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 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 A NOVEL 
 
 BT THE AUTHOR oF 
 
 THE gambler's wife," " SYBIL LENNARD." &C. 
 
 " Sigh not for Children. Thou wilt love them much ; 
 
 And Care will follow Love." 
 
 Barrt Cornwall. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 THOMAS CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER, 
 72, MORTIMER St., CAVENDISH S^j. 
 
 1847.
 
 i 
 
 f ^3 
 
 i/^f 
 
 D AUGHTE R S. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 ^ *' Do you still remember 
 
 J When you and I were young, 
 
 i How the merry cricket talked, 
 
 ^ How the throstle sung ? 
 
 N How above our spring tide 
 
 Azure heaven hung ? 
 ^ Ah the times were merry times, 
 
 ^ When you and I were young !" 
 
 4^ ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦ 
 
 A " Twenty years have fled we know 
 
 jj Bringing care and changing weather ; 
 
 But hath the heart no backward flights 
 
 That we again may see those nights 
 
 And laugh together ?" 
 
 Barry Cornwall, 
 
 r 
 
 Of all the goodly sights, a military review is per- 
 haps the most inspiring. Cold and insensible the 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 2 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 heart which swells not Avith some degree of 
 proud and glad enthusiasm, as the eye travels 
 over the glittering ranks of our country's sol- 
 diery drawn up in bright array — moving in 
 beautiful order ; — their snowy plumes waving 
 in the breeze — sabres shining in the sun, and 
 the soul stirring strains of the martial music 
 sounding full and loud in the air. 
 
 Then the deep stern voices of the command- 
 ing officers — the clanking of the steel — the 
 mighty charge — the thunder of the cannon ! 
 Who but feels a sensation of pride — of exulta- 
 tion, should a husband — a son — a brother be 
 claimed amid the gallant body of men ? Such 
 a sight, how ofttimes has it inspired the desire 
 in a young man's heart to embrace the life of a 
 soldier ! And in the fair bosom of many a 
 maiden the wish to be a soldier's wife ! 
 
 A September noon-day sun shone brightly 
 nthe fine regiment of the Dragoons assem- 
 bled near the town of for the inspection 
 
 of one of our most distinguished general offi-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 3 
 
 cers ; and the usual amount of spectators was 
 drawn together to witness the scene. 
 
 Amongst the equipages lining the field of 
 action, there were two in particular to which 
 we would direct the attention of the readers ; 
 having chosen the present occasion for the pur- 
 pose of introducing to their notice the indivi- 
 duals who are to hold a paramount place in the 
 following simple records of every day life — the 
 only rank of fiction to which the story about to 
 be related can lay claim. 
 
 One of these above named equipages con- 
 tained the wife and children of the Colonel 
 commanding the regiment. The other was 
 solely occupied by a lady and gentleman. 
 
 The two ladies thus accidentally coming in 
 contact with each other had been schoolfellows 
 and the dearest friends in early days — but, 
 each launched on the sea of life — the waves of 
 the world had carried them on such different 
 tracks, that since their finally quitting school, 
 when Laura Meredith and Cecilia Goring had 
 B 3
 
 4 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 wept in each others arms, and sworn eternal 
 friendship — with the exception of a letter in- 
 terchanged between them of mutual congratu- 
 lation on their intended marriages, they had 
 neither met nor held any intercouse with one 
 another ; till on this bright day fifteen years 
 after, when the green barouche containing the 
 still bright eyed Laura, and the dark blue 
 britscka with the fair Cecilia, stood side by 
 side on the review ground. 
 
 Striking and interesting features in the com- 
 mon-place "working days portion of life's 
 wondrous whole" are such meetings — such re- 
 unions ! What a fresh well-spring of renova- 
 ting youth do they cause to rise within the 
 hearts of those, who in the cares, or the riches, 
 or the pleasures of this life, have not dulled and 
 deadened to the voice and touch of the lively, 
 kindly feelings of our nature ! — 
 
 " No other friendship ere can raze 
 Th' endearment of our early days." 
 
 And however faded and dimmed by time or
 
 DAUGHTERS. 5 
 
 separation — half an hour of renewed intercourse 
 — a few graphic reminiscences of other days — 
 simple — trifling as they may be — and the past 
 is as yesterday. The thread of the old story is 
 taken up — scenes, actors, feelings, seem to stand 
 forth in pristine brightness — the friends of 
 youth are friends once again — almost as inti- 
 mate as if they had never parted. 
 
 " The world is full of such partings and such 
 meetings." 
 
 A lamented di\^ne beautifully writes : — 
 ** How many are there whom we have left 
 in childhood, and whom we have not met again, 
 till years have done their accustomed work of 
 alteration and change — with whom, though we 
 meet in peace, circumstances forbid that we 
 should journey on together I — wc see minor 
 things in such a different light, that although 
 agreeing in the main, and upon essentials, and 
 still experiencing the most kindly feelings to- 
 wards each other, both will best fulfil their 
 appointed works alone."
 
 6 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 But a first meeting such as that of Mrs. 
 Cameron and Mrs. Sackville is not the occasion 
 wherein to make any such depressing discovery. 
 
 Their carriages had drawn up side by side 
 for some short time ere Mrs. Cameron, intent 
 on the settlement of half a dozen young ones, 
 had leisure to make the conjecture as to who 
 might be the owner of the well-appointed 
 equipage arresting her husband's course on his 
 riding up to superintend the advantageous dis- 
 posal of his family — and by whom he was now 
 engaged in conversation ; the General and his 
 suite having not yet appeared upon the field. 
 But the britscka having at length, under Colo- 
 nel Cameron's direction, been pushed in a more 
 convenient juxta position for sociability, the 
 words — " Laura, Mrs. Sackville wishes to renew 
 her acquaintance with you," sounding in her 
 ears, she bent forward wdth animated pleasure to 
 receive the greeting of the companion of former 
 years.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 7 
 
 There was no hesitation — no misgivings as to 
 what alteration time, and its conse^[uent 
 changes, might have inteqjosed to interrupt 
 the renewal of former friendship. The friends' 
 eyes met — and the first glance was sufficient 
 assurance that whatever absence and its work 
 might have effected in either — nothing could 
 restrain their hearts from bounding cordially 
 towards each other. Their hands were pressed 
 aiFectionately — they were again " dear Laura,'" 
 *' dear Cecilia," and Mr. Sackville — no longer 
 thought of — mounted his horse and gallopped 
 off with Colonel Cameron, leaving the friends 
 to the mutual pleasure of their re-union. 
 
 We will not enter into the animated conver- 
 sation that ensued — interrupted only by the 
 arrival of the General upon the field, and the 
 interest in the proceedings to which their atten- 
 tion was, per force, attracted. 
 
 Some gentlemen rode up to pay their respects 
 to the ladies, and afterwards Mrs. Cameron had 
 little time for ought but her endeavours to
 
 8 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 satisfy the engrossing demands made upon her 
 attention by the children — their calls upon her 
 sympathy in their various emotions of wonder, 
 delight, and terror — to answer at the same mo- 
 ment five or six little tongues — pulled here — 
 pulled there — to look this way — to look that 
 way — at Papa — at the General ! — the motion of 
 the vehicle not rendered the gentlest by their 
 enthusiasm. Whilst Mrs. Sackville — she leant 
 back once more in quiet ease, and sohtary 
 grandeur, amidst her well-stuffed cushions, to 
 converse with those near her — or to watch the 
 spectacle undisturbed. 
 
 How hea^dly, in the judgment of the vulgar, 
 do the outward trappings of common life weigh 
 in the balance of human happiness ! Those 
 who had marked the appearance of the two 
 carriages on the review ground — the plain 
 green barouche drawn by two posters, with its 
 old-fashioned make, and well-worn appearance, 
 bearing witness to having seen good service — 
 the single unliveried servant — and then its
 
 DAUGHTERS, y 
 
 crammed interior — all' this noted in contrast 
 with the elegant britscka of the newest con- 
 struction, the four splendidly trapped bays, and 
 various powdered servants, must have doubtless 
 at once desio-nated the different fortunes of the 
 occupants of the two carriages; and the 
 balance of comfort — the English interpretation 
 for happiness — must, of course, have prepon- 
 derated greatly in favor of the latter. 
 
 Well, so it might be, if the case were con- 
 sidered in a worldly point of \4ew ; but let us 
 look a little more closely, and by stating the 
 case as it really stands, leave the readers to 
 form their own opinion on the subject. Laura 
 Meredith and Cecilia Goring might have been 
 said to start on the race of Hfe under as equal 
 circumstances as well could be. Both w^ere 
 only children with handsome fortunes — both 
 made love matches, their husbands being, at 
 the time of their marriages, about equally 
 possessed, or rather dis-^oisessed, of this 
 
 world's goods« 
 
 B 5
 
 10 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 But there ended the equality — for Mr. Sack- 
 ville had expectations, and was, moreover, a 
 member of a collateral branch of the aristo- 
 cracy. Colonel Cameron had no prospect of 
 increase of fortune — could boast of no family 
 distinction save high respectability. 
 
 The expectations, moreover, of Mr. Sack- 
 ville were realized sooner than had been hoped 
 for. His few hundreds soon became tens of 
 hundreds, with no additional expenses to make 
 the encrease more welcome than at first starting 
 on married life ; for years passed — even fifteen 
 summers, as we have seen — and no olive 
 branches blessed the union of the Sackvilles, 
 whilst the Camerons, in as plentiful proportions, 
 saw their table surrounded ; and their purse — 
 as may be imagined — somewhat less full. 
 
 *' And how many have you, Laura ?" de- 
 manded Mrs. Sackville, with a sigh, as in the 
 course of the morning she was again conversing 
 with her friend, and now on the subject of the
 
 DAUGHTERS. 11 
 
 children, who had coiiie under particular' 
 notice ; admiring first the eyes of one, then 
 the hair of another — -remarking the Ukeness of 
 that little girl to her mother — of that fine boy to 
 his father ; and the sigh heaved truly from Mrs. 
 Sackville's heart, when she heard the answer 
 * seven,' which with a smile and a shrug came 
 from Mrs. Cameron. 
 
 " Seven, and another expected ? happy 
 creature !" 
 
 " Happy — yes, my dear Cecilia, but then 
 think of the care — the trouble," and the 
 mother, in consideration of her childless friend, 
 tried to assume the air of gravity, and the op- 
 pression of countenance requisite to give force 
 to her words. But it was hard to act to the 
 life what in truth she felt so little, and her 
 faqon de purler manner of expressing herself 
 was not calculated to deceive or reconcile Mrs. 
 Sackville to her contrary fate. 
 
 Oh ! for some of those cares and troubles .' 
 Light and easy must be the burden ; she saw
 
 12 
 
 BAUGHTEES, 
 
 no marks of either care or trouble on the 
 happy, blooming face of Mrs. Cameron; no 
 change had years imparted to her looks, on the 
 contrary, improvement. The woman of thirty 
 four was handsomer than the girl of sixteen. 
 Her hair was darker and more glossy — her 
 eyes brighter, with far more of feeling in 
 their expression, and Mrs. Sackville, as she 
 gazed into the clear, dark orbs, might truly 
 with the poet have exclaimed — 
 
 " They hare not shed a many tears, 
 Dear eyes, since first I knew them well." 
 
 No truly — all — all such care and trouble gladly 
 would she have endured in exchange for the 
 sickening pang of " hope deferred," often 
 gnawing in the midst of ease and prosperity, 
 as year after year of her married life had seen 
 " that never satisfied desire" unfulfilled — the 
 bitter, silent tear, or the stifled sigh caused by 
 the sight of other's blessings — blessings for
 
 DAUGHTERS* 13 
 
 which she was doomed to yearn in vain. And 
 then the counteracting evils — ^if such existed — 
 attendant on the en\'ied gifts bestowed upon 
 her friend, were they not burdens lightened by 
 participation with the beloved partner of her 
 joys and sorrows, whilst her grief was one 
 but encreased in bitterness a hundred fold, by 
 witnessing her husband's equal share in the 
 disappointment of their hopes ? In short, though 
 the naturally placid disposition of Mrs. Sack- 
 ville enabled her to endure this cross with such 
 an equanimity to outward appearance, that not 
 even those nearest to her could tell the fuU ex- 
 tent of its galling weight upon her heart — 
 the cry of her inward soul if embodied in 
 words might have been that of the faithful 
 Patriarch — would that the same unfailing faith 
 had animated the appeal — 
 
 " Oh ! what will thou give me, seeing that 
 I go childless ?" 
 
 " And how many will you give me of those 
 little burdens ?" asked Mrs. Sackville, laughing
 
 14 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 off the momentary cloud which had obscured 
 her spirit* 
 
 " Oh ! as many as you like," laughed Mrs. 
 Cameron. " Ai-e you willing to part with a 
 few of your children to Mrs. Sackville ?" she 
 enquired of her husband who at that moment 
 joined them. 
 
 " Oh ! by all means, wliich will you have — 
 this one?" and Colonel Cameron playfully 
 lifted up the youngest child-ra girl of three — 
 and placed her in Mrs. S^S:ville's carriage. 
 Mrs. Sackville caressingly^ pressed the child to 
 her side, apt^L^f little creature struggled to re- 
 turn to her mother. It was not hers, she felt 
 too well, and she saw by the fond, proud glance 
 of the parents' eyes as they turned them smil- 
 ingly over the little party, how difficult they 
 would have found it — had they really been 
 called upon to resign one — to have made the 
 selection. 
 
 Mrs. ■ Sackville soon persuaded Annie, a 
 little girl about ten years old, whose likeness
 
 DAUGHTEES. 15 
 
 to her mother had struck her fancy, to take a 
 seat by her side, and from her she extracted a 
 list of the names and ages of all the little 
 Camerons. There were first, two boys, Alick 
 and Gerald, then Lena, the eldest girl — herself, 
 Janet, seven — Carry, five — Minny, three. 
 
 They were a beautiful family. The two 
 brothers, fair, tail, noble boys— perfect specimens 
 of English youths, seated side by side on the 
 coach box, the arm of one with graceful 
 abandon encircling the neck of the other — 
 Lena, an interesting looking girl, gentle and 
 shy, with a somewhat pensive expression of 
 countenance, with long, fair hair and soft hazel 
 eyes — then Annie, the little, lively, dark eyed 
 beauty, and three blue eyed little girls with as 
 yet nothing but rosy cheeks ^o make them 
 worthy of particularization — all en masse 
 forming a lovely bouquet to attract and delight 
 the stranger's eye — hovv' much more the 
 parents' heart !
 
 16 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 " Every dog, the adage says, has its day— 
 Has it— has had it— or will have it. 
 
 CARLYLE. 
 
 Blessed is the hearth when daughters gird the fire ! 
 And sons, that shall be happier than their sire. 
 
 Ebenezer Elliot, 
 
 Let not the reader imagine that in placing 
 before them in contradistinction the separate 
 fortunes which had fallen to the lot of the two 
 friends, that it is with any intention to exalt 
 the advantages of one above the other in their 
 estimation.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 17 
 
 No — who may even dare, in tliis our sliort 
 sighted state of being, to display to the eyes of 
 their fellow mortals the fairest and the darkest 
 picture of man's lot in life, and take upon 
 themselves confidentially to dictate, which to 
 choose, and which to reject. A thankless office 
 at least it would be found to prove. A cry 
 might follow the adviser, reproachful as that 
 of the unsatisfied Israelites to their leader, 
 Moses — 
 
 " Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us — 
 to carry us out of Egypt — it would have been 
 better for us to serve Egyptians then to die in 
 in the wilderness ?" 
 
 And who that watches with a patient spirit, 
 the ways of Providence with his creatures, will 
 ever dare to say " those ways are unequal ?" 
 No, in the same manner " as to every thing 
 under the sun, there is a time, and season," so 
 have all alike sooner or later their seasons of 
 clouds and sunshine; theii "times to weep, 
 and their times to laugh — ^their times
 
 IB DAUGHTERS. 
 
 to mourn — and their times to dance " — 
 though different may be the season of life at 
 which those times are sent to each. 
 
 " A man may live many years and rejoice 
 in them all — but then let him remember the 
 days of darkness — they also shall be many— 
 therefore remove sorrow from thy heart and 
 evil from thy flesh, for all these things, for 
 which you disquiet yourself, are vanity." 
 
 Return then to your home, rejoicing wife 
 and mother, but in glad confidence of present 
 joy and blessedness, forget not those evil days 
 which may come upon you, when all that is 
 now light may be darkened, your pleasant 
 things become burdens too heavy to be borne. 
 
 And you — ^her childless friend, say not that 
 your lot in life is desolate and unblessed in 
 comparison to hers, but — 
 
 " Joy in the gifts heaven's bounty sends " 
 
 you know not what you do when you envy her 
 contrary fate.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 19 
 
 " For who knowest what is good for man in 
 this life " — " you know not, but you shall know 
 hereafter." 
 
 The palmy time of a woman's life is most 
 assuredly that earlier era of her married career, 
 when her family are young — with nought 
 but childish wants and wishes to be satisfied 
 — youthful pleasures easily to be indulged. 
 Sources they then are of actual enjojTnent and 
 future hopes — of much delight mingled with 
 little of that feeling, partaking too much of 
 pain, which the care and anxiety of their riper 
 years must necessarily infuse into the cup of 
 parental affection. 
 
 Of this period, Mrs. Cameron had as yet 
 been in the fullest enjoyment. The greatest of 
 heart-aches she had as yet suffered, in her ma- 
 ternal history, had been occasioned by the
 
 20 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 parting with her boys for Rugby, and the 
 yielding of her indulged little girls to the 
 slavery of the school-room — having to gaze 
 mercilessly at pale looks and tearful eyes — to 
 listen to complaints, and agree to punishments, 
 against which, however slight they might be, 
 her tender heart rebelled. 
 
 And yet Mrs. Cameron thought these trials 
 quite bad enough to endure, and never troubled 
 herself with imagining any greater for the 
 future, on her childrens' account. Her dearest 
 dream for the pretty creatures — ^her girls, was 
 their several emancipations and debuts in 
 the world ; and the most confident visions of 
 their success, in the fullest sense of the word, 
 flitted before her fancy. 
 
 Well ! she had only now a few years to wait 
 and her wishes would be accomplished ; for 
 Lena would then be old enough to present to 
 the world. 
 
 Colonel Cameron was at this time on the eve 
 of becoming a general officer, which step would
 
 DAUGHTERS. 21 
 
 soon remove him from the command of the 
 
 regunent — 
 
 A month the re-united friends spent in each 
 others society, (for the Sackvilles were staying 
 at Brighton) and shortly after, the Camerons 
 left England for a leno-thened residence on the 
 continent in order to combine economy with 
 advantages for perfecting the education of the 
 girls, until the time arrived when they hoped 
 the General might be employed upon some 
 staff appointment. 
 
 ]VIi\ and Mrs. Sackville continued their 
 placid, easy career in much the same way as 
 flows on the existence of the gencrahty of such 
 well to do — childless couples — with all that 
 happiness which mutual attachment — calm, 
 congenial, and easy affectionate confidence is 
 capable of administering — yet still in the pos- 
 session of all these blessings — feeling the want
 
 22 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 of those interests wliich shed such warmth and 
 light over the home of a married pair, with 
 children. 
 
 Mr. Sackville was a most amiable man — but 
 quiet and reserved, and far from brilliant, and 
 Mrs. Sackville, pleasing in person, and much 
 beloved by those who knew her well, was not 
 particularly formed to shine very brightly in 
 the world, and find in its excitement a com- 
 pensation for the absence of more healthy 
 stimulants at home. 
 
 They spent their days, giving and receiving 
 hospitality — doing as much good as could be 
 done in a quiet way, with as little trouble to 
 themselves as possible — and in this mediocre 
 state they might probably have continued to 
 the end of their lives, had not fortune, by one 
 of those sudden freaks, by wliich it sometimes 
 loves to electrify good, easy people, changed the 
 aspect of their destiny. 
 
 In the course of the five following years, no 
 less than three most unthought of deaths oc-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 23 
 
 curred in the Sackville family, and by this 
 means eiFectually cleared the way for Mr. 
 Sackville to the Dukedom of Strathedon — the 
 simple, unassuming commoner thereby becoming 
 one of the highest and most influential Peers 
 of the Realm — and the fair and gentle Cecilia, 
 " The beautiful and accomplished Duchess " — 
 a leader and courted patroness of the hemi monde 
 and its votaries. 
 
 Far different was the colouring of the same 
 five years to the Camerons. 
 
 The baby who received the name of Cecil, 
 the then Mrs. Sackville being his godmother, 
 was bom at Brussells, where for two years the 
 Camerons had resided, and at the close of that 
 period another little daughter was added to the 
 flock. The two older boys were at Sandhurst. 
 Every advantage was bestowed upon the 
 young daughters, in order that accomplish- 
 ments and additional grace might enhance 
 their native beauty, which in the expectation 
 of the parents — particularly the mother — was
 
 24 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 to do such great things for the fair girls ; and 
 few saw this lovely group, but they helped to 
 add higher colouring to the proud imaginings 
 of Mrs. Cameron on that score, by the eulo- 
 giums which they unceasingly poured upon the 
 beauty of the sisters ; the many predictions as 
 to the triumphs in store for the mother on their 
 dehut, were for ever delighting her ears, and 
 congratulations on her good fortune, at not 
 having one ugly daughter to present. And 
 such variety of loveliness — not two alike ! 
 
 Lena, with those meek, hazel eyes and fair, 
 drooping tresses! — the gazelle eyed brunette 
 Annie — Janet, with that most uncommon style 
 of beauty — ^blue eyes and raven hair — that 
 lovely little rosy child — Minny ! 
 
 " But Carry — poor Carry," would Mrs. 
 Cameron laughingly exclaim, " why have you 
 omitted the detail of her charms ? alas ! alas ! 
 what shall I do when my fourth daughter 
 makes her appearance ?" 
 
 Now poor Carry was the fright — at least for 
 such a family — with only very ordinary blue
 
 DAUGHTERS. 25 
 
 eyes and brown hair ; her clieeks losing their 
 rosiness, as she passed from early childhood, 
 without acquiring the clear, fair paleness dis- 
 tinguishing some of her sisters' complexions. 
 
 " Ah ! but children improve so much — there 
 was no knowing how she would turn out, and 
 then she was so amiable, so good." 
 
 " Amiable — good — yes" — But alas ! for Mrs. 
 Cameron, in those days of maternal vanity, she 
 would perhaps have dispensed with a little of 
 such goodness for a small increase of her sister's 
 personal merits. And then they were all, more 
 or less, amiable — the beautiful Lena — docile, 
 yielding almost to weakness; but that very 
 fault rendering her the more interesting to the 
 mother's heart. 
 
