very glad if he could 
 have transferred his affections to Henrietta, but 
 she was destined to move in a higher sphere. 
 
 Lady Poyntstown, though really ambitious for 
 all her family, and in the main, much pleased 
 that Frederica should make so brilliant a match, 
 was somewhat nettled at her resistance to au-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 223 
 
 thority, and what she called common sense ; 
 and would have felt more triumphantly happy 
 had this proposal been more selon les regies. Here 
 was a downright love-match a thing she had 
 always reprobated qualified to be sure by every 
 thing that the most worldly-minded family could 
 desire. However, she gulped down the emo- 
 tions of displeasure which Frederica had from 
 time to time excited, and cordially accepting 
 Dudley's claim to her friendship, she said she 
 must now go and see the dear girl, who might 
 have spared some trouble to herself and her 
 friends by a little more candour. This she said 
 to flatter Dudley ; for the candour to which she 
 alluded, would have been very ill received. 
 Henrietta had, before this, joined Frederica, 
 whom she congratulated very sincerely, adding, 
 " You must come often to Paris my dear Fre- 
 derica" for she had already established herself 
 in France in idea. But Sir Charles having left 
 the house, it was not necessary that Fredericu 
 should remain in her own room : nor does it
 
 224 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 appear that she was prevented from going to 
 the opera that evening, by the head-ache, con- 
 sequently, as Sir Charles was told on a former 
 occasion, upon receiving a proposal of marriage 
 from a man she was resolved to accept. In the 
 course of that day and evening, Villiers, as we 
 shall now call him, found opportunities to ac- 
 quaint Frederica with some circumstances, 
 which we shall relate after our own manner : 
 though most of our readers perhaps care very 
 little what led to the present result, and now 
 that the parties are happy, will think it tiresome 
 to retrace events past and gone.
 
 225 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 He faded bat so calm and meek, 
 So softly worn, so sweetly weak, 
 So tearless yet so tender kind, 
 And griev'd for those he left behind, 
 With, all the time, a cheek who=e bloom 
 Was as a mockery of the tomb ; 
 Whose tints as gently sank away, 
 As a departing rainbow's ray. BYRON. 
 
 FOR some days after death had terminated Bur- 
 rell's sufferings, Dudley felt overwhelmed. This 
 world appeared as nothing. He had just seen 
 life close on one who had entered it a few years 
 later than himself had tasted its pleasures, had 
 felt its vanity, and was now gone into that fu- 
 turity which, a short time back had appeared 
 so distant, that to reflect upon it at all would 
 have been deemed by many as unprofitable and 
 unseasonable; and yet now it was the all of
 
 226 THE D^VENELS. 
 
 existence to that very being, and must in a few 
 fleeting years, be the lot of him who mourned 
 his loss. The ducal coronet, we can aver, had 
 not at that moment, a single attraction for Dud- 
 ley : and he turned with melancholy regret from 
 the consideration of it. 
 
 A few days were necessarily devoted to the 
 sad business of executorship, in which was in- 
 cluded the painful task of writing letters to the 
 friends of the deceased especially to the Duke 
 of St. Evremond, by whose express desire, as 
 soon as Burrell's hopeless state was known, it 
 had been settled that his remains should be re- 
 moved to England for interment in the family 
 vault a subject the invalid had not once allud- 
 ed to ; his whole thoughts being absorbed by 
 the care of his immortal part 
 
 As soon as the melancholy cortege had set out 
 from Naples, Villiers felt he had no longer any 
 business there, and his first wish was to return 
 to Nice and with that thought 
 
 " Came thronging soft and elegant desires, 
 All prompting him how fair Frederica was"
 
 THE DAVENELS. 227 
 
 and he felt there was something in this world 
 worth living for. 
 
 The gloomy thoughts which the sight of pain 
 and death had engendered, gradually dispersed 
 as he rapidly traversed the Italian states ; and 
 left only a tender recollection of his lost friend, 
 accompanied by a conviction that he was hap- 
 py, beyond the power of mortals to compre- 
 hend. Another day at Naples would have given 
 him a letter from Lady Emily Wykeham, telling 
 him of the Davenels' departure for Paris ; but 
 this letter, with many others, was destined to 
 arrive too late. To Nice therefore he went, in- 
 tending to make the most open offer of his hand 
 to Frederica, and then to set out immediately 
 for England, to the Duke of St. Evremond, 
 who had expressed a hope that he would return 
 to him after the melancholy event. He would, 
 if possible, secure Frederica's consent before 
 seeing his uncle, as there was no saying what 
 projects he might have formed for him of a ma- 
 trimonial kind; and that he was already en-
 
 228 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 gaged, must be sufficient to prevent his uncle 
 from pressing the subject. Should Frederica 
 refuse him ! but his heart rejected the thought 
 except in the case of her having accepted ano- 
 ther and there were moments when this idea 
 haunted and harassed him. Under these anx- 
 ious feelings he could give neither time nor at- 
 tention to the various objects of curiosity which 
 would in other circumstances have detained him 
 on the road. Even the beauties of nature, 
 could scarcely arrest his observation. Moun- 
 tains, valleys, rivers, were passed in an incredi- 
 bly short space of time, and once more passing 
 the Corniche, he found himself at V hotel des 
 Etrangers at Nice, in the latter end of February. 
 He would have flown to Mr. DavenePs, but he 
 felt that every sense of propriety would be vio- 
 lated by his not calling first on the Wykehams. 
 It was early, and the moment he had breakfast- 
 ed, he set out for their house. They had re- 
 ceived his letter announcing Burrell's death, 
 and the meeting was not joyous : but all the
 
 THE DAVENELS. 229 
 
 family were rejoiced to see Dudley, and much 
 interesting discourse ensued, in which he was 
 called upon to bear the principal part. At 
 length he thought he might enquire for those 
 who most occupied his thoughts and he be- 
 gan " You mentioned seeing a good deal of 
 the Davenels are you as intimate as ever ? 
 you seemed to like them very much." 
 
