|o0epb/. littckttt 
 

L I E> R.AR.Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UN IVERSITY 
 
 Of ILLINOIS 
 
ROSELLA, 
 
 OR 
 
 MODERN OCCURRENCES. 
 
 A NOVEL, 
 
 IN TIVO VOLUMES. 
 
 By Mary Chariton, Author of Phedora^ &c, 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 P ROUTED FOR P. IVGGAN — IV. PORTER — AND 
 r. BURNSIDE, 
 
 i8co. 
 
:j , ROSELLA. 
 
 t 
 
 
 CHAP. r. 
 
 Rage for Adventures. 
 
 Miss SOPHIA BEAUCLERC, a handfome 
 young woman who poflefTed an independencv, 
 was the only child and reputed heirefs of a man 
 of very refpe£\:able fortune, whofe winter re(i- 
 dence was in one of the fafhionable ftreets at 
 the weft end of the metropolis. She was near- 
 ^ly of age — a period to her not at all defirable, 
 
 ^unlefs the previous interval of time were mark- 
 fed with fome interefting occurrences fhe had 
 
 ^ in contemplation to facilitate, by fuppreffing a 
 few fuggeftions of prudence, which occafionally 
 arofe in fpite of Lover, Novels, or Confidante. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc had therefore confented to 
 meet a very good-natured, very thoughtlefs, 
 very extravagant, very plieafing, very well-made, 
 
 ,^ery diffipated young man at St. George's, 
 
 ^J^anover-Square, where banns had been pub- 
 lifhed in the names of each, with very little 
 probability that the circumftance fhould reach 
 the knowledge of the lady's parents ; for 
 though they were not people of high rank, they 
 had fufficiently pradtifed the ufages of high life, 
 VOL. I. B to 
 
'2 ROSELLA. 
 
 to difmlCs every idea of attending the church 
 of their London parifh. Mr. Beauclerc had 
 ijideed enquired for a pew, becaufe, to poflefs a 
 thing, and to ufe it, are difiiintt circumllances ; 
 and a tolerably commodious one was moft ob- 
 fequioufly offered him, at the reafonable price 
 of twelve guineas a year, and a douceur of five 
 more for the favor of immediate attention — a 
 favor which the gentleman as immediately de- 
 clined receiving ; but his Lady had the addicefs 
 to profit by her hufband's economy, and adroit- 
 ly placing her fliare of a box at the Opera in 
 
 oppofition to a box at St. — 's, attained her 
 
 objeft by pleading for the one which v/as pro- 
 cured with the lead money. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc had only one fmall dilhculty 
 to encounter in keeping her appointment., 
 which was comprifed in the fmgularity of walk- 
 ing out without an attendant, or getting rid of 
 him when he had followed her two or three 
 flreets, which (lie thought the more eligible 
 plan ; and on the' morning propofed, fhe fent 
 the footman who accompanied her, into a (liop 
 to make fome enquiry which fhe indicated, 
 then very dexteroufly glided round a turning 
 into another ftreet, and was in the church 
 before John could have given his meiTage, and 
 received an anfwer ; there, in a deep veil, winch 
 hid fome very decorous blufhes, and what was 
 ftill more convenient, the face they crimfoned, 
 fhe exchanged vows with Mr. Raymond, or as 
 Ihe called him in her confidential correfpon- 
 dence, her amiable and beloved Auguftus ; and 
 whilft in the veftry he arranged the important 
 bufniefs of feeing the clergyman and his fatel- 
 lites, which he performed v/ith his accuflomed 
 liberality, the fair bride had leifure to indulge 
 
 fome 
 
ROSELLA. 3 
 
 fome very deep-drawn fighs, and a copious 
 ihower of tears at the raJJj Jiep which her pafii- 
 on for the mod engaging and bed of men, and 
 the too well-known obduracy of her parents 
 impelled her to commit, againft the duty (he 
 owed them. 
 
 The hejl of men caught a glimpfe of her dream- 
 ing forrows through the cloud that obfcured 
 them, and experienced a keen pang of felf-ab- 
 horrence and reproach upon recollecting how 
 well they would be founded, could fhe but be 
 fenfible of a fatal event he had been vainly ftrug- 
 gling to drive from his memory, that he might 
 ;\ppear upon this occafion with tolerable compo- 
 fure at lead, if he could not attain that gaiety of 
 afpe(ft, for which he was generally noted. 
 
 This circumdance v/as merely an accidental 
 invedment which the imprudent Raymond had 
 made on the preceding night at a gaming- 
 houfe, not only of every guinea he could com- 
 mand, but cf feveral thoufand pounds he had no 
 means of paying, but with the expecled for- 
 tune of Mifs Beauclerc. 
 
 He did not rile from the Faro-table until 
 four in the morning ; having for the lad three 
 hours called incefiantly for bumpers of Burgun- 
 dy to aflid his judgment, and accelerate his 
 better fortune : and then finding that every per- 
 fon declined his bets, he took the advice of one, 
 -of his kind companions, and reeled to his lodg- 
 ings, where he was put to bed by his fervant, 
 who had heard him mention whild he was 
 drefling, that he had an appointment of fome 
 confeqiience at ten the next day. From this in- 
 timation the man ventured to wake him at a 
 quarter after nine, when Sophia's amiable and 
 beloved Augudus darted from his milerable 
 ^ 2 flumbers 
 
4 ROSELLA. 
 
 {lumbers with an aching head, nerves unftrung, 
 and a mind in which confufion, hated recollefti- 
 on, torturing regret, irrefolution, and anguifh 
 warred with inconceivable tumult. In this 
 mood, he twice walked forward with the deter- 
 mination of confefling the whole of his mad 
 folly to Mifs Beauclerc, and decline, what he 
 was certain (he fhould even then perfift in, per- 
 mitting her to (hare the poverty and dlfgrace 
 into which he had plunged himfelf; but reluc- 
 tant (hame, and the dread of beholding the 
 diftrefs this avowal muft occafion, twice arreft- 
 cd his fteps, and he refolved to write what he 
 was convinced he had not the power to utter. 
 As he was haftcning back to his lodgings the 
 fecond time, he happened, as he turned into 
 Piccadilly, to caft his eyes upon the dial of St. 
 James's church, and faw that it was already 
 confiderably pad ten. The fituation of Sophia 
 llruck upon his recollection like a flafn of light- 
 ning, waiting in a fufpenfe too mortifying and 
 diftrefling to admit of further deliberation on 
 his part, and a third time he faced about to 
 complete his evil deftiny. In ftriding up 
 Sackville-Street with hafly and agitated fteps, 
 he remembered, for the firfttime, that he had not 
 a guinea in his purfe, and with a half defperate 
 fmile of felf-ridicule, he knocked at the door of 
 a friend whofe abode he pafled, to borrow 
 twenty pieces. This companion in diflipation 
 was at the breakfaft table ; and as Fortune had 
 been as favourable to him the evening before as 
 fhe had been cruel to Raymond, the fum in 
 queftion palfed from the hands of one extrava- 
 gant to the other with much facility : not but 
 the lender had heard the whifpered ruin of the 
 borrower, but he happened to polTefs a heart 
 which recjuired a longer time in the fchool of 
 
 the 
 
ROSELLA. 5 
 
 the world to harden, than that of a tonlfh loun- 
 ger ufually takes. 
 
 Raymond threw the money into his walflcop^t 
 pocket, (hook the hand of his friend, and declar- 
 ing that he was upon bufinefs g^ fome confeqiience^ 
 flew out of the houfe, and without admitting 
 any more refle£lion, marched to his (tation at 
 the fteps of the church, where however he ar- 
 rived as foon as Sophia, who having read of the 
 numberlefs accidents which harafs the foul of a 
 beautiful young creature, and impede her pro- 
 grefs in adventures of this kind, did not think it 
 expedient to be punctual to the time appointed. 
 
 Under thefe threatening aufpices were the 
 ill-boding nuptials of Raymond performed. 
 His bride, bidding him adieu before he quitted 
 the church, tripped to the houfe of a vifiring ac- 
 quaintance in a neighbouring Itreet, as had been 
 preconcerted, and complaining of an accident 
 that had feparated her from her attendant, bor- 
 rowed a fervant to follow her home, where fhe 
 found John already arrived, to whom {he mani- 
 felted great difpleafure for rem.aining fo long in 
 the (hop, by which means, (he faid, he had not 
 obferved her turn into Brook-Street with her 
 friends. 
 
 Sophia then withdi-ew to her dreffing-rcom, 
 exulting extremely at the charming perfpective 
 that prefented itfelf, of a train of incidents mofl 
 delightfully interefting, and fweetly rom.antic. 
 She threw up her veil as fhe walked to and fro 
 before a large mirror •, not from the ordinary 
 vanity of admiring her face or figure, though 
 -^hey were both really engaging, but from the 
 more elevated pleafure of beholding tn propria 
 perfona a heroine in the bloom of youth, emerg- 
 ing into thofe delightful,, myfterious, and fenti- 
 
 mental 
 
6 HOSELLA. 
 
 mental fituations which fo agreeably occupy the 
 imagination, when viewed within the inclofure 
 of a tremendous breadth of margin, and cafed 
 in a furtout of marbled paper, extremely foiled 
 by the devotion of the curious. 
 
 Poor Raymond meantime, who was momen- 
 tarily recovering from the confufion attending 
 an intoxication not fufRciently llept off, was 
 aiive to the horrors of his fate, which the folly, 
 the madnefs, and, in the eye of the world, the 
 villany of his concealed marriage completed 
 moft effecfiually. He grinned with rage and 
 tlefpair, (talked about his apartment as if he 
 meant to crufh a giant at every itep, and curfed 
 himfeif alternately for a fool, a dolt, an idiot, 
 and a fcoundrel. At length, in fpite of the 
 energy of his anguifh and regret, he began to 
 feel extremely warm and exhaufted with this 
 unprofitable exercife ; and having fketched in 
 his diftempered fancy a halty plan of future con- 
 duct, he fat down to write a farewell letter to 
 his unfufpedling bride, in which very little 
 was to be underftood but that he quitted her 
 for ever becaufe her generous confidence in his 
 honor and the fafcinating graces of her perfon 
 had made a lading imprefliein on his heart ; and 
 finally, that being already a wretch beneath the 
 regard of every honed man — funk into the 
 loweft pit of infamy, he left her becaufe he could 
 not endure in her eyes to be a villain. Having 
 fealed Up this eloquent, but very incomprehenfi- 
 ble epiftle, he dropped it into his pockej;, with 
 fome papers relating to his deranged affairs, 
 and walking to a coach ftand, threw himfeif In- 
 to a hack, and was carried by his direcSlions to 
 
 Street, the refidence of Mr. Mordaunt, an 
 
 upright man of the law, who had been one of 
 
 his 
 
ROSELLA. ^ 
 
 Kis guardians, and had manlfefled an interefl:, 
 almoft paternal, in his welfare. To tJiis honefl 
 man he unfolded a long tiiTue of imprudence 
 and infatuated extravagance, ending in the un- 
 fortunate incidents of the preceding night, but 
 carefully concealing the event of the morning. 
 He had, when his fortune was little impaired, 
 avowed to Mr. Beauclerc his admiration oi his 
 daughter, who in his rejedlion of fuch a fuitor, 
 veiled an incorrigible relu-dfance to part v/irh 
 money under the anxious forefight of a parent, 
 and to the claims of poor Raymond oppofed his 
 well-known failings and follies. Piqued at the 
 old man's too juft reprefentations, he affefted 
 to continue his fuit without feeking his approba- 
 tion, till its full fuccefs with Sophia taught him 
 the prudence which alone could conciliate her 
 father. Bat Mr. Beauclerc's prejudice and 
 averfion were now too completely fixed to be 
 removed by forbearance or fubmiflion, and the 
 young people confequently confulted only their 
 mutual prepoflcfTion. Reymond knew that the 
 fortune of Sophia v/ould little more than fatis- 
 fy the demands of his plunderers, and under 
 circumftances fo aggravating to the feelings of 
 her irritated father, from him they could hope 
 nothing : when therefore he was filent on the 
 fubject of his marriage, his motive was not 
 Want of ingenuoufnefs, but a fear left in difclo- 
 fmg it, he fliould crufli his too confiding wife 
 in the ruin that annihilated him. 
 
 Mr. Mordaunt heard his narrative with a 
 fteady look of concern, and prepared, at his re- 
 queft, to make out a double lift of debtor and 
 creditor to the eftate of Auguftus Raymond, 
 who, of fifty thoufand pounds bequeathed him 
 by his father, contrived to point out to his filent 
 ^ hearer, 
 
» ROSSELLA. 
 
 licarer, two thoufand of the fum in the five pet 
 cents, and three hundred more in the hands of 
 a banker, befides a few fums fcattered as loans 
 amongft his quondam friends and companions ;. 
 a couple of faddle-horfes at a livery ftable, 
 where they had ftood till their mafter was in- 
 debted double the fum they were worth ; and 
 a curricle with a pair of bright bays not paid for, 
 completed the IKt. 
 
 On the contra fide of the account flood — 
 Imprimis — To the Honorable Thomas Eflcourt 
 iive thoufand three hundred pounds — To Major 
 Hangon four thoufand — and to Lord Quye three 
 thoufand five hundred. — Lodgings for fix 
 months, eighty guineas. — The valet three 
 months' wages, ten pounds ten. — Mr. Mor- 
 daunt uttered a peevifh ejaculation. — The 
 groom, the taylor, the mercer, the hatter, ^ho 
 boot-maker, the holier, the fhoe-maker, the per- 
 fumer. " Fools ! puppies !" exclaimed the. 
 
 old man in a rage he could no longer fupprefs, 
 " contemptible madmen that you are ! difguft- 
 ed with your frivolous beings before you have 
 "well quitted your leading-firings, and afFe(fling 
 the apathy of fages before you have well attain- 
 ed the age of manhood — fixed, bent upon no 
 earthly obje<ft but galloping on to ruin with all 
 the frantic energy of hydrophobia f What is your 
 sim — what is your end ? — You know not *, but 
 you rufh forward with fury to efcape from 
 yourfelves, and woe be to the unwary whom 
 evil Fortune places in your path !'* 
 
 The wild impatience of Raymond was irri- 
 tated by this effufion -, he frowned, bit his lips, 
 and dafhed the papers which had occafioned it 
 to the further corner of the room. Mr. Mor- 
 
 daunt 
 
ROSELLi.. ^ 
 
 daunt took his hand as he feemcd preparing to 
 rufh out of the houfe. 
 
 " Raymond," faid he, " do you not fuppofe 
 I am interefted for your well-being ?" 
 
 " Yes, yes," returned the young man ; 
 " have the compafTion, however, not to demon- 
 ftrate it at this moment by ufelefs le(ftures." 
 
 He then declared that his intention was to 
 quit England immediately, if the friendfhip of 
 Mr. Mordaunt would induce him to undertake 
 the arrangement of his defperate affairs, as far, 
 at lead, as they could be arranged. 
 
 Mr. Mordaunt argued and reafoned againfl 
 precipitation with much perfeverance ; but 
 at length finding that Raymond was deaf to 
 perfuafion, he offered to furnifh him with re- 
 commendatory letters to fome gentlemen he had 
 formerly well known, who were at prefent high 
 in the Council at Bombay. The young man 
 eagerly caught at the propofal whicir foothed his 
 fickening heart with the idea of leaving far be- 
 hind him all thofe fcenes of regretted difhpation 
 in which his happinefs had been wrecked, and 
 of hiding himfelf for ever from his former aiTo- 
 ciates, whofe feorn or compaflion he could not 
 endure to be the objedl of. In the prefent (late 
 of his mind, every thing was to be done in a mo- 
 ment, every plan put in pradice at the inflant 
 it was formed ; and he urged Mr. Mordaunt to 
 difpatch the promifed letters without delay, as 
 he meant to leave London before funfet. 
 
 The good man was ftartled by this declarati- 
 on ; but a moment of refledtion determined him 
 not to oppofe it, and he promifed that his cre- 
 dentials fhould be ready when he was prepared 
 to demand them. Raymond then left him, 
 proceeded in his hack to the India-Houfc, to 
 B 3 endeavor 
 
10 ROSELLA. 
 
 endeavor to fecure a pafFage in the firft veflel 
 expected to fail to Bombay, and found that the 
 laft fhip taken up for that fettlement, had left 
 the Downs a fortnight back : he learned how- 
 ever that the purfer of an Indiaman bound for 
 Madras, had juft received his final difpatches, 
 and v^ould fet off for Portfmouth the next 
 morning at daybreak. The letters of Mr. Mor- 
 daunt were totally forgotten — for Madras, Co- 
 chin-china, Peru, or the Coaft of Africa were 
 equally defirable to him at that inftant, and he 
 determined to haften to Portfmouth when he 
 had packed up fome baggage, and pofTeiTed him- 
 felf of the three hundred pounds in the hands of 
 his banker, to whofe houfe he immediately 
 drove, and received the money. 
 
 He was now obliged to return by appoint- 
 ment to Mr. Mordaunt, to execute a deed which 
 invefted him with the power of receiving the 
 fums due to him, and to liquidate as far as poffi- 
 ble every demand upon him ; and to this fteady 
 friend Raymond imparted his new dellination. 
 In vain did Mr. Mordaunt very gravely repre- 
 fent that recommendations addrefied to people 
 at Bombay, could be of little fervice at Madras ; 
 i^ill however he would not withhold them, in the 
 hope that they may be of fervice on a future 
 emergency. 
 
 Raymond, fupportedby the fever of his mind, 
 then flew to his lodgings, where vith indefati- 
 gable perfeverance, he aflifted his valet to put 
 up fuch of his effects as he thought necefiary to 
 take with him — a tafk: he undertook both to haf- 
 ten the man, and to drive refleclion from him- 
 felf- 
 
 His fervant imagined he was accompanying 
 iv frying party upon fome mad excurfion—a fur- 
 mi ie 
 
ROSELLA. II 
 
 m'lfe that was ilrengthened, when hia mailer 
 refufed to let him flep to the laundrefs, to de- 
 mand fome linen fiie ought to have brought 
 home the day before ; and he obeyed all the di- 
 redlions of Raymond without perceiving in his 
 tumultuous hurry, any thing more extraordinary 
 than unfubfided intoxication. A poft-chaile 
 was then ordered, part of the baggage attached 
 to it, and the remainder difpofed in the inCidc 
 
 of the carriage. Raymond ordered it to 
 
 Street, telling his valet as he quitted him, to de- 
 fire the people of the houfe to apply for the 
 money due to them, to Mr. Mordaunt, who 
 would likewife difcharge him and the groom. 
 The fellow now, for the firft time, gueffed the 
 fituation of affairs, but was too much contound- 
 ed by the fudden intelligence, and was too well 
 acquainted with the impetuoGty of his maftcr, 
 to give way to the infolencc he felt well difpof- 
 ed to utter. 
 
 Mr. Mordaunt was at dinner when Raymond 
 paid this final vifit j and as the unhappy youngs 
 man equally loathed fociety and food, he ceuld 
 not be prevailed upon to take a feat at the table, 
 but left his chaife in waiting at the door, wliillt 
 he walked into Oxford-Road to depofit his let- 
 ter to Sophia in the pod, now that he was af- 
 fured he fliould have quitted London before Hie 
 could receive it. Shocked however on reilert- 
 ing upon the fudden anguifh ihe mud experi- . 
 ence at a communication fo abrupt, his inten- 
 tion flu£luated *, he again took pofieflioh of a 
 coach for the greater difpatch, and ordered tlie 
 man to haften to Berwick-Street : the fellow 
 required the number, and receiving two or three 
 oaths for an anfwer, mounted his box with in- 
 finite celerity, and drove ofFat ^ full canter. 
 
12 ROSELLl. 
 
 In Berwick-Street refided the confidential 
 friend of Sophia, who having acquired fenti- 
 ments equally romantic, and not being in a fitu- 
 ation quite fo elevated as that of Mifs Beauclerc, 
 undertook, with equal pride and pleafure, the 
 tiilk of forwarding the correfpondence of the 
 loveis. A dangerous illnefs which had feized 
 h^r mother, prevented her attendance at the 
 ceremony of the morning ; but Sophia had ve- 
 ry kindly relieved the etmui of a fick chamber 
 (where no adventure could poffibly be prefent- 
 cd to her by her better deftiny, except in the 
 guife of an mnant medicin) by the precaution of 
 jifpatching a billet to notify that the die was 
 caft, and her fate accompliflied. When the 
 bridegroom, therefore, appeared before her 
 with a countenance portraying much of the 
 anxiety and perturbation of his diftra<Sled mind, 
 her filent fuggeftions allowed him time to in- 
 form her that his imprudence had undone him, 
 that his fortune was annihilated, and himfelf an 
 outcaft. He entreated her to break the difaf- 
 trous tidings with tendernefs to her friend, and 
 when fhe put the letter, he now produced, into 
 her hand, to conjure her for her own fake, never 
 to think of him more. The confidante was for a 
 moment thunderftruck at this intelligence ; but 
 (hortly recovering herfelf by a recolleclion of 
 the charming, interefting diftreiTes all this muft 
 inevitably occafion, (he very carefully treafured 
 in her memory what the felf-baniftied wanderer 
 incautioufly uttered relating to his deftination ; 
 and when he had wrung her hand, and bid 
 her farewell, Ihe fcarcely waited till the 
 flreet-door had clofed upon him, beforeflie 
 wrote to her beloved and ill-fated Sophia, ab- 
 ruptly informing her of her husband's flight, 
 
 and 
 
ROSELLA* t% 
 
 and urging her to follow him without hefitation ; 
 which if ftie refolved heroically to do, this ami- 
 able and tender daughter propofed to leave all 
 that was dear to her, that (he might perform the 
 dutifs of friendfhip in accompanying the inter- 
 efting fugitive. When the epiftle was dif- 
 patched, the confidante waited in great anxiety 
 the efFedl of her prudent advice, now almoft 
 aiTured of its fuccefs, and now fearful that the 
 timidity of Sophia would difconcert a ftep fo 
 cfiential to her adventurous career. 
 
 Raymond, little fufpedting the mifchief his 
 tender precaution had endangered, haftened 
 back to Mr. Mordaunt, who ftiil entreated him 
 to poftpone his hafty journey for one day at 
 ieaft, that his departure might be rather better 
 arranged ; but finding both prayers and remon- 
 flrance vain, he fighed as he gave him his good 
 wilhes, intermixed with fome fage advice, and 
 faw him depart with a dejedlion of which Ray- 
 mond more than partook, when he prelTed his 
 hand, and leaped into the chaife. 
 
 CHAP. 11. 
 
 Rage for Adventures perfijled in. 
 
 rl-E arrived at Po.rtfmouth without accident, 
 having been compelled however to reft feveral 
 hours upon the road, from a want of poft-horfes 
 to carry him forward ; fo that his intention of 
 travelling all night was frultrated, and it was 
 rather late the following morning when he quit- 
 ted 
 
14 ROSELLA. 
 
 ted his lafl chaife at the Crown, whither the 
 driver took him. Having refreflied himfelf, 
 with renewed impetuoGty he haftened to a boat, 
 and defired to be rowed to the Indiaman. JVs 
 the man leifurely pulhed off, one of them made 
 fome enquiry, to which Raymond repHed at 
 random, and then funk into a deep reverie, from 
 which he awoke at the expiration of two hours, 
 to find that he had been taken to a foreign veflel 
 from Bengal. In an excelTive ill humour he 
 gave new dire£^ions, and at length found him- 
 
 felf on board the Indiaman. Here he met 
 
 with a frefh exercife of patience ; the Captain 
 had juft gone on fhore, and he was informed by 
 the firlt mate that every birth was occupied, and 
 not a nook left to fwing another hammock, un- 
 lefs the commander would confent to pare off a 
 bit of his own cabin, which had already under- 
 gone an operation of the fame kind. It was con- 
 jeftured that the Captain would remain on Ihore 
 till the arrival of the Purfer ; and the Hotel he 
 frequented was mentioned to Raymond, who 
 declined an invitation to drink a bottle of wine 
 in the cuddy, and was rowed back to Portf- 
 mouth in a moft unenviable ftate of mind, ac- 
 companied with an inveterate head-ach. 
 
 Almoft defpairing of fucceeding in his appli- 
 cation to the Captain, and exhaufted by fatigue 
 and anxiety, a fulky defpondence fupplied the 
 place of the indefatigable exertions he had uled : 
 inftead of feeking out the man who would in- 
 llantly end his fufpenfe by granting or refufing 
 his requeft, a dread left it fhould terminate as 
 he feared, made him refoive to defer his enquiry, 
 whilil he took a folitary dinner, that he might 
 not faint for nourifhment rather than in obedi- 
 ence to the calls of hunger. 
 
 It 
 
BOSELLi. r^ 
 
 It was near feven in the evening when he 
 threw himfelf into a clumfy cld-fafhioned couch, 
 that ornamented the apartment to which he had 
 been introduced ; and whilft the people of the 
 houfe prepared what he had ordered, unconfcious 
 of the lapfe of time, he remained a prey to the 
 moft torturing rcfledlions, till a more than ufual 
 buftle throughout the houfe awakened his at- 
 tention •, and darting up, he rung the bell with 
 fuch violence, that the handle and part of the 
 rope remained in his hand, unfuftained by the 
 broken wire *, but no one anfwering the fignal, 
 he threw open the door of the apartment, and 
 called to the waiters with a loud tone of angry 
 impatience ; yet had a legion obeyed the fum- 
 mons, poor Raymond would no longer have 
 heeded them, for his whole attention and every 
 faculty were engrofled by the figure of Sophia's 
 confidante, who attracted by the well-known 
 found of his voice, ifiued from a neighbouring 
 room, and beckoned to him in filent dignity to 
 enter it. But a prefage of the fcene which there 
 awaited him, and a full recollection of his delin- 
 quency, made liim a coward, and his motion was 
 rather retrograde, until the lady urged him for- 
 ward, by exclaiming that her poor friend would 
 expire if he perfifted in deferting her. Mifs 
 Beauclerc, or rather Mrs. Raymond, had really 
 fainted from fatigue and the agitation of her 
 fpirits, upon receiving, on entering the houfe, 
 an anfwer to the enquiries flie had till then 
 vainly made, which revived her almoft extin- 
 guiHicd hopes. 
 
 The meeting was on either fide very tender, 
 and had not the confidante Mifs Selina Swinney, 
 been prefent to note down in the tablets of her 
 memory every fentence that was uttered — every 
 
 entrc.Uy 
 
l6 ROSELLA. 
 
 entreaty of forglvenefs on one fide, and promlfe 
 of forgivenefs on the other, neither Raymond 
 nor Sophia would probably have recoUe^led fix 
 words of a fcene fo interefting. 
 
 The fugitive forgot for the prefent the purport 
 of his journey : he removed his wife and her 
 adventurous friend on the following day to the 
 Ifle of Wight, and at their requeft, went in 
 fearch of lodgings, where they might remain a 
 week or two, with the lead chance of attract- 
 ing the attention of travellers or inhabi- 
 tants. He foon found fome pretty apartments 
 to be let, at a neat cottage-looking buildings 
 about half a mile from Steep-hill, in a fituation 
 too beautifully romantic however, to allow of 
 the retirement he was confcious would be pru- 
 dent 5 but he was fatisfied that it would delight; 
 Sophia, and that confideration prevailed. 
 
 They removed to this little habitation the 
 next day, and Raymond found that he had per- 
 fedlly well confulted the tafte of his fair wife, 
 who was in raptures with her new dwelling. His 
 own mind was far from being in a fiate to relifh 
 the moH attra£live fcenery, or the moft fublime 
 forms that have ever decked the furface of the 
 earth : the immenfe cliff, at the fide of which 
 the cottage appeared to cling, though it afforded 
 the moft rich and pit^urefque profoec^s, — or 
 the varying ocean that rolled beneath it, gave 
 him no delight, while his heart reproached him 
 with having clouded the fair perfpecftive of a 
 profperous and happy life, to which Mifs Beau- 
 clerc^had appeared well entitled to look forward. 
 xic had not yet found courage to tell her the 
 extent of his debts, or even that his property 
 was reduced to the contents of his pocket book ; 
 and (he very naturally imagined that if he could 
 
 be 
 
ROSELLA. 17 
 
 be contented with fuch a retreat as chance had 
 then conduifleti them to, which was a paradife 
 to her enthufiaftic mind, the intereft of her for- 
 tune might almolt, if not wholly, fupport them 
 in it : in a few months fhe fhould be able to 
 claim it ; — what delightful fatisfacf^ion did fhe 
 not promife herfelf, when (he could prefent it 
 to him, and bid him forget the paft I 
 
 At the expiration of a few days, Mifs Swin- 
 ney began to feel weary of her fituation, in fpite 
 of her ardent fidelity, and the charm of being 
 confidante to fuch an amiable and unfortunate 
 pair. Mrs. Raymond had now another obje£t 
 of everlafting and unalterable afFedlion, and 
 poor Selina miffed thofe firings of kind epithets 
 and profeffions cf fervent friendfiiip fhe had 
 been accuftomed to receive from her. The 
 ungrateful Augufi:us too, no longer treated her 
 with that delicate attention and brotherly re- 
 gard which had formerly rendered her his fire- 
 nuous advocate : on the contrary, when Sophia 
 was not prefent, he invariably funk into a gloo- 
 my reverie, and fometimes fo far forgot himfelf, 
 as to fuffer exclamations of regret and defpair 
 to efcape him : nay, when (he reminded him of 
 her critical and well-timed interference to pre- 
 vent his cruel banifhment from the bofom of 
 love and friendfhip, he curfed this boafted in- 
 terference with vehement execration, and faid 
 it had rendered him a miferable, abjecl, and 
 diftionored wretch. 
 
 All this, was very flrange to the gentle Selina, 
 who conje<ftured, and fancied, and feared, and 
 ttembled at the dubious fate of her charmjng 
 friend. But as Raymond invariably ftruggled 
 againfl: his fecret chagrin and anxiety in the 
 prefence of his wife, and not only feemed, but 
 
 really 
 
1 8 ROSELLA, 
 
 really was fo much attached to her, Mifs Swinney 
 left to time and circumflance to unravel tlie dark 
 emotions of the myjlerious Auguftus, and fat 
 down well fatisfied with the efforts flie had 
 made to condudl him and Sophia to the great- 
 eft of all fublanary good, which fhe believed to 
 confift of a mutual attachment, within the ro- 
 mantic walls of a charming cottage j — they had 
 likewife a magnificent profpec^ of mountains 
 ending in grey hills and blue mifts, occafionally 
 irradiated by a pale and majeflic moon, whofe 
 beams 7ynght ferve to throw a light upon the 
 broad fhoulders an.J awkv/ard gait of fome (lieep- 
 ftealer, or hen-rood ilripper, whom imagination, 
 mighty upon an emergency, convert into the 
 leader of Banditti ; and finally, the dafhing of 
 impetuous waves to legale at once the eye and 
 ear. 
 
 With fuch defirable objects before her, had 
 -Mifs Sdina been blefTed with two or three ten- 
 der lovers, fhe would have thought little of her 
 fick mother, whofe hand (he had kilTed with 
 great env^rgy the night (he had been impelled by 
 facred friendfliip to defert her ; and twice, after 
 fhe had quitted the good lady's apartment, (he 
 turned back to water it with tears. After the due 
 obfervance of thefe cuftomary ceremonies, fhe 
 felt her compunction confiderably abated, and 
 fulfilled the generous purpofes of her foul with 
 great compofure. Mrs. Raymond, on the con- 
 trary, in fpite of the romantic enthufiafm of her 
 fentiments the perfuafions of her advifer, and 
 her anxiety to prevent the purpofed emigration 
 of her hufband, could fcarcely be induced to 
 quit the houfe of her father clandeftinely ; and 
 after a refidence of a week in the Ifle of Wight, 
 her rcmorfe was highly ftimulated upon reading 
 
 the 
 
ROSELLA. 19 
 
 the following advertifement in the newfpaper 
 Ji'Ir. Raymond took in* 
 
 <« ELOPEMENT. 
 
 " Whereas a young lady has lately deferted 
 
 the roof of her unhappy parents, as they fuppofe 
 from an attachment they appeared to difcourage, 
 they are induced thus to folicit her return to 
 her home, where (he will be received with kind- 
 nefs and indulgence. If the young lady will 
 write a few lines to her mother,, fhould (he not 
 be willing to rely wholly upon this declaration, 
 it will much relieve the anxiety and affliction 
 that has been, and is (till experienced. The 
 companion of her flight will be likewife forgiv- 
 en by her relations, (liould her perfuafions pre- 
 vail with her friend to comply with the earneft 
 entreaty of her parents, who will not fail to ac- 
 knowledge the benefit (he will have then con- 
 ferred upon them.'* 
 
 Sophia read thefe lines with great emotion, 
 and pointing them out to her hufoand, watched 
 his countenance whilfl: he haftily ran them over : 
 he changed color twice, and made no immediate 
 reply. ^ . 
 
 " This is more than I had dared to hope," 
 faid Mrs. Raym.ond timidly, after a fl-.ort paufe : 
 " Dear Auguflius, will vou not fuffer me to 
 avail myfelf of fuch kind concedions r" 
 
 «' You are not certain," replied he, in pain- 
 ful confufion, " that you are the perfon meant 
 by this advertifement.'* 
 
 « Oh 
 
20 ROSELLl. 
 
 " Oh yes, yes, I am quite certain that it can 
 be no other." 
 
 " I have no doubt of it," cried Mifs Swinney> 
 who had been reading the paragraph two or 
 three times with great attention ; « but I can- 
 not divine what acknowledgment your father 
 alludes to, my dear friend, unlefs indeed Mrs. 
 Beauclerc means to adopt me inftead of her 
 darling Sophia, who will now, fhe muft necef- 
 farily think, refide with her hufband : and you 
 know, Sophy, this would be a very natural plan, 
 as you and I are fo congenial in fentiment and 
 difpofition ; for it muft needs be a great confo- 
 lation to your tender mamma, to converfe daily 
 with one who flatters herfelf ftie is the counter- 
 part of her daughter." 
 
 Raymond, who was walking haftily up and 
 down the room, was ftrongly tempted to difpute 
 this alTertion ; but the tears of his wife, wha 
 foftly ejaculated, •* My poor mother !" now 
 claimed all his attention. 
 
 « Sophy," cried he, « I am diftrefled, Hea- 
 ven knows how much, that I cannot fulfil the 
 expeftations this advertifement has raifed in 
 your affV -^ionate bofom ! I told yon that I was 
 an undone wretch, but I did not tell you all : — 
 it is impoffible that I can appear in the world ; 
 fituated as I am, I would not again enter Lon- 
 don for what the whole univerfe could ofl?er 
 me." 
 
 Mrs. Raymond was (hocked : his vehemence 
 had ftartled her, and (he wept bitterly. 
 
 *< But," continued he, " I am not fuch a vil- 
 lain as deliberately to drag you into the ruin I 
 have brought upon myfelf: return to your fa- 
 ther's houfe, where an afFe<rtiQnate welcome 
 awaits you j tell him you have married a beg- 
 
R0SFXLA.1 ^l 
 
 gar, who has too much pride to owe his fuhfift- 
 ence to the bounty of a man who rejeded his 
 alliance in a fituation of comparative aiRuence j 
 and if future circumftances will allow it, pre- 
 ferve your unhappy connection with me a fecret 
 from the world, and endeavour to forget it your- 
 felf." 
 
 " Do you caft me ofF?" exclaimed (he In an 
 agony: ** if you are a beggar, fo am I — I aik no 
 better fate than you muft experience : I wi{h 
 for no greater happinefs or higher fortune than 
 to (hare your deftiny ! Suffer me only to write 
 to my mother to beg her forgivenefs for having 
 left her fo precipitately." 
 
 « I am not barbarian enough to refufe it," 
 returned he : <* yet, deareft Sophy, let me con- 
 jure you to adopt my plan, and do net believe for 
 a moment that I would confent to part with you 
 without being compelled by a dreadful neceflity. 
 Do not write by this poll ; perhaps I may ac- 
 quire courage to inform you of the extent of my 
 imprudence — worfe than imprudence — it was 
 ingratitude and difhonor when you had com- 
 mitted your happinefs to my care !" 
 
 «< What do you mean f " (he alked in great 
 alarm. 
 
 " Don't queftion me now," cried he, in an 
 accent of impatience ; << perhaps I may (hortly 
 tell you all — at prefent I cannot — I am greatly 
 difordered, my head throbs to diftradion — I 
 muft try if the air will relieve me." 
 
 Before Mrs. Raymond could reply, he flew 
 out of the houfe. Mifs Swinney, who had been 
 a very attentive obferver of this enchanting 
 fcene,,andhad almoft enjoyed the interefting dif- 
 trefs and unfeigned mifery of either party, now 
 thought proper to confole her weeping friend, 
 
 declaring 
 
2t ROSELLi. 
 
 declaring at the fame time, that (he had never 
 beheld any thing fo gracefully pathetic. «<I am 
 convinced, my beloved Sophia," continued fhe, 
 *« that you were born to (liine in adverfity : no 
 — I never yet faw anguifti fo delightfully at- 
 traftive ! You are quite a heroine — don't wi(h, 
 my dear, to be a happier one, for diftrefs quite 
 becomes you : fo be comforted, my deareft 
 friend ; I am fure your adventures are infinitely 
 interefting !" 
 
 " Ah, Selina," interrupted Mrs. Raymond, 
 <f I cannot find the charm in what we ufed to 
 call adventures, which I had foolifhly promifed 
 myfelf ; and I would forego them all, to find 
 znyfelf eftabliihed in my father's houfe, and 
 poor Auguftus high in his favor, and reconciled 
 tohimfelf." 
 
 Mifs Swinney reprobated fuch tame de- 
 generate fentiments, and after a few anxious 
 conjedlures from her friend, concerning the na- 
 ture of the confeffion Raymond had promifed to 
 make, and fome exprefiions of folicitude for his 
 indifpofition, they fauntered into a fmall garden 
 adjoining the houfe. From this fpot the eye 
 could wander over the country to a confiderable 
 diftance on the one fide, and had only the ocean 
 and the horizon for a boundary on the other. 
 Mifs Swinney feated herfelf in the attitude of a 
 penfiveheroine, on a bench the former inmates of 
 the houfe had erected ; and Sophia took two or 
 three thoughtful turns to the extent of the en- 
 clofure, her mind ftlU occupied by the intended 
 difcovery of her hufband, who in an hour was 
 feen half way up the cliff on his return home. 
 His appearance did not denote great cheerful- 
 nefs, but he feemed much more compofed than 
 when he had quitted her, and fhe was onlyre- 
 
 ftrainted 
 
ilrained from ilying to meet him by the fear of 
 being importunate. His approach was much 
 retarded by the winding of the road, interfecled 
 here and there by a crofs path ; and as her eyes 
 followed the figure of Raymond, which was 
 Cometimes obfcured at a fudden angle by a fence 
 of blofibming myrtle, fhe obfervcd a party of 
 gentlemen on horfeback, taking the bridle way 
 to fome pleafure grounds furrounding a neigh- 
 bouring feat. 
 
 Raymond did not regard them, till a loud 
 halloo, follov/ed by his own name moft audibly 
 pronounced, effeftually awakened his attention. 
 Sophia faw him ftart with great apparent emo- 
 tion, and (lie fancied too, that fhe beheld the 
 color forfake his cheeks, and eagerlyendeavoured 
 to catch the accents (lie indiftinctly heard as they 
 iloared on the breeze. Raymond fpoke with 
 geftures of violent agitation, and her bofom 
 boat with redoubled alarm. He had faid that 
 the univerfe fhould not tempt him to ap- 
 proach the metropolis — " Perhaps," thought 
 Sophia, " thefe men arc from thence, and the 
 meeting a moft unpleafant one/* 
 
 The event but too well juftified this fuppofi- 
 tion •, for almoft at the moment it was formed, 
 •Raymond levelled a blow at one of the party, 
 that threw him from his horfe : terror prevent- 
 ed her from difcerning any thing further, and 
 ■the Inriek it extorted from her, brought Mifs 
 Swinney to her affiftance, as fhe was finking to 
 the earth ; but whilit her arms fupported poor 
 Sophia, her tongue added to the anguilh and hor- 
 ror fhe experienced. 
 
 " Gh my God !" exclaimed flie, " is Ray- 
 mond mad ? He is ftruggling with four or five 
 iiien !— Lord, I hope they are not Bailiffs !'* 
 
 *< Bailiffs !" 
 
24 HOSELLA. 
 
 <' BalllfFs '" repeated Sophia, in a faint adccnt. 
 
 ** Oh no," refumed her inconfiderate com- 
 panion, " I fee now they have the appearance 
 of men of fafhion. Good Heavens ! he will 
 certainly have twenty affairs of honor upon his 
 hands. — What will become of us !" 
 
 •^Which way did he go ?'* cried Mrs Ray- 
 mond, ftarting wildly, <* I will follow him !" 
 
 Certainly," rejoined Mifs Selina in a quick 
 accent, " we ought to follow them ; perhaps 
 the adventure will not j)rove at the denouement 
 fo unpleafant — at leaft I am fure it muft be in- 
 terefting." 
 
 Sophia was already at a little gate that open- 
 ed into the public path, which (he flew down 
 with fuch incautious fwiftnefs, that a loofe peb- 
 ble rolling under her foot, twifted her ancle fo 
 violently, that fhe fainted with pain and ficknefs* 
 Mifs Swinney, whofe form was not fo light as 
 that of her fair friend, and whofe mind was far 
 from being ftimulated with the fame anxious 
 eagernefs, had not moved with fuch celerity, 
 and was at fome diftance when the accident 
 happened -, fo that it was wholly attributed to 
 cxcefs of fine feeling, and the agony of a 
 ftrained ancle not even fufpeded to have any 
 ihare in the cataftrophe. 
 
 The gentle Selina feated herfelf, therefore, 
 by the fide of the proftrate fufl^erer, and pro- 
 nounced a foliloquy fo moving, that it brought 
 the tears into her own eyes : the more lovely 
 ones of Sophia opened ere it was entirely ended, 
 and fcarcely knowing what flie faid, (he entreat- 
 ed that a meflenger be difpatched to Raymond, 
 to implore his immediate return. 
 
 When Mifs Swinney difcovered that fhe was 
 unable to move, (he fcnt a girl who had approach- 
 ed 
 
ROSELLA. 25 
 
 -ed from cunofity, to defire aflifliance from their 
 lodgings j but in anfyer to the requeft of her 
 friend, profefled that fhe knew not which v/ay 
 Raymond had taken. A man and woman fer- 
 vant, who had been hired fmce their refidence 
 in the ifland, ran haftily to the place on receiv- 
 ing the fummons, and with their affiftance So- 
 phia was conveyed to her habitation, from 
 whence a medical perfon was fent for. 
 
 The confinement thus procured by her anxie- 
 ty and impatience, was infupportable to her, 
 whilft fhe remained ignorant of the fate of her 
 imprudent and hafty-tempered Raymond. She 
 had difpatched different people in fearch of him, 
 who returned without any intelligence, and at 
 midnight he was ftill abfent. 
 
 Mifs Swinney, in fpite of her wifhes to at- 
 chieve fomething fublime at a crifis fo momen- 
 tous, could not but be extremely touched at the 
 watchful uneafinefs of her friend, and fat by her 
 bed-fide talking of patience and compofure, till 
 poor Sophia, wearied almoft beyond endurance, 
 was tempted to quarrel with her, as well as 
 with the unlucky deftiny that purfued her. 
 
 At daybreak the invalid was extremely fever- 
 ifh, and the apothecary again fent for, who prac- 
 tifed the ufual ceremonies in fuch a cafe, and 
 promifcd to compofe a febrifuge that would per- 
 form wonders. The ancle was found to be 
 quite difcolored and extremely fwelled, and Mrs. 
 Raymond was wholly unable to endure the molt 
 trifling motion : but her agitation of mind was 
 yet infinitely more painful ; the epithets of bar- 
 barous, inhuman, and favage were levelled with- 
 out oeconomy "at her hufband by the gentle Se- 
 lina, and again was every creature round the 
 
 Vol. L C place, 
 
2(5 ROSELLl. 
 
 place, of whatever age or fex, difperfed in fcarch 
 of him. 
 
 At about nine in the morning he made his 
 appearance, and Mifs Swinney, who ran out to 
 meet him, was fhocked at his wild and haggard 
 iooks. 
 
 " They tel* me," faid he, " that my poor 
 Sophy is dangeroufly ill — that (he has fallen, 
 and is much hurt ; nothing, I think, but fuch 
 intelligence could have again brought me here." 
 
 '< Good God !" exclaimed Selina, " furely 
 you -could not have meditated to defert her! 
 Where have you been ?" 
 
 « In hell," replied he, fiercely, <« a hell I 
 might have efcaped, had you not perfuaded that 
 dear unfortunate girl to follow me. hither !" 
 
 He then flew paft her, and entered the cham- 
 ber of Sophia ; his countenance was now rather 
 iluflied, and no longer appeared fo terrific ; and 
 as flie was alTured of his fafety, his prefence 
 confiderably calmed her inquietude. He evaded 
 giving any account of himfelf until (he had ta- 
 ken fome reft, which tlie fervants had informed 
 him fhc had paiTed the night without : and So- 
 phia, Toothed by the affedlion he evinced, foon 
 funk into a refrefhing llumber. Raymond then 
 no longer retained the fmall appearance of 
 compofure he had alTumed, but gave himfelf up 
 to the emotions that overpowered him, whilft 
 Mifs Swinney watched him with increafing ap- 
 prehenfion and curiofity. 
 
 At length he left the room in an agony, and (he 
 haftily followed him in defiance of his reproach- 
 es, which flie began very ferioufly to dread 
 would be her portion from every party. Ray- 
 mond had thrown himfelf on a chair, where fhe 
 found him agitated by contending paffions, every 
 
 mufcle 
 
HOSELLA. 27 
 
 mufcle of his face convulfed, and the whole 
 countenance fufFufed with a deep crimlon. 
 Alarmed at the fpeclacle he exhibited, (he burfl 
 into tears ; and when he took her hand, and 
 begged her forgivenefs of any hafty expreffion he 
 might have ufed in his anxiety and diftrefs, 
 {he found that he was burning with fever. This 
 difcovery completed her terror, and her quefti- 
 ons, tears, and commiferation produced a con- 
 feflion from Raymond that he had been infulted 
 and challenged by a gentleman he had unexpec- 
 tedly met the day before, whom he had, about 
 an hour back, feverely, but not dangeroufly, 
 wounded in the rencontre that enfued : he then 
 conjured her to keep the circumftance from the 
 knowledge of Sophia, which fhe promifed, and 
 in return entreated him to retire to an apartment 
 which (hould inftantly be prepared for him, that 
 he might endeavour to repofe ; but this he pe- 
 remptorily refufed, alledging as a reafon, that 
 Mr. Eflcourt, his friend, who had only the week 
 before purchafed a villa not half a mile difiiant, 
 had extorted from him a promife to return and 
 dine ; and that it wa^ mod efTential to his wel- 
 fare not to difappoint his expectation : but ar, he 
 was diftrefled to leave Sophia fo much indifpof- 
 cd, he would overcome every obftacle, and be at 
 home early in the evening. 
 
 Mifs Swinney obferved to him that it was yet 
 only eleven o'clock. 
 
 ** Is it fo early ?" exclaimed he, much fur- 
 prifed : «< I will go immediately then, and fettle 
 fome bufmefs I have to tranfacl with him ; 
 perhaps he may releafe me from my engagement, 
 and I fhall then return before Sophia mifies me." 
 
 Without waiting for a reply, he left the houfe, 
 
 and haftened to that of Mr. Ellcourt, who had 
 
 C z coinc 
 
ZS ROSELLA. 
 
 come down but two days before with fome of 
 his aflociates to view his purchafe. Major Han- 
 gon was of the party, and in their ride the pre- 
 ceding mprning, had recognized Raymond in a 
 manner neither tinctured with good-will, or even 
 common civility. The unpaid debt of honor 
 aflailed. the recolle6lion of the fugitive, and 
 ihocked his pride ; his anfwer was therefore dic- 
 tated by his feelings, and partook of the difdain 
 and contempt with which at that moment he 
 viewed himfelf. The retort was too galling to 
 be endured, and produced the fury which had 
 urged Raymond to treat the Major with a vio- 
 lence not to be overlooked. Mr. Eftcourt had 
 endeavoured to divert the coming ftorm ; but 
 tl"^e perfonal infult rendering all interference 
 vain, it was agreed that the parties fhould defer 
 the meeting they both eagerly fought, until the 
 next morning. Raymond, unable to return to 
 his wife, withdrew to a houfe of public refort, 
 where he employed the remainder of the day 
 and the whole of the enfuing night in writing 
 letters, which he carefully fealed and directed, 
 ^nd depoGted them in his pocket-book, that if he 
 fell in the conted, they might not be overlooked. 
 At length the hour of rendezvous arrived, and 
 Raymond haftened to a retired part of Mr. Eft- 
 court's grounds, which had been previoufly 
 marked out to him. Hangon was wounded in 
 the bread, and his opponent immediately defired 
 a moment of private converfation with Mr. Eft- 
 court, to whom he lamented his inability to dif- 
 charge the debt due to him, and referred him to 
 Mr. Mordaunt, as the perfon in whole hands his 
 affairs were placed. Eftcourt interrupted him 
 with a declaration that he fhould never apply to 
 the old fellow for a (liilling, and defired, with 
 
 great 
 
HOSELLA. 29 
 
 great appearance of generofity, that the fubjefl 
 might never more be mentioned^ unlefs Ray- 
 mond fhould at any future tune amply pofTefs 
 the power of liquidating the debt, and he find 
 himfelf in a fituation to want it. <* When that 
 is the cafe, my good fellow," continued he, 
 <« when you are at the top of the wheel, and I at 
 the bottom, I fhall very freely remind you of our 
 agreement : until that moment we will talk no 
 more of it. — Stay, I have thought^ — fuppofe T 
 pay Quye, and this fordid fellow Hangon, tliat 
 you may come among us again." 
 
 Raymond rejedled this uncommon propofition 
 with warmth, as he had not the power, he faid, 
 of requiting fuch friendfhip, or even reimbur(^ng 
 the money. 
 
 " Oh, damn the money I" returned the 
 other 5 «« this plan, or fome other like it, muil 
 do." 
 
 Raymond ftlll however had fortitude to re- 
 fufe his concurrence to this difinterefted urgen- 
 cy, and Eftcourt as firmly refufed to take his ne- 
 gative. 
 
 " You fhall dine with me,*^ fald he ; " we 
 fhall be alone, and we will difcufs the fubjedl." 
 
 In fhort, he was not fuffered to leave the 
 houfe until he had promifed to return at the din- 
 ner hour •, he then wandered back to the place 
 where he had pafied the night, and on his way- 
 learned the accident and indifpofition of Sophia, 
 which overwhelmed him withilill keener anxie- 
 ty and remorfe. 
 
 CHA?. 
 
5* 'EOSlLLi. 
 
 CHAP. IIL 
 
 Rage for adventures rather abated. 
 
 V V HEN Raymond left MIfs Swinney, to keep 
 his appointment, (he returned to the chamber of 
 her friend to watch by her ; for Sophia had not 
 yet aw?.kencd from the well-timed lleep into 
 which (lie had fallen, and the gentle Selina tal- 
 king from her pocket a new Novel which (he had 
 had the precaution to pack up with the clothes 
 fhe had brought from home, entered into all 
 the fublimity cf pale moons, blue milts, gliding 
 figures, hollow fighs, (baking tapeftry,. reverbe- 
 rating voices, nodding pictures, long corredors, 
 tleferted weft towers, north towers, and fouth 
 towers, ruined chapels, fufpicious vaults, damp 
 charnel-houfes, great clocks ftriking twelve, 
 wood embers expiring, dying lamps, and total 
 darknefs. 
 
 So much was the imagination of the romantic 
 Mifs Swinney occupied by fo brilliant a fuccefli- 
 on of interefting fubjeds, that (he forgot the 
 flight of time : and had not Mrs. Raymond's 
 maid entered to enquire where fhe chofe to have 
 the cloth' laid for her dinner, fhe would not have 
 recolledled that it was rather necelTary to cat, to 
 enable people to gaze with rapture upon fin« 
 profped\s, which fade terribly upon the eye that 
 ;s longing to .fix upon a loaf of brown bread with 
 
ROSELLA. 31 
 
 the homely accompaniments of ale and cheefe, 
 for the lack of better cheer. 
 
 The fhort converfation that pafled, though ut- 
 tered in a low voice, awakened the invalid, who 
 alked if Raymond were in the room, and re- 
 ceiving a negative from Mifs Swinney, enquired 
 if he had gone out. The woman replied that 
 he had come home about an hour back, to drefs, 
 and hearing that her Lady was fleeping, would 
 not fufFer her to be difturbed, but left word that 
 he was unavoidably engaged to dine out, an(4 
 (hould return early. 
 
 Sophia endeavoured to be fatlsfied with this 
 intimation : the repofe Ihe had taken had much 
 tefrefhed her, her feverifli fymptoms had difap- 
 pcared, and fhe begged her friend would fend up 
 her dinner from the eating-room. When It was 
 announced to be ready, the gentle Selina d^f- 
 ccnded, and fat down to table with a mind en- 
 tirely divided between the fituation of her im- 
 prudent, but interefling companions, and the 
 fituation of the ftill more imprudent heroine, 
 the fecond volume of whofe captivating adven- 
 tures fhe had popped into her pocket to fuppiy 
 to her the abfence of R.aym.ond and Sophia, 
 Having attended to Mrs. Raymond's wi(h 
 refpecfting her fhare of the repaft, die difmiit- 
 ed the fervant, and read and ate by turns, till 
 at length (he v/as furprifed, on looking at her 
 watch, to find that flie had remained nearly two 
 hours with the dinner before her. She there- 
 fore rung to have it removed, and with the 
 fafclnating book ftill in her hand, walked with 
 great dignity to the fitting-room, that fne might, 
 undifturbed, defcend with her heroine dov/n 
 fome very dark and broken ftairs, which com- 
 iQjunicated with the young lady's bed chamber 
 
 by 
 
32 ItOSELLA. 
 
 by a fupernumerary door flie generally found 
 open in the morning : a circumftance of fuch 
 Riyfterious yet ftriking -import engrofied every 
 feeling of Mifs Swinney's heart, and fhe refolved 
 to fin i eh the chapter before fne afcended to her 
 fick friend. This humane intention was how- 
 ever prevented by the appearance of a very 
 fafhionable looking ftranger, who without muck 
 ceremony entered the room from a faflied door 
 that opened into the garden. 
 
 The fair reader looked up, and the fictitious 
 heroine vanifhed from her imagination, to give 
 place to the heroic Selina, thus on the point, (he 
 fondly hoped, of commencing her own career of 
 adventures. The intruder wore an air of ton, 
 and expreiTed himfelf with elegance, that is, he 
 was not troubled v^^ith any embarraflment in in- 
 troducing himfelf to his admiring auditor ; and 
 in the explanation he condefcended to give, he 
 uttered, par hazard, the moft brilliant and novel 
 terms and methods of arranging fentences which 
 had been gathered from the fined fpeeches 
 in the very laft Seflion of Parliament, and the 
 mofl florid harangues at the bar, dafhed with an 
 occafional cant phrafe or exprelTion, picked up 
 God knows where. 
 
 Mifs Selina on her fide, Imagined that fhe 
 liftened to him with blended dignity and foftnefs; 
 that the majefty of confcious virtue was melio- 
 rated by the blufhes of modefty : that her mien 
 was fo engaging that It Invited love and admira- 
 tion, whilft it repelled every idea which was not 
 confonant with the mod profound and pure ref- 
 pe6l and veneration — in fliort, that fhe pofl^efled 
 every magnetic and repellent grace, which al- 
 y/zj% belong to heroines of the firft clafs. 
 
 Sha 
 
ROSEttA. 33 
 
 She was not indeed fo wholly occupied by 
 thefe refle(fi:ions as not to underftand, from 
 the avowal of her vifiter, that his name was Eft- 
 court, and a fudden fear ftruck her that all was 
 not right with Raymond ; but the apprehenfion 
 vaniftied with equal promptitude, amidft a train 
 of the moft feducing expedlations, which th^ 
 adulation of the gentleman produced. He told 
 her that her irrefiftible beauty, joined to the 
 charming generofity, fortitude, and good fenfe 
 her afpe£l denoted, perfeflly well announced 
 her to him. 
 
 <« My friend," added Mr. Eftcourt, « is well 
 juftified in having fo fuddcnly abandoned his for- 
 mer aflbciates for fuch fafcination : for my own 
 part, I find it already but too obtaining. But I 
 "will not commit myfelf, and incur your difplea- 
 fure, by laying my envy open to your obfervati- 
 on. I prefented myfelf here merely to inform 
 you that Raymond found himfelf indifpofed 
 foon after dinner, and I would not fuffer him to 
 walk home till he had diflipated his head-ach by 
 repofe : fo I ftole hither myfelf to adjuft any un- 
 eafmefs you might fufrerfrom his abfence." 
 
 During this harangue, Mifs Swinney gave the 
 rein to the moft animated and but ill-fupprefled 
 delight, which her conception of his meaning 
 created in her rom.antic mind : {lie had no ful- 
 piclon that flie was miftaken for Mrs. Raymond, 
 but imagined that the friend who had given up 
 all his former affbciates for fo much fafcination, 
 was fome fecret fwain who was perfedlly con- 
 tented to keep \\im^t\i inccgniioy and to feed his 
 moon-light love with walking round the houfe 
 fhe occupied, alone, at midnight, ftretching out 
 his arms towards her v/indow, and catcliing a 
 glimpfe of her f||^dow as flie approached it ; u 
 C 3 piecw- 
 
^4 ROSELLl. 
 
 piece 'of good fortune he might very probablf 
 often have enjoyed, as the gentle Selina always 
 chofe that hour to indulge her moft pleafing 
 reveries, in imitation of fome very illuftrious 
 patterns ; nor did flie fail to loofen her long 
 treffes, both thofe which had originally grown 
 upon her own head, and thofe which had grown 
 upon the heads of other people, and become 
 her's by purchafe. — With her loofe trefTes there- 
 fore, flowing over her (boulders, and a loofc 
 white robe flowing round her perfon, Mifs 
 Swinney was want to fix herfelf near her win- 
 dow, which fhe threw up to enjoy the cool 
 breeze ; and having forgot herfelf in the enthu- 
 fiafm of her ideas, would often ftdnd an hour, 
 with hands folded over her bofom, and her eyes 
 caft up, till at length, no form being feen to iflue 
 from behind any thicket, or glide from under 
 any plane-tree, fhe recovered her recolle(fl;ion, 
 and (hut her window, as other heroines do, 
 almod: perifhed with cold. 
 
 She was extremely eager to learn who this 
 gentle love-lorn (liepherd was; but to enquire 
 "would have been the height of indecorum, and 
 fhe fettled in the exultation of her triumph, that 
 he was not to be the fuccefsful fwain by half a 
 dozen at lead. Her imagination had already 
 carried her amidft cloud-capped hills covered 
 with lofty pines, and gorgeous palaces, where 
 amidft ranges of mafly pillars ftood dozens of 
 lamps, all of them on filver tripods, and each 
 fo difpofed as to caft a pi£lurefque light upon 
 fome -ftatue of exquifite workmanfhip. 
 
 The fimilarity of her own haftily imagined 
 adventures, to thofe of which (he had been read- 
 ing but a few minutes before, made her caft her 
 eyes upon the book that ftill remained in her 
 
 hand ; 
 
Rand ; and almoft unconfcious of what fhe did, 
 fhe drew from her pocket a card, and placed It 
 in the volume, to mark the page at which (lie 
 had been interrupted. Eftcourt remarked the 
 circumftance, and taking up the book, opened it 
 in a carelefs way, and read the ticket, which 
 contained her own name and addrefs. His 
 curiofity did not efcape the vigilance of the lady, 
 and {lie inftantly concluded that the fnfcinated 
 friend would profit by the difcovery, had not his 
 own diligent and eager enquiries already fore^ 
 flailed It. 
 
 Mr. Eftcourt in a few minutes departed, and 
 Selina, in a flutter of fpirits, reviewed all that 
 had pafled : her vifiter had mentioned his envy 
 of the unknown fwain, which at firft rather 
 puzzled her, but (he recollefted almoft inftantly 
 that he had himfelf almoft avowed his love, and 
 as this pafTion is invariably accompanied by jea- 
 loufy, it was quite natural that Mr. Eftcourt 
 fliould defpondj-and fufpedl a rival of fuperior 
 good fortune. 
 
 In fhort, the lady had now fallen Into fuch a 
 train of thinking, that it is impoflible to fay 
 where her furmifcs would have ended, had not 
 Mrs. Raymond's bell made her recollecl that 
 i'uch a perfon exifted. Aftiamed of having ne- 
 glected her fo long, (he flew up ftairs, and re- 
 plied to a half-grave, half-jefting rebuke from 
 the invalid, with the moft animated and entliii-. 
 fiaitic exprefTions of eternal friendfhip ; and wa^j 
 proceeding to inform her of the vifucr who 
 had unexpe(51;edly detained her below, when 
 Sophia's maid entered to announce the return 
 of her mafter, who almoft immediately followed 
 her into the room. 
 
 Mr- 
 
3<5 ROSELLAr 
 
 Mrs. Raymond, who had been very anxious 
 to fee him, was fhocked at his appearance ; for 
 his countenance was extremely flufhed, his eyes 
 heavy, and his gait unfteady : yet (lie had no 
 other fufpicion than that he had been prevailed 
 upon to circulate the bottle too freely at Mr» 
 Eftcourt's table. 
 
 After fome affeftionate and folieitous enqui- 
 ries into the fituation of Sophia, he declared 
 himfelf rather indifpofed, and withdrew to the 
 apartment prepared for him, making a fign as 
 he left that of his wife, that Mifs Swinney 
 fiiould follow him •, and as (he fully expelled 
 fome tender remembrance either from her lately 
 ' known, or her unknown admirer, flie eagerly 
 obeyed the intimation. 
 
 Before they had time to defcend the flairs^ 
 her patience was exhaufted, and (lie demanded 
 what embafly he was charged with. 
 
 " EmbafTy !'' repeated Raymond, « I can- 
 not underftand you j but I perceive that you^ 
 as well as Sophia, fuppofe me to be in a (late o£ 
 intoxication. You are miftaken ; buc I do not 
 wifli her to be undeceived at prefent, left her 
 confequent anxiety {hould procure a return of 
 fever. I was ill in the morning, but could not 
 refift the preffmg invitation of Eilcourt, who is/^ 
 he added vehemently, <^ the mofi generous and; 
 •lifinterefted of men ! fuch hearts as his the world 
 is far from abounding with. I endeavoured 
 while with him, to conceal my indifpofiticn ^ 
 but the effort was a vain one, and he inniled, 
 before we tranfacled the bufinefs for v/hich we 
 had met, that I fliould try to procure an hour's 
 repofe, which he well knew I had neither It-ifure 
 nor inclination to attempt laft night. — Believe 
 jViC; Sclina, inftead of having paffed the after- 
 * noon 
 
ROSELLA- ^ 
 
 Moon as you fufpe<Sl, I have fpent the lad four 
 hours in an agony of mind and body, fociety, in- 
 ftead of alleviating, would have increafed. Do 
 not mention this to Sophia \ continue your ge- 
 nerous attentions to her, I befeech you -, and 
 when the apothecary calls, let him ftep to me 
 when he has feen her." 
 
 Mifs Swinney aflented, and Raymond, quite 
 exhaufted, haftened to his chamber. 
 
 Sophia flill continuing in her error, was fa- 
 tisfied on hearing fome time afcer that he was ia 
 a found fleep — a report which he defired might 
 be made to her •, but in faft he was too ill to 
 quit his bed, and when the medical perfon faw 
 him, who attended Mrs. Raymond, he appeared 
 to think his indifpofition attended with confider- 
 able danger. The following morning juftified 
 his apprehenfions, and he defired that more 
 attendance might be called in. The patient 
 had loft blood on the preceding evening, and the 
 apothecary thought it neceflary that the operati- 
 on {hould be immediately repeated ; but the 
 efFeft was not fo fatisfatfbory as he had expected, 
 Mifs Sv/inney, completely frightened from 
 her heroifm, readily attended to the hint of ob- 
 taining the opinion of a Phyfician, which (lie 
 begged Mr. Aftell would procure : (he juft re- 
 tained recoUedion enough to defire the fer- 
 vants would agree with her in telling Mrs Ray- 
 mond that their mafler had been compelled to 
 hurry to Portfmouth before {lie av/oke, and had 
 defired her to be informed that bufinefs of the 
 utmoft importance would detain him, he feared, 
 feveral days. 
 
 She then flew to the chamber of poor Ray- 
 mond, both to fee that he was properly attend- 
 ed, and to induce him if poflible, to write a line 
 
 iu 
 
3^5 ROSELLA.' 
 
 in confirmation of the excufe (he had invented^, 
 to quiet Sophia's apprchenfions. She found 
 him however, raving in a ftrong delirium, in 
 which he had almoft overpowerd his fervant and 
 the apothecary, who had been obliged to call in 
 the man of the houfe to his aid. 
 
 Mifs Swinney beheld his outrageous ftruggles 
 with horror ; and fearing that the loud excla- 
 mations and threats of vengeance which accom* 
 panied them, would reach the ears of Sophia, 
 felt at once all the anxious mifery of her fitu?.- 
 tion, confcious as (he could not help feeling that 
 her adviee and perfuafions had dragged her 
 friend from the peaceable roof of her parents^ 
 and endangered the life of the unfortunate huf- 
 band. A man on horfeback had been difpatch- 
 ed to Cowes for a London Phyfician of emi- 
 nence who happened ta be there ; and as he 
 was not expelled for fome time, the terrified 
 Selina was obliged to quiet her impatience to 
 learn what his fiat would be, and endeavour to 
 compofe her countenance, to lull thefufpicions of 
 Mrs. Raymond, whilft fhe told the preconcerted 
 tale : and fo well had flie pradl:ifed the art of 
 throwing her features into every form caprice 
 had di(ftated, that (he fucceeded tolerably in the 
 effort. Sophia was far from being at eafe how- 
 ever, refpe<f\ing her hufband, v/hofe promifed 
 confeflion, whofe reluctance to fuffer her to 
 write to her mother, and lubfequent condufl, 
 tormented her recolledion, and rendered her 
 fufpicious. 
 
 At length the Phyfician arrived ; and Mifs 
 Swinney followed him into the chamber of poor 
 Raymond, with all the real tremor of fufpenfive 
 terror fhe had often aflumed on much lefs im- 
 portant occafions. His fenfe of the danger of 
 
 his 
 
R6SBLLA. 3^ 
 
 his patient even exceeded that of Mr. Aftell. 
 The diforder was a violent inflammatory fever ; 
 and fhort as the period was5.Selina learned that 
 the following day would moft probably deter- 
 mine the fate of this unhappy young man, whofe 
 wild unconfcious ejaculations accufed her of 
 having murdered him. The phyfician obferv- 
 ing her confternation, and having heard the ag- 
 gravating circumftance of Mrs. Raymond's in- 
 difpofition, advifed her, after a preliminary 
 apology for the freedom he was taking, to write 
 immediately to the natural friends of the young 
 couple that their prefence might lighten the 
 anxious talk which had fo unexpectedly fallen to 
 her, and that they might be fatisfied, if the crifis 
 Ihould be what he feared, that every advice and 
 attendance which their own folicitude would 
 have pointed out, had been procured for the 
 benefit of the patient. 
 
 The urgent gravity of the Doctor co-operated 
 with her own refie£lions to urge her compliance 
 with this advice, and (he immediately wrote to 
 Mr. Beauclerc enclofing the note in a letter to 
 her father, imploring his forgivenefs for herfelf, 
 and conjuring him to forward the lines to Mr. 
 Beauclerc, which flie left unfealed for his peru- 
 fal, fhould he not be in town. 
 
 The Phyfician took the charge of the packet, 
 which he confiderately promifed to fend inftant- 
 ly to Portfmouth, and to procure it to be dif- 
 patched by an exprefs the fame afternoon. He 
 would return, he faid, early the next morning, 
 to fee what further could be done for the invalid, 
 and having conferred with Mr. Aitell in private, 
 haftened away. 
 
 The apothecary at her earneft intercefTion, 
 remained with poor Raymond the whole night, 
 
 attended 
 
'4» ROSELLXJ 
 
 attended by both the fervants ; and as the cham« 
 ber of the patient was only feparated from that 
 of MIfs Swinney by a partition of deal, (he found 
 it impoffible to clofe her eyes, from his vehement 
 ravings. She eagerly liftened for coherence in 
 his fentences, but heard only the wildeft efFufi- 
 ons of delirium, in which real diftrefTes and real' 
 fubje£ls of accufation were fo blended with 
 imaginary horrors and injuries, that flie was 
 doubly fliocked to hear them : fortunately how- 
 ever, he appeared uncom.monly to dread the pre- 
 fence and reproaches of his unfortunate Sophia, 
 fo he called her, and on that account fcarcely 
 ever fufFered his voice to rife much above its 
 ufual pitch, fo that Mrs. Raymond could not 
 diftinguifh any found to alarm her. 
 
 At length towards the dawn his accents funk 
 into a murmur, and then wholly ceafed. Mifs 
 Swinney hoped that he hadi'allen into a flumber, 
 and found herfelf impelled by an irrefiflible 
 anxiety to difcover if her flattering expe<n:ations 
 were well founded, but hefitated entering his 
 room from the fear of difturbing him. She had 
 thrown herfelf upon the bed without undreffing ; 
 and after fome moments of irrefolution, on hear- 
 ing Mr. Aftell fpeaking to the fervants, fhe ven- 
 tured to fteal in. A few hours had changed 
 po^ Raymond almoft beyond belief: no he&ic 
 now flufhed his burning cheek, no treacherous 
 fire fparkled in his dHlempered eye ; but all waa 
 pale, ghaftly, and inanimate, fave a convulfive 
 fpafm that, at fhort intervals, diftorted his fea- 
 tures. 
 
 The apothecary looked very grave, and in an- 
 fwer to her enquiring motion, fhook his head.. 
 She wept from the compaffion fuch an objecTi: 
 f ould not fail to infpire.— She had beheld the 
 
 lame 
 
ROSELLA. 41 
 
 fame man but one ihort month back, elated 
 with youthy health and affluence — the envy o£ 
 fome, the admiration of others : flattered by the 
 high confideration of his equally thoughtlefs 
 companions, by the more fedulous and artful 
 adulation of thofe who (tudied to dafh hrm from 
 this height to fcorn and poverty, and finally by 
 the fuccefs of his concealed addrelTes to Mils 
 Beauclerc, which gratified at once his vanity, his 
 inclination, and his revenge upon her family, 
 who had harlhly rejected his more open preten- 
 lions. 
 
 Seduced by the force of pernicious examples, 
 by the fanction of a too pervading praiflice, and 
 by the infinuations of thofe who had perhaps 
 themfelves been the dupes to anterior villany, 
 he turned over his inheritance to gamblers, and 
 plunged into a vortex which engulphed his 
 probity, his humanity, his honor, peace, and 
 life. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 T'wo heroines taken doivnfrom their Jlilts, 
 
 XLARLY the next morning, the phyficlan^s 
 poft-chaife again flopped at the garden door, 
 from whence Mrs. Raymond could not be dif- 
 turbed by the found of the wheels. Mifs Swinney 
 learned from him, that her packet had by this 
 time reached the metropolis, and felt at once 
 relief and terror from the intelligence. When 
 he walked up ftairs to examine the fituation of 
 
 the 
 
42 ROSEtti. 
 
 the patient,' her anxiety overcame all attention 
 to form, and fhe accompanied him to the bedfidc 
 of poor Raymond, who was entirely infenfible, 
 and fhe faw that the convulfions were ilronger 
 and more frequent. The phyfician wrote, but 
 avowed that he was almoft hopelefs as to the 
 cfFedl of the prefcription, declaring that he had 
 fcarcely ever before witneiTed fo rapid a pro- 
 greflion of dangerous fymptoms. Selina (hud- 
 dered, and Mr. Aftell increafed her wretched- 
 nefs by faying, that he had been fent for to a 
 cafe of urgency, and hinting that he could no 
 longer wholly neglcdl his general btifinefs. He 
 told her that he muft leave the gentleman for a 
 few hours ; but he would fend his affitlant to 
 attend him in the interim, and undertook ip pro- 
 cure a nurfe to relieve Mrs. Raymond's maid^ 
 who would be obliged to attend her miftrefs in 
 the day. This was fcarcely arranged, and the 
 phyfician departed, when Sophia's bell announc- 
 ed that (he was more watchful than had been 
 expelled. As Mifs Swinney fometimes rofe 
 with the fun, becaufe heroines are always mati- 
 nal, fhe did not fear alarming her unhappy friend 
 by appearing dreffed at fo early an hour, and 
 anfwered the fummons inftead of the attendant, 
 whofe looks of fatigue, and countenance of ter-- 
 ror might have betrayed the mournful fecrets 
 
 After, a hafly falutation, Mrs. Raymond en* 
 quired if fhe had not heard the flep of her huf- 
 band about five minutes back, defcending the 
 ftairs. Mifs Swinney colored at this unexped:- 
 ed queftion, but almoft inftantly recolleding 
 herfclf, replied, that it muft have been William 
 v/hom her friend had heard, for fhe had icen 
 him defcend the ftaircafe, and open the garden 
 4qpv at the time mentioned, Sophia looked dif- 
 
 fatisfied 
 
no SELL A. 43 
 
 fatisfied with this explanation, and after a paufe, 
 cxprefled a ftrong inclination to rife. Mifs 
 Swinney was now fo much alarmed, that her 
 caution forfook her, and ihe oppofed the wifh 
 with an earneftnefs that confirmed poor Mrs« 
 Raymond's vague fufpicions. 
 
 «< Something dreadful has happened to Au- 
 guftus !" exclaimed (he ; "I will fee him evea 
 if you refufe me your aid — I will crawl to him 
 without afliftance !" and to execute this threat, 
 Cbe fuddenly threw herfelf on the floor, with 
 only a thin wrapping gown about her. 
 
 Mifs Swinney ftill more frightened,-rung the 
 bell with violence, and the maid appeared, with 
 a countenance burfting to difclofe what the pre- 
 fence of her miflrefs reftrained her from utter- 
 ing. The efforts of poor Sophia foon yielded 
 to the fuperior ftrength of her woman and Se- 
 lina, and (he was again placed on her bed, 
 almoft fainting with pain and anxious terror. 
 
 The attendant fancying that (he was infenfi- 
 ble, becaufe her eyes were clofed, exclaimed tQ 
 Mifs Swinney in a tone rendered louder than 
 ufual. by an hyfterical tremor — " Lord, Ma'am, 
 my poor mailer is going off in the vi'lenteft con- 
 vulfions I ever fee ! Oh Chrift ! here's my poor 
 dear miffefs too— there's death in her face !" 
 