 Annie — lively, spirituelle, irresistibly at- 
 tractive, was certainly the spoilt cliild of the 
 family, but even through that trying ordeal, her 
 natural goodness of disposition brought her 
 unscathed* 
 
 Janet was a most agreeable cliild, quick, 
 VOL. I c
 
 26 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 energetic and clever ; she gave no trouble. 
 In short, as none of the girls were deficient in 
 disposition, poor Carry's virtues, however 
 superior, would most assuredly have gained a 
 higher lustre had they been brightened by a 
 little more of the beauty, for which her sisters 
 were so conspicuous. Not that she had much 
 cause to complain by reason of this inferiority 
 — still is it not too common a case, (sad proof 
 of the vanity and weakness of human nature) 
 that whilst " it is better to be good than 
 pretty" is the cuckoo maxim of the lips, sound- 
 ing ever on the outward ear of the young — 
 hourly experience soon teaches them its hoUow- 
 ness — too truly engraving on their hearts the 
 maxim in its reversed sense. 
 
 From how many a poor child is daily wrung 
 the bitter eigh, and inward ejaculation, 
 
 " How far better to be pretty than goodP 
 
 " Ah ! blessed are the beautiful. 
 Love watches o'er their birth, 
 Oh ! beauty in the nursery 
 I learnt to know thy worth.'*
 
 DAUGHTERS. 2? 
 
 With complacent confidence Mrs. Cameron 
 anticipated the debut of her eldest daughter. 
 
 Lena's gentle, interesting style of beauty 
 she knew to be generally found most attractive 
 to the ruder sex — and the mother felt little 
 doubt of her failing to fulfil the destiny, for 
 which she seemed bom — an early and good 
 marriage ; early it was to be hoped, for her 
 sister's sake ; good, in the full sense generally 
 applied to matrimony. 
 
 For the second girl, Mrs. Cameron's wishes 
 and expectations were less calmly compliant, 
 only because they were more ambitious, and 
 high strained. Not only a good but a splendid 
 match alone would satisfy her, on Annie's 
 score. 
 
 Her beauty was the mother's pride and 
 crown of gloiy. In her mind's eye were 
 visions of sundry young sons of noblemen, 
 whose heads had been turned at childrens' balls 
 by the wild beauty of the little Annie. Even 
 a young prince had honoured her with the 
 C 5
 
 28. BAUGHTEES. 
 
 title of his " little wife," and bestowed on her, 
 at parting, a ring as a pledge of his juvenile 
 attachment — of course then the young beauty 
 must do wonders in her riper years. 
 
 General Cameron did not fully enter into 
 his wife's sanguine hopes and wishes, on the 
 subject of the early marriages of his dearly 
 loved daughters — men seldom can. The at- 
 tributes of forethought and anticipation, by 
 which the female sex wear and excite their 
 minds, are seldom to be found so painfully de- 
 veloped in men. They are too much behind 
 the scenes — understand their own species too 
 well, not generally to pause and hesitate, before 
 they can make up their minds to deliver their 
 pure and innocent daughters into a husband's 
 hands. They can appreciate the risk they run. 
 
 And then again the stir of their life — the 
 
 activity of their pursuits, so different from the 
 
 confined, monotonous existence of a woman — 
 
 leave little leisure, comparatively speaking, for 
 
 " Thinking of the past 
 And upon future years.'*
 
 DAUGHTERS. 29 
 
 for brooding over the uncertainties of the moment 
 — conjuring up, in vain, wishes and enervating 
 visions of the fancy — 
 
 " That idle chase of hopes and fear?," 
 
 which too often cause woman's days to be con- 
 sumed in vanity, and her days in trouble. 
 
 General Cameron could not embody anything 
 very alarming in the idea of having his girls 
 all around him — still his own — though they 
 had attained the age when they might have 
 been separated from their happy home ; there- 
 fore he was far from being able to agree with 
 his wife, as to the indispensable advantages of 
 early marriages. He supposed it rather a 
 matter of course than of desire that they 
 would marry some time or another — his fond 
 heart trusted it would be well — but, then, 
 General Cameron's idea of marrying well Avas 
 marrying happily — this latter term com- 
 prehending, of course, the unquestionable 
 respectability of the connection — a perfect
 
 30 BAUGHTEKS. 
 
 gentleman in character and situation — a tender^ 
 affectionate husband, able to maintain his wife 
 in the same sphere in which she had been born-^ 
 to bestow upon her the same comforts to which 
 she was accustomed* He asked nothing more ; 
 therefore, though to please Mrs. Cameron, 
 whose wishes were his law, he did make efforts 
 and sacrifices to pave a way for their childrens* 
 entrance into the higher circles, it was more 
 for the sake of her desire than any eager 
 anxiety on his own part for the attainment of 
 her object. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron, alas! had higher aspirings 
 than her husband — and there are but too many 
 instances of parents, who, like her, do desire 
 greater things for their children than the more 
 moderate thinking General — who covet for them 
 riches and honors and distinctions above that 
 which is the portion seemingly assigned by 
 Providence — ^who aspire to set them in those 
 high and slippery places of the earth — ^rather 
 than in the safer, humbler walks of life, where
 
 DAUGHTERS. 31 
 
 pleasantness and peace, (were it not for the 
 pride and covetousness of the hearts of those 
 who walk therein) are so much more surely to 
 be found. 
 
 Was not the request of the mother, in scrip- 
 ture, gently rebuked, who asked for her cliildren 
 such great things even in heavenly places? 
 how much more then worldly parents— the 
 tenor of whose petitions, or the desire of whose 
 hearts are for the earthly distinctions of their 
 children, not the heavenly — may it be said, 
 
 " Ye know not what ye ask." 
 
 " Do you seek great things, for your children 
 seek them not !" 
 
 To see them in this world — as is the fate of 
 many — the innocent victims of your erring 
 wishes and prayers, perchance will be your 
 bitter punishment — but a punishment still more 
 severe may be your portion, for — as the words 
 of one who has left us his impressive reflections 
 on this subject thus eloquently set forth —
 
 32 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " Who can tell how many a soul hereafter 
 shall for ever curse the day, when a parent's 
 prayers or a parent's eiForts obtained for them 
 those gratifying distinctions, of wealth or 
 honor or worldly aggrandizement, for which 
 their own hearts have panted — Oh ! when you 
 behold your children, in after life, following 
 with avidity any golden bait the world throws 
 out to them, look back upon the prayers of 
 their infancy, those which you yourself offered 
 from the blindness of an affectionate heart. 
 Did you seek first the kingdom of God and His 
 righteousness for those objects of your warmest 
 affections ?"
 
 DAUGHTERS. 33 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " Condemn'd to suffer through the day 
 Restraints which no rewards repay, 
 And cares where love has no concern." 
 
 SoUTJiEY. 
 
 " ! it is excellent 
 To have a giant's strength ; but it is tyrannous 
 To use it like a giant." 
 
 Measure for Measure. 
 
 The young Camerons never forgot in after 
 years a \dsit they paid, with their mother, to a 
 country house, just before leaving England for 
 the continent. The place belonged to Mr. 
 Beauchamp, a rich young man. The visit was
 
 34 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 to Lady Racliel Beauchamp, bis mother, who 
 resided with him. 
 
 The Camerons were accustomed to such ex- 
 cursions with their parents — accustomed to the 
 pretty bonnets and dresses which adorned their 
 still prettier little persons on such occasions, 
 therefore never suffered from awkward shyness, 
 or troubled others with the excitement and 
 undue elevation of spirits which children 
 brought up upon different systems, often en- 
 dure, or cause to be endured, under the in- 
 fluence of novelty. 
 
 But the young ones did on this occasion 
 remember feeling a sort of chill creep over 
 them — a weight oppress their spirits, when 
 ushered through the long galleries of cloister- 
 like stillness, by which they entered a large, 
 stately saloon, and were received by a still 
 statelier looking lady ; who having slightly 
 noticed each by a look which appeared to them 
 to savour more of sovereign scrutiny than the 
 admiration and approbation to which they were
 
 DAUGHTERS. 35 
 
 accustomed, motioned them to opposite seats, 
 remote from herself and their mother, to whom 
 they would fain have clung more closely. 
 
 They recollected that after a pause in the 
 conversation, which had been carried on for 
 some time between the two ladies, Mrs. 
 Cameron had enquired for the Miss Beau- 
 champs — and whether they might be allowed 
 the pleasure of being introduced to them. 
 
 " It is not my custom to allow my daughters 
 to be paraded before company, at an age when 
 the school-room, and its duties, is the proper 
 sphere to which they ought to belong." 
 
 And the cold, eagle eye of Lady Rachel 
 turned somewhat invidiously upon the young 
 trio before her. 
 
 " But General Cameron having been a con- 
 nection, and old friend of the late Mr. Beau- 
 champ, I will," her ladyship added, " make an 
 exception on the present occasion." 
 
 The bell was rung and the Miss Beau-
 
 36 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 champs were ordered to attend with their 
 g overness. 
 
 The little Camerons had awaited the interval 
 which followed, with the warm interest which 
 children generally take in those of their own 
 age, and now it was heightened by curiosity, 
 to see what the daughters of such a mother 
 would be like. 
 
 The door at length was thrown open, and 
 two tall girls of twelve and fourteen walked 
 in, followed by another of nine, led by a most 
 formidable looking governess. 
 
 Like three criminals, condemned to execu- 
 tion they looked. 
 
 " Young ladies, approach IVIrs. Cameron, 
 and pay your respects to her," exclaimed 
 the lady mother, in a tone of voice which 
 made the hearts of the young Camerons 
 sink within them, with dismay and pity for the 
 poor victims to whom it was directed, and who 
 they beheld like frightened hares tremblingly 
 advance and curtsey to their own dear mother.
 
 DAUGHTEKS. 37 
 
 whom, they felt, had never looked so kind and 
 beautiful before. 
 
 " May I be allowed to introduce the Miss 
 Beauchamps to my little girls ?" Mrs. Cameron 
 at length said, as ha'vang shaken hands with 
 the poor children and smiled encouragingly 
 upon them, she observed that they still 
 continued to stand before her like culprits 
 constrained and embarrassed, as the severe eye 
 of their mother fixed itself upon them. 
 
 " Young ladies, you have my permission to 
 seat yourselves by the Miss Camerons," said 
 Lady Rachel. 
 
 The poor things obeyed, and sat down stiff' 
 and motionless on tlu*ee high backed chairs, 
 wliich stood in array near the large damask 
 ottoman, which the three less scrupulous 
 children had ventured to appropriate, not daring, 
 however, to make any further advances to ac- 
 quaintance with their visiters, though unable 
 wholly to restain their womanly propensity to 
 curiosity, which no tyranny can subdue, and
 
 38 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 which prompted them to steal sidelong glances 
 from beneath their downcast lids at those so 
 strongly contrasting with themselves — at their 
 dress — the pretty, tasteful though simple 
 pelisses — the gaily trinuned gipsey hats — and 
 more than all the beauteous, clustering locks 
 and happy countenances of the Miss Camerons, 
 who in their turn as silently surveyed the 
 homely dresses — cropped hair, and miserable 
 looks of their companions, with something of 
 the pity and indignation swelling at their hearts, 
 which a free bom Englishwoman might 
 be supposed to experience in witnessing the 
 misery and degradation of a female slave — for 
 no children could have imbibed more liberal 
 ideas on the subject of freedom of will and 
 spirit, owing to the indidgence and tenderness 
 of their parents, than the young Camerons. 
 
 Their feelings were still more outraged by 
 the insult added to injury, occasioned by the 
 open comments with which Lady Rachel was 
 pleased to draw the attention of her visiters on
 
 DAUGHTERS. 39 
 
 her persecuted daughters, and in a way which 
 evidently was most painful and humiliating to 
 their feelings, as might be seen by the deep crim- 
 soning of face, neck and ears of one — the sullen 
 contraction of the brow of another — and the 
 touching, pitiful expression of meek endurance 
 which stole over the countenance of the 
 younger and most interesting looking of the 
 trio — all speaking of irritated passions, wounded 
 feelings, writhing and working under the com- 
 posed, subdued exteriors they were forced 
 to assume. It is indeed difficult to believe, 
 that the gratification of mere natural tyranny of 
 disposition could have directed any mother to 
 such conduct towards her children — but it 
 was certainly the spirit of Lady Kachel's 
 system of education, to endeavour to mortify 
 and subdue every natural evil and corruption 
 of her children's minds and characters; for 
 not content with laying upon them the iron 
 rule of subordination by visiting any slight 
 offence with the strictest rigour of school-room
 
 40 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 law, she kept up a constant system of mortifi- 
 cation of spirit. 
 
 To carry out to the full, the reason which 
 had doubtless prompted this unwonted infringe- 
 ment of her system of seclusion, it seemed on 
 the present occasion to be her aim to make the 
 unfortunate girls feel to the quick all the in- 
 feriority of their privileges and indulgences 
 compared with those enjoyed by other childi-en, 
 and to mark more plainly the contrary discipline 
 under which it was her will they should abide. 
 
 " My daughters, you will perceive, by their 
 appearance and manners are not yet well suited 
 for society," Lady Rachel said, addressing 
 Mrs. Cameron; " however we must be thank- 
 ful that there are still many years to elapse ere 
 Eachel will be called upon to grace her 
 brother's table; six or seven years of discipline 
 may perhaps render her a presentable object — 
 Amelia, Mrs. Cameron is looking at your 
 affable countenance with admiration. — I think, 
 jVIiss Eicketts," turning to the governess, who
 
 DAUGHTEKS. "^1 
 
 retained her station by the door " that Miss 
 Agnes might have spared us the sight of those 
 red and swollen eyes." 
 
 These and such like painful and embarrass- 
 ino- remarks wereahnost as discomforting to the 
 visiters as to the objects of them. 
 
 Annie's lively spirits indeed grew too im- 
 patient any longer to bear the intolerable gene 
 of her situation, and catching the sound of her 
 father's step and voice without, who having 
 been met by Mr. Beauchamp at the door, was 
 taken by him to view some unprovements in 
 the grounds, and acting upon the impulse of 
 her feelings, she sprung from her seat, and flew 
 like a wild bird through the window opening 
 on the lawn, to the shelter of his kindly arms. 
 
 Lady Rachel interrupted an apology which 
 Mrs. Cameron commenced for her spoilt child's 
 conduct by peremptorily ordering the IMiss 
 Beauchamps to retire; her ladyship either 
 alarmed at the effect this evil example might 
 produce upon their minds— or unwilling to
 
 42 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 allow them to be seen in case of the entrance 
 of any fresh company. Willingly the poor 
 creatures withdrew, to return to drudgery and 
 confinement, but doubtless far mx)re bearable 
 to them than the drawing-room martyrdom. 
 
 General Cameron led in the young offender 
 accompanied by Mr. Beauchamp, a young 
 man, looking older than his years, which at 
 that time might number about three and twenty, 
 who spoke little, but that little with great as- 
 surance and determination, which made his 
 taciturnity appear rather reserve and pride, 
 than shyness — or timidity — not surprising in a 
 son of Lady Rachel's. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp stared much at the eldest 
 little girl, who sat looking pale and nervous, 
 but took no further notice of the children. 
 The Camerons had no inclination to prolong 
 their visit after the entrance of the gentlemen, 
 and with glad haste the children made their 
 escape through the sombre passages and gloomy 
 portal, and seating themselves opposite their
 
 DAUGHTERS. 43 
 
 parents in the carriage, gave one awed look at 
 the dark mansion, from the many narrow win- 
 dows of which seemed to frown Lady 
 Rachel's glances. One sigh was breathed for 
 the poor imprisoned victims it contained, and 
 then they once more drew their free and happy 
 breaths — Annie and Janet declaring — in answer 
 to a playful tlireat of their father — who was 
 greatly amused at the effect the terrors of 
 Lady Rachel had produced on the minds of 
 his indulged cliildren — of sending them to live 
 at Beauchamp Towers — that they would never 
 enter those walls again — that they hoped their 
 Mama would leave them at home if ever she 
 paid such another visit, and most animated 
 were they in their expressions of wonder at 
 all they had seen. 
 
 But Lena — was it that her gentle spirit 
 which ever quailed at a look of sternness — her 
 tender heart ever wounded by a harsh 
 word — was it shaken by the unwonted and 
 extreme example which had now been presented
 
 44 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 to her — was it her natural sensibility, or that 
 some foreboding cast its deep, oppressive burden 
 upon her? She sat pale and motionless, till, 
 in answer to a playful sally from her father, 
 she returned it, not as did her sisters, but leant 
 her head upon his breast and melted into silent 
 tears.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 45 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 " Thou stoodest at the threshold of the scene 
 Of busy life ; with timid steps I crossed it, 
 And thou beside me like some angel posted 
 To lead me out of childhood's fairy land, 
 On to life's glancing summit, hand in hand." 
 Coleridge's Wallenstein. 
 
 It would weary our readers to detain them 
 longer with the details of the early history of 
 the young Camerons — therefore we must 
 hasten to the period wliich, in her ignorance, 
 their mother so gladly hailed— little dreaming 
 that the time miglit come when she would
 
 46 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 have reason to sigh, for those palmy days, when 
 the group of flowerets were still clustering to- 
 gether in budding beauty around her. 
 
 The period to which we allude was that 
 wliich presented the eldest girl, Lena, to the 
 world. Under what is generally considered 
 the most auspicious circumstances did tliis event 
 take place. 
 
 In anticipation of a lucrative appointment 
 promised to the General through the interest 
 of the Duke of Stratheden, the expences of a 
 London campaign — otherwise unattainable — 
 were ventured upon ; and the Duchess, who ever 
 continued upon the most affectionate terms of 
 friendship with her old schoolfellow, kindly 
 insisted that from her house, the young Lena 
 should first be presented to the London circles, 
 also promising that her first ball should be 
 given early in the season in honour of the fair 
 debutante. 
 
 Surrounded by such smiling circmnstances 
 Mrs. Cameron thought the happiest day of her
 
 DArGHTEES. 47 
 
 life was that wliicli found her presiding over the 
 first ball-room toilette of her beautiful Lena. 
 
 And with what confident hopes and pleased 
 anticipations did her heart beat as the young 
 creature stood before her in her graceful dress 
 and lily wreath, blusliing and smiling as ad- 
 miring comments from brothers, sisters and 
 attendants sounded in her ears. 
 
 The sisters thronged around her in delight, 
 and little Cecil, who awoke from his slumbers 
 as Lena glided to his bedside to kiss him ere 
 she left the house, clapped his hands, and called 
 her his pretty fairy queen — wliich was indeed 
 no unlikely comparison — for the fair sister 
 might well have suggested one of our poet's heaii 
 ideals of woman's beauty. 
 
 " Like a bud when it is blowing, 
 Like a brook when it is flowing, 
 Marred by neither heat or cold, 
 Fashioned in the lily's mould, 
 Stately, queen-like, very fair, 
 With a motion like the air.
 
 48 DAUGHTEES. 
 
 Glances full of morning light 
 When the morn is not too bright, 
 With a forehead marble pale, 
 When sad pity tells her tale, 
 And a soft, scarce tinctured cheek 
 Flushing but when she doth speak." 
 
 As for General Cameron, though his eyes 
 glistened with feelings deeper than pride and 
 admiration, as he looked upon his sweet 
 daughter, nothing could exceed the admira- 
 tion with which his gaze ever rested upon the 
 still beautiful mother. The interest of her ap- 
 pearance seemed only to be enhanced when 
 thus pleasingly placed in contrast with the fair 
 and youthful companion about to appear by 
 her side — like some fair star gleaming its 
 silver light near the gently shrouded radiance 
 of the more brilliant planet, the moon. For 
 whether " the first grey hairs" or her own 
 good taste had taught the wisdom poor Haynes 
 Bayley so delicately counsels — the matured 
 beauty of thirty seven, had, on that oc-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 40 
 
 casion, assumed a style of costume whicli was 
 far from diminishing the lustre it seemed in- 
 tended to sober. 
 
 Her jetty hair had exchanged the wreath 
 now encircling her daughter's brow for a 
 more matronly covering — most becoming — the 
 General thought ; but though the pleasure 
 elicited by her husband's praise called forth a 
 bright, well pleased smile to her lips, Mrs. 
 Cameron had never probably thought so little 
 of her own appearance as she did that night, 
 excepting in reference to the influence it might 
 exercise over the interests of her daughter — 
 for experience had taught her to deem it nearly 
 of paramount importance to a girl's individual 
 merits, those which in the eyes of the world 
 were attached to the mother under whose 
 guardianship she moved. Hoav often had Mrs. 
 Cameron heard men talk over the personal 
 qualifications of a girl, and after, perhaps, 
 descanting upon her various nierits sum up by 
 
 adding — 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 DAUGHTEES. 
 
 " But she will be exactly like her mother, 
 some of these days !" 
 
 And this qualifying clause would at once 
 destroy the charm, as the image of the parent 
 rose before the imagination. Certainly if per- 
 sonal appearance could gain the favor of the 
 multitude, Mrs. Cameron might have rested 
 satisfied that a mother more attractive or a 
 father more noble looking in his demeanour 
 never led a young daughter upon the stage of 
 life — and from the popularity and esteem which 
 through their career they had ever found it 
 their portion to obtain in the varied society in. 
 which they had mingled, they had reason to be 
 secure as to the countenance the fair debutante 
 might receive ; and thus did young Lena cross, 
 " with timid steps the threshold of the scene 
 of busy life." To those who look not with a 
 cold eye of mere worldly speculation upon 
 this momentous era of a youthful existence, 
 with what a glance of earnest interest must 
 not it be regarded ! Whether the young de-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 51 
 
 hutante dances o'er the threshold with a joyous, 
 careless confidence, which speaks no thought of 
 thorns or briars lurking beneath the rose 
 strewn path of pleasure, or that she crosses it 
 with those same " timid steps," as if some fore- 
 l)oding fear weighed upon her more gentle and 
 sensitive spirit, amidst the gay sounds and 
 sights and circumstances which bids her heart 
 rejoice — both are alike, lovely and interesting 
 subjects of observation. 
 
 She is launched forth a fair and pleasing 
 vessel upon that sea more deceitful than the 
 watery billows — the ocean of life — but who 
 can answer for her thereon ? 
 
 " The smoothest seas will sometimes prove 
 To the confiding bark untrue, 
 And if she trust the stars above 
 They can be treacherous too." 
 
 The Duchess received the Camerons with as 
 
 much of friendly warmth as the etiquette of 
 
 that coldest of all atmospheres — a London 
 
 ball-room — could admit ; however, quite suf- 
 D 3 
 
 LIBRARY
 
 52 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 ficient in cordiality to give the party, in vulgar 
 phrase, a lift in the eyes of those who witnessed 
 the meeting. 
 