 Lady Emily then mentioned how Lady Hor- 
 tensia fancied the place disagreed with her, 
 and had prevailed on Mr. Davenel, to go to 
 Paris about a month before. Dudley started 
 Miss Danvers added, " they are an irreparable 
 loss to us, for they have such spirits !" 
 
 " I don't think Miss Davenel has great spi- 
 rits," said Lady Emily. 
 
 " Not great but she is cheerful : and Fre- 
 derica, is the gayest-hearted young person I 
 ever met in my life : it is plain," sighing, 
 " that she has seen but little of the world." 
 
 Neither Lady Emily nor Clementina could 
 assent to this description of Frederica, whose
 
 230 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 spirits after Dudley's departure, it may be con- 
 cluded, had been merely assumed, but it was 
 not safe or agreeable to dissent when Miss Dau- 
 vers gave her opinion, and no opposition was 
 made. 
 
 " I am sorry to hear that Lady Hortensia was 
 in bad health," said Dudley, anxious to learn 
 something of the family. 
 
 " Oh no, only restless, I believe," said Miss 
 Danvers ; " her daughters were very sorry to 
 leave Nice." 
 
 " I have heard Henrietta often say," said 
 Clementina, " that she disliked it." 
 
 " Perhaps so : but I know Frederica lamented 
 leaving it." 
 
 " One would think, to young ladies in good 
 health," said Mr. Wykeham, " Paris would be 
 a very agreeable exchange for Nice : which I 
 do think is one of the dullest places in the 
 world : but two roads for a carriage and those 
 thronged with mules. As for the tracks up the 
 mountains, no one who values his horses' feet or
 
 THE DAVENELS. 231 
 
 knees would attempt them ; and for walking, a 
 man should be shod like a mule to go over the beds 
 of coarse gravel, which they call roads here." 
 
 " Any one else gone?" said Dudley, though 
 not at that moment recollecting the name of 
 any person he had left there except the Dave- 
 nels. 
 
 " Yes," said Lady Emily ; " the Blanchards 
 went away about four or five days ago. 5 ' 
 
 " Did they ?" said Dudley ; without being 
 conscious that such people existed j " and where 
 to?" 
 
 " Home," said Lady Emily. 
 
 '* Where did you know them, Dudley ?" said 
 Miss Danvers. 
 
 " I forget here I suppose." 
 
 " They did not arrive here," said she, sig- 
 nificantly, " until after you had left this : and 
 I have heard them say they did not know you." 
 
 Villiers almost laughed " They do me too 
 much honour," said he. 
 
 " Is there any one else you wish to ask for ?"
 
 232 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Yes ; how is poor Mrs. Harewood ? I hope 
 Harewood has not bored her to death ?" 
 
 " No; she is very well I think," said Miss 
 Wykeham. 
 
 Mr. Wykeham now looked at Miss Danvers, 
 and asked Villiers how long he should remain 
 at Nice. 
 
 " I go off to-morrow morning," was the an- 
 swer. 
 
 The Wykehams exclaimed at this haste, and 
 some significant looks, and short sentences ut- 
 tered in whispers, passed between Lady Emily 
 and Miss Danvers: the subject seemed to in- 
 terest Miss Danvers particularly, who looked 
 half angry, half pleased, and Villiers became 
 sensible of a great improvement in her air and 
 looks. He complimented her very sincerely on 
 the latter, as a proof of her amended health. 
 Mrs. Wykeham and Lady Emily smiled, and 
 seemed full of meaning, but it would appear 
 that some unseen influence restrained them from 
 speaking : and the fair Clementina looked down
 
 THE DAVENELS. 233 
 
 and blushed. Villiers was about to beg an ex- 
 planation, but he was interrupted by the earnest 
 entreaties of both Mr. Wykeham and Lady 
 Emily, that he would stay some days with 
 them. 
 
 " I am sorry it is not in my power, but I 
 want very much to be in England ; and my 
 uncle is anxiously expecting me." 
 
 " Do you stop in Paris?" said Miss Dan- 
 vers. 
 
 " Not long ; not more than a day." 
 
 Just then Mr. Harewood called and was ad- 
 mitted. His surprise at seeing Villiers was 
 great : and he could not be satisfied without 
 hearing a great deal about the roads, the inns, 
 and the weather, he had had to deal with on his 
 journey from Naples; of his future movements 
 he was also inquisitive ; and hearing he was 
 to go through Paris, he said, " I think you 
 could oblige the consul by taking a small parcel 
 for him to Mr. Davenel." 
 
 "Where is he, in Paris?"
 
 234 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " He is not in Paris; he is gone home, at 
 least, gone to England. I saw a letter this day 
 from him to the consul, in which he says that 
 they are setting out the next morning for Lon- 
 don ; and he tells him to send the parcel, if any 
 opportunity offers, to his banker there. It is 
 only some trifling articles of plate, which the 
 servants forgot in the bustle of departure, and 
 which the consul took charge of." 
 
 It will easily be perceived that Mr. Daveuel, 
 in writing to the consul, spoke only of himself ; 
 but as he did not expressly say that his family 
 remained in Paris, the impression on the consul 
 as well as on Mr. Harewood, naturally was that 
 they were going with him. There was no dis- 
 puting such authority as this, especially as 
 Harewood was known to be painfully accurate 
 in all matters of fact, and the news was not 
 agreeable to Villiers. They might be going to 
 Glenlow Castle. Had they staid in Paris, he 
 would have felt more sure of meeting them. He 
 was most impatient to be gone. His determina-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 235 
 
 tion was, if they should have gone to Glenlow 
 before his arrival in London, to follow them the 
 moment he had had one interview with the 
 Duke of St. Evremond. A letter would easily 
 explain, but he disclaimed the formal coldness 
 of a written declaration. No he must see and 
 read her countenance, and from her own lips 
 receive the acknowledgement of her sentiments. 
 He was jealous of those worldly advantages 
 which must render him in the eyes of her 
 parents so desirable a match, and he would owe 
 nothing to their influence. An answer dictated 
 by them would lose half its value, and all its 
 charm. 
 