 Sophia had indeed for a time ceafed to 
 breathe ; for the firll part of the. woman's 
 Speech had reached her ear, and the fudden in- 
 telligence had banifhed all fenfation of wretch- 
 cdnefs and even of exiftence. The affiftance of 
 Mifs Swinney and the maid were ineffectual ; 
 and when with difficulty they had recovered 
 her to life, they were again obliged to reftrain 
 by force her frantic efforts to fly to her dying 
 Auguftus. The refult pf the cootelt was a fuc- 
 
 c^ffioii 
 
44 HOSELLA. 
 
 ceflion of faintings, which left her unable any 
 further to exprefs her wifhes or intentions ; and 
 after a tedious interval, Selina ventured to leave 
 her unhappy friend, that (he might learn from 
 the medical afHftant, if fhe could ftill cherifh a 
 lingering hope of Raymond's recovery. 
 
 Mr. Aftell had again returned to him ; but 
 far from leflening her inquietude, he exprcfled 
 his apprehenfions that the patient could not pof- 
 fibly hold out till the friends fhe had written to, 
 arrived. This idea completed the aciifery of 
 her fituation : reflexions the mod haraffing 
 and unwelcome ruftied upon her : — but for her 
 infligations, Sophia would never have confented 
 to leave the houfe of indulgent parents, to marry 
 againft their advice and wifhes — but for her per- 
 fuafions, Raymond would now mofb probably 
 have been on his projected voyage to India, ia 
 good health, and with reafonable hopes of return- 
 ing to Europe, and feeing better days — but for 
 her, his wife would then have been flill under 
 the protection of a mother, who, whatever 
 might be her chara£leriftic foibles and follies, 
 had endeavoured to extend to her child a mo- 
 ther's cares, and of a father, who (hutting his 
 hand to all the world befide, forgot his avarice 
 to fee her happy. In (hort, Mifs Selina felt a 
 dreadful confcioufnefs that her influence over 
 her friend had been exerted to condudl; her to 
 mifery, perhaps equally with her hufband to an 
 untimelygrave; and thatthe refult of her extrava- 
 gant flights and pernicious advice had brought 
 forrow and anguifh upon the heads of thofe who 
 had weakly liftened to her, and remorfe, per- 
 haps opprobrium, upon herfelf. Stung with 
 fuch ideas, the young lady, ever hafty in form- 
 ing her refolutions, dropped upon her knees, 
 
 a«id 
 
HOSFXLA. 45 
 
 and took Heaven to witnefs a hafty vow to aban- 
 don her romantic opinions, and conform to 
 thofe of her parents, who could not as yet boaft 
 of the due obedience and fubjedlion of their 
 hopeful daughter. 
 
 The predidlions of Mr. Aftcll were juftified 
 by the event : poor Raymond expired in the 
 prefence of the phyfician, two hours before a 
 hack-chaife brought his father-in-law and Mr. 
 Swinney to the door ; and Mifs Selina took re- 
 fuge from the interview fhe had fufficient reafon 
 to dread, in the apartment of her widowed 
 friend, whom fhe found half drefled — a talk (he 
 had without afliflance refolutely undertaken, that 
 (he might learn the word her apprehenfions but 
 too well whifpered. But the extreme pain and 
 inconvenience of her lame foot had compelled 
 her to reft for a moment before (he could crawl 
 to the door, and in this interval, the entrance of 
 Mifs Swinney prevented the effort, 
 
 " Oh my dear creature !" exclaimed flie, 
 rufliing forward, ** I fhall die with fright and 
 alarm — your papa and mine are arrived — how 
 fliall I appear before them ?" 
 
 « My father !" repeated Mrs. Raymond in a 
 faint accent of furprife, and with increafed agi- 
 tation of fpirits. > 
 
 As (he was fpeaking, he entered the room, 
 prefenting a countenance in which compaflion 
 and diftrefs were ftrongly marked ; and folding 
 his daughter to his bofom, called her his dear 
 Sophy, his poor widowed girl. She ftarted at the 
 laft appellation, and after a fevere ftruggle with 
 her anguifli at thus having hef worft furmifes 
 confirmed, burft into a flood of tears that con- 
 (iderably relieved her ; and foothed by the ten- 
 dernefs of her father, her grief was more calm, 
 
 than 
 
4^ SOSELLA.' 
 
 than from her former violence of emotion might 
 have been expe6led. 
 
 She wifhed much to take a lad farewell of her 
 lucklefs Raymond, but the entreaties and repre- 
 fentations of Mr. Beauclerc prevailed over this 
 inclination, flrong as it was ; and at his earneft 
 interceffion, {he fuffered herfelf to be removed in 
 two days to a retired lodging at Hithe, to efcape 
 from the curious obfervation, which the almofl: 
 inevitable circulation of fome part of the ftory 
 produced. 
 
 Mr. Swinney remained at the cottage, to en- 
 fure proper refpe£l to the remains of the deceaf- 
 ed, and to arrange all pecuniary affairs. The 
 letters Raymond had written on the night pre- 
 ceding his duel with Major Hangon, had been 
 given to the care of Mifs Selina, with other pa- 
 pers apparently of fome confequence, taken 
 from his pocket by the attentive kindnefs of 
 Mr. Aftell, who could not avoid obferving that 
 they might have fallen into improper hands but 
 for this precaution. 
 
 Mr. Mordaunt was written to for inftru6tion& 
 concerning the interment of his late ward, 
 whofe father having refided near thirty years in 
 LIfbon, to attend to fome commercial concerns, 
 had loft all traces of the different branches 
 of his family, with whom he never cor- 
 refponded ; and having fent his only child 
 Auguftus to England, to receive his education, 
 and imbibe the principles and language of 
 his own countrymen, the young man found 
 himfeif at the death of his father, totally def- 
 tltute of family conne<^ions : a circumftancc 
 Mr. Mordaunt accounted for, by informing him 
 that the ncarelt relations of his deceafed parent 
 had emigrated to America. His mother, who 
 bad not furvived his birth, was a Portuguefc 
 
 orphan 
 
'^ ROSELLl. 47 
 
 orphan of confiderable beauty, but of an obfcurc 
 family, with whom the elder Mr. Raymond pre- 
 ferved no communication. Mr. Mordaunt there- 
 fore was the only perfon who appeared to take 
 any intereft in the fate of Auguftus ; and he had 
 difcharged his truft with an integrity and zeal 
 that procured him the diflike of the thoughtlcfs 
 young man, and occafioned an eftrangement be- 
 tween them when he became of age : yet this 
 upright man of the law heard of his deftiny 
 with unfeigned forrow, and prepared to perform 
 the laft duties of friendftilp, though that friend- 
 ihip had been chilled by neglecft, and repelled 
 by unkindnefs. He left his own affairs to the 
 management of his agents, and haftened to the 
 place where Raymond had breathed his laft. He 
 was buried in the ifland, and a modeft ftone 
 marked the name and years of the youth thus 
 fnatched from a world, in which his fate a few 
 months back had appeared fo enviable. 
 
 This mournful ceremony over, Mr. Mordaunt, 
 who had already received the letter which the 
 writer had meant to be a pofthumous one, was 
 affiiled by Mr. Swinney in adjufting the pecuni- 
 ary demands upon the young people. Oii ex- 
 amining the papers of the deceafed, a memoran- 
 dum was found, in a hand fcarcely legible, 
 which intimated that he had that day executed 
 a bond in favour of Mr. Eflcourt, for £ 9400 j 
 and as the nature of the debt was too well 
 guefled at, Mr. Mordaunt was highly exafpera- 
 ted with this pretended friend, for the confi- 
 derable (hare he appeared to have had in the 
 plunder and ruin of the imprudent Raymond. 
 His coadjutor, who knew that no fettlement 
 could have been made of the lady's fortune from 
 the privacy of the marriage, confulted whether 
 
 it 
 
4^ ro^ellaJ 
 
 it would not be advlfable to preferve it, if pofTi- 
 ble, a fecret, that fo confiderable a property 
 might not be wrefted from Mr. Beauclerc's fa- 
 mily, or to prevent any litigation and unpleafant 
 expofure of circumftances which would be bet- 
 ter buried in oblivion. 
 
 Mr. Mordaunt did not immediately reply to 
 this propofition, Vv'hi-ch he faid was of a very 
 delicate nature, and required much confiderati- 
 on J but every hope of putting it in praiftice had 
 nearly been fruftrated by the unlooked-for ap- 
 pearance of Mr. Eftcourt two days after the in- 
 terment of his dear friend, who demanding to 
 fee Mr. Swinney, addrefled him by his name, 
 and condoled, in the language of ceremonious 
 regret, for his recent lofs. 
 
 « I have had the honor of introducing my- 
 felf to your fair daughter, Sir," continued he ; 
 " and I was induced by her merit and amiable 
 qualities, to enfure poor Raymond the enjoy- 
 ment of his good fortune, by taking all his debts 
 of honour upon myfelf. They appeared indeed 
 to be to an alarming amount, but my humanity 
 overcame all prudential motives; and in return I 
 had this bond forced upon, me as a recognition 
 of the obligation, as he foreiaw perhaps, that I 
 was likely to become the facrifice of my friend- 
 fhip for him and hi^ lovely wife. Raymond's 
 death is an inexpreflible inconvenience to me, 
 for I am called upon to pay on his account, five 
 thoufand pounds more than I at this moment 
 pofTefs, and I have aiflually only a week allowed 
 me to raife the money in. — I am far from wifti- 
 ing at fuch a moment, to make any diftre fling 
 claim ; but I am urged by the unlucky predica- 
 ment in which I find myfelf, to make ufe of feme 
 intelligence which reached me by mere accident, 
 
 that 
 
R03EILA. 49 
 
 t"hat your daughter, Mr. Raymond's widow, i-i 
 polTeiTed of a very ample independent fortune, 
 and I fhould hope (he has too much refpccl: for 
 the memory of the deceafed, to fuffer " 
 
 Mr. Swinney interrupted him, and was on the 
 point of making feme v/arm reply, both to re- 
 prehend the honorable grumbler, and to undeceive 
 him, but Mr. Mordaurjt prevented him, and en- 
 treated that he would withdraw for a few mo- 
 ments — a requeit the fuppofed father-in-law 
 complied with. He then remonftrated with 
 Mr. Eftcourt upon the indelicacy of introducing 
 fuch a bufinefs in a moment fo dillrernng, and 
 promifed upon his word, that he would endea- 
 vour to enforce any legal claim he might have 
 upon the fortune of Mr. Swinney's daughter 
 when they met in tov/n : and in lefs than a 
 month, he added, he trufted the affair would be 
 fettled to the fatisfaO ion x^f every honed man. 
 
 The chara<fl:er of Mr. Mordaunt was well 
 known to the man of fafliion, in whofe family he 
 was eReemed for his equity, and the ahle and di- 
 ligent manner with which he tranfacfted all their 
 concerns in the line of his profeffion ; and Eft- 
 court of all men, lea ft wifhcd or expeded to en- 
 counter him at the prefent moment. He yielded 
 therefore very readily to his reprefentations, and 
 relying upon the promife given, withdrew ex- 
 tremely rejoiced that he had fo well begun a ne- 
 gociation, of which he felt, all bronzed as he 
 was, rachcr afliamed, and in truth, not without 
 much reafon : for not fatisfied with having 
 bought up the play-debts of poor R.iymond for 
 a mere fong, which he did on heniing that he 
 had privately married a City heirefs, he had taken 
 advantage of the indifpofiticn, the ccnfufion of 
 
 Vol. I. D mind 
 
5© ROSELLA. 
 
 mind, and half dlilracllon of the unfortunate 
 young man, and fcarlefs of premature detet^^lion, 
 had caufed the bond to be drawn up for nineteen 
 thoufand four hundred pounds, inftead of the 
 fum marked in Raymond's memorandum, which, 
 ill as he was, he had made on returning home, 
 that his generous and worthy friend might have 
 that additional teflimony fuperadded to the other;, 
 of the reality of hisclaim, fhould his indifpofi- 
 tion prove fatal, of which he felt a prefage. 
 
 In the evening Mr. Mordaunt pafTed over to 
 Hithe, where Mr. Beaucler<: was enabled to give 
 a better account of the health and fpirits of his 
 daughter than he had hoped to hear. He was 
 then informed of the chum made by Eilcourt, 
 and of the memorandum of his fcn-in-law, which 
 appeared to be ten thoufand pounds lefs than the 
 jiefarious bond he had feen ; and concluding 
 with the information of the miftake which had 
 arifen not unnaturally, as to the lady recently 
 ivldowed, he advifed Mr. Beauclerc to fuffer the 
 afFair-to reft until they met in town, when he 
 hoped to adjuft it properly. He then bade him 
 farewell, faying that he mud travel all night, as 
 his prefence was urgently required at home. 
 
 The avarice of Mr Beauclerc was alarmed at 
 the intelligence he had received, and he very 
 much approved the plan of Selina's father, to 
 profit by the millake which had gone abroad^ 
 and preferve with the fortune of his own daugh- 
 ter, the fecret of her connection with poor Ray- 
 mond. He immediately communicated hiswifhe^, 
 and the circumilance which had given rife to 
 them, to Sophia, lelt (lie fliould unadvifedly be- 
 tray herfelF; but it had a very diflerent efFecl 
 upon her than he had intended, for Ihe infilled 
 that the memory of her beloved Auguftusflioukl 
 
 be 
 
R05ELLA. 5^ 
 
 be preferved, free from blemiih, and therefore 
 {he declared that the debt lliould be difcharged, 
 as far at leaft as her fortune could liquidate it. 
 
 Mifs Swinney was alarmed at the indication 
 of fuch a meafure, as (he dreaded the effeft it 
 might have on the mind of Mr. Beauclerc, whofe 
 good offices, (lie learned, had been very requi- 
 fite to induce her father to receive her again into 
 his houfe and favour. She now wifhed the ini- 
 tiatory adventures of her friend to terminate as 
 fmoothly as pofhble -, that her fliare in promot- 
 ing them might not be too prominent in the re- 
 collection of all thofe who felt themfclves 
 aggrieved by it. Since the difcovery of poor 
 Raymond's defperate affairs, (he had fecretly 
 loaded his memory with the charges of felfifh- 
 nefs and duplicity, entirely forgetting that he 
 meant to have acted differently, had not her offi- 
 cious and never-fleeping zeal at once forwarded 
 hisdeftiny, and the mifery of his wife. 
 
 Sophia warmly urged her father to write to 
 Eftcourt, and undeceive him ; and Mifs Swinney 
 to avert a florm, fuddenly reforted to the letter 
 of Raymond, the only one of thofe found in his 
 pocket-book, which had not been delivered ac- 
 cording to the addrefs, in the hope that its con- 
 tents would furniih argument in favour of the 
 opinion of Mr. Beauclerc i an expectation 
 founded on the earnell and repeated advice of 
 Auguftus to his wife, to preferve their marriage 
 a fecret, if poflible, from the world. This letter 
 had been hitherto detained from her, in the fear 
 that her affliction would be increafed by reading 
 his podhumous adieu ; and her father no-vv con- 
 fented that it (liould be produced, in the idea of 
 finding fome clue to difcover the evident villany 
 of his fuppofed friend. 
 
 D 2 Mrs. Raymond 
 
 UUWERSlTf OF \a\' 
 
.^2 RDSELLA. 
 
 Mrs. Raymond received It with much emo 
 tion, and having retired to read it, leftMifs Swin- 
 pey in a pitiable Itate of apprehenlion and curio- 
 fity. It uas two long hours ere this agitation 
 was quieted, for folong (he CufFered poor Sophia 
 .to remain unmoleiled in her own apartment.; 
 and then, unable to endure the torture of fur^ 
 ther fufpenfe, flie tapped at the door for admit- 
 tance. Mrs. Raymond opened it after an in^ 
 terval of a few fcconds, and her eyes gave evi- 
 dence of the manner in which thofe two houTiS 
 had been pafled by her. Thofe of the gentle 
 Selina betrayed fo pointedly the eager with fhe 
 experienced to learn the parting fentiments and 
 injunctions of Aiiguflus, that Mrs. Raymond 
 could not fail to undevftand them ; but being 
 .defirous of paying the compliment of a firit com- 
 inunicatlon to her father, Ihe begged Mrfs Swin- 
 ney to take the letter to him, and to excufc hef 
 appearance at the dinner-table. 
 
 Whether the folds of the epiflle were conve- 
 niently pliant in the hands of the ambaffadrefs, 
 Mil's Selina alone could difclofe ; flie entered 
 the fitting-room however, in which (he had left 
 Mr. Beauclerc, with a countenance of exultation., 
 and poflibly from a prophetic infpiration, in- 
 formed him that her dear friend's overftrained 
 notions of probity would nov/ be happily com- 
 bated by the dying requeft of her hufband, 
 which no doubt would have a proper weight. 
 
 Mifs Swinney had not gueiT.d wrong, for poor 
 Raymond having written the letter before he 
 went forth to encounter the vengeance of Majar 
 Hangon, had (trongly prohibited Sophia from 
 publilhing their connexion. 
 
 Mr. Beauclerc was fo much delighted -wifh t! c 
 profpedt of retaining his daughter's fortune, that 
 
 he 
 
ROSEL^A. 53 
 
 he overlooked two or three hints which the 
 p^ofthunious letter contained, to the prejudice cf 
 Mifs Swinney's prudence, and aflured her with 
 renewed energy, that he would fettle her re-ad° 
 miihon into the houfe of her father, to her fatis»' 
 faction. 
 
 In a week Sophia was able to travel, and Mr. 
 Beauclerc conducted her immediately to a fum- 
 mer villa he had purchafed about a year back at" 
 her requcft, between Teddington and Hampton- 
 wick, where her mother was waiting to receive 
 und pardon lier -, and Mifs Swin-ney, at her ear- 
 nell entreaty, was accompanied to town by Mr. 
 Beauclerc himfelf: yet whatever influence his 
 fuperior fortune and confequence might give him' 
 with her family, the fair Selina could only obtain 
 the entire forgivenefs of her juilly offended 
 mother, by canfentingtoefpoufe a fuitor (he had 
 hitherto rejefted with diftiain, becaufe he was 
 an odious middle aged man, of a plain perfon, 
 and moderate income depending upon his in- 
 duftry, and becaufe he was an attorney, and 
 lived in Chancery-Lane. All thefe circum- 
 ilances, fo (hocking to her refined ideas, would 
 flill have been irremediable bars to her obedi- 
 ence, had fhe not fortunately recolle<fted her 
 hafly vow to conform to the future wifhes and 
 injuncftions of papa and mama. This timely re- 
 membrance immediately altered her mode of 
 condu£l •, (he fignified her fubmiflive refignation, 
 and decked in all the fubduing paraphernalia of 
 pcnfive woe, afTumed a downcalt look, and was- 
 the gentle vidimto tyrannic commands. 
 
 In three weeks (lie became Mrs. Ellinger, and 
 *j*as rather confoled on the occafion, when (he 
 refleOed that her new name was much prefera- 
 ble to the former, which had too often wounded 
 
 her 
 
54 KOSELLA. 
 
 her ears from its common and vulgar found* 
 xSut alas ! the abode of the hufband, far from 
 being decorated with elegance to receive the 
 bride, exhibited in the dingy wainfcoted apart- 
 ment the mortified Selina chofe to call her draw- 
 ing-room, a fet of old-falhioned, worn-out, horfe- 
 hair, mahogany chairs, and an antique black 
 efcrutoire, with red tape fticking out at the loofe 
 hinges, to denote the profeihon of its owner. 
 8he confidered however, that it would not be 
 decorous to begin an immediate innovation, and 
 confoled herfelf with writing a narrative of her 
 vexati. ns and diftrefies to her widowed friend, 
 who had not yet vifited the metropolis, but re- 
 rijained with her mother at Avelines, which was 
 the name of their houfe. 
 
 Mr. Beauclerc had left them, to confult IMr. 
 Mordaimt in town upon the means of evading 
 the payment of the bond in the pofTefiion of 
 Eilcourt : but though the man of law was un- 
 willing that he fliould fucceed in obtaining fo 
 condderable a fum as muft be given up when 
 Mrs. Raymond became of age, he was delicate 
 as to the method which might be taken to Vv'ith- 
 hold it. He rather wilhed that an open difcuf- 
 iion fhould take place, of the circumitances re- 
 lative to the bufmefs, and he had then little 
 doubt, he faid, but that the family of Mr. Eft- 
 court, who were people of ftritfl honor and pro- 
 bity, would interfere to accommodate the affair, 
 and bring the debt within the limits of reafon 
 and probability ; that is, that the young man 
 fliould be reimburfed what fums he could prove 
 to have paid for the deceafed, no matter on what 
 pretence, for he had reafon to fuppofe the 
 amount would not be coniiderable ; and thus any 
 unpleafant public difcufBon or accufation relating 
 
 to 
 
ROSELLA. 55 
 
 fo a charafler and condu£l which humanity^ 
 Ihould now be filent upon, would be iivoided 5 
 and what was yet more important, Mrs. Ray- 
 mond might then reje£b the ridiculous plan of a 
 niyfterious concealment, which would almoft in- 
 fallibly blight her ehara£ler after the decided 
 Itep (he had taken. 
 
 Mr. Beauclerc llfbened to this propofition 
 without any inclination to put it in practice ; for 
 he fufpe<5ted that it would occafion him to dif- 
 burfe more money than he was willing to pare 
 with, and any chicanery and concealment was 
 to him much preferable, if it promifed to be the 
 means of faving even a few hundred pounds. In 
 proportion as his daughter recovered her health, 
 his tendernefs gave place to the ruling pafTion, 
 and he feerctly execrated and fretted at the fum 
 this curfed freak of Sophy had already, and was 
 ftill likely to cofl him. 
 
 Before the affair was in the lead fettled, Mr. 
 Mordaunt was unexpe6tedly compelled to leave 
 town ; and in his abfence, as Eftcourt did not 
 wifh for his interference, he called at the houfs 
 of Mr. Swinney, and again prefented his bond, 
 with a hint that, in confideration of immediate 
 payment, he would not infift upon the entire 
 fum ftated in it. In this emergency Mr. Ellin- 
 ger was applied to, to negoclate the bullnefs, 
 who, with fome management of incident, con- 
 trived to get the bond in his poffeffion upon the 
 payment of eight hundred pounds, v/hich was 
 Hated with truth to be the whole of IMifs Sv/in- 
 ney's fortune — a faft Mr. Eltcourt was too well 
 afiured of, as he had only the day before examined 
 a will in Doflors Commons, which bequeathed 
 to Sarah Swinney (for alas ' Selina was merely 
 an embellifhment) eight hundred pounds, to be 
 
 given 
 
50 RO-SELLA. 
 
 given into her own pofTefBon at the age of twenty 
 and one years, as a mark of the regard and af- 
 fe<f^ion of her aunt, Dorothy Swinney, of Bar- 
 bican. And though this fum ccnfiderabl)? ex- 
 ceeded what Mr. Edcourt had parted with on 
 fpeculation, yet he was fo miich enraged with 
 Raymond's London valet, at a difcovery fo httle 
 tallying with his officious information, that he 
 difcharged him roughly from his own fervice^ 
 into whi^ch he had taken him, not only to re- 
 ward this intelligence,., but in confideration of 
 many ufeful hints he had previoufty favored him 
 M'ith. But his anger and difappointment were 
 not alone excited, by the unexpecled failure of 
 this tefource ; for a decided torrent of mifchance 
 overtaking him at once,, and the fpotted cubic 
 gods who had hitherto been propitious, becom- 
 ing, invariably adverfe to their votary, the houfe 
 and grounds in the Ifle of "Wight were parted 
 with in the fame ftyle of difpatch they were 
 purchafed in, and the bond given up for the fum 
 fpecified in the will of Mrs. Dorothy Swinney, 
 of Barbican i Mr. Beauclerc eagerly produced 
 the money ; Mr. EJling.er, as attorney for the 
 ■young lady,, very gravely paid it,,, and both par- 
 lies feparated, tolerably well fatisfied that thg 
 individual efforts of each to impofe upon the 
 credulity of the other, had, not entirely failed. 
 
 7'his important affair fettled, Mr. Beauclera 
 returned to Avelines, which he found both his 
 wife and daughter (lill unwilling to quit, that 
 tney might avoid tlie fneering cnquiriev, and the 
 half'pointed impertinence of the circle in which, 
 tliey had been accuflomed to move in London. 
 At Avelines, Soplila,. had leifure for rcflecftion,. 
 and the prefent tone of her mind did not allow, 
 her to repel thofe whicL her fituation gave rife 
 
 to- 
 
RO'SELIA. Sf 
 
 tb : in compliance with the lafl requefl of he^ 
 regretted Raymond, which alone could have in- 
 fluenced her, fhe had re-aflumed her father's' 
 name, and locked up her wedding-ring, with the 
 pidlure of herhufband, and a few lighter memo- 
 rials of his attachment. The natural vivacity of 
 her charader feemed to have funk under the dif- 
 appointment of her firft hapes, and fhe appeared 
 to have no further wifh, than to pafs the re- 
 mainder of her life in ner j^refent quiet abode. 
 
 The fair Selina, on the contrary, was almoil' 
 in defpair at the humiliating infipidity of her ex- 
 iftence : herhafband, far from being refined by 
 his alliance with her, feem.ed to have acquired a 
 double portion of impenetrable ftupidity, and 
 her utmoft eloquence could not banilh the old 
 efcrutoire from her drawing-room, nor could^ 
 {he prevail fo far as to procure an exchange of 
 the deteflable clumfy mahogany chairs for mo- 
 dern faut€iiils. As for Chtlfea hangings, pier 
 glaffes, girandoles, Rumford ftoves, I.ucas's 
 fcreens, turtlefhell work tables, and canopied 
 fofas, they were entirely unattainable, to the 
 utterannihilation of her refinement •, Mr. Ellin- - 
 ger too, talked very ferioufly of wearing a clofe ' 
 curled black bob. Selina almoft funk under 
 fuch an accumulation of misfortunes, and waff • 
 only recalled to a pleafing confcioufnefs of deli- ■ 
 Gate exiftence by her correfpondence with her 
 deareft and moil haplefs friend, the myfterious- 
 widow. 
 
 I>3 CHAP, 
 
S3 KOSELUi. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Heroic hopes revived by adventures in perfpeElive, 
 
 X ATE had not, however, dealt quite fo hardly 
 by Mrs. Ellinger, as flie had found reafon to fear ^ 
 for as Ihe was on the point of givhig up tlie moft 
 glimmering profpedl of future fentimental and 
 elegant diiirefs, ihe received a prefiing entreaty 
 from Sophia, that flie would fly to Avelines en 
 an afFair of the mod ferious import. Her huf- 
 band, who now tranfa<51:ed a confulerable portion 
 of bufinefs for Mr. Beuuclerc, did not think 
 proper tooppofe the fummons, which was fantli- 
 oned by Sophia's mother, and Mrs. Ellinger 
 obeyed it with alacrity. 
 
 At Avelines (he learned a fecret, which Mrs. 
 Beauclerc had hitherto defired her daughter to 
 conceal from every one, that no whifpered ru- 
 mour might fleal abroad, and in the hope per- 
 haps that accident might prevent ihe neceihty of 
 bringing it in any degree to light : in fhcrt, the 
 gentle Seiina found that her widowed friend was 
 on the point of becoming a mother. This de- 
 lightful intelligence fet every heroic faculty in 
 motion. — What was to be done ? — was flie to 
 perfuade Mr. Ellinger to fuffer her to adopt the 
 dear baby, and bring it in due feafon into the 
 family as her own t — Was fhe, as her own time 
 of confinement approached, to withdraw, and 
 
 produce 
 
RCSELLA. 59 
 
 produce herfelf again to the world with twins ? 
 Whatever was to be done, fte would do ; (he 
 only entreated that (he might be allowed an in- 
 terelt in the dear lovely infant, and that fhe 
 might likewife be permitted to give it a name, 
 with the approbation of her am.iable Sophia, 
 who could not return an immediate alTent to the 
 propofition, becaufc (lie was not at prefent at the 
 conference, left it might too much agitate her 
 fpirits. 
 
 Mr. Beauclerc geni-ly checked her flight of 
 fancy by reminding her, that whatever (he 
 obligingly undertook to do, in order to accom-* 
 modate to the peculiar fituation of his daugliter^^ 
 muil receive the entire iipprcbatlon of Mr. El- 
 linger, without which he could not form any 
 plan ; and as he was now fatisfied of her readi- 
 nefb 10 fcrve Sophia, he would write to her huf- 
 band to require his pre fence. 
 
 The ardor of poor Selina was ratlier diml- 
 iiilhcd by this rem.embrance,-for her caro Jpofo 
 }]ad the brutal quality of havinc: opinions of his 
 own, and of cljoofmg to abide by them -in defi- 
 ance of entreaty, perfuafion, or argument. His 
 arrival contirmtd the fears which had fucceeded 
 to her heroifm \ for he pofitively refufed to re- 
 eeivc as a child of his own, the ofF-^pring of ano- 
 ther, which he faid, he confidered to be an un- 
 JLidifiable impoiition upon the world in general, 
 and a more iinpnrdonable breach of faith to 
 every individual of his own family. Nor was 
 lie infincere in his proteftations ; though the 
 craft with wliich he had more than tacitly de- 
 ceived Mr. Eltcourt, induced Sophia's father to 
 think otherwife. i5ut thr.t tranfa(^ion' was 
 laerely in the courfc of buGnefs, and Mr. EI- 
 ilnger had witnefled vtiicrs of a liuefomuch more 
 
 inclining: 
 
6'9 ROSELLA, 
 
 inclining to knavery, that his reiflitude had not 
 once revolted from it ; but the circumftance in - 
 difcuflion vi'as vi-holly novel to him, and ciiftom 
 had never fettled this fj ecies of deceit eafily upon 
 his confcience. The only concefTion that could 
 be obtained, was that at the expiration of three 
 years after its birth, the child, whether male or 
 female, fliould be received into his houfe as an 
 orphan ward — but with this provifo, that a fum 
 of money (hould be fettled upon it, fufficient 
 for the purpofes of decently educating it and 
 fettling it in the world ; as a never-failing re- 
 fource, fhould any accident or accidents com- 
 bine to leave it wholly upon his hands. 
 
 Mr. Beauclerc was compelled to acquiefce in'; 
 this arrangement, for Sophia refufed to part with 
 her child upon any other terms than that MrSo , 
 Ellinger fliould be allowed to give it thofe at- 
 tentions it was denied to her to beftow, and that' 
 jt might be fo placed that flie herfelf could fre- - 
 quently fee it. 
 
 In a few weeks after, flie brought into the - 
 world ^ girl,, having been previoufly removed to 
 »n obfcure village at a confiderable diftance from- 
 town, where fhe afiumed the name of Montrefor^. 
 which, from its fignification, fhe had determin- 
 ed her little orphan fhould be called, fmce flie 
 could not give her the, family appellation to 
 which fl-.e had a natural right. Every circum- 
 ftance was attended to, that could fecure the fe- 
 crecy required, and Sophia returned to Avelines 
 fix weeks after her accouchement, having pre* 
 viouily had her baby conveyed to Mrs. EDinger's 
 care, who placed. it to nurfe, with her approba- 
 tion, at a neat little dwelling at Kilburn, on the, 
 ldg\Yare road ; and. Mr. "Beauclerc confented 
 
 that. 
 
KOSELLA. dl 
 
 diat his family fiiOuld return to London at his 
 daughter's earnefl entreaty, that (he might b& 
 within a walk of Selina*s little charge. 
 
 The child wai baptized Rofella, for fo MrSi 
 Ellinger- had predetermined, and it was not 
 judged prudent to oppofe her; the mother 
 merely (lipulated that Augufta (hould be added, 
 in commemoration of the unfortunate Raymond. 
 To remove the objection Mr. Eliinger had raifed, 
 Sophia, who was now of age, placed fifieeii 
 hundred pounds in- the funds, in the name of 
 Rofella Augufta Montrefor — a fum fhe had no 
 inclination to raife the difpleafure of her father 
 by increaling, as (he was firmly refolved never, 
 more to m.arryj and had privately executed a 
 will, by which (he conftituted Rofella the fole 
 heirefs of her property, with the exception of a 
 legacy^ of five hundred pounds, to her friend 
 Selina. 
 
 According to the tenor of the agreement, at 
 the end of three years the child was taken into 
 thehoufeof Mr. Ellinger, as his orphan ward, 
 very much to the fatisfa(flion of his wife, who 
 appeared infinitely more fond of little Mifs Mon- 
 trefor than of a fon and daughter Oie had pre- 
 fented her hufband fince their marriage, v.hich 
 was generally attributed to the fuperior beauty 
 of Rofella, whofe opening graces (truck every 
 eye, 
 
 In this Interirrr Mifs Beauclerc had arnufed 
 the heavy hours in viCting, this beloved child, in 
 making purchafes for her, and working for herj 
 and the whole time which was not thus em- 
 ployed, or in attending to the increafing infirmi- 
 ties of her mother, , was paiTed in reading the 
 novels of the day, a practice which, was too 
 much confirmed into a habit before her mar- 
 riage 
 
62 ROSELLA. 
 
 riage, not to be renewed when retirement and 
 leifurc invited her to purfue it. 
 
 Rofelhi was now occafionally taken to Ave- 
 lines, and inrenfibiy lier vifits were extended 
 every fucceflive time flie quitted Mr. ElJingcr's 
 dingy looking maniion, from .days to weeks, 
 and from weeks to months. The hundred 
 tongues of rumour had long Cmce been telling 
 each a different tale, at the fudden difnppear- 
 ance of Mifs Beauclerc from the houfe of her 
 "father — her very quiet return to- Avelines, her 
 feclufion, and the fucceeding transformation of 
 a fafhionable lively girl, to a dull moping young 
 woman: confequently a hundred different fea- 
 fons were given for all this, and it was «Imort 
 impoflible but amongft them the true one ibould 
 efeape. 
 
 Fortunately for Mr. Eftcourt, he had not the 
 mortification of learning that he had been duped ; 
 for the extren.e diforder of h s affairs had com- 
 pelled him to accept the charge of fecretary to 
 an embsfTy, and at his return IMifs Beauclerc 
 was no longer talked of, except in the narrcsv 
 circle of vifiting acquaintance her m^other Hill 
 kept up, where indeed the continual appearance 
 of Rofeila gave birth to niuch epigrammatic 
 fcandal. . : . 
 
 This child of fentiment, as Mrs. ElllAger 
 cbofe to call her, difcovered great afFeclion for 
 her .unacknowledged mother, which v^^as a very 
 natural confequence of the perpetual agrements 
 (lie was the means of procuring her, and the un- 
 limited indulgence by which a fond and admir- 
 ing parent gratifies her own feelings, ' and coh- 
 ciliatesthe love of her offspring. But Mrs. Ellin- 
 ger Imputed the circumftance to the myfterlous 
 workings of Nature, and Sophia was highly flat- 
 tered 
 
R03ELLA. 6^ 
 
 tered by the attachment of her daughter, whofe 
 return to the houfe of her guardian, after a long 
 vifit at Avelines, was at length attended almoft 
 invariably by paffionate regrets and fits of cty- 
 ing, which after a fulTicient repetition, began to 
 ruffle the temper of the gentle Mrs. Ellinger, and 
 induce her to fufpecl that her endearing carcfl- 
 cs, and enthufiailic attachment did not entirely 
 compenfate to her young charge for the morofe 
 formality of her hufoand, the teafing jealoufy 
 of her fon and daughter, and the dreary gloom 
 of their habitation, which was indeed far from 
 boalling that air rianie that Marmontel recom- 
 mends to furrounding objecl:s, in order to form 
 an infant mind to clieeriulnefs and gaiety. 
 
 This fuppcfitlon recurring too often, piqued 
 the vanity of the good lady, and weakened licr 
 violent regard for Rofella, who had foon little 
 more to recomrrend her to the romantic Selina 
 than her features and figure, which {he predict- 
 ed would be enchanting, and likewife the fecret 
 of her birth, which fhe hoped and trufted, would 
 lead to many interefting adventures. As her 
 fondnefs for the child had been rather incon- 
 venient to Mifs Beauclerc, by fometimes depriv- 
 ing her too long of her little Rofella, the effecl 
 of her growing coldnefs was highly gratifying 
 both to mother and daughter ; ajid by the time 
 Mifs Montrefor had palled her thirteenth year, 
 fhe regularly fpent ten months out of the twelve 
 either at the houfe of P»Ir. Beauclerc in town, or 
 at Avelines. 
 
 Her mother fpared no cxpence in procuring 
 her the ufual acquirements of her fex, and often 
 laid afide a molt interelling volume, to repeat 
 with her the lefTons of her mailers. Mr. Beau- 
 clerc fretted and renionltrated at an expendi- 
 ture 
 
^4 rosullaj 
 
 ture he thought unneceflliry : but as the incomt?' 
 of Sophia's fortune was at her own difpofal, (lie- 
 entreated him to allow her the only fatisfacftion' 
 flie could derive from it j and he ufually gave 
 up his argument after a trifling cavil, except 
 M^ien he recolledled that his daughter had, in 
 her twenty-fixth year, declined the alliance of a 
 family of diftinction for the fake of Rofella — 
 the child of a man not worth a groat. He con- 
 defcended however, to be amufed with her little 
 failles and girlifh frolics when the bufmefs of th& 
 day was over j and ISIrs. Beauclerc, who bady 
 (i nee her daughter's feclufion, retired on her part 
 from " cards and fcandal," fometimes deigned to 
 employ this difowned grandchild in reading Til- 
 lotfon's Sermons to her, with now and then a ■ 
 variation of Young's Night Thoughts, and th& 
 Whole Duty of Man : fo that the lofs of Rofel- - 
 la's fociety was much regretted by each of the 
 trio at Avelines, when decorum obliged them to* 
 fend her for a week or two to Mrs. Ellinger. 
 
 This lady,,-^ without lofmg the idea of being a ■ 
 principal adlrefs in the forefeen adventures of 
 the charming orphan, was laboring to render 
 her daughter Livia a fweet intereiting child of 
 exquifite fenfibility and promifmg lovelinefs ; 
 and her fon (he hoped to behold in a few years, 
 a mcfl graceful and manly youth, intelligence 
 beaming from his fine eyes, and tender fondnefs 
 exhibited for dear mama in every a£lion, whilft 
 exceflive love fhould be conveyed in every 
 glance to the enchanting Rofella Montrefor* 
 Unluckily however, Mifs was unconquerably 
 froward, obftinate, pert, hard-featured, and 
 ricketty ; circumftances very eafily - accounted 
 for, from her too perfect refemblance to papa, 
 and from her having beeo. nurfed by an idlefer- 
 
 vant 
 
RQS£LLA* 6^ 
 
 vant girl in the atmofphcre of Chancery-Lane^ 
 with the relievo of an airing into Holborn every 
 day, that Betty might meet her fweet- heart,, and 
 bring home vegetables for cook j and in thefe 
 excurfions Mifs Livia was ftuck upon a green- 
 fiall, to gnaw 2 bit of turnip, vvhiifl: the lovers 
 coquetted at their leifure. Her temper, which 
 v.'ould have been four and refolute, like tliat of 
 Mr. Ellinger, hau (lie been of the fame age and 
 fex, was improved by frequent reproofs and (laps 
 on the face for being idle, vain, and untoward 
 like her foolifh m.other •, and on; the-otlier hand, 
 {lie was often deprived of hver playthings, cakes, 
 and finery for frowning, pouting, and fnapping 
 like her unfupportable father ; whilft the fer- 
 vants carefied and apphuded her for taking oiF 
 maftcr and mifiefs when they fcolded and quar- 
 relled togither, " jeft asnatral as if 'twas thenv 
 ^emfelves.'^ 
 
 The young gentleman, her brother, was re=^ 
 markable only for a mofl oafifh flupidity, and a 
 difguftlng aiTortment of features ; and this 
 engaging pair were the aiTociates of Rofelia's 
 younger days, w^hofe patience and ingenuity 
 had often been exercifed in preferving herfelf 
 from the efFecl:s of Mifs ElJin^er's diflike and 
 envy, and in refcuing poor William from her 
 fudden fits of wrath arid indignation. When 
 with thern, her own wifhes and inclinations had 
 been invariably facrificed to an ardent defire of 
 keeping the peace,, any breach of which, on ar- 
 riving at the knowledge of Mr. Ellinger, was 
 followed, by a formal complaint to her good 
 friend Mifs Beauclerc, and the nex^t vifit was 
 unhappily abridged. But this frequent exertion 
 of forbearance, and the difappointments which 
 fcmetimes awaited her, prevented Rofella from 
 
 degenerating. 
 
66 ROSELLA. 
 
 degenerating Into a fpoiled child ; and as {he 
 met with indulgence only from one quarter, and 
 cither conftraint or vexations from every other, 
 fhe foon learned to appreciate properly the un- 
 abated kindnefs of her mother, and to repay it 
 with gratitude and afiecTtion inftead of caprici- 
 ous exa(fl:ions and peevilli whims. 
 
 A fubjeit of contention had however lately 
 arifen from the envious petulancy of Mifs Ellin- 
 ger, which put to fiight all thephilofopnical endu- 
 rance of Rofella: it was occafioned by the ap- 
 pearance of Mr. Mordaunt, who fometimes 
 called in Chancery-Lane to fee her ; for he had" 
 much disapproved the condu£l of Mr. Beauclerc,. 
 and thouglit the child, thus- difowned and cafL 
 from the bofom of the family wich ought to 
 have cherifhed her, moft unjultly dealt by, and 
 a coolnefs of intercourfe had taken place be- 
 tween him and the inhabitants of Avelines : but 
 to the little Montrefor he had transferred all the 
 regard he formerly felt for her father, fuper-- 
 added to a jealous fort of compaffion for her 
 wrongs. 
 
 Rofella's little tormenter,-feized with avidity 
 -upon an opportunity to give her pain, by fpeak- 
 ing with childifh, but outrageous difrefpecl of 
 Mr. Mordaunt, whofe paternal folicitude had 
 won the heart of her graetful companion, and 
 (lie could not then forbear retorting Mifs Livia's 
 farcafms with uncommon warmth j (he even de- 
 fended with eagernefs the cut of her old friend's 
 (hoes and coat,, and the form of his hat and wig, 
 all of which were in turn the Source of animad- 
 verfion and contempt. 
 
 The increafing countenance and favor of Mifs 
 Beauclerc at length withdrew her from a fcene 
 file abhorred 5 and at the age of fixtcen, Rofel- 
 
 la 
 
E03ELLA. (57 
 
 la confidered Avelines as her home, Mr. Beau- 
 clerc's houfe in town as a convenient refidence 
 to receive the inltructions of her mafters, and 
 the habitation of JMr. Ellingsr a difagreeable 
 place, where form obliged her fometimes to 
 appear, and where fhe was to purchafe a fhort- 
 lived peace by repeated prefents, which the un- 
 bounded liberality of her kind friend enabled 
 her to make. 
 
 In proportion as Sophia and her mother forgot 
 the gay circle they had fo abruptly quitted, they 
 became enamoured of their peaceful villa, and 
 Avelines was now the date of all Mifs Beau- 
 clerc's letters to Mrs. Eilinger, who was de- 
 lighted that her imagination at leait might wan- 
 der in the fafcinating regions of romance, 
 though her perfon was confined to the horrid 
 purlieus of Chancery-Lane : to the myfterious 
 widow flie conltantly remitted three times a 
 week, a long (heet of paper filled with chimeri- 
 cal expecfbations, fupernatural fancies, and wild 
 fuppofitions concerning the future fate of Ro- 
 fella, which, if any reafonable mother had be- 
 lieved, they mufl have driven her to defperation : 
 but alas I Sophia had read of caftles, banditti, 
 invinble mufic, rugged mountains, and murder- 
 ous daggers, and indulged her fancy in giving 
 the features of Rofella to all her airy heroines, 
 had condu(fled her in their perfons, through 
 fuch liorrid adventures, had fo often (ten a 
 fword at her bread, a blunderbufs at her temples, 
 and a terrific vifion appalling her lenfes, that fhe 
 thought little of fuch inevitable incidents, as 
 they muft infallibly lead her at length, to un- 
 heard-of happinefs. The abrupt termination of 
 her own adventures, flie was reconciled to 5 
 and fancied herfelf one of thofe celebrated ma- 
 mas 
 
68 ROSELLA* 
 
 mas, deftined to bring forth beautiful and tender- 
 foiiied creatures, devoted for a given time tomif- 
 fortune. 
 
 The world had now ceafed to concern itfelf 
 with the condu(fi: of Mifs BeaucJerc, and fhe was 
 recognized only as a very quiet Itupid kind of 
 o-ld maid, who Iiad formtfrly met with a difap- 
 polntment, and had confoled herftif with novels 
 and religion. That the latter part of the fup- 
 pofition was ftriclly juft, is not certain ; (lie had, 
 however, indulged her early bias, by charging^ 
 her memory with every production of fanc;j^that- 
 had appeared in the laft fifteen years, and it 
 muft be imagined, that fuch an uninterrupted 
 furies of images, foothing and encouraging a- 
 romantic imagination, muft operate with confi- 
 derable force. At length every pretty young 
 woman (he faw, was immediately fuppo fed to 
 be a damfel fuffering. under the preffur^ of ex- 
 Geffive fenfibility, and every haberdafher's jour- 
 aeyman who trudged on Sundays acrofs a road 
 fkirting her father's grounds, was transformed> 
 into a love-lorn fwain in fearch of his caged di- 
 vinity. Every letter addrefled to her Sel'ifia, ex- 
 ceeded the former in extravagance of idea and 
 opinion, and evinced that (he believed Rofella, - 
 both in mind and perfon, the moft perfe(fl: of all 
 the perfe(fl young ladies that ever waved a white- 
 handkerchief to a baniilied lover, or fighed heir 
 pure flame in extempore verfe to the whiftling: 
 winds and raging ocean: — and Indeed, if the: 
 fondnefs of a widowed mother, and the efFufion 
 of a flighty imagination may be allowed for, the 
 fuppofition was not fo extravagant as many of 
 her fancies •, for Rofella pofi'efitfd a countenance 
 and mien that ftole univerfal good will, and a 
 charader and, deportment that fecured the con=- 
 
 quefl* 
 
-ROSELLA. 69 
 
 i-quefl. She was all that imagination can form 
 ,of captivating in adoleicencc— gay, artlefs, for- 
 -giving, fed uIqus to pleafc, foon piqued, much 
 fooner reconciled, ardent in her purfuits, com- 
 paflionate to excefs, credulous becauCe (he was 
 unfufpicious, warm in her attachments, lefs 
 warm in her antipathies, fond of walking, fond 
 of riding, of dancing, or her new harp, of laugh- 
 ing, of foraetimes talking without the trouble of 
 meaiuring her words, fond of looking for the 
 Guinea-hen's jeggs at Avciines, fond of the 
 neighbouring fhepherd's blue-eyed fon, who had 
 once given her a neft of chaffinches, and pafli- 
 ,OE2tely fond of Mifs Beauclerc, that dear bed 
 of friends, who made her life fo happy : in (hort, 
 fond of every thing, for every thing then inte- 
 refted and amufed her, excepting Tillotfon's 
 Sermons and Mr. Ellinger's houfehold. 
 
 At length fhe grew formed and womanly, 
 ■much to the fatisfaclion of her mother, who 
 now eagerly looked forward to her progrefs in 
 ,ce!tbnty and heroifm : thefe (he knew were not 
 to be attained in the odious metropolis^, where 
 ithe molt heavy and difgufting fetters muft of 
 neceffity be put upon the fublimity of romance, 
 and Rofella v/as therefore almoft wholly con- 
 ,fined to the .grounds of Avelines, where (lie 
 frilked about in that dubious ftyle of drefs which 
 flatters the ambition of young girls, by making 
 .them appear like women, and gratifies the folly 
 of women, by giving them the femblance of 
 .young girls. 
 
 As the fummer advanced, Mifs Beauclerc 
 .ufually fpent the mid-day in a little thatched 
 herm.itage, raifed amidil a cluiter of flowering 
 ihrubs, upon a lawn v/hich defcended to the 
 Thames- fide : in this fpot (he reli(hed more par- 
 ticularly 
 
7® ROSELLA. 
 
 ticularly the defcriptlve progrefs of the loves of 
 all the Ethelindas, the Jemimas, the Fredericas, 
 and the Georgianas, with all their panics, their 
 Caftles, and their vifions ; and now that Rofella 
 was of an age to figure with fome confideration 
 amidft thefe groupes of beautiful faints in folio, 
 Mifs Beauclerc had a peculiar pleafure in making 
 her read aloud, whiKl (lie contemplated her 
 piclurefque figure, and watched the zephyr fteal- 
 ing amidft her light brown trelTcs. Every wifh 
 of the admiring mother then appeared to her, 
 certain of being realized : her Rofella would be 
 the admiration of the multitude, the little deity 
 of unnumbered lovers, and the diftinguifhed 
 choice of fome mat-chiefs fwain. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 A glitnpfe into the regions of fublime di/iref^s. 
 
 J.N the beginning of a lovely Autumn, when 
 the heat rendered the favorite retreat of Mifs 
 Beauclerc delicious, (lie was fitting in it with 
 Rofella, who had, in obedience to her com- 
 mands, opened a novel, and was reading a fplen- 
 did account of a celebrated day-break ; when fhe 
 had arrived, however, at the interefting epoch 
 where black and grey quit the field for purple 
 and faffron, flie found her eyes attradled frorfl 
 her book, which they conftantly were by every 
 moving objcd, by a large pleafure-boat glitter- 
 ing 
 
KOSELLA. 71 
 
 ing witli decorations. The pillars which fup- 
 ported the canopy were of gilt wood, the cur- 
 tains of green filk, fringed, taiTelled, and fef- 
 tooned, and the ornamented ftern exhibited an 
 Earl's coronet embofTed and gilt, over an embla- 
 zoned creft. The poor novel fell into the back- 
 ground, and R^fella eagerly fprung forward to 
 contemplate fo gay a fpe(fi.acle, when remark- 
 ing the ihiovvy livery of the fcrvants feated in the 
 ftern, " Do come and look," exclaimed fhe, 
 laughing, " dear Mifs Beauclerc, do look ! here 
 are the colors of Edelferinda's magnificent Au- 
 rora upon Lord Morteyne's footmen !" 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc fmiled, notwirhftanding this 
 attack upon the mod tender of all fubjects j for 
 fne was delighted to cbferve that Rofeila had at- 
 tra<5fed the attention of the party in the boat. 
 
 " I declare," continued fi^e, in a voice of 
 ecftacy, " they have horns and clarinets ! How 
 delightful ! Do you think they are going far ? I 
 xlare fay they will return in the afternoon — I 
 would watch here all day but I will fee them 
 return !" 
 
 One or tv/o of the la<!ies, pleafed with the 
 animation her geltures expreffed, bowed to her 
 good-humouredly, to repay the evidsjit admira- 
 tion with which Tne viewed them, and Rofeila 
 returned the falute with equal eafe and vivacity. 
 Half a dozen glafies had been already levelled 
 at her, which (he endured with great unconcerrv, 
 becaufe {lie had not the leaft fufpicion that (lie 
 was individually the object of fo much curiofity. 
 
 When the boat had palTcd the grounds, Ihe 
 heard the clarinets, and having hittned for fome 
 time v/ith charmed attention, flie turned to Mifs 
 Beauclerc, exclaiming — 
 
 « How 
 
72 ROSEXLA. 
 
 « How happy they mufl be ! There was not 
 one in the whole party that did not fmile and 
 feem pleafeci !" 
 
 *^ Not (o happy pcrbaps as you may imagine, 
 my Rofella," returned her friend : *< I fufpedi 
 there r.re fome aching bofoms in the groupe." 
 
 Rofella protefled again (l this idea, repeating, 
 «« They all looked (o happy '" 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc fecretly perfifted however in 
 her fuppofition, as ihe believed, with an exceed- 
 ing good reafon : for llie had caught the eye of 
 Lord Morteyne fixed u.pon Rofella with fome 
 degree of earneftnefs, one day that her father's 
 carriage and his Lordfliip's happened to pafs on 
 the road : a circumftance which had been com- 
 municated to Mrs. Ellinger with fuch annotati- 
 ons and prefentiments, that the good lady had 
 from that moment impatiently awaited fome 
 very furpiifing cataftrophes and denouements. 
 
 But accident had never put it a fecond time ia 
 Mifs Beauclerc's power to afcertain how far Lord 
 Morteyne had advanced in the belle pafSon until 
 this morning, when he certainly did turn from 
 a very pretty woman, to whom he had been 
 talking, to furvey the lively hermit — an appel- 
 lation the paity had given her ; and,he only re- 
 fumed his converfation with his fair neighbour, 
 wlitrnlie could no longer with perfe^l conveni- 
 ence gaze at Rofella. And ihough on this oc- 
 cafion his deportment did not entirely pleafe 
 Mifs Bcnuclerc, yet (he was tolerably certain, to 
 ufe htr own lans^uage to Selina, that the arrow 
 raTikled at his heart. 
 
 The imagination of Rofella was fo occupied 
 by tlie ideas o'i gaiety and happinefs (he had an- 
 nexed to the uuje£l which had fo much pleafed 
 her, ihat fiie fcarcely allowed herfelf time to 
 
 fwallow 
 
R03ELLA. 73 
 
 fwallow her dinner, that (lie might run back to 
 the hermitage, fmcerely hoping that no itupid 
 people would drop in before tea to recal her to 
 the houfe. Mifs Beaucierc remained in the 
 dra'A-ingf-room wirh her mother, who was indif- 
 pofed, and could not take her afternoon airing ; 
 but as the windows of the apartment gave on to 
 the lawn, (he watched the motions of Rofella, 
 and faw her fometimes ftanding at the extremity 
 of the bank, looking earnedly up the river, and 
 fom-?times beguiling the moment of expectation, 
 by frolicking with an Italian greyhound, who 
 was a great favorite ; an exercife that rather dif- 
 compofed her attire, but iiicreafed the animation 
 and vivid bloom of her countenance. 
 
 At length her prefence was required at the 
 tea-table before any boat, except watermen's 
 wherries, had appeared ; and with her fancy ftill 
 hovering round the hermitage, fhe returned to 
 the drawing-room, and thought Mr. Beauclerc 
 unufually flow and tedious in fipping his coffee. 
 
 " This pamphlet," faid the old gentleman, 
 turning the leaves of a political publication, 
 ** is pleafantly written, the principles and fenti- 
 ments ju(t, the language clear and perfpicuous : 
 1 really don't remember that I ever before met 
 with an author whofe opinions fo exactly tallied 
 with my own." 
 
 It was full half an hour after having made this 
 obfervation, that he drank his cold coffee, and 
 retired to his ftudy to read and admire this excel- 
 lent author, who had the good fortune to write 
 cxat^ly his opinions. 
 
 Mrs. Beauclerc, who had before appeared 
 inclined to doze, nowdefired Roi'dia to take 
 down a book, and read to her. 
 Vol. I. £ «« Yes, 
 
f4 ROSELLA. 
 
 <* Yes, Madam," replied flse, endeavoring to 
 fpeak with alacrity : *« v/hat book ftiail it be ?" 
 
 " Though Mifs Beauclerc participated in her 
 difappointment, (lie was much pleal'ed with her 
 ,good-humoiired compliance : " I always told 
 8elina," thought fhe, <* that this dear girl had an 
 unequalled fweetnefs of difpofition." 
 
 « I think," faid the old lady, gaping, and 
 fpeaking with her eyes almofl clofed, " thit as 
 ve have almofl: got through that fine dlfcourfc of 
 Bifliop Tillotfon, we may as well conclude it : 
 there cannot be many more pages I (hould fup- 
 pofe.'' 
 
 '< About two or three and twenty, Ma'am,'* 
 faid Rofella, turning over the leaves. 
 
 *f Very well, my dear; then we fiinll have 
 time to finiili it before I take m.y draught." 
 
 Rofella refigned herfelf to her deltiny with a 
 tolerable good grace, and inflantly began the 
 ]e6lure, keeping a very exa£l account of the 
 leaves as they faced about to the left. — " Five, 
 fix — very well," whifpered flie to herfelf, " I 
 have not many more to get through — I fhall fooii 
 have done." 
 
 On looking up at the clofe of the next para- 
 graph, (he faw Mrs. Beauclerc in a profound 
 flate of repofe ; and her daughter fmiled encou- 
 ragement ond confolation to Rofella. 
 
 After an uninterrupted paufe of a fewfeconds, 
 the good lady drew a long breath, and half open- 
 ing her eyes, '^ Blefs me," exclaimed fhe, " 1 be- 
 lieve I almofl: forgot myfelf — yes, indeed, that 
 is an excellent difcourfe — mark the page, my 
 dear — I feel rather heavy. — Sophy, you had 
 better take your evening walk — I iliall ring for 
 my draught when I awake." 
 
 Rofella 
 
ROSELLA. 75 
 
 Rofella felt much relieved by this emancipa- 
 tion, though ft^.e concluded that by her deten- 
 tion (he had miffed the gratification llie had pro- 
 mifed herfeif, as the Tun wasnov/ nearly beneath 
 the horizon, and the breeze fwept cool over the 
 river. Mifs Bcauclerc was of the fame opinion ; 
 but when they ftrolled out together, Rofella led 
 to the hermitage, and (he folio w^ed. 
 
 " You have been very obliging, my dear 
 child," faid (lie, <* to the inclinations of my poor 
 mother-, and to confole us both for our confine- 
 ment in the houfe fuch a fweet evening as this 
 has been, you fnall order your harp into our re- 
 treat, and give me my favorite ballad by moon- 
 light." 
 
 Rofella had fcarcely received this perm.ifiion, 
 than {he flew back to the houfe, and having de- 
 ilred a fervant to bring the harp to the hermitage, 
 returned to her friend with tlie fame fpeed. The 
 inflrument foon followed her, and the charming 
 ballad, ^« Lady Alice," was performed in a ftyle 
 that enraptured Mifs Beauclerc ; (he had had the 
 voice of her protegee highly cultivated, becaufe 
 hicvoines are always infailibly fine and pathetic 
 fingers, and the voice of Rofella was not un- 
 worthy the expence and the trouble which had 
 been beftowed upon ir ; fo that the gentle cor- 
 rcfpondents prided themfelves upon her poflTef- 
 fing every requifile to fhine in the heroic page, 
 except a penfive countenance ; they hoped how- 
 ever that this deficiency would be no more, after 
 an initiation of a few months into the fublime 
 diftrefs of a gentle, fervent, ^verlafling, but ap- 
 parently unfortunate prepcflcffion. 
 
 Rofella continued to fing, with a few inter- 
 miifions, that were filled up, by her, in admira- 
 tion of the workmanftiip of her dear new harp, 
 i I whick 
 
7^ ROSELLA. 
 
 which was a foreign one, and was ornamented 
 with feveral figures exquifitely finifhed : but at 
 length perceiving tne generous friend who had 
 made her this fuperb prefent, in a deep reverie, 
 .fhe endeavored to draw her from it by repeat- 
 ing ** Lady Alice.'* Mifs Beauclerc liftened at- 
 ,tentively, and a remembrance of the termina- 
 tion of her own hapiefs love, made her tears flow. 
 A lighterman was dropping down the river, and 
 .the rude bawling ef the men was in a moment 
 huflied in motionlefs furprife, and almoft un- 
 confcious admiration of the fair Siren, whofe 
 dulcet tones might have " created a foul under 
 the ribs of death." 
 
 But thefe rough auditors were not the only 
 captives to the harmony of Rofella, which father 
 Thames had borne- towards the hermitage .• the 
 noife of the lightermen had prevented her from 
 .obferving the beautiful boat fo anxioully watched 
 for, which had gl ded to the bank of the lawn, 
 and was there fixed by the magic of fweet 
 founds. 
 
 A few minutes after the pathetic exit of poor 
 Lady Alice from this mortal coil, Rofella turned 
 her eyes towards the river, and its undulating 
 motion caufed a part of the gilded Hern of the 
 boat to glitter on her €ye. 
 
 *< Ah, here it is !" exclaimed (he ; <* it Is 
 empty— where can they all be ? — no, here are 
 the rowers !" 
 
 She was then running to the water-fide, but 
 before ihe could reach it, a fcream from Mifs 
 Beauclerc recalled her iteps, and on regaining 
 the hermitage, (he flopped at the entrance, from 
 whence flie faw with furprife and confternation, 
 that her friend was furrounded by a party of 
 gentlemen, who were tumultuouily addreffing 
 
 many 
 
RCSELLA. 7Y 
 
 nriany ccmpHments to her, under the iniTuence* 
 of a miftake the twilight occafjoned. 
 
 « Charming creature !" exclaimed one of the 
 fct, who had feized the poor lady's hand, and- 
 thrown himfelf upon his knees with all the gal- 
 lant infpiraticn of Champagne \ <* divine girl ! 
 whofe ecdatic notes may (ilence with envy the 
 feraphic hod !" 
 
 " Bravo ! bravo !'* echoed through the place 
 from different mouths •, ** well faid, Ainflie !" 
 
 Rofella remained trembling and confounded 
 at the uproar, and jull diftinguifhed the voice of 
 Mifs Beauclerc, who endeavoured to be heard, 
 when a tall figure advancing to her, faki, in 
 tone fcarcely audible— 
 
 ^* On a wrong fcent, by G— d, the whole 
 pack !" then feizing the arm of Rofella, he 
 burfl into a half-fmothered fit of laughter, and 
 enquired if they were deifying the crabbed o'd 
 maid, or her mother. *« As for myfelf," conti- 
 nued this witty perfonage, " you fee I can dif- 
 tinguifh a Hebe from a tabby cat, though en- 
 compafled in the fhades of night." 
 
 " Let go my hand, Sir," faid Rofella, endea- 
 voring to difengage it. 
 
 " Not I, faith," returned he, trying to catch 
 the other. 
 
 She was terrified at this determined infolence, 
 and called to Mifs Beauclerc in a voice of af- 
 fright, which attracted the attention of another 
 individual of the intruding party, who haftiiy 
 Itepped forward, and difcovered to R-ofella the 
 countenance of Lord Morteyne. 
 
 «f Forbear, Eftcourt !" faid he. In a tone of 
 authority: << how will youjuflify or excufe tliis 
 conduct ? If vour riotous companions refufe to 
 
 liden 
 
7$ ROSELLA. 
 
 lliitn to me, you, at leaD:, fhall not difgrace your- 
 feif in my preicncc." 
 
 He then (eized the ofFender by the collar, a 
 Jiberty of allien this difcerning genleman re- 
 fentcd, and a llruggle enfued, when he, proba- 
 bly from having drank more wine than Lord 
 ]Morteyne, was loon thrown to the ground : but, 
 n!as ! he encountered the unfortunate harp in 
 his defcent, and it fell wltii h\m upon the pebble- 
 paved floor with a violent craih. Rofella flew 
 to examine if it had fuftained much injury, and 
 found, to her inexprellible moTtificatlon, that it 
 was fo battered in one place, and wholly beat 
 in in another, that (lie had Jittle hope the mif- 
 chief could ever be repaired. 
 
 *< You have broken my new harp to pieces !" 
 exclaimed (he, in an agony of grief, the tears 
 fpringing to her eyes. 
 
 « I feared fo," returned Lord Morteyne •» 
 <f and liow I may deprecate your anger, I know 
 not : I can only entreat you to believe, Madam, 
 that I feel the utmofl indignation for the info- 
 lence of this intrufion, which I hope Mifs Beau- 
 clerc will believe I endeavored to prevent : but 
 after having fpent the afternoon in too much 
 conviviality perhaps, (lie will not be furprifed 
 that I had little inlluence in reftraining a fet of 
 thoughtlefs young men, when I could fcarcely 
 myfelf refirt the attraaion that drew them to 
 -this place." 
 
 Rofella attended little to this fine fpeech ; {he 
 had, ailiiled by him, raifcd her demoliflied lyre, 
 and was fliedding tears over it, when her friend 
 advanced to her, and enquired earneilly v/hy fhe 
 wept, and the relt of the party demanded the 
 fame information of Mr. Edcourt, who was 
 lialf flunned by his fall, and was leaning in a 
 
 very' 
 
KOSELLA. 'r^ 
 
 very (\i\lcx\ poflure agalnft the entrance of tha 
 hermitage. 
 
 ** Heaven and earth !" exclaimed one of the 
 intruders, << who has been committing this U-i 
 crilege?" 
 
 " No more flic'il tune the vocal fhell, 
 " To hills and dales her pjllion tell, 
 " A flame which time can never quell — " 
 
 A burfl of appLaufe interrupted this amurxng 
 quotation, which completely overcame the pa- 
 tience of Lord Morteyne, who had perhaps no 
 inclination to incur the public or private enmity 
 of Mr. Beauclerc, whofe grounds adjoined tt> 
 his own, and in whofe power it would have- 
 been to have annoyed him extremely. 
 
 The indignation of Mifs Beauclerc, which 
 had hitherto il umbered in tlie cherilhed idea tiiat. 
 Rofeila would at lead gain three or four pafll- 
 onate admirers in the fray> was now equally 
 roufed ; but as {lie attempted to give it utter- 
 ance, (he was interrupted by his Lordihlp — 
 
 " Gentlemen," faid he warmly, " I infill 
 that you immediately retire ; this condudl is in- 
 folent and unmanly. Permit me, ladies," added 
 he, " to attend you towards the houfe." 
 
 " My Lord,'"' replied Mifs Beauclerc, with an 
 air of infinite -dignity, " however your aflu- 
 ciates may have deviated from the di'vT:ates of 
 propriety and good breeding, I am not fo unjult 
 as to implicate your Lordfliip in their traiifgref- 
 fion, and I thank you for this confiderate pro- 
 pofal ; but as I imagine thefe gentlemen are 
 now fatisiied with the alarm thev have given 
 Mifs Montrefor and myfelf, I wiii not trouble 
 your Lordfliip to accompany us." 
 
 They then quitted the hermitage without op- 
 pofition from the intruder?, and foon gained the 
 
 hcufe y 
 
8© ROSKLLA. 
 
 houfe ; Mifs Beauclerc making no anfwer to the 
 lamentations of Rofelia for the poor harp, but 
 repeating internally, with a rapture (he could 
 Icarcely reftrain, ** Yts, this is an adventure !" 
 
 In their abfence, Mrs. Beauclerc feeling her 
 indifpofition increafe, had retired to bed, and 
 her hufband being ftill in his ftudy, Rofelia and 
 her friend found the drawing-room empty. Mifs 
 Beauclerc difcoverlng by the lights, that the 
 eyes of Rofelia were red with weeping, endea- 
 vored to confole her by faying, that the poor 
 harp might not be in fo hopeJefs a ftate as (he 
 fuppofed : << and if fo," added fhe, « we will 
 contrive to get it repaired without mentioning 
 the difafter, or the circumftance that occanoned 
 it, to my father.'^ 
 
 Rofelia was now compofed enough to dread 
 Mr. Beauclcrc's animadverfions upon the folly 
 of lavifhing expenCve prefents upon carelefs 
 young girls, and readily acceded to the propofal. 
 Orders were iiTued to the old butler to convey 
 the unlucky inftrument into Mifs Beauclerc's 
 drefling-room without being feen by his mafter ; 
 and as Simpfon had, on former occanons, had 
 the honor of being a confidential agent, he 
 nodded, looked wife, and withdrew, but foon re- 
 turned with the petrifying intelligence that the 
 harp was no where to be found. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc difmiffing old Simpfon, en- 
 deavored again to dlminifli the chagrin and con- 
 Iternation of Rofelia, by reprefenting that Lord 
 Morteyne had mod probably carried It away, 
 with the hope of having it repaired ; though iii 
 fa6\, (he imagined he meant to indulge the ten- 
 der fentiments that had taken poiTelTion of his 
 foul, by preferving it as a relique whJch had 
 
 once 
 
ROSELLA. 8r 
 
 once been near the divinity at whofe (hrine he 
 worfhipped. 
 
 " I wifh," exrlaimed Rofella with fome ve- 
 hemence, *< the beat had been faiJing on the 
 Black Sea ! and then this misfortune would 
 never have happened." 
 
 " But feme other of more confequence might," 
 obferved Mifs Beauclerc with a frnile : " do you 
 wifh too that all the party had been in it ?" 
 
 ♦* No," replied Rofella, recollecling herfelf, 
 " not all the party — nor any cne'of them in-^ 
 d^cd ; but I hope you will allow that I have 
 reafon to be very much vexed, and i^o have you 
 to be difpleafed : I (hould be glad to know what: 
 i.ord Morteyne would have thought of Mr. 
 Beauclerc, if he had taken half a dozen rude' 
 men into his groundb tafrighten his fifter. Lady: 
 Lucy ?" 
 
 Her friend laughed Internally to fee her fo 
 much piqued. " Ah I my poor Rofella," 
 thought fhe, " 'tis the lofs of thy heart, and not 
 of thy harp, that fo much difcompofes thee !" 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc then left her to her regrets, 
 real and imaginary, that fhe might attend -the 
 invalid, whom (he found unufually languid and- 
 fretful -, and (he excufed her appearance at the 
 fupper table, by faying fhe would fit up {lairs 
 lill {he went to bed, as her mother was much 
 indifpofed and very low. 
 
 Rofella, thus Uh teU-a-tete with Mr. Beau- 
 clerc, and not fo much inclined to chat as ufua],- 
 fuffered him to conduct the converfation, which' 
 turned upon the very youthful and cardinal vir- 
 tues of prudence, (leadinefs, and economy, all' 
 of which he hoped to fee her one day pofrefs.-^ 
 Rofella thanked him, and in her turn, wiOied 
 E 3 ihe 
 
82 ROSELLA.- 
 
 file migl;t merit her gentrous friend*s kindnefs 
 and indulj^ence to her. 
 
 « Yes," returned the old man, «« Sophia is 
 indeed indulgent to you — too much fo, I often 
 tell her ; however, I hope you will always be a 
 good girl, and remember what you owe to her 
 atiecftion for you, and be prudent, and economi- 
 cal, and fteady ; in fliort, be a good girl, and we 
 will take care of you— that is, we fhaii not dif- 
 approve what Sophy does to render you an ac- 
 complifhed and happy young woman : though I 
 mull fay, I think that harp was an unnecefiary 
 purchafe ; the old one would have done perfectly 
 ^vell. Seventy guineas only laft year for a grand 
 forte-piano ! and now as much more for a harp 1 
 Oh, it's abfu'rd, it's extravagant ! liowever, be a 
 good girl — Sophy will not be controlled — but 
 be a prudent girl, and I (liall not be difpleafed 
 at what flie does for you." 
 
 Rofella colored, and hung her head ; her fpi- 
 rits already agitated, were painfully afiected— 
 the harp, this regretted extravagance, was de- 
 moliflied, and appeared to jullii'y the complaints 
 of J^vlr. Beauclerc j whilft the fecret confciouf- 
 nefs of it gave her a fenfation of criminality^ 
 joined to the mortification flie experienced for 
 the firft time, at receiving benefits which parfi- 
 ragny would fain have withheld from her, and 
 fhe burft into tears. 
 
 He had not intended to give her pain, and 
 haftened to relieve her diftrefs by alluring her 
 of his own affedion for her, and that of Mrs. 
 Beauclerc, defiring at the fame time, that (he 
 would not take notice to Sophy of any thing he 
 had'faid, which Rofella readily promifed. 
 
 The next morning fhe was ftill much out of 
 
 ipirits 5 the enticing curvets of poor fiivt, who 
 
 • " was 
 
ROSELLA. ?3^ 
 
 was her conftant companion, could not allure 
 her to the ufual race upon the lawn, nor could 
 file endure to amufe herfelf with her forte-piano, 
 V ith the economical obfervations of Mr. Beau- 
 clcrc (till frefh in her memory. Her abfence 
 and dejeftion were remarked by her fanciful 
 friend, who concluded after breakfaft, a long 
 tiarrntive letter to h:^r Selina^ by obferving, that 
 Rofelia had 'become penfive, and even melan- 
 choly. 
 
 " I too well guefs the caufe of twiis change," 
 continued Oie, " lier fate now hangs upon this 
 noble youth : the fliaft was mutually felt, and 
 botii Morteyne and Rofelia acl under its influ- 
 ence/' 
 
 Mr. Brauclerc had announced his intentioii 
 of going to town, and returning before dinner, 
 and enquired who would accompany him. Mrs. 
 Beauclcrc was too much indifpofed, Sophia re- 
 mained at home with- her, and at lengtli it w^as 
 fettled that Rofelia (hould take the opportunity 
 of paying a vifit of a few hours, to her guardian 
 and Mrs. Ellinger. She felt very reludlant to re- 
 new her tete-a-tete with Mr. Btauclerc, but had 
 rot the courage to form an objection, when her 
 friend defired her to execute a few eommifiions 
 which fhe mentioned, and gave the packet to 
 Seiina in charge with her. Mifs Beauclerc 
 then embraced her, bade her good morning, and 
 Rofelia followed her grandfather into the cha- 
 riot. 
 
 Fortunately however, he was very buGly em- 
 ployed in examining a memorandum-book, and 
 minuting down fome recent expenditures ; and 
 as he was going to fettle with his banker, and re- 
 ceive fome dividends from his funded cafli, his 
 
 fpeclagki 
 
94 ROSELLA. 
 
 fpe£lacles were never abfent from his nofe, hi^ 
 pocketbook frora one hand,, and his pencil fromi 
 the other. 
 
 Rofella was pleafed to be fpared the repetiti- 
 on of this lecture upon prudence, economy, and 
 fteadinefs, and endeavoured to amufe her mind 
 with the pafling objecfbs *, but the recent animad- 
 "verfions of her companion, and her vexatious 
 lofs, would occur to harafs her fpirits, in fpits: 
 of her efforts to drive tliem from her recoi- 
 led ion». 
 
 GHAP, VII. 
 
 Rage for refmement. 
 
 jr\S Mr. Beauclerc was going into the CiXjr,, 
 lie left Rofella in Chancery-Lane, telling her h« 
 would call for her in three hours. She bade 
 him farewel, and walked up ft airs, with a 
 gloomy remembrance of the many unpleafant: 
 hours (he had paffed in this den of parchments 
 and perplexities. 
 
 Rofella opened the fitting-room door, and 
 feeing it empty, proceeded up another flight of 
 flairs to greet lurs. Eilinger, who fiie concluded, 
 was drefting *,-_^but before {he had entirely finifh-- 
 ed her pereg'rination, (he met a fervant maid,, 
 -who informed her that Miftrefs and Mifs Livy 
 was fot off to fee ould Madam Swinney, who 
 had been took vilent ill, and ifpeded to die, as 
 fhe was already notelefs. — Rofella expreffed her 
 forrow at this event, and meafured back her 
 fteps to fpeak to Mr. Eilinger at the office door. 
 
R G S E L L A% f 5: 
 
 . He evinced more furprife than pleafure at 
 tfiis vifit, which (he foon learned was not very 
 a-propos, 
 
 " My dear," faid Mr. Elilnger, tying up a 
 bundle of papers very carefully with the goofe 
 quill's regimental infignia, red tape, " my dear^ 
 you are unlucky In coming to-day, for my wife 
 and daughter are not at home, and I am going to 
 Gray's Inn CofFe-Houfe to dine with a country 
 client, fo that we have only a bit of fcrag of 
 mutton for clerks and fervants ; but I will tell 
 you what you fhall do — Mr. Mordaunt cannot' 
 go out I know, for he has been confined to his 
 houfe with a bilious complaint, and he was fay- 
 ing a few days ago, that he had not feen you for 
 along time, fo you can go and pay him a vifit, 
 which will look attentive and pretty, and per- 
 haps he will aik you to dine." 
 