 This was the first time the friends had met in 
 London. The gay Metropolis is not a place 
 wherein even the dearest friends and nearest 
 relations can always find breathing time, as 
 they have done amidst the calm cheerfulness 
 of a country place. In London, " every man 
 for his own" is the standard motto. 
 
 The exhortation " Look not every man on 
 his own things, but every man also on the 
 things of others," is as a thing of necessity 
 trampled under foot — and whether, as in the 
 case of the recently coroneted Duchess, the 
 cares and responsibilities of her new dignities 
 — or, as in Mrs. Cameron's position, that of 
 starting a young, inexperienced girl on the 
 busy stage of life — both are found occupations 
 equally incompatible, with other irrelevant 
 interests or affections. 
 
 But when the friends were once more face
 
 DAUGHTERS. 53 
 
 to face, the Duchess was far from being forget- 
 ful of her engagements concerning Lena. The 
 two friends had indeed changed places since 
 they had last met. 
 
 The Duchess, now glittering in her Strath- 
 eden diamonds, courted and flattered to a de- 
 gree, wliich might fain have induced a belief 
 that her days of youth and beauty had but 
 now commenced, saw before her the once much 
 envied Laura Cameron, submissively taking 
 her first step towards that shadowy path of 
 life, towards which the chaperone mother, 
 sooner or later, must retire, however hard she 
 may struggle ere she yield her position. The 
 Duchess might have perhaps felt some reconcil- 
 ing thought on the subject of her own much la- 
 mented motherless position, calculated to cause 
 her heart to open even more warmly towards 
 one, whose position was not quite so couleur de 
 rose as she had formerly been induced repiningly 
 to consider it. However it may be — certainly 
 it spoke well for the kindliness of heart pos-
 
 64 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 sessed by our Duchess, the pleasure she felt in 
 the idea of making her honours and dignities 
 of use to her ever loved friend Laura ; and it 
 afforded a rare specimen of the preservation 
 of a friendship of early days; for in spite 
 of the poet, whose words we have before 
 quoted, it is a sentiment too beauteous to be 
 often verified in these latter days of self-loving 
 coldness. 
 
 Yes the Duchess did remember, even amidst 
 the circle of exclusiveness which surrounded 
 her, that it was her early friend who stood 
 before her in the person of the undistinguished 
 Mrs. Cameron, and what was still more un- 
 common, she wished the world to know it too — 
 and all those who had before carelessly en- 
 quired the name of the pretty girl, looking so 
 pale, and dazzled, beneath the brilliant chan- 
 delier — whose hand the Duchess retained so 
 affectionately whilst speaking to her mother — 
 soon asked with more eagerness the whys and 
 the wherefores of the case, for the music having
 
 DAUGHTERS. 55 
 
 Struck up its first brilliant chords, all the brightest 
 and most fashionable London belles were seen 
 making way for that same pretty girl, who with 
 her fair hair drooping gently back from her 
 face now slightly flushed, her timid eyes look- 
 ing round almost as fearfully as if she had been 
 some Amy Robsart, dragged by a rival queen 
 in her jealous wrath, was conducted across the 
 room by her Grace to meet a young man, 
 already summoned by the noble hostess, and 
 into whose charge she placed the young Lena. 
 He was tall, slight, fair, only 
 
 " Less fair — 
 Less winning soft — less amiable mild" 
 
 than herself — and they looked, when thus placed 
 side by side waiting for the rest of the company 
 to form around them, a pair almost too pure 
 and innocent to be fitted for the gaudy glare of 
 the scene in which it was their fate to be the 
 actors. 
 Yet Mrs. Cameron, though agreeably struck —
 
 56 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 as all who had any taste for the beautiful must 
 have been by the becoming effect of this se- 
 lection — had no wish to presume that her noble 
 friend had been guided by taste alone in her 
 choice of the cavalier she had introduced to her 
 daughter — rather did she hope that her Lena's 
 first partner, whose amiable, quiet gaze and 
 mildly spoken words seemed rapidly changing 
 her timidity into her naturally gentle and con- 
 fiding ease of look and manner, was one favored 
 both by rank and fortune ; and the Duke at 
 that moment coming towards her, with a kind 
 compliment concerning her daughter, aiforded 
 Mrs. Cameron an opportunity of satisfying or 
 rather of dissatisfying her curiosity, for in 
 answer to her question — " And who is Lena's 
 partner ?" his Grace replied. 
 
 " Oh ! poor young Sackville, a distant re- 
 lation of mine." 
 
 " Poor young Sackville !" that did not sound 
 very eligible, particularly uttered in the tone 
 of benevolent pity in which the amiable Duke
 
 DAUGHTERS. 57 
 
 expressed himself, and Mrs. Cameron thought 
 that really her friend, the Duchess, might be 
 carrying a little too far, her patronizing pre- 
 ferment of friends and relations. 
 
 This was, however, but a slight shade thrown 
 over the full satisfaction of the night, for the 
 quantity and quality of Lena's partners were, 
 for the rest, all that she could desire, and the 
 mother ended by being quite captivated by 
 " the poor young Sack\dlle," who was intro- 
 duced to her by Lena as a friend of her 
 brothers. 
 
 He danced no moi-e with his first fair part- 
 ner, but was generally hovering near the spot 
 when she was led back from the dance to re- 
 sume her place by her smiling mother's side, 
 and then a gentle look from her sweet eyes if 
 she perceived him, which she generally seemed 
 to do, would bring him to her, and again they 
 would converse with almost the freedom of 
 former friends. 
 
 *^ And with which of your partners were 
 • D 5
 
 58 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 you the most captivated, Lena?" her father 
 enquired, as they drove homewards in the 
 broad light of a summer's mom — ^Lena's head 
 aching with fatigue, leaning against her father's 
 shoulder. 
 
 ^' Oh ! Papa, I do not know, there were so 
 many, I can scarcely remember them distinctly, 
 except the one I danced with first. Ah ! that 
 dance was certainly the most agreeable during 
 the night." 
 
 " Then he pleased you most ?" the General 
 persisted. 
 
 " Oh ! he was quite different from the rest, 
 and then we talked together of Alick and 
 Gerald." 
 
 We are not quite certain whether it was not 
 Mrs. Cameron's first business on rising that day 
 to open the new brightly bound Lodge's Peer- 
 age, and turn unto the page where so con- 
 spicuously was now inscribed the name of her 
 once quiet and retiring little schoolfellow 
 Cecilia Goring.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 59 
 
 She cast her eyes over the astericked Lord 
 James, unmarried, and junior but by one year 
 to the Duke, his brother, and passed down to 
 the humbler collateral branches, from whose 
 ranks it seemed in the course of nature that 
 the next Duke of Stratheden must arise. Issue 
 of Lord Henry Sackville, uncle of the present 
 Duke — Then a cousin who could have no 
 greater chance than the above mentioned Lord 
 James, being even his senior, but then — ^this it 
 was that made Frederick William, son to 
 another deceased cousin, in the eyes of every 
 prosperous relation and prudent mother — '^ poor 
 young Sackville," for Lord James, his senior 
 cousin, was seen to possess two siurviving sons — 
 Henry Arthur, and Kobert James ; and Mrs. 
 Cameron turned carelessly from that ducal page 
 to search for other information in more promis- 
 ing quarters, thenceforward suffering that fair 
 and well matched young pair to carry on the 
 fraternal like intercourse into which they 
 seemed naturally to have glided, with little
 
 60 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 heed or care on her part, never troubling her 
 friend, the Duchess, when seeking useful in- 
 formation concerning those who sought or 
 " said most gentle things" to Lena, with useless 
 questions concerning the distant relations of 
 the Duke — ^by this neglect, losing that know- 
 ledge which might have changed the bent of 
 her ideas upon the subject, and with it the 
 young Lena's destiny ; for she might have learnt 
 that on those two young names which stood 
 in so fair and promising a position in the hon- 
 ourable page of the Peerage, there hung a tale 
 which might cause the poorest peasant in the 
 land to rejoice that they were not his own. 
 
 Henry Arthur and Robert James were 
 idiots, who, even if their sickly lives were spun 
 out to manhood, could in name alone enjoy the 
 honours of the lineal succession. Mrs. Cameron 
 learnt this not, till that future period, when it 
 came, together with the intelligence that the 
 neglected, slighted young Sackville was heir 
 presumptive to the Dukedom of Stratheden —
 
 DAUGHTERS. 61 
 
 the last hope and prop of that dwindled house. 
 How many live to find their worldly wisdom 
 prove, in the end, but like Mrs. Cameron's — 
 truly short sighted foolishness, 
 
 " The wise are taken in their own craftiness,''^
 
 62 DAUaHTERS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " With pearls shalt thou entwine thy hair ; 
 Thy robe, with rose and lily graced, shall heave 
 
 Around thy beauteous form 
 
 Fit symbol 
 
 Of love celestial, is this pure, pale rose ] 
 
 Oehlenschlaqbr's Axel and Valborg. 
 
 It was a pretty scene to look upon the evening 
 toilettes of young -Lena Cameron during this 
 her first and last London season. There she 
 sat so young and innocent — so fair and fresh in 
 appearance, surrounded by her pretty bevy of 
 younger sisters — ^One perhaps flitting before
 
 DAUGHTERS. 63 
 
 her with the flower or wreath, for which her 
 long, fair hair was preparing, affixed with play- 
 fiil conceit to her own streaming locks of jet — 
 another kneeling, her fairy fingers, with officious 
 zeal, assisting to draw the satin slipper on 
 the little foot — one grave girl, perchance, intent 
 on binding together the bouquet which was 
 to adorn the snowy bosom of the lovely Lena 
 — a fourth sister raising aloft the taper, in 
 order to promote the better progress of the 
 little French maid, who herself added no un- 
 pleasing feature to the beauty of the scene. 
 
 The toilette of Titania, with her fairy train, 
 could scarcely have presented a prettier sight 
 than did poor Lena's on these occasions. 
 
 Perhaps the most interesting part of it all was 
 the bearing of the Titania herself — so patient 
 — passive and careless — displaying so little of 
 that restless care with which the generality of 
 ball-room beauties superintend the adornment 
 of their loveliness — and it was still almost the 
 same to the very last moment of her stay in 
 London.
 
 64 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 No change seemed to tell that the world, 
 which in a brief space seldom fails to cast 
 its influence over the spirit of a fair one's dream, 
 had produced any effect upon her. 
 
 " Why, Mademoiselle, you have not even 
 looked at yourself,'' Justine remarked one 
 night, as her young mistress was escaping from 
 her clutches to her mother's room for aj)proval, 
 without even one glance at the cheval glass 
 placed there for her benefit. 
 
 " Ah! par doily Justine T she laughingly re- 
 plied, as she cast a careless, playful glance at 
 the reflection of her pretty figure, " but I have 
 looked so often that now I know myself by 
 heart." 
 
 Justine shrugged her shoulders as Lena 
 glided away. 
 
 " Elle naime pas — elle — c'est claire cela — ah, 
 elle est plus enfant encore que la petite, Minny." 
 
 And so it might have seemed, for on another 
 night, at one of these toilette levees, that same 
 Mademoiselle Minny, then a fair little damsel
 
 DAUGHTERS. 65 
 
 of seven years, after having stood before her 
 elder sister for some time with her large eyes 
 fixed admiringly upon her, suddenly broke 
 forth with the earnest question — 
 
 " Lena, have you any lovers ?" 
 
 The school-room trio laughed merrily at the 
 witticism, as they deemed it, of the privileged 
 nursery sister — and Justine smiled applause. 
 But Lena, on recovering the first surprise of such 
 a home question — which might have proved very 
 electrifying to some more conscious young lady, 
 but brought not even a faint blush over 
 her clear, ingenuous countenance — thought it 
 incumbent upon her dignified responsibility of 
 elder sister, that this indiscreet expression 
 should meet from her some slight reproof, 
 which, however, was only apparent in the 
 gentle gravity with which she said — 
 
 " My dear Minny you should not talk so — 
 what do you know of lovers ?" 
 
 " But ^au^ you any, Lenf dear?" persisted 
 Minny, holding to the precedency of her right
 
 '^6 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 to have her question answered, and escape re- 
 plying to one which rather puzzled her ; for 
 except by name she had indeed a very vague 
 comprehension of the practical meaning of that 
 term; although the little maiden had — with 
 something of the same distinctive aptness with 
 which a parrot sometimes electrifies its hearers 
 — applied it on this occasion. 
 
 ** No, Minny, I have not," was Lena's quiet 
 answer. 
 
 An arch smile beamed from Annie's 
 bright face, as she looked up quietly from 
 the bouquet she was forming, some sly 
 speech seeming to hover on her lips, but 
 with aU the discretion of fourteen, she 
 glanced at Justine and suppressed the names 
 of Lord '" This" and Mr. « That," which she 
 might probably have heard whispered by her 
 mother, as belonging to gentlemen paying at- 
 tention to Lena, and which she concluded 
 meant the same thing as Minny's less delicate 
 and plainer phrase of lovers indicated — a term 
 profane, which on its reaching Mrs. Cameron's
 
 DAUGHTERS. 67 
 
 ears sealed that young lady's doom of banish- 
 ment to the school-room, from which, for her 
 little brother Cecil's sake, she had been with- 
 held, to the prejudice, as it thus appeared, of 
 her morals. Henceforth was she to be con- 
 signed to those regions where young ladies' 
 ears and lips are expected to be kept pure from 
 any such words profane, or the idea even that 
 such things are, except indeed as passing un- 
 intelligibly wrapped in the liquid tones of 
 Metastasio, or in the high flown words of the 
 songs they are allowed to warble. 
 
 And this the sole preparation for the time 
 when they are to be called forth, and bade, as 
 it were, to live for nought besides — to repine 
 if lovers come not — and existing for some short 
 time in a state of excitement and expectation 
 too often ending in disappointment, at last to 
 feel that satiety at their hearts, which might 
 embody itself into some such strain as that 
 with which the poor girl, in one of Barry Corn-
 
 68 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 wall's prettiest songs is made to express her 
 longing wish for some 
 
 " Calm, cool, quiet spot, 
 Where nothing is seen but the branches green 
 And flowers on the greensward stream, 
 No lovers there witch the air, mother, 
 Nor mock at the holy sky. 
 One may live and be gay, Hke a summer's day, 
 And at last, like the summer, die,^* 
 
 But had Lena indeed gained no lovers during 
 those three months her fair self had been seen 
 in the haunts of fashion and gaiety ? Had she 
 caused no hearts to throb — no tongue to falter 
 as she was gazed upon — no one to love her 
 best of all the flowers of loveliness, amidst 
 which though many might shew of nobler hue 
 and statelier mien, she moved with as fair 
 and gentle grace as heart of man could desire — 
 she said she had no lover, and in no spirit of 
 maidenly modesty was this declared, simply it 
 was what she thought ; for never did Lena 
 dream of interpreting any of the attentions
 
 DAUGHTERS. 69 
 
 equally unmeaning as uninteresting in her 
 eyes, which she received from her gay partners 
 at balls, or loungers by her side at fete or 
 opera, as entitling her to consider them as 
 such. 
 
 There was certainly one, towards whom her 
 heart and eye often travelled amidst such scenes 
 as to a being different from the rest, and who 
 talked to her of her brothers ; but not even did 
 she more than of some " pure, bright, particular 
 star," think of tliis young man as a lover. 
 
 But IVIrs. Cameron felt no such unconscious 
 carelessness upon this same subject — indeed what 
 mother could have been thus indifferent, not 
 even one less anxious than the lady in question, 
 who, though she thought she should not mind 
 waiting until the time when Annie should 
 make her appearance, cherished most certainly 
 a very strong hope that this London season, 
 the only one she anticipated for some time, 
 might not prove unproductive. 
 Mrs. Cameron was, however, no good practical
 
 fX) DAUGHTERS. 
 
 matchmaker, and althougli in thought and 
 wish she wedded her pretty Lena, to every 
 eligible she might chance to dance with more 
 than once in one night, or who lingered by her 
 side at opera or fete, in the active measures of 
 manoeuvring she proved most unskilful. Even 
 her less energetic friend, the Duchess, re- 
 marked this, and deemed that had she been the 
 mother of daughters, she would have played 
 her cards much better. 
 
 " Now, Laura, there is Lord ," she said 
 
 one day, " how often he dances with Lena ! 
 how greatly he admires her is but too evident, 
 and yet you are going to give this dinner on 
 Tuesday, and have not invited him." 
 
 " Why really, Cecilia I have not the face 
 to do so," Mrs. Cameron answered, " Lord 
 
 is scarcely acquainted with the General, 
 
 and I fear it would look suspicious." 
 
 " Not at all," rejoined the Duchess, " I 
 offered him a seat in my carriage the other 
 
 morning from the Duke of 's fete, on 
 
 Lena's account solely, as she was with me."
 
 DAUGHTERS. 71 
 
 " All ! in you it was quite a different affair 
 — you are not her mother — if it were for any 
 one but Lena, I would ask him without a 
 scruple, but under the present circumstances I 
 should feel so guilty. Besides General Cameron 
 would be so angry — so disgusted had he any 
 idea of such a motive influencing the act." 
 
 The Duchess, though she could not (even if 
 it had been in her nature) be expected to feel 
 the same energy of thought and desire upon 
 the subject just discussed, nevertheless deter- 
 mined — and when quiet, calm dispassioned per- 
 sons take the trouble to determine they finally 
 effect more than excitable, ever planning souls 
 — to do all in her power to advance the cause 
 which the delicate scruples of the mother ap- 
 peared likely to frustrate. 
 
 It seemed, therefore, not improbable that 
 Lena, she so passive and unconscious an 
 instrument — would end in becoming the Coun- 
 tess of Seldon — for when a Duchess takes such 
 matters in hand how seldom do they fail of
 
 72 BAUGHTEHS. 
 
 success, in these days, when young ladies are 
 not often known to be the marplots of their 
 own interests. 
 
 But in this case it seemed that as some would 
 say " fate put forth its inexorable hand," or 
 rather that it pleased Him who ruleth over 
 fatQ itself to stretch forth, for this once. His 
 arm of mercy, and save an innocent young 
 creature from the machinations of falsely af- 
 fectionate friends, and that too by a stroke 
 which seemed by its wholesome measure of 
 severity, designed to purify the mother's heart, 
 from the worldliness which was at that time 
 her besetting weakness.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 73 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 " I saw my sister's lovely form 
 With gems and roses decked : 
 I did not covet them ; but oft, 
 I envied her the privilege 
 Of being so beloved." 
 
 Haynes Batlht. 
 
 *' Thank you, dear Carry," said Lena one 
 night, when deserted by the rest of her sisters 
 for their mother's dressing-room, the patient 
 child performed some little office in aid of 
 Justine's services. " Some day, I suppose, 
 Justine will be calling for some one to help her 
 whilst fixing flowers in your hair." 
 
 VOL. I E
 
 74 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " Oh ! no, Lena," Carry answered quickly, 
 " it will not much signify how they are stuck 
 in my head." 
 
 " Why, Carry ?" asked the sister. 
 
 ^^ Oh ! it is so ugly a one," she continued, 
 assuming a jesting tone, though the colour rose 
 to her cheek, and her lip trembled. 
 
 " I do not think so. Carry," said Lena. 
 
 " Ah ! but Justine does, and a great many 
 people besides too." 
 
 " Moif mademoiselle r Justine exclaimed, 
 reproachfully. 
 
 " Ah ! you need not deny it, Justine, for some- 
 thing else tells me so, with more truth, 
 perhaps, than anybody," and Carry — to Jus- 
 tine's terror — pressed her head very close to the 
 shining ringlets of her sister till both faces 
 were reflected in the toilette mirror — " There, 
 Lena, there's a pretty face to set before a 
 king." 
 
 " It is a very dear face," said Lena, leaning 
 her cheek caressingly against it.
 
 DAUGHTEKS. 75 
 
 ^' Ah ! que cest joUer Justine murmured, 
 forgetting the danger of the action in admira- 
 tion of the sentiment that inspired it. Besides 
 the effect was pretty — the contrast of the 
 little Cinderella figure with hair and garb in 
 careless disarrangement, pressed against the 
 beautifully attired Lena, in her white crape 
 dress, and Lilies of the Valley — and then the 
 Cinderella's self-condemned face looked not so 
 plain at that moment, even though showing by 
 one so very fair — for it was radiant with the 
 unaccustomed expression of grateful feeling — 
 and it bore but too often that sullen gloom 
 frequently the characteristic of the conscious 
 fright, and which gives her the greatest right 
 to the sobriquet 
 
 " Mademoiselle est si aimahle,'' murmured 
 Justine, as she left the room on some errand. 
 
 " Good — but not pretty," laughed Carry 
 
 again, " I used to say that, when I was a very 
 
 little girl, for I did not care much about being 
 
 pretty then." 
 
 E 3
 
 76 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 *^ Do you not know it is very silly to care 
 about being pretty, Carry?" said Lena, re- 
 provingly, as she was drawing on her gloves — 
 " Beauty fades away so soon, and even whilst 
 it lasts, it makes one none the happier — Good- 
 ness, it always remains. Does not Papa al- 
 ways ask for his good little Carry ? Alick 
 and Gerald say you are the kindest — the best 
 tempered of all their sisters, and Mama is 
 always telling the little ones to look up to you 
 as an example." 
 
 Carry's eyes filled with tears. 
 
 " Ah ! but, Lena, I so fear not being always 
 good — I sometimes think I become less so as I 
 grow older-^-and then to be neither good nor 
 pretty, and to feel that Papa and Mama can 
 neither be proud nor fond of me ; that would 
 be so dreadful !" 
 
 " I do not believe that time will ever come, 
 dearest Carry — I am sure you will be always 
 good — therefore always happy, and that I am 
 sure is all that you can require ; you do not
 
 DAUGHTERS. 77 
 
 know how many beautiful people are unhappy 
 in the world," and Lena sighed, though she, it 
 seemed, had felt very little of its unhappiness. 
 " Are there indeed ?" asked Carry, in con- 
 cern, " I hope you will never be unhappy, 
 Lena, or Annie or Janet." 
 
 " I trust not, Carr)^" Lena answered fear- 
 fully, her timid spirit quailing at the very idea 
 of unhappiness— her eyes fixing their serious 
 expression— gazing as it were into the page of 
 futurity to seek what ill could there await her 
 —but the laughing, dark eyed Annie, and 
 Janet bounded into the room in order to escort 
 Lena to her mother, dispersing the cloud of 
 reflection with which their gentler sister's 
 spirits had been darkened by the fear which 
 had risen up before them, of tho loss of good- 
 ness and happiness— those two frail exotics 
 of human possession— but how seldom thus 
 trembled for in the days of thoughtless child- 
 hood and youth! 
 
 Poor Carry! did she already feel, and with
 
 78 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 trembling, those enemies to goodness — those 
 movements of evil, peculiar to her position, 
 troubling her heart ? for the perils of beauty 
 though they may be great are not the only 
 dangers which beset the path of woman. 
 " The life of a beauty" is not the only state of 
 existence in which a woman may find a snare. 
 There is the soured temper — the spiteful 
 tongue — the envy, hatred, malice and unchari- 
 tableness which may spring from the thoughts 
 first engendered in the heart, caused by the 
 murmurings and repinings, occasioned by slight 
 and neglect. Poor little Carry ! it seemed 
 indeed that you were heard " in that you 
 feared," and that He " who willeth not that 
 one of these little ones should perish," looked 
 with a pitying eye upon your humble self, and 
 had already counted you among one of that 
 favored flock, who are taken away from the 
 evil to come. 
 
 And was " the weak trembler on the 
 edge of woe," less graciously regarded?
 
 DAUGHTERS. 79 
 
 Though blessed indeed are those favoured 
 beings on whom it is the Father's good 
 pleasure to bestow early the crown of 
 glory — ^blessed also are those meek souls or- 
 dained to wait so calmly the martyr's palm of 
 earthly suffering!
 
 80 DAUGHTEES. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " Oh ! was it ihe^i a time to die 1 
 It was ! that not in vain, 
 The soul of childhood's purity 
 And peace might turn again. 
 
 Miis. Hemans. 
 
 You have done with sin and sorrow, 
 You are freed from care and pain ; 
 You dread not the coming morrow, 
 You never can fear again. 
 
 Bernard Barton. 
 
 A week after and the toilette duties were 
 again going on — ^that monotonous routine alone 
 not wearisome, as it becomes the sole business
 
 DAUGHTERS, 81 
 
 and interest of the life of the votary of plea- 
 sure. 
 
 Not for this reason had it become a pleasure 
 to Lena Cameron, but it was one of the chief 
 pastimes of her young sisters, in the confined 
 sphere of enjoyment which a London life af- 
 forded to them, to inspect her toilette, and she 
 rejoiced in seeing their innocent and mirthful 
 enjoyment. But this night her face was 
 pale, and wore an expression of sadness 
 and weariness — almost of impatience at 
 the occupation in which she found herself en- 
 gaged. 
 
 Annie and Janet, too, stood by watching the 
 progress gravely and silently. 
 
 Poor Carry was not there — she had been 
 very ill — indeed her sickness for the few last 
 days had been a source of much anxiety. A 
 cough, which she had had for some time, had 
 taken the dangerous form of inflammation. 
 
 On the night in question, however, it may 
 
 be inferred, the uneasiness of the family had 
 E 5
 
 82 DAUGHTEES, 
 
 abated; still it was a struggle to Mrs. Came- 
 ron to leave the sick child over whom she had 
 watched for the last two days and nights, to 
 adorn herself for the gay scene to which she 
 was now about to repair. And why then did 
 she go ? — so Lena's tearful eyes enquired when 
 her mother had said : " Well, Lena, I think 
 as dear Carry is so much better I must take 
 you to Lady to-night." 
 
 But Mrs. Cameron did not tell her why; she 
 only remarked, almost reproachfully, as she 
 observed Lena's look of dismay — " It is for 
 your sake, dear Lena, not mine that I make 
 the exertion. I consider it my duty to go." 
 
 And Lena said no more, though, perhaps, 
 there rose to her lips — 
 
 " For my sake, dear Mama, oh ! then, for 
 my sake, do stay at home." 
 
 But she was dutiful and confiding to a fault, 
 if that feeling springing from the simple, 
 child-like faith she bore towards her mother 
 could be deemed a fault — a virtue truly might
 
 DAUGHTERS. 83 
 
 it more properly be called in these unfilial 
 latter days. Therefore, without questioning the 
 consistency of this, indeed, very doubtful duty, 
 for which both her own and her mother's in- 
 clinations, were to be outraged — Lena dressed, 
 then stole to the side of her sleeping sister, and 
 shortly after accompanied her mother to the 
 ball — General Cameron remained with the 
 invalid. 
 
 It had been chiefly by the persuasion of the 
 Duchess, that Mrs. Cameron had been induced, 
 under the veil of duty, to do \dolence to those 
 feelings which so strongly urged her to a con- 
 trary course. 
 
 The Duchess having heard of the improved 
 turn Carry's illness had taken, had written to 
 Mrs. Cameron begging that if it were not 
 utterly impossible, Lena might appear at Lady 
 
 's that evening. She had particular 
 
 reasons for wishing this — reasons connected 
 with Lord Seldon — for she had been led to 
 suppose that this occasion might prove a critical
 
 84 BAUOHTEKS. 
 
 juncture for the fulfilment of the hope she had 
 so energetically laboured to accomplish. 
 
 It would then have been ungrateful, Mrs. 
 Cameron argued with herself, not to do a little 
 violence to her own feelings in order to gratify 
 her friend on this point. 
 
 Their Doctor — one of his class who make 
 the best of everything, always scorning ap- 
 prehension — would not allow that there was 
 any symptom in the case of his young patient 
 to render the least necessary, the further se- 
 clusion of the beautiful mother and sister — 
 and General Cameron, thus re-assured, was 
 only too willing that liis wife's mind should be 
 diverted from the anxiety of a sick room, by 
 a few hours of relaxation. 
 
 But how ill repaid was Mrs. Cameron, for 
 the violence done to her better feeUngs! The 
 remembrance of this night did but afterwards 
 affix in her heart one of those thorns of self- 
 reproach, which are so agonizing to endure. 
 How magnifying and over-reckoning is memory
 
 DAUGHTERS. 85 
 
 — and when that memory may be of the dead ! 
 
 " To chase for one child an earthly shadow, 
 I left another who was fast fleeting to the land 
 of shadows and darkness — !" 
 
 In such a garb as this did her reluctant act 
 often rise up before the mother's eyes ! 
 
 Lord Seldon was near a radiant beauty's 
 side, as the pale, dejected Lena entered the 
 room — but the dance having just concluded he 
 came almost immediately to crave her hand for 
 the next. 
 
 But was one — just escaped with spirit de- 
 pressed from that atmosphere of dismay, with 
 which the apparition of danger and distress 
 ever assaults a household — who accustomed to 
 the voice of joy and health in their dwelling 
 have been visited suddenly witn sickness and 
 anxiety — was she fitted to meet the glare of 
 such a scene — she whose thoughts were ever 
 recurring to the darkened room through which 
 for the last few days she had been gUding — 
 picturing to herself that little bed on which
 
 86 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 she had left her sleeping sister — wondering if 
 the meek sufferer still slept, was she— with her 
 pale brow — her anxious countenance— absent 
 eye — faltering speech, to take with success the 
 place of the brilHant, animated beauty, who 
 for the last week, during which Lena had been 
 hidden from his sight — had charmed the ears 
 and heart of the quickly inflamed Lord Sel- 
 don? 
 
 It was perceiving this new absorption which 
 had been the Duchess's chief object in urging 
 the expediency of Lena's counteracting pre- 
 sence, and her dismay was great, when some 
 time after, she beheld, on passing through an 
 ante-room. Lord Seldon in deep flirtation with 
 his new fascination; whilst Lena, whom her 
 Grace had hoped — ^from her having disappeared 
 with his Lordship — to have found still his com- 
 panion, was seated in a secluded corner, with 
 her own young relative, Frederick Sackville, 
 standing before her. Lena had gladly dropped 
 the arm of the partner who, though three days
 
 DAUGHTERS. 87 
 
 ago he had seemed but .too richly paid by sweet 
 but unconscious smiles, and a few words of her 
 low but melodious voice — had since been fed 
 on richer and more piquant food — the coquet- 
 tish smile and beguiling talk of the worldly 
 beauty Lady Wilhelmina — and who therefore 
 when on this night, smiles and words of any kind 
 from poor Lena were so faint and few, he be- 
 ofan for the first time to discover, that Miss 
 Cameron both in looks and manner was rather 
 tame — somewhat of the milk and water class. 
 
 He must really take care what he was about 
 — he had nearly been beguiled into losing his 
 heart — perhaps into offering his hand — so 
 when young Sackville had started from his 
 seat, as Lena passed him, looking pale, and 
 somewhat wistfully towards it — his Lordship 
 having deposited her upon it, accepted more 
 readily than had been his wont her bow of 
 thanks as one of dismissal, and was soon by 
 the Lady Wilhelmina's side. And Lena, not
 
 88 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 mortified but rather relieved as she beheld who 
 was now her companion, said : 
 
 " I have turned you oif your seat, Mr. 
 Sackville ; but it is right that you should be 
 disturbed, for you ought to be dancing instead 
 of sitting idly here — Ah ! I envy you, gentle- 
 men, you can dance or not, as it please you — 
 but we are obliged to do so often when most 
 disagreeable." 
 
 " You do not mean to say that it is distaste- 
 ful to you, and that you are obliged to dance, 
 Miss Cameron," and the young man looked 
 at her with such kind concern that the tears 
 rose to her eyes. 
 
 " I never felt before so great a disinclination 
 to dance," Lena replied, with much sadness ; 
 " but one of my sisters is very ill, therefore you 
 may imagine my feelings, although it would 
 not do for me to sit still as you do." 
 
 " But she is better — or I should not have 
 seen you here ?" enquired Mr. Sackville.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 8^ 
 
 « Oh ! yes, better ; but still Mama would 
 rather have remained at home." 
 
 " Then why did you come ?" he persisted, 
 fixing his eyes enquiringly upon her face. 
 Lena shook her head rather doubtingly. 
 A movement of joy rose to the young man's 
 heart, for he had been let into the secret of 
 the Duchess, concerning her views with regard 
 to Lord Seldon, but he saw at once that she 
 was not aware of them — Lena was as pure 
 and unconscious, as when his young partner 
 had on the first day of her appearance made 
 so ineffaceable an impression on his imagina- 
 tion. 
 
 That Lily Queen, as he had called her to his 
 invalid mother, as he described the perfection 
 of the beautiful Lena, in all the ardent, glowing 
 coiours of his youthftd imaginative heart — till 
 the quiet chamber seemed to breathe of the 
 purity and sweetness of the form and face he 
 so graphically pourtrayed— the fairy form whom 
 alone he followed to the gay scenes, amongst
 
 90 DAUGHTERS* 
 
 which, like a better spirit, she was wont to 
 glide in those circles which, during his mother's 
 sojourn in London for the benefit of medical 
 advice, the young man frequented. 
 
 But this night young Sackville — as Lena 
 so soft, tearful and subdued seemed to lean 
 upon his kindness and support, with such fas- 
 cinating confidence — began to feel the influence 
 which had been to him as yet but as a delicious 
 dream — a vision of delight — a purifying guar- 
 dian of his heart, from ruder passions, assume 
 a name and a shape — a passion and a power, 
 which if further scope had been given for its 
 indulgence, might have gone far to disturb his 
 happiness and peace of mind. 
 
 And Lena — what might her passionless 
 heart have learnt, in that hour, in which she 
 first was conscious, that her eyes were drooping 
 beneath the gaze of another— that a feeling of 
 delight, different to aught that she had ever 
 before experienced, made her heart light
 
 DAUGHTERS. 91 
 
 and almost forgetful even of poor Carry during 
 the too fast fleeting moments ? 
 
 But no, the sweet but dangerous lesson was 
 interrupted— and though in after years she 
 mio-ht almost have said with Schiller's Thekla 
 
 c5 
 
 in thinking over that evening — " I had two 
 hours of heaven," or in her dreams the remem- 
 brance would float like music in the air, 
 perhaps the delight of the moment was ex- 
 aggerated by the contrast which it afforded to 
 the sad dismay of the hours which so closely 
 followed on its track — From this period there 
 was no more heaven upon earth for poor Lena, 
 save that which ever dwelleth in the pure and 
 lowly heart in which the joys of earth can 
 have no portion, nor its trials remove. 
 
 The Duke himself, with an air of concern 
 upon his countenance, came to tell Lena that 
 her mother was waiting for her down stairs, 
 and as he led the trembling girl he gently told 
 her that they had been sent for, as her sister 
 was not so well — then hurried her into the
 
 92 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 carriage, where Mrs. Cameron was already 
 seated in fearful impatience; and from that 
 glittering scene they were quickly transported 
 to one — how different ! 
 
 General Cameron was standing on the stairs, 
 when, with trembling hands and sinking hearts, 
 the mother and daughter entered the house ; 
 for the father's heart was not sufficiently strong 
 to endure the trial of witnessing his little 
 daughter's sufferings — he could but pace to 
 and fro with anguish pictured on his counten- 
 ance ; grief tearing his too sensitive heart. 
 
 His pale lips could scarcely answer the 
 faltering enquiries of his wife and daughter. 
 They hurried to the room where Carry lay — 
 Near her bed-side crouched Annie and Janet, 
 weeping in all the fervour of childish dis- 
 tress. 
 
 The invalid had awakened from the sleep, 
 from which so much was expected, fearfully 
 feverish and delirious — and her calls upon her 
 sisters' names had summoned the poor girls from
 
 DAUGHTERS. 93 
 
 their beds in an adjoining room, to which they 
 could not be prevailed upon to return. 
 
 The sufferer's attention seemed to be forcibly 
 attracted by the sudden and radiant apparition 
 presented by her mother and Lena, in their 
 ball attire, though she appeared to have but a 
 confused comprehension of what she saw. Her 
 eyes roved wildly over their forms, as they bent 
 over her — and she began to talk of the bride 
 and the pure gold, and the jaspers, and the 
 pearls and precious stones of the city of God. 
 These rambling ideas could be accounted for, 
 by the fact of the beautiful chapter containing 
 the description to which she alluded having 
 been read to her during her illness. 
 
 With what an aching heart the mother re- 
 moved her jewels and adornments from her per- 
 son to take her place as watcher by the bed of 
 her dying child ! for as the fever and delirium, 
 which lasted throughout the night, burnt itself 
 away, the little frame gradually sunk ex- 
 hausted, and she had but strength to smile
 
 M DAUGHTERS. 
 
 faintly upon the first object wliich met her 
 sensible perception — the form of Lena still 
 wearing her ball costume (the pearls still 
 adorning her pale brow) seated, leaning power- 
 less and grief stricken against the bed. 
 
 Poor Carry had but strength to smile upon 
 that dear guardian sister, with an expression 
 which might seem to speak some such words — 
 
 " Oh ! cheer thee maiden in His name 
 Who stilled Jairus' wail." 
 
 And much need had those who wept for com- 
 fort — When the day was come, the little 
 maiden's spirit had received its final summons, 
 and had arisen to a more blessed life than that 
 to which the ruler's daughter was restored by 
 the same Almighty voice which now called the 
 young Carry to himself. 
 
 There were many amongst those who Iiad 
 heard of the affliction which had fallen upon 
 the Camerons, and stopped their carriages 
 before the closed house to enquire after the 
 family, who felt more pity for the mother.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 95 
 
 perhaps on account of the sudden conclusion 
 of her eldest daughter's promisingly commenced 
 London season, than for the sad catastrophe itself. 
 It certainly was a misfortune to lose a child, 
 but then there was so large a family — that one 
 could well be spared — And the departed was 
 certainly not — as is too commonly the case — 
 the pride — the flower of the flock, which had 
 thus been cut ofl*, but the least fair — the least 
 promising to outward appearance of all the 
 party. 
 
 But these worldly souls who thus argued 
 were untried in any such bereavement — or they 
 would have known that under such a stroke — 
 nature, unless hopelessly deteriorated, ever 
 asserts its natural rights — casting aside all 
 those spurious impediments which may have 
 before interrupted its full and healthful glow. 
 The parent called upon to part with a child 
 forgets whether it has been the most beautiful, 
 the best beloved in life that has been taken 
 from him, and feels constrained when the 
 moment of bereavement arrives to mourn for.
 
 96 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 his Simeon, as deeply for Ms as Benjamin and 
 his Joseph. 
 
 Amongst the many marks of kindness which 
 the Camerons received from the Duke and 
 Duchess of Stratheden, during the period of 
 their affliction, was the offer of a marine 
 residence at Eastbourne, where the family 
 might spend the first months of their mourning. 
 
 It was gratefully accepted — and a few days 
 after the funeral, the same green barouche was 
 filling with the sable clad forms of the mother 
 and her ^Ye children. 
 
 Alas ! there was " just room now," as little 
 Cecil, with childish thoughtlessness remarked, 
 as he was placed in the seat between his 
 mother and eldest sister, thus causing their hearts 
 to bleed afresh by this innocently afflicted 
 wound. 
 
 There was one alone of the lovers and friends 
 gained by the fair and gentle debutante 
 during her sadly ended London season, who 
 cared to seek for one more parting sight of 
 her sweet face.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 97 
 
 Frederick SackviUe it was who made it his 
 
 way to pass through street just in time 
 
 to see the well packed carriage glide by him 
 with its sombre garbed occupants — He had 
 a sweet though melancholy reward — a quick 
 glance of recognition — a sad smile wliich 
 faintly lighted up the pale, dejected face of 
 Lena. 
 
 It was but a little guerdon — still one of great 
 price to his true, young heart. 
 
 " Not the thousand thoughts that rise, 
 Not all the sights that dimmed his eyes," 
 
 for many a future day could blot out, that 
 sadly sweet remembrance ! 
 
 " That fairy form was ne'er forgot which first love 
 
 traced, 
 Still it lingering haunts the greenest spot of memVys 
 
 waste, 
 'Twas odour fled as soon as shed, 
 'Twas morning's winged dream — 
 'Twas a light which ne'er can shine again, 
 On life's dull stream, 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV, 
 
 " She was not fair, nor full of grace, 
 Nor crowned with thought or aught beside ; 
 No wealth had she of mind or face, 
 To win our love, or raise our pride : 
 No lover's thought her cheek did touch ; 
 No poet's dream was 'round her thrown ; 
 And yet we miss her — ah, too much, 
 Now — she hath flown." 
 
 Barry Cornwall, 
 
 There are two members of the Cameron 
 family, of whom we have made little mention 
 — the sons — Gerald and Alick. They were as 
 noble youths, both in mind and person, as ever
 
 DAUGHTEKS. 99 
 
 formed the pride of a father or the hope and 
 joy of a tender mother. But there is so little 
 upon which to dwell with peculiar interest in 
 boys who go to school, or capable of particular- 
 ization in that after period, when they are first 
 launched upon the sea of life — generally so far 
 away from the post of home. 
 
 Thus, though the character of a woman — 
 even from the cradle — may be easily antici- 
 pated, it is difficult to foresee what a man's may 
 be. We must wait till " the silence and the 
 calm comes on" of riper manhood, and then 
 " when the high seal of character is set, the 
 impression stands forth, firm and manifest" 
 and " all are seen not to be similar." The un- 
 alterable signet is fixed, not the valueless ductile 
 stamp of wax or bread, fashioned by the child 
 — that feeble impress originally framed in one 
 shape, but moulded, varied at will by the 
 capricious touch or pressure of circumstances, 
 wliich often almost justifies the poets' ungallant 
 
 assertion that — 
 F 3
 
 100 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 ■ " Most women have no character at all, 
 Matter too soft a lasting mark to bear, 
 And best distinguished by black, brown, or fair.'* 
 
 Yes, man's character is truly formed of 
 harder, sterner stuff, moulded in a slower but 
 surer furnace, from which it issues forth, in- 
 delibly stamped, good or bad, for time and for 
 eternity. 
 
 " The soul of man 
 Createth its own destiny of power. 
 And as the trial is intense r here, 
 His being hath a nobler strength in heaven.** 
 
 But though the time of manhood had not 
 arrived, the two elder Camerons had at the 
 very onset of their career — through the sun- 
 ning influence of opportunity — given to view 
 the promising shapings of their souls' formation. 
 They had entered their seventeenth year, 
 when their Sandhurst education was completed, 
 tor with more consideration for taste and incli- 
 ]iation, than prudence and judgment, their
 
 DAUOHTEES. 101 
 
 father's profession had been chosen for them ; 
 and at that time a commission in an excellent 
 cavalry regiment was for purchase. The Gene- 
 ral made this known to the youths, declaring 
 his willingness to obtain it for one of his sons, 
 but at the same time announcing his inability 
 to meet a similar expense for the other: an 
 infantry commission must content the remain- 
 ing brother. Then had come the generous 
 strife between the brothers as to which was to 
 receive this favour. 
 
 Alick's two hours seniority was held up by 
 the younger in support of his brother's claim. 
 But Gerald's had stronger and more plausible 
 arguments with which to win liis mother's 
 support, and his friends' approval. 
 
 He spoke of Alick's more delicate health 
 and fragile appearance, and of the probable 
 exposure to foreign climes, entailed upon 
 an infantry officer, and finally he prevailed — 
 for it was Gerald who had performed the 
 mournful duty of following his young sister to
 
 102 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 the grave — ^whilst Alick could but, in his dis- 
 tant quarters in the Highlands, bind the black 
 crape round his arm with a sorrowful counte- 
 nance and silent tears. 
 
 But for Gerald there was another fate in 
 store. A short time after the Cameron's re- 
 moval to Eastbourne, the General received an 
 official recall to London, where he found that a 
 staff appointment just vacant had been con- 
 ferred upon him, it being also in his power to con- 
 fer upon his son the secretaryship attached to it. 
 
 A few weeks after, the General found it 
 necessary to embark for Ireland, and he per- 
 suaded Mrs. Cameron to accompany him, 
 leaving the younger members of the family at 
 Eastbourne with the Governess. Beachy Place 
 was a pleasant mansion, situated on high, 
 healthy ground, surrounded by a sloping park 
 of about half a mile's walk from the sea. 
 
 And how soon did the perfect freedom which 
 they enjoyed — ^the delicious, invigorating breezes 
 brace the elastic spirits of the young girls —
 
 DAUGHTERS. 103 
 
 restore the rose of happiness which the first 
 bitter tears they had ever shed had washed from 
 their cheeks — and as they bounded so lightly 
 along the beach or cliff walks — or flew past 
 on the ponies so kindly provided for their use 
 by their noble landlord, with their smilino- 
 faces, and merry voices ringing in the air, it 
 might have been inferred that poor Carry was 
 unmissed — forgotten. But it was not so. 
 
 For what were those sudden pauses in the 
 pulse of careless gaiety — in the beatings of 
 their elated hearts, when even at its highest 
 bounds but that power which dwelleth — 
 
 " In that one poor thought alone 
 
 She was— 
 
 And she is flown," 
 " We miss her when the morning calls 
 As one who mingled in our mirth, 
 We miss her when the evening calls 
 A trifle wanted on the earth." 
 
 No, poor Carry, you were not forgotten. 
 And was the young debutante of that Lon»
 
 104 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 don season able to renew her childhood's zest — 
 to appreciate those enjoyments as if she had 
 never tasted the less unsophisticated pleasures 
 of a ball and fete 9 
 
 Yes, if Lena's outward bearing might have 
 made this doubtful to the stranger's eye, it was 
 not because of any change cast over her by the 
 late short but full seasoned taste of " woman's 
 world ;" all that seemed passed away leaving 
 no more definable impression on her mind and 
 feelings than the remembrance of a dream 
 when one awaketh. She was still as much 
 the child as before — the little one in sim- 
 plicity and innocence of thought and desire 
 — and if she demonstrated less sensible marks 
 of enjoyment in her present life — it was be- 
 cause the late sorrow which had stricken the 
 family, weighed longer and heavier upon her 
 more sensitive nature. 
 
 Besides — Lena in her youngest and most 
 joyous days never shone forth with such elation 
 of spirits as the graceful hoydens Annie and
 
 DAUGHTERS. 105 
 
 Janet. No — even then had she been the 
 gentle guardian sister, to whom in her more 
 timid, lingering course the little ones of the 
 flock might cling for support and guidance — 
 whilst the ruder, bolder spirits brushed on 
 their careless, gleeful way. 
 
 It was under such an aspect that Lena 
 Cameron first attracted the notice of one who 
 is destined to form a prominent feature in this 
 narrative. 
 
 It was on a rocky part of the beach that 
 Lena was left some distance behind the party 
 with the two youngest children ; the servant 
 having been obliged to keep pace with the 
 adventurous Minny lest she should fall into 
 some mischief; the governess lingering still 
 further in the back ground, beguiled by the 
 interest of a book. 
 
 The little boy and girl slowly proceeded on 
 
 their way, with their tardily filled baskets of 
 
 sea-side treasures in one hand, and by the other 
 
 holding their sister — her delicate complexion 
 
 F 5
 
 106 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 freshened by the breeze to the pinkest hue 
 ever sea shell could boast — her fair hair un- 
 curled, drooping in long tresses beneath her 
 sable bonnet. With her little, dainty feet she 
 was cautiously commencing the critical exploit 
 of guiding the children over the slippery 
 cluster of mud-covered rocks, when a brother 
 rambler, who for some time had been seen in 
 the distance, advanced close enough to cause 
 him suddenly to slacken his pace, in order to 
 gaze with admiring scrutiny on the chief figure 
 of the group. 
 
 He was a man apparently about thirty, with 
 nothing very striking in liis appearance to draw 
 forth from the observer any more particular 
 comment than that he was gentlemanlike. 
 
 It requires much scrutiny to discern the 
 deep individuality wliich oftener exists in the 
 characters of men of such like little demonstra- 
 tion than ofttimes shews itself in those whose 
 characteristics of good or evil, seem to float, 
 as it were, on the surface of their countenance 
 and bearing.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 107 
 
 And well that so it should be— for by the 
 slow, but sure experience of our daily life, we 
 gain too soon the knowledge of how constantly 
 poor mortals make this earth bitter for one 
 another— this sad and strange world, more 
 ead and sorrowful — now that mankind may 
 almost be seen to be di\aded into two classes — 
 the persecuted and the persecutor — the op- 
 pressed and the oppressor. But if by one com- 
 prehensive glance could be revealed to human 
 ken, all the extent of offence too often stored 
 in one weak mortal heart for the torment and 
 misery of his fellow men, how constantly 
 should we shrink from those who daily cross 
 our path or walk by our side; discerning 
 as we should do, not merely the single wound- 
 ing stone or grazing pebble — those petty, trivial 
 injuries we see hourly, daily flung, wantonly, 
 or in sport — or more self-deceiving still— in 
 so called kindness, by the social, the domestic 
 oppressor or persecutor on his doomed victims ; 
 but that exceeding high mountain, that rock
 
 108 DAUGHTEE8. 
 
 of offence in its collected force would appear 
 able in one fell fall to crush the hearts and 
 happiness of the unfortunates o'er whom it 
 hangs. But to those who see not as we do 
 behind the scenes, the connection may not be 
 discernable between this metaphoric digression 
 and that gentlemanlike and unremarkable per- 
 sonage, who having passed Lena and her 
 charges, seemed certainly by no means to con- 
 sider her as coming under the head of this last 
 denomination — for long and lingering was the 
 gaze he turned to send after her delicate and 
 graceful figure. But though the stumbling of 
 her little companions and the difficulty under 
 w^ich he evidently saw her labouring, to eifect 
 their safe convoy over the dangerous grounds, 
 might have afforded him a legitimate excuse, 
 under the score of common civility, for gratify- 
 ing what might be imagined was his own in- 
 clination by offering his assistance — the idea 
 of so doing never seemed to occur to his mind
 
 4*1 
 DAUGHTERS. 109 
 
 — and having gazed till he appeared satisfied, 
 he turned and continued his way. From that 
 day forth, rarely did the young Camerons leave 
 the downs of Beachy without encountering this 
 stranger in the course of their rides and walks* 
 
 So often did this meeting recur, that at 
 length it began to attract the particular atten* 
 tion of the young party, 
 
 " Lena !" exclaimed the quick witted Annie 
 one day to her sister, " where have I seen that 
 man's face before ?" 
 
 " I cannot enlighten you, Annie," laughed 
 Lena ; " in your dreams most likely." 
 
 " Then it must have been in some very un- 
 pleasant dream, good sister mine, for his face 
 seems always connected with some disagree- 
 able event," said Annie. 
 
 But though Lena, in order, if possible, to 
 relieve Annie's active mind by the elucidation 
 of her indefinite recollections, did examine the 
 irritating subject with more minuteness on
 
 110 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 their next meeting — ^the investigation seemed 
 neither to have given her enlightenment, nor 
 interest sufficient to cause her ever more to 
 care to repeat it, or to allow " the man" to 
 provoke such another deep blush as she had 
 felt called to her cheeks, by the gaze of earnest, 
 though not disrespectful scrutiny from the 
 stranger's light blue eyes which had met her 
 timid survey. 
 
 But the sisters, with their fresh, childish 
 curiosity, often discussed and commented on 
 one, whose evident interest in them (of some 
 sort or other) could not remain unobserved. 
 He was now seen more frequently wan- 
 dering in Beachy Park, and once was suddenly 
 surprised leaning over a little gate opening 
 from the ground therein. 
 
 At length one day he even took the trouble 
 of stopping the two younger children, who 
 certainly never before seemed the object of 
 his interest, and patting Cecil's head, called
 
 DAUGHTERS. Ill 
 
 him a fine boy ; then as he was departing he 
 suddenly turned as if the thought had just 
 struck him, and enquired of the maid, in a low- 
 voice, when General and Mrs. Cameron were 
 expected home — His question answered, he 
 passed on.
 
 112 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 " He says, he loves my daughter ; 
 I think so too ; for never gaz'd the moon 
 Upon the water, as he'll stand and read, 
 As 'twere, my daughter's eyes." 
 
 Winteb's Tale. 
 
 " Well, Madam, of one thing I was always 
 convinced," was the sage remark with which 
 Mrs. Cameron was greeted the first morning 
 after her return to Eastbourne, by her old 
 and confidential servant Mrs. Maunsell — who 
 acted in the capacity of lady's maid and house-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 113 
 
 keeper — " I was always convinced that there 
 was a fate in marriage." 
 
 Apropos to nothing this seemed to her mis- 
 tress — except to the price of meat and poultry, 
 which had been the chief subject of their 
 conversation — but it was apropos to much that 
 was passing in the housekeeper's mind, in the 
 midst of her lamentations on the dearness of 
 this, and the scarceness of that article of con- 
 sumption ; relating even to a subject on which 
 she was anxious to be the first to give her 
 mistress a hint, knowing the interest she would 
 take in it, though it did not come within her 
 province thus to enlighten her lady. 
 
 " Yes, ma'am," she continued, " if one was 
 to go to the world's end — to ever so out of the 
 way place, one's husband, or one that might be 
 so, at least — if one had a mind — would be sure 
 to start out of the ground — ^if it so could be." 
 
 '^ My dear Maunsell, I hope that has not been 
 your case," said Mrs. Cameron. 
 
 " Mine, madam !" I was not alluding in any
 
 114 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 way to myself — I am sure I have the interest 
 of your family much more at heart than mine 
 own ; but really, ma'am, if you'll excuse me, 
 it's for certain Miss Cameron has made quite 
 a conquest in this retirement." 
 
 " Indeed, Maunsell," said Mrs. Cameron, 
 with not a little earnestness, " and pray who 
 is it?" 
 
 ^ A gentleman, ma'am, of good property, 
 from what I hear ; not of this part of course ; 
 they say he's on a visit to a brother in the 
 neighbourhood — and for certain he is always 
 hankering about anywhere that he can possibly 
 catch a glimpse of Miss Cameron — that has 
 been clear to everybody — and if he didn't stop 
 Sarah with the children the other day to ask 
 when you and my master were expected 
 home." 
 
 " Have you any idea of his name ? what 
 sort of a looking man is he ?" enquired Mrs. 
 Cameron. 
 
 *' He's as well looking a gentleman as you
 
 DAUGHTERS. 115 
 
 would wish to see, about twenty-eight, or 
 perhaps a little older, I should say ; and as for 
 his name, they don't seem to be quite sure of 
 that, as he has nothing to do with the place ; 
 he only rides over and spends his day in stroll- 
 ing about for sea air — or something else now — as 
 it seems. I did hear his name was Beachy, or 
 something of the sort, but it is all Beachy here 
 — Beachy this — and Beachy that — the people 
 seem to have no other name in their brains." 
 
 But Mrs. Cameron was not long kept in 
 curiosity as to the rightful title of him, who, 
 from the farther accounts of the younger girls, 
 and the governess, seemed entitled to be classed 
 under the head of Lena's admirer — though 
 whether one to be encouraged and counte- 
 nanced, could be but a matter of uncertainty. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron had rejoined her family alone 
 — The General having been detained in Ireland 
 longer than she liked to remain absent from 
 her children, and Gerald had proceeded to 
 London on business for his father.
 
 116 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 She had returned with no very great elation 
 of feeling concerning their prospects for the 
 next few years. Mrs. Cameron now began, 
 for the first time, to experience the weight 
 upon her mind of grown up daughters. 
 
 The lucrative advantages of the General's 
 appointment must have counterbalanced any 
 aversion she might have felt, at the somewhat 
 out of the way quarter to which it doomed 
 them for the most part of the next few years. 
 When her children were young she had often 
 spent, in far wilder sojourns, the happiest days 
 of her life, but now, with a grown up daughter, 
 it would be very different. 
 
 Her pretty Lena, buried — out of the way 
 of all those advantages she so coveted for her — 
 this would be a perpetual source of annoyance — 
 inimical to anything like contentment and en- 
 joyment. 
 
 Annie, for the next two years, would do 
 very well — ^the less seen the better — and having
 
 DAUGHTERS. 117 
 
 no education mania, the governess could give her 
 all the advantages necessary in that way — but 
 Lena ! The anxious mother had resigned herself, 
 but with no very cheerful resignation, to the 
 frustration of those bright visions her active 
 imagination had conjured up on her child's 
 account. 
 
 The day after Mrs. Cameron's arrival 
 at Beachy Place, she was startled from a 
 reverie, composed of some such meditations, by 
 a ring at the hall door, soon followed by the 
 entrance of a servant bearing a card, on which 
 she read the name of " IVIr. Beauchamp." 
 
 She mused for a moment in surprise. 
 
 " Oh! ask Mr. Beauchamp to walk up," 
 she then said to the servant, and Mr. Beau- 
 champ was soon ushered into the room. 
 
 In the son of the stately Lady Rachel, Mrs. 
 Cameron beheld the sea-shore rambler — Lena's 
 unknown admirer I 
 
 Mrs. Maunsell had been right in her commu- 
 nication. Mr. Beauchamp's resting place was.
 
 118 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 as he informed Mrs. Cameron, the rectory of 
 a younger brother, who had a living in the 
 neighbourhood; but it was his custom during 
 these yearly visits to make daily excursions On 
 horseback, and spend the greatest part of his 
 time in rambling by the sea side. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron remembered having thought 
 the young Mr. Beauchamp, in whose company 
 she had spent that short time about five years 
 ago, rather repulsive than otherwise — but those 
 five years had certainly worked a great im^ 
 provement upon him. Now he was most 
 courteous — almost empresse in his apparent 
 desire to be agreeable, and place himself on 
 the friendly footing with the family, which the 
 connection of his father with the General might 
 entitle him to claim. And though, when Mrs. 
 Cameron spoke of his having probably met her 
 children in their walks, he rather hurried over 
 the subject, she could fancy that she discerned, 
 certain hasty glances towards the door at every 
 sound — some fidgety uneasiness as the time
 
 DAUGHTERS. 119 
 
 wore on, and no Miss Lena chose to make her 
 appearance. On the contrary Lena had re- 
 sumed her seat in the school-room, from which 
 she was on the point of repairing to join her 
 mother, when Cecil, who had been lurking in 
 the passages, came in with the information, 
 that the gentleman who they were always 
 meeting, and whose name was Mr. Beauchamp, 
 had gone into the drawing-room. 
 
 " Ah !" was Annie's sudden exclamation, 
 " Beauchamp ! was not that the name of that 
 dreadful woman Mama took us to visit, a long 
 time ago ? Those poor girls of hers — oh ! I 
 have never foro;etten it — and now I know who 
 that everlastingly appearing gentleman is — her 
 son, who came in for a few minutes before we 
 went." 
 
 " Yes, you always said, Annie, that his face 
 made you you think of something disagree- 
 able," remarked Janet. " Shall you go and 
 see him, Lena T 
 
 " No, I thank you," Lena answered, " I do
 
 120 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 not wish to be made to think of anything 
 disagreeable ; Mama will be able, I dare say, to 
 entertain him without my assistance." 
 
 So in quiet unconsciousness Lena resumed the 
 occupation she had been before pursuing, though 
 even Miss Manners, the governess, looked up, 
 as . if she thought Miss Cameron ought, for 
 some reason, to have repaired to the drawing- 
 room. However, Lena remained in the school- 
 room until the hall door had shut upon the 
 disappointed Mr. Beauchamp, and then she 
 very innocently returned to her mother, to be 
 smilingly and significantly rebuked for thus 
 keeping out of the way of twenty thousand a 
 year. 
 
 But, Lena, what will this one passive 
 struggle avail you, if Mrs. Maunsell's marriage 
 theory holds goods in your case — if the hus- 
 band who was not in the full saloons and gay 
 re-unions of London has found you out, in 
 the sohtude of Beachy — amidst the shingles 
 and rocks, of dull, secluded Eastbourne ? You 
 must meet him again in your mother's presence.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 121 
 
 and be introduced ; there will be other visits 
 from which you cannot always absent yourself. 
 In your walks and rides you will soon have 
 that stranger your constant, assiduous at- 
 tendant, who, with a kind of irresistible au- 
 thority, which, though not pleasing, you find 
 no power to resist — will quickly assume over 
 you an influence which you cannot shake off. 
 In the shrubberies of Beechy there will be 
 tete-a-tete walks — every opportunity will be 
 afforded for frequent meetings — And how 
 must all this end ? How indeed ? 
 
 About a fortnight after Mrs. Cameron's re- 
 turn, General Cameron being now in England, 
 but stiU detained in London, Mr. Beauchamp, 
 who for the last few days had been anxiously 
 enquiring when the General might be expected, 
 could wait no longer. 
 
 Calling one morning and finding Mrs. 
 Cameron alone, he spoke out — apologized for 
 VOL I. G
 
 122 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 the perhaps abrupt disclosure, pleading the 
 ardour and strength of his feelings, and pro- 
 posed for the hand of the fair Lena. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron had no great reason to be 
 taken by surprise, nor to be electrified by any 
 feeling but that of delight. Had she not at- 
 tained the summit of her wishes? - Her 
 daughter was sought by one of the richest 
 commoners in England, and one, moreover, 
 who could truly boast of being of the very 
 best families. 
 
 Yet when the mother had heard all, she sat 
 as pale and agitated — tears raining fast from 
 her eyes — as if she had been herself the 
 wooed. 
 
 " You will think me very weak," Mrs. 
 Cameron at length said, after Mr. Beauchamp, 
 with becoming consideration and patience, had 
 awaited the recovery of her composure, " but 
 a mother's feelings, on being placed for the first 
 time in such a situation, must plead my excuse." 
 
 A not ill pleased expression passed over Mr.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 123 
 
 Beauchamp's countenance at words which im- 
 plied his present priority in placing her in that 
 situation, and Mrs. Cameron continued — 
 
 '^' For my part I can only say how flattering 
 to my feelings is your proposition with regard 
 to my dear child, and without delay I will write 
 to her father, who I cannot but expect will look 
 upon the subject in the same light — and then 
 — dear Lena — " 
 
 " Yes, Miss Cameron — " Mr. Beauchamp in- 
 terrupted with some eagerness, rightly thinking 
 that she was the first person whose opinion was 
 most necessary to be gained in this matter, 
 " when may I be allowed to see her — speak 
 to her?" 
 
 "Poor dear Lena!" Mrs. Cameron rejoined 
 smiling through her still tearful eyes, "you 
 must allow me to prepare her for so new an era 
 in her existence — she is so young and timid." 
 
 " Miss Cameron is eighteen I believe, is she 
 
 not ? — a little timidity must be expected from all 
 G 3
 
 124 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 young ladies on such occasions," Mr. Beau- 
 champ remarked somewhat hastily. 
 
 But Mrs. Cameron had no intention of being 
 overruled or awed out of her determination by 
 her incipient son in law — even though he was 
 possessed of 20,000 a year, therefore she said 
 with a smile — 
 
 "No really Mr. Beauchamp I must maintain 
 my maternal right upon such an occasion, and 
 not allow you to speak to my dear girl until I 
 have prepared her for that which cannot fail to 
 be agitating, especially to such a novice in such 
 matters as my Lena— to-morrow we shall expect 
 to see you, and in the meantime I will write 
 to the General." 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp yielded with becoming 
 gracious obedience to his destined mother-in 
 law, and as if his speedy departure would tend 
 to the speedier possibility of his return, imme- 
 diately arose, shook Mrs. Cameron's hand 
 wannly ; and with a lingering glance — as he 
 passed towards the door — around the walla
 
 DAUGHTERS. 125 
 
 which contained his heart's idol — mounted his 
 horse and rode away. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron was left seated in the now 
 quiet room, as if in a kind of dream, and with 
 a certain doubtful feeling — strange to say — as 
 to whether her dreams were pleasant or the re- 
 verse — but she roused herself. Pleasant, oh 
 yes ! — one of the richest commoners in the land! 
 Her heart ran over with exhilaration as one 
 bright image after another rose up full and 
 clear before her imagination — but again there 
 came a sudden re-action which left her only 
 with a nervous beating heart. 
 
 Her Lena was standing at a little distance, 
 seemingly checked in her desire to approach and 
 address her mother, by perceiving the state of 
 dreamy abstraction into which she was plunged. 
 
 But Mrs. Cameron starting on beholding her 
 daughter, extended her hand and pronounced 
 her name. Lena was in an instant by her side.
 
 126 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " Sit down by me darling," she said, and 
 with somewhat a startled countenance Lena 
 obeyed — for there was boding significance she 
 could not but discern in her mother's tone and 
 whole expression. 
 
 " Dear Lena, Mr. Beauchamp has just left 
 me," Mrs. Cameron commenced. 
 
 " Yes Mama," Lena at first answered quietly 
 enough. But when her mother then paused, 
 there seemed so much meaning in that pause 
 that the young girl looked hastily up — became 
 red, then pale — and was evidently frightened. 
 *^ And can you guess at all, Lena, what was the 
 object of his visit ?" 
 
 Lena only looked still more scared and 
 doubtful. 
 
 "It was to confess his love for you, my 
 child, and to propose for your hand," — Mrs. 
 Cameron added. 
 
 A cold shudder passed over Lena's frame and 
 then bursting into a flood of quiet — silent tears, 
 she leant her head on her mother's bosom. 
 Mrs. Cameron suffered them to flow on unin-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 127 
 
 terrupteclly. It was no greater emotion than 
 that for which she had been prepared — for had 
 not she herself been agitated in the same 
 manner by the disclosure ? what then must 
 not be expected from her timid, sensitive 
 child? 
 
 After a short pause, Mrs. Cameron pro- 
 ceeded. 
 
 " I wept like you, Lena, when ]Mr. Beau- 
 champ first made the communication — I scarce 
 knew whether from joy or sorrow — for though 
 it was a subject which a few days before I 
 should have contemplated as one calcvilated to 
 make me the happiest of mothers — yet to 
 have to part with our dear child I — " 
 
 " Oh ! Mama, we must never— never part !" 
 was the sobbing exclamation, in tones of more 
 passionate fervour than perhaps had ever been 
 drawn from Lena's gentle lips. 
 
 " Yet," Mrs. Cameron continued without 
 noting the interruption, but by a tender pres- 
 sure of her hand, " it would be foolish and
 
 128 DAUOHTEKS. 
 
 selfish indeed, to feel ought but joy at the 
 opening of such bright and happy prospects for 
 our child. Twenty thousand a year is a 
 charming possession ; but that would be worse 
 than nothing in our eyes, were not Mr. Beau- 
 champ so good — so amiable— so tenderly at- 
 tached — in short — so every way calculated, to 
 make our darling happy — What more indeed 
 could we desire, even we, who think her 
 worthy of the best ?" 
 
 " But Mama," interposed Lena " I have 
 enough — quite enough already — I desire no 
 more happiness, no more love, than I now 
 
 Would Lena then, wish to be an old maid 
 all her life ?" Mrs. Cameron playfully enquired, 
 and Lena smiled faintly through her tears, but 
 murmured — 
 
 " I do not know. Mama, but — but — " 
 
 *^ Dear Lena, do you dislike Mr. Beau- 
 champ ?" 
 
 This was a plain, and therefore, somewhat a
 
 DAUGHTERS. 129 
 
 critical style of questioning, to be hazarded on 
 such an emergency, by one, under Mrs. Cam- 
 ron's circumstances, and whether it were 
 intended in sincerity to serve as a deciding 
 point, is doubtful. 
 
 True it is, that those little words, " yes," 
 and " no," are certainly the most important to 
 be learnt to speak with ]:)romptitude and de- 
 cision ! 
 
 Annie, if such a question had been put to 
 her, would have quickly lifted up her saucy 
 eyes and at once have answered " yes !" con- 
 sidering the feeling wliich forbade her relishing 
 the idea of becoming Mrs. Beauchamp, quite 
 sufficient to be ranked under the head of dis- 
 like without any further analyzation of its 
 extent and force. And then how could Mrs. 
 Cameron, whose chief maternal failing had 
 consisted in the extreme of indulgence to her 
 children's inclinations — how could she have 
 pressed the point under such circumstances ? 
 
 But Lena only trembled and hesitated ; dis- 
 G 5
 
 130 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 like was too broad a word for her gentle soul 
 to dare express. 
 
 No, she could not say she disliked Mr. Beau- 
 champ — ^he was very kind — and it was very 
 flattering in him to wish to choose her out — 
 but to leave her parents, brothers, sisters, home, 
 for any one in the world — she really could not 
 think of it without horror — she was so very 
 happy as she was — she did not want to marry. 
 
 And Mrs. Cameron — could she suffer her 
 daughter to sacrifice her welfare, her prosperity 
 on the shrine of family affection? — no, most 
 certainly not : — so now she turned her efforts 
 to the setting forth before the eyes of her 
 home -sick girl, the merits of the stiU holier home 
 of duties and affections, prepared for married 
 women. 
 
 What were the joys and affections of a 
 daughter — a sister — compared with those of 
 the wife and mother, that happiness which had 
 been the portion of her own parents ? — yes theirs 
 in full measure, notwithstanding all the cares
 
 DAUGHTERS. 131 
 
 and struggles attendant on an insufficiency of 
 income. Then how perfect must be the felicity 
 of those possessed of all that could make even 
 their cup run over — pouring blessings on them- 
 selves, and all that were dear to them ! 
 
 Mrs. Cameron spoke and reasoned and des- 
 canted on the subject, till painting the picture 
 in the most glowing colours with her " too sub- 
 duing tongue" something of her enthusiasm 
 seemed to gild the fancy of the young girl, for 
 her eyes so sad before, brightened — smiled at 
 length through their dewy mist. 
 
 Lena was so young — so young in heart — 
 knew so little of the feeling generally requisite 
 as the stepping stone to the joys and advantages 
 just pictured by her ardent mother, that she 
 was scarcely aware how completely it was now 
 absent from her heart. No, even when Mrs. 
 Cameron ventured, in the course of the discus- 
 sion, upon another critical question — "Did 
 you ever see any one, Lena, w ho you think you 
 could love better than Mr. Beauchamp ?" she
 
 132 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 only blushed and veiled her eyes as a dun, vague 
 shadow of a remembrance conjured up by the 
 inquiry, hovered for an instant over her imagina- 
 tion ; and a murmured " No, I think not !" settled 
 the question. 
 
 So the interview was finally ended by the 
 entrance of some of the children — in much the 
 same indefinite spirit in which it had been car- 
 ried on ; that is to say, Mrs* Cameron allowed 
 Lena to sit or walk — musing in pale and absent 
 dreaminess, the rest of that day and evening — 
 without troubling her more, by again bringing 
 forward the subject ; only whispering as she 
 embraced her on parting for the night — " I 
 will write and tell him not to come to-morrow 
 — not till the next day" — and Lena starting 
 replied : 
 
 " Oh, yes ! pray do P 
 
 It was not without a little harmless feeling: 
 of malicious pleasure — for she had confidence in 
 the favourable termination of the affair — that 
 Mrs. Cameron seized the opportunity thus
 
 DAUGHTERS. 133 
 
 afforded her, of preparing for her future son-in- 
 law, this slight trial of his patience; her keen 
 perception had not been slow of discerning some 
 few symptoms of self-will in his nature, which 
 it would be well to put under a little wholesome 
 discipline. Mrs. Cameron knew this power 
 would be scarcely exercised by her child, there- 
 fore she would, in these days, take the reins into 
 her own hands, for the breaking in, for her 
 Lena's gentle spirit's guidance. 
 
 She however merely wrote that her daugh- 
 ter's timid feelings requiring further time for 
 the consideration of Mr. Beauchamp's flattering 
 proposal, she must postpone his visit till the 
 next day. But this was quite sufficient to doom 
 him to a miserable restless day — his mind filled 
 with irritation towards Mrs. Ci^meron as the 
 suspected cause of his suspense — and his brother 
 the rector to the infliction of that most 
 disagreeable companionship — a lover in all 
 the fidgetty impatience of diyappointment and 
 uncertainty; for as may be supposed, Mr.
 
 134 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Beauchamp felt not much inclination that day 
 for the rocks and shingles of Eastbourne. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron wrote the same night to the 
 General to announce the interestino- and im- 
 portant event of the proposal, intelligence 
 not quite unexpected, she imagined, by her 
 husband, from her frequent hints and allusions 
 relative to the admiration and attention which 
 Lena had all along received from Mr. Beau- 
 champ. She spoke of the affair, as one 
 which, she seemed to take for granted, would 
 be received by the General with the same sa- 
 tisfaction as filled her own breast ; and there- 
 fore mentioned that as a thing of course, Lena, 
 after one day's mature consideration, was, to 
 see her lover and answer for herself. The 
 young girl was, as might naturally be ex- 
 pected, timid and agitated on the subject, and 
 she had purposely avoided, she said, bringing 
 her to any decided avowal of her intentions 
 and inclinations in the decision.
 
 DAUGHTERS 135 
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 
 " In silence bow'd the virgin's head ; 
 And if her eye was filled with tears 
 
 That stifled feeling dare not shed, 
 And changed her cheek from pale to red, 
 
 And red to pale as through her ears, 
 Those winged words like arrows sped, 
 
 What could such be but maiden fears V 
 
 The Bridk of Abydos. 
 
 That awful day of reflection and considera- 
 tion floated by silently and quickly, in like 
 manner as these periods, big with import, very 
 generally are apt to pass. 
 
 Yet that some mystery hung over it, was
 
 136 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 not quite to be concealed from the lookers on ; 
 for there wa« Lena's changed look and mien — 
 and the hard to be concealed significance 
 of Mrs, Cameron's aspect, especially the 
 marked increase of anxious, earnest affection, 
 in every word or look she addressed to her 
 eldest daughter — the observing of all which, 
 had caused not a little shrewd suspicion to 
 float through the minds of Annie and Janet, 
 long before the close of the day, which 
 found them alone with their mother, who then, 
 relying on their discretion, revealed to them 
 the momentous secret of their sister's pro- 
 
 The communication was received with all 
 the girlish pleasure and elation with which the 
 bare idea of a sister going to he married gene- 
 rally fill such young minds. The wedding — 
 the paraphernalia — the bride's-maids ! — all the 
 delights accompanying such an occasion, pass- 
 ing in array before their imagination. 
 
 And then " Mrs. Beauchamp" was such a
 
 DAUGHTERS. 137 
 
 pretty name — it would sound so well — and Mr. 
 Beauchamp — he, their Mama said, was a very 
 charming man — tall and rather good looking ; 
 not that they thought him very handsome — and 
 Lena would be so very rich I — oh yes — they 
 hoped she would accept him — it would be so 
 delightful to go and stay with her at some 
 beautiful place in the country. 
 
 There was a sudden pause and change in 
 Annie's countenance, and in her enumeration 
 of the catalogue of deliojhts — a sudden dark- 
 ness gathered over its bright animation ; for 
 she remembered a certain country house, and 
 with the thought, associations arose little sa- 
 vouring of delight. 
 
 " But Mama !" she exclaimed with a face 
 of dismay, " that dreadful place — that terrible 
 Lady Rachel !" 
 
 " My dear Annie — what an epithet — ' dread- 
 ful house' — why it is one of the finest places 
 in England, and as for Lady Rachel, Lena 
 is not going to marry her, even if she is ter-
 
 138 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 rible, as you call her. There would be few 
 matches in the world, if people always looked 
 too scrupulously to the husband's relations — 
 let me beg of you not to put disagreeable 
 ideas into Lena's head, or raise up any such 
 hete noir, to turn her against this most advan- 
 tageous prospect. If she marry Mr. Beau- 
 champ, she will probably have very little to 
 do with Lady Rachel." Thus argued Lena's 
 mother. 
 
 And had this dark idea, suggested by Annie, 
 flitted across poor Lena's mind during this 
 day of consideration. Was it one of the black 
 shadows which scared her like some poor 
 fluttering bird from this side to that, of the 
 valley of decision into which she had been 
 driven ? But whether the impression — pro- 
 duced upon her mind by her visit to Beau- 
 champ Towers had retained sufficient strength 
 to weigh in the balance upon the present 
 occasion — mattered little. The struggle soon 
 seemed to cease — the poor bird to droop its
 
 DAUGHTERS. 139 
 
 wing, and settle timidly and unrepiningly 
 under the shelter of resignation. The next 
 day came, and Lena was in the drawing-room 
 with her mother, after breakfast. She had 
 not said " I will accept Mr. Beauchamp" — 
 Mrs. Cameron still forbore bringing her 
 child to any such extreme point appearing, 
 rather, willing to rely upon this species of 
 meek, patient courage — almost amounting to 
 cheerfulness — which she fancied to behold 
 upon the countenance of Lena — in the place 
 of that trembling, nervous irresolution, which 
 had troubled her all the preceding day — yet 
 inwardly Mrs. Cameron felt not so fully con- 
 tent. She knew not why, but her heart bled 
 more, probably, than it would have done, if 
 with tears and passionate protestations, she 
 had heard her child declare her reluctance — if 
 not her repugnance — to the act concerning 
 which she was now called upon to decide. 
 
 Yes ! Lena seemed as one who had yielded ; 
 but whether because her repugnance was
 
 140 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 conquered, or that the known wishes of others 
 had vanquished that disinclination, the mother 
 might indeed well feel doubtful. 
 
 But Mrs. Cameron strove to shut her eyes 
 and heart against any such painful doubt — 
 to all consideration save the delightful ad- 
 vantages attendant upon the match now in 
 question. 
 
 1^0 tete-a-tete, which might have given rise 
 to a scene was afforded to them, for Annie 
 came in to practise her music, and ^Irs. Ca- 
 meron, in order to divert Lena's mind from a 
 portion of the nervous expectation which she 
 herself felt to such a painful degree, requested 
 her to play duets with her sister. 
 
 For the same reason, she had told Lena 
 the day before, that Mr. Beauchamp would 
 come probably after luncheon ; her belief in 
 which assertion, enabled the poor girl, with 
 tolerable composure, to pursue her occu- 
 pation. 
 
 But Mrs. Cameron on her part, had no idea
 
 DAUGHTERS. 141 
 
 of any such tardiness, and was but too sure 
 that ^Ir. Beauchamp would not allow the sun 
 to rise very high in the Heavens, ere he 
 found himself on his way to Eastbourne. 
 
 IVIrs. Cameron's ears having been for some 
 time on the qui vive, heard immediately the 
 clattering of the horse's hoofs on the approach, 
 but the brilliant duet from the Somnambula 
 caused the sound not to reach those of the per- 
 formers ; the music being rendered still louder by 
 the playful accompaniment of Annie's clear and 
 rinsjinor voice. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron's pen fell from her hand, and 
 she inunediately arose, meditating how best to 
 act. Lena looked all unconsciousness at that 
 moment, of aught but the sweet sounds she 
 was producing. The bell did not give the 
 alarm, the servants happening to be in the 
 hall. But soon ^Irs. Cameron heard the foot- 
 steps approaching, and the cowardice she felt 
 overwhelming her, decided her conduct. 
 
 She hurried towards a door by which she
 
 142 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 knew Mr. Beauchamp would not enter, and 
 casting a significant glance at Annie, who 
 looked up at the moment, left the room. And 
 then abruptly ceased the music. The sisters 
 arose, for footsteps were now heard by them 
 also, and the door being speedily opened, ad- 
 liiitted Mr. Beauchamp. 
 
 Annie hurriedly seized her music and made 
 her escape, and poor Lena was left standing 
 behind the instrument alone. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp hastened towards her with 
 an earnest expression of countenance. 
 
 The first sudden shock of this entrance being 
 so extreme, was perhaps fortunate, causing 
 Lena to feel less fright than bewilderment. 
 She mechanically extricated herself from 
 the unattainable position behind the piano, 
 advanced to meet her suitor, and then listened 
 in the same spirit (he having led her to a 
 seat) to the first outbursts of a lover's 
 eloquence. 
 
 But soon Lena had returned to the full
 
 DAUGHTERS. 143 
 
 consciousness of her position — that Mr. Beau- 
 champ was bending over her — pouring forth 
 expressions of a character and nature so new 
 to her, that her timid eyes sank beneath 
 his gaze, and she shrank instinctively from 
 them. 
 
 Those who had previously known Mr. 
 Beauchamp might have pictured him but as 
 a cool, matter of fact lover, the character 
 and language of his love only a little less 
 cold and measured than his common nature, 
 and speech ; a suitor more calculated to 
 freeze than to excite any degree of warmth in 
 the feelings of her whose hand he solicited. 
 
 But this was far from being the case. Lena, 
 ere she had listened long, was breathless and 
 giddy with the whirl into which her brain 
 seemed to be thrown by the sound of expres- 
 sions of such eloquent fervour, which poured 
 from the lips of her ardent lover. And when, 
 having exhausted all he had to say upon the 
 subject of his own feelings, he proceeded to
 
 144 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 enquire concerning hers — to ask earnestly and 
 eagerly whether she also loved him — and not 
 only that, but whether she loved him better 
 than all the world besides, she felt that if 
 inclination prompted her to utter a denial, all 
 power — all courage to do so, had vanished — 
 she could only murmur fearfully and breath- 
 lessly, " Yes, yes," and she felt by the warm, 
 kisses imprinted on her trembling hand that 
 her fate was sealed. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron waited with Annie in the 
 room above — nervous — agitated — Annie also 
 catching the infection, and looking as if some 
 business of fearful import were transacting. 
 
 At length the sound of Mr. Beauchamp's 
 footstep, moving in the room below, seemed 
 to indicate that the conference was over, and 
 Mrs. Cameron descended with trembling limbs 
 to join the pair. On entering, she saw Lena 
 seated, pale and tearful, but with a faint, 
 submissive smile upon her lips— her eyes bent 
 down, as she examined, or seemed to be exa-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 145 
 
 mining, the contents of a small jewel-case 
 she held in her hand. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp stood at a little distance 
 with his back to the fire-place, watching her 
 with a well pleased, complacent expression of 
 countenance. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron saw at once that all was ar- 
 ranged in a satisfactory manner. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp advanced to meet her, 
 and Mrs. Cameron giving him her hand, ex- 
 tended the other to Lena, who instantly letting 
 the case fall to the ground, glided to her 
 mother's side, and as if some spell were 
 broken, the next moment was weeping in the 
 arms soon thrown around her. The paroxysm 
 of agitation lasted for several minutes, Mrs. 
 Cameron soothing poor Lena by caressing ex- 
 pressions of tenderness. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp stood looking on this scene 
 for the first few seconds with an air of be- 
 coming toleration and sympathy. But soon 
 he seemed to begin to weary, and become 
 
 VOL I. H
 
 146 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 impatient of its duration, for he fidgetted, 
 coughed several times, and finally advancing a 
 few steps, stooped and picked up the fallen 
 jewel-case, and having replaced the diamond 
 bracelet which had been disarranged by the 
 fall, he said in a slightly injured tone — 
 
 " My first little tribute of affection seems 
 to be but slightly regarded by Miss Ca- 
 meron," 
 
 Poor Lena looked up with a start, whilst 
 Mrs. Cameron with a deprecating smile put 
 out her hand to take from him the present ; 
 but Mr. Beauchamp very gravely and reso- 
 lutely waved her off and placed it in his 
 beloved's own trembling hand, of which he at 
 the same time took possession, and pressing it 
 tenderly, said, looking at Mrs. Cameron with a 
 look of triumph. 
 
 " Mrs. Cameron this is mine now — " 
 
 *^ It will be," Mrs. Cameron interrupted 
 with a smile, " mine a little longer ; there- 
 ^^^*i I shall take upon myself the privilege
 
 DAUGHTERS. 147 
 
 of sending away dear Lena for a short time, 
 in order that we may have some conversa- 
 tion together. Gro up stairs, my own dearest ; 
 you will find Annie in my dressing-room." 
 
 Lena not unwillingly obeyed ; she hastened 
 to the dressing-room, where she found not 
 only Annie but Janet, both of whom, on be- 
 holding the conscious trembling confusion with 
 which she appeared before them, after one 
 curious, enquiring glance, greeted her with 
 embraces and exclamations. 
 
 " Oh dear, dear Lena, have you really said 
 ^yes?' are you really to be Mrs. Beauchamp? 
 oh charming ! how glad our brothers will be — 
 and Papa what will he say ? — and the wedding 
 how delightful ! — and you will let us come and 
 stay with you, very often — and you ^vill come 
 and see us — we shaU be always together," And 
 as poor Lena sat between them, half weeping 
 half smiling, overpowered by their animation, 
 their attention was attracted, by the jewel case, 
 grasped unconsciously in her hand. 
 H 3
 
 148 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " And what is this ?'^ Janet exclaimed. " Oh 
 Annie, only look ! a diamond bracelet, how 
 beautiful! And, did Mr. Beauchamp already 
 give you this ? what a rich, generous man he 
 must be ? do you not love him very very much 
 Lena?" 
 
 " Oh yes — I do not know — oh do not ask 
 me any thing about him now, dear girls !" and 
 Lena wept tears, unmingled with smiles. 
 
 " Oh dear Lena, I am sure you will love 
 him very much," Annie said caressingly ; I dare 
 say people always cry, when they are going to be 
 married, but I am sure, any one who loved me, 
 S3 well as Mr. Beauchamp loves you, at least so 
 Mama says " 
 
 " And gave me such beautiful presents ! " 
 
 Janet interrupted, as she clasped admiringly 
 the superb bracelet on her slender wrist. 
 
 In the mean time, a very satisfactory inter- 
 view, took place in the drawing-room, between 
 Mrs. Cameron and Mr. Beauchamp. 
 
 The fervent lover, had subsided into the com-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 149 
 
 posed, gentlemanly suitor. He touched very 
 slightly on pecuniary matters, evidently seem- 
 ing, to prefer awaiting the arrival of General 
 Cameron, who Mrs. Cameron hoped, would 
 speedily make his appearance. 
 
 " And what will Lady Rachel say to this im- 
 portant business?" Mrs. Cameron enquired in 
 the course of the conversation. 
 
 " My mother," was his somewhat haughty 
 reply, " even were it possible to find any cir- 
 cumstances objectionable in the step, has little 
 right, I should imagine, to give any adverse 
 opinion upon a subject, in which I am, as in all 
 other matters, in which my feelings and incli- 
 nations are alone concerned, entirely my own 
 master ." 
 
 And then more gently he continued — 
 
 " Miss Cameron will be, I am sure, a 
 daughter-in-law as charming as the most ex- 
 acting person could desire to receive into her 
 home." 
 
 " Her home !" mused Mrs. Cameron. " Lady
 
 150 DAUGHTEKS, 
 
 Rachel — will she continue to reside with yon 
 after your marriage ?" she then with some hesi- 
 tation inquired. 
 
 " It has always been so understood," Mr. 
 Beauchamp answered decidedly, and Mrs. 
 Cameron did not like, at that moment, to press 
 the subject further. 
 
 The interview was terminated by the an- 
 nouncement of luncheon. Lena did not appear, 
 but Mr. Beauchamp partook of it, playing 
 Vaimahle with great success, to his future 
 young sisters and brother-in-law — ^then, as he 
 did not seem inclined to depart, without again 
 seeing his beloved, Mrs. Cameron thought it 
 best, to propose a walk, in which they might 
 all join, and yet, leave the pair, to the enjoy- 
 ment of a tete-a-tete. 
 
 So Lena — whose head ached sadly, and who 
 would fain have been excused — was told the 
 air would do her good, and was persuaded to 
 put on her bonnet ; she went down shyly and 
 timidly, and was greeted tenderly, by Mr.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 151 
 
 Beauchamp, who drew her arm within his; and 
 iVIrs. Cameron and the children having pre- 
 ceded them, they slowly pursued their way. 
 
 We will not intrude upon the lovers' colloquy 
 nor question, whether Lena would not gladly 
 have hastened her companion's footsteps, and 
 joined the merry party in advance. 
 
 The fresh air however probably tended to re- 
 vive her courage and spirits — ^Ir. Beauchamp too 
 was all considerate kindness — and what 
 amiable, gentle, heart like hers, can long feel 
 ungrateful, under such soothing influences ? — 
 Indeed Lena looked quite blushing and happy 
 when they at last mingled with the rest of the 
 party. 
 
 On their return to the house, Mr. Beau- 
 champ was forced to take his leave — and thus, 
 this first nervous, critical part of the business, 
 was happily concluded, to the no small relief of 
 Mrs. Cameron- 
 Lena's headache soon returned, and she was 
 persuaded by her mother, to go to bed — having
 
 152 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 caresses and expressions of tenderness and gra- 
 titude, first poured upon her — wringing from 
 ber aiFectionate heart an affirmative to the 
 question, of whether she also was not as happy, 
 as her proud and much gratified mother ?
 
 Daughters. 153 
 
 CHAPTEE XL 
 
 *' Marriage is a matter of more worth, 
 Than, to be dealt in by attorney-ship." 
 
 Shakspbare's King Henry VI 
 
 " Too beautiful is home, 
 A home of gentle voices and kind eyes ! 
 And I, the lov'd of all, 
 On whom fond blessings fall 
 From every lip— oh ! wilt thou rend such ties 
 
 Mrs. Hemaxs 
 
 That night, just as IVIrs. Cameron was on the 
 point of retiring to rest, to her no small delight 
 she heard a carriage drive to the door, and 
 hurrying into the hall, soon greeted her hus- 
 band and son. 
 H 5
 
 154 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Eagerly she drew the General into 
 the drawing room, impatient to expatiate 
 upon the event, the rumour of which she 
 rightly supposed had thus hastened his re- 
 turn." 
 
 Gerald, who followed them, was the first to 
 open the subject. 
 
 " Well mother !" he laughingly exclaimed 
 as soon as the door was closed, " you have ac- 
 tually found Lena a husband ?" 
 
 " Yes, Gerald, is it not channing ?" And 
 Mrs. Cameron looked at her husband, expect- 
 ing from him similar congratulations ; but she 
 was disappointed by seeing his countenance 
 only expressive of anxious gravity. 
 
 " My dear Laura," he said, " pray let me 
 hear more of this business of Lena's — I started 
 as soon as possible after receiving your letter, 
 although forced to leave some affairs unsettled. 
 It has gone no further, I trust ?" 
 
 *^ No further than what, Alick ?" exclaimed 
 Mrs. Cameron. *' Mr. Beauchamp, as I told
 
 DAUGHTERS. 156 
 
 you, proposed the day before yesterday, and 
 this morning Lena saw and accepted him. 
 Really you look," she continued laughing, 
 *' as if this was the most fatal, instead of the 
 most fortunate occurrence — as if dear Lena 
 had accepted a scampish young Ensign with 
 next to nothing, rather than the most respec* 
 table and estimable Mr. Beauchamp with 
 twenty thousand a-year.'' 
 
 " I wonder," the General replied very 
 gravely, and with a shade of displeasure on his 
 brow, " that you did not wait till I could be 
 on the spot, before you allowed any step so 
 decisive to take place. I know very little 
 personally of the man," General Cameron con- 
 tinued with some warmth, " and do not care 
 a straw about his twenty thousand a-year, or 
 any thing else, until I have ascertained that I 
 shall approve of him as a husband for Lena 
 in other respects. Besides, the girl herself — I 
 cannot believe that she cares a fig about him ;
 
 156 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 she is too young to take a fancy in such a devil 
 of a hurry." 
 
 " My dear Alick, this is too absurd ; and 
 why should you fancy Lena does not care for 
 Mr. Beauchamp ? I can assure you her ac- 
 ceptance of him was entirely her own act. I 
 did not even give my opinion on the subject, 
 after first laying the proposal before her, for 
 consideration." 
 
 " WeU really if she like him," chimed in 
 Gerald, " it would certainly be a capital thing. 
 Such a rich fellow ! upon my word it would 
 be advantageous to us all." 
 
 " Exactly so, Gerald," said Mrs. Cameron 
 approvingly, " and really under our circum- 
 stances — such a number of daughters — it 
 would be ridiculous to persuade your sisters 
 to wait till they were passionately in love, 
 before committing such a necessary act as 
 matrimony." 
 
 Until very late that night, Mrs. Cameron
 
 DAUGHTERS. 157 
 
 continued to descant so ably on the merits of 
 the subject, that the General, who was but 
 too apt to be easily worked upon by the 
 eloquence of his wife — whom he considered 
 perfection in every way — was persuaded to 
 look more brightly and contentedly on the 
 business. 
 
 His mind, however, could not be quite at 
 ease until he had ascertained, as he expected 
 to do, by a single glance at Lena's counte- 
 nance, her sentiments on the subject. When 
 therefore on rising the next morning, and 
 being acquainted with the arrival of her 
 father, his young daughter, with conscious, 
 trembling haste, flew to meet him, the General, 
 after tenderly embracing her, held her from 
 him, and gazing in her face, enquired with a 
 fond, earnest smile — 
 
 " Why, Lena, what is all this I hear about 
 you ?" and as she again hid her face, covered 
 with conscious blushes, on his bosom, he said 
 in an anxious tone —
 
 158 DAUGHTERS, 
 
 " Do you really wish it Lena — do you 
 really love him child ? Kemember it is not 
 too late — tell me the truth — exactly what you 
 feel upon the subject." 
 
 " What — is your father persuading you to 
 give up Mr. Beauchamp, Lena, in order to 
 vegetate with him in the wilds of Ireland ?" 
 interrupted Mrs. Cameron, who entered at that 
 moment. 
 
 " Does not papa wish me to marry Mr. 
 Beauchamp ?" asked Lena, hastily looking up 
 with an expression which might have passed 
 either for pleasure or alarm. 
 
 " I wish you to do exactly what you think 
 will contribute to your happiness my dear 
 child. If you think that a marriage with Mr. 
 Beauchamp will accomplish such a desirable 
 end, it would, indeed, be selfish in me to 
 oppose a measure which is so truly advan- 
 tageous ; but it seems to me that it has all 
 been settled with rather too much precipita- 
 tion. Perhaps," he continued, looking affec-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 159 
 
 tlonately at his wife, " I might have imagined 
 that the very natural wishes of your dear 
 mother might have in some degree influ- 
 enced a good and dutiful daughter." 
 
 " Your father thinks, Lena, that it was 
 by my persuasion that you accepted Mr. 
 Beauchamp," Mrs. Cameron exclaimed in a 
 slightly injured tone. 
 
 " Mama persuade me — oh, papa!" said Lena 
 looking up with a sweet expression of re- 
 proachful surprise, " she would never persuade 
 me to take any step important to my future 
 happiness against my inclination. No, it was 
 entirely of my own free will that I accepted 
 Mr. Beauchamp," she added with a slight 
 sigh. 
 
 " And you do not repent having done so : 
 you feel no wish to draw back now ?" anxiously 
 enquired the General. 
 
 Lena paused for a moment in breathless 
 thought, then with a sort of nervous haste
 
 160 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 murmured " No, up !" and Her father saw no 
 reason remaining, why he should not be per- 
 fectly satisfied on the subject. 
 
 Men are much more easily believed on such 
 points than women. Little practised them- 
 selves in doing violence to their own feelings 
 or inclinations, they trust more to the state- 
 ments of the lips upon such matters, and are 
 slow to question the cheerful readiness with 
 which women often sacrifice the dearest hopes 
 and feelings of their hearts. 
 
 When, therefore, Mr. Beauchamp visited 
 Beechy Place that day, he found most un- 
 expectedly his future father-in-law there to 
 receive him. 
 
 The General was as cordially and favorably 
 disposed towards him as he could be towards 
 any suitor of his dearly loved daughter. Whom 
 he did not feel at all prepared so soon to lose. 
 Indeed self-love, if it were possiblethat such a 
 feeling could find place in the heart of so
 
 DAUGHTERS. 161 
 
 ardent a lover, was in a fair way of being 
 humbled by perceiving how much more in the 
 light of a favour conferred, than received — 
 the father seemed to deem the bestowing upon 
 him, his portionless daughter. 
 
 When pecuniary matters came under dis- 
 cussion, all went, coulevr de rose, for from 
 that most trying ordeal Mr. Beauchamp 
 passed with flying colours, pro\ang himself to 
 the General's fastidious ideas — a perfect gen- 
 tleman — neither vulgarly bombastic, nor nig- 
 gardly cautious — with cheerful unconcern 
 laying before him his liberal proposition on 
 the score of settlements which his means made 
 so feasible. 
 
 The General also, after beholding the en- 
 gaged couple together, had little cause for dis- 
 quiet or doubt. 
 
 Lena'sgentle nature could scarcely be expected 
 to compete with her lover's fervour and absorp-
 
 162 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 tion, and his conduct was certainly an extreme 
 with which there was no finding fault. 
 
 That poor Lena was overpowered at times 
 by the devotion of the exigeant lover, who 
 for the first week of their engagement was 
 almost continually passing his days at Beechy 
 Place, was but too evident ; for though she 
 seemed passively — nay, even cheerfully, to de- 
 vote to him her time and attention — his de- 
 parture generally left her pale and wearied. 
 
 Sometimes she might be seen hastening, as 
 from some overpowering task, to the refreshing 
 diversion of her little brother and sisters' in- 
 nocent affection and caresses, from which in 
 her lover's presence she seemed strictly divided, 
 and once when alone with them on a similar 
 occasion, she had wept passionately, as if her 
 heart would break. 
 
 But she ever received Mr. Beauchamp with 
 a smiling countenance, or if less cheerful in 
 his presence than her wont, a remark from
 
 DAUGHTERS. 1 63 
 
 him to that effect, would immediately rouse 
 her to exertion. 
 
 At the close of that week the expected 
 letter arrived from Lady Rachel on the subject 
 of her son's marriage. 
 
 Considering the character of the writer, 
 it was tolerably gracious and complimentary — 
 speaking in polite terms of her approval of 
 her son's choice, and expressing a hope that 
 a speedy opportunity might be afforded to 
 her, of an introduction to her future daughter- 
 in-law. 
 
 This hope di'ew forth an invitation from 
 the Camerons that Lady Rachel should 
 visit them at Beechy Place, and Mr. Beau- 
 champ was the bearer of the letter to his 
 mother, it being necessary that he should re- 
 pair to Beauchamp Towers previous to pro- 
 ceeding to London on necessary business rela- 
 tive to the coming event. 
 
 For a fortnight, therefore, with the excep-
 
 164 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 tion of the daily letters exacted by her 
 lover, on their parting, Lena was left at 
 liberty, to be once more the happy, disengaged 
 daughter and sister.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 165 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Nothinir now there needs 
 
 But fix the day, and draw the marriage deeds." 
 
 DlTE. 
 
 Amongst the friends and relatives to be 
 apprised of the event in prospect, the Duchess 
 of Stratheden was of course one of the first 
 in the list, and of the congratulations in return, 
 none proved so sincerely and warmly sympa- 
 thizing as were her Grace's expressions of 
 joy upon the occasion. She knew so well
 
 166 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 how anxious Mrs. Cameron was on the 
 subject of her daughters, and truly it was 
 of the utmost importance that girls so slen- 
 derly provided for, should marry well. The 
 Duchess mentioned her intention of shortly 
 joining the party at Beechy Place wliich the 
 Duke insisted upon the Camerons continuing 
 as their residence till the time of their departure 
 for Ireland, which was to be immediately after 
 the celebration of the marriage. Her Grace also 
 begged that they would not scruple if desirable 
 to invite Lady Rachel, and to assure her lady- 
 ship of the pleasure the Duke and herself would 
 feel in making the acquaintance of herself and 
 son beneath their own roof. This polite message 
 was duly conveyed to Lady Rachel, but she 
 — either too scrupulous or too proud to accept 
 an invitation on such terms, declined it — infor- 
 ming her future connections of her intentions 
 of soon affording herself an opportunity of 
 meeting them, by ^dsiting her younger son at 
 his parsonage.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 167 
 
 At the end of a fortnight therefore the Came- 
 rons were apprised of the intended arrival of 
 Mr. Beauchamp, and the very next morning, 
 when they only expected a visit from the 
 former, a carriage with post horses drove up to 
 the house. Never perhaps did visiters create 
 more nervous dismay than that which over- 
 powered the whole party when it was ascer- 
 tained that it was the formidable Lady Rachel, 
 who had thus taken them by surprise. 
 
 Poor Lena shook like an aspen leaf — and 
 Mrs. Cameron judged it expedient to send her 
 from the room to recover herself, previous to 
 appearing before her formidable future mother- 
 in-law. 
 
 The general hastened to receive Lady 
 Rachel, who entered, followed by her son and 
 eldest daughter. 
 
 Cold and stately as ever was her bearing — 
 however with tolerable graciousness she apolo- 
 gized for the breach of etiquette which brought her 
 thus unexpectedly before them, and which she
 
 168 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 added must be attributed to her son's great em- 
 pressement to present Miss Cameron to her in 
 the present position of his affianced bride. She 
 keenly glanced around the room as if to ex- 
 press her expectation of Lena's presence, whilst 
 Mr. Beauchamp immediately enquired in a tone 
 of surprise, whether she were not acquainted 
 with their arrival ; and when Mrs. Cameron ex- 
 cusing herself to Lady Kachel for going in person 
 to seek her daughter, on the plea of the timidity 
 which might require some encouragement on 
 her part, to prepare her for this unexpected 
 meeting — Mr. Beauchamp followed her from 
 the room, and requested that he might see Lena 
 before she appeared before his mother. Pale 
 and trembling therefore the young girl was soon 
 conducted by Mrs. Cameron, to the apartment 
 into which her lover had been shown. 
 
 Poor Lena ! — the interval that had passed 
 since the departure of Mr. Beauchamp, had 
 been a period, during which, the congratulations 
 pouring in on every side — the exhilaration of her
 
 DAUGHTERS. 169 
 
 own family— the praises ever sounded in her 
 presence, upon her intended, and above all, the 
 tender kindly intercourse kept up between them 
 by letter—wliile at the same time she was exempt 
 from the exigeante thraldom which his society 
 ever entailed, had given tone to her spirits and 
 had enabled her to look upon her position, in 
 the bright light in which others viewed it — she 
 had even brought herself to contemplate with 
 some feeling of pleasure her intended's return ; 
 and even now, no doubt, attempted to interpret 
 her want of any such symptoms, to the coun- 
 teracting arrival of his mother. 
 
 But Mr. Beauchamp required this assurance 
 to be guaranteed by her own explanation of 
 the nervous and little joyous demeanour 
 with which she appeared before him. 
 
 "Lena!" he said, gazing keenly into her face, 
 as her pale lips strove to falter her greeting in 
 return for the tender meeting on his part, 
 "you look more frightened than overjoyed at 
 seeing me again." 
 
 YOL, T, I
 
 170 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 "Oh ! no, I am very glad to see you again, 
 but I own I am rather nervous at the thoughts 
 of meeting Lady Rachel." 
 
 "But why?" Mr. Beauchamp enquired, 
 " have they described my mother to you, as so 
 very terrible and disagreeable ?" he added in an 
 offended tone, and then again proceeded gently 
 but gravely. — 
 
 "I assure you she is very kindly disposed to- 
 wards you Lena — and you need not fear her — 
 nay ! it is very necessary that you, who are to 
 live with her henceforth as a daughter, should 
 love her as your mother; will you try to do so 
 Lena?" 
 
 " I will try to love her as yoar mother," said 
 Lena, in a quick and rather more decided 
 manner than was her wont. " I can never," 
 she added, the colour rising vividly to her 
 cheeks, "love any one as my own dear 
 mother." 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp looked slightly sui-prised on 
 hearing this first assumption of self-will on the
 
 DAUGHTERS. 171 
 
 part of his gentle love, but he only said, " When 
 a woman leaves her paternal home, she must 
 learn not only to love her husband, but to 
 cleave also to her husband's relatives." Then 
 assuming a more gallant tone and character, 
 than this lecturing seemed to represent, he 
 continued, pressing her hand affectionately — 
 "But I am keeping my mother waiting to 
 behold you, and am all impatience myself — ^now 
 that I have had the pleasure of seeing you for 
 a few moments alone — to present my dearest 
 Lena to her. I have also a sister here, with 
 whom you must renew your acquaintance." 
 
 And drawing Lena's arm within his, he con- 
 ducted her to the drawing room. 
 
 Lady Rachel as soon as she heard the door 
 
 open, turned her quick sharp eyes towards it— 
 
 and when Lena appeared leaning on her son's 
 
 arm, her glance, like lightning flashed over her 
 
 with its scrutinizing penetration. But so 
 
 young and gentle in appearance was the 
 
 fair girl— that cold and utterly impenetrable 
 I 3
 
 172 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 indeed would have been the heart, which had 
 not softened towards the young creature. 
 
 Even Lady Kachel's austere countenance 
 gradually assumed an expression of satisfaction 
 and approval, when, having risen and stretched 
 forth her hand with gracious condescension, 
 Lena received it with a submissive tearful smile, 
 and a glance almost expressive of supplication 
 towards one whom she might — poor girl ! have 
 ' indeed felt was from henceforth to hold such 
 influence over her destiny and happiness. 
 
 " Miss Cameron," said her Ladyship, " I am 
 happy to make your acquaintance — so young 
 as you were when I last saw you, I may call 
 this my first introduction — I must at the same 
 same time congratulate you on your prospect 
 of happiness, which — though his mother, I ven- 
 ture to say my son is calculated to confer upon 
 his wife — It may be too premature to express, 
 from personal knowledge, my approval of his 
 choice, but with the exterior I can have no 
 fault to find."
 
 DAUGHTERS. 173 
 
 And again her eyes travelled over Lena 
 from head to foot. 
 
 "And from report," she continued, "Ihave 
 been led to believe, that the mental qualities 
 are accordant," and Lady Eachel stooped and 
 kissed the fair meek brow. 
 
 "Miss Beauchamp," she then exclaimed, all 
 the natural severity and domination of her 
 nature returning to her tone and manner 
 — " Come and embrace your future sister-in- 
 law, whom I shall expect to see treated by 
 every member of our family with the respect 
 and consideration due to her position, as your 
 brother's affianced wife." 
 
 Miss Beauchamp, who on her mother's 
 rising, had done the same, now came forward 
 and embraced her lovely sister-in-law elect, with 
 more signs of feeling than might have been ex- 
 pected from her constrained or sullen appear- 
 ance. 
 
 Miss Beauchamp was a tall — somewhat hand- 
 some girl, had it not been for the unnatural
 
 174 DAUOHTERS. 
 
 restraint which characterized the expression of 
 her countenance. She was in short to all ap- 
 pearance, only one of the miserably cowed vic- 
 tims of Beauchamp Towers, described in former 
 pages — grown out of the age of cropped hair and 
 gingham frocks— and with them, a little also 
 out of the outward power of shewing a gracious 
 endurance of the maternal tyranny of her 
 childhood. 
 
 Lena returned this sisterly embrace in a 
 manner which spoke gratitude for its warmth, 
 and the girls' hands remained within each 
 others' till Lady Rachel — who had looked with 
 an expression something resembling jealous im- 
 patience, of the manner in wliich her daughter 
 had carried out her injunctions — coldly invited 
 Lena to sit down by her side ; Miss Beauchamp 
 returned to her seat and resumed her impene- 
 trable manner. The conversation then became 
 more general, and lasted till luncheon was an- 
 nounced, at which as usual the younger mem- 
 bers of the family joined the party.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 175l 
 
 Curious were the glances cast by Annie and 
 Janet on the bugbear of their remembrance, 
 as she sailed in amongst them — noticing the 
 young ones but by a cold examining glance, 
 and bending of the head ; when seated opposite 
 to them at the tabl«, they were named to her 
 by Mr. Beauchamp as his future sisters-in-law. 
 
 And still more curiously, did the young 
 Camerons look at Miss Beauchamp ; for though 
 now as a grown up young lady, she was neces- 
 sarily divested, of some of those signs of con- 
 spicuous degradation which had so strangely 
 excited their indignation and compassion, by 
 her silence, or the severe and coldly astonished 
 glances any attempts to transgress its bounds 
 drew upon her, from her mother, it was evident 
 that she was far from disenthralled from durance 
 vile. 
 
 The conversation was strictly confined to the 
 three elders ; Mr. Beauchamp devoting 
 himself entirely to Lena, and the chicken and 
 jelly, of which they partook side by side. But
 
 176 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Gerald with boylike malice, speedily made an 
 attempt to break the spell of awe, which first 
 seemed to bind the spirits of the young party 
 —and soon by his exertions, some lively sallies 
 began to be exchanged between him and Annie, 
 and a little chattering and laughing, to be 
 ventured upon by the little ones ; which once 
 began and encouraged, by their father's playful 
 participation, were scarcely to be retained by 
 the scandalized glances of cold astonishment, 
 which Lady Kachel laimched from one to the 
 other of the offenders. 
 
 But T^atever general impression, this con- 
 duct might have given her, of the family 
 with which she was about to connect herself, 
 concerning that member, towards whom her most 
 favourable opinion was most important, her sen- 
 timents were thus expressed during their drive 
 home — 
 
 ^' Lionel I am pleased with Miss Cameron — 
 with her gentle modest demeanour — how she 
 has escaped the influence of the HI judged
 
 DAUGHTERS. 17^ 
 
 system of education, by which total freedom from 
 subordination and proper constraint, has been 
 but too e\ddently engendered in her brothers 
 and sisters — is a miracle ! — But as far as I can 
 judge — and I am not often wrong in the 
 opinions which I form — Miss Cameron is calcu- 
 lated not only to make you the obedient and duti- 
 ful wife you have a right to expect, but is one 
 whom I can also admit into familiar intercourse 
 with my daughters — without fear of those prin- 
 ciples of perfect submission being undermined, 
 which I have and ever will maintain, as long as 
 they remain under my authority ; may she prove 
 to them a pattern and example of meekness and 
 propriety of conduct." 
 
 " Lena is indeed every thing that can be 
 wished for by the most exacting person," Mr. 
 Beauchamp rejoined, in a tone which seemed to 
 imply, that he had been all along perfectly sa- 
 tisfied with the discrimination and wisdom 
 which had directed his choice ; whilst there 
 might have been discerned—as soon as the severe 
 
 5 I
 
 178 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 and personal glances Lady Rachel had turned 
 upon her daughter, at the concluding words of 
 her speech — were withdrawn, the slightest possi- 
 ble elevation of the young lady's shoulders — an 
 almost imperceptible curling of her lips express- 
 ing as it were the words — 
 '* Poor unfortunate !*'
 
 DAUGUTEES. 179 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 My soul aches, 
 To know, when two authorities are up, 
 Neither supreme, how soon confusion 
 May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take 
 The one by the other. 
 
 siiAKSPEARES Coriolatius, 
 
 " Well Lena, Lady Rachel seemed very 
 much pleased with her daughter-in-law ; how 
 very affectionate and gracious she was in her 
 manner, to you my dearest !" remarked Mrs 
 Cameron after her guests had departed.
 
 180 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " I should hope so, indeed," said the Ge- 
 neral ; " do you think I would allow Lena to 
 marry any man, whose mother presumed to 
 be any thing but kind and gracious to 
 her?" 
 
 ** But, dear Lena," her mother continued, 
 " you must not be too timid and submissive 
 before Lady Rachel — you must remember 
 that when you are Mrs. Beauchamp, you must 
 assert your own dignity and rights as a married 
 woman, and particularly will this be requisite 
 if Lady Bachel live with you, as she is at 
 first to do. Her Ladyship will take advan- 
 tage — as in such cases mothers-in-law are 
 apt too willingly to do — of any want of 
 energy, or spirit, and self-assumption in their 
 son's wife, to maintain the authority and pre- 
 cedency they have before exercised in that 
 son's establishment — nay, their influence even 
 over the husband himself." 
 
 Poor Lena ! her mind glanced hopelessly 
 over such a prospect — she, endeavouring to
 
 DAUGHTERS. 181 
 
 Strive successfully, under such clrumstances, 
 with a Lady Rachel !— and the General re- 
 marked — 
 
 " Oh of course there will be some definite 
 arrangement made, as to the respective situa- 
 tions Lena and Lady Rachel are to hold, 
 if a united establishment continue to be the 
 plan." 
 
 " I should get off that part of the busi- 
 ness if I were you, Lena," Gerald exclaimed. 
 But Lena only said — 
 
 " Oh no ! Lady Rachel has always lived 
 with her son. I should not like to be the 
 means of separating them — mdeed I could not 
 propose it— I dare say we shall do very well 
 together." 
 
 But neither the General nor Mrs. Cameron 
 could as easily satisfy their minds on the 
 subject. Alone together, they discussed the 
 matter with no little anxiety. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron in particular, with tears de- 
 clared her aversion to the thoughts of her too
 
 182 DAUGHTERS, 
 
 gentle child being cast under the domineering 
 influence of Lady Rachel, and subjected to 
 the unavoidable yielding of importance of posi- 
 tion, which such a plan would thereby entail 
 upon her. 
 
 General Cameron gently pointed out to his 
 wife, that this present anxiety was one of the 
 ill consequences of the undue haste with which 
 she had allowed an event of such importance — 
 one in which her daughter's happiness was 
 so strictly involved — to be arranged — and he 
 rather alarmed her by declaring his determi- 
 nation to see every thing brought to a satis- 
 fatory understanding — even to break off the 
 marriage itself, should that not be the 
 case. 
 
 But no steps to that effect could be set 
 on foot till after the departure of Lady Ra- 
 chel. 
 
 She remained about a week in the neigh- 
 bourhood, during which time daily visits were 
 exchanged between the two parties.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 183 
 
 Lena frequently passed hours alone at the 
 Parsonage, and was even taken by her Lady- 
 ship tete-a-tke drives, when Miss Beauchamp 
 was permitted to ride out with her brother. 
 During these excursions. Lady Rachel ever 
 treated her with the most gracious kindness. 
 She might almost have seemed desirous of 
 obtaining an influence over her daughter-in- 
 law's aftections. 
 
 And this would have been flattering to 
 Lena's feelings, had it not been at the ex- 
 pense of another's, and as she sometimes 
 feared, at the risk of drawing upon her the 
 dislike of her future sister-in-law, by the praises 
 and invidious comparisons of which she was 
 made the object. And Lena, who would fain 
 have become better acquainted with Miss 
 Beauchamp, was sui'prised at discovering how 
 completely Lady Kachel seemed to discoun- 
 tenance any attempts at greater intimacy and 
 confidence between them. 
 
 To Lena's parents her Ladyship was civility
 
 184 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 itself. Indeed towards the General she even 
 seemed inclined to bend into something like 
 friendly and easy intercourse. Between the 
 two ladies, there might have been discerned 
 more of mistrust and constraint. 
 
 It could not escape Mrs. Cameron's per- 
 ception that she was looked upon with no 
 great cordiality by Lady Rachel. But this 
 did not so much trouble her, as something 
 she discovered in the demeanour of her future 
 son-in-law — a cold keeping back, as it were, 
 in his manner towards her, which caused her 
 to draw in a little from those frank, familiar 
 terms she had at first attempted to establish 
 between them for Lena's sake ; for she was as 
 independent in spirit as her husband. 
 
 Poor Mrs. Cameron ! she was beginning to 
 think that after all, it was not quite such 
 unmixed happiness, marrying a daughter. 
 
 The event which she had so long antici- 
 pated with such delight, was now within her
 
 DAUGHTERS. 185 
 
 grasp, and how did she feel ? Often very much 
 inclined to repent having so warmly forwarded 
 the suit of a man she began to dislike. 
 
 But then, again, she brought the bright 
 side of the picture before her mind — she looked 
 upon the splendour and advantage of the 
 match — Ireland and banishment were words 
 ever repeated to spur her on — ^her beautiful 
 child buried alive, and wasting all her first 
 bloom — and then the constant refrain, that 
 it was so very desirable that she should marry 
 her daughters ! 
 
 It was a comfort to Mrs. Cameron to oe 
 able to pour forth her doubts and misgivings 
 into the friendly ear of the Duchess of 
 Stratheden, who arrived at Beechy Place a 
 day or two previous to the departure of Lady 
 Rachel, and in the bitterness of her spirit, 
 she even felicitated her friend on having no 
 daughters. 
 
 " See, dear Cecilia," she would exclaim, 
 after having discussed the subject in its
 
 186 DAUGIITERS. 
 
 gloomiest form, " how the greatest pleasure 
 I have anticpated from my children is em- 
 bittered." 
 
 But the Duchess, whatever might be her 
 real impression of her friend's future son-in- 
 law, took care to display no feeling but that 
 of approbation, and endeavoured to give the 
 best aspect to the affair ; treating even the 
 high mightiness of the haughty Dowager 
 more as a matter of amusement than annoy- 
 ance. She was, however, far from discourag- 
 ing the plan of an attempt being made, to 
 spare the gentle Lena the prospect of Lady 
 Rachel's perpetual society. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp remained at the Rectory 
 after his mother's departure. 
 
 The day of the marriage was yet to be 
 fixed. It was to be as early a one as the 
 lawyers would permit, for no longer than 
 another month could the Genral be spared 
 from his post in Ireland. Therefore on Mr. 
 Beauchamp presenting himself at Beechy
 
 DAUGHTERS. 187 
 
 Place, one morning, and during a private 
 interview with the General on other mat- 
 ters of business, begging to be told the 
 day on which he might be permitted to 
 claim the hand of his affianced, the General 
 in a tone of sadness, and with a sigh which 
 could not be repressed, answered — 
 
 " I think, then, that about the last day of 
 the approaching month — October — must be 
 the latest time to which the event can be 
 postponed, as I must then start for Athlone. 
 But, my dear Beauchamp, there is still one 
 point on which Mrs. Cameron and myself 
 have decided on the expediency of speaking 
 to you. It would have been better, perhaps, 
 to have done so before, for it is a subject of 
 some delicacy ; but you must forgive us, in 
 consideration of our great anxiety for our 
 child's happiness." 
 
 " My dear sir," exclaimed Mr. Beauchamp, 
 *' pray explain yourself — I should have ima- 
 gined that you had been already well assured
 
 188 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 of my ardent desire to do every thing to con- 
 tribute to the felicity of your daughter." 
 
 " It is on the subject of the intended plan 
 of Lady Rachel's constant residence with 
 you after your marriage that I wish to speak," 
 General Cameron continued. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp looked up quickly. 
 
 " Now to speak plainly," continued the Ge- 
 neral, " I have from experience remarked, that 
 arrangements of that description never per- 
 fectly answer. With the best intentions and 
 the most favourable dispositions for such a 
 union of interests, perfect domestic happiness 
 and unanimity are seldom found to be the 
 consequence. However, in the present in- 
 stance, with so perfectly amiable and yielding 
 a disposition as Lena's, I fear not for any 
 breach of amity between the parties ; but that 
 she might be likely to allow herself too easily 
 to sink into a more passive abjugation of 
 positive importance, than is right or proper for 
 one in her position."
 
 DAUGHTERS. 189 
 
 " Is it then your desire, General Cameron^ 
 that this arrangement, of which, from the 
 first, you were informed, should be broken 
 through ? I think, indeed," Mr. Beauchamp 
 added, with somewhat of haughtiness, " that 
 this point should have been before dis- 
 cussed." 
 
 " You misunderstand us," intei-posed Mrs. 
 Cameron, " we only wish for our own satis- 
 faction, to understand exactly every point 
 which concerns our child, and I am sure you 
 will find it add much to your own future com- 
 fort, if some definite conditions are drawn out, 
 as to the manner in which your joint establish- 
 ment is to be regulated. Whether it be into 
 the hands of your wife, or your mother you 
 purpose to commit the chief reins of govern- 
 ment ?" Mrs. Cameron continued with a smile, 
 wishing if possible to place the discussion on 
 an amiable and playful, rather than a business- 
 like and serious footing. 
 
 " I should have imagined," Mr. Beauchamp
 
 190 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 answered coldly, " that was a point which 
 might have been easily and sufficiently settled 
 hereafter between the parties whom it con- 
 cerned ; but I shall be happy, as it seems ne- 
 cessary, to explain myself further on the sub- 
 ject, and first premise that my mother — having 
 been in a most unaccountable manner, left by 
 my father, unprovided with the usual Dower 
 House, and with a jointure, which, though 
 ample, was far from sufficient for the separate 
 maintenance of herself and family, in the style 
 and comfort to which she had ever been ac- 
 customed through life — in consequence of these 
 circumstances, I, as it was only proper in a 
 son, pressed on her my home — offered that 
 she should make it hers as long as it pleased 
 her to retain it — certainly neglecting to pro- 
 vide for any such contingency as the present, 
 or rather forgetting that any might possibly 
 arise — not imagining that a wife might briilg 
 forward objections to such an arrangement — or 
 the friends of a wife I ought to say. For Miss
 
 DAUGHTERS. 191 
 
 Camer9n," he continued with a softened tone and 
 expression, which rather smoothed the feelings 
 which Mr. Beauchamp's rising haughtiness of 
 manner was beginning to kindle within the Ge- 
 neral's breast — " as for Miss Cameron, by her, 
 I am tempted to believe, no such objection will 
 be interposed." 
 
 " No, Beauchamp ; Lena is too young — too 
 inexperienced — too amiable, we may add, to 
 have any such fears and pre-visions," the Ge- 
 neral added ; " for that very reason it is 
 more our duty to supply their place, and you 
 must be aware if you consider without preju- 
 dice the subject, that our objections and mis- 
 givings are not without foundation. Yes," 
 continued General Cameron, " I will continue 
 to maintain my opinion, and declare that I 
 would, with more comfort, see a daughter 
 of mine become the mistress of a far more 
 hum])le home, than the joint ruler, under such 
 circumstances, of a palace." 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp paused for a moment be-
 
 192 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 fore proceeding, and then, as if with an effort 
 to master any further manifestation of displea- 
 sure, quietly said — 
 
 " I should have thought, for my part, that to 
 be placed for the first few years of her married 
 life, in a situation which — whilst ensuring to 
 Lena the respect and consideration due to 
 her, as a wife and mistress of a household, 
 yet spared the toil and trouble — the care and 
 responsibility generally entailed upon a young 
 person in such a position — would be the surest 
 plan by which I could have secured the hap- 
 piness of one so little accustomed to such 
 matters — to say nothing of the advantage in 
 experience and information which she could 
 not fail to acquire from the example of so 
 superior a head as Lady Kachel's. But I see 
 the views of Miss Cameron's parents are not 
 the same — for my part I never for a moment 
 contemplated the incompatibility of two such 
 persons as Lady Eachel Beauchamp and Miss 
 Cameron dwelling under the same roof without
 
 DAUGHTERS. 193 
 
 endangering the happiness of either — nor did 
 I foresee the unfavourable impression which 
 my excellent mother must have made upon 
 my future connections, and I grieve to add, 
 their seeming distrust of my care and affec- 
 tion towards my intended wife. Under such 
 circumstances I scarcely know what to pro- 
 pose." 
 
 The General and Mrs. Cameron wished to 
 explain, in a more favorable view, their ideas 
 upon the subject, but Mr. Beauchamp begged 
 to be allow^ed to continue. 
 
 " If Mrs. Cameron," he said, " wish 
 to ascertain the rules and regulations by 
 which our domestic establishment is to be 
 arranged, I can only state, that I intend my 
 mother should still continue her former posi- 
 tion as directress of the household ; both be- 
 cause I consider her more suited, by her 
 years and dignity, for those duties, from which 
 I would fain spare my delicate, gentle Lena, 
 for some years to come, and also because such 
 VOL I. K
 
 194 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 an arrangement will leave us more liberty 
 for the constant enjoyment of each other's 
 society, and enable us to devote ourselves 
 without interruption to those interests and 
 employments we shall share together. My 
 tastes and pursuits are of a most sedentary 
 character, and my habits wholly domestic." 
 
 The General and his wife could scarcely 
 forbear a smile at this last clause of the 
 argument. A slight curl on Mrs. Cameron's 
 lip, might have given rise to the idea, that 
 had her thoughts been embodied in words, 
 they might have expressed the uncourteous 
 exclamation of, " What a bore of a husband !" 
 However, Mr. Beauchamp proceeded without 
 further interruption — 
 
 " The private suite of apartments, which 
 I shall appropriate to the especial use 
 of myself and my wife, will render us 
 as free and independent of the inter- 
 ference and intrusion of others upon our 
 private hours, as a married pair can desire.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 195 
 
 Beyond this, what other arrangements can 
 now be made without offence to my mother, 
 and dissatisfaction to myself, I must say I am 
 at a loss to imagine." 
 
 •^ Well," said the General rising and walk- 
 ing towards the fire-place, and leaning his 
 head upon his hand with a movement which 
 told that he was little satisfied, " I know not 
 what to say about it — I sincerely trust this 
 plan may be found to answer — but — " 
 
 ^^ You yet doubt it," interrupted Mr. Beau- 
 champ warmly, " in that case, indeed, I can 
 hardly wish you to allow your daughter — " 
 
 '^ May I come in ?" sounded at that moment 
 in a sweet voice as the handle of the door 
 having turned, it gently opened, and Lena 
 made her appearance, like an angel of peace 
 and quiet, amongst the ruffled party. 
 
 She had come with some message to her 
 mother, from the Duchess, with whom she had 
 been sitting. 
 
 Her father, when she had delivered it, drew 
 K 3
 
 196 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 her towards him tenderly and kissed her 
 with an earnestness of affection — ahnost of 
 sad significance. At least so it appeared to 
 Mr. Beauchamp, whose feelings were at that 
 moment not a little susceptible of tenacious 
 Jealousy. • 
 
 And Lena, who had not failed to perceive 
 the offended cloud upon her lover's brow — 
 the gravity on that of her father — and a 
 certain look of disquiet on Mrs. Ca- 
 meron's expressive countenance, in her turn 
 began to be alarmed and anxious, as her 
 eyes glanced timidly from one to the other. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp noticed that her observa- 
 tion had been attracted— for he had fixed his 
 eyes somewhat gloomily, though earnestly, 
 upon her face— and he now said in a tone 
 which was slightly tremulous— 
 
 " Are you, also, Miss Cameron, of your 
 parents' opinion upon the present painful sub- 
 ject, the discussion of which you agreeably 
 interrupted — is it your conviction that the
 
 DAUGHTERS. 197 
 
 happiness of your life will be destroyed by 
 dwelling under the same roof with my mo- 
 ther ? Can you not brook the idea of her 
 sharing with you the authority and influence 
 of our establishment ? Is it your desire that 
 her son should dismiss her from beneath his 
 roof — or rather to force that son to withdraw 
 from his mansion — for I must declare such a 
 step would be far more bearable to me than 
 the other — in order to leave my mother in 
 unmolested possession of the home I had 
 promised should ever be hers ?" 
 
 Poor Lena turned very pale at these sudden 
 and unexpected questions, thus directly put 
 to her by her excited, agitated lover, and 
 she anxiously turned an enquiriixg gaze towards 
 her mother, 
 
 " Xo ! Answer for yourself, Lena, if you 
 please," Mr. Beauehamp continued ; " I wish 
 for your own unbiassed sentiments ; and that 
 the sincerity and but too fervent ardour of 
 my affection may evince itself by still fur-
 
 198 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 ther proof — one which I grieve to perceive is 
 so much required ;" he glanced reproach- 
 fully at General and Mrs. Cameron, " I will 
 even declare myself resolved to yield entirely 
 to your decision — ^painful as will be the con- 
 duct which it may entail upon me. As I have 
 just said, I am ready to trample on all my 
 long-arranged plans, if you, also, concur in 
 the fear and dislike of living with my 
 mother." 
 
 " / wish to part you from your mother ! 
 Oh papa ! Dear mama, why do you desire it ? 
 To part a mother and a son who had always 
 .intended to live together, happy and united, 
 like" — Lena paused with a slight sigh — 
 she was going to say, " like our own 
 family," but there rose before her fancy, coun- 
 teracting images, checking the cheerful spirit 
 with which thus innocently she pleaded against 
 herself; and her eyes, lifted before with such 
 confidence and animation, drooped more sadly — 
 timidly, as she continued —
 
 DAUGHTERS. 199 
 
 " Why should my entrance into Ladj 
 Rachel's family endanger my own or 
 her ^ happiness ? I am sure for my part 
 it will be my endeavour to please your 
 mother, Mr. Beauchamp, Do you not 
 think I shall be able to do so, dear father ?" 
 and she looked with pained surprise on the 
 General, whose eyes she beheld glistening 
 through tears, as he gazed upon her as she 
 thus so sweetly spoke. 
 
 " If all were Angels like yourself, my child, 
 I should doubt not your power of pleasing, 
 or kindness and happiness being your portion 
 under any circumstances or situation of life. 
 And indeed," the father added, looking ten- 
 derly upon her, " I can still scarcely image to 
 myself the contrary ; therefore I will say no 
 more upon the subject, but rely upon the affec- 
 tion of your husband (which he indeed wrongs 
 me in supposing me to dov.bt,) for shielding 
 you from all that may prove inimical to your 
 peace and happiness."
 
 200 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " Of that I have already given you as- 
 surance. General," Mr. Beauchamp replied 
 with softened emotion, as one hand of Lena's 
 was pressed with almost worshipping tender- 
 ness within his own. '' If you or your dear 
 daughter have ever any cause for complaint, 
 save perhaps of the too jealous fervour of my 
 watchful affection, I shall deserve indeed to 
 forfeit every blessing which the possession of 
 such a treasure bestows upon me." 
 
 Mrs. Cameron now interposed with some 
 cheerful, soothing words, in order to break up 
 the conference with less solemnity and gravity, 
 and thus pacifically, if not satisfactorily or 
 with benefit to the future happiness of the 
 parties concerned, did this at first threatening 
 scene terminate.
 
 DAUGHTERS, 201 
 
 CHAPTEK XIV. 
 
 " Look where she comes 
 In sweetness like the hawthorn-buds unblown ; 
 While the proud bridegroom, like the month of ^lay, 
 Steps on 'midst flowers." 
 
 Barry Cornwall, 
 
 " A sudden chance. 
 Flung me across a marriage train." 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 The next month glided quickly away, and it 
 was perhaps fortunate that th ?re was so much 
 occupation during its duration, to fill the 
 minds of the Camerons, to the exclusion of 
 K 5
 
 202 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 any idle broodings over the prospect of that 
 event which, at its conclusion was to take 
 place. 
 
 There were the double preparations for 
 Lena's wedding, and the removal of the family 
 to Ireland, which was immediately to succeed 
 its celebration. 
 
 It might probably be much owing to this 
 press of business, and the fatigue and anxiety 
 consequent on such momentous arrangements, 
 that so heavy a load of care was to be seen 
 gradually gathering on the mother's brow, that 
 so lowered became the tone of her usually 
 joyous spirits — an effect far from resembling 
 the elated gratification which the reality of 
 this long wished for era in her existence 
 might have been expected to produce. 
 
 Even the General, overwhelmed with affairs, 
 and always on the road to and from London, 
 was in better spirits than his wife. 
 
 The Duchess rallied and rebuked her friend 
 for her weakness, as she termed it, and Lena,
 
 DAUGHTERS. 203 
 
 by her looks of grieved surprise, might have 
 seemed ahnost to convey a gentle reproach to 
 her mother, for thus failing her in the very hour, 
 when she, for that dear mother's sake, had 
 brought herself to look with such resignation 
 and fortitude — nay, with contentment, on her 
 first reluctantly accepted destiny. Now when 
 she had learnt even to love Mr. Beauchamp as 
 her future husband, she began to fancy at 
 times that her mother — once so vehement in 
 her praise of him — seemed almost to dislike 
 him. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron felt indeed that the manifes- 
 tations of such symptoms on her part, were in- 
 excusable and ungrateful towards her dear, self 
 sacrificing child. She strove to turn her mind 
 from any such interpretations, and to attribute 
 her own mysterious demeanour solely to the 
 thoughts of their coming separation — an excuse 
 which easily found an ech; in poor Lena's 
 breast, for it was a contemplation agonizing 
 indeed to her affectionate, tender heart.
 
 204 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 however bright and consoling might be 
 the connteracting images of future happiness 
 which her young sisters were for ever bringing 
 forward as sources of consolation to soothe her 
 sorrow, as well as their own, at this prospect 
 of parting, causing smiles of pleased anticipa- 
 tion to mingle with her tears. 
 
 They talked of the numerous future visits 
 to each other — their delight in being welcomed 
 to her beautiful home — and though the cling- 
 ing heart of Lena sank low with trem- 
 bling dismay at the idea of the change which 
 awaited her, the young are blest with a com- 
 parative thoughtlessness of the future ; though 
 the present may weigh heavily on their 
 youthful spirits, their anticipations of the mor- 
 row are ever vaguely and slowly realized. 
 
 So although the betrothed did sometimes 
 sit in pale and pitiful dejection, surrounded 
 by the splendid wedding presents and bridal 
 trousseau amidst which her sisters flitted ad- 
 miringly, like butterflies from flower to flower,
 
 DAUGHTERS. 205 
 
 though they did make her heart ache and 
 cause her bosom to swell with suppressed 
 weeping, as she looked upon all these prepara- 
 tions as signals of what was to come, she was 
 calmer — more cheerful, perhaps, than might 
 have been expected — till, indeed the day came 
 closely upon them, and then there was much 
 grief and sadness pervading the whole house- 
 hold — all shrunk from the idea of losing the 
 treasured of their hearts — the gentle, loving 
 being so prized by all ! 
 
 But on the morning of the marriage, the 
 chilling presence of Lady Rachel — who with 
 her youngest daughter, honoured the occasion 
 with her presence — seemed to have the power 
 of repressing aU feeling and emotion, within 
 their proper bounds of decorum and propriety — 
 IVIr. Beauchamp had no cause to be dissatisfied 
 with the deportment of his bride, for nought 
 but the trembling timid denzoanour, natural to 
 her situation, was visible to give oiFence, 
 to his own complacent feelings, on the oc- 
 casion.
 
 206 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 We will not enter into a minute description 
 of the ceremony. Those who love such details, 
 may have frequent future opportunities of in- 
 dulging their tastes in such matters. To the 
 end of the world there will be marrying and 
 giving in marriage. Some will gladly pass the 
 subject over, having learnt, as we fear so many 
 have done, to hail with no such lively and 
 pleasing interest, the idea and name of wed- 
 dings — some may have even lived to look upon 
 them with the poet, as the 
 
 " Saddest sight of all !" 
 
 We can imagine that the bride looked very 
 fair, that the bridesmaids made the prettiest 
 group imaginable. 
 
 The party was small — the Duke, Duchess, 
 and a very few near relations and friends, com- 
 prised the whole of the company. 
 
 The General was powerfully affected during
 
 DAUGHTERS. 207 
 
 the ceremony — Mrs. Cameron was enabled to 
 maintain her composure very tolerably. She 
 looked beautiful ; and her youthful appearance, 
 was most striking, when the eye fell upon the 
 numbers of tall children by which she was 
 surrounded. 
 
 " Time from her form hath ta'en away but Uttle 
 
 of its grace ; 
 Its touch of thought, hath dignified the beauty 
 
 of her face." 
 
 That very morning however she had entered 
 the Duchess's dressing room, her fine hair 
 floating about her face, and with a half comic, 
 half serious look of dismay, upon her coun- 
 ten&,nce. 
 
 " Dear Duchess, has it come to this at 
 last?" 
 
 " What do you mean Laura?" said her Grace, 
 looking up in alarm. 
 
 " On my daughter's wedding day too ! I 
 used to think, that such an event would make
 
 208 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 me young again — but for the first time I have 
 actually discovered many grey hairs." 
 
 The Duchess laughed. 
 
 " Well dear Laura," she said " it is what 
 we must expect at our age." 
 
 " Our age !" exclaimed Mrs. • Cameron, " but 
 you have none." 
 
 " I scarcely know," replied the Duchess 
 with great unconcern ; " I think not — but per- 
 haps my maid, in consideration to my feelings, 
 extracts them without my knowledge ; besides, 
 my light hair is always more tardy of change, 
 than your dark locks." 
 
 " