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 THE 
 
 PRIBE OF ANCESTRY; 
 
 OR, 
 
 WHO IS SHE? 
 
 IN FOUR VOLUMES. 
 
 BY MRS. THOMSON, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 EXCESSIVE SENSIBILITY — FATAL FOLLIES- 
 
 THE LABYRINTHS OF LIFE — GERALDINE — 
 
 AND ROBERT AND ADBLA, &C. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR PARSONS & SON, CIRCULATING 
 LIBRARY, LUDGATE HILL. 
 
 1804.
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/prideofancestryo01pigo
 
 T 3 ?^3 j> 
 
 THC 
 
 PRIDE OF ANCESTRY s 
 
 OR, 
 
 WHO IS SHE f 
 
 IT was in the last week of the gloomy 
 and dispiriting month of November, 
 that the sober village of Carleton was 
 roused from the general stupor that 
 pervaded its monotonous course, by 
 the death of one of its principal gran* 
 dees. The housekeeper at Holmby 
 Lodge had received a letter from the 
 Steward in town, informing her, that 
 on that morning Lady Eleanor Levet 
 had departed this life for a better, and 
 vol. i. B that
 
 *Z THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY \ OR, 
 
 that Miss Moore, fret ladyship's friend 
 and companion, had ordered him to 
 write to Carleton, to inform her of the 
 great loss they had all sustained, and 
 to desire that the house might be ready 
 for her reception, as she proposed be- 
 ing down on the second day after the 
 receipt of his letter. He added, that 
 the remains of her ladyship were to 
 be brought down m great pomp to 
 Holmby Lodge, were the corpse was 
 to lie in state till the evening, and 
 then to be interred by torch light. 
 
 Mrs. Hall no sooner read the letter 
 than she took off her spectacles, cry- 
 ing c< Well ! I wonder who is to be my 
 lady's heir, and whether she has left 
 her fortune to the young Earl of Clif- 
 dcn : for we were never troubled with 
 family visitors in my time. However, 
 I'll soon know/' She forgot even the 
 affectation of grief in her great haste 
 for information. She was quite alone : 
 
 therefore
 
 -WHO IS SHE r 
 
 vhcrefore a shew of sorrow would have 
 been lost timeu She put on her hat 
 and walked with much importance, 
 through the village, to communicate 
 to the rector the intelligence. But' 
 here, poor woman, she came too late : 
 for a letter had been dispatched by 
 Miss Moore, to inform Dr. Jackson of 
 the irreparable loss she had sustained, 
 by the death of her much deplored 
 friend Lady Levet. 
 
 Mrs. Hall was ushered into the par- 
 lour, where sat the doctor and his lady 
 in close chat, on the subject of her 
 visit. Here the housekeeper did not 
 fail to exhibit the proper ensigns of 
 woe. She pulled a nicely folded cam- 
 brick handkerchief out of her pocket, 
 and, before she spoke, after a profound 
 curtsie, burst into tears. The rector's 
 lady catching the sympathetic tone 
 applied her handkerchief also to her 
 eves. The rector himself broke the 
 k 2 awfui
 
 4 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; QIC, 
 
 awful silence. " So ! Mrs. Hall/' said 
 lie,- tf we have lost her ladyship, as 
 Miss Moore informs me!" This roused 
 Mrs. Hall, who was full of indigna- 
 tion, that Miss Moore did not think 
 her worthy of a letter also. " Yes, 
 Sir," replied she., " I came to inform 
 you of the tidings, but I find Miss 
 Moore's grief has not been so great 
 but she could put pen to paper. The 
 steward wrote to me. Pray, Sir, can 
 you inform me who is Lady Eleanor's 
 next heir." Here Mrs. Jackson dried 
 up her tears, or at least the semblance 
 ut them, and replied, u Why, Mrs. 
 'Hall, I rather think her heir is abroad : 
 he -is a very gay, dissipated young 
 man/' " Well,," returned the house- 
 fkeeper, (i indeed, it is no matter of 
 mine who he is, for I have only been 
 twelve months in the family, and if 
 her ladyship had lived to return, I 
 should have given her .warning, for she 
 
 was
 
 WHO IS SHE P £ 
 
 was never satisfied with any thing. '* 
 " Ah, poor woman" said Dr. Jackson, 
 u she was never satisfied herself, nor 
 indeed do I believe she ever caused any 
 one to be satisfied with her." " My 
 love," replied his wife, u you know 
 we should never speak ill of the dead." 
 " Truth may be spoke, madam, at all 
 times/' replied the housekeeper, with 
 her eyes turned up toward heaven. 
 She was afraid this remark of the rec- 
 tor's lady might preclude her from 
 hearing some anecdotes of her dead 
 lady, of w T hich she was most anxious 
 to be informed. " Ay, ay, Mrs. Hall," 
 returned the doctor, " so it may, for if 
 we may not say the truth of the dead, 
 of whom may we speak it?" A mes- 
 sage from Mr. Boyle, a neighbouring 
 gentleman, importing that whenever 
 Dr. Jackson was atliberty, he would be 
 glad to see him, broke up the discourse, 
 and Mrs. Hall took her leave, in hopes 
 e 3 that
 
 ti THE PRIDE OJP ANCESTRY* 0*. 
 
 that she should be more fortunate in 
 spreading the news of her lady's de- 
 cease in the village where Miss Moore 
 could have no correspondence ; as she 
 well knew there was none of the inha- 
 bitants allowed to approach, even her 
 ladyship's companion. 
 
 Mrs. Hall repaired to a shop, digni- 
 fied by the board over the door, with 
 the title of a grocer's, but which would 
 have been more properly called a chand- 
 ler's, as there you might be supplied 
 with earthen ware, bacon, cheese, rib- 
 bands, candles, gauzes, and a long 
 train of etceteras, which would fill a 
 large sheet of paper. In this shop the 
 mistress reigned the petty tyrant of the 
 village. Here the poor must be satis- 
 fied to be cheated, or not be trusted ; 
 nay, they must not be difficult in the 
 choice of the articles of which they 
 were in want ; if they were, the goods 
 were folded up, and they were told 
 
 • they
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 7 
 
 they might get them elsewhere. Now 
 Mrs. Gurnet knew that tills else- 
 where was eight miles distant, and they 
 must go there with money in their 
 hand, whereas she was so indulgent as 
 to trust them from Saturday to Saturday. 
 Mrs. Hall happened to arrive at Mrs. 
 Gurnet's just at that period of time 
 when her shop was full of customers ; 
 one of which had expressed some dis- 
 approbation at the price of some checks 
 which were intended for an apron to a 
 little girl, who stood trembling at the 
 contracted features of Mrs. Gurnet, 
 who was grumbling that some people 
 were never satisfied, and thought them- 
 selves gentlefolks : but it would be hard 
 matter to make gentlefolks of them she 
 believed. " What is the matter ?" said 
 Mrs. Hall, as she held the door in her 
 hand. At the approach of so distin- 
 guished a personage as my lady's house- 
 keeper, all gave way, and the counter 
 b 4 was
 
 t 111 £ PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ", OR, 
 
 was cleared in a moment; the cot- 
 tagers stood curtsieing at a distance*. 
 " What is the matter ?" replied Mrs. 
 Garnet, " Why I am a tired of stand- 
 ing waiting shilly shallying with diffi- 
 cult folks; so they may come again 
 when they knows their own mind, for 
 they knows mine, and I wont bait a 
 farthing, if it was to her good ladyship 
 herself." Here Mrs. Hall's white 
 pocket handkerchief was again dis- 
 played. " Don't talk of my poor de- 
 ceased lady, Mrs. Gurnet !" Every one 
 put on a face of astonishment, and 
 Mrs. Hall's importance received a con- 
 siderable addition. — Dead ! echo'd 
 every voice, though Mrs. Gurnet's was 
 still the loudest. " Come hither, Sally," 
 said she, to a little girl, who being a 
 poor relation, served her in the double 
 capacity of shop-woman and servant. 
 " Mind these here folks, for I dares to 
 say Mrs. Hall is in haste." With this 
 
 she
 
 WHO IS SHE? 9 
 
 she flounced into the parlour, followed 
 by the lady from the great house. No 
 sooner were they seated, than a little 
 cordial was proposed by Mrs. Gurnet, 
 as no doubt Mrs. Hall must be greatly 
 afflicted with the news : but, however, 
 such things would happen to the great 
 as well as the small; it was good for 
 trade. " Why, you will all want mourn- 
 ing," said Mrs. Gurnet. " Yes," re- 
 plied her visitor, i( but I am not thought 
 of consequence enough to give orders 
 about that, till Miss Moore comes; 
 however, I shall not fail to put in a 
 word for you. Did you ever hear who 
 is to get my lady s fortune r" asked she, 
 m Never," answered her friend, " some 
 say one body and some another, for she 
 has no very near relations living, as I 
 believe; but never mind who gets it; 
 they cannot do less good in the village 
 than she has done. Her father was not 
 3ike her 3 there was not a dry eye, when 
 B 5 the
 
 lO THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 the old earl died, and I question if there 
 will be one sorrowful heart on her lady- 
 ship's account. " " Yes, but there will 
 be one," said Mrs. Hall, cc the poor 
 girl, at the school at Harrowby. My 
 lady sent me once to enquire after her, 
 just after I came to live with her. She 
 has kept her out of charity, ever since 
 she was born j. and she told me, her 
 own self, that she never saw her in all 
 her life, only she was daughter of a fa^ 
 vourite servant, that died in her father's 
 house." " Well," cried Mrs. Gurnet, 
 " that is very wonderful, how people's 
 good deeds do come out, after they be 
 dead ! I should ne^ver have thought her 
 ladyship one of those to do good for. 
 goodness sake ; but may be, as she was 
 so good, she may have left the poor 
 girl something to 'prentice her out in 
 the world. And now I thinks of it, I 
 have heard formerly something, but 
 people should not believe all they 
 
 hears j
 
 WHO IS SHE? 11 
 
 hears. I never does. It would not be- 
 come trades people to canvass their 
 betters. Come Sally, ar'n't those folks 
 gone ? we will have a comfortable dish 
 of tea." Over this same tea, all that 
 was known of the family in question 
 was discussed. However, it ended' in 
 this, that the deceased lady was not in 
 the good graces of either of the com- 
 municative friends;, and they parted, ( 
 after a little more of Mrs. Gurnet's ex- 
 cellent cordial, which she never took, 
 she declared, but when some unex- 
 pected, bad news had depressed her 
 spirits.. 
 
 Mrs. Hall began to make all the pre- 
 parations necessary for receiving the 
 corpse^ of Lady Eleanor Lever, with 
 all- possible state and decorum. She 
 sent to all the tenants, requiring their 
 attendance - y and, to speak truth,. never- 
 had a more welcome message come to 
 them for many years. Holmby' Lodge 
 b 6 . had
 
 12 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 had once been considered by them as a 
 place from which they derived, and to 
 which they gave consequence ; but 
 since it had descended to its late posses- 
 sor, they had never thought of it, except 
 when waited on by the steward to re- 
 ceive the rents : for Lady Eleanor had 
 left off the good old custom of her an- 
 cestors, always to entertain the tenantry 
 on the first day of the year, when they 
 cleared all accounts, and spent a jovial 
 day ; after which they returned home, 
 well satisfied with the goodness and 
 condescension of their landlord. His 
 approbation of the different experi- 
 ments m husbandry, which they laid 
 before him, always served to excite an 
 emulation in each of them, that served 
 in the end the purposes of both. Lady 
 Eleanor said, " That she could not at- 
 tend to the vulgar nonsense of a parcel 
 of uneducated men : if they chose to 
 ciine with the steward, they were wel- 
 come/'
 
 WHO IS SHE? 13 
 
 come." This offer they all refused to 
 accept at the Hall ; but, at the same 
 time they insisted that the good old 
 custom should not be broken, and 
 invited the steward to dine with them, 
 at an inn, in the next market town. 
 On this invitation, her ladyship put a 
 negative. Thus ended all intercourse 
 betwixt her and her tenants, who had 
 for the last sixteen years paid their 
 rents, and got receipts, without so much 
 as enquiring after her health. This, 
 however, the steward had concealed, 
 as he was not, like most in his situation, 
 fond of fomenting quarrels. 
 
 The important day arrived, when 
 Miss Moore came to Carleton, to exe- 
 cute the orders of Lady Eleanor. Mrs. 
 Hall received her with many submis- 
 sive curtsies, and many affected tears. 
 Miss Moore shed many tears herself \ 
 but they flowed directly from the heart: 
 for though her ladyship had many faults 
 
 to
 
 14" THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OH, 
 
 to others, she was strongly attached to 
 Miss Moore. Indeed she had almost 
 secluded herself from the world, for the- 
 ]ast six or seven years of her life, and 
 this lady was never out of her company. 
 Mrs. Hall followed her into the parlour, 
 where every thing put her in mind of 
 her deceased friend, and she could not 
 speak, so greatly was she affected. The 
 housekeeper could interpret this no 
 otherwise, than that she had found out 
 that she was not remembered in the 
 will, and was weeping at the thoughts 
 how soon she should be deprived of so 
 comfortable a home. Addressing her- 
 self to Miss Moore, she s^id, " I am 
 sorry, madam, you afflict yourself so 
 much ; I dare say our good lady did not 
 forget how good you have been, to her, 
 but has rembered you as she ought to 
 do; do pray keep up your spirits. " 
 Miss Moore did not answer her, but by 
 a look, which seemed to say retire, and 
 
 don't,
 
 WHO IS SHE 
 
 don't be impertinent. On this she did 
 as was wished, quitting the room, mut- 
 
 tering. 
 
 In about a quarter of an hour after 
 Miss Moore, arrived Dr. Jackson, who 
 spent the remainder of the evening at 
 the Hall. When he was gone, the bell 
 was rung for Mrs. Hall, and she was 
 ordered to have every thing in readiness, 
 early the next morning, for the recep- 
 tion of the remains of her ladyship* 
 After this,. Miss Moore retired to her 
 chamber, though not to rest, to endea- 
 vour to compose herself, in order to be 
 able to support the fatigue of mind she 
 was to undergo on the next day. She 
 had promised her friend to see the last 
 duties performed - 3 and was determined, 
 most scrupulously, to keep her word. 
 
 At the expected time the cavalcade 
 arrived, and was stared at by all the 
 village. It was literally a holiday with 
 every one, as all flocked to the Great 
 
 House,
 
 t& THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 House, to be spectators of what every 
 one thought a grand sight, without 
 once deploring the loss of her, who, in 
 her life, had never administered to their 
 smallest comfort. In the evening the 
 remains of Lady Eleanor Levet, fol- 
 lowed by a numerous and respectable 
 tenantry, and attended by Miss Moore, 
 as chief mourner, was interred in the 
 vault of her ancestors, in the parish 
 church of Carleton. 
 
 As soon as Miss Moore returned from 
 church, she desired Mrs. Hall to order 
 the post chariot to be ready, by nine 
 the next morning, and to hold herself 
 in readiness to go in it some miles, 
 with a letter which she should write, 
 She then desired not to be disturbed* 
 and retired to her own apartment. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 vmo is she ? 17 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 TlIOUGH Miss Moore had desired 
 not to be disturbed herself, she had left 
 Mrs. Hall at perfect liberty to employ 
 the intermediate time in whatever way 
 she thought most agreeable. The house- 
 keeper therefore repaired to her own 
 room, where she found the steward, 
 the butler, and the clerk of the parish, 
 regaling themselves over some cold 
 meat. The tenantry attended the 
 corpse, as required, to the grave, but 
 refused to go back to the Hall, as 
 the steward requested them, saying, 
 that when the heir arrived they would 
 come and pay their respects, if not 
 forbidden, and then departed to their 
 respective homes. 
 
 Mr*
 
 IS THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 Mrs. Hall took her seat at the head 
 of the table, saying, " Well, Mr,. 
 Wells, I have hardly been able to say 
 I am glad to see you, I have been: 
 so busy ; but I am released now,, 
 for madam above, won't eat any 
 thing ; has she got e'er a legacy ? I 
 suppose not as she takes on so." 
 " Then you suppose wrong," replied 
 he, " for my lady would never let her 
 want,. I am sure." " Oh!" returned 
 the housekeeper, " she has warmed, 
 your pockets I find." " There you 
 are wrong again," said he, " for I 
 never received a present from her 
 ladyship in my life : but it does not be- 
 come servants to speak ill of their mas- 
 ters or mistresses." The conversation 
 now took another turn, and the new 
 prospects of the family were dis- 
 cussed. 
 
 " How different in disposition was 
 
 the
 
 WHO IS SHE? 19 
 
 the last lady we buried from this house, 
 from the one just interred ?" said the 
 clerk, " she was beloved by all the 
 village." " Aye," replied the steward, 
 " she died, poor lady, whilst on a 
 journey in the prime of life. I was 
 attending on the ladies when she was 
 taken ill. I was dispatched directly 
 home with the news, but before my 
 return she was a corpse. The earl, 
 her father, was confined with the gout 
 here/' " Aye," replied the clerk, "I 
 remember the day, as if it was yester- 
 day. On that very day week I lost a 
 good friend myself, the young 'squire, 
 Sir Giles's nephew: heleftCarleton,and 
 nobody ever knew for why ; nor has he 
 ever been heard of since." " So he 
 did," replied the steward, " but 'tis 
 said Sir Giles would not consent to his 
 marriage with the girl of his heart." 
 cc And that's a terrible sad thing in- 
 deed," said Mrs. Hall, with a sigh'
 
 20 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 * c Why you sigh as if it had been your 
 own case, were you ever in love?" 
 asked he. <( And if I was, is this 
 a time to talk of such sort of 
 things think you?" replied Mrs. Hall, 
 " haven't I got orders to set off, I don't 
 knows how soon, to I don't knows 
 where in the morning. Miss Moore 
 seems to take upon her just as if she 
 was my lady's heir herself." " Well, 
 and who knows but she is," returned 
 Mr. Wells. " She, indeed ! if that's 
 the case, and the wind sits in that 
 quarter, she may be her own house- 
 keeper for me: for I was always in the 
 houses of people of quality, and shan't 
 serve such as her, I assure you." "Why, 
 in point of family," answered the 
 steward*. " she was not deficient, be- 
 ing well descended, or my lady would 
 have had nothing to do with her." 
 ft Aye^aye, I thought as much," said 
 
 Mrs*.
 
 WHO IS SHE? 21 
 
 Mrs. Hall, " such sort of folks always 
 furbish up some grand relations or other 
 to stick their pride and consequence 
 to ; however, we shall soon see, as my 
 lady's will is to be opened the day after 
 to-morrow." With this she retired, and 
 the party broke up; but not till the 
 gentlemen of the second table, and 
 even those of the lower order, had 
 drowned all sorrow. 
 
 In the morning, at the hour ap- 
 pointed, Mrs. Hall attended on Miss 
 Moore for her commands. She re- 
 ceived a letter from her, directed to 
 Mrs. Linworth, the governess of a 
 school at Harrowby. This was the same 
 place Mrs. Hall had been sent to by 
 her lady about eight or ten months be- 
 fore. She therefore ventured to say, 
 <c I know Mrs. Linworth very well, 
 and will take care and deliver the letter 
 quite safe into her hands ; but am I to 
 bring any answer back ?" 
 
 u Certainly
 
 22 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 cc Certainly, Mrs. Hall, you are to 
 bring a young lady in the carriage." 
 
 cc Very well, madam," answered 
 she, " I suppose the poor thing my 
 lady was so kind to, and paid her 
 schooling?" 
 
 " The same, but she is no poor 
 thing : an affluent fortune awaits her, 
 Mrs. Hall. She is the mistress of this 
 house, and all your late lady's fortune, 
 except the family estate, which went 
 with the title to the young Earl." 
 
 Mrs. Hall stood as if struck with 
 astonishment. At length she uttered, 
 " God bless me!" Miss Moore now 
 reminded her that the horses were 
 waiting, and that as the journey was 
 somewhat long, she had better be gone 
 as quickly as possible. She now was 
 eager herself to depart, for Miss 
 Moore, it was evident, did not intend 
 to be more communicative, and Mrs. 
 
 Lin worth
 
 WHO IS SHE? 23 
 
 Lin worth might make her acquainted 
 with the contents of the letter which 
 she carried. However, it was impos- 
 sible to quit the house with the little 
 glimpse of information of which she 
 was then in possession, without going 
 to the steward's room, and giving him 
 a peep into futurity. Besides, she had 
 no great dislike to this same steward, 
 and if he had a mind to think as 
 well of her as she was inclined to do 
 of him, why she was determined not 
 to let him be crossed in love, what- 
 ever she herself had been, as her con- 
 versation the evening before seemed 
 to insinuate. 
 
 Mrs. Hall had set conjecture to 
 work in the steward's room, and now 
 ascended the carriage to carry the im- 
 portant tiding to Mrs. Linworth. Airs. 
 Hall had never before been honoured 
 with a seat in the chariot, and she 
 
 took
 
 24 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 took care that every one should sec 
 her as she passed through the vil- 
 lage. 
 
 When the carriage stopped at Mrs. 
 Linworth's gate, it caused much con- 
 fusion amongst the girls ; but as soon 
 as it was found to be a coach and four, 
 they all sat quietly down again, for 
 none of the young ladies could boast 
 of so fine an equipage. 
 
 Mrs. Lin worth herself could not 
 guess from whom she was going to 
 receive the honour of a visit; but that 
 it was the carriage of some person of 
 condition she knew. She therefore hur- 
 ried into the state parlour, taking with 
 her one of her scholars, who she knew 
 to be a proficient in music. She was 
 set down to the piano forte, and Mrs. 
 Hall was ushered in. Mrs. Lin worth 
 remembered her, as belonging to Lad/ 
 Eieanor Levet. Compliments having 
 jpassed, and Mrs. Hall being seated, 
 
 she
 
 WHO 15 SHE? 25 
 
 she took from a red morocco pocket 
 book Miss Moore's letter, which she 
 presented to the governess. She watch- 
 ed Mrs. Lin worths countenance very 
 narrowly, to see that surprise which 
 Miss Moore had occasioned in her 
 own, but she did not perceive any; 
 for when the letter was read she folded 
 it up, saying, " I am indeed greatly 
 concerned for the death of her good 
 ladyship. Miss Moore desires Miss Bel- 
 lingham may return with you, madam. 
 I hope we shall not lose her entirely. 
 Surely the good lady has made some 
 provision for the poor child." 
 
 Here she was interrupted by Mrs, 
 Hall. " Why has not Miss Moore in- 
 formed you that Miss Helen is my late 
 lady's heir, and that she is to have all 
 her fortune ?" 
 
 " No, that she has not. Can it be 
 true ? Why I never knew that they ' 
 were related," 
 
 VOL. I, C " *y» T 
 
 '•'!
 
 -26 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 " Nor I, neither," answered the 
 housekeeper, " but no doubt Lady 
 Eleanor knew where the relationship 
 began," with a significant look at the 
 governess. 
 
 " Very true, it is not for us to make 
 inquiries ; only I remember that the 
 person who brought Miss Helen here, 
 told me that her ladyship never saw her, 
 and that it was purely out of charity she 
 did that she did for the child." 
 
 " May be so," returned Mrs, Hall, 
 Cf people seldom give estates away in 
 charity ; however, it will be proper to 
 inform the young lady that I am come 
 to fetch her/' 
 
 Here Mrs. Limvorth rang the bell, 
 and ordered Miss Porter, the teacher, to 
 be called; on whose coming she informed 
 her of the good fortune of Miss Belling- 
 ham, and desired that she might be 
 sent into the parlour, whilst she should 
 pack up her clothes. This last was no 
 vtry difficult task, for Mrs, Linworth 
 
 w r as
 
 WHO IS SHE? i'7 
 
 was ordered to furnish only what clothes 
 were absolutely necessary ; and in or- 
 der to ingratiate herself into the good 
 graces of Lady Eleanor, by her econo- 
 my, she had given poor Helen a very 
 scanty wardrobe. 
 
 Miss Porter returned to the school- 
 room, truly rejoiced at the news she 
 had heard ; for Helen was a very great 
 favourite of her's, and she often had 
 lamented that her rising genius, and 
 the accomplishments which she was 
 always emulous to attain, must be use- 
 less ; nay, perhaps have a worse ten- 
 dency in the station to which she might 
 perhaps be destined. The humble com- 
 panion of Lady Eleanor, was that for 
 which Miss Porter had considered her 
 young friend as destined. She called 
 Helen to her, and said, w I am seldom 
 the messenger of good news to you, 
 Miss Bellingham: you are going in that 
 carnage, away from this house. M 
 
 c 2 This
 
 ■2% THE PRIDE OP ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 This was indeed good news to He- 
 len : for she was of a lively and gay dis- 
 position: whenever her spirits had led 
 her into any little irregularity, she was 
 always reprimanded, and told that it 
 did not become one in her dependant 
 state, to put herself upon a footing with 
 young ladies of fortune. This flattered 
 the vanity of some of the other girls, 
 and tended, at the same time, to keep 
 Helen in a state of subjection. 
 
 ec Am I, indeed, going out, Miss 
 Porter ? Who has been so good to 
 ask a holiday for me? Am I to stay 
 out all night ? Will governess go along 
 with me, or any of the ladies ?" 
 
 " My dear Helen stop, or I shall never 
 be able to answer all your questions. 
 The carriage at the door was Lady 
 Eleanor Levet's — you are going to her 
 
 house. She herself is dead" 
 
 Here Helen burst into tears, saying, 
 * then I have no friend in the world." 
 
 61 Many *
 
 WHO IS SHE? 2$ 
 
 H Many ! many, my dear. Come 
 dry up your tears," replied Miss Porter, 
 " for what do you think of that fine 
 house and carriage being yours ?" 
 
 •* Oh, don't laugh at me, Miss 
 Porter," said the disconsolate girl. 
 "Where am I going, to strangers?" 
 
 The parlour bell reminded Miss 
 Porter, that she was desired to send 
 Helen thither. She assured her that to 
 sport with misfortunes, was never her 
 inclination, and she was happy to assure 
 her, that she had been informed of the 
 change in her condition by Mrs. Lin- 
 worth, to whom she must go directly 
 and hear it confirmed. 
 
 Helen soon dried up her tears : for 
 she was no hypocrite. Lady Eleanor 
 had never shewn any great act of kind- 
 ness to her, more than in paying for her 
 nursing and schooling, and, perhaps, 
 once a year, sending some one to en- 
 quire for her. Her tears, therefore, 
 c 3 flowed
 
 SO THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 flowed for her own unprotected state. 
 The assurance that this was not the 
 case, altered considerably the features 
 of Helen; and she entered the parlour 
 like an April mom, smiling through a 
 gentle shower of rain. 
 
 " Come hither, my sweet girl," said 
 Airs. Linworth, who arose as she en- 
 tered, and taking her hand, presented 
 her to Mrs. Hall, saying, " this, ma'am, 
 is the young lady." 
 
 " Oh yes, I remember her well," re- 
 turned she, ie but how much she is 
 grown since I was last here. Won't 
 Miss be seated." 
 
 Helen sat down, when Airs. Hall 
 told her all she knew : which was in 
 truth no more than what Miss Porter 
 had already informed her of. Helen 
 longed to quit the parlour, and be at 
 liberty to indulge her own thoughts, 
 which were now all up in arms. Who 
 was she ? How came she to be so for- 
 
 tunau
 
 WHO IS SHE 3 31 
 
 funate ? Was it true ? for she still had 
 her doubts. However, youth did not 
 long hesitate to accept the proffered 
 good. 
 