 These thoughts rushed across his mind as he 
 descended the stairs, after having engaged him- 
 self to dine with the Wykehams, who had fol- 
 lowed the invitation by saying, " You will meet 
 Mr. Acheson ;" but Villiers, impatient to learn 
 from the consul what he knew of the Davenels, 
 scarcely attended to this circumstance. He had 
 reached the hall-door, when he met, coming
 
 236 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 into the house, the very person in question. 
 He started and bit his lip, and Mr. Acheson 
 seemed scarcely less agitated ; but, as if invo- 
 luntarily, he made a slight bow, (which however 
 was not returned,) and passed into the house, 
 and up the stairs, with the air of a man who 
 felt himself at home. Greatly surprised and 
 annoyed, Villiers went on to the consul's, where 
 he heard a confirmation of Mr. Harewood's 
 news. Monsieur la Croix then spoke of the 
 approaching marriage of Miss Danvers, and was 
 surprised to find he was not acquainted with it ; 
 and Villiers recollecting the looks and whispers 
 of the family, concluded they had reference to 
 the event, and laughing, said, he should not 
 spare his cousin Charlotte in revenge for her 
 reserve. But on hearing the name of the 
 futur, he was startled. It was the same Mr. 
 Wykeham had said he should meet at dinner, 
 and coupling it with the person he had met 
 going into the house, a confused recollection 
 came across his mind, of having heard that
 
 THE DAVENELS. 237 
 
 Everard, the destroyer of Burrell, had changed 
 his name for a fortune, and though the name 
 had never been thought of since, it now struck 
 him that it was Acheson. 
 
 Independent of his horror of being connected 
 with a man who had played so base a part, he 
 felt really grieved that Miss Danvers, however 
 unamiable in her temper, should be united to a 
 person of whose character Villiers could not 
 find words strong enough to express his detes- 
 tation : and in hopes the match was not finally 
 decided on, as report in such cases generally 
 out-travels truth, he went back to Mr. Wyke- 
 ham's, and sent in a note, begging to see Lady 
 Emily for a few minutes in private. She quick- 
 ly descended to the parlour, where she received 
 him alone ; and many words were not required 
 to explain to him that Everard, under the name 
 of Acheson, which he took on inheriting a small 
 property from a maternal uncle, was shortly to 
 be the husband of Miss Danvers. Lady Emily 
 was a good deal distressed, but her satisfaction
 
 238 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 at the match could not be instantly changed 
 into such horror of it as Villiers felt. It must 
 be recollected that she was unacquainted with 
 the particulars of the affair which led to the 
 duel; Burreli's sensitiveness to the charge of 
 folly having induced him to keep them secret, 
 and to impose secrecy on Villiers ; and a duel 
 might be fought without either party forfeiting 
 the character of a man of honour. To be sure, 
 the consequences had been, though slow, so 
 fatal to Burrell, that all the family were in the 
 habit of feeling strong dislike to Everard, and 
 his name was never mentioned amongst them. 
 But Villiers thought it incumbent on him now 
 to reveal the whole to Lady Emily, and it can- 
 not be doubted that she was greatly shocked ; 
 still her feelings, in spite of her judgment, were 
 on the side of Everard, who had made himself 
 very agreeable in her family, and who was about 
 to perform the still more agreeable part of 
 making poor Charlotte happy. That other dread- 
 ful affair had happened so long ago and she
 
 THE DAVENELS. 239 
 
 was sure Mr. Acheson felt all the remorse it 
 ought to inspire, for he seemed really a man of 
 honour ; and had behaved in the most gentle- 
 manly manner about settlements leaving to 
 Mr. Wykeham the entire arrangement of " poor 
 Charlotte's'' fortune but, of course, if Dudley 
 thought it indispensable, she would acquaint 
 her with the circumstance. Villiers did think 
 it indispensable, and Lady Emily insisted that 
 he should be present at the disclosure ; in fact, 
 that he should make it himself, unwilling, no 
 doubt, to encounter her daughter's grief and 
 rage alone. A twisted note, requesting her im- 
 mediate presence, was sent to her, and so word- 
 ed as to excite both her suspicions and her 
 curiosity as to the cause of the summons. She 
 entered, looking flushed with satisfaction at her 
 future prospects, and really handsome. She 
 started on seeing the disturbed countenance of 
 Villiers, and the wretchedness depicted in that 
 of her mother. 
 
 Lady Emily waited for him to begin, and he
 
 240 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 paused, evidently embarrassed and distressed. 
 After some minutes, Miss Danvers said, with 
 an indignant toss of her head, " I suppose I am 
 to be informed why I have been sent for." 
 
 Villiers approached her with an air of con- 
 cern and respect, and said: " May I ask you, 
 Charlotte, if you are aware that Mr. Achesori 
 
 and Everard the" he hesitated, for he was 
 
 near saying the murderer of Burrell, but con- 
 sideration for her feelings restrained him. 
 
 She betrayed no surprise, but in a grave and 
 decided tone said : " I am aware that Mr. Ache- 
 son is the Mr. Everard who fought a duel with 
 poor Burrell, and that he had the misfortune to 
 wound him; perhaps by doing so, to be the 
 cause of his death. No person, not even Bur- 
 rell's nearest relations," looking significantly At 
 Villiers, " can deplore that event more sincerely 
 than Mr. Acheson does. But we do not live in 
 an age or country where such events are fol- 
 lowed by never-ending feuds between families. 
 Had Burrell's shot taken effect, and their situa-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 241 
 
 tions been reversed, I suppose he would not 
 have been considered as a monster who was to 
 be hunted out of society." 
 