 Rofella was on the point of replying that fhe 
 was expecfled to return to Avelines to dinner, 
 but (he was fearful that fhe might then be made 
 to remain at Mr. EHinger's, entirely alone, and 
 without the fmalleft refource agalnft the en7iur 
 which had already taken poiTelfion of her ; and 
 ihe was befides really anxious to fee her old 
 friend, and (he readily aflented to the faving plan 
 propofed to her. 
 
 *« Let me fee," faid Mr. Ellinger, " you can't 
 find your way alone, I fuppofe — and there again, 
 William is not at hand — flay, you fhall have 
 Mr. Povey to (how you to Mr. Mordaunt*s 
 houfe." 
 
 Mr. Povey was one of the articled clerks, 
 then fitting in the ofRce upon a high ftool, 
 facing a very dirty grim window,^ looking into 
 a little paved court, where weeds and grafs 
 ibrult up their prefuming heads between the 
 
 crevices. 
 
86 ROSELLA. 
 
 crevices, to baHc in the oblique rays of the 
 mornirig fun, which condefceiided to vifit them 
 for about ten minutes, and then retired behind 
 an immenfe high walh In this court, the at- 
 tention of Mr. Povey an his fellow fcribes 
 could only be diverted from bufniefs by a mar- 
 vellous foul cinder heap, which the elevated no- 
 tions of the lady of the manfion prevented her 
 from obferving : item an old v.ig block, item, 
 a dull tub, whofe diurnal peregrinations gene- 
 rally terminated there to fave trouble j fo that 
 it is not to be wondered at if Mr. Povey, en 
 hearing his dePiination, jumped down from his 
 ftool, wiped his pen, fnatched his hat from peg 
 marked P. and bowed to Rofella with more ala- 
 crity than if he had been called from the em- 
 ployment of fmoking the Hooka with henries in 
 lN:Jahomet's paradife. She returned his falutati- 
 on with her ufiial good humour, and profetTed 
 herfelf forry to give him trouble •, he was open- 
 ing his mouth to reply with fome gallantry, 
 when Mr. Ellinger cut all complimenting, by 
 defiring him to call at his friend the counfellcr's, 
 for them 'ere cafes ; " and day," added the phleg- 
 matic lawyer, " take thefe briefs, and that 'ere 
 will and codicil back to Furnival's Inn, that is» 
 after you have conducted Mifs Montrefor." 
 
 Mr. Povey thruding tl^e cafes, briefs, will, 
 and codicil into a green (ruff bag, prepared witli 
 -•^ lefs elated afpedl to attend Rofella. After 
 they had proceeded two or three flreets, he fliook 
 his ears, hemmed, and placing his green hurthea 
 as much as poflible out of fight, affiftcd his fair 
 companion over fennel, now choaked with 
 dull, old mortar from ? repaired houfe, odorife- 
 rous cabbage leaves, and putrid herrings. 
 
 " It's 
 
RGSELLA. tj 
 
 « It's charmingly pleafant, Ma'am," faid the 
 young man, with a fimper; «< I think it is a 
 pity not to walk out and take the air fuch a day 
 as this." 
 
 Rofella made no reply, for they had juft then 
 entered an alley, ami rut was intent upon pre- 
 ferving her eyes from a pufF of wind that was 
 whirling through ir, and gathering into its vor- 
 tex all the filth and ordure which Hrewed the 
 pavement. 
 
 " Are we almoft arrived at Street ?" 
 
 afeed fne, on removing her hand from her 
 face. 
 
 " Oh dear no. Ma'am ; we have near a mile 
 yet to walk — we crofs this ftreet into that paf- 
 hs^Qj and then " 
 
 *« Another alley 1" exclaimed Rofella, again 
 preparing to guard againii the inconvenience of 
 the firft. The precautioji was however ufelefs, 
 for no air could circulate at that moment 
 through this abode of clofenefs and Itench, on 
 account of a mob colitcled to hear a loving pair 
 foom the diftinguifhed atmofphere of St. Giles's, 
 roaring alternately the ftanzas of a popular 
 ballad. 
 
 « We mud turn back," faid Rofella, haPtily. 
 
 " No, no, Ma'am," replied Mr. Povey, 
 pudiing forward, '* we (hall foon get through ; 
 I never turn back for fuch a handful of people 
 as this." 
 
 Rofella tried to follow him ; but not pof- 
 feffing either the ffcrength or the expertnefs of 
 her condu»flor, and not underftanding the arts 
 of fhuffling, hitching, and elbowing through a 
 crowd, Mr. Povey was obliged to divide his at- 
 tention between her and his parchment treafure, 
 and wholly overlooked a boxing match which 
 
 fuddenly 
 
tS ROSEILI. 
 
 fuddenly began between the female warbler and 
 Iier aflbciate, to favor the dexterity of fome 
 diving acquaintances who were mixed in the 
 audience. Rofella, terrified at the blows M^hich 
 refounded in her ears, and the language that 
 defiled ihem, was now driven about at the will 
 of thofe who furrounded her, and foon loll 
 fight of the green ftufr bag and its mafter. At 
 length, without any effort of her own, (he found 
 hcrfeif difengaged from the crowd, and pulhed 
 into a fpacious ftreet, the name of which was 
 hidden from her view by a projeOing fign that- 
 covered it. 
 
 Several moments paffcd before fhe recovered' 
 fufhcient recollection to afk of a v^-'oman pafTing 
 
 by, the way to Street. The dame looked 
 
 round her with tedious imbecility, and whilft 
 Rofella watched her countenance in eager en- 
 quiry, (he declared " (he did not knov/ — flie 
 could not tell for her part — (lie was a ftranger 
 herfelf, and knew no more what all the turnings 
 and the (Ireets were called, not {he, than the 
 babe unborn." 
 
 Rofella, much difappointed, walked on at the 
 hazard, of going wrong, but could not at that 
 moment fee any one near her to whom {he could: 
 fummon courage to apply. There was not a 
 coach-ftand in fight, and wholly unufed as flie 
 had been to walk in London without a com- 
 panion or attendant, her embarraflnaent was vifi- 
 ble both in her countenance and manner. At 
 length, fearing that fhe (hould not have time to 
 fee Mr. Mordaunt if ihe wandered far from the 
 way, {he recolle£led refolution to alk informa- 
 tion of a boy who was paffing, with an im- 
 menfe pile of pewter pots ftrung upon his 
 back", for (he had looked into feveral (hops, and 
 
 unluckily 
 
ROSELLA. g^ 
 
 unluckily faw no perfon at leifure to attend to 
 her ; feme were, or feemed to be empty, others 
 were tenanted only by children, there was but 
 one occupied by a perfon wlio appeared to be the 
 mafter of it, and he looked at her as fhe peeped 
 in, with fuch aTavage mien of fufpicion, that (he 
 withdrew in hafte. 
 
 " The way to Street," repeated the 
 
 boy^ turning round, *' ay — it's a good way 
 though — but ril fiiow you," refumed he, fwing- 
 ing the pots off his back, and dafhing them on 
 the pavement with a mod ftunning clutter. 
 Before he could execute his intention however, 
 or utter another fyllable, he received a ihower 
 of blows from the cane of a man, whofe feet his 
 pots had aggrieved, accompanied by fuch a 
 roundelay of oaths and execrations, that Rofella 
 ftood aghaft in the utmoll furprife and horror, 
 v/holly unable to account for the uproar: but 
 the outcries of the poor boy foon gathered a 
 eircle of enquirers about him, and fiie left him 
 to his fate, becaufe fhe was unable to endure 
 the heat and preffure of the people about her. 
 She now felt uncommonly thirfcy, and was 
 much perplexed how to act, when a confe£tion- 
 er's fliop greeted her eyes, and (lie recollected 
 that (he could at once enquire her wav, and 
 recompenfe the people for any lirde civility fhe 
 might require of them, by laying out fome 
 money. A glafs of capillaire was given to her 
 at her requeft, and flie took likewife fome bif- 
 cuits, of a fort fne recolledled Mifs Beauclerc 
 v/as fond of. But lo ! ♦n feeking for her purfe, 
 fhe found that it had vanifhed ; her diftrefs and 
 confufion at this difcovery were unfupportable, 
 and while the color ruflied into her cheeks, fhe 
 saade known her unexpedled lofs to a very fhowy 
 
 lady> 
 
VO r.OSFXLA. 
 
 lady, gaily drefTed, who condefcenJed to ofHci- 
 ate behind the counter, z^nd exprefled her con- 
 cern at the f.ime time, that fhe could not im- 
 incdiately pay for tNj capiliaire. 
 
 «< Oh dear Ma'aiii/' f;iid the dame, with un- 
 looked-for urbanity, " pray don't mention fuch 
 a triiie j I am only forry for you,: Ma'am — I 
 hope you have not loft m^ch ?" 
 
 <« Only a guinea and a few fliillincjs," replied 
 Rofella, " I had no more in my pocket.'* 
 
 " Well, Ma'am, that's too much to lofe, as 
 people fay ; but pray don't mention it on my 
 account ; I dare fay when you come this wajr 
 again, you will not forget me." 
 
 « No, indeed," cried Rofella ; " I will dif- 
 charge my debt, and remember your civility with 
 much gratitude." 
 
 She then enquired the way to Street^ 
 
 and this polite fhopkeeper ftepped to the door to 
 ihow her the next turning, with as much com-- 
 plaifance as if (lie had juft received an order for 
 a fuperb deflert, 
 
 Whilft Rofella was liftening with great atten- 
 tion to her inftruflions, a voice clofe to her ear 
 exclaimed — 
 
 « Tis herfelf, by G— d ! the Siren, the little 
 hermit, the fair harper !" 
 
 She ilarted with renewed ccnfufion, and 
 wliolly forgot in a moment which way fne was 
 firft to turn. 
 
 " Dear me, Ma'am," faid the dame, glanc- 
 ing a pair of keen black eyes upon two fafhiona- 
 ble looking men who were gazing with tioiicha^ 
 Itnte fatisfa<fl:ion at the diftrefsof Rofella, " you 
 are not recovered yet ; you had better walk in 
 again, and fit down a little : I am fure if Ihad 
 
 met 
 
ROSF.LLA. 91 
 
 wet with fuch an accident, I fhould have been 
 quite fluttered." 
 
 «< What, another accident !'' exclaiir.ed one 
 of the gentlemen in a voice Rofella recoliedled 
 to be that of Mr. Eftcourt ; " what an unfoi tu- 
 iiate fair one !" 
 
 He fpoke with an air of difdninful raillery, 
 which the remembrance of the la(t evening's 
 difgrace perhaps promoted, and tlie lady con- 
 fedl[ioner began to fufpe£l that this was far from 
 being the firft time that her moneylcfs cuftomer 
 had unexpectedly loft her purfe ; and abhorring 
 the idea of being fo grofsly impofed on, (he drew 
 Rofella, who was afhamed to refift, into her 
 fhop, faying — 
 
 " Come, Ma'am, you had better take another 
 glafs of capillaire, and then thefe young gentle- 
 men, who feem to be friends of your's, will pay 
 for both glafles, and you can return the money 
 you know, when you find your purfe again." ?'-«l 
 
 " No," replied (he indignantly, << I will 
 fend a fervant in lefs than half an hour, with the 
 money." 
 
 " Very well. Ma'am, as you pleafe, Ma'am," 
 Teturned the dame, with re-afTumed complai- 
 fance, on finding that her hint was not taken by 
 either party ; " you are to take the fccond turn- 
 ing on your right." 
 
 " I thank you," returned Rofella, haftily 
 leaving the fliop with unafFured fteps. 
 
 One of the gentlemen, as (lie hurried for- 
 ward, accolted her with tolerable politenefs, 
 whiHt his companion, Mr. Eflcourt, by feveral 
 rude innuendos, recalled the circumitance that 
 had fo much fliocked her, with added mortifica- 
 tion to her mind. The color in her face heigh- 
 tened to the deepeft crimfon, with heat and agi- 
 tation i 
 
p2 ROSELLit. 
 
 tation ; but the confufion of her mind prevented 
 her from attending to perfonal inconvenience. 
 At length her progrefs was impeded by a num- 
 ber of idle people gathered about a caricature 
 fliop : and as the infolence of her uncivil tor- 
 menter increafed with her increafing anxiety, 
 fhe felt unable to endure it any longer, and look- 
 ing round, rufhed fuldenly into a haberdafher's 
 near her, and unmindful who regarded her, fat 
 down, and bur ft into tears. He had followed 
 her ; but on obferving a very engaging and 
 elegant young woman gazing at Rofeila with 
 (trong marks of commiferation, he fuddenly 
 (lopped with an air of furprife and confufion, 
 which did not efcape her. The young lady 
 fhook her head with a countenance of reprehcn- 
 fion, and advancing to Rofeila, offered her a 
 bottle of falts with an air of fuch gentle compaf- 
 fion, that its influence revived her. 
 
 The people of the houfe, from her example, 
 brought a glafs of water ; but the amiable ftran- 
 ger obferving that Rofeila was much heated, 
 would not allow her to take it, and on feeing 
 her more compofed, fhe made a fign to Mr. Eil- 
 court, who approached her, and having converf- 
 ed with him in a whifper for a moment, at 
 the entrance of the fliop, he fuddenly difappear- 
 ed, and fhe returned to P^ofella. 
 
 «« My name is Ellccurt, Ma'am," faid fhe ; 
 ** I have a carriage in waiting, and if you will 
 do me the honor to ufe it, it fliall attend you to 
 any part of the town you wifh to vifit.", 
 
 Rofeila exprefled her gratitude for this gene- 
 rous attention. 
 
 " No acknowledgments are due to me," re- 
 plied Lady Lucy ; <* I ought rather to apologize 
 
 to 
 
ROSELLA. Ql 
 
 to you for the impertinence of my thoughtlefs 
 brother." 
 
 Rofclla, with renewed thanks, faid that if a 
 hackney coach could be procured, (he (liould 
 feeJ an equal obligation, without the fear of 
 occaficning any inconvenience : but this propoli- 
 tion would not by any means be admitted, and 
 Lady Lucy, on hearing that (lie was going to 
 the houfe of Mr. Mordaunt, led her to her car- 
 riage, and ordered it thither. 
 
 " Mr. Mordaunt," faid (be, as it drove away, 
 << I am well acGua';i;ted wiih : he has tranfacted 
 bufmefs in my family near thirty years, I believe, 
 and notwithilanding his gravity and precifion, 
 he is a great favorite with me." 
 
 Rofelia joined very waimly her approbation 
 and refpedl to that of Lady Lucy, who enquired 
 if flie were on terms of intimacy with Mrs. 
 Methwald, his (ifter : her young companion re- 
 plied that fhe was fcarcely known to her. A 
 momentary fmile pafTed over the countenance of 
 Lady Lucy, who rem.ained filent, and Rofeila 
 took advantage of a paufe, to explain the acci- 
 dent by which Mr. Eilcourt had met her un- 
 attended. His amiable filter again aflured her 
 that (he blufhed for his conduct. 
 
 " This is not," faid fhe, '< his firft offence to- 
 wards you, Mifs Montrefor, and that you fliould 
 this morning fuffer renewed uneahnefs from his 
 folly, gives me much concern." 
 
 Rofelia fuppofed that the broken harp was al- 
 luded to, and (he aiferted, with truth, that the 
 accideT[it was much overbalanced by the flatter- 
 ing condefcenficn of Lady Lucy. The carriage 
 now (lopped at the houfe of Mr. Mordaunt, who 
 happened to be at hom,c, and Rofelia parted 
 from her fair proteclrefs with an undefined but 
 
 deep 
 
94 ROSLLLA. 
 
 deep Imprc/Tion of cfleem and admiration, wl^Ich 
 was likewife experienced by Lady Lucy, though 
 not in fo enthufiaftic a degree. 
 
 " Philip," faid Rofelia to the fervant who 
 opened the door, " how is Mr. Mordaunt ? I 
 was mucli hurt to hear that he has been ill : may 
 I fee hiio ?'' 
 
 <« I am partly fure, Mifs," replied the man, 
 who was a very old domtfiic, " that my mafter 
 would be gladder to fee you than any body, 
 almoft. But Mrs. Methwald is here, and if you 
 pkafe I will Ihew you into the drawing-room, 
 and let my mafter know you are there/^ 
 
 Rofelia, who had been ufed to run to him in 
 ihis fludy, felt reltrained : fne had feen Mrs. 
 Methwald in her childhood, and ftiil retained a 
 confufed recoilee^ion of her, though it was by 
 no means a pleafing one. As Philip announced 
 her, the old lady looked up, but without at- 
 tempting to rife : flie had been writing, and with 
 the pen ftill in her liand, and htx fee ret a: re before 
 her, flie furveyed her young vifiter very earneftiy 
 through her fpe(fi:acles. Rofelia, much abafhed, 
 expreOed her fears that her intrufion was ill- 
 timed. 
 
 *< Is it po/Tible," exclaimed Mrs. Methwald, 
 <« that you can be Rofelia Montrefor ?" 
 
 Rofelia, not knowing in what manner to 
 prove her Ideniity, remained filent. 
 
 *< You are grown out of knowledge," conti- 
 nued the lady : " but," added fhe, recollecling 
 herfelf, *« my furprife has betrayed me into giving 
 you a (trange reception — fit down, my dear — I 
 am happy to fee you." 
 
 She giaciouily held forth her hand, which 
 Rofelia received with fome diffidence of deferv- 
 ing the lienor, and tlien (he ventured to aik if 
 
 Mr. 
 
ROSELLA. 9J 
 
 Mr. ^lordaunt was recovered from his indlfpo- 
 fition. 
 
 «< Not entirely," Mrs.Methwald faid ; "Philip 
 told him/' continued ilie, <* of courfc, that you 
 are here, and when hr- is entirely difengaged, 
 he will no doubt fee you." 
 
 She now arranged the papers in \\tx fecretairey 
 and taking np a book, frojn which {he appeared 
 to have been making exrra<5)s, fhe marked the 
 page, arid placed every thing aiide, but in a 
 manner that plainly told Rofella ilie hrid been 
 didurbed from her employment by her pre- 
 fence, and meant to refume it the inilant Ihe 
 was relieved from it. From this moment, to 
 the entrance of her brother, (he labored to keep 
 up a converfation with her young gueft, who 
 not being acquainted wnth the chit chat reports 
 of the day, and not being imagined qualified for 
 ?ny fuperior fubjecPc, did not make a very bril- 
 liant figure. The entrance of Mr. Mordaunt, 
 who welcomed her with his ufual franknefs and 
 affedlion, relieved her from a Htuation, of all 
 others the moft unpleafant, herfelf reftrained, 
 and confcious of being a gene to others. 
 
 « You have before feen this good child I 
 think," faid he to his fifter ; " but you had no 
 idea that you Ihould fo ruddenly renew acquain- 
 tance with fuch a tall, handfome girl ?" 
 
 <* Mifs Montrefor is certainly much grown," 
 returned the lady, coldly, " and I fuppofe — 
 I believe much improved in appearance ; fhe is 
 vallly like her father." 
 
 <* How is poor Mrs Beauclere>?" demanded 
 Mr. Mordaunt, halfily •, « I hear flie is ill." 
 
 Rofella confivmed the report. He then en- 
 quired how long fl\e remrlned in town, and 
 having heard uiitii three o'clock, obferved that it 
 
 was 
 
95 R03ELLA. 
 
 was already near half after two, and alked why 
 fhe had not called fooner. She took this op- 
 portunity of telling the tale nf her di fa iters, and 
 Mr. Mjrdaunt, much provoked with the con- 
 duct of her guardian, in entruiling her to fuch 
 an incompetent protcttor as Mr. Povey, relieved 
 one part of her^nquietude, by fending Philip to 
 the confecflioner, to perform the promife {he had 
 given : and then recollet^lin^ 'low {hort a time 
 remained for her itay in town, he ordered his 
 carriage to take her bacik, and whilft it was 
 getting ready, demanded what the larder could 
 produce. 
 
 fc « Rofella will not dine," faid he, << probably 
 till fix, and Mifs Bc:auclerc will not trufl her 
 here again, u I fend her home hungry and Tick." 
 Mrs. Mcthwald f^id (he would ring for fome- 
 thing j but obferved at the fame moment, that 
 flie believed there were bifcuits in the anti- 
 room. 
 
 "Pho, pho," returned her brother, «a farthing 
 blfcuit for a young girl half famiflied ! Do fuffer 
 your darling Mufcs," continued he^ glancing his 
 eye at ih^ fcrreiairey *» to regale for once with 
 the fmeil of cold road or boiled." 
 
 Rofcrlla interrupted him to declare that Vac 
 had no inclination for either. 
 
 « Child," faid Mr. Mordaunt, « I am at this 
 time futfering a painful malady, which arofe to 
 its prefent height from the folly of preferving 
 my appetite from nine in the morning until five 
 and fix in the evening •, and I recommend it to 
 you never to fuffer a fooli fn complaifance or 
 punctilio, to place you in the fame predicament. 
 I (liall take fome refrelhment myfelf, if it is to 
 be had, and I hope ycu will not rcfufe to follow 
 my example." 
 
 He 
 
ROSELLA. 97 
 
 He then rung the bell himfelf, and gave or- 
 ders ; whilfl Mrs. Methwald, with a counte- 
 nance extremely difconcerted, locked up the 
 precious contents of the fecretaire^ and fent it 
 to her apartment. 
 
 Rofella, at this moment, wifhed herfelf at 
 Avelines ; — (he wifhed herfelf any where, even 
 at Mr. Ellinger's difmal manfion, rather than 
 be compelled to partake of a repaft that was not 
 beftowed v/ith cordiality, or meet a phyfiognomy 
 forced every other minute into a momentary 
 fimper, which, like gleams of funfhine in a 
 winter-day, gave way per force, to the more 
 prevailing gloom. 
 
 Mr. Mordaunt paid no attention to the ill- 
 concealed difpleafure of his hfter, but fat down 
 to the tray which the fervant brought, and 
 obliged Rofella to (hare the contents with him. 
 Mrs. Methwald would not be prevailed with to 
 have the fame condefcenfion, but fat as far from 
 the fcene of action as poffibie, and the inftant 
 her brother and his copartner in this vulgar bufi- 
 nefs had ended, flie defired that the fragments 
 might be taken away, and flew herfelf to open 
 the doors and- windows, that the fmell of the 
 meat might evaporate. Rofella, fiill more dif- 
 trefled than at her entrance, began to anticipate 
 with delight the moment of her departure, and 
 for the hrft time fince fhe had loft fight of Mr. 
 Povey, refle£led, that as he could not pofTibly 
 gucfs what had become of her, he might have in- 
 formed Mr. Ellinger that (lie was Xo'^^ who per- 
 haps would fpread the alarm to Mr. Beauclerc 
 when he called for her in Chancery -Lane. This 
 fear made her yet more eagerly wifn to hear the 
 carriage announced, and at length her appreheii- 
 F (ions 
 
9$ ROSELLA. 
 
 fions were allayed by the agreeable intelligence 
 that it was ready. 
 
 <« Philip, you will attend Mifs Montrefor," 
 faid Mr. Mordaunt. 
 
 " Thomas is below," obferved Mrs. Meth- 
 "wald, with a nervous motion of the head, and a 
 fretful fidget." 
 
 " I fuppofe fo," returned her brother, pro- 
 voked at herchildifh contradictions, " and there 
 let Thomas remain." 
 
 Rofella haftily rofe to depart. Mrs. Meth- 
 wald, checking her peevifhnefs, took her hand, 
 and touched her cheek with her own condc- 
 fcending lips. 
 
 " My dear child," faid Mr. Mordaunt, " you 
 muft not be frightened from renewing your vifit 
 by my fifter's unlucky difcompofure this morn- 
 ing." 
 
 Mrs. Methwald darted at him a look of anger. 
 
 <* I beg you to believe," added he, " that fhe 
 is very friendly and good-humoured, and I affurc 
 you has your welfare much at heart : but I fup- 
 pofe the truth is, tliat Fne found the hill of Par- 
 naflus deeper than ufual this morning, and per- 
 haps too, the heat of the weather has dried up 
 the helicon fountain, at which I believe my good 
 iifter fips now and then." 
 
 *< Abfurd !" exclaimed the old lady. 
 Rcfella now courtciled to her, and bidding 
 Mr. Mordaunt adieu, ran down (lairs, glad to 
 cfcape from the peevifh precifion of this ancient 
 votary of the Mufcs. (3n arriving at the houfe 
 of Mr. Ellinger, fhe was met in the paflage by 
 the knight of the green itufF bag, who eagerly 
 ran out to inform her that he had with diihculty 
 
 traced her as far as the corner of Street, 
 
 and feen her run into the haberdafner's ; and as 
 
 he 
 
HOSELLA. 99 
 
 he then thought her fafe, he turned back to ex- 
 ecute his other commiflions. 
 
 *« Mr. Ellinger does not then know the little 
 embarraflrnent I met with ?" faid fhe. 
 
 <« No, Ma'am," replied Povey, coloring, << I 
 thought as you was fafe, there was no occafion 
 to mention it, as perhaps he might think I 
 
 ought '* 
 
 Rofella now underftood him, and relieved his 
 apprehenfion, by faying (he was pleafed to find 
 there had not been any needlefs alarm •, and as 
 fhe had fortunately arrived fafe at her deftinati- 
 on, there would not be any neceflity to fpeak of 
 it. She then walked up (lairs to wait the ap- 
 pearance of Mr. Beauclerc, and difcovcred to 
 her mortification, that Mr. Povey thought it ne- 
 celTary to atone for his late negligence, by fol- 
 lowing her into the dining-room, becaufe he was 
 afraid (he would be dull by herfelf ; and for his 
 part, he was not fit to fit down to " afore- 
 faids and whereafes," after taking fuch a fag in 
 fuch a devilifii hot day. 
 Rofella was filent. 
 "After you had entered the carriage, Ma'am," 
 
 continued he, « I thought " 
 
 <* Oh yoH faw that ?" interrupted Rofella with, 
 fome furprlfe. 
 
 " Yes, Ma'am ; I was following you, but I 
 fpied the livery — confound it, fays I, here's my 
 luck again I I never touch this damned green 
 devil, but I meet fome of my old friends : there 
 was Cyril Eftcourt and I at Weftminfter fchool, 
 like two brothers ; we were always together at 
 my uncle's, or at the houfe of Lord Morteyne, 
 his father. But when my uncle took the whim 
 to article me to old Ellinger, that I might under- 
 ftand common law, all my friends cut me, 
 F 2 damme, 
 
iO« ROSELLi. 
 
 damme, or what's almofl as bad, they hoax me 
 to the devil for being a lawyer's clerk : however, 
 they may come round again one of thefe days, 
 for I (hall only do bufinefs in the foHciting way 
 — in my uncle's track, with two or three fnug 
 auditorfhips. Zounds ! the haunches of venifon 
 and fat turtles that fall into his larder — Lord, 
 Ma'am, he is as much courted as a Prime Mi- 
 iiifter." 
 
 *< Pray may I a(k on what particular ac- 
 count ?" faid Rofella, who found fhe was ex- 
 pected to fpeak. 
 
 " Why, he carries in the rents of fuch of his 
 noble patrons who have rents to receive, and 
 contrives that others who have none, fhall live 
 upon his wits and his credit." 
 
 " I am forry I cannot underfland you," faid 
 Rofella ; « and I am fo ignorant of bufinefs of 
 every kind, that I fear I fhould not comprehend 
 you even if you endeavour to explain to me." 
 
 " I cannot think," returned Povey, with an 
 air of chagrin, " what induces me to talk upon 
 fuch quizzing fubjects, except it is the con- 
 founded air of this houfe. I dare fay now, if I 
 was to meet Lady Lucy, or Cyril, or any of them, 
 they would pronounce me already quite an al- 
 tere'd fellow." 
 
 " Lady Lucy is extremely amiable !" ex- 
 claimed Rofella earneftly. 
 
 « As fweet a tempered little creature as any 
 in the world," returned he : " now / met her 
 once a (hort time after I v/as articled, and I felt 
 confounded foolifh to be fure — for there was a 
 curfed load of red-taped papers daring her full 
 in the face. Mr. Povey," faid fiie, «* we never 
 fee you now : my father was remarking yefter- 
 day that you had dcferted us. I could have told 
 
 her 
 
ROSELLA. 1 01 
 
 her that Cyril had hoaxed me off the field, but I 
 was fo chagrined that the devil of a word could 
 I utter ; however, when I meet her, llie always 
 bows, let it be where it will : and her taking 
 you to old Mordaunt's was juft like her — fhs 
 would almoft have done the fame thing for a 
 girl fagging with a band-box.'* 
 
 Mr. Beauclerc's chariot now drove to the 
 door, and Rofella, who was not much delighted 
 with her companion, bade him good morning 
 with great alacrity, and flew down flairs with 
 even more than the ufual eagernefs fhe ever felt 
 to quit the houfe. She found Mr. Beauclerc in 
 extreme good humour ; but the fpe^lacles and 
 memorandum-book were ftill in conftant em- 
 ployment. She reminded him of the commilTi- 
 ons her friend had given her, and was defired 
 to diredl the coachman as fhe pleafed, provided 
 (he did not order him much out of the way. 
 
 CHAP. viir. 
 
 Palfy — gout — and rage for improvetjients* . 
 
 VV HEN the carriage drove round the fweep . 
 that led to the front entrance at Avelines, Ro- 
 fella looked up at the drefling-room windows of 
 Mi fs Beauclerc, and to her extreme furprife, this 
 beloved friend was not watching for her return 
 —a cuftom that had hitherto been invariable with 
 her. The fervant who had attended the chariot 
 had rung twice, and the doors were yet ill ut 
 againll their mafter. 
 
 « I hope 
 
102 ROSELLA. 
 
 " I hope no accident has happened I" ejacu- 
 lated Rofclla in a low yet diftinguiftiable voice. 
 
 " What is it — what is the matter ?" aflced 
 Mr. Beauclerc, taking off his fpedlacles, and 
 looking up. 
 
 Old Simpfon now appeared with a face of 
 important concern. 
 
 " I am fure Mifs Beauclerc is ill !** cried Ro- 
 fella, rufhing into the houfe, and flying up ftairs 
 with a ftep equally rapid. The fight of the fa- 
 mily apothecary walking down with a very 
 folemn air, confirmed all her fears. " Qh I 
 thought fo," faid (he—" I feared fo ! Tell me, 
 is {he very ill ?'* 
 
 " I am apprehenfive, Mifs Montrefor," re- 
 turned the gentleman in meafured accents — 
 
 « Of what ?" interrupted Rofella, turning 
 very pale. 
 
 *< That the poor lady is in a very critical fitu- 
 ation." 
 
 She heard no more, but ran with incredible 
 fwiftnefs to the apartment of Mifs Beauclerc, 
 which (he was furprifed to find wholly deferted. 
 
 " Where is (lie ?" exclaimed the weeping 
 girl, " where is my bed and only friend ?" 
 
 " Lord, Mifs," faid Sophia's maid, who juft 
 then entered, " you cnnnot mean my old Lady 
 fure — and as for my Lady, why you know (he is 
 tending her." 
 
 Rofella infenfibly loft her inconfolable coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 « There, Ma'am," continued the toilet dam- 
 fel, " my old mafter and you hadn't been gone 
 half an hour, before my poor old Lady was ta- 
 ken all in fuch a queer way — like— and my 
 Lady flirieked out, and pulled the bell, fit to pull 
 it down— and we all ran, and there was my 
 
 pocr 
 
ROSELLA. 103 
 
 poor old Lady had tumbled down upon the 
 carpet, and was making faces — like — all in fuch 
 a queer way. So Will was fentoff to Hampton- 
 Court for the doctor, and John fet off to fetch 
 back his matter, and bring Doctor Watkins. and 
 there he is not come back yet.'* 
 
 " Do you think I may go to Mrs. Beauclerc's 
 chamber ?" afked Rofella ; " could not I do 
 any good ? — perhaps I might relieve my dear 
 Mifs Beauclerc ?" 
 
 " Ah poor dear lady !" faid the fuivaftte, 
 " (he has been in a pack of troubles ; I'll go 
 and afk if you may fee my old Lady." 
 
 Rofella waited with impatience for her re- 
 turn ; but the requelt was denied, for Mifs 
 Beauclerc wifhed that fhe might, if poiTible, bs 
 fpared the fhock of feeing her mother in her 
 prefent deplorable ftate, and it had been recom- 
 mended befides, to keep her as quiet as circum- 
 itances would admit. 
 
 The old lady languifhed fix-and-thirty hours 
 in a ftate of infenfibility, and at the end of that 
 period, a fecond fit releafed her daughter and 
 her hufband from their melancholy attendance. 
 But the fudden alarm of her danger, and the 
 (hock of her death, affected the health of Mr. 
 Beauclerc, and oceafioned a fit of the gout, to 
 which he had been fome time fubjeded ; and 
 the regret of Sophia for the lofs of her mother, 
 was much diverted by her attention to her fick 
 father, in which Rofella joined with all the ten- 
 dernefs and ardor natural to her character. 
 
 A few days after the funeral of Mrs. Beau- 
 clerc, their cares were however fruflrated by 
 intelligence received by the invalid, of the fud- 
 den failure of his banker, to whom he had re- 
 cently entrufted a confidwrable fum of money, 
 
 but 
 
104 ROSELLA. 
 
 but not enough to injure him In the fligliten: 
 manner, or in the lead embarrafs his affairs. 
 Yet the avarice of the old man was cruelly 
 wounded by the ftroke, and the agitation of his 
 mind upon this event, threw the gout into his 
 head, and proved fatal to him. 
 
 Sophia, worn with anxiety and attendance, 
 was now herfelf afTailed by illnefs ; and only 
 the tears and diftrefs of Rofella had the power 
 of roufing her fpirits to fortitude and exertion. 
 
 The nearefl: relation of Mifs Beauclerc on the 
 fide of her father, was a firll coufm who refided 
 in Devonniir<^ upon a fmall eftate, and had fel- 
 dom vifited his uncle, becaufe he had no expec- 
 tations from him. Of her mother's family, the 
 niofc approximate to her was Mrs. Mary Dela- 
 val, the (liter of Mrs. Bt^auclerc, who having in 
 her youth met with a fenfible difappointment, 
 iiad declined fome advantageous matches, and 
 had imbibed {o llrong a friendfhip for a woman 
 of rather an inferior fituation in life, who had 
 had complaifance enough to confole the poor 
 damfel by liltening with patience to her tale of 
 ^voe, and playing everlaftingly at piquet with 
 her, that Mifs Delavai, pofTelTuig a hand fome 
 independence, took up her abode at the houfe of 
 her comforter, and followed her and her huf- 
 band, a wary Scotchman, to Dumfries, where 
 he chofe to return to fpend the income of a 
 fmall fortune he had fcraped together in Eng- 
 land. A very kind letter was interchanged 
 once a year between Mifs Beauclerc and her 
 aunt, and this annual correfpondence was the 
 only intercourfe preferved by the good lady with 
 her family. 
 
 Befides thefe relatives, Mifs Beauclerc had 
 three or four fecond and third coofins, with 
 
 whom 
 
1K)SELLA^ 105 
 
 whom fhe was upon formal terms; and fincllng 
 Kerfelf thus fuddenly called upon to att from 
 her own judgment and difcretion^ (he MTOte to 
 entreat the prefence of Mr. Mordiunt, that fhe 
 might have the benefit of his friendly inftruc- 
 tions -, and at the fame time defired the atten^"-^ 
 dance of Mr. Ellinger in his profefTional cap^-^ 
 city. 
 
 A mandate was likewife iiTued to Selina, that 
 her eloquence and perfonal confolation mighi: 
 footh the griefs of her diftrelTed correfpondent : 
 and when this firft talk was accomplifhed, that 
 (he might join in the more delicious one of 
 fketching out a variety of intricate and mazy 
 deftinies for the unconfcious Rofella, who, en- 
 tirely innocent of the forced-meat adventures 
 laid in her name upon the (helf for Fortune's 
 better leifure, was fervently blelling Heaven that ' 
 her indulgent friend was ftill on the furface of 
 this trumpery globe ; and wondering much, 
 how that time would henceforth be filled, which 
 had till then been devoted to the excellent dif- 
 courfes of Blfliop Tillotfon, to the fcreech-owl 
 night-thoughts, to profing, to political pamp'i- 
 lets, and to the examination of account-books 
 and cafh memorandums. 
 
 The will of Mr. Beauclerc had been depofited 
 with ISIr. Ellinger, and a copy of it, fealed up, 
 was found in his efcrutoire, with an intimation 
 where the original was placed. Mr. Mordaunr, 
 at the requeft of Sophia, was prcTent at the 
 reading of it, as was likewife Rofc!i;i, who was 
 frppofed to be a legatee. The nephew of the 
 deceafed had been written to in fr.nn, hut no 
 anfwer had been received ; and Mr. Eliinger • 
 propofcd that the will fliould be opened without 
 delay, that it might be ken if inilruaion-: had 
 r 3 ueei? 
 
I06 liOSELLA. 
 
 been left for the interment of the body. This 
 expectation was not difappointed, and the tefta» 
 tor then proceeded to difpofe of his property. 
 According to the general idea, Mifs Beauclerc 
 was the heirefs of his eflates and all his perfo- 
 nals ; but the fentence that followed was equally 
 unexpected and unwelcome to her. It import- 
 ed, that his daughter had lately rejedled an 
 alliance he had been anxious to obtain for her, 
 and unlefs (he altered her fuuation in favor of 
 the Honorable Mr. Trefon, or fome other gen- 
 tleman of family and probity, he willed that his 
 eftates fhould defcend, at her demife, to his 
 nephew John Briltock, of Girton-place, in the 
 county of Devon, or to his heirs, on taking the 
 furname of Beauclerc. Then followed a few 
 legacies, amongft which, the moll conGderable 
 was a bequeft of one thoufand pounds to Rofcl- 
 ]a, commonly called Montrefor. 
 
 <• Commonly called Montrefor ''^ repeated 
 Rofella internally: "that is a midake, for I 
 sm moft commonly called Rofella." She was 
 extremely delighted when the conclufion of this 
 bufinefs liberated her friend from a fcene which 
 had appeared to agitate her confiderably. Mr. 
 Mordaunt too, had feemed much chagrined, flie 
 thought, and had put on a moll tremcmlous 
 frown during the latter part of the reading : nor 
 could flie avoid obferving, that even Mr. Povey, 
 who had accompanied Mr. Ellinger as his auU 
 dii'campy on pronouncing her name, given with 
 fuch legal gravity, looked up with an inquifitive 
 leer, hefitated, half-fim.pered, then recollejfling 
 hinvfclf, hemmed, and proceeded with a repeti* 
 tion of the words ^< Rofdla, commonly called 
 JMonircib;." 
 
 Mifs 
 
»OSELLA. X07 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc had an immediate conference 
 vith Mr. Mordaunt in her dreffing-room, and 
 Rofella retired to her own apartment, repeating, 
 as fhe threw herfelf into a chair, " commonly- 
 called Montrefor !" The more this form firuck 
 her imagination, the more ftrange it appeared ; 
 but at length (he remembered to have feen the 
 words applied to others, yet without recolle6ling 
 on what occafion, and fuppofed they were ufed 
 by formal people, either to exprefs contempt or 
 "refpedt, (he could not exactly define which, nor 
 did (he ten minutes after much wifli to difcover. 
 The iete-a-tHe of Mifs Beauclerc and her old 
 friend was long,, and Rofella obferved that 
 when (he rejoined her, fhe had been in tears ; 
 but her careiTes and expreflions of affe6tioH 
 were uncommonly tender, and the returning 
 fondnefs of her child foothed her affliction, 
 which Rofella was careful not to renew, by 
 preferring any queftion which would lead her 
 mind back to x.\vt circumftance that had appa- 
 rently excited it. 
 
 When Mr. Mordaunt left Avelines, he took 
 leave of Rofella with a greater indication oF 
 friendfhip and regard than he had ever yet 
 fliown her \ but his conduct to Mifs BeaucUrc 
 was cold and ceremonious, and created fuch a 
 reftraint in every one, that his abfence was ?. 
 relief to her fpirits. 
 
 Mrs. EUinger obeyed the fum.monsof her ccr- 
 refpondent two days after the funeral, and cheiv 
 Jong and private converfationr> foon rsmoveii the 
 chagrin that had taken poiTefTion of Mi;}: B'^aii- 
 clerc from. the period of the examinariou of the 
 will. Fond as (he was of Rofella, and ucliglu- 
 ed as Mrs. Ellinger dill continued to be, to ad- 
 mire with prognofticating gaze the daily ifnrr^v- 
 • . * ing 
 
108 ROSELLil. 
 
 ing charms of tlie child »f fentimeiit^ this darling 
 girl was invariably excluded from their confi- 
 dential tetes^a-tetesy which in lefs than a week, 
 began to encroach upon more than half the time 
 of Rofella's indulgent friend. She was there- 
 fore compelled to amufe herfelf as well as (he 
 could without a companion, excepting Flirt, and 
 Jhe hourly regretted the lofs of her harp, which 
 Mifs Beauclerc had not replaced by any other. 
 Rofella was too delicate to hint a wifti, that 
 might appear to force the further liberality of 
 one to whom (he had already fuch infinite obli- 
 gations ; and fhe was perfedlly convinced that 
 it would be a very ufelefs effort to apply to Mr. 
 Ellinger for an expenfive fuperfiuity. 
 
 Her piano-forte, and very long rambles with 
 Flirt, who was her chaperone and play-fellow, 
 became her principal refources againfl ennui. 
 The anger and regret which a fight of the her- 
 mitage always occafioned, prevented her from 
 repofing herfelf there after a walk round the 
 grounds, and fhe preferred being half-baked un- 
 der an autumnal fun, in a fmall tub fummer- 
 houfe at the other extremity of tlie lawn, where 
 ihe contrived to make room for Mr. Flirt, who 
 Jay very lovingly at her feet, panting with heat, 
 and not able to comprehend wliy he was forbid- 
 den to enter the (hades of the profcribed re- 
 treat. 
 
 Gne morning however, when the correfpon- 
 dents had withdrawn after breakfaft, and taken 
 u'ith them from the library, a voluminous 
 " Touy through Great Britain,'* Rofella fat 
 down to her inilrument, the founds of which 
 €ould be diftinguiihed in Mifs Beauclerc's 
 ilrcfling-room. 
 
 *' Charming 
 
ROSELLA. top 
 
 «< Charming creature !" exclaimed Mrs. El- 
 linger with enthufiafm, <* what a delightful fin- 
 ger — what a heavenly voice '" 
 
 « My dear Sehna," faid Mifs Beauclerc, 
 « do you really think The excels ? To me I muft 
 confefs (he appears to fmg enchanting! y." 
 
 <' And then," cried Mrs. Seiina, <« her 
 figure ! her hair ! her eyes ! her complexion ! 
 her hands !" 
 
 <« I mud own," interrupted the enraptured 
 mother, « I think (he is beautiful." 
 
 " Beautiful !" fcramed the gentle Mrs. ElHn- 
 ger in the accents of an infpired prieftefs of 
 Delphos, " fhe muft be angelic, fince even that 
 old hottentot Mordaunt fays flie is lovely." 
 
 Poor Mifs Beauclerc burft into tears of de- 
 light, and prefied the hand of the panegyrift, 
 whofe eulogiums and epithets were ftill flow- 
 ing with unebbing fulnefs, when they were fud- 
 dainly interrupted by founds which feemed to 
 refemble the chords of a harp ftruck in hafte. 
 
 " What can this mean ?" exclaimed Mifs 
 Beauclerc ; and the expieffion being echoed by 
 her companion, they both hurried to the apart- 
 ment from whence thefe unexpefted founds pro- 
 ceeded, where they difcovered Rofella ainiod 
 dancing with ecftacy round a fupevN harp, and 
 fo much occupied wkh her admiration, that fhc 
 did not immediately obferve their entrance. 
 
 <« From whence did this come ?" afked Mrs. 
 Ellinger, calling an cxpreflive look at her friend. 
 
 " Oh my too indulgent Mifs Beauclerc," 
 cried Rcfelia, not attending la the quellion, 
 << how kind you are ! I am fure this muft have 
 been very expenfive — I am afr.iid it coft too 
 much money," added fhe, recollecting the ad- 
 monition of Mr. Beauclerc. 
 
 '* Not 
 
no ROSELLA. 
 
 " Not of mine," returned heV friend, repay- 
 ing with interefl: the meaning fmile q{ her Selina, 
 <« I affure you I have nothing to do with the 
 affair," 
 
 Simpfon was immediately fummonded : but 
 to the numerous interrogations he received, he 
 could only anfwer that a man brought the in- 
 ftrument in a caravan to the ftable-yard door, 
 and merely faying he had brought the young 
 lady's harp home, made the coachman help him 
 out with it, and went off without another word. 
 The fimper on Mrs. EUinger's countenance al- 
 moft degenerated into a grin at this recital, and 
 Mifs Beauclerc was as much delighted as when 
 poor Raymond had firft flipped a billet-doux into 
 her hand, after her father had reje(fled his over- 
 tures ; whilft Rofella, far from crediting her dif- 
 claiming fpeech, imagined that (he had thus con- 
 ducted this pleafing circumftance to increafe her 
 fatisfadtion by furprife, and alternately careffed 
 Mifs Beauclerc and the newly-recovered treafure, 
 until Selina, no longer able to contain her annota- 
 tions, drew her friend back to her dreffmg-room, 
 that they might freely congratulate each other 
 upon this indubitable proof of the attachment 
 of Lord Morteyne; for they could not entertain a 
 doubt but that he was the author of this gallantry, 
 and it had a confiderable effedl upon the plans 
 they were laying down with fuch eager zeal. 
 
 Whatever the plans were however, it was 
 agreed that they could not be effected before the 
 fpring was tolerably advanced ; and the inven- 
 tion of the two ladies was now very worthily 
 employed in finding out the belt method of paff. 
 ing the intervening time. Mifs Beauclerc, on 
 Infpetling her inheritance, found herfelf poffeff- 
 ed cf an income far exceeding her utmoft ex- 
 
 pedations : 
 
ROSELLA. Ill 
 
 pe£lation& : independent of the eflates of her 
 father, he had amafled a large fum of money, 
 which he had laid out to great advantage, and 
 had purchafed not only Avelines, but the houfe in 
 town. Mr. Mordaunt never refufed his advice to 
 the mother of Rofella, and fhe found Mr. Ellin- 
 ger a man of profefRonal integrity ; fo that her 
 affairs were foon fettled to her fatisfa<ftion. 
 
 No longer (hackled in her views, (he befpoke> 
 by the recommendation of Selinay an elegant 
 open carriage, and hired another for ufe whilft 
 it was building. It was drawn by a beautiful 
 pair of forefters, and Rofella received in(lru(^i- 
 ons from the coachman, that {he might become 
 an expert charioteer. Mifs Beauclerc likewife ^ 
 fent her twice a week to a riding-fchool, to 
 learn to fit a horfe with grace, and a very fine 
 one was purchafed for her at an extravagant 
 price. 
 
 All thefe unlooked-for indulgences intoxi- 
 cated the young mind of Rofella with a hap- 
 pinefs never before experienced. She laughed, 
 danced, fung, carefied Mifs Beauclerc, and 
 thought Mrs. Ellinger more agreeable in this 
 vifit to Avelines, than fhe could ever remember 
 her to have been before. Ihe keen delight at- 
 tending thefe new occupations had not much 
 abated, when her attention was flill further amuf- 
 ed, by learning that her kind friend had bought 
 fome meadow-land adjoining the grounds, which 
 were to be beautified and enlarged. Nothing 
 could now be done without a landfcape garden- 
 er. R was fcnt for, plans were made, 
 
 and Rofella fuffered to have a voice in rejedling 
 or accepting them. It was difcovered that the 
 houfe mu(\ undergo a complete alteration, ar.d 
 :hat a library and grccnhoufe muft open on to 
 
 the 
 
irj ROSELLA. 
 
 the lawn — that is, a lady's library and a lady's 
 greenhoufe. Under the Ihade of fome fine chef- 
 nut-trees a fanciful dairy was to be erefted in 
 the form of a bungalo. Rofella was already 
 conftituted dairy-maid in chief, and an expenfive 
 dairy-fet adually bcfpoke at Wedgewood's. 
 
 What a variety of charming amufements all 
 in fucceflion ! Poor Flirt, though ftiil extremely 
 cherilhed, was rivalled by the long-tailed foreft- 
 ers, whofe wavy m.anes wantoned in the wind 
 like the carelefs trelTcs of their fmiiing miflrefsj 
 and who, flattered by the advances (he had 
 made to win their friendfhip, willingly obeyed 
 the fair hand which fo often patted encourage- 
 ment and approbation. 
 
 At length Mrs. ElHnger, eager that Rofella 
 fhould exhibit her new acquirement, trulted 
 herfelf to the (kill and docility of the ponies ', and ' 
 as flie direfled which way they ftould take, they 
 drove of courfe, immediately pad the houfe of 
 Lord Morteyn.e, near which the public road 
 happened to fweep. The mcurning of the fer- 
 vant, and the black drefs of the young lady, 
 Mrs. Ellinger concluded would fufficiently in- 
 dicate who they were, and fhe expected to fee 
 the {ighing fwain dart from behind fome fpread- 
 ing oak to catch a paffing glance of his lovely 
 miftrefs : nay, fhe almoft wifhed the horfes 
 to take fright (a little) or the carriage to over- 
 turn (gently) that an accident fo opportune 
 might create heroic fervices, an obligation of 
 eternal gratitude in return for them, and ali- 
 thofe tender fentiments which a charming he- 
 roine and a handfome hero muft experience 
 from fuch a touching adventure. 
 
 They had almoft quitted Lord Morteyne's 
 demefnes however, without encountering him^ 
 
 and- 
 
EOSELLil. TI3 
 
 and Mrs. Ellinger had nearly given up the hope 
 of beholding the paffionate lover, when at an 
 angle in the road they met a jaunting car, filled 
 with a very lively party, feme of whom were 
 leaping from the machine, and on to it again, 
 as it rolled forward : and, Oh degeneracy of 
 the age ! the man, who ought to have employed 
 his folitary moments in wafting innummerable 
 fighs to the broad-faced moon, was condu6ling 
 this care-killing party, and joining in their 
 mirth ! 
 
 The road happened to be narrow where the 
 carriages met, and Lord Morteyne very politely 
 drew up his horfe, to give Rofella more room, 
 who feeling the timidity of inexperience, check- 
 ed her fortifiers, and gave the whole party an 
 opportunity of furveying her as (he flowly paffed. 
 Mrs. Ellinger was all obfervation, all ear, but 
 fhe was not fo much occupied as to forget to a<5l 
 a didinguiflied part in the fcene : not content 
 with performing the intercfting matron, fhe un- 
 dertook to perfonate likewife the woman of dif- 
 tinclion, and made herfelf fo extremely confpi- 
 cuous in both c' aradlers, that it was impoflible 
 ihe could be overlooked. 
 
 The oppofite groupe were divided into two 
 parties of gazers ; the men criticized Rofella, 
 and the woman amufed themfelves with the 
 airs of her companion, whofe growing indignati- 
 on was rather qualified by obferving fome expref- 
 Cive glances of approbation caft towards the 
 heroine. 
 
 Lady Lucy, who was in the car, bowed to 
 Rofella with her ufual complacency ; and (he 
 feeling gratified and happy by this mark of recog- 
 nition, returned the compliment with a cheek 
 dimpled over with fmiles. 
 
 When 
 
114 ROSELLA. 
 
 When the enemy were out of fight, 
 «' Mifs," faid the coachman, with an air of 
 chagrin, " you mought have pafled that queer 
 thing without pulling up; there was a foot or 
 two to fpare I know." 
 
 " Yes, John," replied Rofella, " but I was 
 afraid." 
 
 " No," thought Mrs. Ellinger, triumphantly, 
 *» no, my amiable Rofella, it was not fear you 
 experienced, it vjz.% fent'iment ; and ihortly your 
 infant pafTion will develope itfelf to your con- 
 viaion I" 
 
 The infant paflion was however yet fo ex- 
 tremely in embryo, that Rofella was no at all 
 confcious of it; but converfed with her ufual 
 freedom and gaiety for the remainder of the xiA^,^ 
 only recurring to the adventitious meeting, by 
 cxprefRng a warm admiration of Lady Lucy Eft- 
 court. 
 
 « Eftcourt !" repeated Mrs. Ellinger : 
 <« humph— drive home, my dear ; I have recol- 
 le^ed fomething which I wifh to communicate 
 to your friend immediately." 
 
 Rofella, accuftomed to this lady's /ingular 
 mode of fpeaking, paid no attention to her ex- 
 clamation, but complied with her requefl:. 
 Mils Beauclerc had been really anxious for 
 their return, as it was the firfi: time Rofella had 
 difplayed her new acquirement on the public 
 road ; fhe trembled left they had met with an ac- 
 cident and was looking out for them when they 
 ftcpped at the door. 
 
 « Don't come down," cried Mrs. Ellinger 
 eagerly; « I wifh to fpeak to you in your dTelTuig- 
 room»" 
 
 Mifs 
 
EOSELLA. 11 
 
 Mlfs Beauclerc fmiled, and call a glance of 
 fatisfied approbation at the unconfcious obje£l 
 of all this myfterious folicitude. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 A heroine travejiy — and a heroine unhorfed, 
 
 X HE workmen foon began their operations 
 both on the houfe and grounds ; and Rofeila 
 finding herfelf extremely interefted in their pro- 
 grefs, was foon a portee to a6l as overfeer and 
 diredlrefs. When the alterations began to be 
 apparent, the curiofity of the people in the neigh- 
 bourhood, induced them to vifit as much of the 
 place as was open to their infpecflion ; and at 
 length, a billet was given to Mifs Beauclerc from 
 Lady Lucy Eftcourt, requefting permiflion to 
 walk over the improvements with three or four 
 friends. 
 
 An aflent was immediately returned, and 
 Rofeila defired to pay attention to Lady Lucy's 
 party — a mandate which fhe readily promifed to 
 obey. That day however, and tv/o more pafT- 
 ed over, and not a creature from the houfe of 
 Lord Morteyne availed themfelves of the cir- 
 cumftance, to improve their growing flames 
 with a nearer view of the obje(fb that infpired 
 them. The gentle Selina then became very 
 impatient, and even rather indignant, that Lord 
 Morteyne himfelf (hould mifs fo fair an oppor- 
 tunity for an impromptu declaration of everlalt- 
 
 ing 
 
II6 *OSELLA. 
 
 ing tendernefs and attachment ; and even Mifs 
 Beauclerc began to fear that (he had, in marking 
 down this conqueft, paid too high a compliment 
 to the charms of her beloved girl ; whilil Rofel- 
 la herfelf, having expected with fome eagernefs 
 the promifed moment cf renewing an inter- 
 courfe, however tranfitory, with Mr, Povey's 
 bejl little creature in the ivorldy forgot her difap- 
 pointment on the third day, and purfued her 
 office of fuperintendent of the works, with her 
 accuftomed ardor. 
 
 The wind was high, and befides difordering 
 her hair, had wafted her hat into the urn of the 
 river god which was flowing near her ; a nail 
 in an old plank had caught her muflin drefs, 
 and having rent it the whole length of the Iklrt^ 
 retained a large fragment of it, which waved 
 like a banneret to and fro in the air, and the reft 
 trailed after her in fallen (late ; and to con- 
 clude with her difalters, (he had, in jumping from 
 a ha ! ha ! into the newly-purchafed meadow- 
 land, popped one of her feet into fome black 
 mud, which had communicated from her fhoes 
 to her petticoats, and extremely difcolored them: 
 but unmindful of fuch trifles, Rofella continued 
 to amufe herlelf, ?iid was helping a little boy 
 belonging to one of the workmen, to wheel fome 
 loom in a hand-barrow, when (he was fuddenly 
 overtaken, and mod unexpectedly, by Lady Lucy 
 and her three or four friends, amounting to 
 nearly a dozen, including her two brothers. 
 Lord Morteyne and Mr. Povey's ci-devani friend 
 Cyril Eftcourt. 
 
 Rofella haftily quitted her occupation, and 
 the blood flew to her cheeks, as (lie fuvveyed 
 with a momentary glance the diforder of her 
 adjuftraent. Lady Lucy feemed fearful of dif- 
 
 treffing 
 
ROSELLA. 117 
 
 trefllng her by fubje£ling her to the regards of 
 her companions, and with a cour-iefy was paffing 
 on, when the following disjointed phrales caught 
 the ear of Rofelia from the train that followed 
 her. 
 
 « A confounded handfome hoyden — the Jor- 
 dan might take a leflbn here — devilifh pity — 
 a fine girl, faith — ruilic you mull own — yes yes 
 — a belle fauvage^ Accompanied by an aflbrt- 
 ment of (hrugs and grimaces to denote contempt, 
 compaffion, or faint admiration. 
 
 Her pride was piqued, and her refentment 
 roufed by fuch a ftring of comments, uttered 
 jufl loud enough for her to catch the fenfe of 
 each phrafe. Hoyden ! ruftic ! favage ! re- 
 peated fhe indignantly, as flie furveyed herfelf 
 once more. The fituation in which fhe had 
 been difcovered then recurring to her, and the 
 accidents which had difcredited her toilet, all 
 catching her eye, made her almofh admit the 
 juftice of the remarks; and forgetting the in- 
 folent affectation of fuperiorlty which had dic- 
 tated the utterance of them in her hearing, fhe 
 advanced to Lady Lucy, and apologizing for 
 the difhabille to which her morning's ramble 
 had reduced her, offered, with returning good 
 humour, to point out the improvements and al- 
 terations which had not yet been made apparent. 
 
 The overture was received with politenefs, 
 ,and accepted with acknowledgments by the ami- 
 able Lady Lucy and her elder brother : but 
 Mr. Eflcourt and another young man of fafhion 
 chofe to amufe a very boid-looking, deeply- 
 Touged, middle-aged woman, of apparently high 
 pretentions, who was leaning familiarly upon 
 an arm of each, by half-whifpered witticifms 
 and obfervations upon their fair condud:refs, 
 
 which 
 
Ilg ROSELLA. 
 
 which obtained peals of laughter from all who 
 •walked within fix paces of them. 
 
 Rofella, confoled by the felicitous attention 'of 
 Lady Lucy, endured this polite perfecution with 
 tolerable fortitude, till hearing the name of Mifs 
 Beauclerc mentioned in accents fhe difapproved, 
 (he liftened more attentively to the diftinguifhed 
 hoaxers who were fo obligingly honoring her 
 with their derifion, and hearing her beft friend 
 not very ceremonioufly treated, (he turned to the 
 party, and with fome vivacity exclaimed — 
 
 « I am indeed ruftic enough to imagine that 
 fuch converfation as I have this moment heard, 
 would have been more proper on the other fide of 
 Mifs Beauclerc*s gates : and befides. Sir," added 
 (he, addre(RngMr. Eftcourt, and gathering refent- 
 ment as (he fpoke, « you would difplay your judg- 
 ment in returning to your (irft fubje6t, for I am 
 furely a much greater objedl of ridicule than 
 Mifs Beauclerc, who is one of the beft and 
 mod amiable of women." 
 
 The whole party paufed at this unlooked-for 
 warmth \ the principal offender made no reply, 
 and Rofella immediately repenting that (he had 
 given way to the impulfe of the moment, had 
 the additional mortification of obferving that 
 Lady Lucy appeared exceedingly chagrined at 
 what had paffed. Lord Morteyne too, who had 
 no (hare in the offence, feemed hurt, and Rofella 
 would have given the moft cheriflied of her pofle- 
 ilions to have recalled her words. She determined 
 to endure any further impertinence the witty 
 groupe chofe to inflic^l upon her, rather than In- 
 creafe the vexation, perhaps too the fecret cen- 
 fure, of Lady Lucy, and re fumed the office (he 
 had taken upon herfelf, with redoubled alacrity, 
 refclutely endeavouring to ihut her ears againft 
 
 the 
 
ROSELLA. 119 
 
 the titters, hints, and innuendos which dill efca- 
 ped from the well-bred fet, who chofe to regard 
 her in the firft place as a dependant, and 
 fecondly as a child, in compliment to a woman 
 of high rank who was prefent, and with well- 
 founded claims to admiration from perfonal 
 beauty, was aflually wavering whether (he 
 (hould or fhould not forward a match in agitati- 
 on for her favourite grand-daughter, by difclo- 
 fmg to her the ingredients of a pomade known 
 only to herfelf, which poflefled, (he was fully 
 perfuaded, the moft fovereign efficacy in heigh- 
 tening the charms of a youthful complexion, 
 and in preferving a lovelinefs of a riper date. 
 This never-fading flower, this American aloe, 
 had laughed exceedingly at the pertnefs of the 
 filly girl, who prefumcd to comment upon the 
 converfation of people of faihion, and dafhed 
 any rifing fame the unadorned beauty of Ro- 
 fella might have attained by remarking with a 
 carelefs air, that (he was ju(t fuch a pretty 
 unformed thing as Lady Ag?i\.\\2,^sfernme de cham" 
 hevy and'much refembled her. 
 
 " Does Mifs Beauclerc," afked Lord Mor- 
 teyne, to divert the attention of Rofella, " re- 
 main much longer at Avelines ?" 
 
 *< All the winter, I believe, my Lord,** replied 
 fhe. 
 
 " And do ycu flay here all the winter ?" 
 faid Lady Lucy, in a voice of kindnefs. 
 
 " Oh I hope fo !" returned Rofella, « I hope 
 I (hail be with my good and kind friend." 
 
 Ludy Lucy fmiled, but without any trait of 
 irony or difdain, and her brother fmiled with 
 the fame expreflion. 
 
 They had now nearly reached a fwing-gate 
 that opened to the road, and Lady Lucy making 
 
 towardf 
 
120 ROSELLi. 
 
 towards it, thanked her fair conduclrefs with 
 great fweetnefs, and Lord Morteyne made his 
 acknowledgment with an air of being really 
 obliged. Rofella had fo far recovered her ufu- 
 al fpirits and vivacity, as to receive unmoved the 
 half nods, half courtefies of fome of the party 
 as they quitted the grounds, and the intended 
 mortification of being wholly and difdainfully 
 overlooked by the relt. More pleafed with the 
 notice of Lady Lucy, than chagrined by the im- 
 pertinence of her alibciates, fhe ran to the houfc, 
 and flying up flairs to the drefling-room of Mifs 
 Beauclerc, haftily informed her to whom (he 
 had been doing the honors of Avelines. 
 
 Her friend furveyed her figure with furprife 
 and confternation, and Mrs. Eilinger, who was 
 prefent, eagrly exclaimed — 
 
 " Good heavens, Rofella ! by what accident 
 cculd you pofTibly have become this objedl r" 
 
 Rofella had almofl, forgotten the (late fhe was 
 in, but thus reminded, (he recounted the mif- 
 adventurcs of the morning, and extended the 
 narrative to the little brujquerie with which fhe 
 had retorted the rudenefs fhe had experienced. 
 The gentle Sehna looked extremely difconcerted 
 at the hiftory fhe imparted, and fome glances 
 were interchanged between her and the myfte- 
 rious widow, exprefhve of exceflive vexation ; 
 for in fadt it was rather uncoutTi that a beautiful 
 and young heroine fliould be furprifed by a ten- 
 der and difconfolate lover, whilft fhe was wheel- 
 ing a barrov/ of loom, in petticoats fringed with 
 black mud, and a robe whofe fraiflured drapery 
 embraced the v/anton pinions of every zephyr 
 that fluttered by. Nor had they, in the courfe 
 of their extenfivc reading, m>et with one inftance 
 of an infulted charmer ever noticing the molt 
 
 outrageous 
 
HOSELLi. 121 
 
 outrageous obloquy or taunt that envy, pride, 
 and malice could infli£t, except by diftilling from 
 her dark and fringed eyes a (hower of pearly 
 drops upon her pale and penfive cheek. 
 
 Yet however (hocked Mifs Beauclerc might 
 be at the indecorum of Rofella, (he was too 
 fond of her to fuffer a harfh reprimand to efcapc 
 her lips ; and though Mrs. Ellinger might long 
 to read her a le<fi:ure upon the drooping loves 
 and patient graces, fhe was obliged by her ex- 
 ample to confine herfelf to an entreaty that Ro- 
 fella would in future pay proper attention to her 
 exterior. She was then difmiffed by the ladies 
 to repair her toilet, and they entered into a long 
 and very interefting converfation concerning 
 the expediency of her continuing the charocfter 
 of a lively and thoughtlefs, but very captivating 
 girl, or whether the more fubduing, though bea- 
 ten track of penfive dignity (hould be recom- 
 mended and enforced ? They had been fomc 
 time debating whether Lord Morteyne would 
 prove the boifterous, unprincipled, daring, dif- 
 liked, yet perfevering lover, who v/as deftined to 
 traduce her, torment her, carry her off, and 
 marry her, in fpite either of inclination, law, 
 gofpel, or the favored Twain ; or whether the 
 fequel would prove him the favored fwain him- 
 felf, who would refpecl her, venerate her, trull 
 her, confide in her, figh for her, and die for her 
 in contempt of the moft intricate, threatening, 
 myfterious, black, and unpropitious appearances. 
 The account, given by Rofella of his conduct 
 that morning, determined the point in his favor ; 
 he was to be the perfect and happy lover, and 
 they now put in prad^ice two or three expedients, 
 to difcover if he, or any of his family, pofleffed 
 
 Vol. I. G any 
 
,12-2 ROSI-LLA. 
 
 nny tumble-down cadle either in the north of 
 England, in Wales, Scotland or Ireland. 
 
 In a (hort time Rofella was pronounced a goml 
 h.orfewoman : a very beautiful animal had been 
 bought for her ufe, and Mifs Beauclerc having 
 two or three times feafted her eyes, and fed her 
 hopes, with a view of this beloved girl in her 
 equeftrian charaifter, and being convinced of 
 the gentlenefs of her horfe, lent her forth, at- 
 tended only by a groom lad, really and literally 
 in fearch of adventures. Uncertain of her 
 powers, and though delighted, a little apprehen* 
 five at being thus left to her own guidance, Ro- 
 fella, for the firfl day or two, confined her rides 
 to the neighbouring common ; and then gather- 
 ing courage, (lie extended them by degrees, till 
 {lie was tolerably well acquainted with the 
 country for ten miles round. .Every tiine flie 
 returned home, and haftily difmounting, ran to 
 embrace her indulgent friend, the accuilomed 
 quellion of •* Who did you fee ?" was generally 
 anfwered by ** Nobody I knew '," and the two 
 matrons growing impstient, as they veryreafona- 
 bly might, at this chafm In adventures, it almofi: 
 occuFi-ed to them that the figure of Rofella, and 
 the figure of her horfe, though they were both 
 admirable, muft by this time be pretty well 
 known, and by ceafing to excite c.uriofity, ceafe 
 to excite any vivid admiration. 
 
 Mr. Ellinger, e^i attendant, began to think. 
 that his wife had given up quite enough of her 
 time for the confolalion and comfort of her 
 fanciful friend, atd had v/ritten to require her 
 return home, fstting forth in forcible terms the 
 inconveniencies of her abfence \ amongit whic;h 
 the more prominent were, the impudence and 
 lazinefs of Molly, their cook, who' fpoiled the 
 
 dinner 
 
IIOSELLA. 1 2^ 
 
 dinner regularly every day ; the difappearance 
 of feveral of his (hirts ; the deplorable Rate of 
 his daughter, who walked about the houfe fiip- 
 fliod, and had not a whole frock to her back ; 
 snd, laitly, the fihhy condition of his man- 
 fion, where it was impcflible to move without 
 difturbing a bufhei of dull, and brufinng dow'n 
 a doz;^n cobwebs at every ftep^ 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc found it too difficult however, 
 to part with her confidante and advifer •, iliirls, 
 frocks, and flioes were procured at ready-made 
 warehoufes at her expence, and fent to Mr. 
 Ellinger to qualify his impatience for the return 
 of his refined Lady, who accompanied her dear 
 ijophia to town, and afTified her in choo/ing a 
 very hantlfome piece of plate, as a fop to her 
 growling Cerberus. The friends then ventured 
 to his den, and prefenting their offering, receiv- 
 ed a fallen permifhon that Mrs. Eilinger might 
 revifit Avelines for another month : and this 
 amiable miiitrefs of an amiable family, having 
 corrected lier deferted daughter, lectured her 
 fon, and fufhciently (lormed at her fcrvnnt^, 
 returned v/ith a light heart to tlie refidence of 
 talle, fentiment, friendOiip, and Sophia. 
 
 Rofella, who had not been of the cxcurfion, 
 becaiife Ihe did not wifh it, faw her re-appear 
 without pleafure, and only endeavored to fee it 
 without pain ; for fhe could net reconcile her 
 judgment to the afFe£led manners of Tvlrs. Ellin- 
 ger, orfubdue fomething like contem.pt and dif- 
 like which her abfurd language and ridiculous 
 deportment often created, and for which Ro- 
 fella invariably condemned, herfelf, becaufe ihe 
 believed her to be friendly, and to poficfs a 
 good lieart. 
 
 G 2 Mifs 
 
cl24 ROS LLA. 
 
 Mifs Bcauclerc, delighted to have carried Mt 
 cpoint with Mr. EUinger, continued to trace with 
 .her invaluable Selina, her fummer tour, and 
 proje(fb each day dilTerent adventures for Ro- 
 .iella in the courfe of it, who in compliance 
 ;with their injuncftions and her own inclinations, 
 •continued her daily rides j and ftill the fame 
 <]ueftion, and the fame anfwer, were duly re- 
 peated, till one aufpicious morning fiie mounted 
 her horfe in high fpirits, and ftill more .anima- 
 ted by the finenefs of the weather, which was 
 unufually favorable for the feafon, Ihe extended 
 her peregrination rather further than ufual, 
 and was hailening home, when the cry of 
 hounds and the horn of the hunifman faluted 
 ihe car of the .fpirited animal on which-flie was 
 ieatcd, who fnutfe.d the air, and laying his ears 
 dofe to his head, fct off without further notice, 
 followed by the horfe on which the groom was 
 mounted, and foon joined in the chace. 
 
 Rofella, ftartled at her want of power to re- 
 .ftrain him,, and terrified .by the .deafening yel- 
 ping of the dogs, and the confufed. cries and 
 ihouts of the almoft frantic crew, amongft 
 whom chance had thrown her, trembled, and 
 fcarcely kept her feat, which was feveral times 
 endangered by the flying leaps which her cour- 
 fer chofe to take. At length he thought proper 
 to ford a brook that immediately obftrucSled his 
 progrefs, and about a dozen more horfcs and 
 riders plunging in at the fame time, Rofella was 
 in a moment as wet as though (he had been 
 drawn through the llream. 
 
 3he was fcarcely again landed on a fine paf- 
 ture, when her agitation of fpirits overcame her, 
 her trembling hands refufed to retain the bridle, 
 and half fainting, (he fell to the earth, where 
 
 dunned 
 
ROSELLA. lijT 
 
 {!unncd by the concufTion, flie lay infenfible to 
 the danger with which (he was furrounded from 
 the impetuous anirrtals who were behind her, 
 and purfuing their courfe, fuccelFively leaped 
 over her while fhe was ftretched upon the 
 ground. One of the gentlemen of the hunt, 
 either more compaffionate, or more obfervant 
 than others, threw himfelf from his horfe at a 
 confiderable hazard, and fcarcely waiting till the 
 tumultuous croud had gone by, flew to aid the 
 Itickkfs being who appeared ilill unconfcious of 
 the accident that had befallen her. He faw 
 that fhe was " fair and young ;" but her eyes 
 were clbfed, her lips paid, and her features void 
 of expreffion, fo that every perfon (Mrs. Ellin- 
 ger excepted) might have well excufed any de- 
 ii'ciency of rapturous admiration at the brilliaiK 
 charms of his inanimate charge, whom he never- 
 thelefs endeavored to reftore to life with more 
 humanity than fuccefs. 
 
 Diftrefled at the failure of his efforts, the 
 ftranger looked round for an aid-du-campy and 
 very opportunely difcovcred one in the perfon of 
 a labourer, who was carrying a trufs of hay from 
 a flack at a fmall diftance, to a public-houfe by 
 the road-fide. With the afhflance of this man, 
 Rofella was conveyed to it \ but before fhe was 
 lodged in the houfe, the ftranger was accofted 
 by a perfon on horfeback, who enquired what 
 had happened. 
 
 <* Ah, my Lord, is it you r" returned he : 
 " you have arrived very a-propes to afhft me in 
 a d — mned tioublefome charge I have been 
 Quixote enough to undertake. This fallen 
 Diana," continued he, as he purfued his way, 
 " was difmountcd during our chace this morn- 
 ing, 
 
1 26 lOSELLA. 
 
 ing, and I begin to fear {he is more fcriouily 
 hurt than I had imagined." 
 
 They had now gained the houfe, nnd the 
 women belonging to it being called, Rofella 
 \va6 given to their care, and a furgeon Tent 
 for by Lord Morteyne ; for it was even him 
 the ftranger addrefied, and he difpatched his 
 own fervant upon the errand. 
 
 When Rofella had been placed upon the beft 
 bed the hotellerie afibrded, the gentlemen walked 
 before the door of the houfe, impatient for the 
 arrival of the medical perfon v/ho would relieve 
 them, they hoped, from an anxiety the moll 
 indifferent man mud have experienced in the 
 fume fituatlon, 
 
 ** So this is the fair Syren whom Ainflle 
 raves about," faid the ftranger, continuing a 
 converfation which had kegun in the houfe: 
 *« but v/ho the devil is (lie ?" 
 
 " An orphan, I am told," replied the other : 
 ** flie is allied to the family of old Beauclerc 
 who is lately dead — the people, I mean, who 
 live at Avelines." 
 
 <« Oh, aye — the melancholy old maid Lady 
 Jjucy \vas fpeaking of." 
 
 " Yes •, this poor girl feems left to her ma- 
 nagement, and is fuffered to ride about the 
 country with no other protection than the at- 
 tendance of a lad." 
 
 " She appears to be a charming creature." 
 
 « She is one of the loveiiell young women I 
 ever beheld : but like other wild flowers, might 
 be vailly improved by cultivation, I believe." 
 
 " I do not think fo," cried the gentleman of 
 the chace) »< I fliould prefer her frefti from her 
 ♦* native woodlands wild." 
 
 « Then 
 
ROSEJ.LA. 127 
 
 «' Then (he would at this moment exndiy 
 meet your tafle ; for no Arabian untameci fiily 
 ever fcoriied the whip and Tpur, as (he fcorns 
 the forms of decorum and etiquette ufualiy prac- 
 tifed by girls of her age and fituation in hfe.'* 
 
 Lord Morteyne then proceeded to relate her 
 appearance when (lie was furprifed by his fifler 
 and her vifiters in the grounds at Avelines: 
 «1 And yet," added he, " llie checked the cri- 
 ticifms of Cyril with fuch fpirit, aud after Cnc 
 little ebullition of refentment, endured the ill- 
 natured farcafms of fome, and the incelTani 
 tittering of others, with fuch invincible patience 
 and unaffected good-humour, that Lucy has be- 
 come her firm champion, and will not fuif^r 
 her to be cenfured or ridiculed in her prefence.'* 
 
 The ilranger laughed at the recital, and 
 commended the urbanity of Lady Lucy, who 
 was, he fald, a good creature, and unfit to live 
 in this world of felfiibneis and uncharitEbl*- 
 nefs. 
 