 Mrs. Linworth soon dismissed her dear 
 charming girl (as she fondly now, for 
 the first time, gave her all these endear- 
 ing appellations,) in order to prepare 
 for her journey, and to indulge in con- 
 versation with Mrs. Hall, without the 
 intrusion of a third person. 
 
 As soon as Helen quitted the par- 
 lour, where she was entreated soon to 
 return, as Mrs. Linworth said, that 
 if she remained too long above stairs, 
 she might be apt to get cold $ the two 
 ladies drew their chairs nearer to each 
 ether. The one related and the other 
 swallowed every jot of intelligence 
 given her, from the moment Helen 
 entered the house, till that in which 
 she was about to quit it. After most 
 c 4f mature
 
 32 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ', OR, 
 
 mature deliberation, it was determined, 
 that the deceased lady was no better 
 than she should be. But as nearly six- 
 teen years had passed, and nothing of 
 the how or the when had transpired, 
 silence on the subject was by each reck- 
 oned the best policy, and they deemed 
 it best to bow submissively to consti- 
 tuted authority. This they both 
 agreed in, that Helen Bellingham was 
 a very elegant and beautiful young 
 creature. " A little wild or so," Mrs. 
 Lin worth said, " but possessed of an ex- 
 cellent heart ; and, she dared to say» 
 had an affectionate disposition." Of this 
 she could only make a doubtful asser- 
 tion, as, to do her justice, she knew that 
 she had no pretensions to the affection 
 of Helen; she had always treated her 
 as an inferior in the school, and used 
 her more as she might have done a. 
 half boarder, or a dependant on her- 
 
 aelf,
 
 -WHO IS SHE ? 33 
 
 welt, than as one who had a claim on 
 her compassion by her deserted and 
 almost unprotected state. 
 
 Helen herself, as soon as she 
 quitted the parlour, flew to the play- 
 ground in search of Caroline Archer, 
 who had been her friend ever since she 
 had resided at Harrowby. She had shared 
 her joys and sorrows ; in whatever little 
 joys were in Caroline's power to dis- 
 pense, Helen also had a share. All 
 the girls flocked round her as soon as 
 Helen made her appearance ; some out of 
 curiosity, and many out of envy. For 
 this baneful passion frequently takes 
 its fiist root in a boarding-school, where 
 it always rinds sufficient food; and 
 when it is thus early sown in the young 
 mind, seldom does reason and riper 
 years totally eradicate the seeds. Every 
 voice was directed to Helen with con- 
 gratulations on her good fortune. — 
 "Thank ye! thank ye all!" replied 
 c 5 she,
 
 34 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY | OR, 
 
 she, u but I want Caroline, where is 
 she :" and she ran over every part of 
 the space allotted for their recreation, 
 but no Caroline was to be found, and 
 Helen returned into the house in search 
 of her friend. Heragitated mind found 
 not where to rest till she had communi- 
 cated the glad tidings to her who had 
 always participated in every event in 
 which she had been concerned. At 
 length she found her in her own cham- 
 ber, seated on a little trunk drowned in 
 tears \ and here Helen seated herself 
 by her side, and, without speaking, they 
 sunk on each others bosoms. Caroline 
 Archer spoke first : 
 
 " Helen, don't forget me ! I shall 
 always think of you. I wish you had 
 not been removed so far from us, or 
 that I could only see you now and 
 then." 
 
 Helen dried up her tears, saying, 
 4C Caroline, what makes you think so 
 
 ill
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 33 
 
 ill of me ? What have I done that you 
 can suppose I should forget the only 
 friend I ever had in this world r What 
 is to become of me I cannot tell : but 
 this I will assure you, that no good for- 
 tune that happens to me will make me 
 so happy as sharing it with you. 
 Caroline, I know that you are not like 
 me, a dependant on the bounty of ano- 
 ther. You have parents to direct your 
 steps through lire. Alas ! where are 
 mine r" Here a second flood of tears 
 relieved the two friends, who were 
 called down to dinner. Mrs. Linworth 
 sent word that Miss Bellingham was to 
 dine in the parlour. She sent her re- 
 spects to Mrs. Linworth, and begged 
 permission to dine in the school-room 
 with Caroline, as she was so soon to 
 leave her. This brought an invitation 
 to Miss Archer also, which was joy- 
 fully accepted by both the friends. 
 They then talked over the siury as far 
 c 6 as
 
 36 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OH, 
 
 as Helen could relate it, and concluded 
 with mutual protestations of continued 
 friendship. 
 
 For the first time since she had been at 
 the school, Helen was indulged in dining 
 in the parlour, and a request of a holi- 
 day for the rest of the ladies was graci- 
 ously acceded to. 
 
 Soon afetr dinner,- the servants were 
 ordered to be ready ; and when the 
 carriage was announced at the door, 
 Helen felt but one pang, and that was 
 to bid farewel to Caroline. Mrs. Hall 
 wished to have indulged her with the 
 company of her friend •> but as Miss 
 Moore's orders did not extend to this, 
 she comforted Helen with the hope that 
 she would soon be able to invite whom 
 she pleased to Holmby Lodge. Helen 
 now took, leave of her governess, and 
 also of the girls,who stood in admiration 
 of the elegant equipage, which, they 
 were told, now was to belong to Miss 
 
 Bel*
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 37 
 
 Bellingham. She embraced Caroline 
 at the step of the carriage, and in a 
 moment lost sight of Harrowbv. Mrs. 
 Hall, now in the highest spirits that 
 she had got the young Heiress alone, 
 began to describe the grandeur of the 
 house, and the splendor into which she 
 was about to enter. " Did you never 
 in your life see my lady, Miss?" asked 
 the inquisitive Housekeeper. " No r 
 never," replied Helen. M Then with 
 whom did you reside before you came 
 to Mrs. Linvvorth's?" " I can hardly 
 remember," returned she, " tor I have 
 been at Harrowby ever since I was 
 four years old \ only I know that they 
 were very poor people, and that they 
 had a little daughter called Mary about 
 my own age, whom I loved very much. 
 I have often enquired after her, but Mrs. 
 Linworth told me it was against the 
 express commands of my benefactress, 
 that I should ever be permitted to see 
 
 those
 
 38 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 those who had brought me up. I 
 thought it cruel, but I durst not dispute 
 what were her ladyship's orders. Pray 
 madam, do you know what were my 
 parents ? Oh ! how rejoiced I should 
 be to find them living, and give them 
 all the riches you have described 
 as likely to be mine. But Mrs. Lin- 
 worth says they are dead." 
 
 " Yes," answered Mrs. Hall, " I 
 never heard any thing about them: only 
 once my lady told me that you were 
 the child of a favourite servant." He- 
 len's pride received some small degree 
 of mortification, to find that she sprung 
 from so humble a stock. She said no 
 more on the subject, but employed her 
 time in thinking how she ought to be- 
 have before the lady who had been the 
 friend of her late benefactress. After 
 revolving in her mind what she should 
 say, and how she should behave, she 
 recollected that she had never enquired 
 
 if
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 39 
 
 if she was young or old, handsome or 
 ugly. 
 
 Mrs. Hall, however, as they ap- 
 proached nearer to Carleton, said that 
 Miss Moore was a very precise lady, 
 and she advised Helen to be on her 
 guard, as she did not know how far 
 Lady Eleanor had put her in the power 
 of this her companion. 
 
 u Then tell me pray," said Helen, 
 " is she ugly as well as ill-natured ?" 
 
 " I did not say she was ill-natured, 
 but I said she was precise. Miss 
 Moore had the art of governing her 
 who governed every one else ; so, of 
 course, she will expect to do the same 
 by you. However, she is reckoned a 
 woman of a superior understanding, 
 though, for my part, I never could dis- 
 cover it." 
 
 The spire of the church of Carleton 
 now rose from amidst a tuft of trees, 
 and Helen enquired F whether that 
 
 was
 
 40 THE PRIDE OF' ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 was the spot in which Lady Eleanor 
 was buried. Oh what would I have 
 given to have once beheld her before 
 she died !" Mrs. Hall was greatly sur- 
 prised at this exclamation. She thought 
 it contained more than met the ear. 
 " Why," thought she, (i should this girl- 
 wish to see my lady before she died, 
 if she did not think herself attached to 
 her beyond the bounds of charity." 
 " Well, Miss, to be sure you have rea- 
 son to respect the memory of the good, 
 lady, but you could not love one you 
 never saw." She answered, that was 
 very true, she could not account why, 
 but certain it was, she never thought 
 of ihe name of Levet but w T ith the 
 highest respect and veneration. Here 
 they passed a carriage full of young 
 ladies, who all stared into the chariot, 
 and Helen saw them laugh. "There,. 
 Miss,'* said. Mrs. Hall, " those young 
 ladies will all be your friends in a day 
 
 or
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 41 
 
 or two." " I question if they will any 
 of them ever be such," replied Helen. 
 " I don't like them. AVho are they r" 
 u Who are they ! why they lets 
 every body know who they are. There 
 is nobody, within ten miles of Carleton, 
 but can tell all about them. Squire All- 
 right, the great City Banker, is known 
 every where. The ladies in the carriage 
 are, Miss Louisa, Miss Marian, and Miss 
 Sophia, and then the young Squire — Y 
 Mrs. Hall was interrupted by Helen, 
 who said, " pray how far are we from 
 the Lodger" " Why, Miss, dear me, 
 don't you see it right before you?" — 
 Helen's eyes had been long placed 
 upon the house before her; but she did 
 not like to be inquisitive. The house,, 
 which was built of Portland stone, 
 stood on a gentle eminence, and was 
 sheltered from the North winds by a 
 wood, which rose in an amphitheatre 
 behind it. As they passed through the 
 
 tillage,
 
 42 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 village, the cottagers stood at their 
 doors, as it had been whispered, in the 
 absence of Mrs. Hall, that she was 
 gone to bring home the young Heiress, 
 and all were anxious to get a peep at her. 
 This was impossible, as the shades of 
 the evening had advanced too far. — 
 Helen felt her heart flutter as the gate* 
 keeper let the chariot into the park. 
 Mrs. Hall did not fail to give her a 
 welcome, and in an instant the carriage 
 stopped at the hall door, which was 
 opened by the porter. As Helen 
 alighted, Miss Moore advanced to re- 
 ceive her. Taking her hand, she burst 
 into tears, and leading her up to the 
 drawing-room, shut the door. 
 
 Mrs. Hall wished to have been of 
 the party. This she did not dare to 
 attempt; but she might make herself 
 mistress of what information she could 
 gather from the door of an adjacent 
 room. She found that the key, in 
 
 which
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 43 
 
 which Miss Moore spoke, was not- 
 calculated to assist her curiosity, yet 
 she heard the name of her deceased 
 lady mentioned frequently. Tea and 
 coffee being carried up, all conversa- 
 tion, of a private nature, was inter- 
 rupted. Mrs. Hall quitted her station 
 for her own room, where all those, who 
 were admitted to the honour of a seat 
 at her tea-table, were assembled, to 
 hear what she had collected as to their 
 young mistress, as they called her , not 
 forgetting a kind of sneer and shrug 
 when they mentioned Helen. " You 
 are welcome home again," said the But- 
 ler, " if you have brought us any thing 
 good with you." 
 
 " Where did you pick up our lady ?" 
 said the Steward, " and what do you 
 think of her ? Is she like anybody you 
 have ever seen before r" 
 
 " Yes, yes, that she is," returned Mrs. 
 Hall, I have had many a word with a 
 
 person
 
 44 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY: OR, 
 
 person who is as like her as two peas. 
 Bat what signifies what she is like, if 
 she be good; though I seldom ever 
 
 knew any good come of such as- 
 
 Well, handsome is as handsome does. 
 She is a pretty creature for certain, 
 and she is very affable." 
 
 " Affable, indeed/' echoed every 
 one, " What should make her proud ? 
 She did not expect the old lady's for- 
 tune, that is certain. I dare say," said 
 the Steward, " she contrived to see 
 Miss sometimes."' 
 
 " Then," returned Mrs. Hall, " it 
 must have been when she was in her 
 sleep : for Miss told me she had never 
 set eyes on my lady in her life. Yet 
 she said she had a great respect for the 
 name of Levet." 
 
 They all agreed that this was natural^ 
 and as Helen was likely to be their 
 mistress, they had best treat her name 
 with the respect due to that station p 
 
 whatever
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 45 
 
 whatever might be their own private 
 opinion. 
 
 " She'll have many a suitor," said 
 the steward, " when it is known that 
 all my lady's fortune will be her's." 
 
 They all agreed in this, that the young" 
 Earl of Clifclen would be greatly disap- 
 pointed. With many remarks and conjec- 
 tures, none of which were at all conclu- 
 sive, the meeting broke up in order to 
 prepare for the supper of the ladies, who 
 were joined by Dr. Jackson soon after 
 tea. 
 
 This gentleman came at the re- 
 quest of Miss Moore, in order to settle 
 the preliminaries as to the opening of 
 the will of Lady Eleanor Levet, which 
 was directed to take place on the next 
 morning after the arrival of Miss Bel- 
 lingham. He congratulated that young 
 lady on her acquisition of fortune: for 
 though this was not yet ascertained be- 
 yond
 
 46 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY j OR, 
 
 yond the possibility of a doubt, yet as 
 Miss Moore had repeated assurances, 
 during the last illness of Lady Eleanor, 
 that Miss Bellingham was the indis- 
 puted heir to her possessions, and also 
 had her express commands to send for her 
 from school previously to the opening of 
 her will, no doubt could be entertained 
 as to the tenor of that will when it 
 should be opened. Helen, who pos- 
 sessed both good sense and good nature, 
 found it not difficult to make suitable 
 answers to the doctor, and also to as- 
 sure him, that she thought herself very 
 fortunate in her situation, to have the 
 counsel of two such friends, as she was 
 unable to judge what was proper to be 
 done ; and also to assure them, that she 
 would implicitly follow their advice. 
 Miss Moore declared, that she should 
 always be welcome to her opinion 
 to the best of her judgment. Dr. 
 Jackson made the same declaration. 
 
 They
 
 WHO IS SHE? 47 
 
 They endeavoured to amuse Helen till 
 supper, with a description of the fami- 
 lies with whom Lady Eleanor associ- 
 ated in her own neighbourhood, and an 
 account of those to whom she gave the 
 preference as intimates. They endea- 
 voured to say the best of her ladyship, 
 but it was totally out of their power to 
 record one benevolent act done, or in- 
 tended, during near fifteen years, the 
 space of time in which the estate had 
 "been inher possession. Therefore the sub- 
 ject was very opportunely broken into 
 by the entrance of supper ; after which 
 the doctor soon took his leave and retired. 
 Miss Moore accompanied Helen to a 
 chamber which had been appropriated 
 for her use, and then retired to her 
 own. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 48 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 THOSE in the vicinity of Holraby 
 Lodge, had not been silent spectators 
 of the revolution that had happened 
 there, and each had drawn their own 
 conclusions as to the consequences that 
 might follow. 
 
 The family of Mr. Allright,a banker 
 in the ciry, was that which lived nearest 
 to the Lodge. The young ladies of 
 this family had caught a glimpse of 
 the Heiress as she passed in the carri- 
 age with Mrs. Hall, though they 
 were just set out with an intention to 
 go quite a different road. This unex- 
 pected rencontre, had determined them 
 to turn their horses heads, and direct 
 their course back again, in order to call 
 
 on
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 49 
 
 on Mrs. Lavington, a widow lady, who 
 was generally the retailer of the news 
 of the village, and who had entertained 
 them, the day before, with an account 
 of Miss Bellingham, whom she had 
 never seen; yet she had assured Miss 
 Louisa and Miss Marian Allright, that 
 she was remarkably plain in her per- 
 son, and was not more than eight years 
 of age. This had quieted these ladies' 
 fears as to a rival, and they returned 
 home in perfect security, for that night, 
 of still retaining the attentions of all 
 the petit maitres within the circle of 
 their country visits. 
 
 But how had these fond dreams 
 vanished on beholding a face illu 
 mined with both beauty and sensibility, 
 and when they found that Miss Belling- 
 ham was, to appearance, nearly of an 
 age with themselves ! This had occa- 
 sioned the laugh that was seen by Helen 
 
 vol. i. z> as
 
 50 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 as the carnage passed. " Eight years'old," 
 exclaimed Louisa Allright ! " Why 
 she is quite a beauty/' echoed Marian! 
 (i Do let us go and teize Mrs. La- 
 vington," said Sophia, " and ask her 
 some more questions, without telling 
 her we have met the child she de- 
 scribed. " " I don't think we shall 
 visit her," said Louisa. " I dare say 
 she is a pert boarding-school miss. Papa 
 won't be the first to encourage her un- 
 less others lead the way : we shall see 
 what Mrs. Lavington and Lady Ander- 
 ton intend to do." The carriage was 
 ordered to turn round, and proceed to 
 Airs. Lavington's as quickly as possible : 
 and, though at any other time, the 
 road thither would have been thought 
 dangerous, they determined to brave 
 every thing rather than not tell the 
 news, and laugh at Mrs. Lavington, 
 for assuring them that Helen was an 
 
 ugly
 
 WHO IS SHE? 51 
 
 ugly child, instead of a charming young- 
 woman in the full bud of youth and 
 beauty. 
 
 As the carriage drew up to the door, 
 the ladies observed the widow, sitting 
 at a harp, and a young man at the 
 side of her chair. " Very well, Mr. 
 Charles ! Don't you see who is there, 
 Louisa," said Sophia. This exclama- 
 tion drew the attention of Miss All- 
 right, when she observed Charles Ware- 
 ing, an humble servant of her own, 
 tete ci tele with Mrs. Lavington. She 
 entered the house, with this addition to 
 a disposition none of the most accom- 
 modating, as she had met already with 
 a severe disappointment. The widow 
 and her visitor rose from the music, at 
 the entrance of the party. Every one 
 of the ladies exclaimed, " How could 
 you deceive us so, Mrs. Lavington, 
 about the girl who is come to the Hall ! 
 Why she is as old as Sophia. She is 
 r> 2 older 

 
 5 '1 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 older than me, I am sure," said Miss 
 Sophia. " I dare say you would all like 
 her the better," replied Charles Ware- 
 ing, " were she as old as your grand- 
 mother. " Miss Louisa gave an indig- 
 nant toss of her head at this witticism of 
 her lover's, and replied, " Perhaps you, 
 Sir, may be attached yourself to old 
 women (giving a very significant glance 
 towards the widow, whose back was 
 now turned, and who was in earnest 
 conversation about Miss Bellingham, 
 with her sister,) but you should not al- 
 ways judge of others by yourself.'* 
 iC What is the matter, Louisa ?" said 
 Marian, " if Charles is impertinent, I 
 will manage him. Mrs. Lavington 
 won't tune her harp again for him this 
 month, and he sha'n't see the beauty." 
 " Is there a beauty in the country, out 
 of the present company ? Where is she? 
 Do tell me, for I shall be in despair 
 till I behold her. Perhaps your brother 
 
 may
 
 WHO IS SHE? 53 
 
 may have got the start of me, and 
 first impressions are every thing/' said 
 Charles. Mrs. Lavington replied, " that 
 when nature prevailed, this was consi- 
 dered of some consequence ; but that 
 now every thing was artificial, and im- 
 pressions lasted no longer than till 
 the next new face presented itself." 
 <c Well,*' returned he, i( you ought not 
 to say so, who declared that you had a 
 husband, who never thought any wo- 
 man tolerable but yourself." " I sup- 
 pose," said Louisa, " Mrs. Lavington 
 lived in me £Gii»«£i cc the London 
 men, I am sure, are never so constant 
 in their admiration, even if Mrs. La- 
 vington had been an angel instead of a 
 woman." Indeed," said the widow, 
 " but I lived in London in the midst of 
 the beau monde." Well then, it was 
 very extraordinary, they all thought* 
 though politeness would not allow of 
 any farther doubts on the subject : and 
 p 3 as
 
 f>4 THE PRID1L OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 as Miss Bellingham engrossed all their 
 present thoughts, they proceeded to en- 
 quire if Mrs. Lavington intended to 
 present herself as a visitor at the Hall ? 
 " When it was thought proper and 
 decorous," she said, " she certainly 
 should 3 as it was all one to her who 
 the girl was, so she possessed a good 
 fortune, and would render the country 
 a little gay. As to Lady Eleanor, she 
 detested her, she was so proud and so 
 distant.'' " The Allrights did not know 
 what they should do yet, as it would 
 not be right to encourage every upstart, 
 and it was not quite certain upon what 
 footing this girl was ; at present they 
 dared to say that papa would wish to 
 know a little more about her, before 
 lie gave her any encouragement. M — 
 Charles Wareing said, that " if it was 
 left to him and Frank Allright, she 
 should not want for encouragement, 
 provided she w T as both rich and hand- 
 some*
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 55 
 
 some. But where does she come from ? 
 Did she drop from the clouds ? For I 
 never saw any thing in the shape of a 
 woman about Lady Eleanor, except 
 that starch demure. Miss Moore, who 
 always put one in mind of a frosty 
 morning." Miss Louisa then conde- 
 scended to give the necessary informa- 
 tion. " She came from a boarding- 
 school, where the charity of Lady Levet 
 had placed her, though she never saw 
 her." — " How good ! all the ladies ex- 
 claimed, with a sneer. " I wonder she 
 did not extend her charity to this vil- 
 lage, for I am sure," said Mrs. Lav- 
 ington, " there are a great many poor 
 children here, that presented themselves 
 every Sunday to her notice, and yet she 
 never relieved any of them. But they 
 say she was acquainted with the mother 
 of this girl." " Aye, aye, this ac- 
 counts for it," said Charles, rt but she 
 might have taken a peep at the poor 
 d 4 girl,
 
 56 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 girl : though, however, it perhaps is as 
 well she did not, as you say her protege 
 is handsome." " You satirical wretch," 
 replied the widow, giving him a pat 
 on the shoulder, " I dare say you are 
 anxious to get a peep at her yourself; 
 especially as she will have a fine for- 
 tune, but she will not look at you." 
 
 The Allrights were in the fidgets to 
 be gone, to carry the news to papa. 
 Louisa was angry with her lover, 
 Charles, and determined to throw him 
 off for ever, as he was alw 7 ays flirting 
 with seme one or other, and she wish- 
 ed to be possessed of such a husband as 
 Mrs. Lavington had described her's to 
 have been ; but Miss AUright did not 
 know that Mr. Lavington was a martyr 
 to the gout, that he seldom left his own 
 house, and that when he did, he was 
 carried to and from his carriage, for 
 five out of the seven years they had 
 been married. This little circumstance 
 
 Mrs,
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 57 
 
 Mrs. Lavington did not think proper 
 to mention. But Mr. Allright gave his 
 daughters this information, when they 
 were relating what a constant husband 
 the widow had been blessed with. — 
 " She may boast of his constancy,'* said 
 the old banker, " it is what will never 
 happen to her again. Poor Lavington, I 
 believe, would not have had it in his 
 power to return the compliment, had he 
 survived his wife." " How ill-natured, 
 papa/' said Sophia, " I am sure Mrs. 
 Lavington is a very prudent woman." 
 " I don't know that," said Louisa, 
 " or she would not give Charles Ware- 
 ing so much encouragement to visit 
 her. I am glad, however, that that 
 girl is come to the Hall, only to vex 
 her." " What girl ?" asked their father, 
 " is Lady Levet's heir arrived ?" — 
 i€ Yes, we saw her this evening. Shall 
 we visit her?" asked all the ladies in 
 one breath, " Why," replied the citi- 
 p 5 zen,
 
 55 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTR V ; OR, 
 
 zen, " I don't know, there are reasons 
 for and against it." " Oh, do let us go 1" 
 said Sophia, " I dare say that they will be 
 very gay, now the old woman is gone." 
 ** Why," said the citizen, cc she will 
 have a large fortune, and, perhaps, if 
 we were acquainted, our house might be 
 the better for it. She must keep her 
 cash somewhere. Frank would also 
 have an opportunity of getting into her 
 good graces, and who knows but he 
 might get the heiress to fall in love with 
 him r She is not like the old woman, 
 who was always boasting of her family 
 and such like. I don't hear any word 
 of Miss's family. So much the better." 
 It was determined that it would be 
 prudent to offer a visit to the Hall, for 
 the girls were a little apprehensive, as 
 Lady Eleanor had never shewn them 
 the least approach towards civility, since 
 they had resided in her neighbourhood, 
 (as she thought it improper to en- 
 courage
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 59 
 
 courage such upstarts, whose m mey 
 gave them their only claim to notice,) 
 that Miss Moore might instil into the 
 young lady the same notions that Lady 
 Eleanor possessed, and that their visit 
 might not be returned. However, the 
 next morning, a servant was sent with 
 a card of condolence on the death of 
 her ladyship, and also of congratulation 
 on the arrival of Miss Belling ham, to 
 whom the ladies designed to pay th ir 
 respects, as soon as she saw company. 
 They waited very impatiently the return 
 of the servant. At length he brought 
 a gracious answer, that the ladies were 
 well, and would be glad to receive Mr. 
 Allright's family, any day after the next 
 Sunday A letter was instantly dis- 
 patched to Frank to hasten home, as 
 he had gone a few miles otf, to visit a 
 fello \ collegian. He h^l intimation 
 al >, that a great beauty and a g 
 fortune was in the neignbourn- 
 
 D 6 " and
 
 60 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 " and if he was ambitious," Louisi 
 wrote, " to be possessed of these, he 
 would return without delay. " 
 
 Frank Allright was one of those cha- 
 racters who are easily rouzed, when 
 novelty is in view. He was possessed 
 of a tolerably handsome face and per- 
 son, which, to do him justice, he studied 
 with the nicest care, and never neglect- 
 ed any thing that he thought necessary 
 towards its improvement. He had 
 dealt alternately with all the fashiona- 
 ble taylors, at the west end of the town,, 
 and had studiously avoided giving them 
 any reason to forget that they had had 
 the honour of serving him. However, 
 the credit of his father's house sup- 
 ported his extravagance, and no one 
 doubted the responsibility of the young 
 dasher, as he was called, as he was 
 generally mindful to reward the servants 
 of the respective tradesmen with whom 
 be dealt, who were on those occasions 
 
 equally
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 61 
 
 equally indifferent whether their mas- 
 ter's bill were ever or never discharged. 
 Still the young 'squire was a fine fellow, 
 and was never disappointed of a suit 
 of clothes to his time, though my Lord 
 Duke might storm at his Taylor's neg- 
 ligence. The old Banker could not 
 think how Frank managed ; for he kept 
 up the same appearance as the Beaux at 
 the other end of the town, and yet his 
 allowance was very moderate. He had 
 hinted this more than once to his son, 
 in order to rind out if he was in debt. 
 He had repeatedly told him, at his 
 first setting out in life, that going in 
 debt he looked upon as the first step 
 towards dishonesty, where the means to 
 answer did not correspond with the debts 
 incurred -, and therefore he thought 
 proper to inform him, that he had ap- 
 propriated such an allowance for him, 
 beyond which, on no account, he would 
 go j so that he must limit his expences 
 
 . within
 
 62 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 within 'V above mentioned sum. — 
 Frank was at that time some hundreds 
 in debt, and laughed in his sleeve, at 
 his father's contracted notions of the ex- 
 penditure of a voung man of fashion. 
 He knew that his father had risen in life 
 by strict economy, and that he once kept 
 a small retail shop, in the vicinity of 
 Smithfield, but that in the course of 
 many year's strict attention, and some 
 few lucky strokes, as the men of busi- 
 ness call the driving an advantageous 
 bargain, he got into a banking-house, 
 and did not rest till he had his name first 
 in the firm ; and as the other partners 
 had dropped off, he was now the prin- 
 cipal, with a fortune of immense ex- 
 tent, and still possessed all the old ha- 
 bits of business and economy, by which 
 he had risen. He liked the city bet- 
 ter than any other place, and St. 
 Mary Axe had charms which he found 
 no where else. — But he had three 
 
 daughters^
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 63 
 
 daughters, who did not see those charms 
 in the city he himself did. They had 
 remonstrated in vain on the necessity 
 of living at the west end of the town ; 
 that it was impossible to visit their 
 friends, and live so far off them ; no one 
 would take the trouble to drag them- 
 selves so far over the pavement, to re- 
 turn a morning call. 
 