 " My dear Charlotte," said Villiers, " you do 
 not know the circumstances " 
 
 " I have heard the unhappy story," said she, 
 " Mr. Acheson does not spare himself but all 
 have their failings, and poor Burrell was not 
 exempt " 
 
 " Charlotte " 
 
 But Charlotte said impatiently, " What is it 
 you require ? I think there is but little delicacy 
 in this conduct and remember, cousin Dudley," 
 with an emphasis on the word cousin, " when I 
 wish for advice I shall ask it ;-" and with an air 
 which precluded further remonstrance she left 
 the room. 
 
 Lady Emily had taken the prudent part of 
 saying nothing during the conference ; and 
 Villiers, finding there was no use in further 
 interference, begged of her to excuse him to 
 Mr. Wykeham, as he found it impossible to 
 
 VOL. II. M
 
 242 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 meet Everard as a relation; and taking an 
 affectionate leave of his aunt, and leaving a kind 
 adieu for Clementina, he left the house. 
 
 As Nice possessed nothing now which could 
 interest or detain him, he set out in a few hours 
 for Paris, which, by travelling night and day, 
 he reached in seven days. He delayed there 
 but a few hours, and set out on the same day, 
 as we have already stated, for England, and with 
 a speed that might have been fatal to his hopes. 
 At the request of Lady Emily he had agreed 
 not to acquaint the Duke, her brother, with the 
 circumstances which he had disclosed to her. 
 It was sufficient that the Duke should know 
 that Mr. Acheson was the man who had unfor- 
 tunately wounded poor Burrell in the duel, and 
 Villiers felt the propriety of silence on the rest 
 of the transaction. 
 
 As we may not have leisure to recur again in 
 the course of our history to Miss Danvers and 
 her marriage, we may as well dismiss that sub- 
 ject in a few words at present.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 243 
 
 In his endeavours to please at Mr. Wyke- 
 ham's, Mr. Everard Acheson was not at first 
 actuated by any view of marrying Miss Dan- 
 vers. He had felt piqued to conquer the known 
 prejudices of the whole family against him under 
 his first name ; and the sudden departure of 
 Burrell and Dudley leaving him a clear field, 
 he had even found amusement in his rapid suc- 
 cess. He was not long in perceiving that what- 
 ever gave Miss Danvers pleasure, (we might 
 better say, whatever put her in good humour,) 
 met with approbation from the rest of the fa- 
 mily, and he cultivated her favour assiduously. 
 In a little time her evident admiration of him 
 flattered his vanity, and her fortune and con- 
 nexions roused his ambition. It even suited 
 his love of intrigue to get into a family of their 
 rank, in spite of their general horror of his 
 name. He deferred making his proposal in 
 form, until he was very sure that he possessed 
 the affections of Miss Danvers, and then all 
 was easy. Mr. Wykeham could not be ex- 
 
 M 2
 
 244 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 pected to start unnecessary objections, and he 
 readily took Mr. Acheson's representation of 
 the cause of the duel. Charlotte and he being 
 satisfied on that head, it was agreed on by the 
 three, not to distress Lady Emily by mentioning 
 the fact : and when, in her turn, she became 
 acquainted with the still more distressing par- 
 ticulars, her usual unwillingness to give unne- 
 cessary pain, kept her silent towards her hus- 
 band and daughter. 
 
 The union was not, after all, so fraught 
 with misery as might be expected. " Poor 
 Charlotte" was certainly not formed for a high 
 state of enjoyment ; but, strange to say, she 
 subdued and governed the volatile spirit of 
 Acheson, by the influence of her ever-varying 
 temper, joined with talents which could not be 
 despised, and by the force of a self-will, to 
 which all who had ever lived with her had 
 found it convenient to submit. But Acheson 
 \vas disappointed, annoyed, and, as much as he 
 dared, enraged, to find that in putting himself
 
 THE DAVENELS. " 245 
 
 into the shackles he had so long deprecated, he 
 had not obtained the advantages which were 
 his principal inducement ; for neither the Duke 
 of St. Evremond, nor his heir, would receive 
 him as a relation, or have any intercourse with 
 him; and, influenced by their example, the 
 whole family (except the Wykehams) treated 
 him with reserve, at least, if not with coldness. 
 As he approached London, Dudley Villiers 
 conjured up to himself a thousand subjects of 
 alarm ; not however derived from the observa- 
 tions of his cousin Charlotte, of whose wish to 
 tease and wound he was aware, but from those 
 numberless causes with which a lover's brain 
 teems in absence. The Duke was at a villa, 
 a few miles from town ; and before going to 
 him, Villiers took the precaution of calling at 
 Coutts's to lodge the packet he had brought 
 for Mr. Davenel, and to enquire where he was 
 to be found. No one at the bank knew where 
 Mr. Davenel was in town ; and Villiers left a 
 note for him, stating the commission he had
 
 246 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 charged himself with, and that he was obliged 
 to go to the Duke of St. Evremond's for a day 
 or two, but hoping that he should find Mr. 
 Davenel and the ladies in town on his return 
 and expressing, with some warmth, his wish to 
 see them. He left his address for Mr. Davene), 
 and then proceeded to Hollowdale, which was 
 about fifteen miles from town. 
 
 As Burrell was greatly beloved in his family, 
 some emotion was at first excited in the Duke 
 by the meeting with Villiers ; but this having 
 subsided, he spoke openly to him of his en- 
 larged prospects. " You are now my heir," 
 said he, " Dudley, and you have at present a 
 handsome fortune of your own : I hope there- 
 fore you will marry soon ; and if you make a 
 good choice, you may command my services in 
 any way in my power. I have too many houses 
 on my hands, and I could easily spare you a 
 good residence : but don't marry into the oppo- 
 sition I cannot bear that they bring all kinds 
 of people into society. Let me see ; there is
 
 THE DAVENELS. 247 
 
 Lady Jane L , Lady Harriet M , Lady 
 
 Mary S , and any one of the Lady D s ; 
 
 and his grace ran through half the Peerage to 
 find a suitable wife for his nephew. 
 
 " It seems I cannot be at a loss," said Vil- 
 liers ; " but really I have been so harassed of 
 late, that I am not in spirits to attend to matri- 
 monial projects." 
 
 " Spirits ! who ever heard a young man 
 talk of his spirits : but I see you mean to 
 choose for yourself, and of course I don't wish 
 to interfere : I know there would be no use in 
 dping that I merely mean to suggest." 
 
 " You really are very good, uncle ; and if it 
 was a case in which I could act from the sug- 
 gestions of another, I am sure I should consult 
 you ; but really there are so many things requi- 
 site to make the married life happy." 
 
 " Doubtless ! You must have rank, and for- 
 tune, and beauty all united in one person." 
 
 " And why not good temper and good prin- 
 ciples, my dear uncle," said Villiers.
 
 248 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Those are not so much requisites as indis- 
 pensables or rather they come of course." 
 
 " Yet they are sometimes dispensed with," 
 I believe," said Villiers ; " but there is ano- 
 ther requisite which I cannot help placing high 
 on the list, and that is mutual liking." 
 
 " Oh! your servant, Sir," said the Duke; 
 " I was not aware you were so over head and 
 ears in romance : but you cannot be quite ig- 
 norant of your personal advantages ; and with 
 your present means, and your future prospects, 
 let me see the young lady who will not under- 
 take for as much mutual liking as you can 
 require." 
 
 This view of things was jarring to Villiers' 
 feelings. He affected to laugh, however ; and 
 begging his uncle to spare him for awhile on 
 the subject of marriage, they talked on indiffer- 
 ent matters, until the arrival of company to 
 dinner removed the restraint which Villiers be- 
 gan to feel with the Duke. 
 
 Though most anxious to prosecute his en-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 249 
 
 quiries about the Davenels, he found it impos- 
 sible to leave Hollowdale the next day, as the 
 Duke engaged him all the morning in the con- 
 sideration of some family documents, and had 
 purposely invited some persons in the neigh- 
 bourhood to meet him at dinner. On the fol- 
 lowing morning, however, he said so decidedly 
 that he must go to town on business, that no 
 objection was made, and the Duke engaged 
 him to return on the day after. 
 
 He went to Coutts's again ; but Mr. Davenel 
 had not called there since, and his letter was 
 still lying in the office. He went to all the 
 principal hotels, but in vain. Mr. Davenel 
 who hated the bustle of an hotel, had taken 
 lodgings so soon after his arrival in town, that 
 even if Villiers did enquire at the right one, the 
 name of Davenel was forgotten. 
 
 Villiers now began to conclude that Mr. 
 Davenel had gone to Ireland, as he thought he 
 must otherwise have met him in some of the 
 streets which he incessantly frequented. The 
 
 M 5
 
 250 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 town was filling fast, and he looked anxiously 
 for some Irish acquaintance ; at length he met 
 Sir Martyn Saunders ; and though he had never 
 liked him much, yet as there was a sort of 
 forced intimacy in Ireland, he stopped and 
 spoke, and they walked up Bond-street to- 
 gether. 
 
 The usual questions took place and " Where 
 have you been?" and " how long have you been 
 in town?" were asked on both sides. At 
 length Villiers said, " Can you tell me whether 
 Mr. Davenel is in town ? I have a packet for 
 him which I brought from the consul at Nice." 
 
 " Mr. Davenel," said Sir Martyn. " Oh ! 
 ay really I know nothing of him; but, by the 
 way, now you mention his name, I remember 
 a man bowed to me some days ago, and I could 
 not recollect where I had seen him before ; 
 and now I think it must have been Mr. Dave- 
 nel." 
 
 " Was he alone ?" 
 
 " I rather suspect so I am not sure. He
 
 THE DAVENELS. 251 
 
 was coming out of the exhibition in Pall Mall 
 as I was going in." 
 
 " We English are reproached with forgetting 
 those who receive us hospitably in Ireland," 
 said Villiers. 
 
 " Why one has nothing else to do in Ireland, 
 but to dine out/' said Sir Martyn : " there is 
 no other amusement there." 
 
 " There is certainly every provocation there 
 to dining out," said Villiers, inwardly despising 
 Sir Martyn for affecting to forget a man at 
 whose house he had been often entertained, 
 and whose daughter he had paid some marked 
 attention to. 
 
 As he could learn nothing of the Davenels 
 from Sir Martyn, he soon left him to seek else- 
 where. In the evening he went to the opera, 
 but the objects of his search were not there ; 
 and having made fresh enquiries the next day 
 at the bank, he returned to Hollowdale to fulfil 
 his engagement with the duke. But insup- 
 portable did every thing appear ; and as his
 
 252 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 anxiety to hear of the Davenels, could not there 
 be satisfied in any manner, the next morning 
 he once more escaped to town, and went to 
 Coutts's. Mr. Davenel had been there, and 
 had transacted some business, and had got the 
 letter. 
 
 " Did he leave no answer?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 Villiers forgot that he had directed Mr. Da- 
 venel to his own address in town, and auguring, 
 he knew not what, of evil from this neglect of 
 his request, he once more spent some hours in 
 making a fruitless search. 
 
 Late in the day however, on going into the 
 club-house, where his letters were usually ad- 
 dressed, he found one from Mr. Davenel, saying 
 that he was preparing to rejoin his family whom 
 he had left in Paris, and should set off early 
 the next morning for Dover. Villiers might 
 now truly say he was harassed ; yet his spirits 
 revived, though the tone of the note was rather 
 stiff and formal : however, late as it was, he
 
 THE DA.VENELS. 253 
 
 set out for Mr. Davenel's lodgings. He was 
 gone out to dinner his servant did not know 
 where. 
 
 " When would he return?" 
 
 The servant could not tell ; he supposed about 
 eleven. 
 
 " Is he going off in the morning to Dover?" 
 
 The servant said " Yes :" and smiling, 
 " he believed upon a happy occasion ; there 
 was a talk of one of the young ladies going to 
 be married." 
 
 This communicativeness on the part of the 
 domestic did not surprise Villiers, as he per- 
 ceived he was an Irishman, and one whom he 
 remembered with the Davenels, both in Dublin 
 and at Glenlow Castle. With forced composure 
 he asked " which of the young ladies?" 
 
 The man smiled, and said : " Why, then, 
 indeed, Sir, there's a talk about both of them 
 but I believe it isn ? t Miss Frederica, anyway." 
 
 " Why do you think it is not Miss Fre- 
 derica?"
 
 254 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 " Why, Sir, because I don't think Miss 
 Frederica would marry a Frenchman. 1 " 
 
 " And is Miss Davenel going to marry a 
 Frenchman ?" 
 
 "Whisht! Sir, if you plase; don't say I 
 mintioned it only as you're a grate friend of 
 the family, I may say but, indeed, I don't 
 know a ha'p'orth about it, only as I hear before 
 I left Paris; and, indead, for the matter of 
 that, there was an English gentleman Sir 
 Charles Manvers, that you may remember, sir; 
 he was mighty fond entirely of Miss Frederica, 
 and my master got letters to-day, and he says 
 to me to pack up in all haste for to-morrow, 
 
 and so I thought but, indeed, may be it 
 
 isn't a word of it true." 
 
 Here was cause for meditation, and Villiers 
 did not require much time to decide what was 
 to be done. He resolved to set out the next 
 day for Paris, and not to be the sport of re- 
 ports or insinuations, but to see Frederica, and 
 learn his fate from herself.
 
 THE DAVENELS. 255 
 
 With all his diligence, he missed the first 
 packet in which Mr. Davenel sailed; but by 
 following in the second, they entered Paris 
 nearly at the same time. How closely Villiers 
 followed Mr. Davenel to his hotel has been al- 
 ready shown. 
 
 Remains only to be told, that Mr. Davenel had 
 received Lady Hortensia's and Herbert's letters 
 on the same day ; and that the contents of the 
 latter made him resolve to set out immediately 
 for Paris. Herbert's letter was under the seal 
 of secrecy and Mr. Davenel respected the 
 maternal authority, and would not appear to 
 sanction an appeal to himself from Lady Hor- 
 tensia. Could it be that Frederica cherished 
 an unrequited attachment to. Villiers? The 
 idea was very painful, and he felt that nothing 
 less than his presence could unravel the truth, 
 and either fix Frederica's acceptance of Sir 
 Charles, or release her from further persecution 
 on his account. His prejudice against Villiers 
 was increased, and in answering his note he
 
 256 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 could not avoid an unusually ceremonious and 
 cold style. 
 
 But all was now explained, and the affection 
 of the father, and the pride of the mother were 
 gratified to the utmost ; and Villiers felt so pre- 
 eminently happy, that he forgot all that had 
 harassed him, and lowered his spirits in his 
 conference on marriage with the Duke.
 
 257 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth ; 
 
 Turn melancholy forth to funerals ; 
 
 The pale (Companion is not for our pomp. 
 
 SHAKSPF./I 
 
 IT does not appear that the harassed state of 
 Villiers's spirits were now any impediment to 
 his conferring with his uncle on the subject of 
 marriage, and he did not delay a single post 
 acquainting him with his approaching happi- 
 ness ; apologizing for his reserve when he last 
 saw him, by stating the apprehensions he then 
 entertained of obstacles, which happily did not 
 exist ; and then he expatiated on the merit and 
 charms of the young lady ; and mentioning 
 her family and connexions, (the best in Ireland,) 
 he hoped for his uncle's approbation.
 
 258 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 "Ay approbation!" said the duke, when 
 he had read the letter. " He does not ask 
 consent, I see. He knows he is independent ; 
 and, after all, perhaps he could not do better : 
 those Irish girls generally make good wives." 
 And then he wrote a most gracious reply, 
 which Lady Hortensia managed to get posses- 
 sion of, and which she showed in confidence to 
 all the English families of her acquaintance ; 
 and shortly afterwards, a present of jewels for 
 the bride, coming from the same quarter, 
 stamped a double value on his grace's appro- 
 bation. 
 
 One morning a perfumed and highly orna- 
 mented billet was given to Lady Hortensia, 
 from the Marquis de Bellerive, soliciting the 
 honour of an interview with her ladyship, in 
 the presence of Lady Poyntstown ; and an 
 hour being fixed, he arrived in a magnificent 
 carriage, with chasseurs, and every thing which 
 could denote his rank. He presented himself 
 noblement; and having, after due ceremony,
 
 THE DAVENELS. 259 
 
 taken a seat, he made an eulogium of consi- 
 derable length on the beauty and graces of 
 Miss Davenel ; and then reverting to himself, 
 he gave a detailed account of his rank, titles, 
 and all his ancestral honours, with a fidelity 
 which would have done credit to Clarencieux, 
 king at arms : interspersed with some qualify- 
 ing expressions, such as, S'il m'est permis de 
 dire, and Je puis dire sans vanite ; and having 
 completed the whole history, he proposed lay- 
 ing all these titles, honours, and virtues, at the 
 feet of Miss Davenel ; adding, that he had 
 his sovereign's gracious approbation of the 
 measure. 
 
 The two ladies were careful not to interrupt 
 the marquis's speech, except by some encourag- 
 ing monosyllables ; and when he had finished, 
 Lady Hortensia accepted of his proposal in the 
 most courtly terms she could think of, and the 
 following evening was fixed for his being pre- 
 sented to Henrietta in the character of her 
 futur. The families of Davenel and Poynts-
 
 '260 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 town were assembled on the appointed evening, 
 and a few English and Irish persons of rank 
 were invited to be present. Henrietta, beauti- 
 fully dressed, " moved a queen ;" and the 
 marquis approached her with the air of an 
 ambassador addressing a sovereign princess. 
 Herbert Davenel said they both looked as if 
 they were dancing the minuet de la cour. 
 
 " He is a good fellow, however, I assure 
 you," said Villiers, " and a man of the highest 
 honour. He has invited us," looking at Fre- 
 
 derica, " to visit him and Henrietta at . 
 
 Do you think we shall go ? n 
 
 " I hope you will come first to Glenlow 
 Castle," said Herbert. " How I do long to 
 be there!" 
 
 This first formal evening being over, the 
 marquis's visits became less ceremonious ; nor 
 was he, in reality, much displaced in the Da- 
 venel circle. Lady Poyntstown was enchanted 
 at the success of her project, and Lady Hor- 
 tensia was, on the whole, pleased; but to all
 
 THE DAVENELS. 261 
 
 the rest, there was something heartless in this 
 French connexion. The difference of country, 
 language and religion, and a difference besides 
 which cannot be defined, in the ways of think- 
 ing, were at first grating; but to Henrietta no 
 such difference was perceptible, for she was, in 
 reality, wonderfully French in all her ideas, 
 except on the subject of religion ; and it was 
 a heartfelt satisfaction to Mr. Davenel to hear 
 her declare, that she would not accept the Mar- 
 quis but on the terms of keeping hers invio- 
 late ; and on conferring with the marquis, Mr. 
 Davenel found him not only complying on that 
 point, but willing to leave to her the sole guid- 
 ance of their children in that article. In every 
 thing else, Henrietta's taste was truly French ; 
 she almost pitied Frederica for the less pre- 
 meditated style in which Villiers's proposals 
 had been made; and the familiar, happy air 
 with which he approached her, seemed to Hen- 
 rietta to want dignity. 
 
 One morning, while Villiers was sitting with
 
 262 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 Frederica, and Lady Hortensia was engaged in 
 the next room with some of the various artists 
 employed for the approaching marriages, Her- 
 bert Davenel came in. " Who do you think 
 are come to Paris?" 
 
 " A great many persons no doubt," said 
 Villiers ; " but you must save us the trouble of 
 guessing." 
 
 " Well then the Mardyns I have just seen 
 them. I met George in the street, and he 
 told me where they were, and I visited the 
 ladies. They asked very particularly for you, 
 Frederica, and said they could now account for 
 your refusing their brother." 
 
 " How very absurd they arc," said Frederica. 
 
 " Nay," said Dudley, " you must allow for 
 a little spite under their disappointment; but 
 where are they going to?" 
 
 " Nowhere at present. Mrs. Mardyn told 
 me they intended amusing themselves here for 
 some time ; and, as she said, to deny themselves 
 nothing. They are coming here presently."
 
 THE DAVENELS. 263 
 
 And, in fact, not many minutes had passed 
 before Mrs. and the Miss Mardyns were an- 
 nounced. 
 
 There was a vulgar familiarity in their man- 
 ner, which distressed Frederica and amused 
 Villiers. They even ventured to say something 
 of her being very sly ; but suddenly recollecting 
 that Villiers, though now only a captain, would 
 one day be a duke, and Lady Hortonsia joining 
 the party, they checked the disposition to tor- 
 ment, and talked of Dublin and its changes. 
 
 " The Decourcys have left Dublin. He has 
 lost his place you know. I believe they were 
 not sorry to go. Indeed, I suppose no nice 
 people will like to be there, now that the Ca- 
 tholics have got every thing." 
 
 " But who do you think Miss O'Neil is go- 
 ing to be married to ? to Captain Wharton. 
 Yes, indeed, Captain Wharton, who never 
 spoke a civil word of any girl." 
 
 " Then he is much better off than he de-
 
 264 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 serves," said Villiers ; " for Miss O'Neil is a 
 very nice lady-like person." 
 
 " But she is a Roman Catholic," said Anna- 
 bella, " and it must be so dreadful to be mar- 
 ried to a Roman Catholic." 
 
 "It is better/' said Villiers, gravely, " that 
 a husband and wife should think alike on so 
 important a subject: but there may be grounds 
 of unhappiness stronger than a difference in 
 religious belief. Both parties being aware of 
 that difference, they will, if they have sense, 
 mutually refrain from any allusion to it" 
 
 "Oh! that's true," said Miss Annabella : 
 " I forgot your sister." 
 
 " Very true," said Mrs. Mardyn. " I long 
 to see her and her Marquis; but is not he 
 quite elderly? However, if she does not ob- 
 ject to that, it is not any body else's business 
 to be sure." 
 
 Lady Hortensia's smiling patience was nearly 
 exhausted by this last speech, and she made a
 
 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 265 
 
 movement across the room under some pretence, 
 but in reality to throw off the rising contempt 
 which her visitors inspired. Happily at that 
 moment Lord Poyntstown entered, accompanied 
 by the Marquis himself, and it was plain that 
 his air and appearance impressed the Mardyns 
 with great respect. He was presented to them 
 in form, and he complimented Mrs. Mardyn 
 on the beauty of her daughters; lamenting the 
 hard fate of his unhappy countrymen, for 
 whom she was preparing chains; called them 
 charmantes demoiselles, &c. Mrs. Mardyn 
 whose early slight acquaintance with French 
 had diminished to almost nothing, was not pre- 
 pared to unerstand, much less to answer the 
 speech ; but her daughters looked pleased and 
 flattered, and when they were all seated in 
 their carriage, Miss Mardyn observed, that it 
 was plain he was a great admirer of English 
 beauty. " And as to his being a Catholic, 
 what does it signify? I dare say he will not 
 insist on her going to mass; indeed, perhaps, 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 266 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 he does not go much there himself, except for 
 form sake," and before she reached home, she 
 reasoned herself into accepting the first fine 
 looking French Marquiss who should ask her, 
 though not young and a Catholic. But who 
 cares for the Mardyns ? Not any of my readers, 
 I am sure. We shall, therefore, return first to 
 Henrietta, whose nuptials were celebrated with 
 French pomp, and graced by the presence of 
 royalty. The trousseau, which was provided 
 by Lady Poyntstown, was superbe, and the 
 wrbeille de manage sent by the Marquis was 
 magnifiyue; and though Henrietta ascribed 
 too much importance to these trifles, yet there 
 were not wanting more solid ingredients for 
 happiness in the serenity of her character and 
 the sweetness of her temper, joined to the de- 
 votion of heart which those unfading charms 
 inspired in her husband. 
 
 Frederica's marriage was a fortnight later 
 than Henrietta's, owing to " the law's delay," 
 but which gave her the assistance of her sister's
 
 THE DAVENELS. 267 
 
 presence, as Madame la Marquise de Bellerive. 
 
 It was performed by Bishop , who, it is 
 
 said, receives more gold-fringed gloves in the 
 course of the year than any of his brethren of 
 the bench in England. Just as she was dress- 
 ed for her wedding, and while the officiating 
 artistes were all en extase at their own perform- 
 ance, a letter was put into her hands, having 
 the post-mark " Dublin." 
 
 Whatever may be the hurry of the moment, 
 one has always time to open a letter reading 
 it is another thing ; and, curious to know whom 
 it was from, while some indescribable improve- 
 ment was still making in the sit of her flounces, 
 Frederica stood, and glanced her eye over the 
 following interesting epistle. 
 
 " Dublin, April, 1829. 
 " Dearest Frederica, 
 
 "I never was so astonished in all 
 my life, as when I heard you were going to be 
 married to Captain Villiers. It was so queer, 
 
 N 2
 
 268 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 after knowing him in Dublin, and dancing with 
 him, and all that kind of thing. I can assure 
 you it has made a great sensation, and I am 
 really very glad of it. I always thought him 
 uncommonly handsome. How I envy you; 
 going to live in London and leave this dreadful 
 town, which is grown worse than ever. People 
 talk nothing but politics, and such mauvais ton 
 politics ! all about those horrid Catholics ! I 
 am sure I never cared whether they got eman- 
 cipation or not. Papa says it is a good thing 
 for us all, but I cannot conceive why, giving 
 them everything ! I tell him I wonder he can 
 wish such dreadful people to sit in parliament 
 and frank letters. I have got one of that 
 horrid O 'Council's franks: you know I am 
 making a collection. Lord Fitzmaurice will 
 try to sit in the Lords immediately. I shall be 
 glad of it, he is such a very nice young man. 
 He has promised me his first frank. I am sure 
 it was very good of that dear, enchanting duke, 
 and that delightful Mr. Peel to change ; and I
 
 THE DAVENELS. 269 
 
 am so glad they have made a law against 
 O'Connell. The Association is put down, too ! 
 how fortunate ! but I declare I hate the very 
 name of politics. Pray which side is Captain 
 Villiers of? I know the Duke of St. Evere- 
 mond voted with the ministry. The Mardyns 
 are in Paris. Have you seen them ? they are 
 horrid people, I think. Mrs. Simmons and I 
 had a desperate quarrel ; only think how funny ! 
 Pray excuse this letter being so badly written ; 
 but I have been playing shuttlecock with Cap- 
 tain Hardynge till my hand trembles so I can 
 hardly write. 
 
 " Ever your's, affectionate, 
 
 " FLORANTHE ROSS. 
 
 " If you have heard any thing of my marrying 
 Somerset Hardyinge, pray contradict it, for it 
 is not settled by any means, because papa does 
 not like it ; but entre nous I am determined on 
 it, and so he seems too, so don't be surprised if 
 you hear of it. I should not mention it, but
 
 270 THE DAVENELS. 
 
 you and Captain Villiers might think it odd 
 his staying after the rest of the household. 
 
 " Mr. Corcoran and his sister bore us by sing- 
 ing in all companies, one of Moore's melodies, 
 which they call a prophecy. Miss Carmichael 
 says it is very profane of them. You know the 
 song I mean, it ends with 
 
 ' Yet still the last crown of thy toils is remaining, 
 
 The grandest, the purest e'en thou hast yet known ; 
 Though proud was thy task, other nations unchaining, 
 
 Far prouder to heal the deep wounds of thy own ; 
 At the foot of that throne for whose weal thou hast 
 
 stood, 
 
 Go plead for that land which first cradled thy fame, 
 And bright o'er the flood, 
 Of her tears and her blood, 
 Let the rainbow of hope be her Wellington's name.' " 
 
 Having married Frederica to the man of her 
 choice, with high connexions, riches, and an 
 " all hail hereafter," promising a dukedom, (for 
 I cannot resolve to kill the old duke yet awhile,) 
 what more can the most sanguine of my youth- 
 ful readers desire for her ? And as to the par-
 
 THE DAVENELS. 271 
 
 ticular dress-maker she employed, what bewitch- 
 ing hats, caps, and bonnets she patronized, and 
 the precise opera-box she secured every season, 
 I leave them to be settled by those who think 
 such trifles form the sum of human happiness. 
 My own notion is, that Frederica cared but 
 little for those things ; and that she and Villiers 
 lived in, but not for, the world. And now, not 
 to cloud that picture of perfect happiness 
 which most people will imagine in a lot like 
 theirs, we will proceed no further in their his- 
 tory, but conclude, that whatever cares and 
 crosses their after-life presented, they were sup- 
 ported under them by their mutual affection, and 
 by a dependence on that Being from whom alone 
 true fortitude is to be obtained. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 1BOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS,S

 
 UC SOUTHERN REGK 
 
 A 000032278 4