 Long before the furgeon could arrive, Ro- 
 fella recovered her recolledlion, and hearing 
 ing from the woman who attended her, what 
 had been done by the gentlemen for her benefir, 
 earneftly declared that (he was not at all hurt, 
 and infifted upon rlnng from her bed. The 
 good people, who were not willing to give up 
 fo fuddenly what they thought would turn out 
 a profitable j.^b, ran to inform Lord Morteyne 
 and his companion, that the lady would have it 
 flie was very well, and that Hie would get up. 
 
 <• Oh, if that be the cafe," cried the flran- 
 ger, haftily, <* I fhall place her in your protec- 
 tion, my Lord, leave my congratulations for 
 her fafety, and be off: for faith, I left my fa- 
 mous new mare to her own difcretion, and I 
 
 begin. 
 
12$ HOSELLA. 
 
 begin to be uneafy left Mifs Jenny (hould have 
 taken as little care of herfelf as your filler's 
 handfome favorite." 
 
 He then flew away without waiting the re- 
 ply of Lord Morteyne, and the women afked 
 what was to be done. Rofella, however, fpared 
 them any further deliberation on the fubje£l by 
 making her appearance ; and (he no fooner be- 
 lield whom they were addrefling, than uttering 
 an exclamation of furprifc — 
 
 « Ah, my Lord !" cried flie, " how much I 
 am indebted to your charitable afliftancel But 
 Mifs Beauclerc muft exprefs my acknowledg- 
 ments. Will your Lordfliip add to the obliga- 
 tion by informing me how I can return home, 
 for I am very anxious that {he (hould not be 
 alarmed at my long abfence .?'' 
 
 After a (hort converfation, he difmifled the 
 idea which the women had excited, by infinu- 
 ating that Rofella was light-headed; and find- 
 ing her rational, and apparently unhurt, he fent 
 to the neareft inn for a poftchaife. But the 
 furgeon arriving in the interim, Rofella was 
 obliged to fufFer him to examine her pulfe, and 
 with much entreaty on her part, the ceremony 
 of lofing blood, which he pronounced to be 
 proper, was deferred till fhe returned to Ave- 
 lines. 
 
 Lord Morteyne felt himfelf interefted that fo 
 young and amiable a creature fhould not lofc 
 her lilfe by negleding this precaution, and de- 
 termined to accompany her home, that he 
 might enforce the opinion of the furgeon, which 
 appeared reafonable. He contrived to fee him 
 without the knowledge of Rofella, who was 
 too eager for the arrival of the chaife, to re- 
 member that it was necefl'ary to do fo j and at 
 
 length, 
 
ROSELtA. I £9 
 
 length, to the great relief of her impatience, 
 the mefienger who had been difpatchcd, re- 
 turned fuccefsfuh Before (he ftepped into it, 
 fhe recolleded that the people of the houfe 
 ought to be rewarded for their attention, and 
 left her purfe with them — a liberality Lord Mor- 
 teyne did not oppofe. She then took her leave 
 of him with a fimple, yet earned expreflion of 
 gratitude, which however he difclaimed any 
 title to, and the chaife drove off; but ic was 
 ftopped again in two minutes by his Lordfhip, 
 who meant to have followed her- on horfeback, 
 until he difcovcred that the knight-errant of 
 Rofella had borrowed his fteed, that he might 
 purfue Mifs Jenny with greater celerity. 
 
 Lord Morteyne entreated that Mifs Montre-- 
 for would allow him a feat in the chaife, which' 
 was very readily complied with, and he had 
 now leifure to remove the error (he had been in, 
 in imagining he had rendered her the fervice of 
 conveying her to the place where flie had re- 
 ceived afTiftance:- though he could not perfuade 
 her that (he did not owe him obligation for his 
 generous attentions. 
 
 He felt the intereft he had already taken In 
 her welfare encreafed by the artlefs energy of 
 her gratitude, and was irrcfjftibly prompted to 
 hint, diilantly indeed, and with great delicacy, 
 at the impropriety of a lady fo young and £b 
 engaging as Mifs Montrcfor, venturing fo far 
 from home without a chaperon or companion.-^ 
 
 Rofella comprehended the full force of tli€ 
 rebuke, gentle though it was, and was thunder- 
 ftruck at the facility with which (he had been 
 fufFered to err. 
 
 " Is it poflible," thought fhe, « that Mifs 
 
 Beauclerc fhould not have been aware of this ?'* 
 
 G 3 Lord 
 
^3^ ROSE! Lit » 
 
 Lord Morteyne faw her conflernation, and 
 was hurt to have occafioned her To much morti- 
 ^'Cation as it was evident Hie felt: it was im- 
 polTible however to enlarge on the fubjecl: with- 
 out increafing her entotion, and he convcrfed 
 • upon indiiterent and unimportant themes, till 
 the chaife Hopped at Avelines : but Rofella 
 coujd not detach her mind from the flight and 
 hah"-expre{]ed cenfure he had betrayed, which 
 rendered her filent and thou,c;htful, until he 
 forced her attention by enquiring if (he would 
 not wilh the driver to take her to the back en- 
 trance, that Mifs Beauclerc might not be alarmed 
 by feeing her return in a carriage, before (he 
 < was aiTured that no material accident had hap- 
 pened. 
 
 Rofella thanked him for the caution, and af- 
 fented. 
 
 ,..! « You will pardon me," continued Lord 
 •Morteyne, *< if I defire a fervant to inform 
 Mifs Beauclerc that it'has been ilrongly recom- 
 mended you fhould have a vein opened as foon 
 as pofTible •, fori fhould imagine I had very im- 
 perfe(5lly performed the ofhce my friend Oberne 
 delegated to me, if I neglected to give her this 
 intelligence." 
 
 ' ■ She again thanked him, and afked if he 
 would not do her the honor to accompany her 
 into the houfe t but he declined the invitation. 
 
 Lord Morteyne's fervant now opened the 
 chaife-door, and old Simpfon, who happened to 
 be walking acrofs the (table-yard, haitened to 
 it "'iti' great flirprife. To quiet the. apprehen- 
 Tions of the old man, Rofella briefly mentioned 
 her difafter, and Lord Morteyne having twice 
 tepeated tile injuncflion of the furgeon, defired 
 iiim particularly not lo fail communicating it to 
 
 hid 
 
ROSELLA. 131 
 
 his Lady, and making his bow to Rofella, , or- 
 dered the pOiL-boy to drive on. 
 
 After two or three moments of reflection, fhe 
 turned in filence from the minute enquiries of 
 JSimpfon, and ran up (lairs to the dreiTing-rooni 
 of her friend, where (he wasfure to be found 
 till dinner tim^ in clofe conference with Mrs. 
 Ellinger, furrounded by maps, tours, and rbadS;, 
 r-com the folio Atlas to'tlie pocket volume. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 <* Y OU have been an unufu^l. long ride, mj 
 love," faid Mlfs Beauclerc, as Rcfeila entered 
 the room *,. " we have. been uneafy that you did 
 not return fooner." 
 
 Mrs. Ellinger confirmed the aHerticn as far 
 as it related to her, by rehearlmg the cruel 
 anxiety fhe had fufrered ? ^ii^d Rofella, after a 
 litftle preface, related ^3 much of the mifadven* 
 ture that had befallen her, as Ihe herfelf knew. 
 
 Mifs Beaucierc trembled at the peril '^Vi^ had 
 bceii in 5 but the laches interchanged very fig- 
 nificant regards when tlie much admired hero 
 appeared on the canvafs ; and they confidered 
 his denial of being the fortunate man who had 
 refeued the fair one from danger, as an inge- 
 nious device^to fparc her tenc>er heart th^ weight 
 of fueh a load of gratitude.- , . • 
 
 But 
 
132 R0SELL.4. 
 
 But in giving the narrative, Rofella cou Id no 
 prevail upon herfelf to repeat the hint Lord 
 Morteyne had let fall, of the impropriety ihc 
 had fo innocently been guilty of; becaufe it ap- 
 peared to reflect either upon the judgment or 
 the prudence of Mifs Beauclerc. 
 
 Mr. Ellinger*s unnumbered queflions were 
 now interrupted by Simpfon, who having rc- 
 hearfed the adventures of the poft-chaife in the 
 houfekeeper's room, recolle£led the injuntftions 
 of the young Lord, and entered the apartment 
 to fulfil them. Mifs Beauclerc inftantly caught 
 the alarm; and. fancying her beloved child had 
 received fome dangerous contufion, notwith- 
 ftanding her earneft aflertions to the contrary, 
 fent inllantly to the family apothecary, and to 
 the London phyfician, and indited that (he 
 fliould immediately be put to bed. 
 
 The abfent groom and his horfes, who had 
 not yet been heard of, were wholly forgotten in 
 the hurry that enfued, and every pleafurable 
 fenfation which the intervention of Lord Mor- 
 teyne had excited in the bofom of Mifs Beau- 
 clerc, vanifhed in terror for the event, which 
 might deprive her of all that could, in her eyes, 
 render life defirable. Rofella, who really felt 
 ftifF and indifpofed, fubmitted at length to the 
 ilifcipline and confinement preparing for her ; 
 and the next day, in fpite of every precaution, 
 {he was difcovered to have a violent cpld, fore 
 throat, and confiderable fever. The laft fatal 
 iilnefs of her father recurred to the recolleftion 
 of Mifs Beauclerc, who tormented herfelf by 
 imagining that the diforder of his daughter was 
 of the fame nature, and would terminate as 
 horribly. In vain did Mrs. Ellingcr cxhauft her 
 invention in prognofticating future adventures and 
 
 future 
 
*OSELLA. IJ5 
 
 future greatnefs; fhe was not to be diverted 
 from her fears but by feme very mterefting in- 
 telligence the confoling Selina accidentally pro- 
 cured : this was no other, than that Lord Mor- 
 teyne was acfkually at that moment confined to 
 his bed by the fame malady that had feized their 
 dear fufFering Rofella'. 
 
 " What wonderful fympathy !" exclaimed 
 Mrs. Ellinger, continuing her harangue, " what 
 a ftriking and myPcerious fimilarity of deftiny 
 approaches thefe amiable, charming, and well- 
 matched young people to each other ! Is it not 
 improbable, my dear friend, that fate (hould, 
 after a feries of incidents fo remarkable, fail to 
 render them happy in each other ? But certainly 
 we mud prepare for many unfortunate and in- 
 tricate adventures to delay their tender union> 
 which truft me, Sophia, we ihall live to con- 
 gratulate each other upon.** 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc viewed this fublime efFuiion 
 in a prophetic light, and fuffcred hope and 
 gladnefs once more to vifit her heart j little fuf- 
 pe£ling that this wonderful and myfterious fym- 
 pathy in the def^inies of Lord Mortcyne and 
 Rofella> was occafioned by the intolerable damp- 
 nefs of the hack poft-chaife, which having been 
 out the day before for feveral hours in a heavy 
 rain, had been incapable of refilling the gravity 
 of the torrent that penetrated into every part of 
 it, and aflifted the fhower-bath Rofella had re- 
 ceived in the chace, to diforder her, and had 
 been the only caufe of the indifpofition of his 
 Lordfhip, who had been dancing the whole of 
 the preceding night, and having taken hit hat 
 off, that he might recline with greater eafe, 
 had rode twelve miles in this dangerous ma- 
 chine, in a very found fleep. 
 
 The 
 
2 34 ROSELLi* 
 
 The winter was conficlerably advanced before 
 Rofella had wholly recovered the effe£l of this 
 adventure, and her refolution never more to 
 venrtuire upon the back of h^r- ruivaw^ay {Iced, 
 was not thought very ftrange or myftcrious even 
 by Mrs. Eliinger. The animal had been re- 
 covered by the greom, who returned home in 
 fafety, and the iinportant incident was fettled 
 when Rofella grew convalefcent, by a very ftre- 
 nupus letter of thanks from Mifs Beauclerc to 
 Lord Morteyne and his unkuo'wn friend. , This 
 polittjfe had been retorted by a note pf enquiry 
 con:cerning the fair invalid, \vhich produced a 
 fecond on the part of Mifs Beauclerc, trufling, 
 hoping, and wifliing that his Lorddiip himfelf 
 was recovering, or would foon recover : and - 
 there the intercourfe ended, to ihe extreme afto- 
 nii*hment and mortification pf Mrs., Eliinger, 
 who thought tht man was either crazy, or had 
 entangled himfelf in fome unfortunate engage- 
 ment, v;hich now tortured hrs mind, and rived 
 his heart : on this fcore alone ilie could forgive 
 and pity him. 
 
 Aveiines had now almofl loft its- attra(fiicns 
 with the departure of the foliage and warm 
 weather. Lord. Morteyne had deferred the 
 neighbourhood, and Mrs. Eliinger could no 
 longer be fufFered to regle^l: her houfshoKl y {o 
 that Mifs Beauclerc, leaving lier improvements 
 to the proper fuperintcndent, eriablillied her- 
 felf at her houfe in town. Her chariot was 
 then fent three or four times a week for the in- 
 dulgent Seiina, who quitted every thing to af- 
 fift .in perfed^ing the champing plan, which, 
 an^idft inrjumerable, ccnfultations, had, -been 
 iketched out at Aveiines : and in return for this 
 proof of uncommon attachment, Mifs Beauclerc 
 ' could 
 
KOSELLA. rj^; 
 
 could not avoid fending Rofella fometlmes to- 
 Chancery-Lane, x^s for herfelf, flie had ori- 
 ginally dilliked the manners and perfon of Mr. 
 Ellinger, and by an, extreme indulgence of what 
 ihe called natural antipathy, had novi' an un- 
 conquerable averiion to him, in which the gen- 
 tle Selina afiuring her of her entire fympathy, , 
 Mifs Beauclerc never troubled herfelf to ruffle 
 her delicate foul by enduring his fociety if (hs 
 could avoid it, and Rof?lla almoft always made 
 hervifits unaccompanied by her friend. Thofe 
 which (he more afiiduoufly paid Mr. Mordaunt, 
 whom (he very fmcerely loved and reverenced,, 
 were fcarcely lefs irkfome to her, from the mi-" 
 nute, teazing, and fretful difpofition of his fifter, 
 who infifted with great perfeverance, that Ro- 
 fella was mod piiiably brought up, for that (lie 
 had no reafon in her arguments, and no method 
 In her a6lions. 
 
 "What, is it that you difapprove in her?'* 
 afked INIr. Mordaunt, rather angrily: " in mv 
 opinion fhe is a very good girl, and a very clever 
 girl ; but if you mean to lament that her genius 
 was not put in a go-cart till it could never creep 
 without one, I muft aflert, m.y dear fifter, that 
 I t)iink fhe is benefited by the negledl. I am 
 no fiiend to the fine fydem of trymg and con- 
 demning without mercy the little indifcretions 
 j\nd natural ebullitions of youth. I cannot en- 
 dure to the fee the mind of a young woman 
 fufpended in the chains of grey-headed prudence 
 and circumfpe£lion, till like a gibet.ted criminal, 
 there is nothing left. to indicate what the ori- 
 ginal figure was, but ^ the tattered difgufting 
 ikeleton which the hangman's - accoutr-ements 
 Wld together." • 
 
 Mrs. 
 
1 3*6 ROSELLi. 
 
 Mrs. Methwald was much offended by thts- 
 fpeech, which (he thought an attack upon a 
 fubjedl, of all others (he could leaft bear to have 
 rudely handled. This lady having lately loft 
 her huiband, had taken up her refidence with 
 her brother, that (lie might fave the principal- 
 part of her income for the ufe of a daughter, > 
 who had fome years before married an expenfive 
 man of fome fafhion, chiefly it was fuppofed,. 
 for the pleafure of feducing him from a ma- 
 tronly beauty, whofe moft devoted ticifbeo 
 Mr. Crefly wasj and to render the eclat of the 
 defeOion complete, the deferted dame was 
 called the moft intimate friend of Mrs. and- 
 Xvlifs Methwald. Mrs. Grefiy was^ idolized by^ 
 her father^ and again ft his judgment, he atr 
 length ailented to the match. The bride was^ 
 furnifhed with jewels^, and prefented j but un- 
 luckily her fortune, which had been called im- 
 menfe, proved to be confiderably lefs than Mr. 
 CreiTy had computed it at, and in refentment 
 for fuch perfidy, he refolved to run through it 
 as faft as poflible, that the old man might fee 
 he was not to be fettered and ftinted with im- 
 punity. 
 
 The education of the young lady, his wife, 
 had been conduced entirely under the eye of 
 Mrs. Methwald, who had indefatigably colledled 
 every publfcation upon the " delightful talk" of 
 rearing "the tender thoughti" which had ever 
 appeared; from the grand, minute, fuperb, fen- 
 timental, overbearing, manoeuvring lady of 
 doubtful fame, Madame G — 1 — s, to the pretty, 
 natural, eafy, and mftru6tive moral of Mrs. 
 Trimmer. But all this could not fuffice — 
 Mrs. Methwald had determined to form a phce- 
 nlx, and had alike devoured eflays, fermons, 
 
 pofthumous 
 
ROSILLA. 137 
 
 pofthumous advice, and pofthumous letters. 
 The for titer in re, and fuaviter in modo^ ftruck 
 her imagination as a maxim wonderfully fub- 
 lime and besuitiful, and became the ground- 
 work of the fuperftru£lure (he wifned to raife. 
 Unluckily however, the objedl or her cares and 
 hopes was a being of uncommon mould, alike 
 without affections and without paflions. The 
 fortiter 171 re with her confided in felf-gratifica- 
 tion, without regard to the feelings and the 
 mortifications of others *, and when fhe moft 
 difplayed a cold-blooded fupercilioufnefs, void 
 of thofe little attentions and endearments which 
 form the eharm of domeftlc fociety, the unfor- 
 tunate beings who v^ere de (lined to be her com- 
 panions, were moft certain of beholding her 
 broad white countenance puckered into fimpers 
 —this was xht fuaviter in modj. She was like a 
 ftinted cucumber from an early hot-bed, which 
 of its own nature retains only the coldnefs, and 
 taftes only of the manure that reared it : her 
 perfon correfpoudcd with her mind, and her 
 complexion was fo uniformly death-like and in- 
 animate, that her hufband in reforming her 
 toilet, infifted upon introducing the rouge- 
 box. 
 
 This lady Rofella met at the houfe of Mr. 
 Mordaunt,- who in compliment to his fifter, 
 treated his wonderful niece with attention and 
 politenefs ; yet on many occaHons (he had much 
 offended and difgufted him, and did not efface 
 any- unpleafant irapreffion he might have re- 
 ceived when he prefented to her his little friend, 
 Mifs Montrefor : Mrs. Creffy imagined that her 
 uncle intended to requeft of her to introduce 
 Rofella into her circle of acquaintance ; and to 
 crufti fuch an expedation (he received the in- 
 
 trodudlory 
 
i38 UOSELLil. 
 
 troduc^ory courtefy of Mr. Mordaunt's infigni- 
 iiQ^ni protegee with a ftiiF inclination of the head, 
 g^zed at her attentively for halt a minute, threw 
 iicr eyes on the ground, clofed theni with a 
 i^uick motion, and drawing her mouth into a 
 half-prim, haiftjiifidious (imper, abruptly turned 
 to her rncther;, to enquire if the Demainbrys 
 had lately called in upon her. 
 
 Mama, v/ho difcerned nothing in this but an 
 ngveeable air of fafhion, began a very minute 
 anl\ver t& the, queriionj and Mr. Mordaunt, 
 who faw every thing in it which he did not 
 wilh to fee, Vv'ou Id not urge Rolella on to the no- 
 tice of others, but contented himfelf with mark- 
 ing the moft benevolent attentions to his young 
 favorite during the remainder of her vifit — a 
 circumdance that provoked the indignation of 
 both the ladies. 
 
 The day after this pieafant introdu<f\ion, Ro-^^ 
 feila v/as to pafs with Mrs. Ellinger by previous 
 appointment, to commemorate the birth of' her 
 daughter Livia, who v/as now fo feldom in the 
 fociety of her former companion, that the ri- 
 valry and conftitutional animofity by which Ro- 
 fella had two or three years fmce fo much fuf- 
 fered, was new confined to the coarfe mockery 
 .with which (he fpoke of her to a. few favorite 
 intimates, and to Betty the houfe-maid, who 
 was her principal confidante. 
 
 The evening of this aufpicious day was to be 
 enlivened with a ball, to which the rcludf ant 
 confent of Mr. Eilinger had been almoft for- 
 cibly obtained ; he infilled however, that lie 
 would quit theboufe until it fhould be again 
 fcbcred, thar his braiqs might not be addled by 
 tiiQ^iblly and uproar to which his family con- 
 
 • , fiened 
 
ROSELLA. 135^ 
 
 %ned themfclves : and Mrs. Elllnger, as It may 
 be imagined, readily afTented to the prelimi- 
 nary. 
 
 Rofella very unwillingly quitted the houfe of 
 Mifs Beauclerc at two o'clock, becaufe it had 
 been ftipulated that fne fnould go early. The 
 carriage fet her down in Chancery-Lane, and 
 was to be in waiting for her between twelve 
 and one, when Mr. Ellinger brutally infifted 
 that the fefiival fliould end. About two hours 
 nfter her entrance, the dinner was announced, 
 and it was difcovered that Mr. Povey, v/ho took 
 his meals 'in the houfe, was abfent. Mifs Livia 
 declared it was very hard he fliould flay out fo 
 on her birth-day ; and obferving that no one 
 clfe appeared much chagrined at the circum- 
 it ance^ ihe was cfrsr.dcd, aud rcfulvcd to be 
 •very fulky till he returned. In vain did Rofella,. 
 by every little attention in her power, endeavor 
 to divert her ill-humour, which completely an- 
 nulled the purpcfe of the Jet e — no Povey, no 
 fmiles ! Mrs. Kllinger was mortified at this pub- 
 lic exhibition of the perverfenefs of her daugh- 
 ter, and her vexation was conliderably increafed 
 by the unhappy plight of the dinner, which 
 was meant to be fu perb, and was found not to 
 be eatable. ' How unfortunate ! Did any one 
 ever hear of a fpoiled dinner at a heroine*s en- 
 tertainment ? No! — even though the heaven- 
 dropped food of an elegant di/ireffed fhould be 
 cooked by an infirm old nurfe, or an ignorant 
 cottage damfel at the foot of a fequeftered 
 mountain, the meal is invariably exquifitely neat 
 and delicious, and the table always flows witiv 
 milk and honey. 
 
 F?-te unpropitious to the ferenity of ISriU 
 Livia, had deftined that Mr. Povey (hould 011 
 
 that 
 
140 IteSELLA. 
 
 that morning, whiiit in the a£t of conveying 
 fome papers of importance to a lawyer who 
 unfortunately lived within the atmofphere of 
 Bond-Street, meet Mr. Eftcourt and a knot of 
 loungers, with mod of Vv^hom he had been oir 
 terms of intimacy at Weitminiler ; and the con- 
 fequence was, a general refolution to hoax the 
 quill-driver, who was furrounded in a moment^- 
 and fo much occupied in shaking hands with 
 three or four ci-divant friends all at the fame 
 moment, that the green bag fell to the ground, 
 and was inftantly kicked into a kennel, whilft 
 feveral open nfts flapped his fhoulders with 
 ^.nergetic zeal, and the epithets of my good 
 one, my fine- i€i\owy &U:, climaxed the faluta-- 
 ion. 
 
 After a few lurking fcrupies, which he did' 
 not dare avow, Povey, overcome by the un<- 
 jfaal and flattering condefcenfion of Mr. Efti- 
 court and his companions, confented to dine 
 with them at an hotel ; but recollcd^ing the 
 confequence of the commiflion with which he 
 had been enttufled, he had iuft enough ftrength- 
 of mind to endure the raillery of the party, 
 whilft he rai fed from the pavement the badge 
 of his deteded occupation, ^ and carried the 
 papers to the appointed place, accompanied by 
 u'\ his new aflbciates, who Avould not quit him» 
 Povey, having thus relieved his- mind from any 
 anxiety that might have clogged his gaiety, in-- 
 ftantly aiTumed the vacant, lolloping,, ftriding, 
 uiifteady gait of his companions, leant oil the 
 arm of Mr. Eftcourt, contrived to occupy the 
 whole pavement,, and ellated with his unex- 
 pe<fled good-fortune in being fo delightfully no- 
 ticed ia fpite of his degradation,, compelled all 
 
 tlfc 
 
the women he met to make a circuit Into tKc 
 carriage-way, and inftantly laughed aloud at 
 lome opportune faJly of wit. 
 
 It was therefore little to be wondered at, 
 that at nine in the evening Mifs Livia was ftill 
 in the fullens j for Mr. Fovey, who bad fo 
 unaccountably abfented himTelf, had engaged 
 her for the dance, and nobody could prevail 
 upon her to forget, the 2iegle6l, and take an- 
 other partner. 
 
 Hofella felt difpirited and fatigued from the 
 «ffe€l of her > continued ill-humour, teazed by 
 the riotous familiarity of young Ellinger, who 
 was fwallowing all the wine he could feize from 
 the fervants, and tormented; by the folly of his 
 -mother, who had labored very hard to produce 
 fentimental fituations and interefting fcenes 
 from con verfations and manners very oppofite 
 to general ideas of refinement. 
 
 The ennui which now overpowered Rofella, 
 Eotwithftanding her painful efforts to feem 
 lively and amufed, by giving her an air of con- 
 llraint and gravity that fat awkwardly on her 
 features, ,fubje<n:ed her to the cenfures of the 
 aflembly for being proud and fadidious ; whilft 
 the fuperiority of her appearance, and the at- 
 traiftions of her figure, excited the univerfal 
 indignation of all the females who were prefent, 
 and fhe became the obje6^ of perpetual whif- 
 pcrs, tittering, and offenfive glances, which 
 Mrs. Ellinger could not obfervc, becaufe fhe 
 was now extremely bufy in urging forward the 
 tardy refrefhments, already much dimlnifhed 
 by the inceflant pilferings of Maftcr William 
 and his fifter, who, angry though fhe was, 
 ftill condefcended to take rather more than her 
 Ihare of the good things provided for her guefts. 
 
 The 
 
142 ROSELLl. 
 
 The fervants, teazed and goaded on cither fids, 
 watched the dexterous movements of the young 
 gentleman; and Mrs. Betty, the fuperhitendent 
 of the (tores, catching him in the a£l of convey- 
 ing away a bafket of cakes, thnmped him. with- 
 out fcruple or mercy. Mifs Livia, who had 
 likewife Itoien into the back-room for fo me ne- 
 farious purpofe, npplauded the punifliment. 
 
 " That's right," exclaimed (lie ; ^' he de- 
 ferves to be well beat for his greed inefs f" 
 
 " Hold you your tongue," retorted Betty, 
 ,^^ you are as bad as he. every bit: Fm fure there 
 isn't fuch another two among the whole com- 
 pany, big and little." 
 
 " How crofs you arc I" replied the young 
 lady ; << hav'nt I done all I can to help you ?" 
 
 " Help n)e, quotha! let it alone and wel- 
 come," cried the ferving dame, raifiiig her 
 voice ; " you've helped off ever fo many tum.b- 
 iers of orgitt, and I feed you carry away my- 
 felf, a whole bottle of caterpillar." 
 
 <* What a {lory I" exclaimed Mifs, in a tone 
 equally exalted : *< but I don't care — I'll make 
 William remember fliealing the cakes how- 
 ever !" 
 
 Unfortunately, William happened to, grin 
 at this threat; and he immediately received a 
 glafs of wine in his face from the hands of l^is 
 virago fiPcCr, and druggling for breath, he 
 roared out that his new waiitcoat was fpoiled : 
 tlie little remnant of patience which Mrs, Betty 
 and her coadjutors liad, by ihe favor of heaven, 
 till then preferved, eritirely vanifhed, and , a 
 mofl: horrible uproar enfued, that foon sifWak- 
 ened the attention of Mrs. Ellingcr and her 
 guefts. She flew to learn tlie caufe of^ fo inde- 
 cent an interruption of the arnufemsnts of the 
 
 evening, 
 
IROSEI.LA. 143 
 
 evening, and in her abfence from the ball-room, 
 fome of the dancers, under pretence of want- 
 ing fpace and frefn air, which indeed might 
 very well have been the fact, opened the door/ 
 and IKtened to the contending parties. 
 
 Rofellav/as: (hocked at the improper language 
 fhe heard, and bluOied both for the violent 
 mother, and her delinquent children. She en- 
 deavoured to draw the attention of the liften- 
 ers from fo difgracefui a fcene, but in vain : 
 they enjoyed it too much to givs up the de- 
 lights of it witliout abfolure necellity, and were 
 foon further regaled by another, and Hill more 
 outrageous riot of a diiferent kind, from be- 
 low itairs. It feemed to approach by degrees, 
 and Rofella eagerly liitening, more from in- 
 quietude and terror than from curiofity, dif- 
 tniguilhed fcraps of Bacchanalian fongs, roared 
 out of tune and out of time ; vollies of oaths 
 half uttered, and convulfive peals of loiid 
 laughter, whilft every other minute was figna- 
 iized by a moil uncommon lumbering noife, 
 accompanied by iliouts of exultation, outcries, 
 and curfcs. 
 
 A pair of wretched violins, and an accom- 
 panying tabor and pipe entirely worthy of them, 
 which made up the orcheltra for the dancers, 
 w^ere Iiufned by the ftill more difcordant noifi^s 
 that overpowered all their ed'orts ; and the 
 whole aiiembly av/aited in impatient trepidation, 
 the unfolding of this rmf^enous bufmefs. 
 
 At length it was elucidated by the entrance 
 of Mr. Povey, much intoxicated, fupported 
 by two young men in a fituation vsry little bet- 
 ter than his own, and follov/ed by feveral others, 
 who made a variety of ingenious efforts as they 
 advanced, to preferve the centre of gravity. The 
 
 head 
 
144 R0SELL:4. 
 
 hend of Mr. Povey was decorated .with a coiin- 
 fcllor's wig, put on in fo cavalier a Ityle, that 
 one of his eyes and half his face were concealed 
 under it, and his perfon was decorated with a 
 pleader's gown, not fo well adjufted as it might 
 have been. 
 
 <* Damme, hold up!" exclaimed one of his 
 gentlemen ufhers 5 ** ftand fleady, my neat 
 one !" 
 
 « Open the caufe, confound you," cried an- 
 other ; «< don*t be brow-beat, my fine fellow." 
 
 " Zounds, man," bawled a third, « he has 
 not got his brief." 
 
 Then fnatching fomc lemonade from a falvcr, 
 he poured it very deliberately upon the wig of 
 the mock barrifter, which diftilled it on to his 
 face, and clofcd up his difengaged eye. 
 
 " Tm blind !" ftammered Povey, reeling vio- 
 lently, " blind — as judice — fo feat me — on the 
 bench.*! 
 
 '* Aye aye," vociferated three or four voices, 
 " feat him on the bench." 
 
 One of the party looking round, obfervcd 
 that there was a very full court ; then feizing 
 Rofella by the arm, who had been driven near 
 him by the curiofity of thofe behind her — 
 
 *< Are you plaintiff or defendant ?" conti- 
 nued he. She ftruggled to efcape from him, 
 and as he could not ftand with any firmnefs, 
 Ihe foon fucceeded. 
 
 Mrs. Ellinger now advanced whh an air of 
 infinite dignity ; and irritated as (he had been 
 by the fcenc (he had juft left, it was not very 
 probable that (he (hould tolerate the contemp- 
 tuous infolence of the intruders — 
 
 " Mr. Povey," faid (he. indignantly, " your 
 condudl of to-day is infufferable — I defire that 
 
 you 
 
ReSELLA. 145' 
 
 you will quit the room, and that your imper- 
 tinent companions initantly leave the houfe. 
 How dare you, Sir, intrude thefe vulgar fel- 
 lows amongfl: my friends 1" 
 
 « Vulgar fellows I" repeated Povey, who 
 appeared to awake as from a dream j then wip- 
 ing the humidity from his face, he gazed with 
 bhnking eyes at his obliging attendants. 
 " Ma'am," added he, " you — you — miftake. 
 Ma'am : this is Sir Belmeis Aftimore — no — 
 there he ftands — I believe — and that honefl 
 fellow is Lefley — and here is my friend EdcouTt 
 — and that is— faith I can't fee exactly — but he 
 is — fomebody." 
 
 The mifies fimpered, and the young gentle- 
 men, comprehenfivcly included in Mrs. El- 
 linger's friends, thought Povey a fortunate dog, 
 and envied him fuch daOiing affociates j whilft 
 the gentle and prudent lady of the manfion 
 paufed a moment to confider in what manner 
 (he fhould fuffer tliis adventure to terminate. 
 Povey had named a young man of fafhiion, a 
 Baronet, and the brother of a Nobleman, in- 
 telligence that entirely changed the face of af- 
 fairs j and Hie was now very well difpofed to 
 think the frolic that introduced them under his 
 roof, a very harmlefs and agreeable one. All 
 the ladies of the party appeared equally willing 
 to tolerate it, and at length Povey was huftled. 
 to his own apartment, and j)Jifs Livia recalled 
 from a hafty banifhmenc, to which her mifcon- 
 du6l had doomed her, that her fair hand might: 
 l^e bellowed by her decorous mama upon the 
 Baronet, who was fo far however from being 
 ejt train to dance, that he was fcarceiy able to 
 walk. 
 
 Vol. L H Rofella, 
 
I.4<^ ROSELLA. 
 
 Rofdla, (iifgufted, frightened, and reludlan?, 
 was compelled to (land up with Mr. Lefley, 
 who was not in a fituation to undcrfland that 
 {he chofe to decline the honor he was folicitous 
 to confer upon her. The reft of this difordered 
 groupe very prudently preferred being fpe6lators 
 of the dance, and .Mrs. Ellinger.affedling to 
 preferve great dignity, yet inwardly exulting, 
 gave the word of command to the magnificent 
 orchcftra. 
 
 The partner of Rofella contrived, with a 
 little afTiftance, to walk the figure without much 
 deranging his neighbours ; but inebriated as he 
 was, his ear was grievoufiy hurt by the horribk 
 difcord that afiailed it — 
 
 ** May I be black-balled eternally," cried he, 
 ♦^ if I ever dance ag^in to a hurdy-gurdy !" 
 
 "There's a. conceit!" exclaimed Mr. lifl- 
 court, who happened to hear him ; '< the devil 
 a hurdy-gurdy is there but in your brain : I uli 
 you it's a Jew's-harp and a ketrlc-dram." 
 
 This amendment created an ahnoft univerfjl 
 3augh> in which however neither Mrs. Ellinger 
 nor Rofella could join ; for the good lady was 
 offended in behalf of her muficians, and Mr. 
 Lelley*s fair partner felt humiliated and dif- 
 pleafcd. Fortune indeed had h.itherto favored 
 her fo far, that (he had not been much incom- 
 moded by the attention of cither gentleman ; 
 but unluckily Mifs Livia, v/ho hsd now reco- 
 vered the utmoft extent of her good-humour, 
 and was giggling and chattering without re- 
 ftraint, exclaimed to one of her companions — 
 
 « Only look at Mifs Montrefor, how glum 
 fte is !" 
 
ROSELLA. 147 
 
 " Mifs Montrefor !" repeated Mr. Eftcourt, 
 gazing round him ; <* where is that charming 
 little Iroquois ?" 
 
 *< Lord, there (he is to be fure," returned 
 Mifs Livia ; *' that fine lady in the pouts, who 
 thinks none of us are good enough to wipe her 
 ihoes." 
 
 « Ho, does file fo ?" faid the gentleman : 
 t* when I faw her lall, by G — d I believe no 
 one would have been folicirour^ for that honor. 
 Lefley," continued lie, aff££i:i-ng to whifper, 
 <* don't you remember that line girl digging po- 
 tatoes at Hampton- wick, with iiowing lockft. 
 and rent garments ?" 
 
 << Loofe were her treflVs feen, her zone uni 
 bound !" exclaimed Mr. Lefley, in an heroic 
 accent ; and Raggering to Rofelb, wh.o had 
 run to Mrs. Eiiinger, to beg tliat Ihe might be 
 permitted to fit dov/n, he f<.ized her hand, 
 fwearing that flie was a divine creature, and de- 
 ferved a civic crown for her afchievementS. 
 
 Again flie appealed to Mrs. Eiiinger, who 
 having now no hope of deTiving any thing 
 intcrrfting from fuch horrid brutes, who ap^ 
 peared in niore danger of failing afieep than of 
 falling in love, and feaiing to be cenfured for 
 tolerating fuch unqunlitied impertinence, fiie 
 again ailumcd her mofi fublime mien, and with 
 infinite folemiiity expoftulated upon • fuch un- 
 gentlemanly condudl:. But as foon as they dif- 
 covered that fne was the Lady of the manfion^ 
 her remonflrances, iiiilead of fubduing, in* 
 ere a fed their iniblence, by the profpecl of hoax- 
 ing Mrs. Latitat, and quizzing the handfonriC 
 potatoe-digger at the fame time. '. j. 
 
 The wliole party feconded this noble purpofo 
 
 by encorinoj the witticifms, roaring out bravo 
 
 Ha at 
 
1^8 ROSELLA. 
 
 at every capital hit, and finally, when the ene- 
 myv/ere totally difcomfited, the men retreating 
 and the women fainting, this frantic crew, 
 fome of whom were Britifh Legiflators, began 
 hallooing mod vehemently to fignify their vic- 
 tory, and celebrate their triumph. 
 
 At this moment Mr, Ellinger entered the 
 room, fury and revenge lowering on his brow:, 
 and feveral conftabies in his train. The con- 
 du6t of Mr. Povey and his companions had 
 attracted the notice of a very grave and 
 indefatigable perfonage who fuperintended in 
 the office, who in defiance of the noife and con- 
 fufion around him, had, till within the laft 
 ihour, been writing his fix words in a line, and 
 his fix lines in a, page, with wonderful perfe- 
 verance and unabated attention : but though he 
 would have been an excellent fecretary to the 
 inad hero of the north, it was not in human na- 
 ture to hear unmoved, the abominable jar of 
 horrible 'founds that began ; to aflail his flurdy 
 cars when the truaiit was conducted home : the 
 icribe was enraged tofind,^for the.firfl time> 
 his quill. curvetting, and his eye wandering from 
 the. parchment to. bring inielligence to his dif- 
 tracied brain ; and perceiving that it was 
 wholly impoJhble again to hx his roving at- 
 tention, he fnatched his hat, and flew with 
 all the. energy of revenge, to:feverai places 
 where he thought it ^probable he ftiould meet 
 Mr. Ellinger. . Having at length fucceeded in 
 his fearch, he made out fuch a change a^air.ft 
 Fovey and others aiding and abettingy that Mr. 
 Ellinger collected his judicial attendants, and 
 flumped home, firmly refolved to lodge all the 
 confpirators in the watch-houfc. 
 
 His wifcj, (hocked at fo vulgar and plebeian 
 aa idea, which he announced on entering the 
 
 room, 
 
R03ELLA. 149 
 
 room, and inexpreffibly mortified at the events 
 of the evening, that for a month paft fhe had 
 been planning to render uncommon and delight- 
 ful, endeavored to palliate what had happened : 
 but Mr. Ellinger imitated thofe barbarous huf- 
 bands who cruelly maltreat a gent^e, lovely, and^ 
 faultlefs wife, by defiring her to check her con- 
 founded tongue, and then proceeded to execute 
 his intention, notwithilanding the endeavors of 
 the intruders to refift: with effect. 
 
 << Good God!" wliifpered the dlfconfolate 
 matron, *« I fhall be derided by all my friends ! 
 What a catadfophe 1 Hov/ vi^ili it found that 
 the principal men amongH my vifiters, inftcad 
 of entangling themfelves in imprudent yet in- 
 delible paffions for beautiful girls of mylterious 
 birth, fhould make a drunken riot in fpite of the 
 av^^e virhich my prefence ought to have infpired, 
 and be ignominiouily taken to a vulgar vi'atch- 
 houfe, when they ought to have been employed 
 in carrying off their lovely unknowns to their 
 fequeftered caftles :" 
 
 {n defpite of the mortifying cruelty of the 
 circumftance, the good friends of Mr. Povey 
 were at length led away, after the deftrudtioti 
 of a few glafTes and trumblers, and fome hyfte- 
 ric fits on the part of a few ladies, who declared 
 however, on recovering their breath and recol- 
 ledlion, that they {hould now dance with more 
 fpirit than before, and malicioufly begged Mrs. 
 E'linger to try to prevail with her hufband ta 
 join the party ; a requeft fhe was imprudent 
 enough to comply with, and the refult was a 
 very rough refufal, the inftant difmifiion of the 
 fuperb orcheftra, and a very plain hint to thofe 
 who had conveyances in waitings that the mod 
 proper thing they could do, would be to depart. 
 H 3 Mrs, 
 
ISO RGSELLA.. 
 
 Mrs. Ellinger, ftill more (hockec!, had no\r 
 nothing to do but to weep over her unhappy 
 deftiny : but her gueds In general regarded her 
 tears with the nnoft vulgar apathy ; and after a 
 mod cheerlefs and tedious interval, the rooma 
 were cleared of all but the family and Rofclla, 
 who waited with painful impatience to hear 
 the chariot announced. But unfortunately, 
 Mifs Bcauclerc knowing her fondnefs for danc- 
 ing, and imagining flvi would be pleafed with 
 her foireey delayed fending it rather beyond the 
 time propofed, and Rofella was obliged to wit- 
 iiefs a violent quarrel between Mrs. Ellinger and 
 her huOjand, and a furious recrimination on the 
 part of their hopeful and amiable children. 
 
 Time however ftill moves, though llowly, 
 and at haif after one, Ihe left the wretched ha- 
 bitation of rnorofe tyranny, imprudent folly, 
 abfurd pretenfions, and ftippant bickering. 
 Mifs Beauclerc, who fat up for her return, wa» 
 furprifed to fee her (o lifeiefs and difpirited, 
 when ihe had expe£led to behold her all gaiety 
 and animation : but an explanation of the dif- 
 sflcrs of the evening well accounted for the 
 caufe, and her friend not only fympathized ia 
 her difappointment and vexations, but equally 
 in her poor Selina'fi well imagined mortification 
 and chagrin. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
ROSELLi. 1^1 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Ragejcr accompltfiments — Soft manners in a hdy^ 
 of Jajhion critically illufirated, 
 
 JL wo mornings after tlie fe e, IMr. IvTor- 
 daunt was announced to Mifs Beauclerc before 
 (lie liad quitted her breakfafl table, and as be 
 did not often confer the favor of a ceremo- 
 nious vifit, five concluded that he h?.n fomfe: 
 coiP.Qiunication to make relating to affairs of 
 b'ufinefs. He addretTed her with greater folem- 
 »ity and lefs kindnefs than ufual, and after a 
 converfation of a few minutes— 
 
 « So I find that this little girl," fa id he, 
 turning to Rofeifa, ** narrowly efcaped being 
 conducted to the v/aich-houfe on Thurfday 
 night, for being fufpicioufly found in the com- 
 pany of half a dozen houfe-breakers." 
 Rofella fmiled, and he continued — 
 « I heard this pretty anecdote from Lord 
 Morteyne, vv'nofe fooliih brother was one of 
 the gang it feems. Lady Lucy Eftcouit was 
 uneafy for the refult of the precious frolic, and 
 I was applied to, to propofe terms of accom- 
 modation to Eliinger. In the difcufiion of the 
 bufinefs, I learned that Mifs Montrcfor had 
 grounds for complaint, and I am commirTioned 
 to oiTer very humble excufcs, which I fuppofe 
 will be accepted. And now that I have exr 
 plained myff;lf," continued he, with a counte-? 
 nance half-ferious, half-gay, ** let rne never 
 more hear that your fondnefs for dancing, or 
 any other youthful folly, betrays you into a 
 
 Situation 
 
152 ROSELLA. 
 
 fituatlon fo dlflrefTing and extremely Improper, 
 ss the account I have received gives me to un- 
 derftand you were expofed to on Thurfday." 
 
 Mifs Peauclerc colored, and vt'as beginning a 
 vindication, but Mr. Mordaunt interrupted it 
 by difmifling Rofella with good-humoured free- 
 dom to her embroidery-frame : for fo antiquated 
 and abfurd wsre his ideas, that he fancied 
 young ladies (liii employed two or three hours 
 of the day in working: nor would he have be- 
 Jieved Mrs. Methwald herfelf, had fiie Informed 
 him, that the rifing female generation fea:id 
 their time wholly filled up in ftudylng botany, 
 modern philofophy, and tlie theory of morality 
 
 ^in fhufiiing Irifh fleps to the tune of Go 
 
 to the devil and fnah yourfeIf—^\xi playing tole- 
 rably well, or intolerably ill, upon two or three 
 inrirumcnts — and laflly, in drcfhng a la grecque^ 
 and pracl'ifing foft manners, or indulging in faro- 
 table manners, according to the whim of the 
 day. Rofella did not however laugh in his face 
 at the barbarifm he had uttered, but took the 
 hint, and withdrew. 
 
 She had felt fufficicntly mortified and un- 
 comfortable at the moment of receiving thofe 
 infults Mr. Mordaunt's well-meant le£lurc 
 painfully renewed the remembrance of: and 
 now the intelligence that Lord Morteyne ard 
 his fifter were acquainted with the circumflance 
 of her being prefent at fuch a fcene, redoubled 
 her chagrin. 
 
 <* What will they think of me I" exclaimed 
 ihe ; *< they will fuppofe I am always going 
 where I ought not to be, and ever aclirig with 
 the fame impropriety.'* 
 
 This idea fo diftrefled her, that In fpite of 
 her ufual good fpirits, it produced fome tears, 
 
 and 
 
ROSELLA 153 
 
 and (he refolved to entreat Mifs Beauclerc 
 never to accept for her any other invitation 
 from VIrs. ElHnger, which indicated, by any 
 promifed feftivity, that (he might again be in- 
 trod'jced to fuch unpleafant aflbciates : and in- 
 deed at this moment (he thouglit fhe could be 
 very well fatisfied to remain at home the whole 
 year round, rather than hazard encountering 
 fuoh vexatious circumilances. 
 
 When Mr. Mordaunt departed, (he flew to 
 Mlfs Beauclerc, to prefer the meditated re- 
 queft *, but obferving her in tears, and in vexy 
 apparent diftrefs, (he forgot every idea but that 
 of offering confolation. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc in a fhort time recovered to 
 tolerable compofure, but was entirely Glent on 
 the fubjecfl of her agitation. She informed 
 Rofella however, that fne meant very fhortly 
 to make a tour to the northern part of the 
 ifland, principally to amufe her mind by a 
 change of fcene, and that (lie might at the 
 fame time fee her aunt Deiaval, probably for 
 the lad time. 
 
 Rofella was confounded at this intelligence; 
 ior (he was not by any means certain that (he 
 was to accompany her kind friend, and the 
 chagrin of quitting her, perhaps, for many 
 months, joined to the horror llie had conceived 
 at returning to the houfe of Mr. Ellinger, over- 
 powered her fpirits, and the tears gufhed from 
 her eyes. 
 
 « Do you then objecl to remain with me ?'* 
 exclaimed Mifs Beauclerc, mournfully. 
 
 «« Mc I" cried Rofella v " Oh no : and (hall 
 
 I have the happinefs of being your companion 
 
 In this journey-? Did you think of taking me .^" 
 
 H it Yes 
 
154 ROSELLA. 
 
 <« Yes, my own Rofella," replied Mlfs 
 Beauclerc, " you fball accompany me. I have 
 fuffered much," flie added, in a faltering voice, 
 " from the harfli reflexions 1 have not de- 
 ferved ; but I could not bear to part vs^ith you 
 now, and I will not confent to j^lve either of 
 us fuch unneceflary anguifli. You {hall call 
 once naore on Mrs. lillinger before we leave 
 town, aad only once, to bid her adieu. I can- 
 not like Mr. Ellinger," refumed (he, " or his 
 children ; but I think the fituation of my friend 
 Selina fo pitiable, and I have fo many obliga- 
 tions to her, that independent of my afFe6^ion> 
 I could not be juftified in giving her up." 
 
 The requeft Rofelia had intended to make, 
 was thus prevented ; and as Mr. Mordaunt had 
 fo ferioufly tak n up the affair, (he was pleafed 
 that (he had not further wounded the feelings 
 of Mifs Beauclerc by adding to his remon- 
 ftrances, what on her part, would appear a 
 Gonriplaint. 
 
 Three weeks had not elapfed fince Rofelia 
 had fird heard of the travelling plan, before 
 her friend had io v.'ell arranged her eftabliOi- 
 ment to admit of her abfencc, that (he had 
 only further to U\tQ(. thofe of her domellics 
 ihe intended ro tnke in her fuite ; to bid adieu- 
 to the few intimates fhe ilill retained, in de- 
 fiance of the melancholy and eccentricity of 
 which (lie was accufed,. and to 6x the day of; 
 her departure. 
 
 Rofelia, who had equally bufied herfclf in 
 preparation, almoft forgot her recent chagrin^ 
 In the charming profpecl of vifiting fome of 
 ihofe delightful fcenes flie had read ib glowing 
 a pidlure of, both in real and ideal travellers \ 
 and Mifs Beauclerc on her fide, could think 
 
ROSELLA. 155 
 
 and dream only of wild rocks and mountains, 
 tremendous precipices, fringino^ woods, gufhing 
 cataradls, romantic cottages placed on acclivi- 
 ties and declivities, lovely Jacquelinas, Claren- 
 tinas, Rofinas, Eimmelinas, and more humble 
 Joannas, Sufannas, Cicelys, and Annas who 
 inhabited them, playing upon their lutes, their 
 forte-pianos and tlieir harps, and grazing at the 
 pale moon which never fails to dart its fdver 
 btams through their humble caiements with 
 fuch uncon^mon brilliancy, as to allow them to 
 clioofe by its pale light a favored poet from 
 their libraries, which it is the etiquette to form 
 of fjmple (lielves,- placed againft the white- 
 wa(hed, or neatly papered wails ; no paffing 
 cloud intervening, the challe orb of night next 
 lends her aid to enable the beautiful reclufts to 
 diftinguifh and recite the moft elegant parages 
 from the moll: elegant authors. — Mifs Beauclerc 
 dill follows them in fancy, and beholds them 
 tranfported by the fublimity of th.eir ideas, be- 
 yond the bounds of ordinary prudence or com- 
 mon fenfe ; they wander forth, the volume 
 iiill in their delicate hands, their mild blue eyes 
 raifed to heaven, thei- beautiful auburn hair 
 efcaped from its condnement, or reftrained 
 only by a fimple ribbon (which, alas I would 
 do little towards fecuring their lovely heads 
 againft damps and dews), their white robes 
 flowing in beautiful drapery over tlieir light and 
 nymph-like figures 1 In this equipage they con- 
 tinue to contemplate and to itray, until they 
 lofe themfelves in fome wild and remote fpor, 
 where they gaze round them with aftonifiimenr, 
 and ftart at their imprudence in venturin^f (o 
 f<i;r : but they account to themfeives very natu- 
 rally for the error, by the captivation of tl^ 
 
 furrounding 
 
iS'^ ROSELLA. 
 
 furrounding fcencry and the delightful (llllnefs 
 of the night; and the adventure never fails to 
 produce fomething interefting or terrific. They 
 return however at length, to their cottage, 
 where fome good and fond old dcime is looking 
 out in infinite anxiety for the ftray fl>eep ; (he 
 then fpreads before the delicate: young creature 
 her gueft, the moft delicious cream and new 
 cheefe, a profufion of exquiHte fruit and home- 
 made bread, ne^.v-laid ^gg^t and currant wine. 
 The gentle fouls make a flight repaft, b<^caufe 
 no heroine ever yet committed fuch an indeco- 
 rum as to eat a plentiful meal •, and retire to 
 their cxceflively neat apartments, not to fleep 
 vulgarly in their bed, but to ruminate on their 
 myfterious deftinies, and revolve their recent 
 adventure. 
 
 In fhort, fo delightfully did the imagination 
 of Mifs Beauclerc delineate the gentle wander- 
 ers of fiction, that (he determined not to defer 
 her own ramble another week, though it was 
 now only the beginning of April; but the fea- 
 fon, in compliance with her wiflies, was un- 
 commonly forward, the air mild and genial, the 
 foliage rapidly burfting forth, and the grounds 
 at Avelines ornamented with early flowers. 
 
 « My Rofella,'' faid the fond mother, " we 
 will defer our charming tour no longer than till 
 next Monday : to-morrow we will take leave of 
 Mr. Mordaunt, and this morning we will find 
 time to call in Chancery- Lane, and bid adieu to 
 our poor Mrs. Ellinger. 
 
 " My dear kind Mifs Beauclerc !" exclaimed 
 Rofella, " how Ovall I repay your goodnefs ! 
 If you had refolved to make this fweet excurfion 
 without me, and had been now going to leave 
 me at Mr. Ellinger's, how melancholy (hould 
 
 I have 
 
ROSELLA. 157 
 
 I have been at the profpciH: of lingering a 
 whole fummcr in that gloomy houfe, tormented 
 by the fociety of the rude William and ill- tem- 
 pered Livia ! How grateful ought I to be to 
 fuch a friend I" 
 
 <« Rofella," replied Mifs Beauclerc, embrac- 
 ing her, ** you forget that I have often entreated 
 you to fpare thefe exprefhons of a gratitude 
 you do not owe me : I cannot be happv without 
 you; and every attention it is in my power to 
 beliow, all the afFedion with which I regard 
 you, is lefs than you have a right to claim — I 
 mean from your invariable fweetnefs of difpoll- 
 tion, and the tender refpecEl you have ever 
 evinced for me. Bcrfides, I was well acquainted 
 with your father, and I love ycu, my dear child, 
 for his fake." 
 
 « And did you know my mother too ?" faid 
 Rofella, much interefted in the queftion : " I 
 have often aflced Mrs. Ellinger vi'hom ffie refem- 
 bled, and (lie has always told me fhe was like 
 you in every refped :— was my father as amia- 
 ble?=' 
 
 «« A thoufand times more fo," returned Mifs 
 Beauclerc eagerly : « but tell me, could you 
 have loved your mother very much, as a mother, 
 if (he haw been, as Mrs. Ellinger fays, entirely 
 like me in perfon and mind ?" 
 
 " I fuppofe I ought to have been more at- 
 tached to her," replied Rofella, <* than I am to 
 youj but I really do not think I could have 
 loved her better than you, wiio have at once 
 been the kindeft friend, and the moft indulgent 
 mother to me." 
 
 The heart of Mifs Beauclerc was fo much 
 foftened by the affedion of Rofella, that the 
 fccret of their affinity might have been at that 
 
 moment 
 
158- ROSELLA. 
 
 moment revealed to her, had not the carriage', 
 which had been ordered for a (hopping expediti- 
 on, been announced. 
 
 When they arrived at Mr. EHTnger^s manfion, 
 Mifs Beauclerc, in contradiction to her genera! 
 cudom, entered it ; and having drawn her faith- 
 ful Selina to her own apartment, that they 
 might diCcufs, uninterruptedly, their darling 
 projefb, and fettle the correfpondence they- me* 
 ditated, Rofella was left in the fitting-room with" 
 Mifs Livia, who had been taking a ]e{{\^n from 
 a drawing-mafter, and was now affe^ling to 
 (hade a dele£^able fketch from a print of Char-* 
 lotte at the tomb of Werter. The ot/tr^e drefs 
 of the German heroine, defigned from the 
 fafhions of the diy, and dated at lead ten years 
 back, the form without fymmetry, and the 
 features without meaning, were exceedingly im- 
 proved by the joint efforts oi Mifs Livia and her 
 preceptor, who h^d, at leafl, an equal (hare in 
 the performance to which (he was giving the 
 toiip-de-grace^ and Rofelia gazed with extreme 
 aftonilhment upon the wonders of her pencil. 
 
 " You did not know that I was learning to 
 draw?" faid the felf-fatisfied ftudent, with a 
 look of triumph, 
 
 " No," replied her vifiter, <« I had not heard 
 it: have you learned long ?" 
 
 " I think you might perceive that I have 
 made fome proficiency," returned Mifs Livia : 
 <» Mr- Dawfon fays he never gives fuah fweet 
 things as I have to copy, but to his very beft 
 fcholars. I'll (hew you my Innocence with 
 her fweet little lamb — and Abelard and Eloifa: 
 thofe are only little things, quite when I began, 
 but here is Una and the Parfon's Maid, and 
 Patty and William at Eve, and Belinda with 
 
 her 
 
ROSELLA. 
 
 r^g 
 
 Ker dog Shock, and the Shephcrdefs of the Alps, 
 and this is " 
 
 " Give me leave," interrupted Rofeila, « to 
 look at what you have already laid before me, 
 and then I will examine the reft of your per- 
 formances." 
 
 She then took up fome of the caricatures 
 which had been fo rapidly prefented to her, and 
 unable to outrage truth fo far as to beftow upon 
 them any praife, again enquired how loi>g cIk 
 young lady had taken lefibns. 
 
 *< Oh more than Cix weeks," returned Mifs 
 Livia ; " but this is not al! I have done, for I 
 aflure you I have learned to paint landfcapes : 
 here is Hornfey Church and the Bell at Edmon- 
 ton ; and here is a willow, with two fwans 
 fwimming under it ; and this is a caftle, Mr. 
 Dawfon does not know where — this (liould be a 
 tower, to look round lil^e the top of St. Paul'?, 
 butfomehow I blotted if, and it does not fhow fo 
 well what it (hould be : but mama likes this 
 better than any thing I have done yet : fhe 
 wanted Mr. Dawfon to (how me how to put 
 Innocence with her little lamb, to be looking 
 out of this- old broken window, becaufe (he 
 thought it would pa fs for a young lady and a 
 fawn, and then it would feem asif fome gen- 
 tleman had (hut her up there, and that the 
 fawn had followed her in when (he went to take 
 a walk in the foreft, which (liould have been 
 juft here, mama fays; this buOi in the corner 
 ihows where the foreft (hould begin. — However, 
 Mr. Dawfon faid it could not be done now that 
 the pidture was finiihed ; and mama has been 
 teazing him ever fmce to draw an old caftle and 
 a foreft and a moon, wiih a young lady all in 
 white coming out of ii," 
 
 " Out 
 
l6o ROSELLA. 
 
 " Out of the moon ?" afked Rofella, fmiling. 
 
 " No, no," returned JVlifs Livia, " you 
 kflow T don*i mean that : out of the caflle or 
 the forelt, 1 forget which. And then on one 
 fide there is to bs a rock, with a cave under it, 
 and you are to ice a whole heap of — what are 
 they c^lle-d ? — men wlio ufed to rob and murder 
 people above a hundred years ago." 
 
 " Thieves and analTms, I fuppofe," faid Ro- 
 fella. 
 
 " No indeed," refumed the young lady, 
 rather conlemptuoiiily ; *'« who wouid chink 
 of putting thieves into a pidlure, drefTed like 
 other men, with nothing but piflols in their 
 hands ! — no, what I mean is — hatiditti — that's 
 the word. Oh Lord 1 but I have another fe- 
 cret to tell you — you — you muft make believe 
 though, not to know it ; for mama thinks to 
 furprife Mifs Beauclerc and you when you come 
 back again. She ha& bought me a piano^;-/ — 
 it's up flairs in the garret, for crofs papa muft 
 not find it out — fo Mr. Strum, who lodges two 
 doors ofF, gives me fixteen iefTons for a guinea*" 
 
 <« Surely you miilake, Livia," faid her audi- 
 tor, who recolledled that her own mafler only 
 attended twice fcr that fum. 
 
 ** No indeed : and I can play the Battle of 
 Prague, and the Siege of Bangalore, and Hur- 
 ly Burly, and the Storming of Trincomalee." 
 
 " Already 1" exclaimed RofeJla : *« I fhould 
 have thought you could fearccly have had time 
 to learn the gamut ?" 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Strum fays it is ridiculous to per- 
 plex people who have fuch an ear as I have, 
 with too much of fuch hum-drum nonfenfe ; 
 but come, I will fhow you my piano^/^r/, and 
 
 you 
 
ROSELLA. l6r 
 
 you fhall hear me play the Storming of Trinco- 
 malee." 
 
 Rofella was not without fome curiofity to 
 witnefs the performance, and followed her to 
 the mufical garret, where Mr. Strum condefcen- 
 ded to prefvde as Apollo, and was amufed with 
 a compofition that founded like harmony run 
 mad, very vilely mangled, where noife and loud 
 uproar faluted her ear inltead of brilliancy and 
 execution^ The pi.mo-forre, iSlrs. Ellinger's 
 fecret purchafe, was old and extrrrnely battered, 
 and in its beft d. ys had never deferved a more 
 confpicuous fituation that that in which it was 
 now placed. 
 
 «' There 1" exclaimed MIfs Llvia, ending 
 with a full chord, fiercely ftruck, *« how do you 
 think I execute ? Have you the Storming of 
 Trincomalee .?" 
 
 ** No," replied Rofella, << I never heard it 
 before." 
 
 <* Good gracious ! it's the fweeteft thing in 
 the world I 1 wonder you have not got the Stor- 
 ming of Trincomalee ; — (lay, I am afraid my 
 crofs papa is come home, fo I cannot play the 
 Siege of Bangalore now ; you fliall hear it 
 another time*" 
 
 Rofella thanked the young lady for this kind 
 promife. 
 
 <* Let us creep down," refumed Mifs Livia," 
 ** and mind you do not tell mama that 1 have let 
 you into the fecret." 
 
 Rofella promifed to attend to the caution, 
 and they defcended to the fitting-room, where, 
 inltead of crofs papa y they found Mr. Povey, who 
 had walked up Itairs for fome papers depoiited in 
 the old efcrutoire. He accofted Mifs Livia's vi- 
 f:ter with a half-confident, half-Iheepilh grin, 
 
 and 
 
l6z HaSELLA*. 
 
 aiid enquired if fhe had feen the Eflcourt family 
 
 lately. 
 
 " I know \'ery little of arry indlvidftal of it," 
 replied Rofella ; ** they are not in any of Mifs 
 Beauclsrc's parties." 
 
 ** Do tell Mifs Montrefor," cried Livia, e?.- 
 gerly, " what that droll creature faid of her !'' 
 
 "' Of me !" exclariiTed Rofella : <^ who is the 
 droil creature you fpeak of ?" 
 
 « My friend Cyril Eftcourt, Ma'am : but I 
 fhall not repeat his quizzing nanfenfe."" 
 
 <' Oh I am determined (lie (hall hear it 
 though," cried the- obliging young lady ; " he- 
 faid you miglst be hatidfonriC- ^ he did not care a 
 
 whether you was or not j but that you gave 
 
 youvfelf confounded airs to iMr. X,eflc?y, confidfi- 
 fing you had been taken our of a brick-field, 
 where you had fpent your tender years in mixing 
 up mud pancakes. And he faid afterwards that 
 his brother, Lord Morteyne, found you once ly- 
 ing half dead on the Reading road, for you was 
 not the kind of young lady to be kept under any 
 red ra int." 
 
 The countenance of Rofella was fufFufed a 
 deep crimfon, and her eyes beamed with indig- 
 riation at this unjuft and infoh^nt report, which 
 the malicious informer repeated with equal ea- 
 gernefs and glee. 
 
 '* Who did Mr. Eilcourt tell this to ?" afked 
 Rofella, her refentment fuddenly giving way to- 
 unmixed mortification. 
 
 " Lord, I don't know — to a whole room full 
 of people." 
 
 *< No no, Mifs Elllnger," cried Porey, inter- 
 rupting her, «• no fuch thing ; there was only 
 Aihmore, and Leflcy, and Morteyne, and Mr» 
 GreiTy, and me." 
 
 " Well>, 
 
ROSELL^. 163 
 
 «* Well, that was a room full, wasn't it ?" de- 
 manded Mifs Livia, in a voice of angry interro- 
 gation. 
 
 ** At leaft," faid Rofella, hardly reflraining 
 her tears, " there were enough prefent to anTv/er 
 the intention of Mr. Eftcourt, if he meant that 
 his comments fhould reach me." 
 
 ** Lord, Mii'am," faid Povey, <' nobody 
 irinds what Cyril fays : — now for example, 
 there's me — if I was to kick up a row every 
 time I was hoaxed, I fnould have little elfe to do/* 
 
 He then withdrew vv?ith his papers, faying in 
 a low voice to Mifs Livia, as he paiTed her, 
 •< Damme, if 1 ever ttll you any thing again !'* 
 
 " You only fay fo," repled the youug lady in 
 a carelefstone *, " 1 know yon will though." 
 
 The conference between Mifs Beauclerc and 
 her friend now broke up, and their entrance re- 
 lieved Rofella from the good-natured communi- 
 cations and obfervations of her companion, with 
 ^hom (lie parted however, in apparent civility*. 
 Mrs. Ellinger embraced her with pathetic emoti- 
 on, and conjured her to fupply every accidental 
 deficiency in the correfpandenc€ of lier beloved 
 Sophia. 
 
 Rofella promifed compliance, and returning 
 her adieu, tripped down the jomhre (lairs with 
 alightftep. Her delight in quitting the houfe, 
 predominated as ufual over every other emotion ; 
 but on her re-entrance into that which (he now 
 confidered as her home, (he could not fail to re- 
 eollecft the mortification and chagrin (he had re- 
 ceived through the officious mxcdium of Mifs 
 Livia and Mr. Povey, and immediately imparted 
 the grievance to her friend, who treated the re- 
 port with apparent contempt, but who was, in fact, 
 Bot difpkaf^d that Rofella, beloved as fiie was, 
 
 {hould 
 
J ^4 ROSEXLAi 
 
 fhould become the objeft of tranfient malevo-- 
 lenceand mirreprcfcnt'dtion. Was there indeed 
 a fingle heroine in the great circle of her rea- 
 ding, who had cfcaped them ? — Not one of any 
 celebrity; and this recoHeG^ioirinrtanrly recon- 
 ciled her to the impertinence of Mr. Eilcourt, 
 who !iad not forgotten that Rofella was the im-* 
 mediate caufe of the disgrace he had endured at 
 the hermitage at Aveliiies — a difgrace he couki^ 
 notreverge upon hisbrotheri becaufe he conde- 
 fctnded occafionally to have rccourfe to his purfe. 
 
 The next morning,, as Mifs Beauclerc had • 
 propofed, Rofeila accompanied Iter to Mr. Mor- 
 daunt's, and c^mtrary to the wifnes of either, 
 they met Mrs Methwald at home, who happened 
 at the m.oment to be attended by her daughter 
 and fon-in-law, Rofella had never before feen^ 
 Mr. CrefTy, and was in confiderable confiifion du- 
 ring the incrodu£lion ; when it occurred to her 
 that his opinion, if it was formed upon the cruel 
 reports circulated by Mr.Eftcourt, muft be of a 
 moft unfavorable nature. 
 
 Mr. Mordaunt did not immediately appear, and 
 the converfation, after the entrance of Mifa 
 Beauclerc and her companion, was continued 
 upon the fame fubje£l their appearance had gi- 
 ven a momentary interruption to. 
 
 *< I was fo estrcmely Ihoched," faid Mrs. 
 Creffy, addrefhng her mother, ** that I refolved 
 never more to fubjetl myfelf to fuch. a tormen- 
 ting purgatory as that of pretending to intro- 
 duce a young woman into public. Your fifter 
 mud procure herfelf another chaperon^ indeed 
 (he muft," continued (he, turning to her huf- 
 band, with 2. fade fmile, and raifmg up one hand 
 with a prim motion, which extended only to the 
 elbows 5 " for I would not break my refolution 
 
 upoa 
 
ROSELLA. 165 
 
 upon any confideratlon : it is unfortunate for 
 her that I happened to be chagrenee with this 
 molt unlucky Mifs — but you are acquainted 
 with nr^y firmnefs of mind, though you 
 cannot know half the provocation 1 received. 
 As (he was left upon my hands, and there 
 happened to be a vacancy in my Opera-box, 
 I thought I might venture to take her ; 
 I (hall never forget the horreur (lie gave 
 me ! There was not a gaucherie ^\t did not 
 torture me with ; fhe took precedence of Lady 
 Emlin, dropped her fan upon poor Brackin's 
 nofe, who was bowing to me from the pit, and 
 becaufe a large fcene happened to fall, and a 
 horfe to prance in the grand proceffion of the 
 bailer, (he aclually fcreamed. The Marquis 
 was at my elbow — I thought I fhould have fain- 
 ted with-diame ; however, I had recourfe to my 
 ufual fortitude, and confoled myfelf with avow, 
 never to take her out again, were ihe to live 
 twenty years in my houfe. 
 
 This good-natured fpcech was uttered in a 
 voice fcarcely above a v^hifper, with a monoto- 
 nous tone of determined placidity ; and it clofed 
 with a pra£lifed fmile. But the lady was not yet 
 fatisficd with having hitherto been the only fpea- 
 ker, for (lie acldrefled her mother again, without 
 fuiF^ring any other perfon to utter a fyllable — 
 
 " Do you go to Lady Emlin'n aflembly 
 Ma'am ? I have nothing in the world but old 
 drefles to wear \ but I can't afford myfelf any 
 thing juft now : my Opera box and court-drefs 
 have abfolutely ruined me." 
 
 This declaration ended like the lafl, with a 
 fmllethat drew up her cheeks, naturally promi- 
 nent, almoil to her eye-brows. Mr. Crefly re- 
 turned the fimper with an air of appiobation, 
 but could no longer allow her fatiguing loqua- 
 city 
 
l66 ROSELLA. 
 
 city to exclude him from (hining in the convcr- 
 fation ; and he paid his court to Mrs. Meth- 
 wald by a number of compliments, which he 
 meant fliould be extremely infinuating, requi- 
 ring her judgment upon fome delicate paftoral 
 poetry, and lome elegant little fugitive pieces he 
 had lately procured for her. 
 
 His Lady was too well-bred to interrupt him, 
 and amufed herfelf en attendanty with gazing non 
 chalamment^ alternately at Rofella and Mifs 
 Beauclerc, who felt offended at the very little 
 attention the fimlly party had fliown to her, 
 and had taken up tl.e newfpaper whilli (l^e waited 
 the appearance of Mr. Mordaunt. 
 
 Mrs. Methvvald was in an agony of fidgets, 
 which her fon-in law vainly endeavoured to re- 
 move by the mod affiduous refpeC^, and he only 
 increafcd the fharpncfs of the thorns upon which 
 the poor lady fat, I'he important fubjecl of 
 anxiety which w as torturing her foul, was two- 
 fold— (lie was fenfible that Mifs Beauclerc felt 
 herfelf treated with flight ; and fiie would have 
 enquired into the (late of her health, have recom- 
 mended books to her notice, pointed out a char- 
 ming jeu d'efprit in the laft week's paper, and 
 difplayed her lafl number of the Botanical Maga- 
 zine, had not her whole countenance, all her 
 nods, fmiies, and affents, been wrefted from 
 her by Mr. and Mrs. Creffy. Her daughter, the 
 firft of women, mull always be a primary ob- 
 je6t wherever {he went ; and (he could not ap- 
 pear to turn abruptly from Mr. Crtdy's elegant 
 attentions : meti were capricious — they mult be 
 kept always ini temper Ihe knew, and Mrs. Cref- 
 fy's happinels was her grand confideration. On 
 the other hand, a gueft fuffering under a mo- 
 ment of negle6i, miffing thofe little fources of 
 
 entertainment 
 
ROSELLA. X67 
 
 entertainment and infl:ru(flion which were al- 
 ways to be found with Mrs. Mcthwald, (he could 
 not endure -to think of. She recolle6led too, 
 that (lie had feen but the day before, an embroi- 
 dered muilin at Dyde's, that would juft make 
 up for Mrs. Crelly, and reward her proje(5^ed 
 felf-denial — the muflin was cheap and pretty, 
 and might be fold whilft flie was detained at 
 home. 
 
 Mr. GrefTy h-ad, by this time, begun to think 
 Rofella a very captivating little nobody, and was 
 calculating how much credit might accrue to 
 him, if by his notice and encouragement, with 
 an occaHonaloajh and compliment in her favor, 
 he fhould fucceed in brijiging her forward. 
 " ^She is handfomer than Lady Elizabeth Wal- 
 don," thought he, " notwithflandiiig her w-ant 
 of manner, and that Oie has no iciea of giving 
 her features the right fort of exprefHon : upon 
 my foul, with management, (be might be made 
 a moft fafcinaring creature." 
 
 The refult of this private concluiion made I\Ir. 
 Crtfly throw himfelf into a chair by the fide of 
 Rofella ; he fmiled upon her to JelTen the embar- 
 raiTment he hi'd no doubt fhe would feel at an ho- 
 nor fo unexpe<!led, and enquired if flie had been 
 to fee the exhibition of work which did fo much 
 credit to her f?x. Rofella anfwered in the affir- 
 mative, and he imm.ediately favoured her with 
 his opinion of its merits. 
 
 Mrs. Crefly, furprized at tbe uncommon 
 condefcenfion of her hufoand, hunted neverthe- 
 lefs for her moft approving and gracious fmile, 
 and having caft it over her features, regarded 
 him and his fair companion with fleady iuavity, 
 to announce that (he had too much fortitude to 
 be jealous, 
 
 « You 
 
l68 ROSELLA. 
 
 <* You have not been Introduced to Lady 
 Elizabeth Waldon, I prefume ?" laid Mr. Crefly. 
 
 « No, Sir." 
 
 •' But you have met her in fociety ?" 
 
 " I do not recoiled that I have," replied 
 Rofella. 
 
 « Mod certainly then you have not then," 
 tefumed Mr. Crefly, d-^termined to be ;in his pre- 
 ceptorPnip immediately, ** or you could not 
 have forgotten (o fafcinating a . woman. I 
 would recommend to every young lady now 
 entering the world, toftudy her manner ; there 
 is iuch a captivating vivaciry in i er countenance, 
 fuch uncommon foftnefs of accent, fuch an in- 
 finuating gentlenefs of motion, fuch harmony 
 of aOio'i, fuch flexible delicacy of voice, and 
 fuch rt finement of ftntiment =— " 
 
 « If {he is a woman to be held up, without 
 exception of lircumftance, to the im.itation of a 
 young Lidy," fuid Mifs Beauclerc, interrupting 
 the panegyric, <* the world moft cruelly de- 
 fames her." 
 
 The gentleman was nettled at this unanfwer- 
 able remark, which might p-r^rhaps have been 
 made in a louder key than the fimpering gabble 
 of Mrs. CrelTy. 
 
 " No one, I am certain," exclaimed Mr. 
 Crefly, " e\er heard ler voice raifed in anger or 
 Tuflic gaiety above the fiiver tones of decorum : 
 in (horr," added he, with confiderable warmth, 
 •* were I to propofe to the woman 1 wilhed 
 moll to admire, a model to captivate my appro- 
 bation, Lady iiiizabtth Waldon- " 
 
 " Oh, you hdvc aheady heard it then ?" faid 
 Mr. Mordautit, as he entered the room : " if 
 there is a woman I could iefs forgive than^ ano- 
 ther, it is that fpecious devil — married to a man 
 
 who 
 
ROSELLA.^ 169 
 
 who gratified- every abfurd whim with doting 
 fondnefs — the mother of three heavenly children, 
 and to defert them, to abandon their father ! — 
 The unhappy babe (lie pretended to nourifli at 
 her flinty breaft, whofe food was converted to 
 poifon by her diflipations, has died in convulfi- 
 ons ; her poor mother, whofe hands I have my- 
 fclf feen her kifs with affe£led fondnefs, at eve- 
 ry (liort abfence, has been in fainting fits from 
 the moment (he learnt the intelligence, and 
 Waldon is now adluaily in a Rrait waiftcoat I" 
 
 A fhort but compleat filence fucceeded to 
 this imperfect, but well-underftcod acccunt, 
 Mr. Crefly was dumb, and his Lady, who had 
 often experienced a fecret impatience at his 
 warm admiration for the fallen idol, now felt an 
 equally diflembled emotion of joy. 
 
 " Are we to underftand. Sir," demanded 
 Mifs Beauclerc, " that the lady has eloped ?" 
 
 << I thought I heard you fpeaking of the cir- 
 cumflance as I entered,'* returned Mr.Mordaunt, 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc fmiled, and a fecond momen- 
 tary filence enfued, which (he now thought 
 proper to interrupt by announcing her journey 
 and the intention of her vifit. Mr, Mordaunt 
 feemed aftoniflied at the fuddennefs of the plan, 
 for he had never before heard that it was in agi- 
 tation ; but whatever might be his opinion, he 
 judged it would ha^e little weight with Mifs 
 Beauclerc, and merely defired her to bring his 
 little girl fafejy back, in a tone of folicitude his 
 pretended gaiety but ill concealed. Mr. CrefTy 
 would have bufied himfelf in defcribing the moft: 
 charming route, but that his recent difcomfiture 
 chained his tongue : and Mifs Beauclerc having 
 . returned, with equal gravity, 'the ceremonious 
 farewel of Mifs.^Methwald^ and the iiifipid half 
 Vol. I. I courtefy 
 
^7® ROS^ELLA. 
 
 eourtefy of her peerlefs daughter, defcendcd to 
 her carriage. Mr. Mordaunt accompanied her 
 to it, and. as he parted with Rofella, who hap- 
 pened to be a few ftcps behind her — 
 
 " RemeiTiber, my dear child," faid he, with 
 more than ufual kindnefs and energy, " that you 
 leave here a firm, fincere, and affedionate friend : 
 one who will confider an application in any little 
 emergency or diftrefs, as a mark of confidence 
 and efteem. If occafion fliould ftimulate yoii 
 to make ufe of this hint, recoiled that I urged it!" 
 
 CHAP. xn. 
 
 Rage fif cjfemetited Cottages-— fot luandenng «/« 
 - Wilds ohfcure—A myjlerkus Jlr anger, 
 
 X HE delightful peregrination from which 
 Mifs Beaiiclerc promifed to herfelf and Rofella 
 infinite amufement, numberlefs adventures, and 
 ultimate happinefs, was not., of couile, delayed 
 by her. She had fettled to take with her only 
 one male domeiiic, as (he had agreed with Mrs. 
 Ellinger that he might be fent out of the w^y 
 if any inrerefting occurrence fliould take place 
 ^'hich his prefence could mar ; and as ihe might 
 fometimes have occafion for a faithful old fervant, 
 whoit; zeal and fidelity would induce him to 
 expofe his Gfety and life for the protection of 
 his beloved Lady, fhe fixed upon Simpfon 
 who had lived in' her family near forty years, 
 and often talked of the joyful day that ^ave 
 t.rih to Mifs Sophy •, a day on which heboafted 
 
 to 
 
RO SELLA. 171 
 
 to his fellow domefllcs that he drank part of a 
 bottle of claret at his own expence, though he 
 was only an under footman, to the health of his 
 Lady and the little Mifs. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc*3 own maid was a grave per- 
 fonage, who moved from the houfe-keeper*s 
 room to her Lady's apartment, and from her 
 Lady's apartment to the hbufe-keeper's room, 
 with infinite dignity and importance j and the 
 firft of confiderations with her, was her own 
 proper eafe and comfort, fo that Mifs Beauclerc 
 thought it but too probable (he would upon the 
 •firft mifadventure, fuch as being benighted in 
 a foreft, or overturned at midnight into a marl- 
 pit, confult her own vulgar fafety, and demand 
 her wages and her conge the very next morning; 
 a want of fimplicity and affeclion that would re- 
 fle(fb difhonor on her miftrefs, and extremely 
 fully the narrative VnQ intended to tranfmit to her 
 faithful Selina, who well knew that a heroine's 
 attendant is infallibly fome Babette, or Jeannette, 
 or Annette, who prattles an aftonlfhing quan- 
 tity of noiifenfe in the midil of the moft horrible 
 occurrences, and is always on the point of be- 
 traying her young Lady in her moft important 
 expeditions, by fcreaming, crfneezing, orraifing 
 a hue and cry after a ghoft, or clinging to her fo 
 as to make her drop her lamp. But in the midft 
 of the mifchief, Babette, Jeannette, or Annette 
 (hould "be extremely intelligent, though full of 
 iimplicity, and above all other confiderations {he 
 muft be unalterably attached to her beautiful 
 miftrefs. 
 
 Li vain had Mifs Beauclerc caft her eye upon 
 every yc'w^r^//^ within her obfervation ; no fuch 
 perfon?ge. could be found ; .and (he was com- 
 pelled, after confulting with Selina, to decline 
 I 2 at 
 
i^l 50SELLA* 
 
 at preferit the attendance of a female fervantjin 
 the fecret hope, of meeting a more fultable one in 
 fome. ** deep gltn/' remote from the infe^Ttiou 
 of a too populous neighbourhood. 
 
 At length Rcfella and her friend placed 
 themfeives in the travelling poft-chaife, and at- 
 tended only by oid Siiijpfon on a hack hcrfe,- 
 left London at fix in the morning of a delight- 
 ful Spring day, more warm and gonial than the 
 feafon in general might promife. Both the fair 
 travell'trs felt a renovation of fpirits as the car- 
 riage whirled them' from the great centre of 
 diffipation, and left Marybone behind them ; . 
 and Rofeila theii, for the firft time, thought of 
 inquiring . their immediate deftination. She 
 learnt tlijit Mifs Beauclerc had fettled to pro- 
 ceed immediately to the northern counties of 
 England, and then enlarge her excurfion to 
 Scotland •, after which fl:ie had almoft refolved 
 re bend her fteps to. the charming and romantic 
 Principality which has furniHied adventurous 
 fcenes to fo many- modern heroines, who have 
 climbed its rugged cliffs, and repofed their beau- 
 tiful heads in its delightful cottages. 
 
 Rcfella was perfectly fatisfied with the plan, 
 and charmed with the profpe£l of becoming 
 better acquainted with the " mountain nym.ph, 
 fweet Liberty," and living in <' unreproved. 
 pleafures free," v/ithout danger of being flig- 
 matized as a hoyden, or a fa v age rufcic. Whilft 
 the imagination of Mifs Beauclerc was filled 
 a r ordinaire, with 
 
 Ruflet lawns and fallows grey, 
 Where the nibbling flocks do ftray— i 
 Mountains, on whofe barren bread 
 The laboring clouds do often reft ; 
 
 Meadows 
 
ROSELLA. 17|r 
 
 Meadows trim with daifies pied, 
 Shallow brooks and rivers wide. 
 Towers and battle mentsy^<f fees 
 Bofom'd high in tufted frees, 
 Where^^ thinks fome beauty lies, 
 ' The Cynofure of neighboring eyes-." 
 
 At the feccnd ftage poor old Simpfon quitted 
 his horfe for a hack chaife, a change which had 
 prevloufly been agreed upon, and he then pro- 
 ceeded with rather lefs fatigue to himfelf. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc found little to intereft her 
 attention on a well-frequented turnpike road, 
 where the moonlight walks of fair ladies would 
 probably terminate uncouthly, from their being 
 run over by mail-coaches, or being knocked- 
 ilown and robbed in a common vulgar way by a 
 footpad j flie therefore purfued her journey 
 with eager rapidity, till the country affumed a 
 form fo diverfified and lovely, that her eyes de- 
 voured every obje£l on which they refted, and 
 fhe often left the chaife, attended by Rofelb, to 
 afcend fome deep, or peep into cottages whcfe 
 romantic fituations excited recolle(ilions a»d 
 hopes which were generally lofl: in the difgult 
 occafioned by awkward cunning, evid.^nt de- 
 figns of extorting her liberality, and often a 
 more open and {hamelefs attack upon her purfe, 
 uttered in tones of , whining cant and palpable 
 
 difingenuoufnefs. The children, inflead of 
 
 being ftrong and healthy, we're often pining in 
 dirt and negle<fi ; and in place of the artlefs 
 and carelefs graces of childhood, they almoll 
 univerfally teazed her by extending their litile 
 filthy hands, and petitioning for a farding^ in 
 voices of fuch whimpering difcordance that her 
 ear was tortured by the found. 
 
 Rofella, 
 
♦74 ROSELLA. 
 
 Rofella, though uncommonly fond of children, 
 could not prevail upon herfelf to carefs thefe j 
 and with her friend ihe generally refumed her 
 journey in difappointment. 
 
 << 1 mud remove flill further from the murky 
 fouth," ejaculated Mifs Bcauclerc ; " I have not 
 yet attained thofe regions, where noble fimpli- 
 city and genuine liofpitality of foul urge a pea- 
 sant to fet before the pafTing ftranger his choiceft 
 flock of food and beverage, cloathe the lucklefs 
 wanderer in his raiment, and ferve him with the 
 hard-earned fruit of his toil." 
 
 In confulting the book of roads (he had taken 
 with her, fhe purfued her v^ay in' preference 
 vlirough Yorkfhire, and arrived on the fourth 
 day from leaving the metropolis, at Greta-bridge, 
 where the wild afpetl of the country and the ap- 
 parent rufticity of the inhabitants induced her 
 to paufe. From this town Rofella and heifclf 
 made little excurfions to the neighbouring places 
 which could boaft the allurement of natural 
 beauty ; and in one of their rides through the 
 rich valley of Swale to Wenfeley Dale, they were 
 peculiarly charmed with a fpot in which was 
 fituated a thatch-roofed inn, where they ftopped 
 to take refrefkiment. It was (heltered from the 
 bleak winds that- fweep over the eaftern ocean, 
 by an irregular chain of hills, rifingj as Mifs 
 Beauclerc had often read in the page of ficlion, 
 majeftic, wild and romantic ; at their bafe ran 
 a clear and rapid ftream,. which loudly murmured 
 to find its progrefs fometimes impeded by frag- 
 ments of rock either time or the war of ele- 
 ments had hurled from the furrounding heights ; 
 a fmall bridge of a Tingle arch rofe over the river, 
 which, a few paces further, flowed round the 
 foot of a precipice in a pleafing curvature, and 
 
 was 
 
ROSELLA. 1--^ 
 
 was for a time lod to the eye by an overfiiadow- 
 ing grove of hazle-trees, the v/ell-known hnunt 
 of all the village fwains and lafTes for five milej 
 round. But thefe were not the fole attra6lions 
 of the fpotto the enthufiaftic fancy of Mifs Beau- 
 clerc \ — the grove, when feen from the oppofite 
 bank of the (Iream, difclofed the white chimney 
 and part of the roof of the litHe manfion to which 
 fhe had been conducted, which thus viewed, 
 might, without any indecorum of idea, have 
 formed a retreat for the mod captivating and ill- 
 treated young lady that ever took refuge from 
 the purfuit of lovers, or the calumnies of the 
 .world. A white chimney and thatched roof 
 peeping out ©f a grove encircled by immcnfvi 
 rocks, margined by a dafhing dream ! ! ! 
 
 <« I feel fo much fatigued," faid Mifs Beau- 
 clerc to Simpfon, as (lie returned from a delight- 
 ful ramble, *< that I will have the horfes agaia 
 taken from the carriage 5 and if the people here 
 can accommodate us for a day or tv/o with tole- 
 rable convenience, I will layby a little, and re- 
 cruit my ftrcngth before 1 proceed further on my 
 journey.*' 
 
 Simpfon, whofe old bones had been vehe- 
 mently difcompofed by a continued and weary 
 ing motion of fo many days, exceffively approved 
 the propofalj and hailened to give orders, and 
 make the neceflary enquiries ; whilll Rofelia, 
 happy as youth, health, and innocence could 
 make her, was fatisfied either to advance or re- 
 pofe, as her friend thought proper. 
 
 The inn, . if it might be dignified with the 
 title, was difcovered to contain a tolerable lodg- 
 ing room, furnifhed with two old fafhioned beds, 
 that appe;ired to have made a heavy impreflion 
 upon the ancient floor, which evidently funk in 
 
 the 
 
If6 ROSELLi. 
 
 the places where they flood. This, however, 
 might have been a fault in the grand conf^.'ucli- 
 on of the bulKiing -, for the furface of the boards 
 was fo exceedingly uneven, that a No£lambiila 
 might very well have fuppofed himfelf afcending 
 to the turrets of an old caflle, or defcending to 
 its caverns without moving from the precindls 
 of his bed-room. This could not fail to prove 
 :in inconvenience to any fair heroine who paces 
 her chamber after the extindion of her midnight 
 lamp ; but fortunately Mlfs Beauclerc overlooked 
 the circumftan/:e, becauf^ the window, which 
 was a little (battered and crazy, happened to be 
 a real, original, green glalTcd, fmall fcjuared 
 cafement, encircled by a creeping plant wliofe 
 firil fnoots were juft expanding ; and though they 
 coxild not be miilaken for <* the fvveet-briar, or 
 the vine, or the twilled eglantine?," yet at the 
 moment Mifs Beauclerc put her head out of the 
 little window, a fparrow nellled amidft the bud- 
 ding leaves, and chirupped with great glee, 
 
 Such a fweet rural v;elcome inftantly decided 
 her flay at this chkrmingly petired fpot for at leaft 
 a week, and in a quarter of an hour Rofella and 
 herfelf were completely eilablifhed in their new 
 quarters. 
 
 They arofe the next morning with alacrity, to 
 ivander amidft the mountains tliat furroundi.d 
 them, and gaze over the wild and deep vallie* 
 they overhung. Mifs Beauclerc v/as now in the 
 haven of her expectations ; but not having been 
 accuftomed to thefe wandering delights, after 
 having walked fome time Oie felt much fatigued, 
 and feated herfelf en heroine upon a fragment of 
 rock, 
 
 A few yards' beneath her the river murmured 
 ©ver its'craggy bed, and ou the further banks 
 
 flood 
 
ROSELLA. 1.77 
 
 (loot! the ruins of a mill half hid by trees that 
 grew in luxuriant wiidnefs upon the deep afcent 
 that formed a background to the deferted buil- 
 ding. Miff Beauclcrc drew a book from her 
 pocket, and indulged herfelf in the pleafure of 
 reading the mountainous adventures of a mod 
 mountain loving damfel, in a fpot fo congenial : 
 whiKt Rofella, delighted with the fe-nblance of 
 freedom fiie now enjoyed, aVtd charmed with 
 every pafling gale that kifTcd her . glowing 
 cheek, flew from cliff to cliiT, inhaling the freth- 
 . 2ief3 of the early morning, an^l expj-eiTifig the 
 fulnefs of her. contentment' in rmlifts and gef- 
 tures of delight, Mifs Beauclcrc often raifed 
 her eyes from her book, to mark her ilep, no^v 
 rapid from the impulfe of curiofity, now arref- 
 ted by wonder and pleafed attention, and thought 
 that, her lovely figure higiily adorned the fcene. 
 At length her friend obferved her running 
 with more than ordinary fpeed ; -and ftrongly 
 biafled by the ttnor of her immediate (ludies, 
 expedled, v/ith- mingled horror and palpitating 
 rapture, to. fee her purfued by twenty lurking 
 banditti at Jleaft, in green, velvet caps, with 
 plumes -of yellows and black doublets and hofe - 
 trimmed with fci^rief ; (hz even pi£lnred to her- 
 felf the' ugures of the liveried fpoilers ail fo tall 
 and mufciilar, armed with arquebufles and long 
 fabres, • 
 
 Rofella reached her, however, without pur- 
 fuit, but fo extremely out of breath,, that it was 
 feveral minutes before fhe*conld articulate that 
 file had feen a man on the fummit of the further 
 rock, fometimes walking very quickly, at others 
 as flovvly, talking to himfelf in a very difhubed 
 manner, and often ftriking his hand upon his 
 forehead with frantic agitation. Mifti Beauclerc 
 I 3 li{l<:nea 
 
178 ROSELLA. 
 
 liftened in eager attention, but looked round in 
 vain for the hero. 
 
 « I was frightened at his vehement motions," • 
 continued Rofclla ; <• yet he has not the appear- 
 ance I imagine a madman to have, nor does he 
 look like a robber, but there was fomething 
 very ftrangc in his manner.'* 
 
 " Is'he handfome ?" afked Mifs Beauclerc, 
 haftily ; forgetting, at that inftant, all caution 
 and referve in the tranfporting hope of meeting 
 v.'ith an adventure worthy the fublimeft efforts of 
 her pen. 
 
 " I did not obferve his face," replied Rofslla. 
 
 ** Was he in the habit of a gentleman ?" 
 
 Rofella believed fo •, " He looked unhappy," 
 (he added, " and as if he had committed an ac- 
 tion he repented." 
 
 <* No, my love," faid Mifs Beauclerc, fagely, 
 ** I rather think he has fuffered wrong than dope 
 wrong ; which way did he take ?" 
 
 " I believe he came this way 5 ftiall we re- 
 turn to breakfaft ?" 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc aflented *, but lingered fo re- 
 peatedly, and looked behind her fo often, that it 
 became evident to Rofella (he had no fear, at 
 leaft, of the bugbear her own apprehenfions had 
 rendered formidable. 
 
 At a turning of the path they followed, which 
 bent in fudden curves with the windings of the 
 river, the objefl, whofe approach was fo much 
 defired, and fo much deprecated, unexpededly 
 appeared : he ftarted, and regarding Mifs Beau- 
 clerc and her young companion with earneft, but 
 momentary glances, palled on. Rofella felt her 
 heart palpitate when (he difcerned the moody 
 wildnefs.of his eye ; but his quiet departure re- 
 lieved 
 
ROSELLA. 179 
 
 lieved her, and preffing the arm of her friend, 
 (he whifpered her fatisfa6):ion at it^ 
 
 The ftranger turned at this moment to furvey 
 them once more, and his attention was arrefted 
 by the countenance of Rofella, which was tur- 
 ned full upon him : he ftood a few feconds with- 
 out motion, and then perceiving the alarm he 
 had occafioned, advanced with an air of eafy 
 politenefs, whilft he addrefled them in a man- 
 ner gentle and infinuating : " I hope," faid he, 
 " I am not a fubje6l of terror to you, ladies ?" 
 
 The unexpected change in his countenance, 
 and the tone of his voice, which was calculated 
 to quiet apprehenfion, revived the courage of 
 Rofella, and the fugitive dimples again returned 
 to her cheeks, while Mifs Beauclerc interchan- 
 ged with the ftranger the compliments of the 
 morning : and he probably conceiving that the 
 romantic beauty of the; fpot which marked the 
 rencontre, and its remotencfs from the grand 
 centre of etiquette and eftablifhed ceremonials, 
 would authorize the freedom of continuing the 
 Converfation, fauntered with them towards their 
 little habitation, which Mifs Beauclerc had foon 
 an opportunity' of pointing out to him as being 
 fuch. 
 
 The ftranger enquired how long, ftie had ho- 
 nored fuch a cottage by becoming its inmate, 
 and proceeded to queftion her, but without any 
 appearance of impertinent curiofity, concerning 
 the route by which (lie had arrived at it. On 
 learning that her companion and herfelf had re- 
 cently quitted the metropolis, he eagerly afked 
 the news of the day •, but Mifs Beauclerc prof^if- 
 fed to have paid little attention to tlic pblitica! 
 or domeftic reports in circulaiion at the momenr 
 of her journey. 
 
 T;.ey 
 
3S3 ' ROSELLA* - 
 
 They were now near the hotellerle, and Simp^ 
 fon, who had with fome difliculty ptocur€d ma- 
 terials for breakfaft, was looking out for the 
 return of the iadies ; and the ftranger on obfcr- 
 vinghlm, haftily bade farewell to his fair aflbci- 
 ates, and hurried back the way he came> without 
 waiting for the invitation that hung upon the 
 lips of Mifs Beauclerc> that he v/ould join their 
 repaft. 
 
 «« This man has a very interefling counte- 
 nance," fatd (he to Rofella, when they were fea- 
 ted at the breakfaft table j « he has certainly too 
 the mod captivating manners lever beheld!" 
 
 " He appeared good-humoured," returned 
 jfhe, ** but I thought his gaiety feenied forced : 
 he fometimes ftarted and looked round him, I 
 obferved, with a very difturbed afpe6l." 
 
 « He was merely abfent," replied Mifs Beau- 
 elerc ; <* he has probably fome painful recollec- 
 tions haunting his mind, or has reafons powerful 
 and imperious, that impel him to refill the foft 
 fenfations now pervading his brcaft for the firfl 
 fcime.'*^ 
 
 The entrance of old Sitnpfon with poll letters,; 
 which a meiTenger had been difpatched to Greta- 
 bridge in purfjiit of, prevented Rofella from ob- 
 taining an explanation of her friend's lad words; 
 and the novelty of feeing a letter addrefled to her, 
 effaced them entirely fromdier memory : (he ea- 
 rerly opened it, whilft Mifs Beaucierc, unfolding 
 a large packet of writing, exclaimed, ** Amiable. 
 Selina !" how a6live to gratify your abfent 
 friend ! I could fcarcely have expelled fuch a 
 pleafmg mark of attachment until tomorrow." 
 
 The correfpondent of Rordia proved to be the 
 accompliihed Mifs Livia, who wrote, fhe faidg 
 kccaufe her mamnaa ordered her to do fo 5 net 
 
 - that 
 
ROSELLA, l3l 
 
 that flic had any thing particular to fav, only 
 that her crofs papa had broke her piano-forte ta 
 pieces, and turned Mr. Strum out of the houfe v 
 ^nd that Mr. Povey had run away and hid him- 
 felf, and nobody could find him for above a 
 week ; fo his uncle had been in a fine fright, and 
 had bought him a commiffionin the Guards, or 
 elfe, Mr. Povey threatened to enlill himfelf, to 
 fpite the old man. 
 
 AH this important ixJtelligence was read by 
 Rofella with more indifference than the conclu- 
 fion of the eplftle, in which Mifs Livia begged 
 fhe would anfwer her letter, and tell her all the 
 news (he could think of, in return for her owri. 
 communications ; a talk Rofeila would mod wil- 
 lingly have excufed herfeli from undertaking. 
 
 When IVlifs Beauclerc had very attentively^ 
 perufed her voluminous epiftle from the moli 
 amiable Selina, (he prepared with more than 
 ufual glee and good-will to write her, in the 
 words of Livia, all the news (he could think of; 
 and chofe, as the molt eligible fituation for an 
 occupation fo important, the rural window of 
 her own chamber, which afforded her a hint for 
 the following amufingj novel,^ and moft heroic 
 paragraph ; — 
 
 «« I am now, my kind and gentle friend. Tea- 
 ted at the little cafement of my humble apart- 
 ment, which offers the raoft enchanting profpe£> 
 of varied beauty, the moft delightful and admi- 
 red landfcape writer ever diffeded. My beau- 
 tiful Rofella, that darling girl, is now adorned 
 with more than ufual lovelinefs, amnfing h'^rfelf 
 by playing wj^h the children of <?ur honell hoft 
 
 aiui 
 
iSZ ' ROSELLi.' 
 
 and hoftefs on the ruftic lawn before the door"— 
 /this was a(3:ually the cafe — " I will now there- 
 fore, comply with your earncft requeft to learn 
 our adventures." 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc now paufed in her career of 
 narrative ; and at this moment the fair fubjc6l 
 of her eloquent pen called to her to fay that {he 
 was going to walk a little way with the children, 
 who, encouraged by her careffes, importuned her 
 in an accent (he could fcarcely comprehend, to 
 go with them to fome place (he could not diftin- 
 guilh the name of : but they pointed to the road 
 up the hill, and entreated fo earneftly, that Ro- 
 fella was as eager to gratify them, as they could 
 be to receive gratification. Mifs Beauclerc rea- 
 dily aflented, in the hope that (he might again 
 YCit^t xXiQ myjierious Jlr anger, and thus continue 
 the adventure in ftyle ; and Rofella immediately 
 fufFered her little companions, a girl and a boy, 
 who appeared about four or five years old, to 
 lead her forward. 
 
 They took a path leading to an eminence that 
 overlooked the chimnics of the diminutive man- 
 sion they quitted; and the heat of the fun, 
 joined to the fatigue of afcending an almoll 
 perpendicular deep, made the way feem long to 
 Rofella •, but her aflbciates climbed up very 
 nimbly, with a fearlefs dexterity that proclaimed 
 they had been accuftomed to the tafk, and very 
 much approved it. At length they arrived at 
 the fummit of the hill, the little girl holding 
 Rofella by the hand, the boy leading the way in 
 a full trot, which he was obliged, however, to 
 flacken every other minute, that he might allow 
 his filter and her protecirke to ov.ertake him ; 
 
 and 
 
 \ 
 
ROSELLA. ^ 183 
 
 and ill another quarter of an hour they reached 
 the goal at which their infantine wi(hes pointed. 
 
 It was a very forlorn little cottage, raifed 
 againft a mountain's fide, with a level of about fix 
 feet before it, from whence any defpairing per- 
 fonage might, with thefmalleft trouble, precipi- 
 tate themfelves feveral fathoms, without danger 
 of breaking their defcent, except from a few- 
 jutting craigs, that might perchance have fuf- 
 pcnded a woe-worn lover between heaven and 
 earth, ** a fpedlacle for gods and men !" 
 
 The children ran into the hut, the door of 
 which was open, whilft Rofella found her at- 
 tention too much engaged by the tremendous 
 beauties of the place to follow them : no poetic 
 defcription of roaring catarads, cloud-capt hills, 
 and yawning abyffss came to her afliftance, or 
 aided her to give birth to her admiration and 
 aftonifhment ; no elegant foliloquy, uttered in 
 a melodious voice, directed a liftening fwain to 
 the fpot — her animated fatisfacflion was ftrongly 
 but filently exprefled. No touch of a die-away 
 lute, no filver tones of a celeftial flute or oboe 
 announced the approach of the myjlerious Jlr an- 
 ger \ yet the myfterious ftranger at this moment 
 approached, to gaze perhaps unfeen upon the 
 lovely figure of- the fair angel he had fo unex- 
 
 pedledly encountered in the early morning ! - 
 
 Ye gods, no ! he approached to depofit a dirty 
 {hirt in Molly Spanger's walh-tub, and with a 
 mind almoft wholly intent upon br-eaking his faft 
 with the oaten cakes and {kimmed milk in Molly 
 Spanger's larder. 
 
 Gentle genius of romance, be appeafed ! The 
 recognition was made on either fide in due 
 form ; Rofella looked round, the myfterious 
 ftranger ftarted \ Rofella bluflied, the ftranger 
 
 bowed 5 
 
lS4 ROSl'LLA* 
 
 bowed; (he fmlled, and he forgot his twofold 
 errand, approached her with courtly cafe,' and 
 having exprefled m.uch pleafure at this fecond 
 meeting, pointed out to her more immediate ob- 
 fervation the mod prominent features in the 
 landfcape,- in the term» of an amateur of the 
 beauties of nature, and enquired if (hewas in the 
 habit of delineating them. 
 
 Rofella replied that fnewas not, for that fhe 
 had more inclination than genius for fo charm- 
 ing an emftloyraent ; but the ftranger declared 
 himfelf incredulous of the aiTertion, and expref- 
 fed a wifh to fee her make an efiay of her art in 
 tracing the fcenery that furrounded them. Ro- 
 fella had however the modeft opinion of her abi- 
 lity which ihe profeiTed, and perfifting in affirm- 
 ing it, the ftranger at length relu6lantly yielded 
 to her decifion, and changed the fubje6l of con- 
 verfation from an art to a fcience. Mufic was 
 now his theme ' having fpoken of thofe inftru- 
 ments in ufe in the female world of fafliion, and 
 gathered from her replies how far flie was mif- 
 trcfs of them — ** There is,*' faid he, " a charm- 
 ing echo not more than fifty paces from rhis 
 fpot, which I think would produce a fine cffe^lj 
 if called forth by the modulations of. a voice 
 fuch as I judge you poiTefs : you ;plead guilty,'* 
 continued he, fmiling, « will you allow me to 
 conduft you to th^ *< airy ceir' of the " unfeen. 
 nymph ?" 
 
 Rofella was on the point of complying 5 but a 
 fudden idea of impropriety intervened, and after 
 a moment of hefitation, ihe excufed herfelf by 
 faying (he had two little companions in the cot- 
 tage, who might mifs her if (he left the door. 
 The ftranger bowed his head with an. air that 
 fcemed to fjiy he comprehended her -iiotive, and 
 
 allowed 
 
ROSELLA. 2S5 
 
 allowed it. In the moment of filence that er- 
 fued, his countenance loft it's tranquil eafe ; he 
 gazed round him as if he had awakened out of a 
 dream, and every feature underwent a fudden 
 convulfion. Rofella, much alarmed, imme- 
 diately entered the hut which contained only its 
 youthful vifiters ; but fhe felt even their pre- 
 sence a prote£lion, and having recovered from 
 the panic that had feized her, fhe had leifure to 
 obferve their actions : the boy was mounted upon 
 a ftopl, endeavouring to open an old beaufet, 
 which refufed to obey his efforts ; and the girl 
 then told her in melancholy accents, that Molly 
 was gone out, and the nuts were locked lip. 
 
 " Since it is fo" replied Rofella, " we will 
 return home ; for I (hould be forry to be a party 
 in carrying off the lead portion of your friend 
 Molly's treafures in my firft vilit to her habita- 
 tion, and in her abfence." 
 
 The boy very unwillingly gave up his pur- 
 fuit, aiid at her defire . followed her out of the 
 cottage. Rofella looked round for the ftranger, 
 but he had vaniflied. " How odd was his cou^ 
 dua !" thought fhe j " I wifn } had bidden 
 him farewell i Perhaps he was offended, -^r hurt 
 at my abrupt retreat/' 
 
 At her return to the hotellerie, (lie found that 
 Mifs Beauclerc had laid by her writing, and was 
 waiting her appearance with fome impatience ; 
 the fadl was, that flie had exhaufted her. mate- 
 rials for the narrative to her gentle Selina, and 
 having been compelled to leave her unknown 
 hero in the acl of breathing his firfl complement 
 of figbs In honor of Rofella's charms, {he was 
 eager to procure the further information (he had 
 no doubt of obtaining i.rj cppf^ueiace of this fe- 
 cond peregrination. 
 
 Rofella 
 
r8(5 ROSELLA. 
 
 Rofella having delivered the children to the 
 care of their mother, haftened to attend the 
 fummons of her friend, and being very elofely 
 quefliorfed, contrived -to recolle£l the principal 
 part of the converfation which had palled 
 between herfelf and the myfterious ftranger ; 
 but fhe was far from being able to relate every 
 word of it, and apply the appropriate geltures, 
 with the copious accuracy thac always accom- 
 panies the aftonifliing narratives of thofe hero- 
 ines with never-failing memories, who contrive 
 to recal every thought and word of their child- 
 hood, and recollecft every fentiment, fentence, 
 and fingle expreffion of all their friends and all 
 their foes, their papas, their lovers, their nurfes^ 
 and their waiting damfels. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc was however extremely well 
 fatisfied with the account fhe obtained from Ro- 
 fella, and the hiitcry for the perufai of the gentle 
 Selina went on a merveille. The remainder of 
 this momentous day was pafTed, as the lady her- 
 felf exprefled it, in " tranquil ferenity ;" that is, 
 Mifs Beauclerc wrote her interefting narrative, 
 and read another equally interelling from the 
 large packet of books fhe had brought with her 
 from her Circulating Library j and Rofella, for 
 lack of fomething better to do, played with the 
 children, and taught them their letters. 
 
 CHAP. xrn. 
 
 AJlormy and a difcovery. — A heroes retirement* 
 
 On 
 
 the following morning Mifs Beauclerc by 
 no means forgot to repeat her early walk with 
 
 Rofella 
 
ROSELLA, 187 
 
 Rofella : fhe would not lead exa£lly to the fame 
 fpot, but (he was careful to pafs near It, in the 
 hope of furprifing her newly-found hero in the 
 firft delightful meditations of love, iier watch 
 had informed her that when {he quitted her 
 chamber it was but fix o'clock ; and the fun had 
 long diiTolved the liquid gems that hung upon 
 the mountain foliage, when Rofella, quite fatis- 
 fied with the length of her ramble, talked of her 
 own hunger, and her friend's wet (hoes. But 
 Mifs Beauclerc afFe6led for fome time not to at- 
 tend to thefe hints, and her perfeverahce was at 
 laft rewarded by the appearance of the 7nyJ^en' 
 ous youth \ he was accompanied by a very beau- 
 tiful French pointer, who gave loud notice of 
 the approach •£ the ladies. His mafler ftarted, 
 turned haftily to them, and bowed with a grave 
 air, but fpoke not. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, fecretly difappolnted, and 
 rather offended that no fymptom of rapture 
 fliould efcape him at fuch.a fortunate rencontre, 
 returned the filent falutation, and taking the arm 
 of Rofella, paffed on. The path they were de- 
 fcending was fmooth and flippery, and Mifs 
 Beauclerc either did, or pretended to make afalfe 
 flep, which nearly brought her to the ground j 
 — the exclamation Rofella uttered, caught the 
 ear of the flranger, who difcerned in the coun- 
 tenance of the lady the pain which (he perfuaded 
 herfelf the accident occafioned her, and he po- 
 litely offered to affilt her to the bottom of the 
 hill. 
 
 Of courfe they were not. mute as they pro- 
 ceeded : Mifs Beauclerc profeiTed her obligation 
 for the attention of the flranger, who in return 
 fummoned his native gallantry to his aid, and 
 talked of being much indebted to chance for his 
 
 prefent 
 
1 88 ROSELLA. 
 
 prefent enviable fituation. On fight of their 
 little habitation, Rofella, unconfcious of the 
 dignity of heroifm, exprefled a mpft vulgar in- 
 clination for her breakfaft ; and Mifs Beauclcrc 
 recolle<fiing the hafte with which her fupporter " 
 had retreated the preceding day, feized the op- 
 portunity of inviting him to partake their meal. 
 He declined the honor in terms of regret, but 
 without afligning any motive for his refufal. 
 
 « Perhaps," faid Rofella innocently, << fome 
 other time will be more convenient to you ?" 
 
 He bowed in filence. 
 
 " I cannot be fo indecorous," thought Mifs 
 Beauclerc, " to urge him further." 
 
 At this rr.oment the dog, who had followed 
 his mafter's fteps very clofely, pafed him, and 
 ran forward, barking violently : the ftranger 
 called him back in a tone of anger, and as the 
 poor little creature returned, menaced him with 
 a blow. 
 
 " Oh don't beat him !*' exckimed Rofella 
 eagerly, and ftie {looped to carefs tite Mmal, 
 who crouched in terror -, its maftcr coloured 
 violently, and with a conciliating adion invited 
 a reconciliation. 
 
 " Poor Pet '"cried he with a thoughtful look, 
 « you have not been accultomed to rough treat- 
 ment !" ■ 
 
 «< Is. his name Pet r" afked Rofella ; « ah, 
 I fee he has been ufed to wear a collar ; has he 
 lofiit?" . ■ 
 
 The ftranger appeared confufed, and anfwer- 
 cd with hefitation th?vt he had. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc loft not one word or a finglc 
 tint of the changes in the countenance of the 
 unknown youth, and had formed a variety of 
 .conje^ures concerning this Pet of dsJclining in- 
 
 tereft. 
 
ROSELLA. ^ 1^9 
 
 tereft, which fhe concluded had been the gift 
 of fome fair favorite, whofe image in the ftr an- 
 ger's heart, had been fuperfeded by the more 
 lovely one of Rofella. 'Before the ladies reach- 
 ed the inn, he fuddenly flopped, and withdraw- 
 ing his arm from Mifs Beauclerc, bade her good 
 morning, and cafting an expreilive glance of 
 cordiality at her companion, left them precipi- 
 tately, followed by poor Pet, who often looked 
 back on his fair protetftrefs as he trotted away. 
 
 " This is very myfterious !" exclaimed Mifs 
 Beauclerc ; " how ftrnnge that he fhould again 
 turn away exactly at this fpot !'* 
 
 In fpite of his vehemence in correcting his 
 little dogf" faid Rofella, ** he appears amiable, 
 efpecially when he Ihakes off that melancholy 
 which feems to attend him. He fays Pet is not 
 ufed to rough treatment ; I fhould like to know 
 if the animal has always been his." 
 
 " It will not be eafily difcovered, I fhould 
 imagine," faid Mifs Beauclerc, " for he is won- 
 derfully cautious j and the my fiery of the dog 
 is not likely foon to be unravelled." 
 
 *< What myflery do you allude tq ?" afked 
 Rofella, in fome furprlfe. 
 
 " A myflery time will undoubtedly unveil to 
 our eyes," refumed the lady, " and we muft 
 wait the elucidation of it with patience. 
 
 Rofella readily agreed' to have all the pati- 
 ence required -, and juft at that moment catch- 
 ing a view of Simpfon, demanded if the break- 
 faft were ready. WhiHl (he was employed in 
 making it, her thoughts reverted infenfibly to 
 the llranger, and after fome mufing, fhc con- 
 cluded that his mind mull be a litiie difordered 
 — a circumflance the people of the houfe could 
 afcertain, if he refided in the neighbourhood \ 
 
 and 
 
ipO ROSELLA. 
 
 and {he mentionedher conje^itxre to her friend, 
 who agreed that Simpfon fhould make fome en- 
 quiries of the landlord. No one in the houfe, 
 however, could give any information of the 
 young man, though Rofella defcribed both the 
 matter and the dog very minutely ; and as Mifs 
 Beauclerc fully expeiSled he would ftill remain 
 the Incognitoy in fpite of every effort that could 
 be made to difcover who he was, (he was not 
 furprifed or chagrined that her fufplcions were 
 juft. The firft part of her journal, which con- 
 tained numberlefs furmifes concerning the deve- 
 lopement of the adventure, had already been 
 fent off by a fpecial meffenger to the neareft 
 poft-town, from whence fhe was now awaiting 
 the arrival of feveral articles of travelling ap- 
 pendage, for which flie had written four days 
 back •, and as the commiffion had been given to 
 the indefatigable Selina, {he knew .the execution 
 of it would not be delayed. 
 
 Rofella, not having the fame expedient as her 
 friend to v/ear out the lagging hours, and not 
 choofing, from an intuitive motive of delicacy, to 
 repeat |i€r ramble with her little playfellows, 
 began to grow rather weary of this divine re- 
 treat, in which fentiment, fo little partaking of 
 the fublimity of heroifm, flie was heartily join- 
 ed by old Simpfon, who now found himfelf bet- 
 ter able to continue flying after bis Lady's tan- 
 trums, as he privately exprefled himfelf, and 
 had quarrelled with his wretched cock-loft and 
 his forlorn pallet b^. 
 
 In the courfe of the morning, the courier 
 Mifs Beauclerc had employed, returned with a 
 large trunk brought by a .ftage from London ; 
 and the man had hired a cart to convey it from 
 the town where it had been left. Rofella> charm- 
 ed 
 
ROSSLLA. 191 
 
 cd with the prpfpcdl ef pafling an hour in fome 
 kind of employment, folicited to unpack it ; and 
 Mifs Beauclcrc readily confecting, it was taken 
 to their chamber immediately. 
 
 Amidlt a variety of books, writing-paper, 
 (heets, pillow-cafes, &c. Rofella drew out fome 
 ncwfpapers, and recollefted that the.ftranger had 
 enquired the news of the day with confiderable 
 anxiety ; (he renewed the circumftance in the 
 remembrance of her frienc], and with her ufual 
 alacrity to confer a benefit, aflced if the papers 
 might not be conveyed to him. 
 
 ** He may," replied Mifs Beauclerc, " have 
 re^fons very important for concealing himfelf, 
 and v/e (hould perhaps do him an injury by ex- 
 pofing him to the notice of any>one 5 and yet the 
 intelligence he might gain from thefe papers 
 mijght be eiTentially ufeful to him. I think, my 
 dear Rofella, you may without any danger to 
 yourfelf take them to that hut you viuted ycf- 
 terday ; and if the woman has any knowledge 
 ^f him, (he will take charge of the packet for 
 him ; even if fhe has none, you may perhaps 
 meet him by the way." 
 
 <* I hope not," faid Rofella, haftily ; " I 
 think he did not feem inclined to fpeak to us 
 this morning: he may think me impertinent or 
 officious." 
 
 «« What a ridiculous apprehenfion !" inter- 
 rupted Mifs Beauclerc, who, in her extreme 
 cagernefs to purfue this delightful adventure, 
 entirely loft fight of decorum. " Take the 
 children with you, and leave the papers at the 
 cottage, with an injunction to the woman to 
 prefent them to the gentleman, if fhe fiiould 
 fee him wandering in her neighbourhood. I am 
 fatigued and bufy, or I would accompany you. 
 
 It 
 
IpZ ROSELLA. 
 
 It is ptobable that you will merit the thanks of ^ 
 this poor rnan by the effort ; and I am forry to 
 obferve that you are rather unwilling to make 
 it." 
 
 Rofella, perceiviug that her friend fpoke 
 v.'ith a gravity fhe feldom ufed to her, inftantly 
 prepared to obey her, though with a reluctance 
 ihe could not conquer. She put the papers up, 
 and defcended to enquire for her little compa- 
 nions : the boy fhe learned, was abfent from 
 home, but the girl, who was the younger of 
 the two, very eagerly accepted her invitation 'to 
 walk to Molly Spanger*s cottage, and feizing 
 the hand of Rofella, led the way up the path, 
 talking all the way « of the nuts locked up in 
 the cupboard, which Molly had promifed to 
 give her when (he came to fee her." 
 
 Rofella was diverted with her prattle, and 
 almoft forgot the unwillingnefs with which 
 (he had undertaken her commilTion, in the plea- 
 fontnefs of the walk, which received no check, 
 as on the preceding day, from the too great fer- 
 vor of the fun : the harebell and violet began to 
 unfold their humble beauties, and fcent the 
 pafling gale with renovating fweets, and the 
 blackbird made the wooded precipices reverbe- 
 rate his clear and mellow note. 
 
 ** This is charming I" ejaculated Rofella ; 
 « I am again reconciled to the place." 
 
 She had now reached the brow of the moun- 
 tain, and her little guide looking round with 
 much perplexity, exclaimed, " Where's Mol- 
 ly's houfe ?" 
 
 " To the left," anfwered Rofella, <« we have 
 not come wrong, I hope." 
 
 ** Johnnie knows the way," cried the child ; 
 Johnme always comes with Molly." 
 
 « And 
 
R6SELLA. 193 
 
 <^ And did not you ?" enquired Rofella. 
 
 '« No, only once ; Johnnie knows the way 
 beft." 
 
 Rofella now began to fear that this affertion 
 was too true ; for (he had turned to the left, 
 as on her nrfl vifit to the hut, but could notob- 
 ferve one objefl which (he then recolledled to 
 have remarked. " We have loft our way, 
 Patty," faid flie. 
 
 The child looked gravely up in her face, but 
 made no reply ; and Rofella, rather chagrined, 
 yet without any fear of recovering her track, 
 endeavoured to remedy the error by turning in- 
 to another path, in which (he walked for fome 
 time ; ftill, however, no cottage greeted her 
 view. <* We have loft our way, indeed,* re- 
 peated (he. 
 
 " Can*t we never go back again ?" alked 
 Patty. 
 
 <« Oh yes,'* returned Rofella cheerfully; 
 ** but we mufthave a little patience." 
 
 «' I tired 1" cried the child in a ftill more 
 aggrieved voice. 
 
 « Already I" exclaimed Rofella ; " no, no, 
 you are not tired yet ; you will not be tired 
 till you go home." 
 
 " I hungry !" refumed Patty, half crying. 
 
 Rofella was by this time alarmed ; for in en- 
 deavouring to regain the right path, fhe infen- 
 fibly found herfelf in the moft wild and dr«ary 
 range of mountains, which feemed reared by 
 fome enchanter to guard from human eye, the 
 agitated ftream that rufned with rapid and noify 
 violence in the deep glen beneath. " What 
 fhall I do ?" exclaimed fhe in extreme anxiety. 
 
 << I dry !" was now the burthen of poor Pat- 
 ty's fong. 
 
 Vot. I. K « Have 
 
194 ROSELLA. 
 
 <« Have patience, my good little Patty," -re- 
 peated her companion; "tell me, is there 
 any other cottage near Molly's ?''* 
 
 « I don't know— I dry !" 
 
 Rofella looked roundher, (he looked down the 
 precipice before her, and gazed upwards towards 
 the mountain's fummits, but neither hut nor hovel 
 rewarded the fearch : flie difcovered, however, 
 that the clouds rolled black and angry over her 
 defencelefs h^ad, and thought (he heard them 
 breaking at a difence againft the craggy rocks 
 in low peals of thunder. Nor were her fears 
 groundlefs ; in a few moments a louder ex- 
 ploficn faluted her ftirinklng ear, and the in- 
 numerable echos of the place continued the 
 fearful found, till Rofella imagined the ele- 
 ments weie returning to their original chaos. 
 — << I frightened!" fcreamed Patty ; and her 
 companion could fcarcely footh her fears, for 
 her own were-almon: as potent. 
 
 At length whilft the laft echo was lofing it- 
 felf in diftant air, a vivid flafli of lightning, 
 the prelude of another (hock, illumined the 
 darkened fcene, and pointed out to her view 
 the waves of the torrent foaming againfl the 
 rocks, and rifing in ungoverned fury to a 
 height Incredible. The thunder was more loud 
 and tremendous than before ; and the piercing 
 fcreams of the terrified child added to her diC- 
 trefs and horror. 
 
 "What will become of us ! where (hall I 
 turn for Ihelter !" exclaimed (he; and taking 
 the arm of little Patty, who was burying her 
 face in her gown, fhe went forward, though 
 dreadfully appalled by the forked lightning, 
 that darted with an angled movement from one 
 point to another of the rocks that furrounded 
 
 her 5 
 
ROSELLA. 195 
 
 her ; in one inftant it was playing crver her 
 head, in another, attracfted to the craig beneath 
 her. An immenfe arm of a tree, fphntered 
 off by its ele(fl:ric ftroke, fell from the moun- 
 tain's top with a dreadful crafn, into the bed 
 of the river, fweeping every thing before it. 
 
 Rofella believing that the whole mountaiii 
 was giving way to the ftorm, flew with the 
 precipitation fear alone could give, and which 
 equally winged poor Patty's little feet, through 
 tb.e brakes that encompafled her, and left the 
 dreadful view, both of the precipice and tor- 
 rent, behind her. Still however, (lie ran, and 
 the child forgetting fatigue, hunger, and third, 
 with fome aiTiftance kept pace with her, and in 
 a few moments fuddenly cried out — " There's 
 Molly's houfe !" The eyes of Rofella fol- 
 lowed her pointing finger, and difcovered, not 
 Ivlolly's, but a ftill more miferable hut, to 
 which, however, (he gladly haftened. Havinp' 
 reached it, {he endeavoured to let herfelf in j 
 but the door was fattened, and a dog within 
 gave notice of the attempt. Rofella, glad to 
 find the place inhabited, rapped for admittance. 
 *« Openadoor," cried Patty, "I wet!" 
 
 Nobody obeyed this peremptory fummons,and 
 Rofella knocked harder againft the inhofpita- 
 ble little manfion, exprefTmg aloud a wifh to {lay- 
 only duringthe ftorm, which appeared every mo- 
 ment to increafe. The dog redoubled his bark- 
 ing at thisfecoad application, and ahafty ftep to- 
 wards the door announced that it was fuccefs- 
 
 ful. It opened and Rofella beheld tht myf~ 
 
 tenons Jiranger a<fi:ing as porter, and Pet in pvo^ 
 priaperfonay as fentinel : yet it did not occur to 
 her that the incident was at all remarkable, as 
 (he immediately fuppofed both dog and mailer 
 K z had. 
 
ig6 ROSELLA. 
 
 had, like herfelf, fought fhelter in the hut 
 nj^ainfi: the ilorm. She felt, however, embar- 
 rafTed in what manner to make known the mo- 
 tive which had brought her into fo unpleafant a 
 predicamant; for the ftranger, inftead of ex- 
 prefTmg apprehenfion at the danger fhe had en- 
 countered, and the complete drenching of her 
 garments, indead of congratulating her on 
 having found a (lielter, imperfeft though it 
 was, ftood before her as if every faculty had been 
 fufpended, in utter confufionand difmay. 
 
 <* The rain is dill very violent," faid Rofella 
 in a timid accent, after a filence of fome mi- 
 nutes, v/hich he attempted not to break; " and 
 I think the thunder approaches dill nearer." 
 
 No reply from the ftrangec, who appeared 
 unconfcious that (he fpoke. 
 
 " You live here ?" afked Patty innocently. 
 
 He darted at the v/ords, without regarding 
 who uttered them. 
 
 " Yes," faid he, turning to Rofella -, " even 
 here 1" 
 
 She fhuddered at the tone in which he fpoke, 
 and involuntarily looked round upon the clay- 
 walls, and at the half-covered roof, which in 
 feveral places admitted the rain, and rendered 
 the mud floor Itili more forlorn, cold, and 
 miry. 
 
 « You gaze in incredulity," exclaimed he ; 
 <« well you may ! — To what chance am I in- 
 debt'jd for this vifit ?" 
 
 «< Vifii!" repeated Rofella, inexpreflibly 
 (hocked, <« the dorm !" 
 
 «< Oh Tue ! interrupted he ; ** the dorm 
 within made me infenfible lo this jar of ele- 
 ments : well. Madam," adeding an air of 
 gaiety that was more dreadful than the former 
 
 gloom. 
 
ROSELLA. 197 
 
 gloom, " 1 am then to thank the ftorni for the 
 honour it lias procured me : but you fee 1 can- 
 not afk you to fit in this auguft manfion, for it 
 does not contain a fingle chair or (tool !" 
 
 «< I am not in the lead tired," faid Rofella 
 haftily, " and I prefer Handing." 
 
 « It is fortunate. that you do," returned the 
 ftra\iger, drily. 
 
 ** 1 very tired," cried Patty ; '« I v/ant to 
 fit down." 
 
 Rofella would have feated her on the iiogr ; 
 but as ihe caft her eyes upon it, (he obferved 
 that it was full of little hollow places, which 
 the rain, piercing through the roof, liad filled 
 with water. The quick glance of the (tranger 
 followed her's. *«< This is not a moment fcr 
 etiquette," faid he ; «' if you will condefcenci 
 to follow me, your little companion may be 
 accommodated with a feat, and yourfelf better 
 iheltered." Rofella hentated -, but without ob- 
 ferving her reluctance, he opened a door made 
 of reed, and exhibited a lodging-room cverv 
 way worthy of his chamber of audience: it was 
 fecured however from the weather, and con- 
 tained a bed of ftraw, on which a fpencer was 
 thrown, and by the fide of it a pair of half- 
 boots and a fmall bundle of linen: two or thrc: 
 books lay upon the floor, and en a torn fhttt 
 of light brown paper was delineated a very 
 pretty charcoal drawing of Molly Spanger's 
 cottage and the furrounding fcenery. 
 
 Rofella, who could not believe, uniil thefe 
 evidences convinced her, that a young man of 
 fuch a diftinguifhed, nay even elegant apperii- 
 ance really inhabited a place fo forlorn, now 
 experienced an am.azement too potent for con- 
 Gealment. The, ftranger turning from her to 
 
 hide 
 
198 ROSELLA. 
 
 h\de the burning blufh upon his civeek, took 
 Patty by the hand, and fcated her upon the 
 ftrawj amidft the torture of his mind, which 
 was but too evident, he again attempted an air 
 <'f leviry, wlulft he enquired of Rcfella if (lie 
 Vv.U continued Heady in her preference of (land- 
 ing. 
 
 *' 1 do not feci any fatigue," replied -^fhe : 
 r.nd indeed the ailerrion was true, for ilie was 
 M-lioIly engrofied by the reflecfl Ions that crowded 
 v/z^n her, from the difcovery (lie had involunta- 
 7jiy made, and flie began to meditate very anxi- 
 oufly upon the difEculties of her return to Mifs 
 Beauclerc. ** I think the ftorm abates," refam- 
 ' d (he J *« the lady, with whom you faw me this 
 morning, will be very much alarmed at my 
 being expofed ta fuch weather ; and as the 
 child's clothes, as well as my own, are quite 
 wet, I think we had better defy the rain, and 
 return iiome nov/ that the thunder and the light- 
 ning have ceafed i for I am afraid my friend 
 >vl)l not only fend ufter me, but perhaps in 
 her terror venture out herfelf." 
 
 *' Does (he know wliere to fend ?" demanded 
 the ftranger in great agitation. 
 
 Rofeila, frightened at tlie fudden change of 
 }iis countenance, from whence all color had 
 fied, fcarcely knew what (he replied, but ftam- 
 mered fomething of the cottage at which flie 
 had feen him the preceding day. 
 
 " And from thence they may be dire£led 
 here I" exclaimed he in an agony : ** Heaven 
 and earth, what a combination of circumftan- 
 ces to deftroy me !" 
 
 <« No, I hope not," cried Rofeila in fuch 
 extreme terror that (he trembled in every limb ; 
 
ROSELLA. 199 
 
 « I will try to find my way back to tlie inn 
 irpmediately." 
 
 Patty, who faw the (Iranger biting his lips, 
 and (lamping in half-reftraincd frenzy, ffized 
 the hand of Kofella, faying fofrly, « What will 
 he do to us — won't he kill us ?" 
 
 << Wretch that I am !" veh^^mently cjiiculated 
 the young man, in an effufion of anguifh he 
 could not fupprefs 5 *• cutcaft of the eanh — 
 
 abandoned, contemned, profcribed \'^ i lien 
 
 fuddenly recollecting himfelf, ** My emotioa 
 has betrayed me," refumed he ; " yet I tliink I 
 may dare truft to the benevolence of your dii^ 
 pofition, that my incautious agony of^ind wlH 
 not lead me to deftruclion, though it has aimo't 
 yielded up my fccret to your fufpicions. Yoiir 
 countenance expreifes all that can be conceived 
 of angelic in the human heart ; — yet what have 
 I not fufFered from an afpecl equaiiy enchant^ 
 ing^, that adorned the mofl depraved ci ycur 
 fex !" 
 
 His air was fo frantic, tliat Rci'eila, too muvh 
 frightened to reflect upon what flie cughr, or 
 what (lie ought not to dCf attempted a precipi- 
 tate retreat, but he caught her arm, and de • 
 f-ated her intention ; and Patty, who now 
 imagined he was affarediy an the point of mur- 
 dering both the pretty lady and herfelf, rA(t'd 
 her voice to the higheft pitch her little ihro-.t 
 would admit of. 
 
 ** Who is this child r" demanded the Gran- 
 ger ; " {lie cannot belong to your friend r" 
 
 «' No," replied Rofella in a faltering accent, 
 •* {he belongs to the people of the inn." 
 
 ** Then I am undone !" returned he in a low 
 tone of ansiety ; " (he will report, no doubr, 
 
 all 
 
200 ROSELLA. 
 
 a'l that fhe has feen, and can tecolk£l to have 
 heard." 
 
 *< Not if I can prevent her," interrupted 
 Rofella, who hH herfelf, actuated equally by 
 by fear and compaflion to give him this af- 
 furance. 
 
 An exprefiive look fpoke his thanks, and for 
 the firfl: time (lie now remembered the papers 
 in hQT pocket *, but that flie might not feem to 
 advert to any unhappy circumllance he had 
 darkly hinted at, (he produced them, not as 
 inferring that they might be of any ufe to him, 
 but With an expreffed hope that they would 
 afford hiri amufement. 
 
 He eagerly feized them from her, and his 
 eye' glancing in hade over them as they re- 
 mained in his hapd, he flarted, and ftriking 
 his forehead, vehemently afked who had read 
 ihem befides herfelf. 
 
 " I have not read a line In either paper/* 
 replied Rofella, every fpark of pity in her 
 nature awakened at his fenfitive apprehenfions, 
 <« nor has any perfon feen them fince they were 
 fent from Lor>don to the lady you faw this morn- 
 ing, who flightly looked over a few paragraphs 
 in each." 
 
 *« Do you think," faid he, « (he would 
 allow me to retain thefe papers ? If flie could 
 guefs how important to me — how " 
 
 He hefitated. 
 
 •« I think I may be certain" returned Ro- 
 fella, with more than her ufual fweetnefs of 
 afpecl, " that my friend, Mifs (ieauclerc, will 
 have no further ufe for them, and in her name [ 
 beg you will difpofe of them as you pleafe ; in- 
 deed (he defired me to put them in my pocket, 
 in the idea that you might perhaps not dillike to 
 
 look 
 
ROS^LLA 201 
 
 look them over -, and I — 1 imagined," continued 
 (he, confufed at the earneft manner in which 
 he at this inftant regarded her, «« that die wo- 
 man who lives in the cottage where I faw you 
 yefterday, might be able to convey them to you, 
 
 and therefore " 
 
 « And therefore," interrupted he, " you 
 fubje£\ed yourfelf lo the inconvenience yea 
 now experience, in the amiable humanity of 
 your heart, to relieve the foiitary mifery of a 
 itranger, who betrayed I fuppofe, the agitation 
 of a mind at war with peace ; and even now 
 you cannot repent the (liock, the alarm you 
 have received, becaufe you hear me declare that 
 you have inexpreffibly ferved me, and but for 
 your gentle condefcenfion I had been loft. How 
 <;an I acknowledge my obligation to your friend? 
 She appeared to me all charity and goodnefs, 
 and I fear (he thinks I have repaid her generous 
 civilities but ill. As for yourfelf, who have 
 deigned to become the meiTenger of fafety to 
 a wretch like me, — what terms can I choofe to 
 imprefs you with fome part of the humble ad- 
 miration I feel for the fenfibility, the delicate 
 companion you have evinced ? You have in- 
 deed tlic figure of an angel, and appear to pof- 
 fcfs every gentle attribute the imagination will, 
 fpite of pad experience, give to fuch a form •" 
 Rofella, bluihing at the v/armth wirh whicli 
 he fpoke, turned from him without replying. 
 She had now executed her commi/Tion, and 
 was fenfible (he could not too foon return to 
 her little habitation, which Ihe naturally fap- 
 pofed would be in commotion and alarm for 
 her fafety and that of the child. The rain had 
 ceafed, and the Iky was once more k^r.nf. 
 K 3 whic:» 
 
2C2 ROSELLA. 
 
 which (he obferved, and uttering a fare-^rel 
 compliment to the ftranger, led to the door, 
 snd was joyfully accompanied by Patty. But 
 }ie fuddenly remembered that his fair vifiter 
 had faid fhe had loft herfelf in the ftorm j and 
 well knowing the difficulty of finding a track in 
 a place (o wild, offered to condu6i; her to the 
 path flie was acquainted with, which overlooked 
 the roof of the inn. Rofella was obliged to 
 accept the propofal, though (he feared he might 
 rncounter either Simplpn or Patty's father ; and 
 lifter the confefllon of the reclufe, flie earneftly 
 wiflied to fpare him any further confufion and 
 i-Rortification. 
 
 Th^y walked filently forward for fome time, 
 the ftranger, from habitual politenefs, affording 
 'her every affiftance, which the wet by render- 
 ing the defcent of the mountain very flippery 
 jr»ade extremely necefTary ; though at tlie fame 
 inoment he appeared abfent, melancholy, and 
 loft in thought. 
 
 At length when Rofella could once more 
 flifcern the chimnies of Patty's little dwelling, 
 ihe turned to thank the ftranger for the aid he 
 had given her, when the voice of old Simpfon 
 J^allooing her name, made him ftart from a 
 dc?p reverie, and taking her hand which he 
 killed refpeftfully, «< Farewel !" faid he ; <« I 
 3;ave a requeft to urge — do you ftay in this 
 place till to-reorrow ?" 
 
 *« We do/' replied Rofella. 
 
 *' Once more then farewel — but not for ever 
 — I will write an eternal adieu — I cannot fpeak 
 
 iri" 
 
 He then walked haftily away, and his dog, 
 wlo had elofely attended his fteps, followed 
 h::n. Kofella was (hocked at the fulemnity with 
 
 which 
 
ROSELLA. 203 
 
 which he had utterejl his lafl: words, and ftiiT 
 more at their import. ** Does this unfortunate' 
 young man mean to deprive himfelf of life," 
 thought (he, << that he talks of an eternal adieu ?" 
 Patty now interrupted the courfe of her fear- 
 ful fuppofitions by calling out in anfwer to old 
 
 SImpfon *< Here's Lady 1 here !'' Lady 
 
 herfelf too replied to the vociferations in her 
 own voice, and the poor man' advanced witli 
 great alertnefs to afcertain her fafety : — at the 
 fame inftant Mifs Beauclerc met her in the path-; 
 for notwirhftanding the charms in her imagina- 
 tion, of an adventure amidfl: mountains, cata- 
 racts, thunder, lightning, and rain, — her afF;;c- 
 tron, which was neither artificial nor acquired, 
 had predominated over her tafte for the roman. 
 tic and marvellous, and had impelled her forth, 
 as Rofella had well guefTed, before the ftorm 
 had quite cesfed, that (he might aid the refear- 
 ches of old Simpfon and the landlord. 
 
 «< My Rofella," exclaimed fl-ie, <« you are 
 quite wet I Good heavens ! you have beea 
 wholly expofed to this tempefl; — you will catch 
 a cold, perhaps a fever, and through my mean.; I 
 What will become of me if you fhould be ill ?" 
 *• At prefent," replied (he with alacrity, 
 <* 1 feel not the lead fymprom of indifpofiiion ; 
 and I hope Patty has no o:her ailnntnt than fa- 
 tigue and hunger." 
 
 »< Yes," cried the child, «< I hungry, and I^ 
 tired too!" " 
 
 Simpfon was dcfircd to carry her home ; and 
 Rofella then in a low voice, as (he followed 
 with Mifs Beauclerc, had merely time to \\)y 
 tliat (he had feen the ftranger, wlio was very 
 grateful for an attention which he acknewledged 
 to be of the lUmoIt confequencc tc iiis v^-elfcirf^, 
 
 b^for.' 
 
204 ROSELLA. 
 
 before Patty's mother and her houfchold damftl 
 overtook them in their way from Molly's cot- 
 tage, whither they had run in fearch of the 
 young lady and the child. 
 
 Rofella feared that the little girl would 
 recolle£l the impreffion of terror (he had re- 
 ceived at the Granger's miferable dwelling, and 
 repeat more than for his fafety ought to be 
 known ; but fortunately all that poor Patty was 
 inclined to articulate, was, ** I dry, I hungry 1" 
 and when flie was relieved from thefc misfor- 
 tunes, having been previoufly put to bed, fhe 
 fell into a profound Ileep, which laded fuffici- 
 ently not only to allow of Rofella's communi- 
 cation to her friend, whilft flie changed her 
 wet garments, and drank the good landlady's 
 pofTet, but gave Mifs Beauclerc ample time to 
 arrange a (lory that might agree with that of 
 Patly, without fabjetfiing the haplefs ftranger to 
 the curiofity of the people of the inn, who 
 were by no means numerous, and being gene- 
 rally employed, had not luckily that violent 
 third for gathering knowledge, and collexSling 
 amufing fafts and myderious anecdotes, which 
 may be fuppofed to torment a fupernumerary 
 domedic in a houfe of larger dimenfions : and 
 when fne contrived to mention in the prefence 
 ot the woman of the houfe and her hulband 
 ieveral circumdances of, the vehement impati- 
 ence of fome perfon who had taken Oielter in 
 the fame hut with Patty and her companion, 
 and whofe hady progrefs had been prcvokingly 
 impeded by the temped, the good people iiden- 
 ed very calmly, and did not appear to think any 
 concealed myjlery might be elucidated by tracing 
 t^T-it deps of a traveller who rated the thunder, 
 ;tnd fwore at the rain, which they very likely 
 
 miizlit 
 
ROSELLA. 205 
 
 night have done themfelves, had they been 
 going to tlie fair at the next town, or to a 
 chrlftening at any neighbouring village. So 
 that at Patty's levee, vi'hen (he difcufled in her 
 own way as much of the hlftory as (he could 
 recoiled^, the only obfervations or exclamations 
 it raifed, were, <« fure !" and " lauk I" and 
 thus the dreaded report ended, to the generous 
 fatisfadion of Rofclla, whofe compaflion was 
 ftill excited by the remembered agonies of the 
 unhappy (tranger ; as his defolate fituation^ 
 whether the refult of misfortune or guilr, could 
 not fail -to intereft a bofom, where he had him- 
 felf juftly faid, all the gentler attributes of in- 
 nocence and goodnefs refided. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 An heroic epijlle — rage for moinlight walks y a la 
 lanterne, 
 
 VyN the following morning, before the bufy 
 fpirit of Mifs Beauclerc could devife any new 
 plan to heighten the delicious pathos of the 
 poor man's mifery, by contriving for him ano- 
 ther interview with Rofella, whofe charms fhe 
 was extremely certain were tearing his opprefTed 
 heart with all the horrors of hopelefs love, a 
 country fellow brought to the door of the hotel- 
 lerie Mr. Pet, the decided hero of an underplot 
 in the tragical drama of the myfterious ftranger, 
 who, in the opinion of Mifs Beauclerc, was 
 cither feme young Noble, whofe futher had 
 
 gravely 
 
20-6 ROSELLA. 
 
 gravely betrothed him in inf^'ncy to feme em- 
 bryo heirefs, and who was flying from matri- 
 monial perfecutions — a tale (he had met with 
 in her extenfive reading; or that he was at lead" 
 a Baronet, who had incautioufly married fome 
 very handfome and very fafliionable young lady, 
 and now found fufficient reafon to repent the 
 precipitation of ill-judged paflion, in the outra- 
 geous condudl of his wife, who after ruining 
 his fortune and her own reputation, embroils 
 the much-fuffering hufband with her gallant, or 
 any other man, and the confequences of a feri- 
 ous duel had obliged him to hide his injured 
 head — v.'here Rofella fo fortunately found him : 
 incidents which the memory of Mifs Beauclerc 
 alfo furnilhed. 
 
 But whoever the myflerlous (Iranger might' 
 be, he proved that Mr. Pet was, to him at 
 kaft, a very important perfonage, by the follow- 
 ing letter, which was given to Mifs Beauclerc. 
 by the man Avho had charge of him. 
 
 f< I believe, Madam, I hinted to your young 
 friend that friend that your condefcenfion had 
 emboldened me to meditate a requeft, which 
 perhaps in a being fo forlorn as (he now knows 
 me to be, you will confider as a prefumption 
 fcarcely to be pardoned, ftill lefs to be complied 
 with *, yet I mud augur better from the benevo- 
 lence of your countenance and manner, when I 
 had the honor of thofe tranCent interviews 
 which have procured you the trouble of receiv- 
 ing this application. 
 
 «< The poor little dog, whom I hare delivered 
 to the lad cntrulled with this fcrawl, 1 can no 
 
 longer, 
 
ROSELLA. 207 
 
 longer, fior reafons very important, retain 
 with me in my wanderings ; — yet I cannot en- 
 dure to deprive him of life, or drive him from 
 me without fome hope that he will be takers 
 care of : his original owner refides near Sedg- 
 field, in Durham. I think you mentioned that 
 you were travelling northward, and I cannot 
 luppofe that you will deviate fo much from your 
 route, at the requeft of an unfortunate ftrauger, 
 who is not worthy the confiderate attentions yoa 
 have already beftowed upon him ; but (hould 
 you perchance find yourfelf within a few miles 
 of Sedgfield, and (hould you then cafl a thought 
 upon the man you have eternally obliged, will 
 you condefcend to afhgn poor Pet to the care of 
 a perfon to be relied upon, and in{lru6t fuch an 
 one to condu6l the dog to Mr. MompefTon, 
 whofc name and family refidence are well 
 known round the neighbourhood. 
 
 « I ofFer no apology for the freedom I ufe in 
 thus addreffing you, for I know of no words 
 that would in any degree excufe it. I truft to 
 your generofity not to rejedl my application en- 
 tirely j but fhould you attribute to prefumption 
 what is wholly the efFeifl: of mifery and defpair, 
 and experience only indignation inflead of the 
 companion I folicit, upon the gentle mercy of 
 your charming young friend I cafl; my defertcd 
 companion, and I am aflured (he will noc futFir 
 him to perifli. His mailer fhe will never fse 
 more — I hope in heaven fhe will never hear of 
 him more. To you. Madam, I wifh every blef- 
 fing this world can give ; and to your Rofelia, 
 (o I think you called her, I earneftly invoke the 
 continuance of that gentlenefs, innocence, and 
 peace which now harmonize her accents, and 
 
 enrich 
 
208 ROSELLi. 
 
 enrich every grace of a form I can never for^ 
 get. 
 
 <« By what fignature to defign myfelf, I knchir 
 not — to you I will not fend a fiditious one, and 
 the name which I received from the bed and 
 moll virtuous of patents, — a name I have — but 
 I will end here — I am, Madam, 
 
 « A Wretch/' 
 
 ** P. S. — Yes, yo\x Jhall know that one of 
 thofe papers you fent for my amufemeni^ the 
 firll on which my eager eye fell, expofed to me 
 the imminent danger which you have thus en- 
 abled me to efcape. It was your intervention-^ 
 that drew me back from the precipice on which 
 I ftood ; but I ftill wander blindfold, and may 
 this moment be again ruQiing to certain death — 
 Oh worfe, a thoufand times worfc — to infamy P' 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc twice read this very myfteri* 
 ous epiftle, which, from the evident hafte and 
 trepidation of the writer, he had juftly called a 
 fcrawl, before (lie recovered her recolle£lion fo 
 far as to enquire of Simpfon who waited her 
 orders, where the perfon was who brought it. 
 He was in the kitchen, Simpfon replied ; fliould 
 he call him ? Mifs Beauclerc aflented, and the 
 young man appeared, who anfwered her en- 
 quiries in the broad Yorkfhirc diale£l. With 
 fome effort, however, fhe comprehended that 
 he had received that fcrap of paper and the lit- 
 tle beaft he had got with him, from a man he 
 met about two miles oflf, who was to have car- 
 ried them all the way himfelf 5 but he faid he 
 had fallen lame, and could not get on, fo he 
 :oKi him where to come, and offered him a 
 
 fhilling 
 
ROSELLA. 20^ 
 
 {hilling to undertake the errand, and the lady^ 
 lie faid, would give him another (hilling if he 
 brought the letter and the dog fafe to her. 
 
 This was all fhe could learn ; and having 
 fulfilled the covenant which the lame man had 
 made, whom fhe imagined to be the ftranger 
 himfelf, fhe difmifTed Simpfon v^ho was burfting 
 with curiofity, and communicated the contents 
 of the letter to Rofella, who had already almoft 
 reconciled poor Pet to his fate. 
 
 She blufhed at the commendation it fo 
 lavifhly bellowed upon het, but foon loft every 
 pafling emotion in concern for the deplorable 
 fituation of a perfon who poffefled fuch diftin- 
 guifhed attradions. Mifs Beauclerc relieved 
 her anxiety for the deftiny of tht animal fo foli- 
 citoufly recommended to her, by faying, ftie 
 would comply with his matter's evident wifh, 
 that he fhould be returned to his original owner ^ 
 and convey him herfelf to SedgfieuL Indeed 
 her own inclination to learn the imprudences or 
 misfortunes which had operated to place Mr. 
 Pet under her protection, joined to a ftrong 
 hope of encountering fome very interefting ad- 
 ventures in fceking to elucidate thofe of the 
 flranger, would have been alone fufficient to 
 have urged lier to the ftep, without the aid of 
 that compafTion he had really excited in her 
 bofom. Simpfon therefore received orders to 
 procure poft-horfes for the following morning ; 
 and Mifs Beauclerc then employed the reft of 
 the day in converfing with Rofella upon the 
 fuppofed difafters of the ftranger, and in writing 
 to her friend Selina a very circumftantial hiftory 
 of the turn affairs had taken. 
 
 Rofella, when fhe bade adieu to Patty and 
 her brother, left with them fuch magnificent 
 
 marks 
 
aio kosella; 
 
 marks of her approbation, that Molly's nuts in 
 the cupboard were entirely forgotten ; and as 
 Mifs Beauclerc's carriage drove from the door^ 
 the little giH, who had become fond of her 
 lovely playfellow, began a cry that threatened 
 to laft the whole day, 
 
 Simpfon was obliged to ride a hack-horfe, 
 not having been able to procure a fecond pair 
 for a chaife, and MV. Pet was, of courfe, 
 taken into that of Mifs Beauclerc, who was far 
 from being difpleafed that fhe was compelled to 
 fhew this mark of refpe6l to the mafter, in the 
 perfon of the dog. They arrived at Sedgfield 
 in time to dine ; and when the repafl; was over, 
 Mifs Beauclerc, fending for the mafter of the 
 houfe where (he had put up, demanded if he 
 could direct" her to the houfe of Mr. Mona- 
 pelTon, and if he knew any thing of the family. 
 The man looked with earneflnefs at her whilil 
 {he fpoke, and after fome hefitation, replied, 
 that Eideva Lodge was about three miles fur- 
 ther, on the Durham road ; that Mr. Mo?t?.- 
 peilbn was a worthy gentleman as ever breathed, 
 —that he believed he was at prefent very ill — -- 
 and — and he had heard that he was in fome 
 trouble— but. he could not tell for his part — he 
 only knew that he was a very worthy, kind- 
 hearted gentleman. 
 
 The manner in w-hieh this intelligence was 
 given, very plainly indicated that the informant 
 could fay a great deal more if he chofe it ; but 
 Mifs Beauclerc did not wifh to foreftal this de- 
 licious myflery from the vulgar periods of an 
 innkeeper, and refolved to prefent the dog her- 
 felf to the worthy gentleman, (even if (he (hould 
 be compelled to the indecorum of being intro- 
 duced into his bedchamber,) that (he might be* 
 
 hoM 
 
ROSELLA. 211- 
 
 hold the efFe£l which the fudden fight of Pet 
 would have upon him, and difcover, from h'ys 
 varied emotions, his pathetic fohlcquies, and 
 heart-rending ejaculations, the nature of ihofe 
 troubles he was overwhelmed with, and by 
 what intereft he was implicated thus apparently 
 in the miferles of the unhappy and felf-con- 
 cemned (Iranger. She had no obftacle to pre- 
 vent her from riding or walking immediate!)' to 
 Kideva Lodge, accompanied by the oftenfible 
 caufe of her vifu;, for the weather was fine, 
 and feveral hours of daylight were yet before 
 her;, but undertaking a charming adventure, 
 fuch as this had every profpcft of becoming, 
 by the " garifh eye of day," was not to be 
 thought of; no, by the fublime beams of the 
 pale moon the intended to fiiape her penGve 
 courfe towarxis the manfion of Mr. Mompeflbn, 
 and really perfuaded herfelf that (he was under 
 a neceffity of difpatching feveral letters by the 
 mail of that evening, which happened to pafs 
 through the town at twilight. 
 