 The old Banker was inexorable. He 
 said it was a pretty ride, and that they 
 might come by Islington, through the 
 New Road : for stir a step nearer dissi- 
 pation, he would not, say whatever 
 they pleased. 
 
 Frank had also tried his rhetoric on 
 this head, to no effect. So the scheme 
 was given up, and a house in the coun- 
 try was to be the medium, where (.he 
 ladies might stay the sumiuer months, 
 with now and then an excursion to Mar- 
 gate or Brighton, as the old man could 
 be brought into good humour. 
 
 To
 
 64 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 To this Mr. Allright gave a ready as- 
 sent, as it would keep the young ones 
 out of extravagance and bad company, 
 particularly Frank, who, when in town, 
 did not keep those hours that his father 
 did at his time of life ; though he very 
 seldom knew when his son came home, 
 as he had a favourite servant, who sat 
 up for him, and to whom he was not a 
 niggard, but paid him liberally. 
 
 The family had resided at Carleton 
 about two years, at the time of Lady 
 Eleanor Levet's death. She had deter- 
 mined not to give them her counte- 
 nance, in hopes that this would disgust 
 them at the place, and that they would 
 remove, when she might get some fa- 
 mily of distinction, such as had resided 
 on the estate before Mr. Allright pur- 
 chased it. However, her ladyship had 
 not succeeded in her scheme of routing 
 the citizens ; for, as they were rich, 
 they soon contrived to be of conse- 
 quence
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 65 
 
 quence at the assembly, in the nearest 
 town to them, a place Lady Eleanor 
 never condescended to attend. 
 
 All the young men of the country 
 paid their court to the ladies, and Frank 
 flirted and danced with every pretty 
 girl by turns. However, he was de- 
 lighted beyond expression, to hear of a 
 beauty and rich too, being in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Carleton, and hastened to 
 announce to his friends, that he must 
 depart the next morning, as hi* father 
 had given him a summons. He reached 
 home the following day to dinner, and 
 was greatly disappointed to find no 
 other than the family party, expecting 
 to see this rich and beautiful fair one a 
 visitor to his sisters. However, on mat- 
 ters being explained, he was satisfied 
 to wait till the next week, and in the 
 interim dispatched a few new orders to 
 his tradesmen in town that he might ap- 
 pear at the Hall in the perfect mode of 
 
 I the
 
 66 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 the day, though had it been in that of 
 the last year, Helen Bellingham would 
 not have known the difference. The 
 family, after dinner, amused themselves 
 with some scandalous anecdotes, not 
 much to the credit of their deceased 
 neighbour, and then determined on a 
 visit to Mrs. Jackson, at the Parsonage, 
 in order to hear all she knew about the 
 young stranger. They found only Mrs. 
 Jackson at home, as the Doctor had 
 ~c;:e to be present at the opening of 
 the will of her ladyship. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 67 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 WlTH the first dawn of the day, 
 Helen awakened from sweet and re- 
 freshing slumbers, and anxiously await- 
 ed the hour when, she believed, she 
 was to be made acquainted with her- 
 self. She was unconscious of every 
 thing that concerned her, except that 
 she existed merely as the child of Lady 
 Levet's bounty. But how that bounty 
 should be extended so largely toward 
 one, who in her lifetime she never con- 
 descended to see, or indeed honour 
 with any degree of notice beyond an 
 annual inquiry at her governess's, as to 
 the progress she made in her education, 
 
 and
 
 G8 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 and a remittance for whatever sums bad 
 been expended for her use ? This still 
 occupied her thoughts, and she hoped 
 that her mind, upon this head, would 
 soon be at rest. She could by no 
 means give into the certain belief that 
 the fortune, said to be within her grasp, 
 was ever really to be possessed by her. 
 She longed for the hour when she 
 should again meet Miss Moore, as she 
 must be acquainted with every thing ; 
 and as she, perhaps, would be more 
 cormnunicative when alone with iiei-* <£ 
 at breakfast. She was greatly disap- 
 pointed when the clock heavily tolled 
 the hour of seven ; as it was two hours 
 before the breakfast hour, and she 
 knew not how to pass the intermediate 
 time : so eager was she to be relieved 
 from her own thoughts, and to exchange 
 certainty for uncertainty. 
 
 The family were up, and the dif- 
 ferent servants were passing to and fro 
 
 across
 
 WHO IS SHE? 69 
 
 across the yard, all busily employed in 
 their several avocations. " If it is true 
 they tell me," she said to herself, 
 " what a strange situation I am in ? 
 Here am I mistress of a large house and 
 a large fortune, yet dare not so much as 
 open this chamber door, and descend 
 amongst my servants, but must wait 
 until I am summoned to my break- 
 fast. Only two days are passed, and 
 I was the most dependant of nearly 
 forty girls, and subject to innumer- 
 able indignities. Oh, fortune," said 
 she, " deign to unravel thy myste- 
 ries, for I am almost lost in the infinity 
 of my surmises and doubts ! I would 
 employ the intermediate time in ad- 
 dressing a letter to my friend Caroline 
 Archer, but what can I say \ she will 
 expect to hear much, and I know no- 
 thing. I will wait till to-morrow, 
 when all doubt may, nay, will be re- 
 moved. I shall be certain what are my 
 
 expec-
 
 70 THE PRIDE OP ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 expectations, and who I am." She 
 looked out of the window, and though 
 no bright sun shed its rays to invite her 
 abroad, the morning was clear, and she 
 determined to descend and walk in the 
 shrubbery which surrounded her cham- 
 ber window, till Miss Moore was stir- 
 ring. She had hardly reached the hall, 
 when the Steward, whom she had never 
 before seen, presented himself with 
 many bows, wishing her a good morning, 
 and that she might enjoy many years of 
 happiness, beneath the roof where he had 
 had the honour of serving Lady Eleanor 
 and her father before her, and where he 
 should account himself honoured in 
 serving herself, with the same fidelity he 
 had done her predecessors. 
 
 Helen knew not what reply to make. 
 She did not yet know what right she 
 had to be so addressed, yet some an- 
 swer was due to so much civility and 
 proffered kindness. She curtsied, and 
 
 thanked
 
 WHO IS SHE? 71 
 
 thanked the steward for his attachment 
 to the family, to whom she was so much 
 indebted, and said, if it came within 
 her power to shew her obligation for 
 this, she hoped that he would not find 
 her ungrateful. In the mean time, she 
 would thank him to shew her the door 
 which opened to the garden. She ea- 
 gerly ran over the pleasure-ground, and 
 as she was accustomed to view rural 
 objects, though the scene had lost the 
 luxuriance of summer, and also the 
 mellow tints of autumn, yet there was 
 still a sufficient prospect of beauty in 
 decay, to promise a delightful scene 
 with the return of spring. Helen's 
 own breast was in the hey-day of that 
 enchanting season ; every prospect: 
 charmed, and she exclaimed involunta- 
 rily, " if all this be really mine, I will 
 be most happy myself, and all shall be 
 happy around me ; no one shall be mi 
 serable. Have I not, when at school, 
 
 often
 
 72 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 often witnessed the aged bending un- 
 der a weight of misfortunes, and wished 
 I had the means of those who passed 
 them unnoticed in their coaches. How 
 ungrateful should I be to pass the indi- 
 gent." Whilst she was admiring every 
 thing around her, she heard a bell ring, 
 and supposing it might be for breakfast, 
 she hastened towards the house. Here 
 she met Miss Moore, who advanced to 
 meet her as she entered the hall, and 
 taking her hand, they walked together 
 into the breakfast room. Dr. Jackson 
 was just entered before them, with 
 Lady Eleanor's lawyer. Therefore all 
 Helen's expectations of communica- 
 tions from Miss Moore, were at an end. 
 Mr. Rackrent, the attorney, was a littte 
 dapper man, hardly five feet high. To do 
 him justice, none of his height was lost, 
 for he was continually stretching his 
 little slender neck to its very utmost 
 extent. He was at the time of Miss 
 
 Bel-
 
 WHO IS SHE? 73 
 
 Bellingham's entrance, standing before a 
 very large pier glass, which rendered his 
 little figure still more diminutive. He 
 turned quickly round on hearing the 
 doctor's salutation to the ladies. He 
 began to caper about, and throw his 
 head into so many different directions, 
 that Helen could hardly keep her coun- 
 tenance. At length he approached 
 her, and making a profound bow, said, 
 to Miss Moore, fi This is, I suppose, 
 The young lady." Miss Moore bowed 
 assent, and he began to congratulate 
 her on her arrival at Holmby. During 
 his speech, he almost stared the poor 
 girl out of countenance. Dr. Jackson 
 relieved her by saying, " come, Miss 
 Moore, let us take a little breakfast, 
 and then, if you please, Mr. Rackrent, 
 we will proceed to business." " Aye, to 
 be sure, Doctor," replied the little man 
 of the law, " to business, to be sure; I 
 vol. i. e settle
 
 74 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 settle business wherever I go : no do- 
 ing without me. Weddings or bury- 
 ings, I must be called in. Well, who 
 knows, I may see this house on the for- 
 mer, as I do now on the latter occasion, 
 e'er long;" looking at Helen and simper- 
 ing. Miss Moore looked displeased at 
 his levity. 1 he Doctor did not reply ; 
 and nothing passed material during the 
 remainder of their breakfast. As soon 
 as the Steward informed them that all 
 were assembled who were ordered to 
 be present, Miss Moore, with Helen, 
 led the way to the great drawing room, 
 both of them in much agitation. When 
 they were seated, Mr. Rackrent placed 
 himself in the midst of the circle, which 
 was composed of the ladies, the Doctor, 
 and the domestics of Lady Levet's fa- 
 mily, who stood behind their chairs. 
 At length, the seals were burst, and 
 Helen turned as pale as if her future 
 
 fate
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 75 
 
 late had been on the point of being re- 
 vealed. And indeed so she expected it 
 would be. 
 
 After the usual preliminaries had 
 been gone through, which are usual on 
 those occasions, and all the ceremonials, 
 Mr. Rackrent came to the words, " I 
 give and devise all my estates lying in 
 this, and the neighbouring parish, to- 
 gether with my plate, jewels, furniture, 
 &c. to Miss Helen Bellinghara, pro- 
 vided she does not marry before she at- 
 tain the age of twenty-one ; at which 
 period, she will open a paper directed 
 to her, and which will be found in my 
 jewel-cabinet, and which I require Miss 
 Bellingham to deposit, until the above- 
 mentioned period, in the hands of Dr. 
 Jackson ; whom I also request to ac- 
 cept of the guardianship of the above 
 young lady, conjointly with Miss 
 Moore, whom I earnestly exhort to 
 •remain with Miss Bellingham, unless 
 e2 k
 
 76 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 it shall be found impracticable. I lay 
 Miss Bellingham under no restraint, 
 whenever she shall be of age to marry, 
 except what will be found in the above- 
 mentioned paper ; and that I desire 
 she shall signify to Dr. Jackson, one 
 month before the event takes place, the 
 name and connections of the gentle- 
 man, when I authorize him to sanc- 
 tion her choice with his approbation, 
 and then to put her in possession of all 
 the ready money of which I may be 
 found possessed at my decease, to which 
 she will find herself fully entitled. I re- 
 commend to her all my faithful do- 
 mestics, who were in the family during 
 my father's life time, and who shall 
 chuse to remain in her service. I also 
 give and bequeath to Miss Elizabeth 
 Moore, the sum of two hundred pounds, 
 to be paid yearly out of my estates to 
 her during her natural life -, and I like- 
 wise request Dr. Jackson will accept 
 
 one
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 77 
 
 one thousand pounds, as some small re- 
 compence for the trouble I have given 
 Trim in the management of Miss Bell- 
 ingham's affairs. ,T 
 
 This, with legacies to her servants, 
 and mourning-rings to a few friends, 
 was the contents of her ladyship's will. 
 The entailed estate, which was of little 
 consideration in comparison of the pos- 
 sessions of Lady Eleanor, with the fami- 
 ly title, devolved on the Earl of Clifden, 
 a second cousin, who had expected, at 
 her decease, to have come into posses- 
 sion of all the property together; no one 
 standing, as he believed, in a nearer 
 relationship to the family. He had, in 
 his own mind, disposed of all the ready 
 money, which was believed to be very 
 considerable. Indeed, he had gone 
 farther ; for he had given bonds, pay- 
 able at the death of her ladyship. Not 
 that any intimation had been given 
 him, of any particular partiality having 
 e 3 been
 
 ;8 1HE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 been entertained for him by Lady Elea- 
 nor. But, he said, " he knew the old 
 girl would not forget the relationship, as 
 she always entertained a proper respect 
 for family antiquity; and she must 
 know that he would do the honours of 
 the family most excellently well, when 
 furnished by her with the means.*' 
 
 All ceremonies being observed re- 
 specting the will, the meeting broke 
 up: when Miss Bellingham, Miss 
 Moore, and Dr. Jackson, with the little 
 Lawyer, adjourned to another room. 
 As soon as they were seated, Miss 
 Moore said, " now, my dear, we may 
 congratulate you on your accession to 
 a very splendid fortune. " •* Yes, in- 
 deed, Miss,'* replied Racfcrent, '< you 
 have got the ready ; indeed, you have 
 cut out the young Earl, that's not fair, 
 upon my word." Miss Moore coloured, 
 and said, i: Sir, Lady Levet's property 
 was at her own disposal, and, conse- 
 quently,
 
 WHO IS SHE f) 79 
 
 quentiy, she might have given it to 
 you, it she had so pleased." The Law- 
 yer bowed at the reproof, remarked, 
 that he had a vast deal of business to 
 do before dark ; and after assuring Miss 
 Bellingham,and Dr. Jackson, that he 
 should always be superlatively happy to 
 receive their smallest commands, took 
 his leave, to the no small joy of all the 
 party. 
 
 Dr. Jackson then approached and 
 took the hand of Helen, saying, " my 
 dear young- lady, I can see in your ex- 
 pressive and intelligent countenance, 
 that you are not satisfied. You wish 
 for farther information ; but as this is 
 not, at present, to be obtained, and as 
 there is nothing like a link of a chain 
 to lead us to any farther knowledge, 
 you must compose your mind to enjoy 
 the good already bestowed upon you by 
 an all-wise and beneficent Providence. 
 An ample fortune is laid at your feet ; 
 e 4 then, 

 
 80 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY 5 OR, 
 
 then, my dear, only think how you are 
 to dispose of it, so as to evince your 
 gratitude to him who has protected you 
 to this time of your life, and who will 
 still extend his protection if you are 
 found deserving. " 
 
 Helen could not answer the good 
 Doctor, but she kissed his hand, which 
 held one of her's, whilst the tears fell 
 fast upon it. Miss Moore seeing He- 
 len so agitated, advised her to retire to 
 her own room, tillher spirits should regain 
 a little more composure. To this she 
 gladly assented, and curtsying, went to 
 Tier apartment ; where, after shedding 
 a flood of tears, at the recollection of 
 her disappointment, and how long she 
 must wait before the mystery of her 
 birth should be explained, she by de- 
 grees regained her usual serenity of 
 temper. Just at this moment the bells 
 of the village church struck up a joy- 
 ous peal, and as they were reckoned to 
 
 be
 
 WHO IS SHE? 81 
 
 be a very musical set, Helen was quite 
 delighted to hear them, never once 
 thinking that it was in honour of her- 
 self they were ringing. Her mind still 
 ran from one subject to another, defying 
 all order, when a young woman en- 
 tered her room, saying, u the Steward 
 begs to know what your ladyship would 
 order for the ringers." "Me order?" 
 said Helen, " I have nothing to do 
 with it." " Why, they be a ringing 
 for your ladyship, sure enough," said 
 the girl, " because you- be corned to be 
 our lady, and if you would but let me 
 try to be your maid, I should be as 
 merry as any of them." " Would you, 
 indeed," said Helena "well then, you 
 shall be the first person I make happy, 
 for you shall be my maid, if you like it." 
 The girl, whom we shall for the future 
 call Sarah Mason, thought no more of 
 any thing but her owngood fortune, and 
 making an aukward curtsy, ran down 
 stairs, highly elated at her good luck, 
 E 5 cmr T ff
 
 82 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ', OR, 
 
 crying, to every one she met, " I be 
 miss's maid, indeed I be." 
 
 At the foot of the stairs she was 
 met by the Steward, who had sent her 
 up to know how he was to reward the 
 ringers. She had forgot what madam 
 said ; so he went to the dressing-room 
 door himself, and after his knock- 
 ing, the door was opened by Helen 
 herself. He repeated again the ques- 
 tion of " what she would chuse that 
 he should give to the ringers?" Helen 
 blushed at the recollection, that, of the 
 current coin of this kingdom, she was 
 not in possession of more than two or 
 three shillings, which she had been a 
 long time accumulating : for if Lady 
 Eleanor had ordered her any allowance 
 of pocket money, Mrs. Linworth had 
 taken care of it for her. She said, 
 « why, indeed, Sir, I have nothing to 
 offer them that will be worth their ac- 
 ceptance ; but if you would have the 
 
 good-
 
 WHO IS SHE? 83 
 
 goodness to ask Miss Moore, perhaps 
 she can tell what will be best to be 
 done." FF Why, my good lady, should 
 you ask any one ? what is your plea- 
 sure is sufficient for me. I will pay 
 them, if you will order the sum," 
 " Will you,, indeed?" said Helen, 
 " Why then give them five guineas, and 
 tell them I am much obliged to them ; 
 but would rather they would not ring 
 any more now. It does not look well 
 that I should rejoice at the death of my 
 benefactress, or encourage her neigh- 
 bours to do so." 
 
 The old man bowed, and went down 
 6tairs. He went directly to the house- 
 keeper's room, where sat Mrs. Hall, 
 not in the best of humours, as she had 
 only mourning and a year's wages left 
 her, whilst the old servants had, some 
 annuities, and others sufficient to place 
 them comfortably in the world. " Well, 
 Mr. Allen," said she, " has Miss given 
 e6 you
 
 54 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 you half-a-crown for the ringers r" 
 " Half-a-crown !" answered he, " no* 
 five guineas, and here it is, pulling then* 
 out of his pocket. She is a sweet 
 pretty creature, and I really, God for- 
 give me, did think she looked like my 
 deceased lady when she spoke." " Did 
 she I" said Mrs. Hall, " I am sure she 
 did not act like her then. When would 
 the poor of this parish have gotten as 
 much out of her?" "Come, come," 
 said the Steward, u there are worse than 
 she was, still living, I believe. Our 
 young lady, perhaps, will make the 
 poor amends." " Aye, aye, Mr. Allen, 
 after a miser generally comes a spend- 
 thrift. I have heard it remarked* 
 * lightly come lightly goV' At the 
 conclusion of this speech, entered Sa- 
 rah Mason, dressed in her new mourn- 
 ing with a white apron on. " Hey 
 day, Mrs. Sail," said the lady house- 
 keeper, " pray how come you dizend 
 
 out
 
 WHO IS SHE? 85 
 
 oat so ? You are not to put on your 
 new clothes till Sunday ; what do you 
 mean by going on in this way r* The 
 house is turned topsyturvy, I think." 
 " Why !" replied the girl, " I am 
 Miss's maid; she told me so herself, 
 and I could not wait on her in the dirty 
 dress I had on this morning." " She 
 told you so ; and who bid you go near 
 her ? You have a fine deal of assur- 
 ance. You her maid ! no, indeed, 
 I have sent for my own niece, and she 
 will be here this night or to-morrow 
 morning, and she is fit for a lady's 
 maid. You would not know how to 
 dress a lady, and Miss don't know much 
 about it herself; surely when I had all 
 the trouble of going to fetch her to be 
 a lady, she may let me get her a maid -, 
 so pray no more of this stuff, but go to 
 the laundry again about your business, 
 or I shall send for your mother to take 
 
 you
 
 86 THS PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OK, 
 
 you home. You a lady's woman for* 
 sooth !" 
 
 The old Steward saw which way.)//f 
 inclined, and, as quarreling was not his 
 forte, he walked away to execute an 
 office more pleasing to him, and more 
 congenial to his disposition. This was 
 to reward the ringers, for the truly 
 hearty peal they had rung in the honour 
 of Helen. " Here, here, my good fel- 
 lows, young madam has sent you five 
 guineas j but you must ring no more, 
 she don't like your jingling." The 
 spokesman scratched his head, and said 
 " it was the first time they had ever 
 been found fault with, when they had 
 set heart and hand tairly to it; and I'm 
 sure we did so this morning, because 
 as how we heard young madam was 
 likely to do some good amongst us." 
 " Well, well, my good fellows, I won't; 
 discourage you so much: Miss only 
 
 wished
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 87 
 
 wished not to rejoice so soon after my 
 old lady's death. She is much obliged 
 to you, she bid me tell you so. And I 
 promise you, whenever she is married, 
 if I am alive to see it, you shall have 
 your fill of ringing, and also of strong 
 beer likewise, and as an earnest of 
 what I promise, you shall drink Miss 
 Bellingham's health on the spot. Mr. 
 Allen called for a large can of ale, when 
 they all drank to the health of the young 
 Heiress, and after giving three cheers, 
 left the house in high spirits, now that 
 their skill in ringing-had not been called 
 in question. However, they determined 
 to give her one peal, just by way of 
 gratitude, and then to desist. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY £ OR*. 
 
 chap, v: 
 
 jyllSS Moore had retired to her own 
 chamber as well as Helen ; her spirits 
 being much agitated by the opening cf 
 the will of her deceased friend : not 
 that any part of its contents surprized 
 her, for she was acquainted with the 
 manner in which her ladyship's property 
 was disposed of, before her death. 
 Miss Moore saw the task imposed on 
 her, by Lady Levet, to be an arduous one, 
 though, since she had become a little 
 acquainted with Helen, her mind was 
 somewhat more at rest. She perceived 
 a tractable pliability in her manner, 
 that promised to give less trouble to 
 
 those
 
 WHO IS SHE? 89 
 
 those who were to advise and direct 
 her, than she had at first expected. 
 She was happy in having such a coad- 
 jutor as Dr. Jackson, who would take 
 upon him the management of those con- 
 cerns of which she was hardly compe- 
 tent to judge. This she really thought, 
 though she was a woman of a highly 
 cultivated understanding, and there 
 were few occurrences in life, on which 
 her judgment could not have been 
 passed without censure. 
 
 Miss Moore now began to consider 
 of the last conversation she had with 
 Lady Eleanor Levet, on the subject of 
 Miss Bellingham's conduct for the 
 future ; for though her ladyship had 
 laid no absolute constraint on her con- 
 duct, she hoped that Miss Moore, be- 
 ing older and more able to direct, 
 would gain such an ascendancy over 
 the mind of her young friend, as would, 
 when she was informed it had also been 
 
 her
 
 90 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY j OR, 
 
 her wish, induce her to yield to what- 
 ever was proposed in any plan Dr. 
 Jackson and she should agree upon. 
 It was too soon yet to enter upon any 
 thing like business, and she determined, 
 tor the present, to do all she could to 
 amuse, and form the mind of Helen to 
 what she hoped one day to see her: 
 which was, though not a perfect model; 
 of propriety, yet as near perfection in 
 mind, as she appeared to be approach- 
 ing to this in her person. 
 
 Helen Bellingham was, at the time 
 of her arrival at Hohnby Lodge, just 
 turned of sixteen 5 with a person form* 
 ed in nature's finest mould. She pro- 
 mised to be rather above the middle 
 stature. Her complexion was fair, with 
 nut brown hair and blue eyes. Her 
 teeth were small and regular, and 
 might vie with the finest pearls for 
 whiteness. Added to these, there was 
 an animation and innocence that played 
 
 about
 
 WHO IS SHE? 91 
 
 about her intelligent features, such as 
 directly spoke to the heart, and created 
 an interest for her, independently of 
 the adventitious advantages of for- 
 tune. 
 
 Sach was Helen Bellingham when 
 she was called from obscurity, to act 
 her part in the dignified and exalted 
 rank, in which she was now placed, by 
 the will of Lady Eleanor Levet. Youth, 
 and an excellent flow of spirits, easily 
 reconciled her to accept the proffered 
 good, and wait the time that Provi- 
 dence might, or, indeed, that Lady 
 Levet'i will had allotted, for an expla- 
 nation of her own history. 
 
 She . was sitting revolving in her 
 mind what she should occupy her time 
 in, whether in taking a walk again in 
 the garden, or if she should set down 
 and write to Caroline Archer, when 
 Miss Moore tapped at her chamber 
 door, and asked her if she did not wish 
 
 to
 
 92 THE PRTDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 to see the house of which she was now 
 the undoubted possessor: if so, she 
 would walk over it with her, as deco- 
 rum did not allow of their going 
 abroad till they had been to church the 
 next Sunday. Miss Moore said she 
 had desired Dr. and Mrs. Jackson to 
 join their party at dinner. Helen thank- 
 ed her in the best manner she could, 
 and said she should be much gratified 
 in seeing the house, iC for indeed, ma- 
 dam," said she, " it will be the first 
 elegant one I have ever seen. I have 
 been used to see only the outsides of fine 
 buildings.** 
 
 Miss Moore now carried her young 
 friend to the drawing-room, which was 
 in the finest stile of architecture, and 
 also furnished in a most costly and 
 splendid manner, not entirely in the 
 modern style, but yet not so much out 
 of the fashion as to be called antique. 
 Helen's mind was divided betwixt the 
 
 furniture.
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 93 
 
 feirniture and the fine collection of ele- 
 gant pictures that decorated the walls ; 
 but her attention was riveted most in 
 the anti-room, where the family pic- 
 tures were placed. She viewed, over 
 and over again, those of her late bene- 
 factress and her sister, which had been 
 drawn when these ladies were of a simi- 
 lar age with herself. Gratitude too, 
 no doubt, had a share in her mind. 
 
 She asked Miss Moore, " if the pic- 
 ture of Lady Eleanor at all resembled 
 her when she first knew her r" To 
 which she replied "no; if I had not 
 been told to whom the portrait belong- 
 ed, I could not have traced the resem- 
 blance. So you see, my dear, how 
 soon the features change. It is the 
 mind that retains its identity, not the 
 face, however lovely. Lady Laura's 
 portrait is the most beautiful, in my 
 opinion, and I have heard that she was 
 a truly amiable woman. She died in 
 
 the
 
 94 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 the prime of life, regretted by all who 
 knew her.'* 
 
 Helen now waited silently for her 
 praise of Lady Eleanor her benefac- 
 tress ; Miss Moore, however, did not, 
 at that time say any more, but passed 
 on to the other apartments. — When she 
 came to that which had been occupied 
 by her ladyship herself, Helen viewed 
 every thing with much curiosity. Her 
 eye involuntarily fixed on the identical 
 jewel cabinet, in which was contained 
 her own history, as she had been in- 
 formed by her ladyship's will. " That, 
 my love, contains jewels that now be- 
 long to you, and a secret which also 
 will one day be yours." Helen burst 
 into tears when she thought how long 
 she must wait in suspense ere her story 
 was revealed. She said, " Oh madam ! 
 can you tell me if my parents are living ? 
 I think I could wait patiently to know 
 the rest, if I was but resolved in this 
 
 one
 
 WHO IS SHE? <:'/> 
 
 one question." Miss Moore assured 
 her she did not know, as Lady Levet 
 had never been communicative to her at 
 all, on any subject that concerned the 
 family or connections of her whom 
 she did not even know she intended to 
 make her heir till her last illness. Then 
 she only gave directions what she would 
 have done, and gave advice which she 
 hoped ML-oBellingham would endeavour 
 to follow as nearly as she could. It 
 might, Miss Moore said, be easily done, 
 as it was quite general, and not at all 
 binding on her if she was not disposed 
 to adopt it. " But," she added, " my 
 dear, we will not enter on these seri- 
 ous subjects at present ; I wish to amuse, 
 not to distress you. This evening, if 
 you please, we will open the casket, 
 and deposit* the papers in the hands 
 of Dr. Jackson, and then we will en- 
 deavour to forget all about it, till the 
 
 period
 
 96 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY '> OR, 
 
 period when all doubt will resolve itself 
 into certainty." 
 
 They left the chamber and passed 
 through all the other parts of the 
 house worthy of any particular notice. 
 They amused themselves until it was 
 time to dress for dinner, with consulting 
 about and giving orders for proper 
 mourning. For Miss Moore thought 
 proper that Miss Bellingham's own or- 
 ders should be issued, in order to create 
 that proper respect she wished to see 
 paid to her by the domestics of her late 
 friend; and which she feared they 
 might not so readily pay, did they not 
 see her act as their mistress, which she 
 really now indisputably was. 
 
 The estate which descended, with the 
 title, to the earl, as next male heir, was 
 very small. It was scarcely two thou- 
 sand pounds a year. But the possessions 
 of Lady Levet were immense. As 
 
 her
 
 WHO IS SHE? 97 
 
 her father, the late Earl of Clifden, had, 
 in his younger days, lived, what is 
 termed, too fast. In short, he had dis- 
 sipated a large estate in all the follies 
 and frivolities of the age in which he 
 lived. By the time he ought to have 
 been in the enjoyment of domestic hap- 
 piness, id the bosom of an affectionate 
 wife, and two beautiful children, he 
 found himself involved in inextricable 
 difficulties. He had never been able to 
 assume courage sufficient to look his 
 affairs in the face, till all efforts to re- 
 trieve then) were ineffectual. 'At 
 length he found something must be 
 done : what that something should be, 
 was now the question. The Earl had not 
 forgotten that his creditors must be set- 
 tled with ; but in what manner, he was 
 unequal to the task of determining. 
 His steward presented him with invol- 
 ved accounts, from which, being natu- 
 rally an indolent man, he turned with 
 . vol. r t f disgust.
 
 9$ THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 disgust. However, luckily for his lord- 
 ship,, he had one friend, to whom he ap- 
 plied, and to whom he laid open his af- 
 fairs. After a minute investigation, it 
 was found, that on all debts being liqui- 
 dated, there would not remain two 
 thousand pounds per annum, to support 
 a family, who had heretofore, revelled 
 in all the splendor and extravagances 
 of the times. This friend very luckily 
 hit upon an expedient that set all to 
 rights in a very few years, and which 
 gave a more ample fortune to Lord 
 Clifden than that which he had thought- 
 lessly dissipated. He happened to be 
 related to the minister of the day, and,, 
 as he had always voted with him, and 
 had two or three boroughs that did the 
 same; his friend advised him to wait 
 on his relation and lay his present situa- 
 tion before him : he might suggest 
 some plan. 
 
 His lordship, who did aiot like to 
 
 relate
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 99 
 
 relate his embarrassments, sent his 
 wife with a letter to pave the way for 
 his presenting himself at the next morn- 
 ing's levee: from which he returned the 
 nominated governor of one of our richest 
 East India settlements. 
 
 It was determined that LadyClifden 
 should remain at home to superintend 
 the education of her daughters. — Every 
 thing was soon arranged, and the Earl 
 set forward to amass a splendid fortune, 
 which he did with credit to himself, 
 and also to those who had placed him 
 in so elevated a station. 
 
 On his lordship's return, after a resi- 
 dence ol many years in India, he found 
 Lady Clifden on the verge of the grave, 
 into which, she in a very few months 
 descended, leaving him two accomplish- 
 ed daughters. His lordship had lost 
 nothing of the pride of family, which he 
 had taken out with him to India, but 
 rather gained an accumulation to the 
 f2 stock.
 
 100 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 stock. He determined that his daugh- 
 ters should marry into the first families, 
 or not at all: they were to he ennobled, 
 by a matrimonial connection, not de- 
 graded. His lordship's wishes were not 
 seconded by any offer from the families 
 into which he desired to transplant his 
 daughters. They, however, were not 
 without suitors innumerable. Lady 
 Laura in particular, had many offers 
 and it was said she herself would not 
 have put a negative on all her suitors, 
 had not her father taken care to dismiss 
 them as soon as their attentions grew 
 particular. Lady Eleanor inherited all 
 the family pride of her father; whilst 
 her sister had imbibed all the amiable 
 qualities, and feminine softness of her 
 mother. 
 
 The two ladies were on a return 
 from a visit, when Lady Laura was 
 taken ill at an inn and died. She was 
 rather the favourire with the Earl, and 
 
 he
 
 WHO IS 3HE ? 101 
 
 he did not long survive her; leaving, to 
 .Lady Eleanor all his estates, that did 
 not descend, with the title, to the 
 young Earl of Clifden, between whose 
 family, and that of the late Earl, there 
 had never been any intercourse. Lady 
 Eleanor inherited also the immense 
 sums of ready money accumalated dur- 
 ing her father's long residence in the 
 East, to which she had rather made an 
 addition than at all diminished them. 
 
 The Carleton estate, which was con- 
 sidered to be worth between three and 
 four thousand per annum, more than sup- 
 plied all her expenditure, as she always 
 resided in the country eight months 
 in the year: and, indeed, it could not 
 be said that her change of residence at all 
 added to her expences ; for her ladyship 
 went to the metropolis, more because 
 it was visited at a particular season of 
 the year by persons of a particular rank, 
 than to enjoy any amusement or society 
 f 3 pecu-
 
 102 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 peculiar to the spot. She received lit- 
 tle company; those only were admitted 
 who had the honour to claim kindred 
 with the Clifden family, and could sup- 
 port this claim with their own splendid 
 situations ; for it was whispered, that 
 many claimants to her ladyship's regard, 
 had been rejected on the score of not 
 bringing any patent of nobility to sub- 
 stantiate the claim to consanguinity. 
 In short, Lady Eleanor Levet inherited 
 all the pride of her ancestors, without 
 retaining any of their virtues. No one 
 could record any generous or benevo- 
 lent action done by her. Self was the 
 idol she worshipped, and to whom she 
 wished every one else to pay homage, 
 Alas, she did not once think, that those 
 who exact attention from others, should 
 shew some themselves. 
 
 Helen, on regaining her own cham- 
 ber, sat down immediately to write to 
 her friend Caroline an account of all she 
 
 had
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 103 
 
 had just seen, which was quite novel 
 to her ideas. 
 
 Helen Belli ngham, to Caroline Archer 
 
 " My ever dear Caroline will 
 not believe that I have forgotten her, 
 because I have not written as soon as I 
 arrived at this delightful place. That 
 never can happen ; you were my first, 
 and will continue my dearest friend, if 
 1 had a thousand. 
 
 " I dare say, you was very dull when 
 I went away, and so was I too, for all 
 the fine coach. I wish you had been 
 by my side instead of that inquisitive 
 ©Id woman : I should then have been 
 able to pour out some of the sentiment 
 with which my mind was crouded, by 
 the sudden reverse of fortune I had met 
 with. I can hardly yet believe it true, 
 and fancy that Mrs. Linwortb, or Miss 
 F 4 Porter,
 
 104 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 Porter, will come and tell me I have 
 been in a mistake, and must go back to 
 school and dependance again. But 
 this is all folly in me, for, I have this 
 morning been witness to the opening of 
 the will of Lady Eleanor Levet. She 
 has left me so much, that I can't tell 
 you the half of my fortune. I know by 
 the Housekeeper, who brought me hi- 
 ther, that the Carleton Estate is near 
 four thousand a year, and that this is 
 left to me, besides money and jewels, 
 and, in short, more than I deserve or 
 know what to do with. 
 
 " I have been just walking all over 
 the house with Miss Moore ; my house 
 Caroline ! — Now, don't say I am proud, 
 I only want to make you laugh at the 
 thoughts of Helen Bellingham having 
 any house of her own, except such as 
 we used to amuse ourselves with build- 
 ing with the pack of cards you brought 
 for our private divertion. 
 
 "Whal
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 105 
 
 " What do you think is the first 
 pleasure I promise to myself from all 
 this great good fortune ? Why, that 
 you will spend the next holidays here 
 with me. Your good mother must 
 not deny me this. I shall make a jour- 
 ney to her on purpose, and then call at 
 Harrowby, and drag you away from 
 the old forms, to sit on damask and silk 
 chairs. Gh ! such charming paintings, 
 Caroline, you will be quite delighted. 
 
 " But I have not said a word about 
 the lady who is, with Dr. Jackson, ap- 
 pointed my guardian; I mean Miss 
 Moore, who lived with Lady Levet as- 
 her friend and companion. I was pre- 
 pared, by Mrs. Hall, the housekeeper, 
 to be greatly on my guard before her, 
 and expected that she would be very 
 cross and ill natured : instead of which, 
 she is quite the contrary. Her coun- 
 tenance has nothing forbidding in it, 
 such as I have often seen, but rather 
 f 5 some-
 
 106 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 so me tiling good and amiable: I think 
 I shall like her very much. Greatly,, 
 indeed, shall I need somebody to di- 
 rect me what I had best do. I used to' 
 think, when at school, that I had learnt 
 every thing, and now I do believe I 
 shall find that I know nothing. — But 
 indeed, Caroline, I will not go to 
 
 school again do you know they rang 
 
 the bells here this morning for me P — 
 The face of the world seems to ba 
 changed. A week ago and nobody 
 looked at Helen, and now I seenr 
 the object of attention to every 
 body. J hope I shall deserve all this 
 good fortune. You must excuse my 
 letter, for I am so confused I don't 
 know what I write ; I have so much to 
 say to you. I wish you was but here i 
 we could then ramble about, and set- 
 tle future plans, as we have often done 
 in the play ground at school. Don't you 
 remember when you said that ifeveryou 
 
 had
 
 WHO IS SHE? 107 
 
 had a house of your own, I should live 
 with you, and that you would never 
 have anew gown or bonnet without I 
 had one likewise. I have not forgotten 
 it. — Talking of clothes, I do believe 
 you would be quite surprized to see 
 Lady Levet's wardrobe ; and you shall 
 see it, for it will remain just as it is un- 
 til you come hither, I dare say. I 
 never saw such a quantity of finery; 
 what could she do with it ? It is im- 
 possible that half of the dresses could 
 be for her own wear, and they are too 
 fine for the poor people, or I should 
 think she bought them to distribute 
 amongst her neighbours. There are 
 some young ladies, who live near, as I 
 find, for we met a coach full of them 
 as we came hither. They looked like 
 alderman Wilson's daughters at our 
 church, both proud and conceited ; but 
 I find they are rich : and if riches make 
 people proud and good for nothing, 
 f 6 mine
 
 108 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 mine will be of little use to me. But I 
 hope I never shall forget that I have no 
 title to pride, except that which my 
 own conduct may create, and. that I 
 <jhall ever continue to deserve the friend- 
 ship of my dear Caroline. 
 
 il Pray remember me to our go- 
 verness and Miss Porter, and to all the 
 ladies : tell them I will not forget them 
 when the fruit season returns. And 
 now, my friend, I must conclude, for 
 Dr. Jackson and his lady are to dine 
 here. I cannot, until I am one and 
 twenty, be informed of my own history, 
 or whether my parents are still living ; 
 which is a great damp to my present 
 happiness. However, four or five years 
 soon pass, and then I shall be at a cer- 
 tainty. — Surely my parents could not 
 have offended Lady Levet, or she 
 would never have been so liberal to 
 me, for whom, however, she could not 
 have entertained any regard, or she 
 
 would
 
 who is sheF I09 : 
 
 would have condescended, sometime 
 cr other, to have seen me. Well ! I 
 will think no more about it at this time. 
 What a long letter I have written ! 
 Adieu, my dear Caroline, I depend on 
 our meeting in about three weeks. 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 Helen Bellingham." 
 
 Helen sealed up her letter to her 
 friend, and then sat about dressing, as 
 well as she could, to receive Mrs. 
 Jackson, whom she had never yet seen. 
 At the dinner hour, the Doctor intro- 
 duced his lady to Helen, with whom 
 she seemed highly pleased. The small 
 party spent a rational and agreeable 
 day together, talking over the family 
 concerns, and instructing Helen in 
 many particulars, of which it was pro- 
 per she should be informed. They 
 
 were
 
 110 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR,. 
 
 were all mutually pleased with eacli 
 other, as an universal stream of benevo- 
 lent thoughts ran through the whole 
 party, and their young pupil promised 
 to imbibe the good instructions offered 
 to her, and to profit by such excellent ex- 
 amples as were exhibited by her friends. 
 
 In the evening, the casket was 
 brought down, in order to lodge the 
 papers, that contained the history of 
 Helen, in the hands of Dr. Jackson. . 
 The packet was sealed with the arms 
 of the Clifden family. Helen trembled ' 
 when Miss Moore put it into her hands, 
 in order that she should deposit it with 
 the Doctor, according to the tenor of 
 the will. 
 
 She cast a trembling look at the 
 packet as she turned it in her hand, and, 
 with a deep sigh, consigned it, as di- 
 rected, to the care of the good 
 Dr. Jackson, until the term should be 
 expired, when she might be permitted 
 
 to
 
 WHO IS SHE ? Ill 
 
 to know, from whence she sprung, and 
 if she was related to any human being* 
 bow in existence. 
 
 The Doctor took the eventful de- 
 posit, saying, that he hoped one day 
 it would be a source of much satisfac- 
 tion to them all, as it w oil Id elucidate a 
 mystery, that appeared evident (fromthe 
 concealment thought necessary by her 
 who occasioned it) was not for the good 
 of Miss Bellinghara proper to be then 
 explained. Had it been otherwise, she 
 who had so amply provided for Miss 
 Bellingham, would not have withheld a 
 communication so necessary to her hap- 
 piness, could this also have been then 
 accomplished. With these and many 
 other reasons, he endeavoured to fortify 
 her young mind with patience to wait 
 the allotted time, nor murmur at Fate 
 which had, otherwise, made for her 
 such ample provision. 
 
 The evening was passed in proposing 
 
 plans,
 
 112 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ', OR, 
 
 plans, .and in settling many family con- 
 cerns that were left by the rather 
 sudden death of Lady Levet in disor- 
 der; though in general the utmost pre- 
 cision was adhered to in all her con- 
 cerns. These were regulated by Miss 
 Moore under the immediate inspection 
 of Lady Levet- : so that all business was 
 readily settled.. The Rector and his 
 lady took their leave early, and the.: 
 ladies soon after.retired to rest. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 113 
 
 CHAP. VL 
 
 1 HE long expected day arrived when 
 the young Heiress was to make her 
 first public appearance at the church, 
 and never had this edifice been more 
 crouded. The day was as discouraging 
 as any that the month of November 
 had ever presented : it was both foggy 
 and rainy, yet no one remained at 
 home on this account, not even the 
 widow Lavington, who hardly ever 
 presented herself at church during the 
 winter months, being afraid of catch- 
 ing cold. But curiosity got the better 
 of the damps and dews. She wrapped 
 herself up in a warm pelisse and was. 
 
 ia
 
 I } I Til £ P R IDE F A NC HITR Y ; OR, 
 
 in her pew, even before the Allright 
 family. The good citizens were all of 
 them there also. Even Frank said he 
 would for once endure a sermon,, as it 
 was to see a pretty girl. 
 
 At length Helen and Miss Moore 
 arrived. They had to pass through a 
 gaping croud, assembled in the church- 
 yard, who were eager to do& their hats 
 to young madam before she encoun- 
 tered the fashionable stare of her more 
 polite neighbours. She passed through 
 them unconscious that the compliment 
 was paid to herself ; beiieving that it 
 was to Miss Moore the homage was of- 
 fered, as having, made a- part of Lady 
 Level's family. Poor Miss Moore 
 might have gone to church and re- 
 turned without the least notice, as she 
 and Lady Eleanor had done, for many 
 years, except they happened to come 
 in the way of any of the villagers, who 
 received actual employment at the 
 
 Lodge ;.
 
 who is bin: r 115 
 
 Lodge j and they generally slunk out 
 of the way when they saw the coach 
 approach the church gate. 
 
 After service was ended, and they 
 had heard an excellent sermon preached 
 by the Doctor, he came down from the 
 pulpit and joined his lady, who was 
 paying her respects to Helen : at which 
 instant Mrs. Lavington took the oppor- 
 tunity of walking, or rather tottering, 
 up to Miss Moore, hoping that she was 
 a little recovered from the shock her 
 spirits must have received from the loss 
 of her respected and amiable friend 
 Lady Levet. Mrs. Lavington then 
 said, she should present herself at the 
 Lodge the next morning, and, curtsie- 
 ing to Helen very particularly, passed 
 on, saying to Mrs. Jackson, "excuse 
 me, my dear madam, I did not see you 
 before, I have been quite enchanted by 
 that beautiful creature. She is loveli- 
 itself. You know I expect ym to 
 
 ' teav"
 
 l\6 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 tea." She then, with the assistance of 
 her footman and a female servant, con- 
 trived to reach her carriage. The All- 
 right family contented themselves with 
 bows and curtsies to the laxlies; and 
 were in haste to reach the family coach 
 to give their opinion of Helen. 
 
 The door being shut, they could 
 scarcely allow time to order the coach- 
 man to drive to Mrs. Lavington's, be- 
 fore they all spoke at once. " Well* 
 what do you think of her ?" They all 
 declared that she was tolerable, but 
 ".that she had no ease in her appear- 
 ance, " Miss Marian said. " She look- 
 ed conceited.'' Louisa remarked, "She- 
 did not know how to dress herself," 
 Sophia said, " or she would never have 
 had such an ugly hat on : she was sure 
 that it was an old one of Lady Levels,., 
 and that she had seen her wear it on* 
 occasion of some family mourning." 
 
 The old citizen had hitherto held his 
 
 tongue,.
 
 WHO IS SHE ? J 17 
 
 tongue, from which he was not pre- 
 vented, whilst he allowed his daughters 
 the free exercise of theirs. But now 
 he said, " he was happy to find Miss 
 BeJlingham was so prudent a girl as to 
 save the expence of a new hat, when 
 she might have laid out, he dared to 
 say, as much as half a guinea and not 
 have looked a whit the better. Why, 
 she would look like an angel in any 
 thing," said he, " so she is in the right 
 to save her money." 
 
 " Like an angel, papa, did you 
 say?" asked Louisa; " yes I did say 
 so, and so will Frank, I dare say too," 
 replied Mr. Ailright, " when we get 
 home." 
 
 " What strange ideas men have 
 of angels," returned Louisa, " the girl 
 is well enough : but because she 
 has got a little money, which nei- 
 ther you, papa, nor Frank either, will 
 
 ever
 
 113 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 ever be the better for, she must be dei- 
 fied. I see nothing to admire so much 
 in a school girl. You would have pass- 
 ed her without notice if she had not had 
 a fortune, I believe.*' 
 
 Though this last assertion was the 
 direct truth, it did not sit the more 
 agreeably for this reason : and the old 
 man, being determined to vex the girls 
 a little more, let down the glass of the 
 coach, and pulling the check string, 
 waited until they were overtaken by 
 Frank, whom he accosted, " Well, did 
 you stay to hand the Heiress to her 
 
 carnage r 
 
 " That did I, father," said he, il I 
 would not have left the church without 
 being introduced, for the world. The 
 Doctor was so good as to perform the 
 ceremony of introduction." 
 
 H Well, well," replied his father, " I 
 hope it may not be the last ceremony 
 
 that
 
 WHO IS SHE ? I '} i* 
 
 tli at he may be called upon to perform 
 • between the parties," with a significant 
 nod of his head. 
 
 u I'm over head and ears in love 
 already," said Frank to his sister 
 Louisa. 
 
 <c And I fancy you have a rival al- 
 ready : for papa is in love too with 
 yourangei." The ladies all set up a 
 laugh. And the coach was allowed 
 to proceed to Mrs. Lavington's, where 
 Frank attended them. 
 
 Sophia alighted first, and running 
 into the house, exclaimed, " make 
 room for two despairing s wains, who -are 
 already dying for love of the b autji." 
 
 " What then did you meet Charles," 
 asked the widow ? ; 
 
 " No, we did not," said Louisa : 
 " was you afraid that he had been un- 
 faithful r" 
 
 " Lord, sister," said Marian, " it was 
 -impossible that Charles Waring could 
 
 have
 
 120 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 have been in love with Mrs. Laving- 
 ton and Miss Bellingham at the same 
 time : it would have been like court- 
 ing mother and daughter." 
 
 Mrs. Lavington was not much oblig- 
 ed to Marian for this remark, as she 
 always contrived to put on all the in- 
 fantine airs of youth, and if any occur- 
 rence was referred to what had hap- 
 pened ten or fifteen years before, she 
 affected to know nothing about it; 
 though it was as many years since she 
 had first entered into the bands of holy 
 wedlock. 
 
 The old citizen had been offended 
 by his caughters, and was determined 
 that the vexation should not rest with 
 him alone. He well knew how to 
 catch the widow in his trap. He 
 asked her if she did not remember the 
 marriage of his friend Tommy Ander- 
 son ; as his wife was very like what 
 Miss Bellingham was then ? 
 
 At
 
 WHO IS 
 
 SHE? 121 
 
 At this instant, Frank Allright en- 
 tered, leaning on the arm of Charles 
 Waring, and the Widow was in hopes 
 to get rid of the question. It was not 
 to be passed over, for the old Citizen 
 repeated it, and she replied, " Lord no, 
 Sir ! I remember nothing about Tom- 
 my Anderson's marriage : I was at 
 school, I dare say, when it happened." 
 
 " Was you, indeed?" replied he, 
 u Why I never heard that Lavington 
 sent you to school after your marriage. 
 But it might have happened whilst I 
 was at Lisbon. However, it was 
 cursed cruel in him though, if he 
 loved you as much as you say. If any 
 man was to marry a daughter of mine, 
 and send her to school afterwards, I 
 should call him to account I be- 
 lieve." 
 
 All this time Mrs. Lavington sat in 
 great agitation, for she well knew, to 
 deny what Mr. Allright said, would 
 
 vol. t, g bring
 
 122 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTUY; OR, 
 
 bring on an -explanation she did not 
 wish ; yet she did not well know how to 
 assent to her having been sent to school 
 after her marriage. She therefore at- 
 tempted to laugh it off. 
 
 The young ladies (particularly Miss 
 Louisa, as her admirer Charles Waring 
 was present) wished to humble their 
 friend, and they knew their father's 
 manner of bantering too well, not to 
 understand his meaning. 
 
 " If I was you, Mrs. Lavington, I 
 would be very angry at papa for say- 
 ing that I went to school after I was 
 married, for I dare say you did not, did 
 you?" asked Sophia. 
 
 " Why," answered the old Citizen, 
 f< I am sure that Mrs. Lavington has 
 been married longer than my friend 
 Anderson, for she was with her hus- 
 band at the christening of their first boy. 
 Don't you remember, widow, that 
 you and Lavington quarrelled about 
 
 some
 
 WHO IS SHE I 123 
 
 some nonsense or other, and you would 
 not eat any dinner ?" 
 
 " No," she replied, " she knew no- 
 thing about it." 
 
 " Well, well," rejoined Mr. Allright, 
 " it is a little excusable, for I believe 
 it is nearly thirty years ago, and I had 
 forgot that the memory of a fine lady 
 never extends farther than the oc- 
 currences at the last summer's clipping 
 excursion." 
 
 Here Charles Waring interposed, say- 
 ing, he had been greatly disappointed 
 in not coming time enough to escort 
 the ladies to church, and must be allow- 
 ed now to make his apology. 
 
 It was the first time in his life he had 
 ever thought an apology necessary for 
 abstaining from his duty,Mr. Allright re- 
 turned, and he was glad to find he was 
 at last determined to amend. He feared 
 still, that religion had very little share 
 in his thoughts when he mounted his 
 g 2 horse
 
 *24 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 horse for Carleton. However, it was 
 best not to be too inquisitive into the 
 motives, as he might bring another old 
 house over his head. Looking at his 
 watch, he reminded the ladies that it 
 was time to depart. They very reluct- 
 antlybade Mrs.Lavine;ton a good morn- 
 :ngs at least Louisa did; she being 
 obliged to leave her lover behind, as 
 both he and Frank intimated a design 
 of sitting a little longer at the Grange. 
 
 After putting the ladies and their 
 rather in the baggage waggon, as Frank 
 termed it, they returned with Mrs. 
 Lavington into the house, and she gave 
 Charles Waring a description of Helen, 
 not quite so full of loveliness and ele- 
 gance as she had signified to Mrs. 
 Jackson, she thought her young friend. 
 However, Frank made up in exagger- 
 ated praise, what she kept back on the 
 score of envy. 
 
 Charles Waring found that Mrs. 
 
 Laving-
 
 WHO IS SHE? \25 
 
 Lavington intended a visit to the 
 Lodge the next morning, and he de- 
 sired the honour of attending her, as 
 she might introduce him as a rela- 
 tion. 
 
 This caused a good laugh, as it took 
 some time to trace the consanguinity. 
 At length it was made out, though not 
 Very clearly, that Mrs. Lavington's 
 mother and Charles's father were se- 
 cond cousins. 
 
 At length the two friends mounted 
 their horses, in order to take a longer 
 ride and converse more freely; Charles 
 assuring Mrs. Lavington that he should 
 be with her by breakfast the next 
 morning, that she might not escape 
 him by going early to the Lodge. 
 
 The Allrights arrived at home not 
 in the best humour for a family party : 
 so on alighting, from the carriage, each 
 took a separate direction ; the Citizen 
 to a room which he had dignified by 
 g 3 the
 
 126 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OK, 
 
 the name of study, but which would 
 have borne any other as well : for it 
 was the place to which he resorted 
 when out of humour, or when he chose 
 to regale himself with his old com- 
 panion a pipe of tobacco, or when any 
 person of inferior rank came on busi- 
 ness, and who was not fit to be intro- 
 duced to the ladies. For though the 
 walls were surrounded with books, he 
 had never been seen to exercise the least 
 curiosity to know more of them than 
 their outsides told him. The ladies 
 never took them down because they 
 were such a hum drum collection, that 
 they served only to put them in the 
 vapours: Spectators, Guardians, and 
 
 Tatlers, and Histories of they did 
 
 not know whom 5 wrote they did not 
 know when. — Voyages of a parcel of 
 old musty tars, who had talked of more 
 than ever they really saw. There were 
 a few tolerable Novels amongst them, 
 
 but
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 127 
 
 but then they were old fashioned, and 
 the authors preached so much, and the 
 heroes and heroines were so stiff and 
 formal, that the ladies could not read 
 them j and those that were not of this 
 character were, on the other hand, 
 boisterous and vulgar. So in short the 
 library remained to collect the dust, not 
 to entertain or enlighten any of the 
 family. However, this room had its 
 uses assigned to it, though that of 
 study did not belong to it. Here was 
 placed the chest that contained the 
 family plate, and in this were lodged 
 the different parchments and securities 
 that were not intended for general in- 
 spection, and also what money was ne- 
 cessary for the common expenditure of 
 the family. It might have borne the 
 name of counting-house very well. It 
 was alledged, that when the ladies 
 were from home, their father sometimes 
 gave audience to the maid-servants in 
 g 4 this
 
 128 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY j OS, 
 
 this room, if they were at all pretty, 
 under pretence of settling their ac* 
 counts. 
 
 Here, then,, the old gentleman re- 
 tired in order to consider what advan- 
 tage he could make of the. connec- 
 tion with Miss Bellingham ; if he should 
 put himself to any expence to entetain 
 her. She had a great deal of ready* 
 money, which he knew more about 
 than she herself didj. but then it was 
 not likely that she would be advised to 
 take it out of. the hands it had been 
 placed in by Lady Levet : besides she 
 had guardians, and they would not ad- 
 vise this. At length the Banker caught 
 bold of a link of a chain which might, 
 if well and properJy rivetied, unite ali 
 the different interests in one. 
 
 , fc That, will do ! I'm sure it will !" 
 exclaimed he, rising from his elbow 
 chair in which he had been musing 
 over possibilities and probabilities. 
 
 This
 
 WHO IS SHE > 12'J 
 
 This was no other than that of his at 
 once addressing Miss Moore and mar- 
 rying her. This made him one of the 
 guardians of Helen, and brought the 
 cash into his house v and it would bring 
 the Heiress herself ultimately to bis 
 house too; for he had no idea of either 
 himself or his son's being rejected, if 
 ever they prevailed on themselves to 
 prefer their suit. 
 
 Miss Moore had, besides, a small for- 
 tune of her own, to which had been 
 added by Lady Level's will two hun- 
 dred per annum, and his girls would be 
 the better of a steady woman to manage 
 them, 
 
 It was a most lucky thought. He 
 saw the Heiress, the Lodge, and all 
 her other possessions in his own family. 
 He was so delighted, that by musing 
 over the- advantages gained by this con- 
 nexion, and the effects of a warm fire, 
 lie fell asleep, and was dreaming of 
 & 5 a Deer-
 
 ISO THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 a peerage to Frank, when dinner was; 
 announced. 
 
 There were none but the AJIright 
 family present : the ladies were not in 
 the most happy temper, as they had not 
 had so truly agreeable reveries as their 
 father. They were surprized to find 
 him in such a happy How of spirits as 
 he appeared in. 
 
 After the cloth was removed, he 
 said, " Well, I suppose we shall have 
 tolerably agreeable neighbours, now the 
 old woman has left us : for I think Miss 
 Moore is said to be an agreeable ami- 
 able woman, and you girls, and, Frank 
 also, will find Miss good company. 
 
 Frank assured his father that he never 
 wished for better company than Miss 
 Bellingham. 
 
 "■ Well ! well !' may be so, we shall 
 see," returned the old man with a sig- 
 nificant nod at his son. " Why," said 
 he, "would it not be proper, after we 
 
 pay
 
 WHO IS SHE? 13 i 
 
 pay them a visit, to invite them hither 
 to dinner?" 
 
 " Yes, papa," answered the eldest 
 Miss, " after they have returned our 
 visit. How do you know if they will 
 ever come here r" This she said only 
 to vex the old man, for she was certain 
 that their visit would be returned from 
 the gracious answer to their compli- 
 ments of condolence. 
 
 u Yes, yes," replied he, " they will 
 come, I believe. Suppose you was to 
 invite them to a bit of a ball?" 
 
 This intimation opened every eye 
 and every mouth at once. 
 
 " Did you say a ball, papa?" asked 
 all the girls in a breath. 
 
 " I only said a bit of a ball, that is, 
 a sort. of a dance, only, you know 5 if I. 
 say hop, or jig, or dance, why it is 
 vulgar*" 
 
 This, at any other time, would have 
 created some unpleasant altercation, as 
 g.6 tto
 
 132 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 the ladies had much trouble to keep 
 their father within the pale of polite 
 conversation ; but the intimation of the 
 possibility of their giving a ball, had 
 such an effect, that it restrained every 
 reply, but such as was dictated by good 
 humour. 
 
 " Well, Sir, call it ball, jig, or dance, 
 which ever you will, if you only permit 
 us to give it. — When shall it be ?— ~ 
 Which shall we make the ball room-? — ■ 
 Whom shall we invite? — 
 
 " Invite !" replied Frank, cc why 
 every body to-be-sure." 
 
 " No ! No ! not. every, body," said 
 their father, <c our house would not hold 
 them," 
 
 " La, papa," said Sophia, £C why 
 every body invites every body, when 
 they have a ball. Don't they. sister ? ,; 
 
 " To be sure they do," returned 
 Marian.— cf Well, it will be delightful. 
 —How much wc are obliged to you, 
 
 niv
 
 WHO IS SHE? 133 
 
 my dear sir. — I know you will let us do 
 things a little in style, if we do it with 
 economy; and Louisa and I, with 
 Mrs. White's assistance, who has a 
 brother a confectioner in London, and 
 who would come down if she writes to 
 him, we should accomplish every 
 thing. 
 
 Frank said, "As he was going to 
 London, he would engage a band of 
 music, such as had never been seen 
 at their assembly,, if his father ap- 
 proved.'' 
 
 To their utmost astonishment, the 
 old Citizen said, " It should be just as 
 they liked, provided they did not go too 
 far; and that this might not be the case, 
 he would make them an allowance, 
 and they must then do their best to en- 
 tertain their company." 
 
 Frank now found his father in so ex- 
 cellent a humour, from what cause he 
 
 could
 
 134 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY, OR, 
 
 could not divine, that he followed him 
 into his study, where he retired to take 
 his accustomed pipe ; a condescension he 
 seldom indulged his father, being afraid 
 the fumes of the herb he was smoking, 
 might attach to his clothes ; but he 
 had a request to prefer, that required 
 his taking the old one in the precise 
 state of spirits he was now in. This 
 was no other than an advance of the 
 next half year's allowance. 
 
 He sat down on entering, saying.,. 
 " I am going to town, Sir on Tuesdays 
 if you want any thing I will order it, 
 or do any commission you may have." 
 
 " To town ! Why what can you, 
 want there ? iti s hardly a month since 
 you left it." 
 
 " Why,"* replied Frank, " when 1= 
 left town, I did not follow your exam- 
 ple, Sir ; I did not discharge all my 
 debts. I came now to request you to 
 
 advance
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 135 
 
 advance me the next half year, and 
 then I shall keep my credit, which I 
 am very anxious about." 
 
 " It you had been anxious about 
 this, Sir, you would not have run in 
 debt ; nor is it likely that your credit 
 will be ever established, if vou run on 
 every year thus, by expending it six 
 months before you come into posses- 
 sion ? I should never have had it in my 
 .power to have supported my credit if 
 I had begun as you are doing. Pray 
 what is to become of the bills you in- 
 tend, I don't doubt, to contract, during 
 the ensuing six months? I suppose 
 when ihes i become due, you will want 
 a year's advance. This shall not be. 
 Thi> may do for a young spendthrift, 
 wru se family never knew the getting 
 of their fortune, but not for my son. — 
 Why, Sir, at your age, I was standing 
 behind a retail counter, with two suits 
 of clothes, one for Sunday and one for 
 
 every
 
 136 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 every day. You must, I. dare say, haye 
 half a dozen." 
 
 Here Frank laughed in his sleeve, .at 
 the contracted notion of his father; for 
 instead of half a dozen, he would have 
 been nearer the mark if he had said, ; a 
 dozen and a half. 
 
 The old Citizen took his pen, and 
 began to calculate. This was no good 
 foreboding. After he had amused him- 
 self for some time,, whilst his son sat 
 picking his teeth, waiting for an end 
 being put to this ttte a ttte, by a nega- 
 tive to his request, the old man took 
 out his pocket book, from which he 
 issued a couple of checks. This raised 
 the spirits of Frank, when looking over 
 his shoulder, he saw fifty pounds, in 
 plain letters. As soon as he had writ- 
 ten it, he said, " Well, Sir, on condi- 
 tion that I have never cause to be dis- 
 pleased with you in this way again, . 
 and in consequence of a promise I am 
 
 under
 
 WHO IS 
 
 SHE? 137 
 
 under to indulge your sisters with a 
 sum of money, for a nonsensical ball, 
 I shall give you fifty pounds, because 
 I do not like these anticipations. " 
 Frank thanking his father, and, pocket- 
 ing the draft, was about to .depart, when 
 his father gave him another draft for 
 one hundred* which he was to carry to 
 Louisa, as the sum he allowed her for 
 the promised fete. With these two 
 sums Frank hastened up stairs, to sur- 
 prize his sisters. He entered the room 
 with a draft in each hand. " Ladies, 
 which would you chuse ? Shall I sing,, 
 or say the contents of these divine com- 
 positions. Neither Milton nor Pope 
 evere wrote so much to the purpose," 
 said Frank. 
 
 They all three rose to look at the 
 contents of the two papers. How- 
 ever, Frank pocketed them both, say- 
 ing, "Now tell me, how much.do you 
 expect my father's liberality will al- 
 low
 
 138 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 low for your promised entertainment. 
 They could not tell, but if it was what 
 they had reason to expect, from his 
 ideas of ladies' expenees in general, he 
 might give the ball himself -, for they 
 would do nothing shabby. " Will 
 fifty pounds content you?" asked he. 
 
 " Why if we can get no more it 
 must do, but we will calculate first." 
 
 " Oh ! for heaven's sake, no more 
 calculation !" replied he ; " I'll be 
 generous for once, and double the 
 sum, rather than you should get into 
 bad habits ; one financier in a family is 
 sufficient. I have been amused this 
 way for the last quarter of an hour in 
 the study." 
 
 " Well," answered. Marian, <c how 
 could you be better employed. I would 
 consent to sit by my father for the re- 
 mainder of the day, if his calculations- 
 would be as productive every fifteen 
 minutes, So give us the dear draft, 
 
 and.
 
 WtfO IS SHE P H9 
 
 and we will soon convert it into a 
 thousand pretty uses." 
 
 Here he produced the two drafts, to 
 the utter astonishment of all present. 
 " What could have operated on the 
 nerves of the Alderman, to stimulate 
 him to two acts of generosity at once V* 
 They approached, to take a nearer sur- 
 vey of the hand- writing, fearing that 
 Frank had been amusing himself at 
 their expence. — But papa's hand- 
 writing was too well known to leave 
 any doubt. Every one declared that 
 twenty pounds was the sum they ex- 
 pected ; though they might afterwards, 
 by representation, have got it enlarged. 
 
 A general consultation ensued, at 
 which Frank assisted, when all the ar- 
 rangements for the fete were made. It 
 was proposed that the ball should be a 
 masked one, if papa had no objection. 
 Sophia was -dispatched to the study to 
 
 purpose
 
 240 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 propose it, and see how it would go 
 down* 
 
 As soon as Sophia had told her father 
 that a masquerade was proposed, with 
 his approbation, he instantly put a ne- 
 gative on it, saying, " No, no ! all 
 fair and above board. I'll have no 
 bush righting. I was never ashamed 
 to shew my face, therefore a ball, and 
 no deception, that's the thing." 
 
 Sophia replied <( that to be sure it 
 would be just as her father pleased,, 
 only they were thinking Miss Belling- 
 ham might have been at a ball, but it 
 was certain she had never seen a mas- 
 querade." " She was too pretty to 
 hide her face under a mask," he said: 
 <c it might do very well, when she was 
 twenty or thirty years older." So no 
 masquerade, Sophia found, would be 
 allowed, and she returned to the con- 
 sultation in the drawing-room,, with 
 
 her
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 141 
 
 ner answer. She came when all the 
 arrangements were amicably coming to 
 a conclusion. Every thing was settled, 
 only what device should adorn the 
 tickets, and on what day the impor- 
 tant entertainment should be given. — 
 It was at length agreed on, that that 
 day fortnight would just bring them 
 into the Christmas week, and so then it 
 should take place. 
 
 Mr. Alright, when he came up to 
 tea, was informed of all the arrange- 
 ments, as far as they durst inform him ; 
 but some little extravagances were 
 kept back, for fear of his censure. He 
 was in a perfect good humour, and ap- 
 proved of every thing. And then, to 
 the utter astonishment of all, he asked 
 their advice on a subject that they 
 had never suspected him to be at all 
 anxious about. This was, which of 
 his present suits of clothes became him 
 test 5 as he would wish to appear on the 
 
 next
 
 142 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY j OR, 
 
 next day at the Lodge, in that to which 
 his daughters gave a preference. He 
 also gave orders for the family coach 
 to undergo a thorough brushing, to- 
 gether with the harness, &c. that they 
 might make as good an appearance as 
 possible, in this their first visit to the 
 Lodge. For none of the Allrights had 
 ever yet entered the park gate, though 
 they had often passed it in vexation, 
 not at the loss of Lady Levet's society, 
 but because their neighbours saw that 
 there was not consequence enough at- 
 tached to them, to attract her notice. 
 
 Now then was the happy day arriv- 
 ed, when all distinctions of rank were 
 to be. buried in good neighbourhood 
 and friendship, betwixt the inhabitants 
 of the Lodge and those of the Grove 
 House: the name by which Mr. Ali- 
 right's mansion had long been distin- 
 guished. 
 
 It was determined that two o'clock 
 
 should
 
 WHO IS SHE.' 143 
 
 should be the precise hour that they 
 ought to make their appearance. The 
 coach was at the door at the moment 
 ordered : when the Citizen, his three 
 daughters, and Frank on horse-back, 
 sat forward for their visit. 
 
 CHAP
 
 144 THE P&IBE OF ANCESTR Y ; Oft, 
 
 CHAP. VII, 
 
 I FIE AHright family were received 
 with all possible politeness by Miss 
 Moore, who introduced Miss Belling- 
 ham to the several branches of it. — ■ 
 The young ladies all seemed to be 
 highly delighted with Helen, and as- 
 sured her that they should consider the 
 friendship of herself and that of Miss 
 Moore as a considerable acquisition. 
 Mr. Allright was not deficient in his at- 
 tentions to Miss Moore, whom he 
 complimented in the most direct and 
 pointed manner ; while his son made 
 all possible advances to the young lady, 
 
 who
 
 WHO IS SHE P 145 
 
 who was herself better pleased with 
 this family than she at first thought pos- 
 sible : for Miss Allright, fearing lest 
 Helen might have observed them laugh- 
 ing, when they met her on her way to 
 Carleton, told her that they were quite 
 diverted when they first beheld her, as 
 they had been informed that she was a 
 mere child. <( You may judge," said 
 she, <c how agreeably we were disap- 
 pointed in finding you so much nearer 
 our own age." 
 
 Certainly Helen was not very distant 
 from the age of Sophia; but Miss All- 
 right, who was then speaking to her, 
 was at least five and twenty. How- 
 ever this little circumstance of dates of 
 birth, is the last that a female entrusts 
 to her most intimate friends; and as 
 Miis Allright dressed nearly up to the 
 age of her youngest sister, she did not 
 consider that any doubt might be enter- 
 tained that nearly ten years had elapsed 
 
 vol. u h between
 
 146 THE PRIBE OP ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 between the period of each of their 
 entrances into the world. 
 
 The visir was prolonged to the very 
 latest limits that it could be protracted, 
 and then they took their leave ; all of 
 them in the most perfect harmony of 
 spirits. 
 
 Helen was herself pleased with her 
 new friends. Indeed she was disposed 
 to be pleased with every person and 
 every thing. Novelty rendered the at- 
 tentions she received from every one 
 quite charming. These troops of new 
 friends furnished her sensible and well- 
 informed friend, Miss Moore, with 
 many reflections on the worship that is 
 paid to the idol gold, in whatever shape 
 it may present itself; and though she 
 acknowledged that the beauty and in- 
 nocence of Helen well deserved atten- 
 tion, yet she could not help bringing to 
 mind how many years she had lived 
 without one friend, except her school 
 
 companion,
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 1 17 
 
 companion, Miss Archer, and how 
 
 many moie she would have probably 
 continued in the same state, had net 
 Lady Levet placed her in the elevated 
 situation of her heir. She had also her 
 fears that this adulation, as it was un- 
 common, might operate on her youth- 
 ful mind, so as perhaps to inspire vanity 
 and eradicate the many usetul lessons 
 with which she had been presented in 
 her former state of dependence. This 
 she determined, it should be her care, 
 if possible, to guard against, by the 
 best advice in her power to offer to 
 one for whom already she felt more than 
 a common interest. 
 
 Miss Moore had not much time for 
 reflection ; for, from the earliest time 
 in the morning that visitors could pre- 
 sent themselves to the present, there 
 had been a rapid succession of company 
 
 at the Lodge. 
 
 H 
 
 Mrs,
 
 148 THE PRIDE OF AUCESTRY; OR, 
 
 Mrs. Lavington, and her relation 
 Charles Waring, had been the first in 
 the morning. For this she apologized, 
 saying " that she was determined to be 
 the first to offer her congratulations, 
 hoping thereby to secure herself the 
 first place in the friendship of the 
 ladies. " She had acted over all the 
 infantine airs of a grown baby, and 
 then retired to give place to a succes- 
 sion of other visitors, all eager to claim 
 the title of first friend. 
 
 In short, the week was passed in re- 
 ceiving, and the next in returning visits, 
 at the end of which Helen was asto- 
 nished, when she looked over the list 
 of those to whose acquaintance she was 
 now entitled, by all the rules of visiting 
 etiquette. However, Caroline Archer 
 still maintained the same place in her 
 affection, and she looked forward to the 
 end of the week, with much eager ex- 
 pectation, as at that time she was pro- 
 mised
 
 WHO IS SHE? 149 
 
 mfsed the company of one in whose 
 bosom she had been accustomed to 
 pour forth the effusions of her heart, 
 whether excited by joy or sorrow. 
 
 The family at the Grove House were 
 quite satisfied with their reception at 
 the Lodge. The old gentleman con- 
 gratulated himself on the apparent suc- 
 cess in this his first attempt for many 
 years to render himself engaging in the 
 eyes of a female of any degree of ele- 
 gance, He thought he perceived that 
 his flatteries were rather grateful than 
 otherwise to Miss Moore. In short, 
 he did not doubt but the same dose, 
 often repeated, together with his known 
 opulence, would ultimately gain his 
 object y nor did he forget to take into 
 the account the impression that might 
 be made by his own personal appear- 
 ance 5 though to say the truth, this 
 would not have occurred to any one 
 else. 
 
 h 3> Age.
 
 150 - . PR1I>£ . ANCESTRY; OS, 
 
 Age is one ol the most sturdy and i it- 
 ch ra I rases. It is a vain effort to 
 or avert it. While we are 
 building on life, and think that the 
 . youth will never fade, the 
 head /er with the 
 touches of time ; before we ima- 
 gine that cay is gone, the shades of the 
 evening imperceptibly mingle with the 
 rays of the departing sun ; till at last 
 the field, the forest, the hill, and vale, 
 vanish in the bosom of dark obscurity. 
 Such is the kind illusion with which 
 Nature shades and softens the approach 
 of dissolution. 
 
 Nor had the old Citizen been an un- 
 attentive observer of the progress his 
 son was making in this his first visit to 
 Miss Bellingham. He thought that 
 Frank did not set himself forward so 
 much as he himself would have done 
 at his age, in a similar situation. This 
 it must be owned was a fault seldom .o 
 
 be
 
 WHO IS SHE ? to \ 
 
 be alledged against his son ; but he 
 found, in the company of Miss Moore, 
 nothing encouraging to that flippancy 
 and small talk that makes so consider- 
 able a part of the conversation of a 
 modern fine gentleman, as the petit 
 maitrei of the present day term them- 
 selves, though others do not always 
 sanction the appellation. It is often 
 observable that the same persons who, 
 in light and volatile company, make 
 a most distinguished figure, when in the 
 company of intelligent and rational 
 beings shrink back, impressed with their 
 own insignificance. This was just the 
 case with Frank Allright ; he had sense 
 enough to perceive that Miss Moore 
 would not think the better of him for 
 presuming or playing over the many 
 little fooleries that rendered hrm ac- 
 ceptable in other societies ; and there- 
 fore determined to obtain her regard 
 by a respectful and attentive manner, 
 H 4- rather
 
 152 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 rather than that which his father had 
 been used to see him assume, when in 
 the company of their city friends. It 
 certainly was not Miss Moore's own 
 personal regard that he was emulous 
 of acquiring ; but he considered that to 
 stand well in this lady's opinion, was a 
 strong recommendation to do so where 
 he was most anxious to gain accepta- 
 tion and favour ; for, independent of 
 any interested motives, he greatly ad- 
 mired the beauty and native innocence 
 of Miss Bellingham. 
 
 The ladies could find no fault, as 
 Helen was quite unassuming, and shew- 
 ed every disposition to be pleased with 
 them $ a very essential recommendation 
 in most societies, but particularly in 
 that of females. Miss Moore's easy 
 and elegant manners, would not bear 
 the criticism of Miss Allright, in any 
 ill-natured way ; so she did not chuse 
 to hazard any remark at all,, except 
 
 that
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 153 
 
 that she appeared a good sort of wo- 
 man, though rather too precise. 
 
 Here Mr. Allright corrected her, and 
 said, •' Surely that could not be deem- 
 ed a fault in any one ; it was a chief 
 requisite in business ; and a family 
 would not be managed a whit the worse, 
 if she who presided over it had a good 
 portion of precision and punctuality in 
 her character." The ladies did not give 
 much approbation to this remark, as 
 by doing so they would have been ac- 
 cessary to a censure on themselves. — 
 It certainly was owing entirely to the 
 good management of the master, that 
 their family concerns were free from de- 
 rangement. In the regulation of their 
 own private affairs, the ladies exhibited 
 the utmost confusion and disorder. 
 
 Dr. Jackson, whom, with Miss 
 
 Moore, Lady Eleanor Levet had made 
 
 conjoint guardians of Miss Bellingham, 
 
 was a truly worthy character, and a 
 
 h 5 blessing
 
 154 THE PRIDE OF AKCEST.llY; OR, 
 
 blessing to the parish over which he 
 had presided for nearly twenty years:, 
 a period antecedent to that of the resi- 
 dence" of the Earl of Clifden. Daring 
 the life time of this Nobleman, he occa- 
 sionally visited at the Lodge; but the. 
 Earl possessed too much of aristocratic 
 pride to accord with the sentiments of 
 the good Clergyman, and he too 
 well knew the folly of an attempt to 
 remove rooted prejudices, or to enter 
 into any controversy with one. who had: 
 for many years been used to reside 
 wren: his will constituted a law. 
 
 Though the Earl was seldom seen at. 
 the church or at the Parsonage ; his two 
 daughters frequented both, and often, 
 honoured Mrs. Jackson with a visit,, 
 particular]} Lady Laura ; she frequently- 
 dropped a tear at the relation of dis- 
 tress, and made the Doctor her almoner 
 to relieve it as far as lay in her power; 
 always restricting him to silence. 
 
 Lady Eleanor did not possess a mind 
 
 animated
 
 WHO IS SHE ? ] 53 
 
 animated with the same benevolent sen- 
 timents j and Lady Laura feared that her 
 conduct, if known, might seem like 
 a censure on her sister. However, the 
 Doctor never administered her bounty 
 without giving the object of it to un- 
 derstand the channel from which it 
 flowed ; with this caution, that no no- 
 tice was to be taken of the benefits re- 
 ceived, other than in addressing that 
 gratitude disclaimed by the earthly 
 donor, to Him who is the giver of all 
 good. Indeed, had not their kind be- 
 nefactress been known in her life time, 
 at her death the secret, would have been 
 disclosed. For though the many ap- 
 plications for relief that were preferred 
 to Mrs. Jackson, were answered by all 
 the assistance within her limited power, 
 yet it fell short of what had been be- 
 fore usual. The Doctor made some 
 efforts in order to induce Lady Eleanor 
 to follow the truly amiable example of 
 h6 her
 
 156 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; Ofc, 
 
 her sister, by disclosing, after her de- 
 cease, the many acts of charity done by 
 her sister. This had no other effect 
 than to be heard in silence, and passed 
 over with inattention. They were op- 
 posite characters, and it was not possi- 
 ble they could ever act upon the same 
 principles ; therefore the Doctor con- 
 tented himself,, as far as possible,, with 
 doing his own duty himself, and giving 
 examples as well as precepts to others. 
 He always lived upon the best footing 
 at the Lodge, though never admitted 
 to that degree of intimacy which might 
 have been naturally expected. Yet 
 Lady Eleanor respected those virtues 
 she would not imitate, of which she. 
 gave a signal proof in appointing the 
 Doctor guardian to her on whom she 
 had best* wed her fortune. 
 
 The. Doctor accepted the trust, with 
 a full determination to execute it with 
 the strictest fidelity. He was greatly 
 
 pleased
 
 WHO IS- SHE ? ] 57 
 
 pleased to observe in Miss Bellingham 
 an appearance of both sense and sensi- 
 bility much above her years, and 
 thought that these, well directed, might 
 tend both to the happiness of herself, 
 and also to the benefit of those to whom 
 fortune had been less kind. He was 
 particularly happy in the assistance of 
 a female so well calculated, as Miss 
 Moore, to assist in forming the mind 
 and manners of Helen. His own wife 
 would also lend her assistance, by the 
 uniform tenour of a virtuous and reli<n- 
 ous conduct, to accomplish what he 
 wished to see his Ward, a deserving and 
 an amiable character. He, however, 
 determined to observe minutely her dif- 
 ferent propensities, and not too hastily 
 form a judgement on the whole. To 
 direct her mind to proper pursuits, but 
 not as many do, by opposition, to 
 strengthen bad habits. As a very near 
 connection betwixt the Rectory and 
 
 the
 
 153 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 the Lodge had now taken place, he- 
 would have much opportunity of ob- 
 servation. 
 
 Helen herself in spirits, elated with 
 the smiling prospects before her* 
 thought of nothing but pleasure and uni- 
 versal benevolence. . The world she con- 
 sidered as-a gay and luxuriant garden,-, 
 where every vista was terminated by 
 a. pleasant object. Her mind was as 
 unclouded as her heart was innocent* 
 and she was disposed to enter on the 
 great theatre cf life with the most fa- 
 vourable impressions. 
 
 She had written a letter to the mo- 
 ther of her beloved Caroline, to request 
 her company during the school vaca- 
 tion. This invitation was too flatter- 
 ing to the vanity of Mrs, Archer to be 
 refused, and she directly returned her 
 consent, -with acknowledgments for- 
 th e honour done her daughter by Miss 
 Bellingham* . 
 
 Caroline
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 159' 
 
 Caroline was instantly, fetched by 
 her mother from Mrs. Linworth's > 
 in order to make the necessary pre- 
 parations for so important a visit. 
 For, though Mrs. Archer was a woman 
 of some fortune,, yet her circle was re- 
 moved many degrees below that to 
 which Helen was now elevated. 
 
 Caroline herself was overjoyed so 
 soon to enjoy the society, of her friend, 
 Her spirits, natural !y volatile, were now 
 wound up to the highest pitch, at the 
 prospect of coming within the reach 
 of those pleasures she had often read of, 
 and sighed that she could never enjoy. 
 Her mother had always a great store of- 
 novels in her house ; these Caroline 
 seized and read, indiscriminately, and 
 with avidity, whenever she returned 
 home for her holidays. Nor were the 
 good principles inculcated by Mrs. 
 Linworth, able to eradicate the im- 
 pressions of romance imbibed during 
 
 so
 
 160 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 so short a stay at home. Caroline 
 Archer possessed great sensibility of 
 disposition, and was of that nature that 
 required to be constantly under restric- 
 tions. Her heart was like a looking- 
 glass, which presently receives the 
 image of what is represented before it, 
 and as soon loses it. The strongest 
 impression she had, was that of affec- 
 tion for Miss Bellingham, and her 
 whole mind w r as absorbed in the 
 thoughts of the pleasure she was to en- 
 joy in her society. Her mother counted 
 upon her daughter's attainment of a 
 fortune equal to that of her friend; as 
 Caroline possessed a person and face 
 extremely elegant and beautiful, and 
 which, in her mind, were only to be 
 seen to be adored. 
 
 At the promised period, Helen, ac- 
 companied by Miss Moore, set off to 
 escort her friend to the Lodge. It was 
 really the first time she had herself 
 
 been
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 161 
 
 been sensible of all the splendour around 
 her; now that Caroline was to be a 
 sharer in her happiness. 
 
 Mrs. Archer had made the best pre- 
 paration for their reception, and also for 
 her daughter's appearance at the Lodge, 
 in her power, and saw them depart with 
 secret exultation in the future prospects 
 of Caroline. 
 
 Miss Moore endeavoured to lead 
 the conversation toward what might 
 be agreeable to the young ladies ; but 
 they longed for the time when they 
 should meet unrestrained, and free to 
 communicate their sentiments to each 
 other. 
 
 After a pleasant and short journey, 
 for Mrs. Archer did not reside more 
 than twelve miles from Carleton, they 
 arrived at the Lodge just as the shades 
 of evening were closing on the scene, 
 which was at that season both cold and 
 gloomy. On alighting, an elegant 
 
 mansion,
 
 162 
 
 mansion, and all the attendant com- 
 forts, presented themselves to Caroline. 
 Miss Moore, soon after tea, excused 
 herself to the young friends, saying; she 
 Lad some letters to write, and that she 
 would return to supper : well knowing 
 that she was evidently a restraint on 
 them. 
 
 The intermediate time was most 
 happily passed in talking of past de- 
 privations and of future pleasures, 
 which were to be spent in the ioved 
 society of each other. Caroline looked 
 with delight on the splendid situation 
 of Helen, and sighed to think that, 
 perhaps, when she became more ac- 
 quainted with the world she might be for- 
 gotten by her, and that that visit might, 
 perhaps, terminate their acquaintance. 
 
 Helen observed her somewhat 
 thoughtful, and asked to be made ac- 
 quainted with the cause. Caroline did 
 not like to acknowledge the direct truth,. 
 
 and
 
 WHO 15 SHE? 103 
 
 and only replied-, that she was think- 
 ing that, perhaps, when Helen was 
 grown- up and married, they might 
 never again meet. 
 
 Miss Beilmgham assured her,, in the 
 most affectionate terms, that as she had 
 been her first friend, she would ever 
 look on her in that light as long as she 
 should live - 3 and that if ever she neg- 
 lected her, she hoped to be put in mind 
 of this conversation. 
 
 The evening was spent with great 
 satisfaction to all parties. The young 
 ladies wished for the return of the morn- 
 ing, as then they intended to take a 
 ramble over the leafless garden, and to 
 explore beauties in embryo. 
 
 The morning arose and turned out 
 a clear and fine one. As soon as 
 the breakfast was removed, Helen 
 proposed to accompany her friend in a 
 walk through the garden to the village, 
 and Miss Moore proposed jpining.them 
 
 at
 
 164- THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRV; OR, 
 
 at the Lodge-gate, and taking a walk 
 to the Rectory. 
 
 They proceeded to Dr. Jackson's, 
 where they were received with kindness 
 and hospitality : nor were they allowed 
 to return till the evening. During 
 the space before dinner, the Doctor took 
 an opportunity to w r alk out with the 
 young ladies, whilst his wife and Miss 
 Moore amused themselves in convers- 
 ing together at home on late occur- 
 rences. He led them through the vil- 
 lage, and into many decent cottages. 
 In order to induce Helen to repeat the 
 visit, he enquired into their different 
 situations, and into the destination of 
 their children. 
 
 In one of the cottages, Helen was 
 surprized to see Sarah Mason, who 
 made her one of her finest curtsies. 
 She enquired how long she had been at 
 home ? and was answered, " Ever since 
 the day that I was discharged from the 
 
 Lodge/'
 
 WHO IS SHE?^ 165 
 
 Lodge. 1 ' « Discharged !" replied He- 
 len, " why did not you leave the house 
 at your own request ? I was told that 
 you went to attend your sister who was 
 sick some miles off." 
 
 " No, indeed, my lady," said the 
 girl, " I was too proud when I was per- 
 fared to wait on your ladyship, to have 
 gone away if I could have helped it; 
 but Mrs. Hall said that you had changed 
 your mind, and that I must be gone 
 •directly, as you had heard something to 
 my disadvantage ; and so I corned, 
 home to mother, who has done no- 
 thing but fret to think how I could 
 have disobliged you, and Madam 
 Moore, so as to be turned out at a mi- 
 nute's warning." 
 
 " But to-morrow morning John 
 Holmes is to go and fetch Mrs. Hall's 
 Niece to wait on your honour," said the 
 old mother. 
 
 Dr. Jackson enquired of Helen how 
 
 the
 
 166 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ', OR, 
 
 the matter stood, which she related in 
 the same artless manner as it happened. 
 The Doctor soon saw through Mrs.. 
 Hall's politics in preferring her own 
 relation to poor Sarah Mason. He ad- 
 vised that Sarah should be sent that even- 
 ing to the Lodge, with a message, that 
 Miss Bellingham had chosen her to 
 wait upon herself. This was deter- 
 mined on, and Sarah was again the 
 happiest girl in the village. 
 
 Helen and Dr. Jackson left the cot- 
 tage loaded with the blessings of the 
 poor old widow Mason, and the modest 
 curtsies of her daughter. They diffused 
 happiness wherever they went, and, in- 
 deed, where they went not ; as this 
 visit was a presage that the poor would 
 not be neglected, by the young lady, 
 though they had nearly been so by 
 Lady Levet. 
 
 On their return to the Rectory, the 
 Doctor said to Helen, will you indulge 
 
 me
 
 WHO IS SHE? 167 
 
 me in making one other visit to an old 
 friend of mine, who is not able to visit 
 you, as he is confined to his house with 
 the gout. " We don't know,' 1 said he, 
 " but one of you may captivate him ; 
 he is a widower and very rich." • They 
 both laughed at the suggestion; but 
 Helen readily assented to go wherever 
 he pleased, and declared that she had 
 never spent a pleasanter morning. 
 
 After a walk across two or three 
 fields, they stopped at a very large old 
 fashioned house. <( This," said Dr. 
 Jackson, cc is Mr. Boyle's, and I hope 
 that you will like him. You must not 
 be angry at any thing he says, as he ge- 
 nerally speaks what he thinks. He is 
 a man universally beloved here, and in- 
 deed every where, for he always pro- 
 motes the good of his fellow crea- 
 tures." 
 
 He was not amongst the visitors at 
 the Lodge in her ladyship's time. He 
 
 used
 
 168 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 used to visit the Earl when he first came 
 to Carleton ; but some disagreement 
 estranged the families, and they never 
 met afterwards. However, I wish 
 that the acquaintance may be renewed, 
 and so does my friend, if you have no 
 objection V* 
 
 The servant now opened the hall 
 door, and without announcing any 
 name, readily admitted Dr. Jackson 
 and the ladies. 
 
 The Doctor said, " Well, Sir, I have 
 brought two pretty young ladies to visit 
 your, so I have ensured myself a wel- 
 
 come." 
 
 Mr. Boyle, who was sitting with 
 his feet on cushions, put forth both his 
 hands, and said, " here are my hands 
 for the ladies, but my feet are not at my 
 own disposal, so they must excuse my 
 rising -, but I am glad to see them and 
 you." Here the Doctor introduced 
 Miss Bellingham and then Miss Archer. 
 
 Mr.
 
 WHO IS SHE f ; 16$ 
 
 Mr. Boyle congratulated the former 
 lady on her accession to such a good 
 fortune. " And now, young lady,'* 
 said he, " it remains for you to shew 
 yourself deserving of it. Perhaps now, 
 you expected that I should give you 
 credit for all the virtues under the sun, 
 because you were the favourite of for- 
 tune. But you know that she is re- 
 presented blind, and, indeed, to say the 
 truth, oftentimes in my life I should 
 have been at a loss to account for her 
 caprices, had I not accounted for them in 
 this way. However, come I am glad 
 to see you, and if you can allow an old 
 man to speak the truth, sometimes, I 
 doubt not but we shall be good friends." 
 Here he shook Helen heartily by the 
 hand. " I suppose," said he, (e you 
 have been pestered with friends since 
 you came hither? Did any of them 
 ever call on you when you was at 
 school? No! no! they knew better. 
 vol. i. i WelJ,
 
 Q70 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 Well/take care of them, and don't let 
 them flatter and court you 'till you are 
 *as insignificant as some of them are 
 -themselves. And I advise you to give 
 the key of your heart to my friend 
 Jackson to keep, together with the odd 
 kind of a deposit the old lady has en- 
 trusted him with." 
 
 The young girls -did not know how 
 to reply to this speech. Helen curt- 
 sied and Miss Archer smiled. To re- 
 lieve them, a servant entered with 
 chocolate and cakes. Mr. Boyle en- 
 quired after the health of Miss Moore, 
 who, he said, he was glad to find had 
 not been forgotten by Lady Levet4 
 and he assured Helen that she ought to 
 think herself fortunate in the advice 
 and friendship of such a woman. 
 
 " Perhaps you will wonder how I 
 know any thing of her qualifications 
 who have never been in her company 
 more -than once in my life £ I judge of 
 
 people
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 171 
 
 people from trifling circumstances, as 
 much as by the great leading features 
 in their character. She found out the 
 way to manage a despot without being 
 herself a. sycophant." 
 
 Dr. Jackson here added his testi- 
 mony to the many virtues of the lady in 
 question ; saying, that he must apolo- 
 gize for not making her of the present 
 party. When they set out it was not 
 certain that they might return that 
 way , but doing so, he could not pass 
 the gates without introducing Miss 
 Bellingham to his friend. 
 
 <f Well then, that we may not seem 
 to give offence, will you present my 
 compliments to Miss Moore, and beg 
 that she will appoint a day to dine with 
 me, as I cannot wait on her. Tell her I 
 know that she is above the foolish non- 
 sense of not coming to the house of a 
 gouty old man, because no female pre- 
 sides. She has the best security in the 
 i 2 world
 
 172 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 world for my not running away with the 
 young ones." 
 
 They then rose to take their leave, 
 and were again honoured by a hearty 
 shake by the hand, and departed. 
 
 The Doctor asked what they thought 
 •of Mr. Boyle. Helen said she thought 
 he seemed to speak very freely of every 
 one. " He makes it a rule so to do to 
 every one ; and if you should ever give 
 him cause, he would tell you of a fault 
 in a room full of company." 
 
 " Oh," said Caroline, " I hope he 
 does not go out often then ; for I am 
 sure he would soon find something to 
 scold me about." 
 
 " Well, well then, take care," said 
 the Doctor, " for he won't spare you. 
 But, for all this, he is a most worthy 
 and benevolent man, and does more 
 good, as it were, by stealth, then half 
 the county besides. 1 have known 
 him attribute to others, acts that he has 
 
 done
 
 WHO IS SHE }' 173 
 
 done himself, being afraid it should be 
 suspected they came from him. 
 
 Helen began to have a veneration for 
 his character, the more it was display- 
 ed ; and before she reached the Par- 
 sonage, she had placed him in her 
 heart as a respected friend. 
 
 Miss Moore had been surprized at 
 their long stay, and enquired where 
 they had been so long, as they might 
 have made the tour of the village twice 
 over in the time. The Doctor said, that 
 he had been introducing Miss Belling- 
 ham to a gentleman with whom she 
 had left her heart ; and begged the 
 ladies to guess where they had been. 
 
 They mentioned the name of every 
 young man within five miles of the 
 place, thinking that they had met with 
 some one taking an airing. Mrs. 
 Jackson at last said, "Oh! I know, 
 you have been to Mr. Boyle's." 
 
 i 3 Miss
 
 174 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 Miss Moore was well pleased to 
 find that she was in his good graces, 
 and promised to name an early day to 
 spend, with Doctor and Mrs. Jack- 
 son, at his house. 
 
 The ladies now amused themselves, 
 for the remainder of the day, in admir- 
 ing the neatness and good order of the 
 house, and in walking in a beautiful 
 little garden, which the Doctor took 
 great pleasure in cultivating, and re- 
 turned home in the evening, highly 
 pleased with their first rural excursion 
 to the village of Carleton. 
 
 The first thing that .presented itself 
 on their return, was cards of invitation 
 for the three ladies to a ball and supper 
 at Mr. Allright's on that day week. 
 Most truly delighted was Helen, and 
 her sprightly friend Caroline, who 
 longed for an introduction into high 
 life, and the idea of a dance quite en- 
 chanted her. 
 
 Miss
 
 WHO 15 5HK ? i'75- 
 
 M^iss Moore said that they must accept 1 
 the invitation, as she rather supposed, 
 the entertainment was given on their 
 account. The young ones never 
 entertaiued a thought that it was* 
 possible to refuse so pleasant a sum- 
 mons. 
 
 No sooner were they alone, then they 
 began to consult how they were to be 
 dressed. Helen said, as she was in- 
 mourning, little could be done by her 
 as to show and finery. Caroline dis- 
 played all the little finery that she had. 
 been equipped with,, for this visit, by 
 her.mother ; and they at length deter- 
 mined on a white muslin robe : but for 
 a head dress she was quite at a loss. 
 She seldom wore any ornament other 
 than her hair curled according to her 
 own taste; but now this was not suffi- 
 cient. Helen said that they would go to 
 the next town, and she would present 
 i 4 her
 
 176 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 her friend with a head dress, and 
 procure one also for herself. 
 
 It was near morning before the ball 
 dresses were settled to allow either of 
 them to sleep, 
 
 CHAP.
 
 177 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 f RANK Allright posted to London 
 in the highest spirits imaginable, not 
 that he had gotten fifty pounds out of 
 his father, but that they had obtained 
 leave to dash, as he called it. That is, 
 to give a ball and astonish their quiet 
 country neighbours, and that all this 
 would create a stir and bustle, which 
 to him was delightful. Besides, when 
 he met his city friends, he could talk of 
 the doings going on at their country 
 seat -, and to those he did not choose to 
 invite, he could exaggerate the splen- 
 dor of the intended entertainment. 
 
 i 5 He
 
 178 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OK, 
 
 He was charged by his sisters, with 
 as many messages and commissions, as 
 would have completely taken up the 
 whole of the intermediate time, be- 
 twixt his arrival in town and his return 
 to the country. But he had to amuse 
 himself, as well as to provide for his 
 elegant appearance on the important 
 night. He had to attend all the places 
 of public resort, in order to ascertain 
 the exact cut of the fashionable coat of 
 those men whom he had considered as 
 the criterion of elegance in dress. 
 
 Frequently had he been cajoled out 
 of a guinea, as a supposed fee, for the 
 taylor he employed, to get a sight and 
 pattern of the very coat he had sent 
 home, perhaps, only the day before to 
 the Prince, or my Lord Duke, and had 
 considered his taylor as a very clever 
 and excellent fellow, in being so assi- 
 duous in procuring him the first of the 
 
 fashions ;
 
 WHO IS -SHE? 179- 
 
 fashions ; while the fellow pocketed 
 his money and laughed at his folly. 
 
 As soon as he had invited his com- 
 pany and arranged his business, he 
 posted down again to Carleton. His 
 chaise was full of preparations for the 
 fete, and the next day brought down 
 three or four persons, who were to em- 
 ploy the intermediate time, in adorn- 
 ing and altering the house, and in pre- 
 paring the supper according to the< 
 rules of the galas which were exhibit- 
 ing in the metropolis on a more enlarg- 
 ed and splendid scale. Less splendor 
 would be sufficient to astonish at the 
 distance of fifty miles from the grand 
 scene of voluptuous dissipitation ; and 
 that was what the younger part of the 
 Allright family always aimed at. 
 
 The -old gentleman did not much ap- 
 prove of the transformation of his 
 mansion, yet as he hoped it was to be 
 the prelude to plans in embrio in his 
 i 6 wise
 
 5 80 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 wise head, he determined to sub- 
 mit for this once. He never dreamt 
 that this was intended as a precedent 
 to an annual ball, and that this would 
 give his family a taste for elegant ex- 
 pence which he had so long laboured to 
 keep down. 
 
 The poor old man had successively 
 been chased from room to room, till, 
 like Noah's dove, he knew not where 
 to rest the sole of his feet. He had 
 mounted to the second floor quietly, but 
 did not relish the next remove, which, 
 at that season of the year, promised but 
 a cold and comfortless retreat. He 
 
 therefore ventured to ask, if it was in- 
 
 i 
 
 tended that the whole house was to 
 undergo a metamorphosis, as he would 
 then quietly take up his lodgings at 
 the next farm house, until they had 
 restored his own mansion again to 
 order. 
 
 The
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 181 
 
 The ladies said he might rest in se- 
 curity where he then was, until the day 
 of the gala, and then they all intended 
 to sleep at the farmer's, as the few beds 
 that were allowed to keep their sta- 
 tions must be appropriated to their 
 London guests. 
 
 Mr. Allright now thought it right to 
 remonstrate; for though he spoke of 
 removing, he had not the smallest in- 
 tention of so doing, and begged his 
 daughters to understand, that if he had 
 been accessary to turning their brains, 
 he could not suffer himself to be turned 
 out of his house ; that they and their 
 guests might accommodate themselves 
 wherever they chose, but quit his house 
 he would not to accomodate the mighty 
 Paul, Emperor of all the Russias. 
 
 Against this peremptory declaration, 
 they durst not remonstrate ; though the 
 grand ptan was some what deranged 
 by the obstinacy of the old citizen. 
 
 However,
 
 182 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 However, it was not possible for a very 
 trifling circumstance to ruffle the spirits 
 of the ladies. Frank had executed all 
 his several commissions to their highest 
 satisfaction, except, that instead of one 
 hundred pounds, the whole sum allot- 
 ted to try their ingenuity upon, he had 
 expended more then double that sum, 
 that is, he had taken credit in the me- 
 tropolis, and trusted to Chance, the pay- 
 master general of all those who look 
 not beyond the present day, and who 
 yield to the gratification of every silly 
 or extravagant fancy that assails their 
 imaginations, 
 
 Miss Allright saw, in the coming 
 gala, an opportunity of teizing her old 
 lover Charles Waring, who had lately 
 been rather relax in his attentions •> 
 and also to mortify the widow Laving- 
 ton, to whom she in some degree 
 ascribed his neglect. 
 
 Marian
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 1 8-3 
 
 Marian expected from London a 
 young man on whom she had, in her 
 great bounty, bestowed her heart, 
 without once being sure that she had 
 made any impression on his. In short, 
 every one longed for the happy day of 
 bustle and confusion : even the old 
 Citizen hoped to derive some advantage 
 from the display of his opulence in the 
 eyes of Miss Moore and her young 
 friend, and submitted with tolerable 
 patience, thinking he might repay him- 
 self when the family at the Lodge 
 should be inmates of his house. It 
 must be owned that his patience was 
 . tried, for he exclaimed, that Job 
 had never had a modern gaia to en- 
 counter, or he might not have been 
 found so firm in his integrity. 
 
 On the evening before the grand 
 one, coaches, curricles, and post-chaises 
 arrived successively for the space of two 
 hours. Mr, Ailright saw no end to his 
 
 visi-
 
 184 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 visitants. He said he was glad to see 
 them; but what accommodations they 
 were to have he did not know ; for 
 there were not more than three beds in 
 his house, so they must scramble for 
 these. 
 
 " Oh, then/* replied a mighty smart 
 beau, " w r e must bundle as they do in 
 some outlandish country." 
 
 " I wish you had never bundled here," 
 muttered the master of the house, whilst 
 he went to welcome another party just 
 announced. 
 
 Every one was alarmed at a little 
 squeaking female voice, crying out, 
 " Well, to be sure, here I be 1 Billy 
 wou'd bring me. I am so soused.". 
 
 " Come along, my little one ! come 
 along. — Where's Frank? I want to 
 shew him my companion in style." 
 
 The gentleman passed Mr. Allright 
 in the hall, whilst he dragged on the 
 lady. Who she was could not be 
 
 distin-
 
 WHO IS SHE? 185 
 
 distinguished but by her voice, be- 
 cause one half of her dress and her face 
 had a thick crust of mud over it. In 
 this state Miss Albina Deli Ay was in- 
 troduced to the ladies and the company 
 assembled. 
 
 11 Oh deary me ! deary me V* cried she, 
 " why if this is'n't the ball night. Why 
 I have been in every ditch betwixt Lea- 
 denhall street and this, e'ent I Billy ?*' 
 " Why yes, to speak the truth, you 
 have seen the bottom of a few of them, 
 indeed. — The roads are so bad, and it 
 is so cursed dark ! Why don't you 
 get the roads lighted as we do at Lon- 
 don." 
 
 Miss Delany now espied Sophia, and 
 running up seized her round the neck, 
 and embraced her so cordially, that she 
 left a portion of the mud that adorned 
 her own, on the fair cheeks of her friend, 
 which served further to enhance the 
 mirth and hilarity of the companv. 
 
 'Billy
 
 186 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 Billy declared he would not have 
 drove his curricle so far in quest of a 
 dance, had there not been a fine fortin 
 in view. Here he laughed and nodded 
 significantly., looking towards Frank. 
 
 Billy Delany was the butt of most 
 companies into which he was admitted. 
 In short, he often made up all the 
 amusements of the evening.; for if, as. 
 was often the case > the conversation 
 came to a pause, Billy always was a 
 dernier resort. Frank Allright always 
 took him with him to most parties, as 
 an excellent foil. Besides, Billy had 
 the command of the ready, and, though 
 not very willing to allow this, Frank, 
 knew how to flatter him into a con- 
 fession, which often ended in his dis- 
 charging the reckoning, with a promise 
 of reimbursement the next day, which 
 promise was not as faithfully discharg- 
 ed as it was. made. 
 
 Billy
 
 WHO- IS SHE? 1ST 
 
 Billy Delany was, by trade, a sugar- 
 baker. His father had amassed a very 
 splendid fortune, and then retired to 
 Jive amongst the nobility; leaving his 
 eldest hope in Leadenhall street, to sup- 
 port the old firm. He had also left his 
 eldest daughter Albina to be house- 
 keeper to her brother, and to steady 
 him against he took a wife. However, 
 instead of steadying, Billy had contri- 
 buted to render his sister as truly ridi- 
 culous as himself. 
 
 It had not been Frank Albright's inr 
 tention to have invited this delectable 
 pair to Carleton ; but one of his friends 
 hearing of the gala, took an opportu- 
 nity to talk of it in Mr. Delany 's 
 hearing ; when he gave a hint that 
 rendered his invitation quite impossible 
 to be avoided. He said he was glad 
 to find his friend in cash just then, for 
 he himself was greatly in want of it, 
 A bill to. be paid and not a guinea at 
 
 the
 
 188 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 the banker's. So if you please, Frank, 
 we will settle accounts, pulling out 
 a pocket-book that Frank knew could 
 bode him no good. 
 
 He said, f Why, Billy, don't you 
 know me better than to suspect me of 
 cash when any fun is in the wind ? 
 Though had I known you was so hard 
 run, the country gala I came to invite 
 you and Miss Albina to pertake of, 
 should have waited a little. Those 
 cursedFiddlers and Confectioners should 
 not have had my money. " 
 
 Here Billy pocketed his cash ac- 
 count, and laughing, owned that the 
 banker had not quite shut up the great 
 book, and he believed the credit would 
 stand till the sport was over. Frank 
 now told him of the Heiress he might 
 have the chance of getting, and they 
 parted, with Billy's promising to bring 
 down with him, or to send down before 
 him, different articles that would add 
 
 another
 
 WHO IS SHE? 189 
 
 another twenty or thirty to the curreut 
 account. 
 
 Never were two people made hap- 
 pier than this brother and sister by the 
 invitation. He had hardly time to re- 
 gulate his business, in such haste was 
 he to circulate the happy tidings to the 
 bucks he met on 'Change : and, for 
 Miss Albina, she hurried away to her 
 milliner's in Cornhiil, to consult her as 
 to a dress, and various little ornaments 
 on this delightful occasion. 
 
 Thus they were occupied until the 
 curricle received the happy pair, and 
 set out on the road to Carleton. 
 
 Had they really been man and wife, 
 the journey could not have commenced 
 in a manner more apropos. They quar- 
 relled all the first stage ; said nothing 
 the next ; and the next they were over- 
 set by a broad-wheeled waggon ; the 
 driver of which had the audacity to 
 refuse to take the wrong side of the 
 
 road
 
 190 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 road to accommodate Miss Albina, 
 whose fair hands now held the reins. 
 
 Her brother now first came into hu- 
 mour with the accident, when beTe- 
 fleeted that he had escaped broken 
 bones ; which he had avoided by be- 
 ing almost smothered in a ditch with 
 his sister squalling beside him. 
 
 He scrambled out to look at the cur- 
 ricle, and left the groom to "assist his 
 sister. The vehicle had lost a wheel, 
 but as they were at the entrance of a 
 village, whilst they dried and changed 
 their wet clothes, all was set to rights 
 again. 
 
 Now Billy determined to be sole 
 charioteer for the remainder of the 
 journey. They then proceeded tole- 
 rably well, till they came within two or 
 three hundred yards of Mr. Allright's 
 house. 
 
 Frank had stepped out into the vil- 
 lage, and hearing the squeaking vorce 
 
 of
 
 WHO IS SHE? 19*1 
 
 *of Miss, enquiring for Squire Allright's, 
 he sent a lad, whom he had just met, 
 to say it was about three miles farther 
 off on the other side of the common. — 
 -Billy smacked his whip, and off they 
 went at full speed. But were not so 
 successful as his brother citizen John 
 Gilpin of famous memory, who went 
 farther than he intended, and came 
 home safe at last. So enraged was 
 Mr. Delany, when he found that he had 
 been made the sport of the country 
 boors, that he paid on the backs of his 
 horses, on their return, that resentment 
 he durst not have attempted on that of 
 any thing that had spirit to have returned 
 it in kind. However, the poor crea- 
 tures, smarting under the whip, ran, or 
 rather flew, into a pool of water that 
 lay across the road; and the wheel, 
 catching a sharp angle of a little foot- 
 bridge, thrown over for passengers 
 when the waters overflowed, again laid 
 
 them
 
 192 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 them low ; and had it not been for the 
 exertions of the groom and some ser- 
 vants who assembled on hearing of the 
 accident, (for it happened almost close 
 to Mr. Allright's house) the pa;r might 
 not have come offso well. 
 