 Rofella wondered what this fudden preflure 
 of letter-writing could be caufed by, and ven- 
 lured to hint that the performance of the 
 commiffion might be deferred till the next 
 morning, as it could not be executed with 
 convenience that evening : but fuch an arrange- 
 ment not at all according with the views of 
 her enthufiaftic friend, her intimation was op- 
 pofed by a plea of not wilhing to lofe another 
 day by this affair; and Rofella, who had ever 
 been accuftomed to ob?y every wifh of Mifs 
 Beauclerc, thought her reafons muft be all- 
 fufHcient, at leaft (he had neither authority 
 nor inclination to over-rule them, 
 
 Whilft 
 
212 ROSELLA. 
 
 Whilft tbefe unlucky letters were being writ- 
 ten, Rofella found the hours very flowly move 
 forward. The houfe was not enlivened by 
 children, who, if they were tolerably attrac- 
 tive, had always the power of amuCng her ; 
 and thofe books which were moil adapted to 
 the tafte of her friend, and of which there was 
 always a number very conveniently at hand, 
 did not unfortunately agree with her ideas of 
 entertainment i though to do juftice to her fen- 
 fibillty and perfcverance, (he could with great 
 patience cry through a dozen pages, and trem- 
 ble through as many more. But then a con- 
 tinuation of crying and trembling, according^ 
 as the fuperb pen of the writer varied from 
 pathos to horrors, and from liorrors to pathos, 
 throughout feveral volumes, (he found far ex- 
 ceeding any curiofity fhe could feel, to learn in 
 which of the damp dungeons, all over-run with 
 fpiders and black beetles, the mod lucky of the 
 heroine's three or four dozen lovers found a 
 clean fpot to throw himfelf at her feet •, and 
 befides Kofella began to think with Don 
 Qjjixote when he was upon his enchanted Pe- 
 gafus, that, notwithftanding the variety of cur- 
 vatures and prancings pra<^ifed to deceive the 
 judgment, fne was only, like him, going over 
 and over the fame ground — always the cafllc 
 and ghoft before her, let her peep where (he 
 would. She had however, at the prefent mo- 
 ment no choice of amufement, for Mifs Beau- 
 clerc continued to write with the moil un- 
 wearied inflexibility, and Rofella took up a 
 volume of charming adventures, written in the 
 ftyle of a magic lantern, where a duiky fuc- 
 ceflion of half delineated figures dance about 
 a-propQs de hottesy and then difappear to make 
 
 way 
 
RCSELLA. 213 
 
 Airay for others equally well drawn and equally 
 to the purpofe, as the firft. 
 
 At feven the mafter of the houfe entered the 
 room, to fay that he was making up the bag for 
 the mail ; and as he underftood the ladies had 
 fome letters to put in, he came to requeft that 
 they would not detain them much longer. Mifs 
 Beauclerc, now obliged to forego her occupati- 
 on of writing for the poft, pleaded fatigue to 
 delay the expedition to Eideva Lodge to a. 
 proper heroic hour, and ordered tea. Rofella 
 was chagrined, but preferved (ilence, though 
 (he could not avoid watching the departing fun- 
 beams in great anxiety. <* It will be quite dark," 
 thought flie, ** before we reach the houfe of 
 Mr. Mompeflbn ; what will he imagine on feeing 
 us at fuch an hour, invalid as he is too !" 
 
 From refledions upon the time in which the 
 vifit w6uld be paid, Rofella was led to others 
 upon the purport of It ; and for the firll moment, 
 it appeared to her in a ridiculous point of view, 
 unacquainted as Mis Beauclerc and hcrfelf were 
 with the character of their mountain friend, or 
 what his connedlion was with the family whofe 
 manfion they were thus going to bv^fiege at an 
 hour fo undue, when if ficknefs aflailed them, 
 they would be feeking repofe, — or if in health, 
 they would moft probably be aiTembled in focial 
 .gaiety, and neither wifh nor expe<5t the intrufion 
 of total ftrangers, upon an errand that might 
 feverely mortify their ptide, or (ho^k their feel- 
 ings. Yet whatever might be the fecret reluc- 
 tance of Rofella to become gciitlewoman-ufher 
 in fecond to Mr. Pet, ihe did not think proper 
 to hefitate when Mifb Beauckrc declared herfelf 
 ready to begin the expedition ; but merely re- 
 i^inded her that neither ^impfon nor themfelves 
 
 wer^ 
 
214 ROSELIA. 
 
 were acquainted with the road they were to take, 
 and alked if he fhould not obtain particular di- 
 rections upon the fubject : for her friend had 
 previoufly announced that (he meant to walk. 
 
 " I will my felf enquire," replied Mifs Beau- 
 clcrc, ^* for it is not my intention to take Simp- 
 fon ; as it mufl: be the height of cruelty to ex- 
 pofe the agonizing feelings we may too pofTibly 
 be witnefs to, to the obfervation of a fervant *, 
 and indeed," continued the lady with great fo- 
 lemnity, *<^fuch an indifcretion might betray the 
 mod important fecrets to public curiofity." 
 
 Rofella was thunderftruck : walking in the 
 dufk of the evening without an attendant, unac- 
 quainted with the way they were to purfue, and 
 what was ftill worfe, returning after night-fall, 
 which muftbethe cafe, wholly unprotedled, was 
 a thing (he could not have had an idea of, but 
 from the fearlefs rambles of thofegentlecreatures, 
 whofe marches and counter-marches (he had pe- 
 rufed in Mifs Beauclerc's library books ; but 
 then (he fancied that the roads, the lanes, and 
 the woods (he read of, muft unrverfally have 
 been appropriated to interefting adventures, or 
 that the beautiful creatures who majeftically pa- 
 eed through them, " all alone by the light of the 
 moon," mud have inevitably worn fome diftin- 
 guiftiing mark of fublimity which exempted them 
 from the vulgar attacks of common accidents j * 
 like that honeft gentleman of folemn memory, 
 who fo obligingly walked this earth eight or 
 nine hundred years (looking quite frefh and 
 young) with a crofs of fire in\printed upon his 
 forehead, under a cilician bandeau, to awe 
 ghofts, goblins, and deviis from impertinent 
 approaches. 
 * yidc a late moft brilliant publication of a Britifh legiflator. 
 
 Mifs 
 
ROSELL/.. 215 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, who did notobferve the con- 
 Rernation of her young companion, put on her 
 cloak with infinite compofure ; and defiring Ro- 
 fella to follow her example, called down Mr. Pet 
 from the chair on which he had extended him- 
 felf, and walked into the inn-yard, where from 
 a fide window (lie had obferved the landlord 
 talking to a fervant in a grey frock with a black 
 collar, whorode away before (lie reached them. 
 Having made known her wifh to be particularly 
 informed of the road to Eidcva Lodge, (he wai- 
 ted two or three feconds for an anfwer ; the 
 landlord, as before, furveying her very earneftly. 
 " if I had known only a minute ago, Madam," 
 faid he, " that you had bufinefs with Mr. Mom- 
 peffon, you could have fpoken to his fervant, 
 that young man who was with me juil now ; but 
 I can fend after him if you choofe." 
 
 " No," replied PJifs Beauclerc with a digni- 
 fied air, " what I have to relate is only for the 
 ear of Mr. MompreiTon himfelf." 
 
 ." The poor gentleman is very ill. Ma'am; 
 I hope you have not any bad news for him," faid 
 mine holt with a look of doubt and reluctance : 
 «* it's very late. Ma'am — I believe it is nearer 
 three miles than two from here to the Lodge — 
 I queftionif the poor gentleman be well enough 
 -to fee you, Ma'am ?" 
 
 " I hope," returned (he^ << he will think my 
 jcrrand a welcome one ; perhaps I can give him 
 •'inrormation that will not difpieafe him !" 
 
 ** That indeed, Madam," faid the hndlord, 
 *^ is quite and clean another thing, and I don't 
 think, poor gentleman, you can tell him aay 
 good news too foon ; fo, if you pieafe, I will at- 
 tend you/' 
 
 «' You 
 
2l6 ROSELL/. 
 
 " You are very obliging," replied Mifs Beau- 
 clerc, " but I have leafoiis for not choofing to be 
 accompanied by any perfon but this young lady." 
 
 " That young lady I'* repeated he, turning 
 his enquiring eyes upon Rofella. 
 
 " And I will thank you," refumed Mifs 
 Beauclerc, " to infi.ru6l me which road I am to 
 take, for it becomes late." 
 
 <* Yes, Ma'am, it is too late for two ladies to 
 waik fo far all lonely by themfelves — however 
 you muft do as you fee fitting 5 though T mud 
 iay there is not a a an for ten miles round that 
 wi(hes that there famijy better than I do ; and 
 I will make bold to advife you, Ma'am, to let me 
 ihew you the way." 
 
 " I^ am obliged to decline your propofal," 
 faid fhe, half offended at an obftinacy that fo 
 much incommoded her plan» 
 
 <* Well, I fay no more — I only hope you 
 carry the poor gentleman good news. I have 
 been his tenant thirty years, and he never once 
 afked for his rent harlhly, though God knows I 
 have hnd my troubles, and havn't always been 
 fo able to pay it as I am now ; but he is a wor- 
 thy gentleman, and would not diftrefs the fa- 
 ther of a family, God help him I He will be 
 rewarded in the next world, for he's not long 
 for this — he's broken-hearted. Ma'am I But 
 come, ril juft (hew you into the green lane 
 that leads to his houfe, for if you have good 
 news, you can't go too foon !" 
 
 A thoui'and conje£lures danced fucceflivcly 
 into Mifs Beauclerc's brain at thefe hints, and 
 fhe eagerly followed him into the Durham road, 
 where he led the way at a brifk pace. Rofella 
 attended with almofl: equal alacrity ; for her 
 compaffion and never-failing wifli of carrying 
 
 confolation 
 
ROSELLA. 217 
 
 confolation to theafflifled, which fhe imagined 
 it would be pollible to afford, by giving the 
 worthy poor gentleman a clue to difcover Mr. 
 Pet's mafter, who (he concluded, from the 
 landlord's expreflions, might very poflibly be ■% 
 run-away fon, made her forget her recent re- 
 fledlions, until their ccndu<Slor having led thent 
 about a mile and a half on the high roadj turned 
 into a narrow lane, rendered very dark by tall 
 trees which overhung the hedges on either fide. 
 
 *< Have we yet far to go ?" afked Rofella. 
 
 « About a mile, Mifs," returned the land- 
 lord J " I think I had better walk on till yoii 
 get into Mr. Mompeflbn's grounds." 
 
 « I have not the lead fear," faid Mifs ^eau- 
 <:leTC, haftily; " have thegoodnefs to diredl us, 
 and we will now purfue our walk without you." 
 
 « Well, you muft do as you pleafe, to be 
 fure— fo. Ma'am, you muft go right ftraight on 
 an end till you get to a little bit of a pond, 
 then pleafe to turn to. your left, and go clean 
 acrofs the field, and on th'other fide on't you 
 will find a fix-barred fvving gate, and that takes 
 you through the Squire's fhrubbery, and then 
 when you get on to the lawn, you fee the houfe 
 afore your eyes." 
 
 The landlord then required inn;ru£lions con- 
 cerning the fupper, and having received them, 
 trudged ofF whiftling a pfalm melody. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc and Rofella continued their 
 way through the dark lane, and Pet, now their 
 only efcort, led the van with fo quick a march, 
 that it was evident he was well acquainted with 
 the road they were travelling. Mifs Beauclcro 
 remarked the circumftance to her companion, 
 who had been trembling with affright from the 
 moment the landlord had left them j whilft her 
 
 Vol. I. L heroic 
 
2lB - ROSELLA. 
 
 heroic friend, en the contrary, felt her caurage 
 rife in proportion as the (hades of night 
 deepened round them. 
 
 " J am alnrmed left Pet fhould run away 
 from ug," exclaimed Rofella, advancing a few 
 fteps to aJlure him back ; but the animal for 
 tlie.fitil time difregarded her voice, and in two 
 minutes they wholly loft fight of him. <* How 
 .unfortunate !'* fhe continued^ " had we not 
 better return to Sedgfield, and fend fomebody 
 to look for him ?" 
 
 «* No, m.y dear," faid Mifs Beauclerc very 
 .calmly^^ " it is moft probable that the dog wiH 
 go on to the Lodge, which he appears fo well 
 to know.^ and as he cannot account for his 
 appearance, or inform the friends of his un- 
 happy mafter where they may trace his wander- 
 ing fteps, we o.ught to follow. him, and eiuci- 
 .date the myftery," 
 
 Rofella had no objedlion to the propofition, 
 ,but (he wifhcd to elucidate the myftery in 
 .a lefg heroic manner — that is, (he would have 
 jnade her perfent peregrination at a more con- 
 venient hour, when the fun might have illumin- 
 ,ed her on the way : — in the prefent inftance, 
 unluckily, the pale moon was only a day old^ 
 and inftead -of exerting her mild radiance in 
 behalf of the fair travellers, (he very carelefsly 
 ieft the hemifphere in total darknefs, in contfa* 
 ditlion to the particular and unvaried afTiftance 
 (he always lends during her whole revolution, 
 to gentle and beautiful noclurnal adventurer?^ 
 Rofella, as (he advanced in the lane, thought 
 tiiey fliould never arrive at the little bit of a 
 pond which was to direct them out of- it ; and 
 her fears increafing every moment, (he crept 
 
 dole 
 
ROSELLA. 219 
 
 clofe to her whimfical friend, and clung very 
 amicably to the arm flie held. 
 
 «* Hark !" cried Mifs Beauclerc fudden'y, 
 « fufely that breeze brought a long and dread- 
 ful groan to my ear !" 
 
 Rofella lillened, and the found at that inftant 
 appeared to die sway, but was almost immedi- 
 ately renewed with more violence. 
 
 " Merciful Heaven 1" exclaimed Mifs Beau- 
 clerc, clafping her hands in an attitude of fub- 
 lime diftrefs, *« dire6l our fteps to the poor 
 fufFerer !" 
 
 Rofella was in an agony. 
 
 Perhaps," refumed her companion, " it is the 
 unhappy flranger himfelf !" 
 
 RofclIa liftened yet more earneRly, and at 
 length difcovered that the poor fufFerer was the 
 good landlord, who had ceafed whittling to end 
 his tune vocally 4 and as he had been in his 
 youth a finger at a village Church, he bellowed 
 out his minims and femibreves with fo perfever- 
 ing a ienutoy that at a little diftance, his tones 
 borne upon the foftening zephyr, might be 
 miftaken without violating the judgment, for 
 fignals of diftrefs. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, on difcovering her error, 
 blulhed with vexation ; for fhc had prepared 
 every tender feeling to come upon the ftage 
 "with confiderabie eclat, and had momentarily 
 reviewed all the admirable condudl of the moH: 
 captivating damfels upon fuch emergencies. la 
 the firit place, (he intended to fly to the fuccour 
 of the groaning hero, and then call to his fer- 
 vant, if he had any, and with cool fortitude 
 give the mod wife and faiuiary diredlions — thea 
 brave every inconvenience to fee tliem executed 
 —then attend him with the care of the mod 
 L z afieclionate 
 
220 ROSELLA. 
 
 affe6llonatc fifter, — and finally, on fufpe^ling 
 the effe6l her charms i nd her expert nurfing 
 could not fail to have upon the heart of the 
 convalefcent, (he was to vanifh like a dream, 
 as a repelling hint to his flame, and leave the 
 poor youth to gallop in fearch of her from 
 Durham to Dover : — not I hat (he meant to ex- 
 ecute all this herfelf — no ; Rofella, her beloved 
 Rofella was to be the loaddoncj the magnet, 
 the attra6^ion, the conflellation ; but (he was 
 very fcnfible that with the beft heart in the 
 world, and the moft compaffionate and amiable 
 temper that ever foftened at the diftre(res of 
 others, Rofella dill required a very well-read 
 and able guide to in{\ru£l her in the fervent 
 fympathies and melting pity that glow in the 
 lender bofoms of heroines ; fo (he placed her 
 in the back-ground till called for, and con- 
 (Irucled aH her allegories, en attendant^ in the 
 'fiill perfon lingular. 
 
 At length, alter walking fome time in the 
 lane with a eaiition the obfcurity of the 
 night demanded, they arrived at the pond the 
 landlord had fpoken of, but did not difcover 
 this long Tooked-for objedl till Mifs Beauclerx: 
 had walked two or three (teps into it. She ex- 
 tricated herfelf by the aiTiftance of Rofella, and 
 they very gladly turned to the left to crofs the 
 •field, which in their imagitiation was a level 
 padurej but they found they had to mount a 
 moft fatiguing afcenr, and that thfrir progrefg 
 was often impeded by large pieces of rough 
 (lone that rofe out of the fcanty turf the neigh- 
 bouring flocks were doomed to nibble at. 
 Rofella fell over one of thofe, and in endea- 
 voring to fave her face from injury, fevercly 
 hurt one of her hands \ but not to excite the 
 
 elegiac 
 
ROSELLA. 2 21 
 
 elegiac complaints of her friend, (lie concealeci 
 the mifchance, and went forward to feek the 
 gate they were to pafs through. It was with 
 confiderable difficulty that (he found it ; ai^d 
 holding it open for Mifs Beauclerc, her eyes 
 very earneltly explored the path they were to 
 take. 
 
 " It is fo dark," exclaimed fne, <« that I 
 cannot difcern any track," 
 
 She (til! continued to look for it, however, 
 and difcovered at length, within three paces of 
 the phce where (he flood, a very fudden abyfs, 
 that fecmed yawning to receive her : and flop- 
 ping her friend, who was walking fearlefsly on, 
 Qnt ftiudderingly informed her of the danger 
 they had efcaped. 
 
 " Surely," cried Mifs Beauclerc, « this can- 
 not be the fhrubbery we were told of f" 
 
 Rofella thought it certainly was not ; hc\/i^- 
 ever they advanced flowly, in a path flanked 
 on one fide by an almoft perpendicular moun- 
 tain cloathed with foliage, and on the other, by 
 a defcent as fudden, which prefented the tops 
 of the trees that were thickly planted down the 
 fleep, jutt on a parallel with the road, and as- 
 the eye fell over them, waving- in the night 
 breeze, they refembied the black billows cf 
 Cocytus. 
 
 The ladies, creeping for fecurity clofe to the 
 mountain fide, moving as flow as ** foot could 
 fall," arrived in rather more than half an hour 
 at a fecond gate, which being faflened, they 
 were obliged to climb over : and on the other 
 fide of it, they defcried what they fuppofed to 
 be the houfc of Mr. Mompeflon, which ap- 
 peared a tolerably fpacious building; but no 
 figus of domeilic occurrences or fecial feftivity 
 
 enlivened 
 
222 ROSELLA. 
 
 enlivened It, for only one foHtary window ex- 
 hibited any token of its being inhabited, by 
 emitting through a half-clofed fliutter a faint 
 reflexion of light. 
 
 CHAP. IV 
 
 Infanity and death. 
 
 R. 
 
 OSELLA was now completely difpirited. 
 
 ** What can this mean ?" exclaimed Mifs 
 Beauclerc : ** it is impoflible the whole family 
 can have gone to reft fo early !" 
 
 It was with difficulty, and after a long 
 fearch, that a bell could be found ; and in 
 confideration of the illnefs of Mr. Mompef- 
 fon, united to a prefentiment which the fad 
 ilillnefs that reigned round the houfe occa- 
 iioued, Mifs Beauclerc rung it with great mo- 
 deration. No one attending the fummons, (he 
 applied to the bell once more, and after ano- 
 ther interval, an old woman, with a light in 
 her hand, unlocked the door, and peeped our. 
 
 «< Oh Chrilt, defend me I" exclaimed fiie, 
 in a voice of horror, and drawing back with 
 precipitation, (he threw the door in the face 
 of Mifs Beauclerc, who at that moment, ad- 
 vanced before Rofella, to gain admittance. 
 
 <« What myftery hangs over us V ejaculated 
 (he to her terrified companion. — «' How un- 
 accouniaWy ftrange is all this !" 
 
 «' Let 
 
ROSELLA. 223 
 
 "' Let US return," cried Rofclla ; " ycu can 
 fend here, or call yourfcif to-morrow morn- 
 
 i"g." 
 
 << No," replie-d Mifs Beauclerc, with a 
 fublime air, ** it may be that fome imporranr 
 difcovery will refult from our perfeverancc 
 in defiring to fee Mr. Mompeffon this even> 
 
 A third time (he pulled the bell with a 
 more authoritative peal, and in two minutes 
 the fervant (he had feen converfing with the 
 landlord at Sedgfield, threw open a window 
 in the firft ftory, and holding a candle as low 
 as he could, that he might fur/ey the intru- 
 ders, demanded what they wanted. 
 
 <* I defire to fpeak to Mr. Mompeffon," re- 
 turned Mifs Beauclerc, " upon buiinefs cf im- 
 portance." 
 
 « Mr. Mompeflbn ! my mafter !" exclaimed 
 the domeftie. — " Do you mean old Mr. Mom- 
 peflbn ?" 
 
 <* Yes," returned the lady, after a paufe of 
 confideration whether, as there was a younger 
 pcfrfonage, it would not be more defirable to 
 fpeak to him. 
 
 " Good God ! my poor mailer died a little 
 after noon to-day !" 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc now began to repent her let- 
 ter-writing mod bitterly : — " Unfortunate !" 
 cried fhe ; " pcrhapg my intelligence might 
 have lengthened his days !" 
 
 « What, is my young mafter fafein France ?" 
 alked the man eagerly. 
 
 It now occurred to Rofella and Mifs Beau- 
 clerc at the fame moment, that the unliappy 
 mountaineer was afl'uredly the fon of Mr. 
 Mompeflbn. 
 
 « How 
 
724 ROSELLA. 
 
 «♦ How will he be (hocked to hear of his fa- 
 ther's death !" thought Rofella : *« poor young 
 man — I hope, for his fake, that his conduct 
 has not haftened it !" 
 
 Mifs l^eauclerc demanded cf tlie fervant 
 what part of the family was now in the houfe ; 
 and learned that it contained only the body of 
 his nnafler, the old woman they had fcen, and 
 himfejf: the man adding in the mofl mourR- 
 ful toive, ♦•' Perhaps, Ma'am, you want to fpeak 
 with the young ladies ? They are both out of 
 tl'jeir mind, and not here. But if you can g.ive 
 me any news of Mr. George, I will come down 
 ind open the door j for I expedl every hour the 
 arrival of a gentleman my poor mafter fent me 
 to fetch juft before he was taken fpeechlefs ; 
 and tlv.9 gentleman would give a thoufand 
 j;cunds to know what is become of Mr. 
 George -, for we are all afraid — but I will come 
 flown direOJy.'' 
 
 This promife was foon executed ; but as 
 Rcfeila pafTed the man to enter the houfe, he 
 gazed earneilly at her, and turned pale. 
 
 ** My mind mifgives me," cried he, " that 
 this blood is Mr. George Mompeflbn's." 
 
 « What does he mean ?" faid Mifs Beau- 
 clerc : but the words had not pafTed her lips,, 
 before fhe difcovered that the muflin cloak Ro- 
 fella wore was almoft dyed with blood. — 
 
 " Oh my God 1" added (he, *< my child Is 
 killed 1" 
 
 Rofella was terrified at her own appearance ; 
 but alm.oft inftantly recollecting that it was oc- 
 eafioned by her wounded hand, (he re-affured 
 both her friend and the fervant by explaining 
 the difafter. 
 
 Mifs 
 
ROSELLA. 225 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc debated with herfelf whether 
 (he (hould entruft the domeftic with the fe^iret 
 of young Mompefibn's late retreat ; but re* 
 flediing, in fpite of the principles of heroifm, 
 which allow the confiding of life and fame to 
 the difcretion of ftrangers, that fuch a com- 
 munication might lead to a difcovery of the 
 unhappy youth, which the queftion " if he 
 were fafe in France ?" gave her to underftand 
 muft be fatal to him, (he fo far governed her 
 fympathetic overflowings, as to preferve them 
 for the ear of the gentleman who was momen- 
 tarily expedled ; and informing the man where 
 {he was to be found, defired him to fend his 
 mailer's friend to Sedgfield, where fhe fliould 
 remain the whole of the next day, if he were 
 anxious to hear the intelligence (lie could give 
 him. 
 
 The fervant appeared difappointed^ but ac- 
 quiefced in her decifion : and when he learned 
 that the ladies were wholly unaccompanied, he 
 lamented that he could not attend them bact, 
 becaufe he was obliged to a\^"ait the coming of 
 the gentleman, and could- not, befides, leave 
 his poor mailer's remains. 
 
 " I am far from wifhing it," faid Mifs 
 Beauclerc 5 "but T fhall be indebted to you 
 if you will furnifh me with a light." 
 
 " Moft willingly, Ma'am ; and lam forry 
 lean do noching more to ferve you: the old 
 woman is getring a bed. ready for Mr. Delj- 
 mere, who will fieep here, I fuppofe ; and be- 
 fides, (he is fo decrepid, that (lie could not be 
 of much ufe to you." 
 
 *« A light is all the affiftance I either cxpedl 
 er defire," returned Mifs Beauclerc. 
 
 L 3 " I wi 1 
 
226 ROSELL-4. 
 
 " I will get it in a momenf," Madam," fald 
 the man, withdrawing for that purpofe. 
 
 He had left his candle with them, which 
 Rofclla took up, to examine fome portraits 
 hanging over the cliimney-picce of a fort of 
 breakfaft room, into which the fervant had 
 led them from the hall ?they had entered at. A 
 pair of thefe reprefented two very lovely young 
 women ; and between the frames hung another, 
 with the glazed fide turned to the wainfcot : 
 upon the back, which alone was expofed to 
 view, were paRed four hearts cut in black 
 crape, each one torn in two. 
 
 *« What can this be?" faid Rofella, after 
 having examined this flrange objeiSl. 
 
 Mlfs Beauclerc took the frame from the 
 hook, and turning the glazed fide to the light, 
 beheld a moft animated and corre6l refem- 
 blance of the myflerious (Iranger. 
 
 « Itishimfclfl" exclaimed Rofella; " but 
 more handfome." 
 
 " Yes, Madam," faid the domeftic, who 
 returned whiifl fhe fpoke, " it is him indeed; 
 but not more handfome than he was, when he 
 was reckoned the beft fon, the bed brother, 
 and the bell mafler in the whole country, and 
 "when he was indeed the befl young gentleman I 
 ever came anigh." 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc could no longer redrain her 
 eager curiofity : — *' Has he done aught," afked 
 flie, " to forfeit fo excellent a charader ?" 
 
 The man looked at her in furprife, and for a 
 fevv moments, made n,o reply. At length — " I 
 thought," cried he, " you had k-nown-:— or ejfe, 
 Cod knows, 'it does not become me " 
 
 <* Say no more^" interrupted Mifs Beau- 
 clerc, who began to fear that the dignity oT lier 
 
 chan«<^'tcr 
 
ROSELLA. •ll'J 
 
 cliara£ler would be fullled^ by extorting fo 
 important a fecret from a poor fellow, who 
 wifhed to withhold it from the fidelity of his at- 
 tachment to the family he ferved. 
 
 « Indeed, Ma'am," refumed he, " Mr. 
 George was more unfortunate than — than any 
 thing elfe." 
 
 <« I always thought fo," returned (he, pleaf- 
 ed to have her mountain hero raifed again in 
 her ellimation ; for (he had begun to fear (he 
 had interellcd herfelf and her Rofella in the 
 fate of a degenerate wretch, who had committed 
 fome vulgar fort of Old Bailey offence, and 
 inftead of finking under the weight of a deli- 
 cate woe, was flying from a cell in Newgate, 
 and death, death, death — lying perdue in a 
 Judge's wig. 
 
 « But pray," fald Rofella eagerly, " can you 
 tell me what this means on the back' of his 
 piaure ?" 
 
 « That, Madam," replied the domeftic,. 
 whilfl the tears darted to his eyes, " was done 
 by one of the young ladle^ before fhe was re^ 
 moved: from the time the bad news reached' 
 us, flie was always talking about defpair and 
 the grave, and finging fuch difmal fo-igs fo 
 wildly — my poor miftrefs had fallen dowi; in a 
 fit, and never got up alive ; and the cldeft of 
 the ladies cut up her mourning cloaths to makii 
 fuch fancies as thefe whenever they came into 
 her head. She faid Mr. G-for.^e had broke all 
 their hearts, and one of them was her p;>pa'?, 
 and one her poor mama's, another v/as her 
 fifter's, and the large one was her own iiearr, 
 for her's, (he faid, was fwelled to burl>ifig. 
 The other young lady never fpoke, or cried one 
 fingle drop — but Oh ! Ma'am, they v/jre 
 
 obliged 
 
22& ROSELtXr 
 
 obliged to be taken to the dotlor's boufe, for 
 they grew very bad, and my matter took to his 
 bed !" 
 
 The poor fellow eould fay no more ; and 
 Rofella, whofe tears flowed at the broken reci- 
 tal, fobbed aloud. Mifs Beauclerc was much 
 and undefignedly aflfecled : (he recollefted, how- 
 ever, that her companion and herfelf had nearly 
 tliree miles of very indifferent road to repafs 
 before they could repofe for the night ; and 
 after having roufed her mind from the momen- 
 tary forgetfulnefs which genuine fenfibility had 
 occafroned, fhe relapfed into the fublimity of 
 heroifm, and taking the lanthorn from the fer- 
 vant with an air of repreffed emotion, fhc re* 
 peated her mefTage to the expedled gentlman, 
 and led the way to the hall door. 
 
 Rofeila followed her, after having again 
 hung up the portrait of their unhappy ac- 
 quaintance as fhe had found it, from refpec^ 
 to the fanciful yet ftriking allufion made by hl» 
 ilill more unfortunate fifter. 
 
 The man gazed at them fome time after 
 they had left the houfe, as if he really was 
 x;vhat he profeffed to be, anxious for their fafe 
 return : and it was only when they had nearly 
 reached the fiiil: gate in what the landlord cal- 
 led the fhrubbery, that they ceafed to behold 
 the light of his candle ; for he had followed 
 them a confiderable way from the door. 
 
 << The night is furely unufually dark," faid 
 Mifs beauclerc, giving her lanthorn to her 
 companion, whilfl (he climbed the gate. 
 
 Rofella's whole foul was occupied by the 
 disjointed tale fhe had juft heard, and (he merely 
 Tf:turned an aflenting monofyllablc to. the obfer- 
 vatlon. Their light burned (o dimly, that it 
 
 was 
 
ROSELLA. 229 
 
 was with great difficulty they could explore their 
 way fo as to efcape the precipice which fkirted 
 the path as far as the fecond gate. Rofella 
 walked firft, holding the lanthron to the ground, 
 and Mifs Beauclerc followed her clofely, en- 
 treating that flie would be careful of herfelf. 
 They had proceeded thus fome time, when a 
 ruftling in the trees terrified them both : Mifs 
 Beauclerc ftarted, and directed her eyes to the 
 place from whence the noife ifllied i at the fame 
 moment fhe heard a crafh, and both Rofella 
 and the light vanifhcd. Every calansity their 
 (ituation could admit of, affailcd the imagination 
 of her alarmed friend, who fcreamed her name 
 in all the energy of defpair. 
 
 " I am fafe, dear Madam, I am (a(c^^* cried 
 Rofella ; " but in falling I have extinguifhed 
 the light : what (hall we do t" 
 
 « Oh, thank God you are not killed,'* ex- 
 claimed Mifs Beauclerc ; " I care not for any 
 other difafter — give me your arm.'* 
 
 Rofella obeyed, and they crept to the fwing 
 gate, where, as they Itood a moment, they 
 were joined by the run-away Pet, who announc- 
 ed himfelf by licking the hand of Rofella, who 
 was pleafed to have recovered him, and con- 
 cluded, that not being able to get in at the 
 Lodge, he had wandered back in fearch of his 
 deferted companions : fhe carefll^d him with 
 kindnefs, and he followed her very patiently. 
 
 They were more than half an hour croihng 
 the field, and to their infinite fatisfaclion, at 
 length difcovered the pond at the entrance of the 
 lane, by a faint light which the water refle<5led.- 
 
 '* We have now only level ground to tra- 
 verfe," faid Mifs Beauclerc, in a tone expreflive 
 of pleafurc— a fenfation in which Rofella joined, 
 
 for 
 
a^O ROSELLA. 
 
 for (he had begun to feel inconvenience from 
 her accident. Yet their terrors were not at an 
 end : they had fcarcely walked an hundred 
 paces ere the rattling of a carriage gave a new 
 alarm ; for the darknefs of the night rather 
 increafed than diminifhed, and they ran a con- 
 fiderable rifk of being crufhed under the wheels, 
 from the narrownefs of the lane. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc called out, but in vain : the 
 poft-chaife, for fuch it appeared to be, ap- 
 proached very rapidly, and Rofella then joined 
 her voice to that of her friend, to deprecate 
 the mifchief fhe apprehended. Their united 
 fcreams at length reached the driver, and arreft- 
 ed his fpeed ; and at the fame inftant the chaife 
 window was let down, and the voice of a man 
 demanded the reafon of the outcry. The pof- 
 tillion fwore a tremendous oath, and levelled at 
 the trembling Rofella and her indignant com- 
 panion thofe delicate epithets commonly ufed 
 to the mod unfortunate of their fcx. 
 
 <« What the devil is the matter .?" again de- 
 manded the voice from the carriage, 
 
 « Why, your Honor," replied the driver, 
 " it*s only a couple of '* 
 
 " How dare you," cried Mifs Beauclerc, all 
 
 the dignity of heroic virtue up in arms 
 
 «« how dare you infult people of honor and 
 decency with fuch vile language ?" 
 
 " Dejfent, quotha," retorted the driver j 
 " yes, you muft be dcflent fort of folks, to 
 be fure, to be a ftroaming at this toime o'night 
 in hedges and ditches, and up fitch leanes at 
 this !" 
 
 The perfon in the carriage filenced him with 
 a tone of authority j then addreffmg the com- 
 
 plaiaantSi 
 
plainants, " Good women," faidhe " are you 
 hurt r 
 
 " Good women !" retorted Mlfs Beauclerc 
 aloud. — ^" Good women !" repeated fhe to her- 
 felf, *< great Heaven ! was ever beautiful young 
 heroine before included in fuch a term !" 
 
 « My head is giddy," faid Rofella in a 
 faint voice ; " I am very fick !" 
 
 The poftillion was proceeding without fur- 
 ther ceremony, but the gentleman called to him 
 to ftop :— '« Are you in diftrefs ?" afked he. 
 
 « My poor Rofella !" exclaimed Mifs Beau- 
 clerc; " what will become of us!" 
 
 « Which way are you travelling ?" refumed 
 the voice. 
 
 At this moment a light appeared In that part 
 of the lane adjoining the road. 
 
 ** I hope," cried Mifs Beauclerc, not conde- 
 fcending to attend to the queftions fhe heard, 
 " this is my f^rvant come in fearch of us/' 
 
 " Your fervant !" repeated the gentleman ; 
 <* good God ! how could this happen I" 
 
 He then jumped from the carriage, and ap- 
 proaching the offended fair one, afked if (he 
 had not been at Eideva Lodge about an hour 
 back : on hearing the reply, he entreated for- 
 . givenefs for the error he had been in, and beg- 
 ged the ladies v/ould ufe the chaife in their 
 . return to Sedgfield. Rofella, recolIe£ting the 
 -disfigured ftate in which her wounded hand 
 had put her, haftily refufed the proffered civi- 
 lity. 
 
 « No, no,^ myi dear Mifs Beauclerc," faid 
 (he, « let us walk." 
 
 The appearance of Simpfon, who carried 
 the light th'^y had feen, was in favor of the 
 
 requell j 
 
232 ROSELLl. 
 
 requeft ; but the mailer of the carriage ftrenu- 
 oufly oppofed it. 
 
 The poor old butler inflantly difcovered the 
 difcolored ftate of her garments, and Mttering 
 an exclamation of horror, refpedfully blamed 
 his Lady for not requiring his attendance. 
 " Has Mifs Rofella been run over ?" added he. 
 
 « No, I hope not,'* faid the gentleman 
 haftily -, " but the young lady Qiouid be im- 
 mediately carried to Sedgfield, that flie may be 
 taken proper care of." 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc affented to the propofition ; 
 and Rofella no longer oppofing it from fatigue 
 and weaknefs, the gentleman placed her in the 
 chaife, where her heroic friend followed her^ 
 inviting the matter Of it to take his feat by 
 her fide. During their fhort ride, he told 
 Mifs Beauclerc that he was the perfon expect- 
 ed by the fervant they had feen at the Lodge, 
 who was, by a concurrence of melancholy cir- 
 Gumftances, the only remaining domoflic of a 
 once numerous nnd happy houfehold. «' I un- 
 derftand from him, Madam," continued the 
 gentleman, ** that chance has made you ac- 
 quainted with a very unfortunate young man, 
 
 whom I once called whom I muft ftill call 
 
 my friend, in fpite of his errors, and the mifery 
 they have produced." 
 
 << I know not," returned Mifs Beauclerc, 
 *< what thofe errors are : their effe6ls are dread- 
 ful indeed I But I found it impofnble to refufe 
 my compaflion to the defolate fituation of this 
 wretched youth, which became known to me in 
 a fingular manner." 
 
 She then related the circumftances attending 
 her firft and fecond interview with MompefTon, 
 to which his friend liftcned wiih intereft and 
 
 attention ; 
 
ROSELLA. 23J 
 
 attention; but before her narration had arrived 
 at the period in which Rofeila was driven to the 
 forlorn hut he inhabited, the chaife flopped in 
 the inn yard, to the mortification of her auditor, 
 whofe anxiety was much heightened to learn 
 the fequel of the tale. Rofeila failed not on 
 alighting, to enquire for poor Pet, and had the 
 fatisfa£lion to hear that he had followed the 
 carriage. She then withdrew to her chamber, 
 accompanied by Mifs Beauclerc, who finding that 
 her ailments were not very ferious, permitted 
 her, after having changed her drefs, to 
 defcend to the fupper table. 
 
 The gentleman, who had announced himfelf 
 as Mr. Delamere, had fent to defire the honor 
 of taking his meal with the ladies, which Mifs 
 Beauclerc confented to after a little deliberation. 
 As her companion and herfelf entered the 
 eating-room appropriated to them, they found 
 him already there, and he inftantly congratulated. 
 Rofeila upon her prefent fafety, with a compli- 
 ment equally addrefled to her friend, upon their 
 generofity in having rifked it from motives of 
 genuine compaflion and charity. 
 
 As Simpfon entered with the fupper appara- 
 tus. Pet feized the opportunity of making his 
 appearance likewife. " Good God !" exclaimed 
 Mr. Delamere, " from whence came this ani- 
 mal ?" 
 
 " It was yefterday morning entrufted to my 
 care," replied Mifs Beauclerc, " with a requeft 
 to have him conveyed to the Lodge." 
 
 " 80 lately !" ejaculated he : and Simpfon 
 then quitting the room, he continued — "Poor 
 Mompeflbn had been traced to York, and 
 both his cloaths and his dog particularly de- 
 fcribcd by various advertilements, offering a 
 
 conUdcrable 
 
234 ROSELLA. 
 
 confiderable reward for further intelligence of 
 his route. This little animal belonged to his 
 favorite filler; and 1 fuppofe he was unwil- 
 ling to part with hinrv but upon the moft 
 urgent neceflity." 
 
 Rofella, as well as her friend, inflantly con- 
 je£tured that this advertifement had met the 
 eye of the wanderer when (he had prefented 
 him the papers at his forlorn retreat : but no 
 further converfation could now take place, 
 from the attendance upon the fupper table. 
 When the fervants had withdrawn, Mr. Dela- 
 mere eagerly requefted all the information of 
 his unhappy friend the ladies could give j as 
 he fa id he wiftied to convey- fome money to 
 him, without which he feared, by his lingering 
 fo near the habitation of his father, he could 
 not quit the kingdom. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc complied with the entreaty, 
 not forgetting to paint the (hare Rofella had 
 taken in the adventure of the ftorm, in a point 
 of view the raoft favorable to her fortitude, her 
 fcnfibilityjand difcretion. Mr. Delamere uttered 
 fome animated expreffions of admiration upon 
 the excellence of her heart; but Rofella, con- 
 fcious of the unwillingnefs with which flie had 
 undertaken the miflion fo much extolled, declin- 
 ed his enconniums, and directed them to her 
 friend. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, in mentioning the embafly 
 of which Pet was the object, defcribed, at the 
 requeft of Mr. Delamere, the perfon of the 
 peafant who was charged with it. — " I mufk 
 hope," faid he, <* that I may refcue this moft 
 unfortui>ate young man from further difgrace 
 and puniftunent ; what he has already endured 
 
 is, 
 
ROSELLA. 235 
 
 15, I am convinced, fufficient to expiate his 
 offence.'* 
 
 The queflion which had the whole evening 
 been hovering on the lips of Mifs Beauclerc, 
 could no longer be reftrained — what the nature 
 of that offence was which had thus carried fo 
 horrible a defolation into the bofona of the fa- 
 mily. 
 
 «« The error of George Mompeffon," faid 
 Mr. Delamere gravely, " without the mitiga- 
 tion of many extenuating circumftances, might 
 Ju.ftly be denominated a crime. You have not 
 at this moment fufficient time to hear all that I 
 wifh to relate in palliation, aad I cannot endure 
 that in your opinion he fliould fink to a point 
 too abject , let me entreac then, that you will 
 forbear all enquiry for the prefent •, and (hould 
 you by accident become acquainted with the 
 fatal ftigma attending a name once refpe^led 
 and revered, let me conjure you to review his 
 fmgle lapfe with all the indulgence your con> 
 paffion and generofity may fuggeft." 
 
 He then rofe, faying he iTiould inftantly fet 
 out for Stanmore Hills, and begin his- fe arch, 
 as he was fenfible no time was to be loft. — He 
 added, that on his return to Eideva Lodge, he 
 (hould call at Sedgfield, in the flattering hope 
 of again acknowledging the obligation he had 
 received, in the perfon of his unhappy friend, 
 and of being enable to inform the ladies that 
 their active humanity had beeo effectual. 
 
 When Mifs Beauclerc and Kofella retired 
 for the night, inftead of taking the repofe they 
 fo much required, they could not forbear fpend- 
 ing fome time in forming conjectures upon yhe 
 wide-fpreading errors of young Mompeffon, and 
 deprecating his imnKdialc knowledge of their 
 
 tragical 
 
23^ ROSELLA. 
 
 tragical efFe£ls, They juftly concluded that the 
 people of the houfc could in a moment folve 
 their doubts, becaufe the landlord had appeared 
 fo well acquainted with the dillrefs at the 
 Lodge ; but Mifs Beauclerc from heroic mo- 
 tives, and Rofella from genuine delicacy, and 
 in compliance with the requeft of Mr. Dela- 
 mere, would each fooner have endured her fuf- 
 penfe for weeks, than have quf ftioned any part 
 of the family upon fo tender a fubje6l. 
 
 It was late the next morning when they rofc ; 
 and after breakfaft, as Mifs Beauclerc had not 
 yet had an opportunity of writing what flie 
 conceived to be the moft interefting part of her 
 journal, flie determined to employ the reft of 
 the morning to that purpofe. — Rofella remained 
 alone in the eating-room, which was rather 
 detached from the houfe, and very quiet; and 
 having fallen into a reverie when her friend left 
 her, fhe had not been roufed from it by any 
 external object for above an hour. During 
 that time her ideas had merely reverted from 
 the miferies at the Lodge, to the unfortunate 
 author of thofe miferies, and from him to the 
 generous young man who was fo anxious to 
 foften the misfortunes of this diftra£led family, 
 who boldly avowed bimfelf attached by aife6lion 
 to a being plunged into difgrace and abje^l po- 
 verty, and who appeared eager to bring to 
 notice the habitual good qualities of his fallen 
 friend, that the dark fpot which tarnifhed them 
 might be the Icfs obferved. Little as (he had 
 feen of the world, this condu6l was, (he thought, 
 by no means common, and ihe remembered 
 with regret, how fmall had been her merit in 
 a£ling the part that had procured her fo many 
 culogiums. She conceived a higher idea of the 
 
 judgment 
 
ROSELLA. 237 
 
 ju%mcnfe of Mifs Beauclerc, from the opinions 
 (he had romantically hazarded concerning the 
 myjlerious Jlr anger y and from her folicitude to 
 aflift hiTTi, than any (he had formed fince they 
 had quitted Mr. Mordaunt, whofe parting words 
 had made a confiderable impreffion upon her 
 mind, and infufed a kind of fufpicion into it, 
 ^hich though Rofella regarded as treafonable 
 to gratitude and friendfhip, (he could not wholly 
 difcard. 
 
 She was mufing ftill with great earneftnefs, 
 Avhcn two gentle taps at the door recalled her 
 attention ; it opened, and Mr. Delamere ap- 
 peared. Rofella ftarted up — *< I hope you bring 
 good news r" cried (he haftily. 
 
 *< I thank you a thoufand times for your 
 folicitude," returned he — "Yes, I bring better 
 news than I had dared to hope." 
 
 <* You have {^^n him ?" a(ked Rofella. 
 
 « I have feen him : having parted with his 
 ^og, he changed his cloaths at Reeth, and had 
 the imprudence to return to the very fpot where 
 you met with him. So that I foon difcovered 
 his retreat \ for I was almoft unnccountably 
 carried to the place, from an idea that he would 
 not be lar *'rom it.'* 
 
 <^ But is he now removed :" interrupted 
 Rofella. 
 
 " He is," replied Mr. Delamere : « I truft 
 thai he has, by this time, almon: reached the 
 fea-port we fixed upon whilft I remained with 
 him ; and if he gets out of the kingdom, all 
 will be well." 
 
 *< All will be well !" repeated (he, the fcenc 
 at the Lods:e (till dwelling upon her mind. 
 
 <* Very partially, and in a mod limited fenfe, 
 1 muft mean," replied Delamere :—« believe 
 
 me 
 
23^ J R05ELLA. 
 
 me, he is "much to be pitied even where he is 
 moft to be condemned. If you could know," 
 added he, " what he has fufFered, and ftill fuf- 
 fcrs, you would greatly compaflionate him : he 
 fpeaks with energetic gratitude of the generous 
 attentions of your friend, and pays an ampler 
 tribute of admiration and reverence to the gen- 
 tle being that appeared to him in the fury of the 
 ftorm, and placed before his eyes the abyfs into 
 which he was falling. Your friend, in his pre- 
 fence, called you Rofella : he remembers the 
 name, but his ear did not catch any other." 
 
 Rofella, underftanding this as an indirect ap- 
 plication, replied that (he was called Montrefor : 
 Mr. Delamere bowed. — " Mifs Beauclerc," 
 added (lie, " will be happy to hear of your re- 
 turn, and the fuccefs that has attended you : l 
 will inform her that you are here." 
 
 She then withdrew, and ran to perform her 
 commiffion. 
 
 It fo-happened, that the good lady had at this 
 moment brought her narrative unwarily to a 
 point, where it was eflential that (he (hould in- 
 troduce iht faux pas of her mountain hero, and 
 fhe very readily complied with the fummons of 
 Rofella. 
 
 Mr. Delamere repeated to her the fubftance 
 of what he had related to her young compani- 
 on, and Mifs Beauclerc thanked him for the 
 information. 
 
 « I claim yourprefence at our dinner table," 
 added fhe •, <* and until we adjourn to it, the 
 time fliall be given to an uninterrupted detail of 
 the unfortunate hillory of your friend, young 
 MompeQbn : I feel well difpofed to liften to it 
 with all the indulgence you have predemanded, 
 and I beg leave to obferve to you, that Rofella, 
 
 and 
 
ROSELLA. 239 
 
 ftfid myfelf have avoided any enquiry into the 
 origin of thofe diflreiTes reprefented to us at 
 the Lodge, that we might hear it with every 
 favorable circumflance it will admit of." 
 
 « I told you/' replied he, " that many palli- 
 atives were attached to his mifcondTKH:, and cer- 
 tainly the h£i is fo : but I mufi: yet entreat 
 your patience, and the generous forbearance you 
 have hitherto ufed, in not feeking to know, by 
 common report, what muft much excite your 
 curiofity. The family at the Lodge are too 
 much pitied and refpecled to allow me any fear 
 that the caufe of their wretchednefs (hould be 
 obtruded upon you without any apparent folici- 
 tude on your part ; and — I think will tell you 
 that Momperibn himfelf conjured me not to 
 reveal his difgrace to you, until I could reafona- 
 bly conclude, from the lapfe of time, that he 
 had left the kingdom ; for he protefted he would 
 never furvive the fimple poffibilifcy of encoun- 
 tering you or your young friend, in the pofitive 
 charadier, to ufe his^own words, which are un- 
 defervedly har{h,'of a villain." 
 
 The eager wifhes of Mifs Beauclerc and 
 Rofella to learn this fecret, the difclofure of 
 which was fo long delayed, were now almoft 
 beyond controul j but Simulated by the enco- 
 miums of Delamere to merit ftill further praife, 
 they acquiefced with his propofaL — He exprefied 
 his acknowledgments for the dinner invitation, 
 which was a pleafure he was obliged, he faid, to 
 deny himfelf, becaufe he wilhed to infure, by 
 his perfonal attendance, every proper refpect to 
 the remains of the elder Mr-Mompeflbn : but 
 if Mifs Beauclerc would allow him to take his 
 tea with her, he (hould think himfelf honored. 
 .:And on the following morning, if {he remained 
 
 fo 
 
240 ROSELLi. 
 
 fo long at Sedgfield, he would expofe to her the 
 horrible depravity of a fafliionable and titled 
 Circe, who was the primary caufe of the cala- 
 mities which had fo much excited her compaC- 
 iion and intereft. 
 
 She readily agreed to the propofition, faying 
 (he was merely travelling for the improvement 
 of her health and fpirits, botl) of which had 
 lately received a fhock by fevere loffes ; and it 
 was therefore indifferent to her whether (he re- 
 mained a day or a week in any place where ihe 
 could be tolerably well accommodated. 
 
 Mr. Delamere then withdrew -, and Rofella, 
 the next minute, beheld him on horfe-back, 
 galloping in the road that led to the Lodge. 
 
 When Simpfon entered to lay the cloth, Ro- 
 fella remarked that he appeared indifpofed, and 
 kindly enquired if he felt unwell ; he fhook his 
 head, and as Mifs Beauclerc was not in the room, 
 faid, with fome fymptoms of ill-humour, that 
 his Lady's fancies would foon kill him, for he 
 had not been ufed to fuch a vagary life, and was 
 too eld to take to it now. Rofella, who had 
 from infancy received from the old man many 
 marks of kindnefs and regard, was grieved that 
 he fhould have real occafion for complaint, and 
 defiring him to defilt from what he was doing, 
 and leave the care of the table to the people of 
 the houfe, begged him to repofe himfelf, and fhe 
 would inform Mifs Beauclerc of his indifpofi- 
 tion. 
 
 « No, Mifs Montrefor," faid Simpfon, " I 
 « can't do that : who is there here to lay a cloth, 
 or put a dinner upon table as it fhould be ? if I 
 was to leave it to thofe folkS) it would not be 
 fit to fit down to." 
 
 Rofella 
 
R08ELLA. 241 
 
 Rofella was well acquainted with the ob- 
 llinacy of the old man, and ran to her friend to 
 urge her interference. But Mifs Beauclerc in- 
 terpofed in vain *, Simpfon would not hear of 
 receding from his office, and after many argu- 
 ments and entreaties, Rofella was obliged to 
 give up the point. 
 
 It was late in the evening when Mr. Delamcre 
 Teturned : he told them he had arranged affairs 
 at the Lodge, where he had procured the pre- 
 fence of a relation of the family, as he could 
 not confult young Mornpeflbn, who knew not as 
 yet the tragical events which had taken place 
 there, and vv^as perfuaded the total filence, and 
 feeming defertion of his natural friends, were 
 the efFe£ls of a juft anger, and an intimation that 
 they wifhed to caft him off. 
 
 <* And did you not even hint at any part of 
 what had happened ?" faid Mifs Beauclerc. 
 
 " Had I done fo," returned Delamere, «' he 
 would perhaps have furmifed the reft, and have 
 become carelefs of his fate : and though I know 
 his exiftence is a burthen to him, I think the 
 future feelings of his amiable and unfortunate 
 fifters, (hould they ever recover to a knowledge 
 of the termination of this unhappy affair, ought 
 to be as much attended to as poffible. 
 
 After this little difcufTion, the converfation 
 became lefs gloomy : Delamere difplayed him- 
 felf to great advantage on the different topics 
 that arofe, and Mifs Beauclerc might pofTibly 
 have fixed upon fo pleafing a young man as the 
 fuccefsful lover of her Rofella, had not that 
 important perfonage, in her drama, been already 
 immutably decided upon between herfelf and 
 Mrs. Ellinger. 
 
 Vol. L M CHAP. 
 
242 ROSELLA. 
 
 CHAP. XVL 
 
 ^he fafcinatlon of a high-horn beauty analyzed, 
 
 X^LR. DELAMERE was to breakfaft with 
 the ladies by appointment ; and as Mifs Beau- 
 clerc had no obje(flion to his falling very def- 
 perately in love with Rofella, thongh fhe did not 
 mean that his fighs (hould be returned, (he fuf- 
 fered her to defcend to the fitting-room fome 
 time before (he chcfe to be ready, to allow of an 
 in te re Ring tete-a-tete. 
 
 The gentleman was waiting their levee when 
 Rofella entered it, but the efte(fl of the rencontre 
 was not fo intereding as Mifs Beauclerc might 
 have expelled: indeed it is not to be afcertained 
 what declarations of eternal paflion might have 
 cfcaped the lips of Mr. Delamere, had not poor 
 Simpfon, bufy as ufual, entered the apartment 
 immediately after Rofella, whofe attention then 
 reverted almoft wholly to him. 
 
 " How are you ?" demanded fhe, with a look 
 of unaffedted folicitude : ** you appear quite ill 
 — why do you fatigue yourfelf v/ith the break* 
 fall — pray go and lie down, and Mifs Beauclerc 
 will fend, I am fure, for affidance." 
 
 .Simpfon looked very melancholy, but made 
 no anfwer ; and having finiflied what he had 
 undertaken, notwithftanding her remonftrances, 
 he withdrew without replying to them. Rofella 
 was much diftrefTed ; and Mr. Delamere per- 
 ceiving it, obferved that as Mifs Beauclerc had 
 no other fcrvant with her, he hoped fhe would 
 
 accept 
 
ROSELLA. 043 
 
 accept the attendance of his valet during the 
 indifpofition of the old man. 
 
 « You are very good," replied Rofella : 
 «« perhaps Simpfon might be then induced to 
 fparc himfelf ; I will run and inform Mifs Beau- 
 derc of his increafmg illnefs." 
 
 She was haftening to execute this intention, 
 but was prevented leaving the room by the en- 
 trance of her friend, who on hearing the report, 
 very peremptorily infifted that Simpfon fhould 
 retire to his bed, and ordered him proper at- 
 tendance : and the old butler, overcome by pain 
 and wearinefs, fubmitted to her decifion. 
 
 The breakfaft was rather hurried by Mifs 
 Beauclerc, whofe impatience to hear the pro- 
 mifed narrative was become rather troublefome ; 
 but Mr. Delamere was by no means equally 
 anxious t© relate it : to him the tafk was painful, 
 and Mifs Beauclerc was obliged to remind him, 
 of his promife before he thought of executing it. 
 
 *' It is a melancholy hiftory you require of 
 rcc," faid he 4 "a hiftory in which you will 
 find artifice and infidious vice triumphant over 
 ingenuoufnefs, and the firmnefs of habitual and 
 tried integrity. I will give it you without pre- 
 face, but I muft again entreat that your judg- 
 ment of my unhappy friend may lean to 
 mercy." 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc bowed, whilft Rofella, all at- 
 tention to the expedted tale, looked eagerly in 
 the face of Delamere, but fpoke not. 
 
 *< Young MompeiTon," refumed he, " is 
 the only fon of thofe unhappy parents, who 
 could not furvive his errors and difgrace ; and 
 his two fifters, ftill more unfortunate, compofed 
 the whole of a family, united equally by the 
 gentlvft bonds of afFeAion as by the ties of con- 
 M 2 fanguinity. 
 
-244' ROSELLA. 
 
 ftnguinity. George received the mofi: liberal 
 education — we met at a public fchool, and were 
 both gratified by being accidentally entered at 
 the fame Univerfity. — After he had quitted it, 
 lie returned home, where he remained rather 
 more than a year, but not in idlenefs : for his 
 father was a man of genius and learning, and 
 was anxious to improve both the natural and ac- 
 quired talents of his fon. From this period, the 
 impetuofity of character which was fufficiently 
 diftinguifhable in young MompefTon, could no 
 longer be reftrained to partial inacftivity ; he 
 vvifhed to enter upon fome mode of life which 
 would enable him to improve the modeiate pa- 
 trimony he was born to inherit, and give him at 
 once wealth and celebrity. The bar appeared to 
 be his election, and his father did not oppofe his 
 choice ; becaufe poor Mompeflon was formed 
 to furpafs moft men in a fituation which calls at 
 once for found judgment and a brilliant imagi- 
 nation : many civcumftances however, occurred 
 to crufli the projecV, and he became a partner in 
 a houfe of extenfive interclt and univerfal con- 
 cern. There, his promptitude, his integrity, his 
 exatftnefs, his judgment, and various abilities 
 were equally perceptible and equally relied up- 
 ;On : he was the favorite of his feniors, the idol 
 .of his dependants. 
 
 <f Thus far his career was defervedly fuccefs- 
 fal : the Income he nov/ pofTelled, enabled him 
 to mix with the gay world of fafhion and folly, 
 and there it enfured him a welcome reception. 
 Am.Ongfl the mod dillinguiftied of his aflbciates 
 for birth and rank, he was perhaps admitted and 
 carefied, becaufe it was known that he co!ild 
 command very confiderable fums of money : with 
 the more virtuous and difmtercflcd however, his 
 
 prefence 
 
UOSELLA . 24'5 
 
 prefence was courted, from the una(fe(n:ed ele- 
 gance of his manners, the fweetnefs of his dif- 
 pofition, and the charm which his univerfal 
 genius threw into the fociety he frequented. 
 Every man was then proud to acknowledge an 
 intercourfe with MompeiTon, and many women, 
 of no inconfiderable fortune, fighed to fix his 
 attention. A female of a noble houfe — why 
 ihould I conceal her name, who has, with thvi 
 moft unblulhing depravity, employed every per- 
 verted charm of intelledl and perfon, ultimately 
 to ruin, to diftradl, to annihilate an amiable fa- 
 mily, for the (hamelefs gratification of vanity, 
 vice, and extravagance ? — Oh Madam ! whilit 
 my wretched friend wanders far from the fociety 
 he was accuftomed to adorn, whiift he bears — 
 yethardly bears his cruel difgrace,as yetunconfci- 
 ous of the dreadful calamities hanging over his 
 crime, this woman hears unmoved the oppro- 
 brium (he forced upon him, and audncioufiy 
 cxprelfes her indignation that his atrocious info- 
 lence (hould have urged him to raife his eyes to 
 her. — Why is fhe not driven from the face of 
 day, and loaded with the infamy fhe merits ? 
 Becaufe her principles are not fmgular in the 
 fphere fhe moves in, and becaufe the virtues or 
 the merits of herancefters have tranfmitted to 
 her in the honors fhe claims, a right to become 
 degraded and vicious, without feeling the keen- 
 nefs of that ftigma which the world affixes to 
 the humbler offender. She is handfome, (lie 
 plays deep, fhe bets, fne lures — fne is abhorred, 
 defpifed, and tolerated *, whilfl; the refpedable 
 but unnoticed family of Mompefibn filently re- 
 ceive the poifon fhe guided to their lips, and 
 unable to blazon the extent of their v.-rongs to 
 
 the 
 
24^ ROSELLA* 
 
 the world, Hnk Into the grave, or find a refuge 
 in the annihilation of their reafon. 
 
 •< This woman — this unprincipled woman, 
 faw my poor friend, and admired him: but to 
 her his particular attentions were not directed, 
 for he was unconfcious of, or indifferent to the 
 fentiments (he affe£fed to difplay — fentiments 
 the fituation of the lady fliould have taught her 
 to repel. Se was married ; but feparated from 
 her hufoand, who allowed for her maintenance 
 merely a pittance which the law extorted from 
 him, for Ihe had been nearly portionlefs : 
 with this, (lie retired to the houfe of an amiable, 
 but too facile friend of the firft rank, whofe huf- 
 band became the Have of her fafcinations ; but 
 when her rapacious demands upon bis fortune 
 could no longer be complied with, without in- 
 juring his legitimate children, he refufed to £a- 
 tisfy them, and the harpy was compelled, by her 
 habitual profufion and natural depravity, to feek 
 other dupes to her various wiles : yet ftill ftie re- 
 tained, by unknown arts, the fituation from 
 Avhich outraged hofpitality, offended chaflity, 
 and infulted dignity fhould have driven her •, and 
 from thisconfpicuous poffc, looked round for the 
 vi6lims flie meant to feie£l. George Mompef- 
 fon met her eye ; and his addrefs, his vivacity of 
 temper, his youth, and circumftances marked 
 him for her prey. I will not offend your ear,** 
 continued Delamere, " with the detail of her 
 Syren arts ; MompelTon fatally yielded to them ; 
 and intoxicated with her favor, charmed with 
 her beauty, her accomplifhments, her treache- 
 rous wit, her infinuating maners, in which the 
 fedudlion of the proftitute is veiled by the exal- 
 tation of noble birth, and by the moft well-aQcd 
 Iweetnefs, gentlenefs, and fenfibility, he fup- 
 
 plied, 
 
ROSELLA. 247 
 
 plied her with all the money he could command, 
 becaufe he was told that her diftrefles arot'e 
 from the avarice of a brutal hufband, who often 
 witi'.ield the pittance aiTigned her. But her de- 
 mands did not {top here : as her power over his 
 mind increafed, (he attempted to bend him to 
 her purpofes, by plunging him into the difhono- 
 rable acis of ribufmg the confidence his friends 
 and aflbciates in bufmefs repofed in him ; — he 
 refilled, but her tears and feigned agonies of 
 diftradlion wrung his heart : {he talked of be- 
 ing dragged ignominioufiy to a jail, and he flew 
 to his father for the afliftance his principles for- 
 bade him to derive from bafenefs. The good 
 old man forcing himfelf to credit the tale he told, 
 yet alarmed at the hurrying, the repentant con- 
 fufion of his fon, laid before his daughters the 
 petition he had made, as his granting it v/ould 
 reduce them to an entire dependance upon their 
 brother : thefs generous young women confiding 
 in his honor for the reftitution he had promifed, 
 madxi no fcruple of facrificing their immediate 
 profpe6i:S" to his necefiities. The elder was re- 
 cently engaged to a gentleman in her neighbour- 
 hood, and as young Mompefibn required the 
 ftricfleft fecrecy, ai:d her portion had been al- 
 ready named to her lover, the marriage was 
 obliged to be protradled upon various pretences, 
 which he had reafon to fuppofe trivial ; and 
 piqued at the apparent inconftancy of his mif- 
 trefs, he entered the Army, and left the king- 
 dom. Young Mom pefibn learned this difticf- 
 iing h£i too late to prevent the mifery of his 
 gentle filler, who had infilled that it fhould 
 never be mentioned to him ; and itung with re- 
 morfe, goaded too by the increafing demands of 
 his infamous fedudlreCs, he aflented to the plan 
 
 (he 
 
24^ ROSELLA. 
 
 {he had often propofed, of adjourning to thofe 
 gaming-tables, which the hereditary and elected 
 legifiatorsof the realm fufFer their wives and their 
 filters to hold under their own roofs ; where 
 the younger and more lovely females of the fa- 
 mily are inftruded to act as decoys to the ad- 
 miring, the unwary ft ranger. Good God !'* 
 continued Delamere, " that we (hould wonder 
 at, that we fhould dare arraign the prevalence 
 of licentious opinions amongst the multitude, 
 when they muit be voluntarily blind, or elfe be- 
 hold the general licentious conducft of the titled 
 and the rich — a condu(ft from which the laws of 
 tlie land either withhold them, or not having 
 power to withhold, punilh with feverity. The 
 labourer muft per force fufFer his family to fliare 
 the produce of his toil: — the idlenefs or the 
 defer Lion of the labourer from his family is cog- 
 nizable by the law j he is fought after, brought 
 back, imprifoned, and a better conduct enforc- 
 ed ; whilft the profligate Noble diffipates the 
 eftates of his anceftors with impunity, and 
 leaves the titled heir of his vices a penfioner 
 upon the community at large, through the chan- 
 nel of power. The labourer is uncertain if he 
 may not to-morrow, by the fury of fanatical re- 
 form, be forbidden to have his humble dinner 
 baked on the feventh day ; and if he has ever 
 profited by the Sunday fchools thofe very re- 
 formers of morals have fo induftrioufly propa- 
 gated, he may read in an alehoufe newfpaper of 
 the magnificent dinners, concerts, card parties, 
 collations, an«J fuppers given by his Grace, the 
 Countefs, Sir John, my Lady, and all the Right 
 Honorable group upon the fame facred day. 
 if Who then will dare to be indignant at this man's 
 licentious opinions ? If the anecdotes of the 
 
 great 
 
 1 
 
ROSELLA, 249 
 
 great do not always redound to their credit, if 
 the daily prints will record their follies and their 
 vices, and if the pious promoters of learning 
 amongft the labouring poor will enable them to 
 pro fc over " thofe pictures of the times," why 
 do we ftand aflonilhed at the difFufion of le- 
 velling principles ? But pardon me — I have 
 vi^andered from my fubjeft, from the impetuous 
 reflections it gave rife to. I left poor Mom= 
 pefTon in a fituation of danger, in which all that 
 can be augured of evil fortune actually befel 
 him : at the fafhionable gaming-tables, the foft 
 accents of an harmonious voice, the feducing 
 fmiles of Beauty drew his attention perpetually 
 from the opportunities Fortune offered in her 
 beft moods 5 and accelerated, redoubled her per- 
 fecutions when fhe began to frov/n. If per- 
 chance he was fuccefsful, falvers of liqueurs 
 were prefented with officious repetition, till his 
 judgment was- wholly obfcured, and he loft his 
 advantages; if he was unfortunate, and wifhed 
 to retire, he was allured, ridiculed, fneeered at 
 till he trebled his bets, and more than trebled 
 thofe debts, v/hich the next morning he was 
 compelled to make good. 
 
 *' In the m.idfl:, however, of thefe defperate 
 refources, he contrived, in defiance of the dif- 
 treiles which on every fide aflTailed him, to re- 
 fund the fum his family had fo generoufly re- 
 linquifhed ; becaufe his heart every moment: 
 reproached him with the rupture he had unv/it- 
 tingly occafioned between his fifter and her 
 lover, and the confcquent mifery it liad entailed 
 upon her : but the effort haltensd his own de- 
 Itruction, and equally urged forward that'o£> be- 
 ings dearer to him than life. One eveninp-, 
 ^ore propitious than ufual, had fent him from 
 M 3 the 
 
a^O ROSELLA. 
 
 the Pharo table with fome thoufands in his pof- 
 feilion, and with the money his fituation enabled 
 him at that moment to raife without fufpicion, 
 amounted to the fum he had accepted for a pur- 
 pofe fo unworthy : he put the whole into his 
 pocket-book, and was proceeding to veil it in 
 the hands of his father's agent, when a note 
 
 reached him from Lady , for fo is the 
 
 wretch denominated, that flie muft fee him with- 
 out a moment of delay at the ufual place of 
 rendezvous, or her inevitable death would 
 avenge his negle£l. He fiew to the appointed 
 fpot, and found her in an agony of mingled 
 difdain, rage, and apprehenfion, occafioned by 
 the threat of a jeweller to arreft her immediate- 
 ly, unlefs (he paid him without hefitation, for a 
 fet of diamonds which he was well informed 
 had difappeared a few days after they had pafled 
 from his hands im:o her's. Mompeffon heard 
 the ftory varniflicd as it came to his ear, with 
 difguft, and felt his remorfe redoubled that for 
 fuch an abandoned extravagant, he had ruined 
 the peace of his innocent filler ; all the arts and 
 blandilhments of his miftrefs were infufficient 
 to induce him to alter his original difpofition of 
 the money he at that moment carried about him, 
 and he left her to execute his purpofe. When 
 it was accomplifhed however, his heart was 
 torn with anxiety, for the fate of the woman 
 to whom his profeflions of inviolable attachment 
 had been equally ardent and fincere : and his 
 total want of power to aflift her, (hould the me- 
 nace of her irritated creditor be fulfilled, gave 
 him horror inconceivable. In this ftate he re- 
 mained until the following day, refolving very 
 fully to fofego his irregularities, and again be- 
 come uli that his fond family hoped he Itill was, 
 
 when 
 
ROSELLA. 1^1 
 
 when a fecond billet was given him, dated from 
 a fpunging-houfe. He ftarted — the contents 
 drove him to diftra^^ion — the bane, the blafter 
 of his youth informed him that (he had a fatal 
 vial in her pofleflion, the contents of which (lie 
 vowed to fwallow in two hours, if in that time 
 fhe were not fet at liberty, that fhe might crufh 
 the flying rumours of her difgrace by her pre- 
 fence in the ufual circles. He could not heG- 
 tate — he ruflied on his deftrudion, became bail 
 for her, and at her inftigation, for he was com- 
 pelled immediately to produce the fum in quef- 
 tion, ufed the fignature of his partners to a draft 
 which he negociated, with an intention of tak- 
 ing it up with the firrt; money he received, to 
 which he fubjoined a folemn vow never more 
 to behold the face of the woman who had lured 
 him to deftroy his fclf-refpect, his peace, and 
 his honor. 
 
 " She faved him however, from the conflitls 
 of love and prudence in preferving this lad re- 
 folution, by fending him a letter of rong^, in 
 which (he informed him that his backwai^nefs 
 to refcue her from fcorn and contempt had 
 opened her eyes to the decline of hisaffecbiony 
 and (he would not be indebted any further to 
 compa(rian, for the fervices and aiFiduities (lie 
 had a right to claim from fondnefs and grati- 
 tude ; and (he concluded by defiring htm to re- 
 turn her letters and her picture, and forget that 
 (he had ever been fo weak as to fancy they werr. 
 pleafing to him — a requeft his indignant pride 
 immediately prompted him to comply vvitii. In 
 fa£l this difgrace to her fex was alarmed at the* 
 (hare Ihehadin the hft defperate atlion of hct 
 vidim, and plainly difcerning that if he pro- 
 ceeded in rhc career (he had forced Iii^i mio^ 
 
 ihar 
 
25i " l4©*'E.tLA^ 
 
 that he was, inevitably un?lone, and if he re- 
 tiacled, he v/as no longer for her purpofes?:- 
 ihe therefore accepted the devoirs of a rich, b*ut 
 avaricious old Nobleman, the day after her libe- 
 ration from confinement had been effected at the 
 expence of all that was mofl dear to the unhap- 
 py Mompefibn, of whom I have little further to 
 iay, but that his fatal lapfe was difcovered by 
 one of thofeuneqf peeled coincidences of circum- 
 itances which it is impoilible to forefce : his 
 friends,, whofe names he had fo unwarrantably 
 ufed, would fain have hufned the tranfaclion, 
 and faved him from ignominy and danger j but 
 it could not be accomplifiied. 
 
 " Mompefibn, in the fury of defpair, would 
 have chofen inilant annihilation ; but his life 
 was preferved till better thoughts prevailed, and 
 liC fled, though not till every port was fliut 
 againft, him, and he found himfelf univerfally 
 profcribed r.nd fought after. The fum he had 
 taken with him was almoil expended, and the 
 foreign letters of. credit he had received from, 
 his generous benefadlors could not have extri- 
 cated him from the diftrefs that already afiiiiled 
 him, when you fo providentially encountered 
 him in his retreat, from whence he had dif- 
 patched an account of his perilous fituation to 
 his family, at that moment incapable of hearing 
 or relieving, his anguifh by the few words of 
 pardon he had implored. His meflenger, not 
 very intelligent, leit the letter entrufl:ed to him 
 with the hired nurfc attending poor old Mom- 
 pefiTon, who had fent only the day before his 
 faithful domeftic to me for intelligence of the 
 unhappy wanderer, and with an intimation that 
 death was fad flealing him from his forrows. 
 The bilkt of his fen he never read 5 for his 
 
 fenfcs 
 
BOSELLA. 253 
 
 iznks had failed before it arrived, and the old 
 woman wholly forgot it, until I required it of 
 her at my return to the Lodge. 
 
 " It is therefore to your humanity alone that 
 I have been enabled to trace him, and by which 
 £ hope he has, ere now, efcaped the poflibility 
 of a purfuit." 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc bowed rather coldly, in return 
 to this compliment. — " Good heavens !" tliought 
 ihc, " have I then wafted fo much time and 
 fympathy upon an objeift who has merely com- 
 mitted a vulgar forgery 1 and whofe proftituted 
 heart was not worthy the honor of being cap- 
 tivated by my Rofella — a fellow whofe fenfibi- 
 iity has been blunted by running the gauntlet of 
 thofe beauties fo profufely exhibited by the 
 whole tribe of little Caffinos about town !" 
 
 Her indignation was roufed by his prefump- 
 tion in having dared to dlrecl one glance of ad- 
 miration at Mifs I\Iontrefor, and mod feriouily 
 did (he repent the many hours ihe had ftolen 
 from a much more important and delightful 
 purfuit, for a m.an whofe dying fpeech and con- 
 feffion would contain the horrible periods of 
 Newgate tiOquence, expreffive of regret for 
 being drawn in to fpend his Sundays in bad 
 company, the beginning of all evil, and giving 
 up his time to the lewd purfuits of fwearing, 
 drinking, cards, and dice. What a hiftory ! — 
 when compared, too, with the interefting dying 
 fpeeches and confeflions of repentant heroes, 
 who difcover to their attentive auditors a beau- 
 tiful long buried wife fhut up in one fecret dun- 
 geon, and a ftili more beautiful difcarded mif- 
 trefs very fafely depofited in another, not forget- 
 ting the old ched in the corner, containing the 
 mouldering bones of a murdered rival, repofing 
 
 quietly 
 
254 ROSELLA^ 
 
 quiedy upon the purloined title-deeds of his 
 own eftates, which being reftored to fome cot- 
 tage-cradled damfel, their rightful owner,, exalt 
 her to an equality with fome difintercded and 
 illuftrious lover, whofe paflion and valor have 
 elucidated the whole bufinefs, and placed the 
 faddle upon the right horfe. 
 
 Rofella, perceiving that Mr. Delamere was 
 very apparently chagrined at the inaufpicions 
 reverie of her friend, exerted herfelf to remove 
 the impreflion it could not fail to give him, by 
 expreffing the unmixed compafTion fhe ftilJ felt 
 for young Mompeflbn, and lamenting the fatal 
 deftiny which had led him into the fociety of 
 fuch a wretch as Lady 
 
 Mr. Delamere was much gratified that her 
 fentiments remained un?ltered; and whilft he 
 beftowed the moft ..nimated encomiums upon 
 her philanthropy, Mifs Beauelerc recolle6lcd 
 the ungenerous appearance her filence muft: 
 have, and atoned for it by a little exertion of the 
 hypocrify fociety not only allows, but fometimes 
 exads : fhe renewed her civilities to Delamere, 
 and made her peace by propofing that they 
 fhould not feparate at dinner, which he grate- 
 fully acceded to. 
 
 Rofella now withdrew to enquire into the 
 fituation of poor Simpfon, which was lament- 
 able enough, as (he found him combating a ftrong 
 fit of rheumatic gout with the treacherous arms 
 of anger and impatience : the old butler had 
 more than once before been difcomfited by the 
 fame enemy, but he had always, until this time, 
 been confoled by the auxiliaries of kind atten- 
 dance, a comfortable chamber, and a good bed. 
 The attention of Rofella, however, enforced 
 that of others, and at her reprefentation, Mifs 
 
 Beauelerc 
 
aOSELLA. 255 
 
 Beauclere defired that a nurfe (hould be pro- 
 cured, that he might not fufFer from the hurry 
 and forgetfuhiefs incident to a houfe of public 
 refort : and at the repeated requeft of Mr. De- 
 lamere, his fervant was, <?/; attendant, conftituted 
 valet extraordinary to the ladies, who would be, 
 he fuppofed, detained fome time at Sedgfield by 
 the circumftance, which he was not difpleafed 
 at, becaufe he intended to remain there feveral 
 days himfelf to fettle the affairs at the Lodge, 
 and attend the interment of Mr. MompefTon. 
 
 Thefe ceremonials being adjufted, and there 
 appearing to be feverals hours intervening be- 
 tween that of dinner, the gentleman propofed 
 a rural promenade, offering himfelf as an efcort 
 to the ladies ; and as Mifs Beauclere was no 
 longer in Cuch extreme hafte to record the un- 
 happy narrative of the mountain hero, fhe af- 
 lented to the plan. On beholding the immenfe 
 cxpanfe of waves which could be plainly dif- 
 cerned beyond the eaftern coaft, (he immedi- 
 ately figured to herfelf the fublimity of a young 
 heroine gazing over the mountain tops, which 
 gradually retire from her heroic vifion, till they 
 gain the delightful and celebrated appearance of 
 blue mifls ; and then the majeflic ocean, rolling 
 its fuperb billows from the ftrand where her lover 
 v/as torn from her, or {he was torn from her 
 lover •, but unfortunately the German ocean, far 
 from infpiring fuch heavenly fancies as the vici- 
 nity of a Venetian fea might have created, 
 'could raife in a common imagination, only the 
 heavy murmurs of a Dutch fiOiery, or the coarfe 
 fcenery of a grand bout of falmon pickling ; it 
 was cruel certainly, and Mifs Beauclere wifhed 
 wiflied herfelf very vehemently on the celebrated 
 banks of the Garonne, or gliding through the 
 
 Rialto 
 
2^6 ROSELLA. 
 
 Rialto, encircled by dying cadencies, garnifhed 
 with paufes, and fwells, and ritornellos. 
 
 Her companion and Mr. Delamere having 
 left her to contemplate at her leifure, walked 
 ilovvly forward ; and frequently (landing ftill to 
 difcufs with earneftnefs the merits and misfor- 
 tunes of theMompelTon family, Rofella learned 
 feveral interefting anecdotes of the culprit's 
 amiable fillers, which heightened the intereft 
 {he already felt in their fate. — When he had 
 unwarily drawn the tears to her eyes, he fud- 
 denly checked himfelf, and introduced another 
 fubjedl ; but that one which mofl occupied the 
 imagination of each would ftiil recur, and Ro- 
 fella mentioned a wifh of pofTefling the drawing 
 traced by the reclufe, in thofe lingering mo- 
 ments he would fain have urged forward, whiUt 
 not certain but the next might condu(ft him to 
 annihilation. 
 
 " Perhaps," faid Delamere, " he may have 
 left It in the hut : do you fuppofe your friend 
 would objc£l to employ a day in vifiting Stan- 
 more Hills, which are well worthy her obferva- 
 tion ? If (he aflents, we will look once more at 
 the habitation of the unhappy wanderer, and 
 trace his erring fteps to the fcene which ftole 
 him for a moment from the recoUedlion of mi- 
 fery and mifconduf\." 
 
 Rofella was pleafed w^ith the propofal, and 
 her folicitations, joined to the profpe£l of v/ait- 
 ing the convalefcence of Simpfon, induced Mifs 
 Beauclerc to concur readily in an excurfion that 
 promifed a little variation from the tirefome 
 famenefs of her prefent life, in which her only 
 amufement confided of rocking the cradle of 
 her elevated fancies ; without perceiving any 
 poiTibility that the inclinations of Rofella might 
 
 take 
 
ROSELLA. 257 
 
 take a bias that would fruftrate all her heroic 
 plans, whieh deftined her as the reward of Lord 
 Morteyne's dlfinterefted paffion, whom (he re- 
 prefented to herfelf and to Selina, fighing in the 
 extreme difconfolation of that poetic death in 
 love — abfence. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Eagefor fnhliwe evnfions — the m^erlous dif appear-' 
 ance of t*wo heroines* 
 
 At the grave of Mr. Mompeflbn, the Kiofl 
 
 rugged cheek was watered with a tear ; and 
 
 there the curfes of wounded humanity were 
 
 jaifed to heaven, againfl the fhamelefs depravity 
 
 *lt)f thofe titled and untitled beings, who revel in 
 
 ''^i^ur bloated metropolis upon the fpoils of the 
 
 • j^oung and the unwary. 
 
 "' Mifs Beauclerc and Rofella had not been able 
 " t"o ,abfent themfelves from this fcene, wijere the 
 ' /ftbry of the young man's fedudion and his 
 *' wrongs, was told in various ways by many exe- 
 \crating tongues, and the annihilation of his 
 family clofed the tale. The effect of fuch a 
 hift'ory at a moment fo folemn, however rude 
 the rehearfal might be, can well be conceived. 
 . The fobs of Rofella, who was accidentally Itati- 
 "^^oned during the fcrvlce for the dead, by the fide 
 '""of George MompefTon's village nurfe, rendered 
 .outrageous by her grief, attra(fted univerfal at- 
 tention ; 
 
258 ROSELLA. 
 
 tention : nnd flie was by many fuppofed to be 
 an intimate friend of the poor young ladies ; by 
 others it was whifpered that (he was a deferted 
 fweet-heart of Mr. George — a facft that was 
 proved from her being accompanied to the fune- 
 ral by the little dog he had begged of his fifter. 
 Rofella was too much abforbed by her own fen- 
 fations to hear the comments of her neighbours, 
 and returned with her friend to their temporary 
 refidence, with a heart more heavy than fhe had 
 mer before experienced. 
 
 When this painful ceremony was over, Mr. 
 Delamere exerted himfelf to enfure to the Mifs 
 Mompeflbns the beft attendance from the people 
 to whofe care they had been committed, both 
 from motives of intereft as well as of compafFw 
 on ; and that their ftill more unhappy brother, 
 in whatever foil his errors had eternally baniflied 
 him, might be fecured at lead from want. Se- 
 veral days were confumed in effecting thefe be- 
 nevolent purpofes, during which poor Simpfon 
 continued rather to decline than to amend ia 
 health, and was now perfedlly unable to traverfe 
 his narrow chamber — a circumflance extremely 
 maUa-propos, becaufc it detained Mifs Beauclerc 
 from the immediate execution of a very pro- 
 mifing proje£l, replete with interefl: and adven- 
 ture \ and though fhe had half intended to drop 
 the old butler before (he reached the grand fcene 
 of a£lion, yet (he could not reconcile the bar- 
 barity of leaving him wholly to the care of ftran- 
 gers, with the tender and delicate feelings of 
 thofe amiable pattern perfonages, who fo often 
 raife an old and decrepid domeflic to be one of 
 the principal dramatis ^erfona in the fine-fpun 
 fcene of fenfibility. 
 
 When. 
 
ROSELLA. 259 
 
 When every duty was dlfcharged at the 
 Lodge, Mr. Delamere remhided Mifs Beau- 
 clerc of their Intended ramble to Stanmore Hiils ; 
 and the next morning, at an early hour, Rofella 
 and herfelf ftepped into a poft-chalfe, accom- 
 panied by him on horfeback. — When they ar- 
 rived at the little inn, whofe romantic fituation 
 had (o much attraded the approbation of Mifs 
 Beauclerc, the well-remembered equipage drew 
 the children to the door. 
 
 " Oh pretty Lady I pretty Lady come back !" 
 cried little Patty. — « Pretty Lady come back l" 
 echoed the boy. 
 
 ** She's come back — (he's come back !" they 
 both repeated, ftriking their hands together with 
 eager exultation. 
 
 Rofella, who had recognized her play-fellows 
 with nods and fmiles, now alighted, and kifled 
 the uplifted faces of Patty and her brother after 
 their mother had very carefully wiped each little 
 mouth with her apron. 
 
 <* I perceive, '*^ faid Mr. Delamere, fmlling, 
 *< that even in this remote and almoft defolate 
 fpot, the merits of Mifs Montrefor are warmly 
 acknowledged." 
 
 '* She is fond of children, and indulgent to 
 them," replied Mifs Beauclerc, " and the natu- 
 ral eonfequence of it is, that children are uni- 
 verfally fond of her." 
 
 ** I admit the inference," returned he ; — 
 « yet if Mifs Montrefor had been as remarka- 
 ble for deformity and fournefs of afpecl as fhe 
 is remarkable for the reverfe of both, (he might 
 have courted the affection of thofe little diftin- 
 guifhlng beings a confiderable time before {he 
 could have boafted of fo great a portion of their 
 regard*" 
 
 " I 
 
2^0 ROSELLA. 
 
 " I cannot agree with you," faid Mifs Bcau- 
 clerc, forgetting for a moment her heroifm, 
 *' that the affections are naturally connecfled 
 with perfonal graces. Rofella," continued fhe, 
 « do you not remember the poor little child 
 who was nurfed by the old woman on the com- 
 mon ? To hear it call for its own pretty 
 Phebe — its own dear little Phebe, any 
 one might have fuppofed this beloved Phebe 
 to have been a fprightly young nurfe-maid at 
 lead ; inftead of which, Rofella introduced me, 
 when fhe led home the nurfling, to a pretty little 
 Phebe about eighty, with a perfon fo deformed, 
 and an afpeft fo forbidding, that it was curious 
 to behold the proeefs by which her features 
 were twifted into an expreflion of fomething 
 like tendernefs to her orphan charge." 
 
 " I think your illuftration implies a compli- 
 ment to human nature," returned Delamere , 
 « but I mud ftill aflert that the fondnefs which 
 thefe little creatures fo artlefsly exprefs for the 
 * pretty lady,' has much difcernment in it : at 
 leaft I may aflert from experience, that (he may 
 very afluredly infpire admiration even before the 
 moment when it is difcovered that her benevo- 
 lence entitles her to gratitude." 
 
 " This unfortunate youth is defperately ena- 
 nicured of her!" thought Mifs Beauclerc : (he 
 was elated however, by the equal certainty of 
 other and flill more defirable conquefts ; and 
 when (he reflefled that this Delamere was the 
 avowed friend of an exotic in the fafhionable 
 world, whofe exploits not only entitled him to 
 the honors of the platform (there he would not 
 have been fingular), but had even conducted 
 him to the edge of it, fhe could not forbear be- 
 traying a chilling coldnefs in her manner, fufh- 
 ciently obfervabk. He faw the change in her 
 
 afpetl,. 
 
ROSELLA. 261 
 
 afpe^l, and affnmed on his part, a diftance and 
 formality, the refult perhaps of a difinclination 
 that either herfelf or her young companion 
 (liould fuppofe he had formed pretenfions they 
 felt no wifli of encouraging. 
 
 After having taken refrefliment, the party be- 
 gan to afcend the hill leading to the fpot they 
 meant to vifit. Mr. Delamcre fuffered Rofella 
 and her little aflbciates, who would not leave 
 her a moment, to pafs him ; and having vain- 
 ly offered his affiftance to Mifs Beauclerc, who 
 refufed it however with com.placency, he wal- 
 ked with an air of nonchalance by her fide, till 
 they had reached Molly's cottage. Here Rofella 
 waited his approach ; and was furprifed at his 
 filence and gravity, which yet a moment of re- 
 fle<Slion accounted for, as it reminded her that 
 Mr. Delamere had taken an eternal leave of the 
 wretched Mompreflbn at that place not long 
 fince. 
 
 Influenced by this idea, fhe turned back to 
 meet him, and her efforts to chafe the gloom 
 from his countenance foon fucceeded : whilfh 
 Mifs Beauclerc, naturally of an inoffenfive and 
 placid difpofition, as eafily forgot her heroic dig- 
 nity, and converfed with her ufual freedom and 
 good-humour. 
 
 Molly was at home, and ran out to ax the 
 gentlefolks if they would not walk in, a civility 
 they declined ; but the children confented to 
 quit the prerty lady, to realize fome expecflati- 
 ons of a rural feaft. But Mifs Beauclerc, who 
 had never before beheld the pi<5lurefque fcene 
 aaound her, gazed at it with aftonifhment, whilffc 
 Rofella endeavoured to difcover a path that 
 might lead her to the forlorn hut lately (o 
 ftrangely inhabited ; but it required long cuf- 
 
 tom 
 
262 aoSELLA. 
 
 torn to find a fcareely trodden track in fo wild a 
 folitude •, and Mrs. Spanger being applied to 
 for afliftance, called to a half-cloathed girl to 
 lead the way to the cot, where (he had fonie- 
 times been difpatched with a loaf or wafhedlinen. 
 « Poor Gentleman," exclaimed the woman, 
 when flie heard the requeft, " our landlord fay, 
 a fuppofe a quoined golden guineas, and wad be 
 honged for it. God help un, a never quoined 
 any that I fee j a wos more like to be crazed we 
 love fay I, and I be fure a was — for fometime 
 a would eat a mite, and fometime a woudn't 
 touch a bit — and fometime a wou'd walk about 
 all night, fo Jack fay ; and then fometime a 
 wou'd tak to as bed, and not get oop all day !'* 
 
 Mr. Delamere here cut fhort the report ; but 
 refle£lions would arife that, whilft Mompef- 
 fon was thus dragging on exiftence, and deplo- 
 ring his blafted hopes, the companions of his 
 fleeting, his treacherous enjoyments no longer 
 littered his name but to load it with obloquy 
 and contempt, not for having committed evil, 
 but for being betrayed into that particular fpe- 
 cies of difhonefty which the law could reach. 
 The laugh, the jeft, the trifling amufement of 
 the moment followed the mention of his dif. 
 grace, with a harmony no regret for him dif- 
 turbed •, and at that table where he had been 
 fleeced of thoufands, the fame harpies prefided, 
 and fuccefTivc fools were cheated with equal 
 impunity ; — whilft the woman who had more 
 immediately precipitated the unhappy youth 
 into the gulph of infamy, affected to regret that 
 his fudden difappearance prevented the chaftifc- 
 ment fhe had charged her footman to give him : 
 and though no one credited the innocence (he 
 aimed to eftablilh; yet all who heard her, pre- 
 tended 
 
ROSELLA. a63 
 
 tended they did> and joined with the Right 
 Honorable Lady , in fhrugs of admira- 
 tion at the audacity of young Cits. When flic 
 could thus force a chorus to her recitative, fhe 
 cared little for the indignation, fafhion, and 
 fuavity condemned to filence. 
 
 At length Rofella once more entered the 
 wretched afylum, where the defpairing coun- 
 tenance of Mompeflbn met her eye, charged 
 with the confufion of a foul on which felf-ac- 
 cufation and confcious guilt did not fit eafily. 
 The ftraw which had ferved him for repofe, 
 when repofe had not fled him, (till lay in the 
 corner; but the drawing of Molly's cottage ei- 
 ther himfelf, cr ibme other perfon, had removed. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc foon quitted the hut to furvey 
 the furrounding fcenery, which was indeed ex- 
 tremely well fitted to infpire fome of thofe fub- 
 lime ideas that floated oh her imagination ; and 
 the efFe£^ it produced heightened her impatience 
 to proceed on her journey, in fpite of the inca- 
 pacity of poor Simpfon to attend her. Suddenly 
 fhe hadened her companions back to the inn, 
 fcarcely allowing Rofella to go in queft of little 
 Patty and her brother, whilft (he waited where 
 the path turned towards Molly's dwelling. 
 
 " I cannot but admire the prefevering fpirit 
 of charity which governs your mind," faid Mr. 
 Delamere, who itccompanied her ; *< whilft I 
 perceive that of others evaporate with the emo* 
 tion of the moment." 
 
 « If you allude to MIfs Beauclerc,^' faid Ro- 
 fella, eiigerly, " your opinion does her injuftice." 
 
 <* I believe not," returned he : *' but may 
 I take the liberty of enquiring if you are of her 
 family, either by affinity or alliance ?" 
 
 After a moment of embarraiTmcnt, which the 
 
 abruptnefo 
 
a<54 RtlSELLA. 
 
 abruptnefs of the queftion created, Rofella re- 
 plied that fhe was not in the remoteft degree 
 related to her friend, but that (he refpefted her 
 as the moft generous and befi: of women. Little 
 Patty and her brother now joined them, and in 
 a few minutes the whole party overtook Mifs 
 Beauclerc, who was returning to the inn to haf- 
 ten the dinner, becaufe flie had refolved to travel 
 back to Sedgfield the fame evening j a precipita- 
 tion that furprifed and rather offended Mr. De- 
 lamere, as fhe had not long before refolved to 
 remain in her prefent quarters two or three days, 
 to explore ftill further the beauties of the place. 
 Rofella appeared difappointed, but was filent 
 upon the fubjcdl ; and late in the evening the 
 party re-entered Sedgfield. 
 
 Simpfon was not improved in health fince 
 the morning, and complained very gricvoufly, 
 when his Lady paid him a compaffionate vifit 
 whilfl her fupper table was being arranged: (he 
 exprefled her chagrin at his indifpofition, a cha- 
 grin which was heightened, (he faid, by the 
 unfortunate necefTity in which (he found herfelf, 
 of immediately refuming her journey. 
 
 The old man was thunderftruck at this in- 
 telligence ; nor was he in the lead confoled 
 by the profpedl of being abandoned, fick and 
 helplefs, in a place to which he was entirely a 
 ftranger, at the fight of a purfe his Lady put 
 into his hand, and herafTurances that fhe would 
 enjoin the people of the houfe to give him every 
 attention. 
 
 Rofella was' not prefent at this interview ; 
 and only learned, when (he retired for the night, 
 after having fimply bade Mr. Delamerc good 
 evening, that at four the next morning, a chaifc 
 was ordered to convey Mifs Beauclerc and her- 
 felf 
 
ROSEL^A. 2^5 
 
 fe!f towards Scotland. — Extreme adonirnmenr, 
 and an emotion nearly allied to difpleafure, arofa 
 in the mind of Rofella at the anprecedentedcon- 
 ilutt of her friend. The fituation of Simpfon^ 
 whom it was cruelty to leave without a6lual ne- 
 ceflily, and the ilrange rudenefs of quitting Mr. 
 Delamere in a manner (o abrupt, tilled her wick 
 difmay, and (he vainly eflayed to alter the deter- 
 mination of Mifs Beauclerc by reprefentation 
 and entreaty. But Cr,e ivas at length filenced 
 by a very fojemn prediction, that there were 
 myflerious reafons for fuch a condud, which 
 would hereafte.r juftify it. 
 
 At four in the morning therefore, j^/lifs Beau- 
 c?erc defcended the (taircafe of the inn, with all 
 the filence and precipitation of a young beauty, 
 fiying from the power of fome aUrocious gentle 
 or noble, who, in carrying her tov/ards his never- 
 failing chateau in Scotland, or Ireland, or V/ale?, 
 gx3od-naturedly (lops tbort in his enterprize to 
 Jciter on the road : and then the diitreflcd hero- 
 i»e, either by bribing the maid of 'the hetellerie, 
 or by unlocking all the doors at midnight with a 
 p<ijje' par- tout of her own peculiar invention, e[- 
 capss, leaving the difappointed lever 
 
 " To ftorm and ilare. 
 
 " And load withe a rfes the witlidrawing fair.'* 
 
 And in this manner did Mifs Beauclerc ima- 
 gine the forfaken Delam.ere would vent the fird 
 tianfports of his difappointment, until the ten- 
 der remembrance of the cliarms of the cruel 
 Lugitive fubdued his foul, and forced the hard- 
 wrung drops of anguifli fr/^m his eyes. 
 
 As the lady chofe now to travel incog, fhe left 
 
 ^er carri:ige at bc(lgfield, having previoufly or- 
 
 N dered 
 
266 ROSELLA. 
 
 dered Simpfon to ufe it when he received in- 
 flruflions to rejoin her. This arrangement wa» 
 thought ftrange by Rofella, and (he ftepped into 
 a hack-chalfe in a very difconfolate mood, as (he 
 had been forbidden to fee the old man before her 
 departure, and now refleded, with confiderable 
 difquiet, that (he was travelHng under the fole 
 protection of a perfon who, however her affedli- 
 on and long cherifhed gratitude might foften the 
 general tenor of her condudl and conversation, 
 appeared inclined to follow without refledion, 
 every freak of a diftempered fancy. 
 
 The farewel intimation of Mr. Mordaunt 
 rofe to her recolledion, and flie was tempted for 
 a moment, fo far to profit by it, as to ftate to 
 him her prefent fituation ^ but the well-remem- 
 bered kindnefs and generofity Mifs Beauclerc 
 had difplayed towards her from infancy, repelled 
 all idea of appealing from her guidance : and as 
 ilie fat fhivering in a broken windowed chaife, 
 breakiaftlefs, in a dark rainy morning before 
 funrife, the worldly idea of feeking refuge in 
 the counfels of diicretion from the adventures 
 that appeared to await her, may be excufed a 
 young heroine not yet inured to the hardfhips of 
 one campaign in the walks of romance. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc took a hafty breakfaft at Dur- 
 ham, but declined (laying to view the place, in 
 the fear that Delamere would purfue the objedi 
 of his palTion, and force an explanation flic 
 chofe to forego. In the fame hafty manner (he 
 pa(red through Newcaftle and Morpeth, and (till 
 occupied by her apprehenfions, inftead of con- 
 tinuing in the high road, directed the driver to 
 Warkvvorth, hoping, by this well-precedented 
 mancEuvre, to elude the fond enquiries of the 
 dillracled lover. At this place (lie condcfcended 
 
 to 
 
ROSELLA 2^7 
 
 to attend to her own fatigue and the entreaties 
 of Rofella, and having ordered a dinner, fat 
 down with great fclf-complacency to think of the 
 dangers (he had pafTed. 
 
 After having relieved, by two hours of reft, 
 the wearinefs which, in fpite of heroifm, had 
 aflailed her, and gazed, as all fublime travellers 
 do, with wonder and awe and rapture upon the 
 ocean's far extending billows, which could be 
 difccrned from the apartment (he was placed in, 
 (he began to figh for amufement or occupation. 
 In the towns fhe had paiTed, (he had been re- 
 peatedly alked if ftie would not (lay to behold 
 this particular beauty or that particular curiofity ^ 
 fo (he applied to the people around her, to be 
 Informed of the beauties and curlofities worthy 
 of renown in Warkworth, and was told that the 
 hermitage up the river was the mod curioufeft 
 place any gentlefolks might wifli to fee. 
 
 To the hermitage therefore, Mifs Beauclerc 
 refolved to dedicate the evening, provided (he 
 were not prevented by the efFedis of Mr. Dela- 
 mere's lover-like defpair, of which, notwithftand- 
 ing her difinclination for an immediate denoue- 
 ment^ (he felt entremely furprifed not to have 
 received, by the interference of fate, any inti- 
 mation. However, (he did not yet give up the 
 idea of being called to his bed-fidc, where her 
 prefence might be required. In confequence of 
 a piftol ball, or a fall from his deed, pu(hed by 
 the impatience of the enamoured rider, beyond 
 his ftrength ; for (he well knew that a lover 
 will fometimcs drive his fpurs into the fides of 
 his horfe, in proportion as he feels the arrows 
 of the tender paflion wounding his own fufcepti- 
 ble bofom. 
 
 N 2 As 
 
263 RO-SELLA, 
 
 As Mifs Bcauclerc underftood that the her- 
 mitage might be attained by water, (lie ordered 
 a boat to take her up the river ; but was infor- 
 med that a poft-chaife would convey her there 
 in a much Ihorter time, and was advifed to alter 
 her plan upon the further doubt that arofe, of 
 there being any boat in a condition to receive 
 la-dies who were not exa^ly cloathed in fack- 
 cloth and afhes : but the obitinacy of Mifs Beau- 
 ckrc overcame all reprefentation, and at length 
 afifhing IkifF was procured, \'ery dirty indeed, 
 and not very dry •, yet thefe objections cou'd 
 not prove itn pediments to a gentle fair-one, bent- 
 .upon enjoying at every event, 
 
 ** The moon niining over the ftream, 
 
 ** Gentle harmony breathing around, 
 " Tlie feathering oar reflefling the gkam, 
 ." Beating tifine to the echo's foft found," 
 
 Now it was that (he regretted the want of a 
 .lute> that delightful companion lo all blooming 
 damfcls of heroic ilaudard. A harp RofcDa 
 could play. upon.; but then a modern one was 
 cumbrous to carry from place to place, though 
 indeed fhe recollected to have read of a fublime 
 young lady, who, in her perilous adventures, all 
 atcliieved on foot, carried her Welch hnrp upon 
 h,er back from one end of the Uland to the other, 
 taking care to preferve a moil graceful deport- 
 iTIient the .whole way. 
 
 Another captivating heroine flie remembered 
 to have read of, who made a pedeftrian tour on 
 the Continent of more than eight hundred miles, 
 in puriuance oi the dictates of " Plain Senfe,** 
 and itiil more confpicuous perfeverauce — a feat 
 
 the 
 
ROSELLA. 2^9 
 
 the laHy performed with her wardrobe urAtT 
 her arm, one pair of {hoes upon her delicate fe^st, 
 a cliance-brought ducat in her pocket, a hurdv- 
 gurdy depending in a firing from her. ivory nev,k, 
 and her beautiful frame fuppor.ed by coarfe 
 bread, or milk pottage, which on:e a day her 
 good genius, and the charity of peafants, pre- 
 fented to her. 
 
 This lad method of feeking adventures was 
 extremely well accomodated to the fancy ef 
 Mifs Beauclerc, and Ihe refolved upon the fir(t 
 opportunity to procure a guitar or mandoline for 
 Rofella. En atte7id,tnt, as it was abfolutely ne- 
 ceflary that the aquatic adventure (lie was on the 
 point of engaging in, fhould not be undertaken 
 without mufic of fome kind, the mailer of the 
 inn was dirtcS^.ed to enquire in the place for fome 
 dulcet-eared fwain, a retainer ;jf the g!iv€- 
 wreathed god. 
 
 The landlord, extrem ly furprifed at fuch a 
 demand, as well a^ offended at the" preference 
 which had been given to a fikhy boat over his 
 neat poR-chaife, made the perquifuion required 
 of him, with fo little ceremony and attention to 
 the dignity of his fair guePis, that by the time a 
 fuperannuated deaf fifer, formerly belonging to 
 the Northuinberland Militia, had been dragged 
 from his hovel to accompany the ladles to the 
 hermitage, half the town were waiting M'ith ex- 
 treme impatience for a fight of the crazy \vcrn;>n 
 dancing to V/ill Hcbbes's mufic ; for fuch had 
 been my landlorT.i's witty innuendo. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc received the devoirs of this 
 ancient fervant of Apollo and Mars with great 
 condefcenfion, and accepted the oflered firvices 
 of himfelf and his fife, fince neither flute, lute, 
 oboe, or clarinet cculd he obtained. 
 
 The 
 
27«) ROSELLA. 
 
 The owner of the fklff, who Iiad been walh- 
 ing and mopping with great efFort and perfeve- 
 rance from the mor.ient his commiflion had 
 been given him, now fignificd that it was ready, 
 and Mil's Beauclerc fallied forth, attended by 
 Rofella, who appeared mortified and depreflcd ; 
 but the expreflionof her countenance was chan- 
 ged to confternation on feeing a number of peo- 
 ple aflembled at the inn door to behold her em- 
 barkation. — She feized the arm of her friend, 
 and making an effort to draw her back to the 
 apartment they had quitted, accompanied the 
 motion with an earneft entreaty to wait till th« 
 crowd difperfed ; bnt the adventurous dame was 
 inflexible. Indeed (lie difcovered nothing un- 
 pleafant in being expofed to the gaze of the 
 Warkworth populace, becaufe (he conclu- 
 ded that the beauty of her young companion, 
 and her own interefting mien of filent forrow, 
 had alone gathered it together : and thus poor 
 Rofella was conftrained to face the eager and 
 rude glances of the multitude, who were how- 
 ever mollified into a filent curiofity by the confu- 
 fed agitation which her downcaft eye and glow- 
 ing cheek exprefl^ed. 
 
 But a general grin fucceeded, when Mifs 
 Beauclerc was ufhered into the boat by the fifh- 
 crman and the old fifer, who, having put on his 
 antient finery, as being his bell array, looked li- 
 terally like a thing ** made up of flireds and pat- 
 ches." Rofella followed much againft her in- 
 clination, (hocked at the abfurdity of her once 
 revered friend, and fearing to look forward to 
 the adventures her whimfical fancies might (lill 
 further plunge them into. 
 
 Their officious attendants accompanied them 
 a (hort way on tlie banks of the river 5 but as the 
 
 crazy 
 
ROSELLi. 271 
 
 #^'/72)' lady was wrapping herfelf up as fad as 
 pofTible in fublime meditation, they could not 
 difcover, on her part, any preparation to amuTe 
 them in the manner the landlord had announced, 
 and they fell off by degrees, and foon vanifhed 
 entirely. 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 Rage for dif covering entombed charmers — a 
 humiliating rencontre* 
 
 JVliSS BEAUCLERC had, by this time, 
 ftarted from her reverie, and looking round, be- 
 held Rofella with a mien melancholy and penfive 
 enough to have fati^fied the moft refined ot 
 taftes. She was plea fed with the obfervation. — 
 ** Now," whifpered fhe, " my lovely child is 
 divirie ' there wanted but this expreflion of 
 countenance to make her perfect !" 
 
 The fifer fat in the ftern of the veflel as up- 
 right ind fbaight as a reed ; his hat, exhibiting 
 a vari«jiy of colors, and feathered on every fide 
 to the brim, had been for many years kicked 
 and laid by, and thrown about and taken care 
 of alternately, till it had acquired feveral unin- 
 tentional forms, and^had loft a confiderable part 
 of its original dignity: but the wearer felt de- 
 corated and confequ-ntial, and, like an old 
 courfer in aduiUcait, dill pricked up his ears, 
 and kept his paces as well as he could. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, having finlfhed her thankful 
 ejaculation, turned her eye upon the fifer, and 
 remembering that " mufic is the food of love," 
 
 defirsd 
 
211 ROSELLA. 
 
 defired him to play fome pathetic air, fucK as 
 doubclcfs he well rccolle(^ied to have wept at in 
 his youth. The poor fellow underftanding fome 
 part of her command, but very far from hearing 
 the extent of it, drew forth his inftrument, 
 ■which had almofl been as ill-treated as. his hat, 
 though tlie injuries of time had been rather me- 
 liorated by the aids of induftry and cobbler's ends, 
 and fet off ccn molto J'pirito in thofe well-known 
 flrains entitled the White Cockade, at the fame 
 time marchiag as he fat, a very quick pace 
 againfl the loofe boards that covered the bottom 
 of the fkifF; which movement not only ftfpplied 
 the place of the abfent drum, but very unfortu- 
 jiately threw over his auditors a great part of the 
 bilge-water fecretcd under this falfe flooring. 
 
 Kofella, mortified and vexed as fhe had been, 
 inf^antly lofl her penfive mien in an unconquera- 
 ble fit of laughter,, whilrt Mifs Beauclerc exerted 
 her voice to arrefl the career of this nx)ify fon of 
 Harm^ony •, but hav.jng called and entreated to no 
 purpofe for fome time, flie was informed by the 
 boatmen that Will Hobbes was fo dunny, he 
 could not hear his own performance. 
 
 The man was obliged to quit his oars, that 
 he mighty at the urgervt requed of the lady, 
 make him fenfible that fne wiilied him to reftore 
 peace to her ear^, and to her wounded fenfibi- 
 Jity ; for the lifer fat with his head averted from 
 liis patty, and his eyes fixed upon the water 
 that flowed from beneath the ftern. A rough 
 falutatlon upon the fhoulder interrupted his 
 ilrains, and Mifs Beauclerc, by a variety of gef- 
 turcs, obtained a much-dedred repofe fo-r the 
 neighbouring echoes, tliough not before he had, 
 in eager wiflies to earn the reward, which bad 
 been promifed, changed his melody, to try if he 
 
 could 
 
R03BLLA. ^ 273 
 
 could not facceed better in '< Moll in the Wad," 
 — « the Cameronian Rant," and " the iNIor- 
 gan Rattler." 
 
 Rofella felt for his wounded reputation, and 
 would have endeavoured to praife his perfor- 
 mance, but that at the firft hzif-heard fentence 
 of commendation he haflily put his hand to his 
 pocket, with on intimation that he was not tired, 
 and could blow for fix hours without ftopping. 
 
 Mils Beauclerc, whofe ferene dignity had 
 been cruelly put to the rout, arrefted him how- 
 ever with a frown, and the poor fellow remained 
 quiet till the boatman announced that they v/tre 
 near the hermitage, which flie found worthy 
 of her attention, and forgot, in contemplriting 
 it her recent difap point men t. 
 
 The hollow cliff overhanging the river, in 
 whofe vaulted roof the prayer and hymn of the 
 reclufe had often broken the filence o{ nigh*-, 
 could not but be highly interefting : it was too 
 lublime to be fhared by her rude and i^nicrant 
 condauflors, and they were therefore inliruifted 
 to remain in the boat, whilit Rofella and herfelf 
 entered the facred receptacle of piety and medi- 
 tation* 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc examined, with attention, 
 every part of the place faid to be the remains of 
 the hermit's kitchen, and carefully founded the^ 
 ground and the wails, in thehope of difcoverlng, 
 like fo many other heroines,, either a tr^p-docy, 
 or a repofitory for family treafures, and confef- 
 fions of horrible crimes and uncommon frauds 
 locked up in inlaid or curious cabinets, by which 
 the lands, tenements, caftles, dungeons, and ca- 
 verns for many miles round might fuddenly be 
 fnatched from their prefent peaceful and unfu^ 
 fpicious owners, and defcend, with a profulica 
 N3. cf= 
 
274 ROSELLi. 
 
 of blufhing honors upon the head of a drooping 
 and tender-fouled damfel, whom the whole 
 world had till then combined to treat with fcorn 
 and obloquy ; except indeed, the generous and 
 manly-formed young gentleman, her happy 
 lover, who never, for a moment, lofes fight of 
 the innate dignity of her foul, or ceafes to bow 
 down to the fublime elevation of her meek and 
 humble deportment. 
 
 But however eager Mifs Beauclerc might be 
 in the fearch, no good fortune of this kind awai- 
 ted her, and (he pafled into the chapel with a 
 llrong prefentiment that ihe (hould there be 
 more fuccefsful : at lead fhe could fcarcely fail, 
 ftie thought, to difcover the fubterraneous paf- 
 fages and vaults fo very generally appertaining 
 to places of the fmalleft reputation in the annals 
 of romance, where lovely and gentle creatures 
 have an opportunity of initiating themfelves into 
 the fcience of tracing the hiftories, amours, and 
 amourettes of their forefathers, and bringing to 
 light all the Jau^i'pds of their grandmamas and 
 old aunts, merely by walking with a folemn 
 pace amidft their dry bones, with lamps half 
 extlnguiftied. 
 
 Yet a glimpfe of happinefs awaited Mifs 
 Beauclerc, more tranfporting than fhe had dared 
 to hope in the higheft flight of enthufiafm. At 
 the further end of the chapel a recumbent female 
 figure caught her eye, and a blifsful idea darted 
 like a ray of light into her mind, that fhe fhould 
 be the fortunate difcovererof fome haplefsgood 
 lady who might have been confied ten, twenty, 
 perhaps thirty years in a cell adjoining this place; 
 whilfl a barbarous hufband, having buried, in- 
 itead of her, a curious effigy, compofed of ftraw 
 a!?d olaliiien, very fieely followed the bent of 
 
 his 
 
ROSELL'A. 275 
 
 his fancies, and married fome beautiful but li- 
 centious charmer, whofe atrocious children 
 feize, in due time, what they conceive to be 
 their inheritance, and revel on the fpoils, until 
 papa's lawful and virtuous wife fteps out of her 
 enforced retirement, and places every body in 
 their proper fituations. 
 
 The imaginations of Mifs Beauclerc, fertile 
 and rapid, in an inftant fpun forth fuch a web, 
 that (he remained entranced in the delightful 
 intricacies of her own fantaftic fancies. One 
 moment the reclining dame was of the family of 
 herdeceafed Raymond, who, having been forci- 
 bly imprifoned in this abode for nearly half a 
 century, could now difcover to her enraptured 
 great grand-daughter fome fplendid fortune to 
 which (he could claim aright. The next inftant 
 (he as haftily fuppofed the figure to be one of 
 her own female anceftors, who could impart the 
 cuftomary information in Hmilar cafes, which 
 muft eniitle her ever after to the fadden dignity 
 of being addreffed as Lady Sophia Beauclerc at 
 leaft, if it fhould not create her a Baronefs in 
 her own right. 
 
 Under the influence of thefe ideas, fhe addref- 
 fed the perfonage with a mixture of veneration 
 for her fuppofed affinity and virtues, and of com- 
 paffion for her fufferings and wrongs ; and to the 
 extreme furprize and affright of Rofella threw 
 herfelf upon her knees which had been trcn>bling 
 under her for fome time paft with agitation, and 
 burft into the following ejaculation : — 
 
 " Much-injured and patient being, whoe'er 
 thou art — whether, as my heart forebodes, the 
 blood which circles in thefe veins derives its 
 fource from the more ftagnunt dreams that creep 
 through your's — or, as my wiflies more en;Terly 
 
 pohit. 
 
2.76 Has ELL A. 
 
 paint, whether you gave being to the grindfa-- 
 ther of my love, accept the fuftaining cares of 
 your admirhig and tender liberators ! No longer 
 iliall the Iron hand of oppreliive Tyran-ny ira- 
 mure your half-fainted form in this defolate fpot 
 — no, my voice, and the voice of your fair and 
 Joveiy child, my beauteous Rofella, (hall pro- 
 claim to the world, which now believes you to 
 be mouldering, in the dufl:, that you live to blefs 
 your fond and aftonifhed progeny : fay by what 
 .miracle — by what wonderful interference of 
 Providence have you efcaped fo long the fury of 
 your relentlefs jailer ?. Alas ! how often has he 
 not raifed the cup of death to your guilelefs lips 
 — how often has he not held the poniard to 
 your emaciated bofom ! But Fate Raid his ruth- 
 lefs hand, that we might thus meet — that we 
 might thus " 
 
 " Good Heaven, Madam '"" exclaimed Rofel- 
 Ja, who could no longer reftrain her aftonifn- 
 ment and conflernation, " who are you thus 
 addrefhng ? I fee no human figure but that mas- 
 ble one flretched over the tomb." 
 
 Mils Beauclerc fhook her head. — " Well may 
 you fuppofe," replied (he, " that this dear and 
 venerable fuiferer is what you fay : the immen- 
 fjty of her misfortunes have deadened thofe fine 
 and. fenfitive feelings, which often made her 
 "weep the fate of the autumnal leaf torn from it5 
 parent tree by the relentlefs blaft -, but aflift me 
 incredulous Rofella, tj rife, that I may inflant- 
 ly fuccour this patient and much wronged faint, 
 who has, I fuppofe, for a temporary fpace, loft 
 the fenfation of her former woes and prefent hap- 
 pinefs by the too fudden tide of hope and joy." 
 
 Rofella endeavoured to obey the command : 
 but alas ! Mifs Beauclerc now unluckily difco- 
 
 ver.ed. 
 
ROSELLA. 2/7 
 
 vered that (he was not capable of entering the 
 lifts with thofe delicately formed, but tough 
 conuitutioned heroines, who dance out of their 
 caftles at midnight, and are fo often drenched 
 with dew and rain, and pelted with hail, and 
 fcorched by lightning, and puffed by wintry 
 blafts, and pinched by frofts, till they are ab- 
 folutely compelled to (teal from their briny re- 
 pofitory a few of the facred drops dedicated to 
 fenfibility to thaw their bfautiful nofes withal. 
 
 The hardlhips fuch fair creatures Ai!iain, ' 
 both corporeal as well as mental, were fo fami- 
 liar to the imagination of Mifs Beauclerc, that 
 ihe was confounded to find herfeif almoil un- 
 able to move, after her kneeling apoftrophe, 
 from a fudden and violent rheumatic pain in 
 her limbs, brought on moft probably by even- 
 ing walks and fatigue, fitting in a wet boat, 
 and finally, proftrating herfeif in a diftrilatian 
 from the damp roof of the hermitage. 
 
 Rofella, previouily terrified by the effufioti 
 ef heroifm fne had heard, found her alarm fo 
 rrruch increafed by the agony her lueklefs friend 
 appeared to be in, that fhe dew towards the 
 boat, and called the man who had rowed it, and 
 their mufical appendage, the fifer, to aflift m 
 removing her to it. 
 
 Whilft they were faftening the fkifF, that 
 they might attend her fummons, (he returned 
 to Mifs Beauclerc, and found her again fallen 
 i!pon her knees, in appare»t devotion. 
 
 " Dear Madam," faid Rofella, « the place 
 is quite wet; you will kill yourfelf !" 
 
 *« My child," replied the lady very gravely, 
 ** in your.abfence I heard a hollow fig-hing 
 near me, accompanied by a gentle ftep j fup- 
 pofing it to be you, I fpoke, when fuddenly the 
 
 'ftep 
 
27^ ROSELLA* 
 
 ftep and the fighlng ccafcd, and I beheld a 
 figure glide acrofs the remoteft part of the 
 chapel, and vanifli beneath the altar. Some- 
 thing myfterious appertains to this place. — 1> 
 cannot but believe that the fragile form I' origi- 
 nally beheld reclining defpondingly upon that 
 tomb, has beerr conveyed by fome machination 
 from our fight, and that marble, figure replaced 
 in its room. My eyes did not deceive me; I 
 diftindbly faw an Imploring afpedt gazing upon 
 me, and the hands raifed in entreaty: but the 
 vile monfter who perfecutes this poor fecluded 
 vi£iim, has invented this expedient to prevent: 
 a difcovery of his atrocity, and I plainly per- 
 ceive this is not the jfortunate moment to work 
 the delivery of the haplefs prifoner, who muft 
 yet languifh fome time ere her tyrant is forced 
 to confefs her wrongs, and difclofe the fecret of 
 Jier confinement." 
 
 Rofella, without replying, again raifed Mifs 
 Beauclerc with confiderable difficulty ; and the 
 men now approaching her, Ihe was conveyed to 
 the boat, and taken back to the inn, where the 
 party did not arrive till fome hours after the 
 evening had clofed in* In the night, (he found 
 her indifpofition increafe fo faft upon her, to 
 her own infinite mortification, and the extreme 
 diftrefs and anxiety of Rofella, that, on the 
 following day, (he was confined to her bed, 
 inftead of paffing it as fhe had intended, in mi- 
 nutely furveying the ruins of the caflle, where 
 file had expe£ied to make fuch difcoveries of 
 heroes recorded and unrecorded, that a perufal 
 of the fragments (he meant to have given the 
 public in feven thick volumes, would have made 
 the Brutus wigs and banded wigs of her fair 
 
 and 
 
ROSELLA* 279 
 
 -and gentle readers to (land an end with affright- 
 ed expe£lation. 
 
 Her poor Rofella, having pafTed more than 
 half the night at her bed-fide, now defired per- 
 mifllon to make Mr. Mordaunt and Mrs. ElJin- 
 ger acquainted her fituation, that they might 
 fend her fuch afliftance as {he required : but 
 Mifs Beauclerc abfolutely forbade it in a tone 
 fo peremptory, that her companion felt unable 
 to difobey her, though (he was fcarcely equal to 
 the tafk of fupporting her fpirits fufficicntly to 
 perform, as (he wiflied, thofe little offices for 
 the invalid, which inclination and humanity 
 equally prompted. 
 
 The people of the inn were for fome time 
 uncertain how far their inmates might be fup- 
 plied with that which procures, in fuch places, 
 the bed and moil unfeigned welcome; and as 
 the travellers appeared totally unconne£led, and 
 evinced no intention of changing their abode 
 for one better adapted to a fick perfon, they 
 experienced a kind of fullcn and cold civility, 
 which, as the ftrength of Mifs Beauclerc de- 
 clined, degenerated very often into negligence, 
 and a difpofition to avoid executing her com- 
 mands. 
 
 Rofella was fometimes compelled, after having 
 rung the bell more than once, to defcend to the 
 bar, and make known her wifties — a tafk fhe 
 never performed but upon the greateft emer- 
 gency, becaufe it fubjecfted her to the imperti- 
 nent gaze of every individual in the houfe, 
 from the ftrutting landlord to John Oftler. Her 
 fituation was, by thcfe means, rendered fo in- 
 fupportable, that fhe refolved to hazard the lofs 
 of Mifs Beauclerc's friendihip by communicat- 
 ing it to Mr. Mordaunt ; for ihc believed it im- 
 
 poflible 
 
28o RO SEE LAV 
 
 poflible that any circumftance could occur tjf 
 her, where the beneiit of that advice he had fo 
 imprefl'ively promifed, could be more defir^ble^- 
 Yet a reluctance to forfeit at once a counter- 
 nance and pTote6lion ihe had ever fo highly 
 prized, and which, for fo many years back, ha4 
 been her greatcil boaft, and the fource of all 
 the pleafant moments (he had yet known, made 
 h.er defer the tafk, in the hope that each day 
 would render it Icfs neceffary by the amending 
 health of her miftaken, but ever kind friend. 
 
 Mifs L^eauclerc meantime, would mofl pro- 
 bably have foon recovered from her indifpofi-r 
 ticm, had fhe not every day very imprudenth/, 
 and in fpite of the admonitions of Rofella,, 
 caught additional colds by fitting up in her bed 
 for feveral hours to write — an employment flie 
 engaged in, in compliance with the rules fhe 
 had never obferved to have been violated by 
 matronly heroines, who always, as a legacy to 
 their beautifui daughters, leave behind them a 
 long narrative of their youthful adventures, in:> 
 prudences, perfeculions> and am^ourettes, all 
 written in their laft: moments, fealed up very 
 carefully, and addrefled to their beloved Her- 
 miones, Jacquelinas, Geraldinas, and Philips- 
 pinas. But in the midlt of Mifs Beauclerc's 
 fublime occupation to the fame purpofe, fhe 
 was one lucklefs day feized with fo violent a 
 fpafm, that Rofella, in the utmoft terror, 
 having rung as ufual in vain, fiew down ftairs 
 to procure better affidance than it was in her 
 power to give. 
 
 It was not however, at that mom^t very 
 eafily to be obtained j for the inn was in^ comi- 
 motion with a poft-chaife juft arrived, a gen*- 
 tiemen's carriage, and fervants changing horfes*; 
 
 whilflL- 
 
ROSELLA. 281 
 
 whilil a company of farmers and mechanics 
 drinking in one room, and a party calling tbem- 
 feives gentlemen, devouring a haunch of veni- 
 fon in another, created fuch a rivalry for the 
 honor of the yeomanry on one fide, and for 
 the fuperior pvowefs of"*"Erquircs on the ether, 
 that it was fcarcely pofTible, for every individual 
 the houfe could muiler, to fupply a fufficient 
 quantity of nedlar for thefe heroes of the North. 
 
 Yet Roftlla pre/Ted forward, fcarcely obferv- 
 ing the uproar that reigned around her, and 
 arrefting the (leps of a waiter who vas flying 
 acrofs a pafiage, demanded the inilant atten- 
 dance of fome female to the fick laiiy. The 
 m?.n uttering the mech^inical " Yes, ^Ia*am," 
 purfued his way, and (he had been futriciently 
 accuftomed to tliis metliod, to underfland what 
 it meant. With increafed diflrefs therefore, 
 (he ran towards the bar, to entreat immediate 
 afliftance from the miRrefs of the houfe; but 
 before fiie could reach it, (he was encountered 
 by a young man more than half intoxicated, 
 who from her negligent morning drefs, and her 
 being without a hat, probably millook her for 
 th<i landlady's fair daughter or niece; and in- 
 Tiantly aflUming the rural gallant, he informed 
 her with feveral oaths and imprecations, that 
 fne >as a d d fine girl. 
 
 Rofella, extremely terrified, looked round 
 her for prote61ion, and obferving through a 
 fafhecf'door the landlady employed in making 
 very low courtefies to her poft-horftj cuftom- 
 ers in the (lable-yard, (l^e rufhed towardj* it, 
 calling the woman by her name. 
 
 «' Stay — (lop — let down the ftep,*^ exclaimed 
 a voice from the poflchaife, which was driving 
 off with furious hade. 
 
 Rofclia'* 
 
^tZ HOSELLA. 
 
 Rofella's tormentcr ftill followed her, an*d 
 flic reiterated her claims upon the attention of 
 the landlady, who pretending not to hear htr, ad- 
 vanced to another carriage with frefti compli- 
 ments and frefh courtefies. " Good God, 
 what inhumanity !'* exclaimed fhe, burfting into 
 tears : " what muft I do ?" 
 
 At this moment (he heard her own nam^ 
 repeated ; and Mr. Delamere taking her hand, 
 led her into a fmali room, and fliut the door. 
 « You furely cannot be here alone ?" demanded 
 he J « where is Mifs Beauclerc ?" 
 
 *< Confined to her bed by illnefs," returned 
 Rofella, whofe tears were rather checked by 
 furprife, and a hope of relief from her embar- 
 rafTment — " and I cannot procure her proper 
 afliftance." 
 
 Delamere feemed much fliocked ; for he con- 
 ftrued the fentence (he thus haftily uttered into 
 an avowal of poverty, which the treatment he 
 had a minute before feen her experience from, 
 the woman of the houfe, well corroborated. 
 
 « I am concerned," returned he, " that I, 
 muft leave the place this hour, this very mo- 
 ment — Mompeflbn has learned the horrible 
 news I would have concealed, and has written 
 that he will deliver himfelf to his purfuers : — - 
 from this coaft he was to have embarked; and I- 
 have been feeking him from the inftant I re- 
 ceived his defpairing letter, that I may prevent 
 if poffible, his intention-, if I mifs him to-day, 
 he is undone. But I cannot even at fuch a mo- 
 ment, be fo wholly concerned for him, as not 
 to feel interefted for Mifs Montrefor, whom I 
 muft entreat, at the hazard of being thought- 
 impertinent, to have a fufficient regard for her 
 own welfare, to place herfelf und^r the protec- 
 
 tioa. 
 
ROSELLA. i83 
 
 fien of any relation or female friend (he may 
 poflefs, rather than remain in the expofed fitu- 
 ation, in which I have now the real mortifica- 
 tion to find her." 
 
 When the ear of Rofella was faluted with this 
 remonftrance, (he felt as if a thunderbolt had 
 fallen at her feet : in the fufpenfjcn of her fa- 
 culties (he fufFered him, unrefined and unheed- 
 ed, to put a paper into her hand, and faw him 
 quit the room without the power of articulating 
 a fyllable. An involuntary emotion of anger 
 and refentment arofe in her bofom againft Mifs 
 Beauclerc, who had fo cruelly circumflanced 
 her, by the follies which had operated lo reduce 
 her to the helplefs (late (he was in j but the re- 
 colle£lion of that helplefs date, and of her 
 fufFerings, as indantly bani(hed them from her 
 mind, and as (he found (he could not obtain 
 from the cares of others any alleviation of her 
 malady, (he returned to her chamber to offer at 
 leaft her own. 
 
 She found the invalid much relieved by fome 
 drops (he had given her before (he had quitted 
 the chamber, and now inclined to doze — a 
 fymptom Rofella was pleafed to obferve, and 
 therefore indulged it. She had not yet re- 
 covered from the (hock and confternation the 
 reproof of Mr. Delamere had occafioned her •, 
 and as (he fat filently by the fide of the 
 bed, his words, actions, and looks recurring 
 more diftindlly to her mind, (he opened the 
 paper, which (he had retained almoft uncon- 
 fcioufly in her hand, and beheld a bank-note of 
 twenty pounds. 
 
 A crimfon blu(h fufFufed her whole face at 
 this unexpeded obje£l, and it fell from her 
 nervelefs hands. Severely humiliated, her pride 
 
 deeply 
 
284 ROSELLA. 
 
 deeply wounded, an(j every idea of (^eccriitTT 
 completely outraged, fhe recollecled the tenor 
 of her complaint to Mr. Delamere, and guefTing 
 the confi ruction he had put upon it, fhe felt as 
 if every hope and profpeiSt of her youth were 
 totally annihilated. To be fufpe£\ed of foliat- 
 ing alms ! Never more, fhc imagined, fnould 
 frie be able to look up — above all (lie could br^e 
 a thoufand deaths, rather than again endure the 
 horror of beholding Mr. Dehmere. 
 
 Amidft the anguifh cf her reflc^Slions, (lie 
 refolved, st le^fl, to follow his difintereded ad- 
 vice, and fnatching a pen from ?*Iif& Beauclerc's 
 fecretaire, which was always placed clcfe to the 
 bed, (he eagerly began a ktter to Mr. Mor- 
 <*aunt ; but had not proaeeded in it three lines 
 before fne was interrupted by a tapping at tlie 
 door, and fearing the noifc might difiurb the 
 invalid if it were repeated, haitily obeyed the 
 intimation, and found that the intruder was rhe 
 landlady, v,'ho accoRed her with a dignified 
 mien, and condefcend.d to ax pardon for being 
 fo troublefome, being tliat (he could not reft, 
 fhe faid, till (he knew how the gentlewoman 
 was. " And, Mifs," continued the woman, 
 ** I thought 1 would juil make bold to inform 
 you, that you might tell your frind, that we 
 river ftrikes up no fcores ; fo as I coomed cop 
 ftairs, I iuft brought wi me this little meranditm 
 of what the gentlewoman and ye ha had, for 
 it's a week to day fin ye coomed here." 
 
 « You widi to be paid ?" fiid Rofella, tak- 
 ing the bill which (he held out to her. 
 
 ** Why," returned the landlady, " we are 
 always paid daily by our goers and coomers ; 
 but as the gentlewoman feerned quite a laJy, 
 we ha (laid till the week was oop.!' 
 
 <t Vcr^ 
 
ROSELLA. 285 
 
 « Very well,'* faid Rofella ; *' when my friend 
 wakes, 1 will tell her fo.'* 
 
 " Why, Mifs," replied the woman, in a 
 voice rather exalted, *< I can't come oop again 
 
 to-day, for 1 am fo bufy that I and to be 
 
 fure it can make noo great difference if the gen- 
 tlewoman wakes now or five minutes hence, for 
 her bit of dinner." 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, who was already difturbed by 
 her vociferation, aiked what was the matter ; 
 and Rofella, with an indignation (lie could not 
 fupprefs, informed her. 
 
 « You muil not," faid the fick lady, « look 
 for delicacy or refinement from fuch people as 
 thofe, my love : take fome money from the pri- 
 vate drawer of m.y efcrutoire, and pay the bill." 
 
 The landlady having lifteneu very attentively 
 to the converfation, on hearing tUcic words, (hut 
 tbe chamber door, left the bawling of the folks 
 below fliouid difcompofe the poor dear Jadv, and 
 advanced to Rofella that (lie might not lofe the 
 opportunity of examining the fiate of this pri- 
 vate drawer. Delamere's note, which fiiil re- 
 mained upon the fioor, caught her attention, 
 and picking it up, flie demanded, with a low 
 CGurtefy, if fhe Ihould get it changed. 
 
 <« No, let it be," faid Rofella, rather pee- 
 vilhly. 
 
 " Yes, fure," replied the dame, laying it ob- 
 fequioufly upon the table. 
 
 After receiving the amount of her little Me' 
 randujij, without having it very minutely exa-. 
 mined, fhe crept on tiptoe to the bed-fide, and 
 with a variety of condolements and enquiries, 
 thought for her part the poor dear lady (hould 
 hire a nurfe to tend upon her; for in her houfe, 
 God knew, (lie could not anfwer for her own 
 
 mother 
 
28^ ROSfBLLi. 
 
 mother being well tended, without petickler look- 
 ing after by fome perfon whofe bufinefs it was ; 
 and file hoped the poor dear lady hadn't to com- 
 plain of her folks, though, God knew, flie had 
 enough to do to get 'em to mind her guefts as 
 they ought ; but if fiie found that any body in 
 her houfe had a right to complain of them, they 
 (hould all troop at an hour's warning. 
 
 " Do you know any young perlon you could 
 recommend to me as an attendant ?" interrupted 
 Mifs Beauclerc, who was now in hopes ftie 
 might procure a waiting damfel to fuit her 
 ideas. 
 
 «* Yes, my Lady," replied the woman eagerly, 
 <« as luck will have it, I have a kinfwoman out 
 of employ, who would be glad of fuch a hap to 
 help her on a bit ; I'll fend for her off hand : 
 fo now what would your Ladyfhip pleafe to rc- 
 Hfti for your dinner ? I can tofs up a white fri- 
 caflee, or boil a chicken, or get a fweetbread — 
 and while it's drefling, your Ladyfhip had better 
 have a crum of jelly to hearten you oop a bit— 
 I've got both fweet and favoury ; and this poor 
 dear fweet young lady, as has tooked on fo much 
 —what would you pleafe to have fent oop for 
 you, my dear — or wad ye pleafe for to have your 
 dinner in the peacock ? It's a mooch more airier 
 and lightfome room, and looks fuch a fine perf- 
 pc6l on to the Jarmin oftiin I" 
 
 The dear fweet young lady, whofe difguft 
 was rather increafed than diminifhed by this ad- 
 drefs, replied that ftie (hould dine with her 
 friend. ** But I was told, not an hour back,** 
 continued Rofella, " that we could not have 
 any thing but mutton chops for our dinner, be- 
 caufe there was nothing elfe in the houfe." 
 
 «< Lord 
 
ROSELLA^ Ztj 
 
 ** Lord blefs your fwect face, who could have 
 told you fuch a thing ? But I know who it was 
 — it was that curfed fellow Will waiter — he 
 han*t been fober this week — he fhall troop, pleafe 
 the pigs, for this impcrence — and there's my 
 hufband too, he's in his tantrums ! — Ah, God 
 help me, Fm well hoped oop wi *em ail I Ma- 
 ny's the time," continued (he, whimpering, 
 «* when Tarn at my wit's end to keep things a 
 going for other people's fagaries — yes fure — Vta 
 finely befet !" 
 
 « Well, well," cried Mifs Beauclerc, who 
 was very much fatigued with her inceflant gab- 
 bling, " then you will fpeak to your relation, and 
 let me fee her as foon as poflible ; and fend up 
 a chicken when you can get it ready." 
 
 My landlady, glad to efcape fo well from her 
 dilemma, forget to urge her jellies any further, 
 and decasnped as fafl as (he decently could, with 
 many courtefics and felf- congratulations. 
 
 The firfl care of Rofella after her exit, was to 
 fecrcte the letter (he had begun writing to Mr. 
 Mordaunt, and her next to fecure Mr. Dela- 
 mere's note, that (he might return it the firft op- 
 portunity. She deliberated whether (he (hould 
 inform Mifs Beauclerc of the circumftance, be- 
 caufe {he dreaded left fome heroic extravagance 
 ihould retort the feeming infult 5 but the ex- 
 pe(rtation of being aflifted in fome expedient to 
 render Mr, Dclamere fenfible of the error he 
 had adopted, and to put him again in pofTeflion 
 of his unwithed-for loan, determined the point, 
 and fhe at length acquired courage to rehearfe a 
 fcene which had given her fuch acute mortifica- 
 tion ; but her difinclination to communicate un- 
 eafinefs and pain, induced her to foften any inti- 
 mation that appeared to reflet with afperity 
 
 upon 
 
2S8 ROSELLA. 
 
 upon the conduifl, or the want of prudence in 
 Mifs Beauclerc, who liftened with great attenti- 
 on to her rehition, but exprefled neither anger 
 nor aftoniOiment at it, merely difmifling the 
 fubje<^ by faying (he would think of a method 
 to return the note as foon as poffible. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 A lapfe of memory fucceeded hy an adventure. 
 
 X HE attention and rcfpedl which Rofella and 
 her friend now experienced from the people of 
 the houfe, was a remarkable contiaft to the neg- 
 ligence and impertinence they had endured only 
 a few hours before : the bell was never fuftered 
 to ring twice ; the landlady herfelf attenJed at 
 the door feveral times during the dinner to re- 
 ceive and execute orders, and in the early part 
 of the afternoon introduced her relation by the 
 name of Nancy, to the invalid as a nurfe. The 
 mien an<l appearance of the girl indicated clean- 
 linefs, honeity, and fimplicity ; andMifs Beau- 
 clerc fancying fiie had found an attendant, fuch 
 as (he had in vain looked for at the commence- 
 ment of her journey, retained her at the wages 
 ftipulated by the obfequious landlady, with a 
 voluntary promifc of furtlier encouragement. 
 
 Rofella found her fituation fo much improved 
 by this arrangement, and her friend, whofe 
 fpirits were revived by proper a;;tenc?ons, treated 
 her with fo much afieftion and klndnefs, that 
 Hie deftroyed her half-written letter to Mr. 
 
 ' ' Mordaunt 
 
ROSELLA. 2*9 
 
 Mordaunt, and refigncd hcrfelf to the dcftlny 
 that awaited her, in fpite of the admonitions of 
 Delamcre, whole note fhe had perfuaded Mifs 
 Bcauclerc to permit her to enclofe in a blank 
 cover addrefled to him at Eideva Lodge, where 
 (he hoped he would meet with it — at any rate 
 ihe was delighted that it was no longer in hsr 
 pofleflion, or that of her friend, as every moment 
 that paired before fhe could get rid of it, added 
 to her mortification. 
 
 Nancy, their new attendant, was found quiet, 
 fteady, and very affiduoHS, not only in obedience 
 to the eternal admonitions of mine hoftefs, her 
 aunt, who had been obliged to fupport her for a 
 few months back, but in conformity to her own 
 natural difpofition : — and when Mifs Beauelerc 
 had fortunately finifhed her pofthumous packet 
 of juvenile adventures, the cares of Rofella and 
 Nancy, and the prefcriptions of the landlady 
 and the good man (he called her dodlor, foon re- 
 eftablilhed her health. 
 
 The niece was confulted as to her inclination 
 to continue with her milirefs when fhe left 
 Warkworth, and aflented with great thankful- 
 nefs, to the evident fatisfatlion of her aunt, 
 whofe little merandums being duly difcharged, 
 fhe accompanied her guefts to the pofh-chaife 
 that carried them away, in great forrovv, often 
 applying her apron to her eyes, and protefting 
 that (lie fhould not fmile again till they coomed 
 back, which Mifs Beauelerc had promifed to Ao^ 
 on her return to London, if Nancy altered her 
 mind, and fhould wifh to remain in the North. 
 
 They travelled the Berwick road to Edin- 
 burgh, in preference to the niorc inland one ; 
 and as Mifs Beauelerc was not yet fufBciently 
 ilrong to journey many miles without refting, 
 O they 
 
2^0 ROSELLA. 
 
 they remained in their route two or three hourt 
 at Belford, extremely gratified by a fine coaft 
 view on the Eaft, and the Cheviot hills rifing to 
 the Weft. Nancy hearing her Lady repeat z 
 few lines of the famous ballad that celebrates 
 Chevy Chace, gave unafked a v€ry minute hif- 
 tory of that eventful day, which every lafs m 
 the county is perfedlly well acquainted with, and 
 even promifed, in accents graced by a ftrong 
 Northumberland wharle, to fhew the exa<fl fpot 
 where the two chiefs were flain, if they (hould 
 travel near it. 
 
 The travellers refted that night at Berwick- 
 upon-Tweed, whofe ft ream has been fo fweetly 
 and fo fimply fung ; and Rofella found, with a 
 pleafurc fcarcely inferior to that of her romantic 
 friend, that their ears were here faluted by ac- 
 cents and tones which conveyed to the mind the 
 idea of' that peculiar and national ftyle of har- 
 mony Tne enthufiaftically admired. 
 
 The next morning they fet out for Edinburgh^ 
 and having pafted Prefs-Inn rather early in the 
 morning, which was dull and hazy, and feeing 
 before them an extenfive dreary heath, without 
 one object to intereft curioGty, or excite appro- 
 bation, Rofella, in fpite oi her extreme good- 
 will to be pleafed and enchanted, felt a fecret 
 difappointment on firft treading Scottifh ground: 
 but as they arrived near Peas-bridge, the fun 
 burft forth with uncommon fplendor, and gild- 
 ing its proud arches, as if to point out their lofty 
 pre-eminence to the admiring traveller, gave to 
 the deep glen beneath a bolder fliade. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc felt her imagination tower, m 
 the fcenes before her opened to her view. Al- 
 ready fhe beheld Rofella the fair retiring heroine 
 of fome beautiful fequeftercd fpot never vifited 
 
 by 
 
ROSELLl. 291 
 
 by the inhabitants of the vulgar great tuorfd^ fave 
 only by one diftinguifhing and diftinguifhed 
 young gentleman of extraordinary merit and 
 fenfibility, who chances to vifit, for the purpofe 
 of hunting or (hooting, the old caftle belonging 
 to his family, whofe turrets, or white chimnies, 
 or towers rife above the furrcunding wood, and 
 form a delightful obje£l for the gentle reclufe, 
 as (he catches a glimpfe of them {landing at her 
 cafementto gaze at the fcencry by moonlight. 
 
 Certainly the powers of fympathy muft be 
 fmall indeed, if in fuch a cafe they cannot draw 
 the lady to the caftle, or the lover to the cot- 
 tage: however, (hould they for the fir ft time 
 fail on fo prefling an occaGon,a never-wanting re- 
 fource, Mifs Beauclerc well recolle£led, is always 
 ready in the Curate or Rector of the parifh, 
 who, in fuch a charming place, muft undoubt- 
 edly be full of fentiment and fighs, and therefore 
 doomed to languifh out the remainder of hi» 
 exiftence in a hopelefs paflion for the beautiful 
 ftranger, who, being decreed by Fate to reward 
 the virtues of his patron, can never of courfe 
 fmile upon his hopes. The poor youth, in the 
 fulnefs of his defpair, talks of the paragon to 
 my Lord, or Sir Edward (for the owner of the 
 caftle is always a titled being), and thus my 
 Lord and the lovely reclufe become acquainted, 
 which is an important point gained. 
 
 " This landfcape is fweetly captivating !" 
 exclaimed Rofejla, turning to her friend, who 
 involved in fuch a comprehenfive reverie as that 
 juft defcribed, appeared not to attend to the 
 beauties which had given birth to it. — Colle£V- 
 ing her fcattered thoughts however, (he joined 
 in the approbation. Rofella exprefted, but foon 
 relapfed into the delight of caftle building and 
 O 2 cottage 
 
2j2 ROSELLA. 
 
 cottage building, and fpoke very little till tlia 
 varied fcenery before her forcibly claimed her 
 attention ; nor would her delighted conipanion 
 fufFer it again to wander till they reached Ekin- 
 bar. 
 
 It was rather late the next morning when 
 they purfued their way to Edinburgh, where 
 they arrived to an early dinner. Rofella, im- 
 patient to furvey the Scottiih capital, eafily pre- 
 vailed upon Mifs^BeaucTerc to accompany her in 
 a ramble through fome of the ftreets, and they 
 were compelled to admit Nancy of their party, 
 becaufe (he would not by any means be left 
 alone in a ftrange place, which, though they 
 called it an inn, ihe faid, was no more like her 
 aunt's, than {he was like Mifs Montrefor. 
 
 The landlord offered to procure the ladies a 
 conductor, when he underftood their intention j 
 but Mifs Beauclerc declined this courtefy, be- 
 caufe flie was convinced that a heroine might 
 unfortunately mifs a number of pleafant ad- 
 ventures by being in the lead protedled, or hav- 
 ing the appearance of being prote^fled, and like- 
 wife by having only a tolerable knowledge of the 
 path (he ufually wiOied, and meant to purfue. 
 
 She announced her readinefs however, to 
 accept his well-intentioned ofFer on the day fol- 
 lowing, as {he certainly much wifhed to behold, 
 amongit other defirable objecls, the apartments 
 at the Palace, where {he had lately read a beau- 
 tiful young creature had been immured from 
 the ardent gaze of her lovers, her only relaxa- 
 tion being comprifed in Healing glances at 
 groupes of young men as they walked acrofs the 
 Calton, whilll fhe was eternally employed in 
 making caps and gowns after her own cxquifite 
 
 talte 
 
RCSELLl. 293 
 
 tafte, to adorn the perfons of her envious cater 
 coufins. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, after the example of many 
 condefcending heroine?, . not objecting to the 
 company of her fuivante, the whole party Tal- 
 lied out to reconnoitre the outfide of the build- 
 ings in Edinburgh. Rofella was pleafed with 
 ahnoft every thing that met her eye, becaufe 
 every thing poflcfied the charm of novelty ; but 
 how much more was her friend delighted, when 
 having drolled about for fome time, they found 
 themfelves on the North Bridge, which divides 
 the old town from the new. The wind hap- 
 pened to be rather high, and this circumftance, 
 joined to the fpot (lie itood upon, brought to her 
 recolleftion the fufferings of a diftrefTed he- 
 roine, who, in wandering about, as many others 
 are wont to do, without a place to reft her beau- 
 tiful head in, loft her bonnet by a fubaltern 
 zephyr, which took up its ftatlon in her lovely 
 hair, and drove her, with as little ceremony as 
 a huge grenadier with a fixed bayonet would 
 have done, full tilt upon the pathetic adventure 
 that of courfe enfued. 
 
 Yet notwithftanding the fublime ecftacy of 
 MIfs Beauclerc to find herfelf thus upon con- 
 fecrated ground, It was certainly not pofTible to 
 remain on the Bridge the whole afternoon, and 
 fhe therefore agreed, at the requeft of Rofella, 
 to move forward, as ui. luckily no adventure ap«- 
 peared there.to await her. 
 
 After having wandered about, near two hours,, 
 the wifhes of all the party pointed to the hotel 
 where they had fixed their ftation : but alas ! 
 neither Rofella, her friend, nor their attendant 
 could recoUedf the name it was knownby ; nor had 
 fchey even remarked the appeljation of the ftreet 
 
 ia 
 
294 ROSELLil^ 
 
 ^n which it was fituated.. Mlfs Beauclerc fe>- 
 crctly made light of the dilemma they were 
 thus reduced to,, as fhe conceived that it had 
 fomething extremely pleafant and romantic in 
 it, and muft furnifh fome very interefting fcencs. 
 iShe thought proper however, to conceal from 
 her companions that (he had been in i*iis refpe£t 
 more unpardonably thoughtlefs than thcmfelves, 
 becaufe Ihe knew the abfurd timidity of RofeU 
 la's difpofition would lead her to tremble at the 
 profpe£i; of the inconveniences it might entail 
 upon them. 
 
 She proved how little it afFe£led herfelf : for 
 happening at that moment to catch a view of 
 the Theatre, which was then open, (he informed 
 her young companion that (lie felt inclined to 
 while away the evening, by feeing the perfor- 
 mance. Charmed with her friend's intimation, 
 (he eagerly feconded it *, for it never entered the 
 imagination of Rofella that the incognita ftyle 
 they would be compelled to ufe, from their un- 
 drefs, and want of a male attendant, might 
 fubjedl them to unpleafant fituations. She 
 thought only of having experienced much fa- 
 tisfadion, when efcorted by Mr. Beauclerc, and 
 affifted by his fervants, (he had entered and 
 quitted the London Theatres with facility and 
 comfort. 
 
 Mlfs Beauclerc was more acquainted with 
 the diftreffes they might have to encounter, but 
 was more difpofed to welcome than to fly from 
 them ; and with Rofella by her fide, and Nancy 
 following her very clofely, fhe penetrated, with 
 fome difficulty, to the fecond tier of boxes, 
 where fhe obtained two feats in the front row. 
 The fuivante feated herfelf in the back-ground, 
 perfcdlly fatisfied with gazing ftraight forward, 
 
 as 
 
ROSELLA. 295 
 
 ts (he conceived the whole of the fhow to con- 
 fift of fine folks fitting all of a row, with fine 
 paintings and gildings about them, and a whole 
 chandler's (hop of candles over their heads. 
 
 The party remained unmolefted until the lat- 
 ter a£ls of the piece, which happening to be a 
 mufical one, and very well performed, much in- 
 terefted the attention of Rofella : — but her 
 friend began to feel indignant that fo charming 
 a young creature (hould fail to draw into firlt 
 fight fetters all the men in Edinburgh, out of 
 whom (he might have rele<Sled the libertine lover, 
 who is always brought forward in the piclure to 
 torment beautiful heroines, and is generally u 
 Right Honorable profligate — fecondly, the pa- 
 thetic fubmiffive lover — thirdly, the grave, fa- 
 therly, difinterefted, generous, middle-aged 
 lover, who, when the fair lady is in defpcrate 
 diftrefs, a-dvances with a folemn mien, and offer* 
 his hand, which is of courfe refufed, that the 
 denouement may hQ felon Vufage. 
 
 «' Infenfible brutes !" foftly ejaculated Mifs 
 Beauclerc, as fne beheld feveral young men o£ 
 diftinguifhed appearance, either ccnverfing indo- 
 lently with each otl;er, or paying court to mere 
 fafhionable looking women with handfcme faces.- 
 " Infenfible brutes ! unable to taile the charms 
 of innocence and fenfibility, you are not wortlv 
 that it fhould be expofed to your obfervaticn !*' 
 
 Her opinion was however rather mollified 
 with refpedl to Scottifh diicrimination, when 
 the box-door was opened by one of thofe young 
 gentlemen who prefer the amufement of peep- 
 ing into every part of the houfe, excepting 
 indeed the (tage when the curtain has rifen, 
 rather than attending to the performance. The 
 intruder began his examination, by bellowing a 
 
 glance 
 
29& ROSELLii* 
 
 glance or two upon the countenance of Nancy^ 
 whofe rural appearance arreftcd his obfervation ; 
 but his movements, with an accompaniment of 
 alternate whiftling and humming, in concert 
 with the air an aftor was then fmging, drawing 
 the eyes of Rofella towards him, his curiofity 
 was fatisfied with a view of her face, and his 
 regards were inftantly detached from Nancy, and 
 fixed upon her. 
 