 As it was, it afforded amusement for 
 the remainder of the evening. Miss 
 Delany determined that she would 
 never more be driven by Billy, or ever 
 go into the country at Christmas. In 
 the summer, if they were overset a bit, 
 why it was only getting up, shaking 
 off the dust, and setting off again. 
 
 The company found that they were 
 used to such little adventures -, nay look- 
 ed upon them as common to their 
 summer excursions. 
 
 The whole party was acommodated 
 with lodgings at the different neigh- 
 bours' houses, and the servants of the 
 visitors lodged in the stables and hay- 
 lofts. The servants of the Allright fa- 
 mily
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 193 
 
 mily were fain to take to the different 
 carpets, tables, and chairs, for beds. — ■ 
 Frank and his sisters spent the night at 
 Mrs. Lavington's. The old gentle- 
 man staid to do the honours of his 
 house. 
 
 Whilst every one was so well em- 
 ployed at the Grove House, those of the 
 Lodge were no less busy in preparations. 
 They had been to the nearest milliner, 
 made their several purchases and returned 
 very happy ; particularly Caroline, who 
 had been loaded with valuable presents 
 by her friend. However, though they 
 were perfectly tranquil and happy, they 
 did not find all at the Lodge in the 
 same state on their return ; for at the 
 hall door stood a chariot, the horses of 
 which denoted the haste with which 
 they had proceeded thither. 
 
 The Steward informed Miss Moore, 
 with a very significant look at her, that 
 
 vo.L. i. K the
 
 194 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR-, 
 
 the young Earl wasarrived, and waited 
 her return within the house. 
 
 Miss Moore had never seen this 
 young man, nor could she conceive 
 ■why he cam-e thither. She instantly 
 dispatched a messenger to Dr. Jackson, 
 announcing her guest, and then went 
 into the parlour, desiring Miss Belling- 
 ham and Miss Archer to go into the 
 drawing-room. She did not chuse to 
 present either of the ladies till she saw 
 the motive that had induced the Earl 
 of Clifden to make so unexpected a 
 Tisit. 
 
 As soon as her name was announced, 
 the Earl, who was looking over a 
 newspaper, rose and said, " I see by 
 your countenance, madam, you had 
 rather I had not made you a visit. I 
 assure you it is perfectly friendly. The 
 old girl has had her freak, and I must 
 be satisfied. I am come to see the for- 
 tunate
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 195 
 
 tunate young lady, and to assure her 
 that she needs not be alarmed at me, 
 I take things as I find them, coolly," 
 bowing. 
 
 Miss Moore was at a loss what to 
 reply to so strange a speech, but as she 
 found their guest was a good humoured 
 one, she asked him to go with her to 
 the drawing-room, where she would 
 introduce him to Miss Bellingham and 
 her friend. 
 
 €t Aye, aye ! to be sure,'* replied he, 
 " pray introduce me to my new rela- 
 tion. Is she a relation though? You 
 are in the secret. The old one was 
 very sly.'* 
 
 Miss Moore replied, she knew no 
 more than that Lady Levet had, by her 
 will, bequeathed her personal property 
 to Miss Bellingham. To whom she 
 was related was unknown, as much to 
 herself as to her. 
 
 K 3 n Well,
 
 196 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 (e Well, it does not signify, introduce 
 me to the girls, and we'll soon be 
 friends. She has got a snug house here. 
 — You'll excuse me, I always rattle 
 thus, I mean no harm." 
 
 They went to the drawing-room, 
 where the young ladies were waiting, 
 in anxious expectation, to know the 
 motive of the Earl's visit, as a copy of 
 the will had been sent him as soon as 
 it was opened. 
 
 Helen felt that she inherited her pre- 
 sent fortune through some strange ca- 
 price of her benefactress, not from any 
 just right, and she had net confidence 
 to encounter the young Earl, whom 
 she could not help considering as the 
 rightful heir. 
 
 Miss Moore presented him as Earl 
 of Clifden, a cousin of Lady Levet's, 
 who had come to visit Miss Bellingham 
 as a friend, 
 
 « Don't
 
 WHO IS SHE? 197 
 
 "Don't you know, my dear madam," 
 replied he, " that a male friend is a 
 suspicious character when a lady is in 
 the case. So I will introduce myself. 
 Then, ladies, here is Francis, Earl of 
 Clifden, at your service, as poor a dog 
 as you can pick out of the peerage, and 
 as thoughtless as he is poor. I have 
 only preceded my creditors a few hours, 
 for they are determined to quarrel with 
 this fair lady, for getting into the good 
 graces of the old lady, and are deter- 
 mined to have her fortune whether she 
 pleases or no. Now I am come to as- 
 sure her, that I wish her both health 
 and happiness, and that she may long 
 enjoy this house, and consider me a 
 friendly visitor. " 
 
 This speech made them all smile, 
 and Helen, reassured by the good na- 
 tured frankness with which it was de- 
 livered, said, she felt herself greatly ho- 
 K 3 noured
 
 198 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY} OR, 
 
 noured by the visit of any relative of 
 Lady Level's. 
 
 Here Dr. Jackson was announced. 
 He soon saw all was harmony ; at 
 which he was well pleased, and began 
 to talk of the preparations at the Grove 
 for the next day's gala. 
 
 Lord Clifden enquired where the 
 fete was to be celebrated ; and hearing 
 it was at Mr. A 11 right's, determin- 
 ed, with Miss Bellingham's and Miss 
 Moore's permission, to make one of 
 their nartv. as he had some little know- 
 ledge of the old Banker, on account of 
 a transaction that had passed betwixt 
 himself' and one. of the Tribe of Levi, 
 in which Mr. Allright was the prin- 
 cipal. 
 
 " He is a cautious warm old fellow; 
 what has opened his heart at this joyful 
 season to hospitality and mirth ?" 
 
 Dr. Jackson said he believed it was 
 
 to
 
 WHO IS SHE? ]V9 
 
 to please his daughters* who were fine 
 young women, and who, no doubt, 
 liked to live on a friendly and social 
 footing with their young neighbours. 
 
 The Earl made many enquiries of 
 Miss Moore about the female part of 
 the Allright family, concluding with 
 saying that he had often met the young 
 man, who appeared to be a fine convi- 
 vial fellow. 
 
 She said as she thought, that the young 
 women were not remarkable for anyth ing 
 that she could either hear or perceive 
 in the little time she had known them. 
 But that the Earl, no doubt, would be 
 a better judge of them than she was, 
 and she would instantly dispatch a card 
 requesting a ticket, with his permis- 
 sion. 
 
 To this he acceeded, with many . 
 thanks. 
 
 Many and various were the conjec- 
 tures in the steward's room as to this 
 k4 visit.
 
 200 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY j OR, 
 
 visit. — Some said the young Earl was 
 come to take possession and thrust 
 Miss out of the Lodge and the fortune. 
 Great consternation prevailed, and 
 my lord's valet was waited for with 
 great impatience, in hopes some- 
 thing might be gathered from him, as 
 to the why and the wherefore, of this 
 visit. At length he made his entree. — 
 He was a smart fashionable fellow, 
 such as are generally about young men, 
 who are more anxious that their ser- 
 vants should be up to everything, than 
 that they should be steady, sober, and 
 honest. To know well how to parry a 
 dun 5 to drink with the servants of other 
 people, and so worm the secrets of the 
 family out of them : and to be useful in 
 managing a fashionable intrigue, are 
 all the qualities required to form the 
 character of a male domestic ot an un- 
 married man of fashion. Such was 
 Monsieur Duprc. 
 
 All
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 201 
 
 All were anxious to welcome him to 
 the Lodge, and none more so than 
 Mrs. Hall. She offered him, most as- 
 siduously, every sort of refreshment she 
 could think of,, saying she was never 
 more rejoiced than to hear of the arriva* 
 of the young Earl : and she sincerely 
 hoped he would not. soon think of tak- 
 ing his departure. 
 
 Mons. Dupre said she was very 
 obliging ; it was hard to answer for his 
 lord, for he set out for Carleton at a 
 minute's warning, and might now be 
 preparing to return to town, for aught 
 he knew, as he had no orders. 
 
 u I suppose," said Mrs. Hall, " he 
 is come to. see Miss, and what title she 
 has to her fortune. It is very natural for 
 hirn to do so, to be certain. Jt was 
 very unnatural of my lady to put by so 
 sweet a young gentleman. " 
 
 Now Mrs. Hall had not even caught 
 
 a transient view of the Earl of Clifden . 
 
 k y but
 
 202 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 but she thought, if he had the power to 
 set aside Miss Bellingham's claims, 
 and the cards should be dealt over 
 again, she might profit by ingratiating 
 herself into the good graces of the 
 valet. 
 
 " Why we did expect snug lodg- 
 ings here, to be sure, ma'am," replied 
 lie. " My lord's creditors were very 
 busy in making out their bills, when 
 her ladyship's death was announced, 
 for I had always promised them on that 
 event immediate payment. But we were 
 all disappointed. I had the most cause 
 to be sorry, for I manage all these mat- 
 ters. My lord only said, the old wo- 
 man had swindled him and his cre- 
 ditors, and that they must either wait 
 or put him in prison and be damned/' 
 
 •• Put him in prison ! indeed," said 
 the Housekeeper, " would they dare 
 to put an Earl in prison?" 
 
 M My
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 203 
 
 f* My lord," replied the valet, " is 
 not an English peer." — He continued: 
 " They don't care to pay much re- 
 spect to persons, I'll assure you in 
 London : why we have been arrested 
 five times in one week." 
 
 The good old Steward turned up 
 his eyes in surprize at the profligacy of 
 the world. He said, that he supposed 
 his lordship would be able to liquidate 
 his debts, as the estate which had fal- 
 len to him with the title, though inade- 
 quate to his expectations, would, with 
 economy and good nursing, produce a 
 tolerable sum. 
 
 " Why, so it may, Sir," replied the 
 valet, " and I am sure it will be nursed 
 well, for the lawyers will have it 
 amongst them, and it will require the 
 ingenuity of the old one himself, to get 
 it out of their hands." 
 
 Mr. Allen, though unacquainted 
 
 with the chicanery of the lower order 
 
 k 6 and
 
 204 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 and drudges in the profession, that in- 
 fest the metropolis like locusts, to de- 
 vour the simple and unwary, who fall 
 an easy prey to their cunning, yet knew 
 enough to convince him that Lord 
 Clifden was a ruined man, if he had 
 given up the estate of his ancestors to 
 the management of those learned in ths 
 law. 
 
 Mr. Allen had been in the Clifden 
 family from his earliest years. His first 
 entrance into their employ had been 
 as hind, to tend the cattle, from which 
 low station, he had risen, by industry 
 and integrity, to the one he now held 
 with equal credit to himself, and pro- 
 fit to the family. And though he had 
 ever considered the present heir as a 
 dissipated, thoughtless young man, he 
 could not bear to see the ancient name 
 sink, without one struggle, into oblv- 
 vion, not to say contempt. A secret 
 wish came across his mind> that Lord 
 
 Clifden
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 205 
 
 Clifden would reform snd marry the 
 young lady who inherited the great for- 
 tune of Lady Levet. He could not find 
 that this was a visit of hostility : perhaps 
 the same sentiments might have struck 
 the young gentleman. His mind being 
 possessed with this idea, he drank to 
 Mr. Dupre, " The union of the two 
 u families. 5 * 
 
 " Very good ! very good <" said the 
 valet, and returned the toast. 
 
 Mrs. Hall saw nothing of that con- 
 fusion she had predicted, nor could she 
 learn any hostility intended. She 
 therefore left the steward's room to at- 
 tend to the business of the family, as the 
 arrival of company had set them all in 
 motion. 
 
 The house exhibited nothing but 
 happy and smiling faces. 
 
 CHAf\
 
 206 THE PR1EE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 CHAP. IX 
 
 1 HE servant from the Lodge, sent 
 in his note from Miss Moore to Miss 
 Allright : who, when she had read it, 
 ran breathless with joy to her father, 
 with the animating intelligence, that 
 the Earl of Clifden was arrived, and 
 meant to grace their ball, having re- 
 quested a ticket. 
 
 The old Banker did not seem so 
 elated with the news as the female part 
 of his family. However, all proper re- 
 spect was to be paid, and he desired a 
 ticket to be returned, accompanied by 
 a letter from himself, expressive of his 
 sense of the honour intended,, 
 
 The
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 207 
 
 The young Earl, Mr. Allright had 
 occasion to know was somewhat out of 
 suits with fortune, and might look upon 
 the Lodge as a very pleasant country 
 seat, especially when the beauty of the 
 possessor of it was so evident. This 
 
 would effectually mar those golden 
 dreams that had continually possessed 
 his mind, of transplanting Miss Bel- 
 lingham into his own family. He did 
 not know but a title might be preferred 
 by that lady, to all the wit and address 
 of his son Frank. He wished he had 
 not come to Carleton to disconcert his 
 plans, which in his own ideas were so 
 happily laid, as to almost ensure' suc- 
 cess. He believed Miss Moore would 
 not hold out a long siege, whenever 
 he declared himself: but he was deter- 
 mined not to fix himself with the en- 
 cumbrances, without a certainty of gain 
 equal to the risque of the speculation. 
 
 Profit and loss must never be lost sight 
 
 « of.
 
 208 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 of. Therefore he determined to rest on 
 his own oars, till he saw in which quar- 
 ter the wind would fix. 
 
 Frank and the girls were highly de- 
 lighted with this addition to a party, 
 that they had thought in the morning 
 could not admit of any alteration for 
 the better, 
 
 All the females dressed at the title, and 
 every one appropriated the conquest to 
 herself. An early dinner gave leisure 
 for the rest of the evening, being dedi- 
 cated to the honours of the toilet. 
 
 At nine o'clock the house was 
 opened for the reception of the com- 
 pany. Every thing was in order, and 
 all in good humour, waiting the ap- 
 proach of their friends, particularly the 
 party from the Lodge. 
 
 Miss Allright was almost out of pa- 
 tience, having sat shivering at the door 
 of the anti-room more than half an 
 hour, in order to receive her friends in 
 
 style*
 
 WHO IS SHE? 209 
 
 style. Her father had endeavoured to 
 laugh her out of punishing herself, to 
 shew she knew the etiquette of fashion. 
 " Why half your company will wonder 
 at your folly, and the other half will 
 laugh at it." It did not signify, every 
 thing was to be conducted in style, and 
 a cold or a fever were puerile and se- 
 condary considerations. 
 
 At length came an inundation of 
 friends, from all quarters. The coun- 
 try gentry were all on tip-toe for the 
 appearance of the party from the Lodge. 
 The city group were also apprized of 
 the beauty of Miss Bellingham. Even 
 the Allrights themselves had not seen 
 Miss Archer. The old Citizen him- 
 self had been posted in one of the par- 
 lours, not to be deficient in politeness ; 
 and on the ladies alighting from their 
 carriages, he desired to have the ho- 
 nour of presenting Miss Bellingham to 
 
 the
 
 210 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 the company. This however was de- 
 nied him. The Earl said he had re- 
 quested Miss Bellingham to chaperon 
 him, and so he must be content to 
 escort the other two ladies, if no one 
 deprived him of that pleasure before 
 he reached the top of the stairs : which 
 on ascending, they were received by 
 Miss Allright, who, on this evening,, 
 contrived to dress herself to great ad- 
 vantage. Her father presented herself 
 and sisters to Lord Clifden, and then 
 proceeded forward to introduce the 
 ladies to the circle met, who viewed 
 the young ladies with both admiration 
 and envy. Frank soon contrived to 
 place himself near Miss Bellingham, 
 and to request the honour of her hand 
 for the first two dances. This had 
 been disposed of to Lord Clifden be- 
 fore ; so Frank requested and obtained 
 the reversion for the next two. Billy De-* 
 
 lany
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 211 
 
 lany had engaged the hand of Miss 
 Archer, so he was fain to take the first 
 unengaged female. 
 
 Long before the dancing began, the 
 rooms were so full, that no one could 
 moves the stairs were groaning with 
 their weight, and menaced a general 
 overthrow, if they were not eased of 
 the load. At length it was proposed 
 to form a second set in the hall, as the 
 suite of rooms below was reserved for 
 the supper. Every thing being arrang- 
 ed, the ball commenced, by the Earl 
 of Clifden leading Miss Bellingham to 
 the top of the room ; the rest of the 
 company took their places, and the 
 dance went on with great spirit. 
 
 After the two dances, Lord Clifden 
 resigned the hand of Helen to Frank All- 
 right, and led out his eldest sister, highly 
 elated with the notice of her guest, as 
 at this moment her admirer, Charles 
 Waring, led in one of the beauties 
 
 most
 
 212 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 most noticed at the county assembly, 
 accompanied by Mrs Lavington. The 
 widow soon espied Miss Moore, and 
 went to her, in order to satisfy her 
 curiosity as to who was dancing with 
 Miss Allright. At the name of her 
 partner, Mrs. Lavington was struck 
 with great surprize. — Miss Moore was 
 by no means the person she could 
 question, as to what had brought Lord 
 Clifden amongst them : so she only 
 bowed her head in thanks, and hasten- 
 ed to get information elsewhere. No 
 one could tell the exact reason why he 
 had come to Carleton, but conjecture 
 soon fixed his motive to be, a desire to 
 share Lady Levels fortune with her 
 favourite. Nay, some affirmed that 
 the matter had been arranged between 
 the guardians, previously to the present 
 visit. It happened very well for the 
 widow : for as she did not chuse to 
 dance, she would have been left with- 
 out
 
 WHO IS SHE? 213 
 
 out a male companion, if Miss All- 
 right had been disengaged, as it was 
 Charles Waring piqued at this circum- 
 stance, said, he had hurt his knee the 
 day before, and could not dance. Not 
 a word of the accident had transpired 
 previous to their entrance into the ball 
 room.. Miss Allright was in high spirits, 
 as were all her guests, and the evening 
 went off perfectly to the satisfaction of 
 all parties, with this exception only, 
 that BillyDelany was disconcerted when 
 he found that he had made a trifling 
 mistake in taking Miss Archer for her 
 friend. This he did not find out, till 
 they went to supper. The young 
 ladies, when they first arrived, were 
 standing together, when Billy asked 
 Frank Allright to tell him which was 
 thefortin? and he, out of fun, inten- 
 tionally, informed him Miss Archer 
 was she. Caroline, as to beauty, had 
 the advantage of Helen j so he was 
 
 not
 
 2H THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 not long in securing the prize, nor 
 would he easily give it up. He was 
 obliged to change partners, according 
 to the usual custom, but he engaged 
 her for the two next dances, before he 
 resigned her. 
 
 Miss Albina too had a terrible 
 disaster, whilst sitting at supper, by 
 the Lord, as she called him. A pre- 
 posterously high ostrich feather caught 
 fire, and soon communicated its flame 
 to one of more humility, which waved 
 beneath it. Every one anxious to pre- 
 vent more mischief, tried to put out 
 the flame. But Billy, more active than 
 all the re9t, and perhaps better inform- 
 ed as to the materials of which it was 
 composed, instantly seized the whole 
 head dress, and laid it at his feet, leav- 
 ing his sister's bald pate for the inspec- 
 tion and amusement of the company, 
 to whom it afforded an incessant roar 
 of laughter, whilst poor Miss sat scream- 
 ing*
 
 WHO IS SHE? 215 
 
 Ing, till Billy disengaged the feathers 
 from the wig, and placed it again on 
 her head, only putting the hind part 
 in front. The poor lady at length re- 
 tired, scolding her brother for troubling 
 himself about her, and making fun for 
 the company, whom she pronounced 
 a pack of rude unfashionable wretches, 
 who were unacquainted with the ton, 
 or they would have known that in 
 London such things are quite common. 
 This accident gave quite a zest to the 
 supper-table. 
 
 Miss Bellingham and her friend was 
 admired by all. They received much 
 attention from all the male part of the 
 company, particularly from a Mr. Beau- 
 mont, who was a neighbouring gen- 
 tleman, of very large fortune. He 
 spoke much to Miss Moore of the 
 beauty of her ward, and assured her 
 that he should often, with her per- 
 
 mis-
 
 216 THE PK IDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 mission, pay his respects at the Lodge; 
 that he would, in a short time, have a 
 Housekeeper, at Broom Hall, and then 
 he hoped to see them there. 
 
 Miss Moore replied, that she was 
 happy to hear him say so, as she had 
 often wished him a good wife. Oh ! 
 returned he, with a bow, then it per- 
 haps may be in your power to select 
 such an one amongst your friends, ma- 
 dam, for I have not yet disposed of my 
 heart, I assure you, that is, I had not 
 this morning done so, said he, laugh- 
 ing. It is a sister who is so good as to 
 visit me sometimes, that I meant when 
 I alluded to my expectation of a fe- 
 male inmate in my family. The con- 
 versation was broken off, by the end of 
 the dance, and Miss Bellingham de- 
 claring herself quite fatigued. Caroline 
 was not in the least so ; and Mr. Beau- 
 mont offered himself for the next dance, 
 
 which
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 217 
 
 which she gladly accepted 5 for as the 
 evening advanced, so did her spirits 
 brighten. 
 
 Mr. Allright had not been in the 
 least deficientin his attentions to Miss 
 Moore, and believed that nothing was 
 wanting but his declaration of an in- 
 tention of again entering into the holy 
 state of matrimony, and of having 
 selected her as the favourite object of 
 his choice. 
 
 About four o'clock the company 
 broke up. Those returned home who 
 were not very far distant, and those who 
 could not do so, scrambled for a bed 
 where they could. Most of the men 
 determined to return to the supper- 
 room ; and since they could not sleep, 
 to toast their partners in bumpers. 
 
 The ladies of the Allright family re- 
 turned home w ith Mrs. Lavington, who 
 seemed the only discontented female of 
 the party. None of the men had paid 
 
 vol. r. l par'
 
 HI 8 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 particular attention to her, though she 
 had acted over all her girlish airs, to~ 
 attract their notice. No sooner had 
 they got into the coach, than she said, 
 "Well, I'm glad your gala is over; I 
 never saw any thing so hum drum. 
 These things don't do out of London ; 
 there, there is such a succession of com- 
 pany, that one hardly ever sees the same 
 face twice in an evening. There is such 
 a dear delightful set, that one never 
 tires." 
 
 Miss Allright, highly piqued at the 
 assertion, that her party wanted fa- 
 shion ; and the more so perhaps that 
 she was conscious of the truth of the 
 remark, replied, " I am sure, Mrs. 
 Lavington, you was not always of such 
 fashionable parties in town, for when 
 you lived in Pudding-lane, my father 
 told us of a hop he went to at your 
 house, where the company, many of 
 them, came in pattens, and their hus- 
 bands
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 219 
 
 bands and brothers retired to an inner 
 room, to put on white stockings and 
 dancing pumps." 
 
 U Oh, aye," said Marian, " I re- 
 member how we all laughed at the 
 tallow-candles being fixed in save-alls, 
 and nailed to a cross piece of deal, 
 contrived for the purpose, to light the 
 ball-room." 
 
 " Your father and you too have very- 
 excellent memories," replied the wi- 
 dow, '•' for I recollect no such thing. — 
 Perhaps there might have been such 
 doings amongst my servants, but I 
 could never have presided over it." 
 " That you did," said Miss Allright, 
 " for Father said he danced with you, 
 till he was so hot, that he was fain to 
 put his wig in his pocket, and tye a 
 handkerchief over his head." 
 
 At this all the three ladies burst into 
 
 a loud laugh. Mrs. Lavington said, if 
 
 she pleased, she could recount anec- 
 
 l 2 dotes
 
 220 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 dotes of their own family, that might 
 equally excite the risibility of their 
 muscles; but she was too fatigued 
 with witnessing the nonsense of the 
 evening, to enter on the task just then. 
 
 The Allrights were sensible that 
 this might be very true, and not wil- 
 ling to provoke the widow any farther, 
 asked her how she liked the Peer ? — 
 Mrs. Lavington thought him an ele- 
 gant young man, and quite the thing 
 to match with Miss Bellingham. She 
 was quite happy that all possibility of 
 difference was removed by such a hap- 
 py arrangement. 
 
 Miss Allright had heard of no such 
 arrangement, and had been all the 
 evening spreading forth every attrac- 
 tion to allure the heart of Lord Clifden, 
 and saw him depart impressed with 
 the hope, that her endeavours had not 
 been altogether fruitless. 
 
 Thi 
 
 is
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 221 
 
 This assertion greatly disconcerted 
 her, as she now supposed Mrs.Laving- 
 ton knew more of the family concerns 
 than she herself did, and questioned her 
 as to the intended match. 
 
 The Widow assured her she had it 
 from good and undoubted authority, 
 that all preliminaries were settled, and 
 that nothing was now wanting to com- 
 plete the business, but the expiration 
 of the term of Miss Bellinghanvs 
 mourning. 
 
 On reaching home, Mrs. Lavington 
 soon retired, leaving the Allrights to 
 muse upon her news. She knew it 
 would not please them to hear of this 
 obscure girl's being about to obtain 
 rank' as well as fortune, whilst they 
 must exhibit themselves another winter 
 or two, and then, perhaps, sink into the 
 wives of men on a level with them- 
 selves. 
 
 l S The
 
 222 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 The party from the Lodge returned, 
 highly pleased with their evening's 
 amusement. The two young ladies de- 
 clared it was delightful. Lord Clifden 
 thought that the old Bankerlooked much 
 more respectable when backed by his 
 family, than when he had first the plea- 
 sure of being introduced to him, by 
 Shadrack Moses the good Jew, whom 
 he employed to hunt out money for him. 
 
 " I suppose Allright is worth more 
 than a plumb and a half,'* said he to 
 Miss Moore; " and I assure you, ma- 
 dam, he said so many fine things of 
 you, that I'm inclined to think, he will 
 propose your removal to St. Mary Axe 
 very soon." 
 
 She laughed at the joke, as did the 
 young ladies. They soon separated for 
 the night. 
 
 Lord Clifden was by no means dis- 
 posed to sleep, so busy was his mind in 
 canvassing the different scenes through 
 
 which
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 223 
 
 which he had passed in the course of 
 forty-eight hours; for it was hardly 
 more than this period since he had de- 
 termined on his present visit, the inten- 
 tion of which was, when he left town, 
 to see Miss Bellingham, in order to 
 make enquiry into the mystery that en- 
 veloped her birth, and if he could pe- 
 netrate it, and found nothing at which 
 his pride might revolt, to offer himself 
 as a suitor and to marry her. A refusal 
 was a thing impossible, and the despe- 
 rate state of his affairs, made it as neces- 
 sary for the present, as it had been for 
 the late Earl, to adjust them, for his 
 creditors would wait no longer. 
 
 No good friend appeared to place a 
 government within his grasp, so a 
 wife or disgrace must be the alterna- 
 tive ; such a one as the present rage for 
 dissipation places before many a sprig 
 of quality of the present day. 
 
 l 4 This
 
 2&«f THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 This thought was not of his own 
 suggestion, but that of his valet Mons. 
 Dupre, whose fertile brain had run 
 through all probable resources, before 
 he resolved on recommending matri- 
 mony. However, as a fine fortune had 
 slipped through his master's pockets, 
 (or, indeed, had never slipped into them 
 but in idea,) and had fallen into the 
 lap of a country rustic, why it might be 
 as well to look after it, and then my 
 lady might be left to vegetate on the 
 estate, whilst his Lordship and himself 
 amused themselves in the capital, or 
 wherever the sons and daughters of dis- 
 sipation raised a temple. 
 
 It was immediately after a very se- 
 vere harass of the creditors, and much 
 threatening, that Dupre ventured to 
 suggest the expediency ofthe journey 
 toCarleton. His Lordship only laugh- 
 ed at the proposal at first, but so many 
 urgent reasons were laid before him, 
 
 that
 
 WHO IS SHE ? £25 
 
 that at last the proposal did not wear 
 a face of improbability, provided, any- 
 thing of the Lady's birth could be as- 
 certained. 
 
 Now this did not strike the French- 
 man quite so forcibly as it did his lord- 
 ship. Dupre undertook to know all 
 about her before he had been in the 
 family two days, nay, in a very few 
 hours. He suggested another reason 
 for leaving town as soon as possible. 
 He had seen some gentlemen passing 
 to and fro through the street in which 
 they then resided, with large wigs and 
 sticks in their hands, a dress he consi- 
 dered as very inauspicious to the liberty 
 of the subject, and therefore the sooner 
 they decamped the better. 
 
 Having settled in his mind where to 
 raise the ready for the journey, he in- 
 formed his Lord of the Speculation, and 
 only waited his determination to be in 
 an instant in motion. 
 
 K5 All
 
 2<26 THE FRIIDE OF ANCESTRY,; OR, 
 
 All these reasons concurring to urge 
 him to the visit, which might terminate, 
 as he himself chose after all, he said, 
 " Well, Dupre, manage the business 
 with your usual dexterity, and I am off, 
 after the opera, for the old woman's 
 estate, though she had not the grace 
 ever to invite me in her life time, and 
 if I like it, why I'll take it with all in- 
 cumbrances." 
 
 Dupre managed with great expedi- 
 tion the money concerns, by going to 
 a creditor, whose patience had been 
 exhausted long ago, (with much joy in 
 his countenance) and informing him, 
 that now he would be paid, as Lord 
 Clifden was going to marry the richest 
 heiress in Britain ; but, that before his 
 bill was settled, he must give his Lord- 
 ship credit for some trinkets to present 
 the Lady with, as the matter was settled 
 beyond a doubt. 
 
 This
 
 WHO IS SHE ? £27 
 
 This, Dupre pawned his honour, was 
 the case, and though he had often 
 done this in support of similar false- 
 hoods, yet he put on such an air of 
 plausibility, that the Jeweller (who 
 knew the price he should put upon the 
 articles was no object) determined to 
 assist the virtuous endeavours of his 
 Lordship to discharge the many bills 
 and bonds he had already locked up in 
 his iron chest. 
 
 Dupre* selected a few elegant trifles, 
 not being so anxious about the fashion, 
 as the value his friend Tricket, the 
 pawnbroker in the next street, might 
 place on them was the most conse- 
 quence, as these were to be deposited, 
 with many of the same kind, under his 
 care, for scarcely one third of their va- 
 lue. 
 
 All matters being finally settled by 
 the time the opera broke up, and Mon- 
 sieur quietly seated in a chaise and 
 l 6 four.
 
 226 TftE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 four, at the top of St. James's-street,. as 
 had been agreed on, they proceeded on 
 their journey with all the speed possi- 
 ble, except that towards morning Lord 
 Clifden took a few hours rest that he 
 might not frighten Miss Bellingham 
 by his haggard and uncouth appear- 
 ance ; and after dressing in an elegant 
 travelling dress, and mounting Mon- 
 sieur on a post horse, arrived at the 
 Lodge, where he was much pleased 
 with the appearance of the young lady, 
 though he readily perceived that she 
 wanted the agrements of fashion to 
 niake her quite to his taste. 
 
 This he thought she mig-ht acquire, 
 but who was she ? This was the point 
 in question, and he resolved, if possi- 
 ble, to put her birth beyond a doubt, 
 before he made any farther advances. 
 
 He was delighted to hear of the Ci- 
 tizen's ball, as there, somewhere be- 
 tween jest and earnest, he might try to 
 
 come
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 229 
 
 come at the opinion of the country 
 visitors; some of whom might know 
 more than he did of this matter. In- 
 deed it was impossible to know less 
 of it if they had heard any thing on the 
 subject. However, he had not been 
 very successful there, as no one would 
 enter upon the topic, farther than say- 
 ing she was very beautiful, except Air. 
 Allright, who, upon being asked by 
 the Earl what he thought of the old 
 girl's forgetting him in her will, an- 
 swered, no doubt her Ladyship knew 
 who were her nearest relations. It was 
 not for him to hazard an opinion on 
 the subject. 
 
 Lord Clifden understood the insinu- 
 ation, and readily gave credit to its 
 meaning. He did not chuse to go any 
 farther then, but as he believed the Ci- 
 tizen knew more than he then chose to 
 utter, he determined at a more quiet 
 season, on again endeavouring to get 
 
 the secret out of him. 
 
 On
 
 230 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ', OR, 
 
 On his return, he wished to know 
 how far his valet had been successful in 
 his absence ; and, on enquiry, found 
 that Mrs. Hall had assured him, upon'his 
 promise of keeping all she should trust 
 him with a profound secret, that her 
 deceased Lady was, undoubtedly, the 
 mother of the young lady in question, 
 as she knew the person who attended 
 her during her confinement, and that a 
 domestic of the late Earl's family, knew 
 who w r as the father; though Mrs. Hall 
 did not know what was become of the 
 man. He did not continue in servi- 
 tude long after the birth of Miss ; those 
 who provided so well for her, could 
 provide as well for her father, whom, 
 no doubt, she had put out of the way 
 to conceal her own imprudence. 
 
 This information, together with the 
 hint given at the ball, w T as proof enough 
 for the young Peer, and he sighed to 
 think that all his visions of re-establish- 
 ing
 
 WHO IS SHE? 231 
 
 ing his fallen fortune, must evaporate 
 in air, and he himself return to town 
 the victim of his own folly* 
 
 Dupre began to praise Miss Belling- 
 ham highly, and said that the old Stew- 
 ard wished his Lordship united to her 
 with all his heart. 
 
 " Perhaps, Dupre," replied his Lord- 
 ship," lie may be related to the family. 
 — But I can never marry any woman 
 who is ignorant from whom she is de- 
 scended. I have committed many fol- 
 lies, but I will steer clear of placing 
 any stigma on my family. It shall 
 never be said, that I have placed the 
 seal of legality on the misconduct of 
 Lady Levet. 
 
 <c I desire youno more to speak of this 
 affair. My visit will terminate as a 
 matter of compliment. " 
 
 " True, my Lord," replied his valet, 
 who had forgotten his station in the re- 
 peated familiarity of his master, " but I 
 
 am
 
 232 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR,. 
 
 am afraid, on our return, we shall be 
 troubled with those whose visit will not 
 terminate in so complimentary a man- 
 
 ner." 
 
 Dupre recollected the many lies 
 and oaths he had pledged to the Jew- 
 eller, and knew not what way he should 
 bring himself off. 
 
 Lord Clifden told his valet he might 
 leave him, since he did not chuse 
 to reply as he ought to have done ; but 
 was at a loss what expedient he should 
 take in so desperate an emergency. 
 
 After revolving over and over the 
 manydisagreeable circumstances, he had 
 to encounter,he could only blame him- 
 self for running the mad career of 
 dissipation without once starting any 
 glimpse of hope towards extrication, 
 he therefore went to bed dispirited and 
 dissatisfied. 
 
 Not so the two young ladies. They had 
 never spent so delightful an evening be- 
 fore ;
 
 who is she: 233 
 
 tore ; and if sleep deserted their eye- 
 lids, it was, that busy though acted 
 over and over again the past scene. 
 
 It was not till an hour later than usual, 
 the next morning, that Sarah Mason, 
 who was by Helen reinstated in her 
 place, undrew the curtains of the bed, 
 to tell them that two 'Squires, had 
 been to call on them, and that my Lord 
 was gone to the Grove to breakfast. 
 
 " Who were the 'Squires?" asked 
 Caroline. 
 
 " I doesn't know, but I'll go and ax 
 the Steward, who met them at the 
 Lodge." 
 
 Away she ran, and returned with two 
 cards in her hand. One was Mr. 
 Beaumont's, and the other Mr. De- 
 la ny's. 
 
 The ladies spent the morning in talk- 
 ing over the night's amusement, till 
 two o'clock, when a large party of
 
 234- THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY" OK, 
 
 young men returned with Lord Clifden 
 to enquire after their health. 
 
 His Lordship apologized for not 
 waiting to breakfast with them, but 
 taking a stroll beyond the Lodge-gate, 
 he was overtaken by the Miss Allrights, 
 who insisted on his returning home 
 with them, and he could not resist the 
 importunity of the Graces in union. 
 
 Frank Allright bowed at this com- 
 pliment, which no doubt he carried 
 home with him. 
 
 During the time his Lordship staid 
 at the Grove House, the ladies alter- 
 nately assailed him with all the powers 
 of attraction of which they were in any 
 way possessed j J and very fortunately for 
 them, they were not unsuccessfully dis- 
 played. 
 
 Miss Allright he began to think to- 
 lerable, provided the old man would 
 unlock the iron chest, and therefore, 
 
 as
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 23 J 
 
 as no time was to be lost, he took an 
 opportunity of joining Mr. Allright, 
 who was walking alone in his shrub- 
 bery before the window of the room in 
 which they were sitting, lie took oc- 
 casion to extol and admire the taste of 
 the ladies, in the conduct of their last 
 night's fete ; and told the old Cit he 
 must not expect long to be blessed with 
 so much beauty and accomplisbments,as 
 no doubt the ladies soon would, if they 
 had not already, select some among 
 their numerous lovers, on whom to be- 
 stow their affections. 
 
 Mr. Allright replied, that he had 
 not yet heard of any particular favourite. 
 He could not however say but be 
 should be glad to be rid of the trouble 
 of attending to the vagaries of three 
 giddy girls. 
 
 This certainly was an opening for Lord 
 Glifden to have offered his services to 
 one of them, but his Lordship had not, 
 
 at
 
 £36 THE TRIBE OF ANCESTRY J OR, 
 
 at that particular moment, come to 
 any particular and fixed determination, 
 as to which of the beauties he should 
 like for a helpmate ; or indeed, if he 
 should chuse either of them for this dig- 
 nified station ; so he passed it off by 
 saying, he was the only man in the 
 kingdom who wouM not be proud to 
 attend on them. 
 
 He himself conceived that Miss All- 
 right had no time to lose ; and that 
 therefore a coronet would be a bait 
 that would soonest take with her, and 
 that the old Banker himself might the 
 easier yield to these considerations. 
 
 He again joined the ladies on the 
 lawn, and after walking an hour with 
 them, he determined to fall desperately 
 in love with the eldest. 
 
 Before his Lordship left the Grove, 
 he had contrived to render his atten- 
 tions so particular, that Miss Allright 
 returned in the highest spirits to dress 
 
 for
 
 M k 
 
 WHO IS SHE? 237 
 
 « 
 
 for dinner, to which his Lordship had 
 been most pressingly invited, but had 
 wisely declined, promising to see them 
 again the next day if he did not re- 
 turn to town too early, and then took 
 his leave. 
 
 The Ladies at dinner time were lavish 
 in his praise, but as his particularity to 
 Miss Allright, deprived the other two 
 of any hopes, they only joined her vio- 
 lent commendations. 
 
 Frank said he believed that he 
 should soon be related to the Peer, if 
 his sister was as far gone as she seemed 
 to be, for his Lordship had owned him- 
 self enraptured with her. 
 
 « What is his rent roll?* asked the 
 father. 
 
 To this question no reply was given. 
 He added, (C Louisa will want fine 
 houses, and fine coaches, and a good 
 allowance of pin-money, and how is 
 this to be got at without an estate :" 
 
 Louisa
 
 238 THE PfclDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 Louisa replied, that she never heard 
 of a Lord but could get all these if he 
 pleased. 
 
 cc Can they, indeed ! Why I know 
 a great many Lords that would please 
 to have a good estate, if they knew how 
 to get at it," added her father; Ct how- 
 ever, to be sure, Lord Clifden is a very 
 fine young man, of a very ancient and 
 respectable family, and being so, he 
 may marry a lady of large fortune, and 
 so get his estate free from embarrass- 
 ments. " 
 
 " Is it a large one ?" asked Miss All- 
 right. 
 
 " It was tolerably so once, but I 
 know a man who can make a great 
 part of it his own, if he has not done so 
 already." 
 
 This her father said with a nod and 
 one of his significant looks, which his 
 daughter construed into — I am the man 
 — as she had heard her father talk of 
 
 money
 
 who is she r 239 
 
 money transactions having passed be- 
 tween them through the medium of a 
 city friend. She therefore determined, 
 if Lord Ciifden declared himself, that 
 he should not wear the willow. She 
 enumerated, with the possession of a 
 coronet, all the splendid distinctions 
 thereunto annexed. 
 
 Lord Ciifden knew that the Banker 
 was rich, and that he loved money 
 too well to countenance his addresses, 
 without the usual appendages to such 
 unions, settlements, and all the other 
 douceurs. 
 
 Situated as he was . he had then onlv 
 one game to play, and he did not doubt 
 of its success. But the Banker's idol was 
 wanting to carry even this into execu- 
 tion. — He revolved in his own mind 
 every possible advantage, and disadvan- 
 tage, and could not but sigh, when he 
 reflected on the mad career he had run, 
 and from which nothing could extri- 
 cate
 
 240 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 cate him, but a step which might in- 
 volve still greater difficulties. 
 
 To think, he had not been accus- 
 tomed, and he found the effort most 
 painful. Therefore, though in com- 
 pany with the ladies, he drank a few 
 glasses more than usual, and after they 
 retired, he wrote a famous epistle, to 
 Miss Allright, descriptive of the vio- 
 lence of his passion, and lamenting the 
 present deranged state of his affairs, 
 which only wanted a little attention, 
 and so charming an assistant as her- 
 self to put quite to rights, and con- 
 cluded with a proposal to quit the 
 kingdom, should her affections not be 
 in her power to bestow. 
 
 He entreated to be honoured with 
 an hour's conversation in the course of 
 next morning, which should determine 
 all his future hopes of happiness. — Du- 
 pre was trusted with the delivery of 
 
 this
 
 WHO IS SHE r 24-1 
 
 this declaration, and brought back a 
 favourable answer. 
 
 His Lordship would not have men- 
 tioned a word of embarrassments, but 
 he knew the Banker was too well ac- 
 quainted with them to be any secret in 
 his family. 
 
 However it was managed, certainly 
 the lady did not take this avowal of 
 his Lordship's involved circumstances 
 amiss; for on the second morning from 
 the delivery of the letter, at half past 
 two o'clock, Miss Allright entrusted 
 her person, in a post chaise and four, 
 to the care of Lord Clifden, attended 
 by his trusty friend and servant Mons. 
 Dupre, and they made the best of their 
 way to that spot, which is said to 
 render every one happy, at least for a 
 time. They had no confidants, so 
 were sure of not being betrayed. 
 
 It is thought that the lady must have 
 removed all difficulties, as to the ways 
 
 vol.1. m and
 
 242 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY 3 OR, 
 
 and means, as his Lordship had no 
 visible sign about him by which he 
 could render the road so smooth and 
 pleasant as is necessary on such oc- 
 casions. 
 
 Lord Clifden left a letter of apology 
 to Miss Moore and Miss Bellingham 
 for the precipitate manner in which he 
 had left the Lodge, and pleaded al- 
 mighty love as his excuse, saying that 
 he hoped that when he returned to 
 town, Miss Bellingham would seal 
 her forgiveness by a visit to Lady 
 Clifden. 
 
 Helen was in the breakfast parlour 
 first, and seeing a letter addressed to 
 her, rather an uncommon thing, broke 
 the seal and read it, yet could not make 
 it out. 
 
 Miss Moore coming down, Helen 
 applied to her to know what it meant. 
 She could not tell exactly, but knew 
 enough of the world to comprehend 
 
 that
 
 WHO IS SHE? 243 
 
 that his Lordship was making a clan- 
 destine match with some one. It 
 struck her immediately that Caroline 
 must be the object of his attachment, 
 as she could have no suspicion of the 
 Allright family. — " How unfortunate!" 
 she exclaimed. 
 
 " What is the matter ?" asked 
 Helen. 
 
 " I am sorry to tell you, my love, 
 Miss Archer has eloped with Lord 
 Clifden."— cc What will become of 
 them?" added Miss Moore. 
 
 Helen assured her that this was not 
 the case, for Caroline was in her room 
 when she left it. 
 
 She at this instant opened the door, 
 exclaiming, " What do you think, 
 Miss Allright has been run away with. 
 Mrs. Hall has just told me so.'' 
 
 Miss Moore was filled with astonish- 
 ment and alarm : though her mind 
 M 2 was
 
 244 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 was greatly relieved by finding that the 
 family at the Lodge would escape 
 censure. 
 
 The conversation at breakfast natu- 
 rally turned on the subject that had 
 surprized them. Miss Moore took oc- 
 casion to animadvert strongly on the 
 impropriety and indelicacy of a young 
 lady's taking such a step. What esteem, 
 she said, could a man entertain for a 
 woman, who, in the first instance, vio- 
 lated the first principle in nature ? 
 Might she not hold as lightly her vow- 
 ed obedience to him afterwards? What 
 pledge had he for her performance of 
 engagements whose commencement 
 originated in deception? If she could 
 be brought to think lightly of the agony 
 of a parent's heart on such an occasion, 
 he could not be certain but she might in 
 time condemn her husband to feci the 
 same sensations whenever caprice should 
 present an opportunity. No man could, 
 
 she
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 245 
 
 she was persuaded, (who studied his 
 future domestic peace) induce any wo- 
 man to outstep the bounds of propriety 
 so far 5 for no love could be permanent 
 and lasting, that was not founded on 
 esteem. However vanity might for a 
 time blind a man, yet he would rind 
 moments of asperity when this would 
 not be forgotten. And even suppo- 
 sing the lady did (as w r as seldom the 
 case) lead, after this first violation of her 
 duty, an exemplary life, might not the 
 husband, from example or dissipation 
 of the times, be led into improprieties ? 
 How could she reprehend him for a 
 violation of his duty, and feel that their 
 union commenced with that of a total 
 disregard of her own ? Who could 
 be so attentive to the particular in- 
 terest of a child as a parent? By 
 this step a woman put herself in the 
 power of a man, with whom, for the 
 m 3 most
 
 -246 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY ; OR, 
 
 most part, she was unacquainted, ex- 
 cept by the common forms and prin- 
 ciples'of good breeding; if he was un- 
 principled, what years of misery might 
 she not entail on herself? 
 
 Here Miss Moore was interrupted by 
 the arrival of Frank Allright, who, after 
 seating himself, said, he supposed the 
 ladies were acquainted with the occa- 
 sion of his early visit ? They bowed 
 assent. He said his father had desired 
 him to wait on Miss Moore to know 
 at what hour Lord Clifden left the 
 Lodge ? 
 
 To this question she could give no 
 answer, as she had, when she came 
 down, expected to meet his Lordship 
 in the breakfast parlour. The first in- 
 timation she received to the contrary, 
 originated in a letter which Miss Bei- 
 lingham had just presented for her pe- 
 rusal. 
 
 She
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 247 
 
 She rang for Mrs. Hall, and ordered 
 her to make enquiries amongst the ser- 
 vants. 
 
 Airs. Hall did not remain long in 
 executing this commission. 
 
 She returned, saying, that neither his 
 Lordship or his man had been in bed 
 that night, and that they must have 
 taken an opportunity to go out un- 
 observed before the doors were locked. 
 Mrs. Hall added, that she knew Mon- 
 sieur had been to Carleton; and had 
 sent a man, as he said, to order a post 
 chaise for his master, who intended re- 
 turning to London the next morning. 
 
 With this information Frank returned 
 to his father, who was almost choaked 
 with rage : whilst Frank, when out of 
 his presence, was exulting that he had 
 got a Peer for a brother-in-law, and 
 might get in time into the dashing so- 
 cieties. 
 
 The
 
 248 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 The elopement was not taken so ea- 
 sily by Miss Marian and Miss Sophia. 
 They were drowned in tears, that it 
 had not been their lot instead of their 
 sister's. 
 
 Mr. Allright shut himself up in his 
 study, in order to turn in his brain to 
 what possible consolation or advantage 
 his daughter's indiscretion might be 
 turned. — None that he could devise. — 
 Lord Clifden was a ruined spendthrift. 
 — Had he been a man of business, or 
 could he be turned into one, it might 
 be possible to do something. 
 
 At length a glimpse of light broke 
 upon his bewildered fancy. — Part with 
 any ready cash he could not think of. 
 — He determined to seem to buy up a 
 mortgage his friend Shadrack Moses 
 had upon his Lordship's estate. He 
 knew that the money had been ad- 
 vanced by himself, through the inter- 
 vention of a third person, as he was not 
 
 able, 

 
 WHO IS SHE? 249 
 
 able, in his own character, to exact 
 such hard terms from his Lordship. 
 And as they could not exist on air, 
 why he would make a virtue of neces- 
 sity, and have the estate settled upon 
 his daughter and her children. 
 
 This determination composed the 
 agitated spirits of the man who always 
 reckoned on cent per cent in all his bar- 
 gains. However he intended to act at 
 last,he must not relax in his displeasure, 
 least the rest of the family should make 
 as hopeful a choice as Miss Allright had 
 done, who had added honours, if not 
 riches, to the family, and with these he 
 must now be contented. 
 
 Frank interrupted his father's reve- 
 ries, with all the information he had 
 been able to collect : which amounted 
 to no more than he knew before, that 
 Lord Clifden had carried off his sister, 
 and that it was most likely they were on 
 the w r ay to Gretna Green. 
 
 " They
 
 250 
 
 " They may go to the devil, for all I 
 care about them. I wish all the wo- 
 men in the world were as severely pu- 
 nished for their disobedience as Louisa 
 will be. — I don't know how I came to 
 be so silly to admit a beggar of quality 
 into my family." 
 
 " Why," replied Frank, " I don't 
 think he has taken any great bargain 
 out of it, father. My sister is no chick- 
 en, and if you don't help them out, 
 he will have the worst of it, I think." 
 
 Mr. Allright flew into a violent pas- 
 sion with his son for supposing he 
 would advance a single guinea. And 
 at the same time, warned him not to 
 intrude his opinions unasked, but to 
 look to his own conduct, and advise his 
 sisters to do the same. If they gave 
 him any more trouble he would marry 
 himself. 
 
 Frank left the room immediately to 
 conceal a stifled laugh, which burst 
 
 forth 
 
 #
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 251 
 
 forth as soon as he had got to a conve- 
 nient distance from the study. He in- 
 formed his sisters of the resolution of 
 their father. They were shocked at 
 his declared intention of doing nothing 
 for Louisa, and her Lord. They had 
 been planning the prettiest dresses ima- 
 ginable, in which they were to attend 
 their sister now she was a Countess. 
 They had settled all the appendages of 
 dress for her ; and to be baulked in 
 this their first outset, in high life, was 
 abominable. It was impossible for 
 them to visit if papa was inexorable, 
 and they knew of nothing so likely as 
 that he would continue in this state of 
 mind. 
 
 Mrs. Lavington arrived in the great- 
 est agitation, out of breath with sorrow 
 and apprehensions for her dear, dear, 
 Louisa; as she had been informed that 
 Lord Clifden had not a guinea of his 
 own left. That he had not a house, 
 
 no,
 
 252 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY; OR, 
 
 no, not even a lodging, to take her 
 dear friend to. 
 
 She enquired for Mr. Allright, and 
 said she must see him, to use her en- 
 deavours for the young couple, who 
 were, no doubt, ruined beyond all hopes 
 of recovery ; but surely he would take 
 them in. 
 
 Now, instead of sorrow, her heart 
 was elate with joy, to hear that, 
 though Louisa had got a title and the 
 start of her, yet, she had nothing to sup- 
 port this proud pre-eminence. 
 
 Mr. Allright refused to see the Wi- 
 dow, with whom he was too well ac- 
 quainted to believe she paid her visit 
 on any other score than that of curiosity, 
 to learn how far he meant to go in his 
 resentment, and then to drive round the 
 country with her news, from undoubted 
 authority. 
 
 The young ladies acted over the farce 
 grief for their sister's extreme indis- 
 cretion.
 
 WHO IS SHE ? 255 
 
 cretion, but allowed that the many at- 
 tractions of Lord Clifden, and his 
 seeming affection for their sister, was 
 some excuse ; as she lost her heart at 
 first sight of the Peer. 
 
 Mrs. Lavington observed, that love 
 and madness were always said to be 
 in very near alliance, and, in this case, 
 to be sure the two passions had come in 
 very close contact. She sincerely 
 hoped, that Mr. Alifight would not 
 drive them altogether to despair. And 
 then took her leave, to make a morning 
 visit at the Lodge, to know how the 
 elopement was taken there ; for there 
 could not be the smallest doubt, but it 
 had been expected the Earl's attentions 
 would have been directed towards the 
 Heiress. 
 
 She found the ladies seated in great 
 tranquillity at work 3 nor did any one 
 of them attempt to start the subject. — 
 After Mrs. Lavington had waited 'as 
 
 vol. 1. n long
 
 254 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY $ OR, 
 
 long as her patience would let her, 
 she said that she Lad been paying a 
 melancholy visit at the Grove. Poor 
 Mr. Allright was inconsolable, and 
 could not see any company. The 
 young ladies were also overwhelmed 
 with distress on their sister's imprudent 
 conduct. 
 
 iss Moore said, she was very sorry 
 for the great confusion into which the 
 family had been thrown, particularly as 
 Lord Clifden was their visitor ; but she 
 hoped a reconciliation might be brought 
 about, as certainly his Lordship was of 
 an ancient and respectable family. 
 
 " But, my dear Madam," returned 
 Mrs. Lavington, " he has not a guinea 
 to reward the ringers, if he returns 
 hither." 
 
 « Hasn't he ?" said Helen, " well, 
 then I will pay them 3 they shant want 
 a good peal if they come here." 
 
 The
 
 WHO IS SHE? 255 
 
 The ladies Jaugbed at the innocence 
 and eagerness of Helen's reply. 
 
 " Why, indeed, Miss Bellingham, 
 your fortune would be very useful, I 
 am sure, to Lord Clifden. Every one 
 here believed that he came to pay his 
 addresses to you." 
 
 " Every one did me a g" 1 of 
 
 honour/' said Miss Bellingham, 4< I had 
 no such ideas. But as far as I am able, 
 with the approbation of Miss Moore, 
 and Dr. Jackson, I shall be happy to 
 serve Lord Clifden, as the relation of 
 my good benefactress." 
 
 Miss Moore bowed her head to Lle- 
 len for the compliment paid to her ad- 
 vice, but said no more on the subject. 
 
 Mrs. Lavington was disappointed 
 here, for, instead of finding the torch 
 of envy lighted up, she found tranquil- 
 lity and benevolence. She took her 
 leave, wondering at the virtues she 
 could not copy, nor, indeed, had any 
 
 concep-
 
 ( 256 THE PRIDE OF ANCESTRY \ OR, 
 
 conception were in existence. The 
 loss of a fine young man. with a coronet 
 to bestow, in Helen's situation, she 
 could not have borne, therefore she sat 
 down to art her seeming kindness, na- 
 tural it could not be, for she felt nothing 
 like it. 
 
 ekp of vox,, 1, 
 
 Bryer, Frinter, Bridewell Hospital, Bridge Street.
 
 UNIVERSfTY OF illinois-urbana 
 
 3 0112 056503185