 Mifs Bcauclerc, In the interim, had taken 
 the attitude and expreflion of a woe- worn ma- 
 tronly heroine pervaded with refignation, and 
 the gazer turned towards her ^ but foon returned 
 to his fecond objedl, who, from the moment of 
 liis unwi(hed-for prefence, began to reilecl, 
 %vith feme difquietude, upon their unproteded 
 fituation. 
 
 When the curtain fell, the ftranger, who had 
 very patiently maintained his poft, in defiance 
 of the apparent difregard with which he was 
 treated, liftcned to the converfation of his fair 
 neighbours, and difcovered, by their accent, 
 that they were Englifhwomen. 
 
 " I perceive, Madam," faid he, addreffing 
 Mifs Beauclerc, *f that you are not of this coun- 
 try ; and I fuppofe, by the obfervations I have 
 had the honor of hearing, that you have not 
 been long in Edinburgh." 
 
 The lady had fufficlent fortitude to diflemble 
 the plcafure flie experienced at this opening, and 
 afiented with a mien of proper referve. Hap- 
 pily however, the young man wanted no fur- 
 ther encouragement to induce him to proceed ; 
 and having named to the ftranger party, thofe of 
 the actors who had never appeared on the Lon- 
 don ftage, he continued his remarks, by pointing 
 out and charadcrizing every lady of diftindioa 
 
 'a 
 
in the houfe, beginning by that eccentric High- 
 land lafTie, Lady C . 
 
 Rofella liftened to his obfervations, which 
 were hvely and amufing-, with fome pleafure -, 
 but it was mixed with a painful fenfe of indeco- 
 rum in thus encouraging the converfation of a 
 perfon wholly unknown both to Mifs Beauclerc 
 andherfelf : yet it was impofllble that flie could' 
 put on the matron, and acfc the cenfor, where 
 her friend, fo much her fenior in years, and her 
 fuperior, it might be imagined, in difcrction, 
 appeared not to contemn. 
 
 At length the after-piece ended, the curtain 
 dropped, the audience began to depart, and the 
 gentleman, with a politenefs but little pradlifed 
 at preient, offered his fervices in any way the 
 ladies would indicate, to affift their departure. 
 Mifs Beauclerc thanked him for his attention, 
 and condefcended to acknowledge that ihe liad 
 neither equipage nor fervant in waiting, and- 
 would be under real obligation to him for pro- 
 curing her a hackney carriage of any fort. 
 
 *« Moft willingly," he replied ; and taking hi$ 
 hat from the bench, inftantly left the box. 
 
 In his abfence, which appeared uncommonly 
 long, feveral gentlemen opened the box-door, 
 and peeping in, took a very particular furvey of 
 the party ; and at length this unpleafant cere- 
 mony was fo often repeated, and fometimes by 
 the fame perfons more than once, that it ga\;e 
 Rofella to fufpecl their new acquaintance of 
 being the caufe of it, and (he urged her friend 
 not to wait his return any further, as every pai- 
 fmg minute rendered it lefs to be expected. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc began to admit this opinion, 
 and replied that fi^.e would certainly leave the 
 houfe, but that iht had forgotten the name aiid 
 
298 ROSELLl. 
 
 (ituation of their hotel, as well as herfelf and 
 Nancy, and that (he had planned to have aflccd 
 information of the polite ftranger, which (he 
 hoped he would have been able to have afforded 
 her, by learning the dire^lion in which the poft- 
 boy had taken them on their entrance into the 
 town from Haddington, and from hearing a few 
 particulars, which (he fortunately reeoIle<Sed, of 
 the appearance and neighbourhood of tht 
 houfe. 
 
 Rofella was much (hocked at fuch unwelcome 
 intelligence, but preferred wandering about the 
 ftreets, wretched, forlorn, defolate as they muft 
 be at fuch an hour, and in fuch circumftances, 
 to the mortification of confelTing to a young 
 man, whofe charadler and (ituation in life they 
 knew nothing of — nay, whofe exiftence they had 
 been two hours back unacquainted with, that they 
 had been guilty of an imprudence fo unpardona- 
 ble, that Rofella could not but perceive it would 
 invite a freedom of deportment, which the very 
 incident that rendered them liable to it, would 
 prevent them from refenting with any appearance 
 of juftice. She' importuned Mifs Beauclerc 
 therefore, to leave the place immediately ; but 
 the good lady was extremely averfe to giving up 
 theperfpedlive of fuch a charming adventure, as 
 that of traverfing the whole town with the gentle 
 youth Fortune had prefented to her, in fcarch of 
 the houfe where (he had left her baggage, con- 
 cerning which (he meant to be very (incerely 
 anxious, not fo much for the apparel and valua- 
 bles comprifed in it, but for a fmall writing-calc 
 cf ihe uimojl importance to h erf elf ^ and the future 
 welfare cf thofe moji dear to her, 
 
 Rofe'.ia was too earned however, to be denied, 
 Jiiri continued urging her rec[uelt moft ftrenu- 
 
 oiifly 
 
ROSELLA. 
 
 '^99 
 
 oufly ; whilfl: Nancy, who had comprehended 
 their dilemma, now thought fhe fhould be obliged 
 to (lay in the fhow-room all night — a place 
 which began to lofe its charms very rapidly in 
 her imagination, in proportion as the company 
 vanifhed, and the ft^rvants of the Theatre put 
 out the lights. One of thefe, approaching a 
 luftre that hung very near the box,, that he 
 might extinguifh it, fhe began bellowing with 
 great violence; and when her Lady enquired her 
 fubjedl: of complaint, " Lord help us !" ex- 
 claimed (he, ** we fhall be left in pitch darknefs 
 in- this lonefome place !" 
 
 " Be quiets good Nancy!" faid Rofella in an 
 agony : " dO; dear Madam, if you love me, \tX. 
 U6'g0 i'*^ 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc found herfelf unable to with- 
 ftand this adjuration, which was almoft accom- 
 panied by tears, and aflifted by the fear of being 
 fhut into the Theatre, by the univerfai folitarincf* 
 that reigned around. 
 
 Very much irritated againfl: h.er apellate 
 Efquire, fhe arofe with^dignity, and taking the 
 arm of Rofella, marched forward, Nancy feiz- 
 ing fail by the train of her gown, which flic 
 fupported with- more care, though not with fuch 
 graceful cafe, as a page in a tragedy. 
 
 They met with little obfl^^cle to their retreat, 
 for almoft every one had quittf^d the Theatre : 
 but when they found themfelves in the ftree.t, 
 not knowing which turning to take, and unac- 
 quainted with any individual the place contained, 
 even Mifs Beauclerc felt embirrnfled and un- 
 comfortab-e; for f/ic had not forefc-en that l^er 
 merit, and the charms of Mofella, would have 
 been affronted by the indifs,iirniR.;ti:.g neglecl of 
 every hero in Edinburgh. 
 
 At 
 
30« ROSELLA. 
 
 At length tvhen her patience, and even her 
 courage, were extrennely exhaufted, fhe perceiv- 
 ed a Itand of coaches, one of which (he gladly 
 took po/Teffion of: Rofella and Nancy, fatigued 
 and difpirited, followed her into it in (ilence. 
 
 " Drive me," faid Mifs Beauclerc, " to the 
 hotel — to — to a handfome hotel in a fpacious 
 ilreet near a fquare." 
 
 ** Idunna ken what ye wad fpake of," <^ re- 
 plied the coachman j " but I fuppofe ye wad 
 gang tul F 's." 
 
 ** Yes, yes,'* returned the lady haftily. 
 
 The man fliut the door, and mounted his 
 box ; Rofella, eagerly putting out her head to 
 Tcconnoitre, exclaimed, ** This is not the place. 
 The man has brought us to the wrong houfe !" 
 
 " Dinna ye tell me," retorted he, « to tak 
 ye aw tul F — *s, maiftrefs ?" 
 
 At this moment a party of very fprightly 
 young gentlemen, either meaning to pafs the 
 houfe, or to enter it, prefented themfelves at 
 the coach-door, and looking into it with per- 
 fect cafe and tictichalance^ applauded theladies 
 for giving the direction, and the man for exe- 
 cuting it. 
 
 " It is a miftake !" exclaimed Mifs Beauclerc, 
 who began to fufpe(5l the predicam.ent in which 
 her imprudence had placed her. 
 
 <« The de'el a itep did 1 tak but by y'er ain or- 
 der," interpofcd the coachman j " ye told me 
 
 to d reeve ye aw to a tavern, and F — 's is 
 
 2S gude as cny other." 
 
 " Oh better, betfer, ten to one," cried a 
 gentleman opening the coach door, " come 
 come, my lafTie, don't be in the pouts : if feme 
 i^ngrateful fellow has failed iu his appointment, 
 
 here 
 
ROSELLA. 301 
 
 here arc we, fent by heaven and St. Andrew to 
 avenge his perfidy." 
 
 As he fpoke, he took the hand of Rofella to 
 affifl: her in alighting, who, too much diftrefled 
 to utter a fentence intelligibly, and unable entire- 
 ly to refift the motion that drew her forward, 
 burlt into tears of terror and indignation. 
 
 <« Gentlemen," exclaimed Mifs Beauclerc, 
 who now thought it time to aflert her dignity, 
 << I beg "ou will not infult us : we are (tran- 
 gers here ; and though appearances may per- 
 haps authorize your miftake of our charadler, 
 you have certainly no power over our actions. 
 Coachman, drive on !" 
 
 <« And where wad ye gang noo ?" 
 
 <* Carry us to the place where you took us 
 up." 
 
 The young men whifpered to each other, 
 whilft the coachman, who difplayed more com- 
 plaifance to their wifhes, than to the orders he 
 received from people who had declared them- 
 felves (Irangers, very patiently waited the refult 
 of the conference. 
 
 " No,'* replied one of the party aloud, <« they 
 are not worth it." 
 
 " Yes, by G — d," exclaimed another, who 
 had gazed very earneftly in the face of Rofella, 
 •« here is one worth fighing for." 
 
 " This is infupportable," cried Mifs Beau- 
 clerc, more offended by the carelefs manner in 
 which this admiraion was exprefled, than flat- 
 tered with the admiration itfelf : — « is this," 
 continued flie in a lofty tone, *' the beft impref- 
 fion of your politenefs you choofe to give to the 
 ladies of South Britain who vifit your metropo- 
 lis ? Gentlemen (if you are fuch), you will 
 
 ceafc 
 
302 R<DSELLA» 
 
 ceafe to molcft us. Coachman, I again order 
 you to drive on !'* 
 
 Moft of the party now retreated, fome with 
 contemptuous fneers, and the others with loud 
 laughs : the champion of Rofella's charms alone 
 remained, when the recreant hero -of the thea- 
 tric adventure greeted the eyes of Mifs Beau*- 
 clerc. He looked into the carriage, with fome 
 furprife, on hearing the latter part of her re- 
 monftrance, and recognizing his ci-devant com- 
 panions, demanded what was the matter. Mifs 
 Beauclerc now thought proper to confider him 
 as a protestor, and entreated that he would free 
 her from the impertinence of her perfecutor. 
 
 « Do you fpeak of this gentleman ?" retur- 
 ned he, pointing to the ofFender j " he can only 
 be confidered in fuch a light from mifapprehen^ 
 fion : for he is too much a man of honor to in- 
 fult ladies of character." 
 
 " I hope fo," interrupted the other in fom.c 
 confufion ; " but yet, Oberne, how is this ?'* 
 
 " I beg, Sir," faid Mifs Beauclerc, addref- 
 f}ng the mediator, that I may have the honor of 
 fpeaking to you*" 
 
 « Rofella was ready to fink at this prelude, 
 which foreboded fome new humiliation ; and 
 turning her aching head from the light of two 
 large lamps which illumined the door, reftcd it 
 on the flioulder of Nancy, who had fallen faft 
 afleep the moment (he was feated in the coach, 
 and had not been in the lead difturbed by the 
 noifes that had ensued — Oberne, as he had 
 been called, now uttered fomething in a low 
 voice to the obftinate intruder, who, without 
 further hefiration, made his bows, and vaniftied. 
 Mifs Beauclerc, delighted with the condudt 
 of her Efquire, mftantly informed him of the 
 
 dilemma 
 
Ho SELL A. 303 
 
 dilemma (lie had found herfelf In, from her 
 want of thought j and Mr. Oberne, with little 
 trouble, difcovered, from her defcription, the 
 hotel to which fhe had been taken on her en- 
 trance into Edinburgh. 
 
 He accompanied her to It in the coach, to 
 guard the party from further alarm or inconve- 
 nience ; and during the ride, exculpated him- 
 felf from the charge of deserting them, by men- 
 tioning the diihculties he had encountered in 
 his miffion, and protefting his extreme concern 
 on finding, at his return to the box, that the 
 
 ladies had quitted it Whether the excufe were 
 
 true or falfe, it was entirely credited by Mifs 
 Beaucierc *, and the gentleman, on bidding her 
 adieu, had the fatisfaclion of receiving from her 
 enthufiaftic gratitude, an invitation to breakfafl 
 with Rofella and herfelf the next morning. 
 
 The people of the houfe had not conceived 
 the moft favorable opinion of their fouthern 
 guefts, from their unannounced abfence till fo 
 late an hour, and their return with a gay young 
 man, though they had intimated very plainly 
 that they were entirely unknown In the town ; 
 and they now found the acrimony of their fufpi- 
 cions exceedingly increafed, by the Jl'ight re^ 
 frejhment which Mifs Beaucierc ordered upon 
 the table which was fpread for fupper ; in con- 
 formity with the invariable regimen of heroines, 
 who take efpecial care never to increafe their 
 delicate and nymph-like forms with too much 
 good cheer : it being a maxim never departed 
 from, that though a young, penfive, woe-worn, 
 emaciated charmer may be reduced to a pale 
 fkeleton, and yet preferve all the fafcination of 
 beauty, and (till gain multitudes of enraptured 
 lovers, yet no plump damfel can long << (igh in 
 
 ihades 
 
304 ROSELLA. 
 
 fhades, and ficken at the fun," without beco- 
 ming very bilious, and being threatened with a 
 yellow or black jaundice. As it is therefore in- 
 difpenfably neceflary that heroines fhould poflefs 
 flender forms, the attention they give to orde- 
 ring flight repafts is extremely proper ; but peo- 
 ple who live and exift by the extravagance, glut- 
 tony, drunkennefs, and epicurifm of others, 
 will not confider this matter with an attention 
 fufficiently ferious •, and it is much to be feared 
 that, like Mifs Beauclerc's Edinburgh landlord, 
 others of the fame ftamp may annihilate, in wifh 
 at lead, fuch taper-fnaped guefts, and in the 
 fury of their wrath, curfe them limb by limb,, 
 and feature by feature. All that is to be hoped , 
 on fuch an occafion is, that the gentle fouls may 
 never attain any knowledge of fuch barbarous 
 and vulgar execration, and that the arms of their 
 lovers may not undertake to avenge it, with jufi: 
 but relentlefs indignation. 
 
 CHAP. XIIL 
 
 A pleafant travelling companion gained a bonnc 
 marchee. 
 
 It was near one o'clock before Rofella experi- 
 enced the comfort of laying her head upon the 
 pillow : yet fatigued as fhe was, fhe found it 
 impoffible to obtain any repofe. She felt mor- 
 tified and degraded by the contempt and dcrifi- 
 on (he had been the object of ; and thougli far 
 from fufpedling the extent of the difaftrous cir- 
 
 cumftancc 
 
nosELLi. 3©jf 
 
 cumflance which had given rife to the freedom 
 and levity of manner the young men had adop- 
 ted, (he could not but be fenfible that in the fitu- 
 ation to which her own forgetfulnefs, and the 
 unpardonable want of caution of her chaperon 
 had driven them, there was a fufficient latitude 
 for conclufions, not extremely favorable to wo- 
 men of any delicacy. 
 
 The facility with which Beauclerc had, by 
 her breakfaft invitation, given the ftamp of an 
 acquaintance to this Oberne, whofe firft appea- 
 rance had not imprefldd Rofella with the bed 
 fentiments of his manners or morals, fhe fecretly 
 condemned ; and refolved, for the firft time fincc 
 the commencement of their tour, to contradi£t 
 the wifhes of Mifs Beauclerc, if they led her to 
 requeft her company in her intended- vifit to the 
 lions of Edinburgh ; for fhe dreaded to be feen 
 and recognized by any of the party, the recol- 
 lection of whofe furmifes flie fled from with 
 horror ; and feared that her precipitate friend 
 wouM not find much reafon to congratulate her- 
 felf upon the acquifition of an efcort, picked up 
 in the fecond tier of boxes at the Theatre Royal. 
 
 In the morning a plea of indifpofition, which 
 her languid appearance juftified, procured her a 
 difpenfation from attending the breakfaft table — 
 a ceremony Mifs Beauclerc did not inuft upon, 
 becaufe fhe was not forry to have an opportuni- 
 ty of founding the fentiments of Mr. Oberne 
 towards the invalid, by the unlooked-for difap- 
 pointment of her abfence, and the touchftone 
 of eulogiums and obfervations upon her virtues 
 and her beauties, uttered from the overflowings 
 of the fondnefs they excited. 
 
 At ten o'clock, the hour appointed, Mr. 
 Oberne announced the idea he entertained of 
 
 the 
 
30tf &OSELLA. 
 
 the favor extended to him, by the pun£liialitf 
 of his attendance : but Rofella, the fuppofcd 
 obje£l of attraction,, was invifible. He looked 
 carneftly towards the door every time a ftep 
 was heard near it, and at length Mifs Beaucler<r 
 condefcended to relieve his cruel fufpenfe, by a 
 certainty equally afflicfting : yet, contrary to her 
 expectation, he learned the news of his fait 
 one's indifpofition, without turning pale, or 
 droping his tea-cup. 
 
 Immediately after breakfaft, Mifs Beauclerc 
 ▼i(ited her fick companion, topropofe an airing, 
 which (he thought would re-eftablifli her health ^ 
 aad Rofella then heard that Mr. Oberne had ve* 
 ry obligingly offered himfelf as their cicerone 
 whilft they remained at Edinburgh. Thisfuddea 
 partiality to a young man wholly unknown to 
 Mifs Beauclerc, very much provoked Rofella, 
 who felt an extreme antipathy to every object that 
 could remind her of the mifadventure of the pre-^ 
 ceding evening ; and (he excufed herfelf from 
 being of the party that morning, under pretext 
 of a violent head-ach. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc would then have made her 
 own apologies to the gentleman ; but Rofella, 
 fearing if the projeCl were only deferred, (he 
 muft at length be included in it, rather wiflied 
 it to take place immediately, and prefled her 
 whimfical friend fo earneftly to leave her to the 
 care of Nancy, who was attentive and obliging^ 
 that fhe at length complied, and fuffered Mr. 
 Oberne to look forward to the honor of a iete-a,- 
 tete during their intended ramble, which he 
 might perhaps have declined, had he forefeen it, 
 
 Rofella, thus left to her reflexions, found 
 them vexatious enough ; and in fpite of her 
 early prejudices in favour of Mifs Beauclerc, 
 
 (he 
 
ROSELLl* 307 
 
 file could no longer avoid confefling to herfelfi 
 that her condu& was a tifTue of eccentricitiesf 
 and that if they continued to increafe as they had 
 done fince the moment of their quieting London, 
 Rofella herfeif might be irreparably injured in 
 the opinion of that world (he was now only 
 entering. Again did prudence fuggeft the mea- 
 furc of hinting her embarrafTment to Mr. Mor- 
 daunt, and once more the gratitude and affec- 
 tion Mifs Beauclerc had a right to challenge from 
 her, oppofed themfelves to its di£lates, which 
 were likewife wealicned by the appearance of 
 verfatiiity (he (hould incur^ by foliciting to be 
 withdrawn from a Ctuation, (he had entered into 
 with eager and unequivocal delight. 
 
 With an uneaCnefs (he could not fupprefs, 
 and a depreffion of fpirits (he could not furmount, 
 (he met Mifs Beauclerc on her return from her 
 cxcurfion. Mr. Oberne no longer accompanied 
 her, and Rofella fincerely hoped fhe fhould fee 
 him no more ; but how great were her chagrin 
 and difappointment, when (he was informed that 
 her friend had confented he (hould become th.eir 
 compagnon du vsyage as far as Glafgow [ She felt 
 wholly confounded and difmayed, and received 
 the intelligence with a fjlence fufficiently expref- 
 five. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc remarked It, and haftily en- 
 deavored to remove any imprefhon her too eafy 
 compliance with this meafure might produce^ by 
 aiTuring Rofella that Mr. Oberne had been ad- 
 drefled by many people of diftinftioo during 
 their excurfion, and had very politely introduced 
 her to fome women of rank they had met on 
 their way to the Caftle, as a lady of family with 
 whom he had become acquainted in England. 
 
 « Mr. 
 
308 ROSELLA. 
 
 " Mr. Oberne then," fald Rofella gravely, 
 *« has no objedion to deceive others into erro- 
 neous opinions,by uttering a deliberatefaifehood." 
 
 ** You (hould not view the efFc£t of his goodr 
 humour in fuch a light,"^ returned Mifs Bcau- 
 clerc. — " Indeed he convinced me that he was 
 better informed of feme very interefting events 
 than I had any fufpicion of, by telling me he 
 had feveral times heard my name mentioned at 
 the table of Lord Morteyne, when he was in the 
 South : fo that his deception was an innocent 
 one, as he was perfe<f^ly confcious I was really 
 the character he reprefented me to be." ^ 
 
 Rofella filently hoped the women of rank, to 
 whom her friend had been fo politely introduced, 
 were of characters as eflentially refponfible ; but 
 as Mifs Beauclcrc had vindicated her new ac- 
 quaintance rather warmly, (he would not ven- 
 ture to give utterance to fo ofFenfive an intima- 
 tion, and awaited what (he meant further to fay. 
 
 " I think I may afErm,'*^ continued the lady, 
 ** that he is a very eftimable young man ; but 
 as our knowledge of each other commenced in 
 a manner which fome fooliOi people might cavil 
 at, he would not fcruple to follow the example 
 of many worthy charadlers, and alter facts in a 
 manner more favorable to the date and propriety 
 of our friendfhip.— " For example," added (he, 
 willing to convince Rofella, whofe c'llfapproba- 
 tion was ftill vifibly exprefled in her downcafl: 
 looks, «* in the charming new novel we lately 
 read, did not a very amiable, honeft, and moral 
 man introduce a very lovely young ftranger to 
 his wife and daughters, as their niece and cou- 
 fm ? And though in fad (he was fuch, as he was 
 unacquainted with the truth of what he aflerted, 
 it' was not the lefs a falfehood from his lips , and 
 
 did. 
 
ROSELLA. 30^ 
 
 did not the fame man, on dlfcovenng acciden- 
 tally a very charming female neighbour, carry 
 his daughters and their beautiful coufin there, 
 and carry himfelf there, unknown to his wife, 
 which morally would have been very improper, 
 only that this wife, who was indeed rather in the 
 way, was a mere handfome woman of the world, 
 without the leaft pathos of the heroine in her 
 difpofition •, and therefore certainly every loverof 
 the fublime and beautiful, mufthave wifhed her 
 any where but in the devotional apartment of the 
 gentle reclufe, when fhe was furprized by her 
 antlent admirer and her female pupils, with her 
 grey trefles flowing, in her pathetic attitude, 
 kneeling before her elegant crucifix and her Ro- 
 man Catholic apparatus, fo fweetiy and fanci- 
 fully dlfpofed, and repeating in fuch filvery, yet 
 fervent tones, her confiieor out of her gilt Latin 
 office-book — Can we," faid Mlfs Beauclcrc ear- 
 neftly, <* blame the good man for being, virtu- 
 ous as he was, betrayed into a paffionate fally 
 of admiration ? and can we wonder, that hav- 
 ing conduced his young companions to their 
 home, he (hould be impelled, by his fenfibility, 
 to return at midnight to the interefting folitary, 
 that he might protect her from the thunder and 
 lightning i" 
 
 Rcfella, perceiving that her friend, in the 
 ardor of her imagination, had ftrayed confide- 
 rably from her argument, now took advantage 
 of a paufe, to obferve that the incautious con- 
 duel of this amiable, honeft, and moral man, 
 had nearly been the occafion of fending the or- 
 phan he meant to ferve, to the workhoufe. 
 
 «« Rofella," interrupted Mifs Beauclerc hafli- 
 ly, " never let me again hear fuch a low expref- 
 
 don 
 
JlO ROSELLA. 
 
 fion — a grocer's heirefs could not have uttered 
 that fentence with more vulgar fpite." 
 
 ** Dear Madam," returned (he, almoft laugh- 
 ing, <« do you mean a grocer's heirefs in a no- 
 vel, or a grocer's heirefs in Cheapfide ?" 
 
 ** There are many characters of that defcrip- 
 tion," faid Mifs Beauclerc very gravely, " which 
 I conceive to be very well delineated in many 
 modern works : their malice towar<ls fupcrior 
 beauty and amiable fenfibility, their clumfy per- 
 Tons, and pretences to accomplifhments, their 
 immenfe bloated mamas, and (heepifh henpecked 
 fathers " 
 
 <• And their needy Right Honorable lovers," 
 interrupted Rofella gaily. — " Oh no doubt, the 
 portrait is a good one, as it has been fo often 
 copied." 
 
 " You are quite filly to-day !" exclaimed 
 Mifs Beauclerc ; " but we will argue no further 
 upon this or any other fubjecH: ; for we have on- 
 ly time to put up fuch things as arc unpacked, 
 and talce fome refrefhment, before the hour I 
 have fixed upon to leave Edinburgh." 
 
 " I thought, Madam, faid Rofella, " that you 
 had determined to remain here till you received 
 letters from Mrs. Ellinger ?" 
 
 «« I have already received them, my dear," 
 replied Mifs Beauclerc ; «< I called at the poft- 
 office, and found them waiting my arrival, ow- 
 ing to the pundlual kindnefs of my poorSelina." 
 
 Rofella had indeed earneftly wifhed to quit 
 Edinburgh from the moment of their unpleafant 
 adventure j but to leave it accompanied by a gay 
 young man — fo fuddenly too ! Her gleam of 
 merriment quickly vanifhed before the mofl: un- 
 pleafant refledlions that had ever occurred ; and 
 
 (he 
 
ROSELLA. 3tl 
 
 ihe aflifted Nancy, in filence, to arrange their 
 baggage. 
 
 After a repaft as flight as that of the preceding 
 evening, a poft-chaife was ordered ; and whillt 
 the requeft was obeyed, Rofella fat in a momen- 
 tary expectation of the arrival of Mr. Oberne, 
 ready booted for the journey ; but to her great 
 confolation, he came irot, and (he fecretly ho- 
 ped, as {he followed her imprudent friend into 
 their hired carriage, that he had never intended 
 to can^ his gallantry and himfelf out of Edin- 
 burgh. Yet Mifs Beauclerc did not appear to 
 feel the difappointment, upon which fhe made 
 no comment. Indeed the converfation was ex- 
 tremely languid until they reached the end of the 
 firft ftage, and there Rofella obfcrved her to 
 look round, as if for feme perfon (he awaited 5 
 and the heart of heryoung companion beat quick, 
 in the expe£l:ation that her prefent difappoint- 
 ment would teach her future caution: but at 
 the moment their driver was mounting to leave 
 the inn-yard, (he obferved another hack-chaifc 
 drive furioufly into it, and almoft inftantly, the 
 voice of Mr. Obernc enquired if Mifs Montrefor 
 had recovered from her indifpofition. 
 
 The cheek of Rofella varied as (he returned 
 an anfwer of cold civility to the compliment, 
 and their departure then relieved her from her 
 embarrafTment. 
 
 They continued to journey thus — the ladies in 
 one chaifc, and their knight-errant in another, 
 merely exchanging a few fentences at each ftage, 
 until they entered the town of Airdrie, where 
 Mifs Beauclerc, finding herfelf fatigued, rcfolved 
 to reft for the night. Rofella was more chagri- 
 ned than furprized to obferve than Mr. Obernc 
 took his fupper with them enfamille, and like- 
 wife 
 
312 R03ELLA. 
 
 wife repofed his weary limbs at Airdrie ; that he 
 addrefled her with the freedom of an acquain- 
 tance of long (landing, invariably (tiling her his 
 charming fellow-traveller ; and that he treated 
 Mifs Beauclerc as if (he had had the honour of 
 being his fifter or aunt. She learned too, from 
 his unreferved communication, that he was of 
 Ireland, but that he had many connexions and 
 friends in England. The latter part of the in- 
 telligence was the leaft welcome to Rofella, who 
 did not feel at all ambitious of having the fame 
 of her charms and adventures travel to the South, 
 through the medium of Mr. Oberne. 
 
 The whole party entered Glafgow the next 
 morning to breakfaft J and Rofella would have 
 beheld this charming city with unqualified fatis- 
 fadlion, had not the fociety of their new com- 
 panion damped every pleafurable fenfation : he 
 afFe£led to attend to their accommodations, tc- 
 gulated the difpofalof their time whild they re- 
 mained at Glafgow, planned feveral excur(ions 
 in the neighbourhood, and finally fpoke with 
 anticipated rapture of their intended tour to 
 Loch Lomond. 
 
 The remainder of the day was pafTcd inviev/- 
 ing the beauties of the place : the noble bridges 
 over the Clyde, the Guildhall, theTolbooth, the 
 Univerfity, and the Cathedral divided into (lo- 
 ries or diftincl tiers, each forming a feparate 
 place of worfhip : nay, even the houfes in the 
 principal (Ireets almod univerfally fupported by 
 Doric columns, forming an arcade into which 
 the (hops open- — every thing was a fubje£fc of 
 admiration and amufement* 
 
 In the evening Mifs Beauclerc and Rofella 
 repofed, that they might fet out with renewed 
 fpirits the next morning to vifit the ruins of 
 
 Bothwcll 
 
ROSELLA. 313 
 
 Bothwell Caftle, and fee the falls of the Clyde. 
 Mr. Oberne endeavored to render the dulnefs 
 of an evening pafTed at at inn lefs obfervable, by 
 fometimes reading, and breaking the leflure oc- 
 cafionally with obfervations, enlivened by ex- 
 treme vivacity of manner and idea, and tindlured 
 with difcrimination. 
 
 Rofella was amufed In fpitc of the prudence 
 and refle^flion of nearly eighteen years' refidence 
 in this fage and unerring world -, — and, in the 
 gaiety of the moment, forgot the impropriety of 
 encouraging the lively fallies of their unknown 
 alTociate. Unchecked by the di£tates of wifdojn 
 fuperior to her own, flie loft fight, for a moment, 
 of the reftrictions her native good fenfe had im- 
 pofed, and before they parted for the night, (he 
 had laughed at the giddy flights of Oberne, had 
 been evidently pleafed at his good-humoured ef- 
 forts to fhorten the " tedious hours," a«d had 
 even liilened to the utterance of his extravagant 
 and half-burlefqued fentiments of eternal devo- 
 tion to her charms, without any idea of ferious 
 dilpleafure. 
 
 Refletiion returned however, with darknefs 
 and the pillow : (he then regretted that flie had 
 not maintained her referve, but was convinced 
 that (he could not return to it with any appea- 
 rance of confiitency ; and much againft her 
 more rigid plans, now felt the neceffity of con- 
 tinuing towards her new acquaintance, an un- 
 conflrained deportment, which, without applau- 
 ding, teemed not either to cenfure. 
 
 This did not refemble the never receding, 
 never-faltering dignity of a msjeftic heroine, who 
 preferves, withouL ceafing, a proper diftance 
 towards the prefumptuous man whom (lie fuf* 
 peels to have become the Have of her charms. 
 P Alas ! 
 
314 ROSELLA. 
 
 Alas ! no, not in the leail ; but it was extremely 
 natural that a young woman of an amiable and 
 lively temper Ihould forget her fage refolutions 
 in a,fit of laughter, and approve than winning 
 fuavity in others, which Nature had abundantly 
 beftowed upon herfelf. 
 
 The following day beheld Mifs Beauclerc, 
 Rofella, and Mr. Oberne on their way to Both- 
 well. Nancy was, with feme difficulty, prevai- 
 led upon to remain at Gljfgow, and one chaife 
 therefore contained the party, who were not 
 Quite fo well pleafed with each other as on the 
 preceding evening. The young Irilhman, ra- 
 ther mortified to obferve that his renewed devoirs 
 were not fo welcome as he had perhaps flattered 
 himfelf with, turned from Rofella to addrefs an 
 invocation to the Naiades of the Clyde, whofe 
 charming banks, delightfully wooded, greeted 
 Jiis view. But his theme was again almofl: as 
 fuddenly changed, to one which the name of 
 the place they were vifiting gave rife to ; and 
 be lamented, with great gallantry, the lucklefe 
 deftiny of the Scottifh Mary, over whofe admit- 
 ted faults he cad the veil of oblivion. 
 
 Mils .Beauclerc, whofe divine fympathy was 
 awakened, by iiis expreffions of compaflion, al- 
 moft wept the. cruel clouds which had gloomed 
 the gay thoughtlefs hours of a *« fair young 
 wanton lady,'* who, gifted by Nature with emi- 
 nence of wit and beauty, and by Fortune with 
 a plenitude of power, loft this double empire 
 over mankind, becaufe over herfelf (he had 
 .none I — a leflbn which fliould be reverenced, 
 not regretted. — I'hough Rofella's tribute of pity 
 was ever ready, upon the (lighteft demand of 
 fufFcring humanity, yet upon a fubj-6t where 
 her judgment combated the compaflion fhe 
 
 could 
 
ROSELLA. 2iS 
 
 could not avoid feeling, (he chofe to remain fi- 
 knt -, and their arrival at Bothwell Caftle put an. 
 end to the fubje£t. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc eagerly afcended one of the 
 turrets Tinne has fpared of this building, <* once 
 how honored !" and though (he had, in her pro- 
 grefs, not made any difcovery of Aiding pannels 
 and (talking vifions, which perhaps (he might 
 have expecSied, yet (he was rewarded for her 
 trouble more rationally, by a captivating view 
 of the country round. Mr. Oberne pointed out 
 on one fide, Ben Lomond rearing its lofty head, 
 and the oppo(ing landfcape enriched by the ma- 
 jeftic falls of the Clyde, and the wild mountains 
 of Lanerk. 
 
 Rofella had not been perfuaded to leave terrat 
 jirma \ and her friend, charmed with the im- 
 provements in the fcenery her elevation afforded, 
 called to her from the height (he had attained, 
 and bade her follow the example (he had given. — 
 " I wi(h moft fincerely," thought Rofella, 
 " that I might, in every refpeft^ do fo with fe- 
 curity I" 
 
 Oberne had haftily defcended to aflift her in 
 obeying the fummons, but forgot his errand by 
 the way, and feemed perfectly contented to 
 wander by her fide amidfl: the ruins below, whilft 
 he expatiated with much eloquence upon the 
 charms of folitude and contemplation. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc meantime was ftill perched ia 
 her turret, like a certain heroine, of whom it 
 was faid that (he was beautiful, and digni(ied, 
 and virtuous, notwithftanding (he was the 
 houfekeeper's niece, and was wont to meet the 
 young heir clandeftinely at midnight, whilft the 
 reft of the family were wrapped in foft repofe : 
 but this hiftory did not at prefent occupy the 
 P 1 imagination 
 
2\6 ROSELLA. 
 
 imagination of the lady in the turret at Bothwcll, 
 though (lie had funk into a reverie, and was men- 
 tally drawing a hady fketch of a fweet penfive 
 young creature, confined by a cruel tyrant of 
 a mother in-law, or a father, or a barbarous uncle, 
 in one of the deferted towers of an immenfe 
 caitle, where the founds of revelry, and dance, 
 and fong perpetually afiail her folitary ears from 
 the banqueting-rooms below, where no doubt 
 but fome of the guefts figh, in the centre of con- 
 viviality, for her haplefs fate and matchlefs 
 charms, and meditate in which of the endlefs 
 corridors they may watch, to enjoy a momentary 
 converfation, when (he deals out of her apart- 
 ment to procure more oil to recruit her expiring 
 lamp, or elfe to entreat her negligent attendant 
 to bring a faggot for her declining fire — two 
 things a heroine is always particularly anxious 
 about, though fhe will fail ad tJifinitum^ without 
 lepinlng. 
 
 Whilft the imagination of Mifs Beauclerc was 
 tl'ius occupied, fne thought not of her abfent 
 companions, and would probably have remained 
 in her prefent fituation, until the interefling 
 moon had rifen to illumine the fcenery around 
 her, but that Rofella, embarralTed by the afiidu- 
 ous attentions of Mr. Oberne, fent him to in- 
 form lier that the circling hours were not ftand- 
 ing ftill. 
 
 Very reluctantly Mifs Beauclerc left Both- 
 well Caftle, to proceed to a celebrated Palace, 
 and if poffible, to approach the falls of the 
 Clyde before the day was too far advanced. 
 
 On enteing the extennve park in which the 
 manfion is ntuated, Mifs Beauclerc, catching a 
 fight of the building, immediately aflfimilated it 
 in idea to that imaginary, fwect, retired, yet 
 
 magnificent 
 
ROSELLA. 3 [ 7 
 
 magnificent place in Wales, belonging to a 
 young Nobleman, v/hofe dedined love, ss (he 
 had re:id, having fled from an atrocious perfecut- 
 ing admirer, takes refuge by the inilructions of 
 her papa, exactly wi.hin the precincls of the 
 hero's domains, at the cottage of her nurfe, 
 which her mama had ornamented according to 
 cuftom (when (he had fled to it likewife in htrr 
 youth) with fhclves for books, neatly papered 
 the walls, and it may be fuppofed had even lefc 
 an old lute in them; in this delightful place the 
 heroine forgets not of courfe the amufement of 
 ivandering over the jipartments at the great boufe, 
 and difn- jntling the library of its books — a t!)ir;;^ 
 generally preferred to the vulgar care of looking 
 over aa lieroic wardrobe, and repairing tlie oc- 
 cafional damage it may have fuflained, in fpite^of 
 fublimity. 
 
 Mr. Oberne and Rofella were, en aitcndant^ 
 convcrfing with fome vivaci*-y upon the cuftoni 
 of the Scottish and Irifli Nobles, of almoit 
 wholly deferting their eftates, and fpending their 
 time and their revenues in the metropolis of 
 England; but the gentleman, who had himfelr 
 often been feduced into imprudence by the al- 
 lurements of fafhion, could but feebly cenfurs 
 what he could not neverthelefs excufe. Yet 
 whilfl Rofella exprefTed her aftonifhment that 
 any place, fuch as fne then beheld, could be 
 abandoned for any length of time — " Abandoned 
 for what ?'* thought Oberne ; <* to mix with the 
 Nobles of a rration, who may reflect with fecret: 
 pride, that the ancient Barons of this country 
 once maintained the independence of their own 
 crown, now a fecondary jewel in that of Eng- 
 land, from whofe favour they folicit a Barony 
 on the other fide of the Tweed, that they may 
 
 mingle 
 
3lS ROSELLi. 
 
 mingle in the legiflature, by an inferior title^ 
 with the more modern and baftard defcendants of 
 the houfe of Stuart, from which fome Scots 
 Nobles claim an honorable lineage." 
 
 However thefe ideas, which were perhaps the 
 miftaken refult of prejudice, he chofe to con- 
 demn to filence, and undertook to vindicate a few 
 North Britons by imputing their condudl to that 
 prudent referve, which we are told certain Mo- 
 narchs maintain, of fhowing themfelves feldom, 
 that they may preferve the refpe£l of their fub- 
 jeds. 
 
 *< For example," continued Oberne, " fup- 
 pofe the ennobled owner of this or any other 
 place (hould prove unworthy of the honors to 
 which he was born — a circumftance," faid he 
 with a fmile, <« I grant, very improbable — and 
 lofing fight of that refpe6l which the eftablifhed 
 cuftoms of fociety demand, bring the partner of 
 his vices to the palace of his anceftors, to fully 
 with brutal degeneracy the fpot where their bones 
 repofe — would not this be the higheft impolicy, 
 as well as immorality, when from the metropolis 
 of England, the fame faults and follies, were they 
 to be committed, would be borne to the ears of 
 tenants and vaflals with a foftened report, and 
 notftrike like the fulphureous bolt, falling vifibly 
 in the midft of them, with an efFecl no loyalty 
 or attachment can withftand ?" 
 
 <« You think it better then," faid Rofella, 
 " that tenants and vefTals (hould have to com- 
 plain of the poverty which the defertion of the 
 Nobles produces, than that they ihould feel the 
 influence of a bad example over their principles 
 and conduct ?" 
 
 «' What is that ?" enquired Mifs Beauclerc, 
 awaking from her reverie. 
 
 Oberne 
 
ROSELLA. 319 
 
 Oberne repeated the purport of what he had 
 advanced, and the obfereations which had given 
 rife to the con ver fat ion. 
 
 " I do not agree with you,*' returned Mifs 
 Beauclerc, " in your ideas of London refidence : 
 what can be more odious than the manners of 
 our fafhionable Engli(hmen ? How much more 
 amiable and fimple. would the young men of the 
 prefent age be, if they were to refide more upt«a 
 their remote eftates, brought up by fome charm- 
 ing, old parfon, the friend of the family, vvhofe 
 daughter, or niece, or fome beautiful dependant 
 coufin, might then engrofs the fufceptible heart 
 of the youth, and form by theoppofition of pa- 
 rents and relations, a delightful feries of intc- 
 refling mem.oirs." 
 
 Rofella, who had never before known her 
 friend to make fo violent an excurfion upon her 
 hobby-horfe in the prefence of Oberne, colored 
 up to the ears, and gazed for fome time without 
 ceafing upon the little river Avon, which was 
 meandering before her eyes. " This man," 
 thought (he, " will fancy that he is expe<fled to 
 be fo amiably fimple as to fall in love with me ; 
 and no doubt he miftakes me for the dependant 
 coufin, who will thankfully accept any fufcepii- 
 ble heart that offers." 
 
 " This fpot is indeed fo charming," faid Mr. 
 Oberne, whofe eyes followed the dirediion of 
 her's, "that I cannot wonder my dear little 
 fellow-traveller is fo much occupied in admiring 
 it, as not to have heard my enquiry." 
 
 " His dear little fellow-traveller !" repeated 
 Rofella internally, and very much provoked at 
 his freedom ; for though Oberne had uttered the 
 cxprefTion twenty times before, it had nevct 
 founded fo very impertinent as at that momenN 
 
 «« I wifli 
 
320 ROSELLA. 
 
 ** I wifli to know," added he, "If your fen- 
 timents coincide with -mine — if you imagine 
 that it is pofiible for any man to be proof againft 
 the united beauties of perfon and mind in a 
 charming young woman, though (he may hap- 
 jjtn to be in a fubordin:,te fituation, merely be- 
 caufe (he is feen in the metropolis ?" 
 
 << Yes," interrupted Mifs Beaucierc eageriy ; 
 <* and the reafon is, that it is fuppofed (he has 
 not virtue enough to be proof againft the united 
 charms of idlenefs and luxury, whenever any 
 man may think proper to offer them to her ac- 
 ceptance. However the young gentlemen will 
 not give themfelves the trouble to make the trial; 
 nud therefore it is, that the fcenes of a modern 
 Tiovel cannot, if they are intereillng, be laid in 
 thQ metropolis ; becaufe it is no longer poilible 
 lo Imagine my Lord or Sir George running mad 
 for aB innocent beauty who appears at the public 
 ipe£lacles, or even when (lie is introduced into 
 the circles they frequent -, (o that our popular 
 writers have had recourfe, and with great juftice 
 of idea, to the mod remote parts of the king- 
 doms, for their fcenes of eternal and difinte- 
 refted attachment ; many have crofled the chan- 
 nel for their pcrfonages, their plots, their caflles, 
 and their mountains, and with good efre(fl-, 
 whilft others have been compelled to open the 
 graves of heroes and heroines who had beeu 
 fleeping quietly three or four hundred years. 
 And really," continued Mifs Beaucierc, in a tone 
 of melancholy, <* it was full time to remove all 
 interefling adventures from London and its 
 neighbourhood ; fincc the air of St. James's 
 Street cannot be more peflilential to virtue, than 
 fuffocating to every breath of tendernefs and 
 fcnfibility." 
 
 Obernc, 
 
ROSELLA. 321 
 
 Oberne, notwithftanding his utrnoft efforts, 
 could not avoid fmiling at this explanation -, and 
 Rofella, whofe cheeks were dyed with blufhes 
 of vexation, obferving that the poftboy had now 
 let down the ftep, jumped out of the chaife be- 
 fore he could offer his affiftance, and haftened to- 
 wards the augufl manfion they had rode thus far 
 to fee, that (he might not be tortured by hearing 
 any further lamentation upon the woeful decline 
 of fentiment in the men of the prefent age. 
 "Fortunately however, whatever more of the fub- 
 lime offered itfelf to the recollection of Mifs 
 Beauclerc, (he enjoyed in filence ; yet Rofella 
 was in continual dread, left many objects which 
 paffed in reviev/, fhould revive heroic fubjedls; 
 and much as her admiration had been excitedj,^ 
 ihe was pleafed when they quitted the place. 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 ji dtfajler—fymptoms of attachment. 
 
 I 
 
 N the town of Hamilton they took {Q\yAZ re- 
 frefhment, and then proceeded to view the falls 
 of the Clyde. Rofella was filent and rather de- 
 jected ; and Mifs Beauclerc thoughtfully re- 
 volved the nu-.aberlefs charming incidents that: 
 might accrue 10 a young adventurer by being 
 fituated near Hamilton, or any ot'ier msgnificenr 
 feat, Vv'here (lie might ivander into the park, and 
 ivandtir into the fuperb gallery to view the pic- 
 tures, or into the library to read the books, 
 1*3 whe:icv\;r 
 
^22 ROSELLA. 
 
 whenever (he put on a new hat, or received a 
 becoming and fimpic fafliion from her female 
 confidante. 
 
 In vain did Obcrne endeavour to enliven either 
 the one or the other ; he could obtain little more 
 than monofyliables in reply to his obfervations, 
 und at length gave way to the prevailing fyftem, 
 and was fiient. 
 
 Within a fmall diftance of Lanerk the chaife, 
 which was not in the befl; condition, being more 
 rhan ordinarily fhaken by the roughnefs of the 
 road, by fome fudden failure of the machinery, 
 overturned with violence on the fide where Mifs 
 Beauclerc fat : unfortunately they were defcend- 
 ing a hi!!, and the driver, in trying to ftop his 
 horfcs, fell witli the animal on which he rode, 
 and appeared unable to aflift himfelf, or even to 
 life. 
 
 It was fome minutes before Mr. Oberne could 
 fucceed in difcngaging himfelf from the {battered 
 carriage, from the fear of injuringliis compani- 
 ons in the attempt: he then drew Rofella out of 
 the window, for in his trepidation he could not 
 immediately open the door, and Afiing her as 
 pale as death, earneftly enquiflj If fhe were 
 hurt. 
 
 " No, no," returned fhe faintly, " go and 
 affift Mifs Beauclerc." 
 
 " Tell me firft that you are not ferioufly hurt," 
 repeated he. 
 
 << I am quite fafe," replied Rofella ; — " pray 
 go I" 
 
 He then flew back to the chaife, which he 
 could now contrive to open, and was much 
 {hocked to behold Mifs Beauclerc lying fenfelefs 
 on the fide next the ground. With fome diffi- 
 
 culty 
 
BOSELLA* 323 
 
 cvAty he raifed her, and with (lill more, lifted 
 her from the fatal carriage. 
 
 " She is dead !" exclaimed Rofella wildly, 
 " fhe is dead !" 
 
 Oberne thought fo likewife j but unwilling to 
 confirm her alarm, he aflerted that (he had only 
 fainted. 
 
 " No, (he is dead I" repeated Rofella mourn- 
 fully. 
 
 A groan from the unfortunate poftboy in- 
 creafed her horror, yet (he endeavoured, though 
 almoft without a hope, to revive her friend : all 
 her early kindnefs, her unfliaken attachment, 
 and maternal indulgence crowded to the recol- 
 le£lion of Rofella, and flie viewed herfclf with 
 abhorrence for having fufFered, what Qie now- 
 thought a flight vexation, to create a difgufl: 
 however tranfient, againft fo tried, fo fincere a 
 bsnefadrefs. — Oberne affifted in rubbing Mils 
 Eeauclerc's lifclefs hands, whilft Rofella chafed 
 her temples, and applied falts to her nofe. After 
 a melancholy interval, (he exhibited Hgns of re- 
 turning life, and at length opening her eyes, 
 alked, in a languid voice, for Rofella. 
 
 *« Our dear little friend is fafe," replied 
 Oberne; " but (he has been dreadfully alarmea 
 for you." 
 
 " I fear you are much hurt," faid Rofella ten- 
 derly : '< what can I do, dear Mifs Beauc'erc, to 
 relieve you ?" 
 
 << I think my arm is broken," returned (h-^z 
 ** it pains me very much ; but perhaps I am niif- 
 taken." 
 
 « What can be done ?" exclaimedRofella, ap- 
 plying to Oberne for his opinion. 
 
 <^ It cannot be long furely, before we are 
 afTifted by paiT-ngers," replied he : *• sve wiU 
 
3^4 ROSELLA. 
 
 then fend to Lanerk for the eafieft conveyance to 
 carry Mifs Beauclsrc thither." 
 
 Rofella then fupported her lucklefs friend as 
 well as (he was able, whilfl; he examined into 
 the fituation of the poftboy, who had received 
 a contufion on the head, and had been quite 
 fluDned by the fall. Oberne gave him every 
 aid he could: and when tlie lad was tolerably 
 recovered, returned to afTirt Rofella ; for Mifs 
 Beauclerc was quite helplefs, and leant her whole 
 weight againd her, fo that it was with the ut- 
 nioil exertion ihe could prevent her from falling 
 to the ground. 
 
 In a ihort time however, he was relieved from 
 his painful embarrafTment, by the approach of a 
 returning chaife, which was driving towards 
 Lanerk ; and Oberne fecured it, in the hope that 
 }\Iifs Beauclerc might be able to endure the mo- 
 tion for fo fhort a way. 
 
 AfTifled by the poftboy jufl: arrived, he put 
 her into the carriage, though not without indi- 
 cations of agony on her part, that wounded the 
 heart of Rofella, who endeavored, by her cares, 
 to foften the jolting, which even the footpace 
 they went, produced. Tlieir own driver could 
 not be prevailed upon to leave his horfes, and 
 Oberne promifcd to fend him alTiftance from 
 Lanerk, where they arrived in rather more than 
 h.alf an hour. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc was taken to the bed inn the 
 place afforded, and a furgeon fent for by Oberne, 
 v/ho had made many vain efforts to keep up tlie 
 fpii'its of Rofella : at her requeft, he like wife 
 fent off an exprefs to Glafgow for Nancy, and 
 enlarged up^n the commiHion, by defiring the 
 immediate attendance of a profeffional man from 
 that place. 
 
 Rofella 
 
ROSELLA. 325 
 
 Rofella was foon relieved from the poignancy 
 of her anxiety, by being affured that her friend, 
 though much bruifed, was not in any danger; 
 and the next morning, the Glafgow furgeon 
 confirmed the report that no bone was broken, 
 and that the patient would do well. 
 
 The attendance of Nancy prefervedher from 
 the fatigue (he would otherwife have willingly 
 encountered, though fhe ftiil infilled upoa 
 watching half the night, and pafTed almoft the 
 whole day in the chamber of the futFerer. She 
 remembered, with gratitude, the friendly atten- 
 tions of Oberne, which had been of fuch real 
 fervice, and flill received thofe he invariably con- 
 tinued to offer, with complacency : but as this 
 was not a moment to indulge his carelefs gaiety, 
 which he had had the art of communicating, in 
 fome meafure, to his fair aflbciates, it could no 
 longer operate to blind her judgment when re- 
 flection afiailed her ^ and (he could not think, 
 without an uneafinefs blended with furprife, that 
 this man, not many days fince an entire ftrangcr 
 to them, fhould now appear fo completely to 
 think himfelf of their party, that without very 
 apparent prefumption, he fiiould quietly ftation 
 himfelf in the fame houfe, eftabllQi himfelf in a 
 manner their major-domo, and not feem to have 
 any bufinefs or plan but that which related to 
 them. 
 
 It was in vain, {he well knew, to rcprefent 
 thefe circumftances to Mifs Beauclerc, nor in- 
 deed did (lie wifli, at fuch a moment, to at- 
 tempt either complaint or argument : but as Mr. 
 Oberne appeared extremely good-humoured, and 
 not deaf to perfuafion, fiie endeavored to gahi 
 fuificient courage to hint to him that it was evi- 
 dent her friend would not for fome time be in a 
 
 fituatica 
 
32^ ROSELLA. 
 
 fituation to continue the excurfion (he had 
 planned, and flie was certain it was not her wifh 
 to detain him in a place fo little calculated to af- 
 ford cither accommodation or amufement. Yet 
 as Rofella was confcious this would found like a 
 difmiflion, flie faw Mr. Oberne twice before (he 
 could prevail upon herfelf to give it utterance ; 
 and he, en attendant, was indefatigable in pro- 
 curing fome luxuries and many conveniences 
 which Lanerk was unable to produce. He had 
 fent for quite a little library from Glafgow, and 
 every other day, Nancy brought up a quan- 
 tity of flowers and fruit for Mifs Montrefor, 
 which thus early iti the feafon muft have bcca 
 purchafed at a confiderablc expence, 
 
 Thefe afliduous attentions, whilft they pained 
 her extremely, rendered her the lefs able to exe- 
 cute her prudent intention ; till, finding that flie 
 could not for a moment quit Mifs Beauclerc's 
 chamber without meeting him in the paiTage or 
 on the ftairs, where he actually appeared to have 
 taken up his ftation, and that he never fuffered 
 her to return without a converfation of fomc 
 length, fhe felt the neceffity of adhering to her 
 rcfolution. 
 
 The next time he accofted her, fhe permitted 
 Lim to conduct her to a fitting-room within 
 view of the ftairs, which he had on that account 
 appropriated to his own ufe ; and this apparent 
 mark of favor heightened the ufual animation of 
 his countenance. 
 
 <« They have fent me the Airfliire Bard," 
 cried he, taking up fomc books which lay upon 
 the table : " perhaps our poor invalid may like 
 to hear his ruftic lays. I fhould wifii to liften to 
 them too, from thofe lips ; but I fuppofe I muft 
 try to content myfclf as hitherto, with a diftant 
 
 vibration 
 
ROSELLA, 327 
 
 vibration of that fwcet voice, when Nancy hap. 
 pens to open the door." 
 
 Rofella, taking no notice of his fuppofition, 
 thanked him for the offered loan of the books, 
 which (he had in his prefence inadvertently ex- 
 prefled a wifti to read ; but told him that he had 
 already fent to Mifs Beauclerc's apartment, 
 many more than (he ftiould have time to look 
 over, whilft {lie imagined he would remain at 
 Lanerk. 
 
 <' Our friend is not able to remove yet V* 
 afked he haftily. 
 
 " No, replied Rofella. 
 
 " Then why do you think I {hall quit La- 
 nerk ?" 
 
 *< I only fuppofed," faid (he, in fome confu- 
 fion, and almoft forgetting the argument (he 
 had meant to urge, " that as Mifs Beauclerc 
 cannot continue the excurfion to Loch Lomond, 
 which I underftood it was your intention to 
 make, and as {he is not fufficiently recovered to 
 quit her apartment, I thought you would — that 
 is, I believe it is not proper for me " 
 
 << What I" interrupted he, " not even to 
 fpeak to me en pajfent ! Have I ever prefumed 
 to intrude upon you for a moment, or utter a 
 fentence, but when 1 had the good fortune to 
 meet with you accidentally ?" 
 
 *« No, certainly," replied Rofella, blufhing ; 
 <i but I " 
 
 « Oh fie !" exclaimed he, fmiling, <* you 
 think me fuch a St. JamesVftreet fellow as to 
 fly from friends who have diftinguifhed me with 
 fo much condefccnfion, becauf« an unfortunate 
 cafualty has difabled them from immediately 
 fulfilling intentions kindly formed." 
 
 4» I 
 
3^8 ROSELLA. 
 
 <« I am ferlous, Mr. Oberne/^ faid Rofella 
 with Gonfiderable vexation. 
 
 " Aad fo am I," returned he, <« when I 
 affirm that I will not quit Lanerk till Mifs 
 Beauclerc is able to travel." 
 
 An idea now occurred to Rofella, that he 
 was attaching himfelf to her friend with a de- 
 fign to marry her ; and (he immediately defined 
 from her intention of endeavoring to perfuade 
 him to a retreat, which, in fucli a cafe, would 
 have the femblance both of vanity and imperii* 
 nence ; and coolly telling him he was certainly 
 at liberty to adl as he thought proper, left the 
 room. 
 
 << Will you not take thefe poems with you ?'* 
 demanded he, following her with the books in 
 his hand. 
 
 '« I will enquire if Mifs Beauclerc wifhes to 
 fee them," returned Rofella, " and Nancy fhall 
 inform you," 
 
 <' You took a turn in the garden yefterday,'* 
 he refumed, whilfl: he detained her, " will you 
 not repeat your walk to-day ?" 
 
 « No, 1 believe not." 
 
 She then ran up the flairs ; and though he 
 faid fomething further, fhe flaid not either to 
 liflen or reply to him. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc, having no Inclination at that 
 moment to read the rural flrains of poor Burn, 
 Rofella, as flie had promifed, fent Nancy with 
 the information, who re-appeared with a large 
 bouquet of green-houfe flowers for JMifs Mon- 
 trefor. She was chagrined ; but as (he could 
 not return them, (he made her friend partici- 
 pate in the prefent. 
 
 From the time (lie furmifcd that Mr. Oberne's 
 more ferious gallantry was. directed towards 
 
 Mifs 
 
RO.SELLA.l 32y 
 
 Mlfs Beauclerc, many circumftanccs (Iruck 
 upon her memory which feemed to authorife 
 the fuppofition •, and fhe was aftoniflied that 
 {he had h long been blind to To palpable a fa6l. 
 She had read of Irifli fortune-hunters, their 
 undaunted aflurance, and extreme perfeverance, 
 and it was now fcarcely a matter of doubt iu 
 her mind, that Mr. Oberne was one of thefe ; 
 and his attentions to herfelf, (he fuppofed, wers 
 directed with a defign to facilitate his views, by 
 gaining all the interefl fhe might be imagined 
 to poiTefs over her friend. She refolvcd how- 
 ever, to fee him as little as poflible, and con- 
 fined herfelf for two days almoft wholly to JMifs 
 Beauclerc's apartment. 
 
 Mr. Oberne, who had not expe£led fo per- 
 fedl a feclufion, at length fent a note tr» the in- 
 valid, where after many entreaties to command 
 his fervices, and employ him in any way con- 
 ducive to her eafe, he expreflcd a fear that her 
 amiable Rofella would injure her health, by re- 
 fufing herfelf from day to day a moment of air 
 and exercife. Mifs Beauclerc had already re- 
 monftrated with her upon the fubje£l, and now 
 more earneftly repeated her wiQies that (he 
 would pay a proper attention to herfelf, and 
 allot fome part of the time (lie had hitherto too 
 feduloufly dedicated to the alleviation of her 
 pain, to the prefervation of her own fpirits and 
 health. 
 
 Rofella was, however, fo much provoked 
 with the officious interpofition of Oberne, that 
 (lie made a pretext of a trifling cold (he had 
 caught, to difappoint his intentions ; and in 
 fpite of the exhortations of her anxious friend, 
 pafTed two days more without allowing him an 
 opportunity of fpeaking to her. 
 
 On 
 
33^^ ROSELLAi 
 
 On the third morning Nancy brought intel- 
 ligence that Mr. Oberne was going to Glafgow, 
 and begged Mifs Montrefor would permit him 
 the honor of feeing her for a moment before 
 his departure. 
 
 " By all means," faid Mifs Beauclerc, on 
 hearing the meffage ; « convey my acknowledgr 
 ments to hiro, my dear Rofella, for his many 
 attentions and folicitude for our welfare ; and 
 tell him, as I fuppofe it is not in his power to 
 wait my entire recovery, to accompany us to 
 Loch Lomond, I beg he will fend me word if 
 he remains any time in Scotland, where I may 
 perfonally thank him for his brotherly kindnefs." 
 
 Shocked at the idea of being compelled to 
 folicit an appointment, Rofella mod unwillingly 
 defcended the ftairs, and preceded by Nancy, 
 who announced her approach, entered the room 
 where fbe had lafl feen Oberne, He darted up 
 to welcome her j and Nancy having difsppeared, 
 he began a very ferious complaint againft her 
 extreme referve, in withdrawing herfelf from 
 thofe momentary interviews, in which he had 
 ever been particularly careful to avoid giving 
 any reafcnable offence to her delicacy. 
 
 " However," continued he, ** fince you have 
 completely ftarfed me out, I fliall obey the in- 
 timation you have fodexteroully given me, and 
 leave Lanerk ; but as I am thus compelled to a 
 retreat, I confefs I wifh I had retreated with a 
 better grace." 
 
 <' I imagine," returned Rofella with a dif- 
 engaged air, «' that you are quite fatisfied with 
 the fample you have had of the attra6lions of 
 this magnificent place, and that ennui has at 
 leaft an equal fhare with what you call my inti- 
 mation ^ 
 
ROSELLA. 351 
 
 mation; which was given, I think, Hx days 
 back." 
 
 " You arc miftaken," interrupted he ; " and 
 I fliould convince you that 1 have at lead as 
 much perfeverance as yourfelf, but that I fear 
 your cxceflive pun£lilIo will make you really ill, 
 as well ts deprive you of thofe little airings 
 you occafionally took, before you thought proper 
 to give me my conge^ 
 
 *' I have certainly 00 right to affiime fuch a 
 power over any perfon Mifs Beauclerc choofes 
 to honor with her acquaintance," faid Rofella 
 more gravely; ** at the fame time, I may furely 
 adapt my conduct to my own ideas of propriety, 
 when my friend is unaile to direct it." 
 
 " Do not let us quarrel, my dear Mifs Mon- 
 trcfor !" exclaimed Oberne,^ taking her hand. 
 ** Will you have the goodncfs to inform Mifs 
 Beauclerc, that as I (hall be equally happy to be 
 of the leaft fervice to her at Glafgow, as at this 
 place, I will pafs three or four days there; and 
 I hope (he will confider me as her fa£tor, and 
 employ me to execute her commiflfions. And 
 tell her 1 (hall wait with much impatience for 
 the news of her complete recovery, which I (hall 
 confider as a recal to Lanerk, and a pleafing in- 
 timation that ihehasnot repented her intention 
 of admitting me in her party 10 Loch Lomond." 
 
 Rofella replied that fne would repeat what he 
 faid. 
 
 <' Well then," refumed he, " I muft bid 
 you adieu. — You do not wear," he'added, "your 
 ufual afpe6l; and faith, if the truth were known, 
 I believe I have much more rcafon to look 
 grave." 
 
 <* I fuppofe that chaife is for you," inter*- 
 rupted Rofella :. " I will therefore bid you good 
 
 morning. 
 
33^ ROSELLA. 
 
 morning, and report your meflage." 
 
 ** The chalfe can wait," faid he impatiently j 
 ** you are in a violent hurry to difpatch me !" 
 
 «* I thought you had uttered your farewell," 
 returned (lie; " but my returning to Mifs Beau- 
 clerc need net precipitate your departure, if you 
 have not fufEciently arranged it." 
 
 She then repeated her parting compliment, 
 and retired ; and in a few moments Obernc lefc 
 the inn, and Rofella very ftridly perfo/med her 
 promife of delivering almoft verbatim his mef" 
 fage to her friend, who received it with a plea- 
 fure fo very apparent, that Rofella believed the 
 fuccefs of the fuppofed admirer indubitable ; — 
 and the idea was fully confirmed, when Mifs 
 Beauclerc the next day employed her to conti- 
 nue the journal to Mrs. Ellinger, in which fo 
 many panegyrics were interfperfed, by her parti- 
 cular defire, upon their new acquaintance, that 
 it appeared to her too certain, her ill-judging 
 friend^ who had incurred the lading difpleafure 
 of her father for remaining unmarried ia 
 her youth, would now from caprice cxpofe her- 
 felf to ridicule and cenfure, by precipitating 
 herfelf into an alliance with a young man, whofe 
 prevailing motive could net be perfonal attrac- 
 tions *, for thofe of Mifs Beauclerc were on the 
 wane, as flie did not refemble thofe evergreen 
 ladies who flourifli, and bloom, and look di- 
 vinely beautiful ad libitumy until the feeblenefs of 
 extreme old age renders the trouble ofadornmg 
 for conquelt too painful a talk. l^Jeither could 
 it be any chara6leriltic excellence, v/hich could 
 not have been difcovered when the fudden pur- 
 fuit cf Oberne began j though Rofella feared he 
 had very early perceived her foibles. 
 
 Suppofing 
 
ROSELLA. 333 
 
 Suppofing her furmlfes to be juft, there was a 
 meannefs in the condu£l of this young man, 
 which his manners and chara£ler of countenance 
 entirely contradi£led ; but they did not render 
 his deportment lefs difgufting, by (lamping it 
 with hypocrify, and Rofella conceived a preju- 
 dice againfi: him, which fuccefsfully combated 
 the imprcflion his eafy good humour, his aflidui- 
 ty, and pleaHng vivacity had made. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc foon recovered fufEciently to 
 walk in a fmall paddock behind the houfe, into 
 which Rofella and Nancy fupported her, where 
 the gentle fre(hnefs of the air, and the fweetnefs 
 of the verdure reftored her ftrength and fpirits. 
 
 The fecond time (he was thus exercKing her- 
 felf, Mr. Oberne, without any previous notice, 
 made his appearance, and was delighted to wit* 
 nefs lier convalefcence : he took her hand with 
 the freedom and cordiality of an old friend, and 
 fupplanting Nancy in her poft, rattled away with 
 fuch gaiety and rhodomantade, that even Rofella 
 could not refufe the fmilehe fought to raife. He 
 informed the ladies that in his firit defpair at 
 being deprived fo cruelly of their fociety, he had 
 many temptations to fly to the depths of fcience 
 for relief, and enter himfelf in the Univerfity of 
 Glafgow : but that fortunately he recolle£led 
 fome lines importing the vanity of books, or wit, 
 or wifdom to relieve an opprefTed heart, and 
 trading to the experience of others, he fufFered 
 his fpleen to take its courfe, which carried him 
 per force on the banks of the Clyde back to 
 Lanerk, arid had there left him under fuch a 
 concourfe of pleafant images, that at the en- 
 trance of the paddock he had almoft fancied 
 himfelf mounting the wings of the wind, and 
 
 dire<5ling 
 
334 ROSBLLA. 
 
 direding the gentleft zephyrs to falutehls con- 
 valefcent friend. 
 
 Mifs Beauclerc was not dlfpleafed with this 
 fiourifli ; but as his fpirits were rather too vio- 
 knt to agree M'ith her ftill enfeebled (late, (he 
 was obliged to (horten her walk, and Mr. Oberne 
 had the mortification of dining alone. Again he 
 cftablifhed himfetf in the apartment he had quit- 
 ted, and as Rofella now thought it would be im- 
 pertinent to oppofe his eafy familiarity of inter- 
 courfe, (he endeavored to behold it with as much 
 unconcern as poflible: and it was the Jefs diffi- 
 cult to fubdue her difcontcntj as his deportm.ent 
 to herfelf was marked with confidcration and 
 refpeift. 
 
 The principal objedt for which this unfortu- 
 nate expedition to Lanerk had been undertaken, 
 which was to fee the falls of the Clyde, Mr. 
 Oberne prevailed withMifs Beauclerc not to give 
 up before (he returned to Glafgow ; and on the 
 fourth day from his renewed refidence in the 
 houfe, flic ventured thither in a chaife, which he 
 took care to examine ; — and as the diftance was 
 only two miles, he walked by the (ide of it — an 
 cxercife Rofella would willingly have partaken, 
 but that file avoided every appearance of en- 
 couraging the advances he evidently made to 
 overcome her referve. 
 
 The fall that firft prefented itfelf to the view 
 of the party, which is by far the moft flriking 
 and confiderabk one, infpired Mifs Beauclerc 
 and her young companion with an aftoni(hmcnt 
 and awe, that deprived them of utterance : it is 
 not formed of one current only, defcending 
 amidft the rocks, but poiTefles the violence and 
 extent of accumulated ftreams, dafhing with 
 wild fury from one rugged point to another, and 
 
 at 
 
ROSELLA. 33 J 
 
 at kngth pouring in a foaming torrent into the 
 yawning abyfs. 
 
 *< What a delicious fpot," thought MifsBeau- 
 clerc, " for a heroine to wander to at- dewy eve, 
 and the ftill hour of night !" 
 
 She had quitted the chaife, and Ober-ne was 
 now at her fide, fupporting her unafTured ftcps, 
 whilft Rofclla haftily preflcd forward to fatisfy 
 -with more expedition than her friend could ufe, 
 the ardent admiration and curiofity that had 
 taken pofleffion of her. In filence fhe gazed, 
 and, in the plenitude of enthufiafm for the fub- 
 Jime and wonderful, felt not the vucuum which 
 k is faid the mod perfedl obje<St will leave in the 
 mind, if the gazer cannot exclaim to another, 
 ** How divine this is !" Rofella, on the contrary, 
 forgot for the mom^^nt that fhe was not alone, and 
 leaving her guide far behind, followed the £rll 
 path that chance directed, and with a bounding 
 ftep flew onward, to devour the varied beauties 
 which every inftant difclofed themfelves. 
 
 'Mifs Beauclerc faw her hafty gefture and rapid 
 •glance as (he darted out of fight, with infinite 
 pleafure.— <* Yes," cried fhe, with internal ex- 
 ultation, « my Rofella will at length catch all the 
 fublimity and ardor of nymphs who can climb 
 the Alps with exquifite grace and agility, clafplng 
 under one delicate arm two complete fets of Pe- 
 trach and Metaflatio, and under the other a 
 lute/' 
 
 She herfelf felt all the good will in the world 
 to follow fo charming an example, but was foon 
 obliged even to relax her loitering pace, and feat 
 herfelf on fome mofly turf, which, by extreme 
 good fortune, ofl^ered itfclf when (he was quite 
 cxhaufted, to accommodate her weaknefs. 
 Obernc then, at her requeft, and in <;ompliance 
 
 vith 
 
33^ ROSELLA. 
 
 with his own Inclination, Followed Rofclla ; buf 
 even with the afllftanceof a guide, it was near 
 an hour ere he found her : for in the firfl cfFufion 
 of her deh'ght, ihe had incautioufly left recol- 
 lection to attain her as it might. Fortunately 
 however, for her, llie did not find her mental 
 iliufion lad fo long as is generally reprefented in 
 cafes of fimilar fublimity : far from wandering 
 unconfciouily till the fun had funk behind the 
 towering cliffs, and left her in total darknefs, (he 
 felt her imprudence five minutes after flie had 
 committed it, and endeavoured to return to her 
 party — a talk however, by no means eafy to ac- 
 compliih, and (lie had fpcnt feme very unpleafant 
 moments, when the voice of Oberne, hallooing 
 her name in a tone that out-hedlored the thun- 
 dering of the torrent, relieved her anxiety, and 
 (he ran towards the found. 
 
 *' How pleafed I am to fee you !" exclaimed 
 fhe*, * where is Mifs Beauclerc ?" 
 
 " More than a mile from us ; but you are fo 
 much charmed to fee me, and I am fo extrava- 
 gantly delighted to have found you, that we fhail 
 think the w^y towards her very fnort." 
 
 " Indeed I am much indebted to you," re- 
 fumed Rofeila ; " for I had quite loft myfelf." 
 
 <f What recompence ought I to claim for re- 
 ftoring you to your friend ?" demanded he. 
 
 «' I cannot determine," faid Rofeila, fmiling ; 
 « if the fervice is to be eftimated at the value 
 of the ftrayed flieep, and not at the time and 
 trouble you have thrown away, I am afraid you 
 will be ill rewarded : but I fuppofe the thanks 
 of Mifs Beauclerc will be all the recompence 
 you will folicir." 
 
 «< No, Madam, I never folicit thanks ; but I 
 have the temerity to entreat, that the next time 
 
 you 
 
ROSELLA. 337 
 
 ^ou are dlfpofed to fend me to Glafgow, or elfe- 
 nhere, you will firft refleft if you may not have 
 Gccafion to employ me as a fhepherd's cur, or in 
 any other refpedable charader, as circumltances 
 may occur." 
 
 This was faid in a tone of mingled raillery 
 and pique j for Oberne was rather offended that 
 fhe fliould, by transferring the little fervice he 
 had rendered her to the account of her friend, 
 appear to aim equally at transferring the obiiga.- 
 tion. 
 
 Rofella was not unconfcious of his lurking 
 difpleafure, but thought it prudent to«Tiotice it 
 only as pleafantry, and, in his own flyle, told 
 him, as it was impoflible (he could find him any 
 employment of fufEcient dignity to fult his 
 merit, fiie (hould decline afligning him any. 
 
 *« This is to fay," retorted he, *« whenever I 
 volunteer my fervices unafked, like other offici- 
 ous people, I may content myfelf with deferving 
 good-wiil without obtaining it." 
 
 << I hope," faid Rofella more gravely, " I 
 am not ungrateful j and Mifs Beauclerc^ " 
 
 <•' MIfs Bsauclerc," interrupted he, <« is one 
 of the bell creatures in the world 1 If a poor 
 fellow, who folicits her friend lliip, appears ho- 
 ned and well-meaning, (he does not, like a cattifli 
 inquifitor, require other teftimonials than a ref- 
 pedl to decency and good manners." 
 
 " You have indeed little reafon to complain 
 of her too fufpicious caution," replied Rofella ; 
 " but I fear, if (lie had found caufe to repent 
 her reliance upon your appearance as a gentle- 
 man and a man of integrity, from the little I 
 have feen of the world, fhe would not have been 
 confoled by its charitable commiferation." 
 
 « Oh 
 
338 ROSELLA. 
 
 « Oh my God !'* exclaimed Oberne, ralfing 
 his hands in afFe£led emotion, « defend thofe 
 unhappy frail dogs who are now in the nurfery, 
 from your fevere fcrutiny, when you (hall be 
 armed with a rigid prudence of forty years 
 ftanding !" 
 
 They had now reached Mifs Beauclerc, who, 
 on hearing the facility of their return, was ex- 
 tremely difappoiiited that not one hair-breadth 
 efcape (hould have graced fo promifmg an adven- 
 ture. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
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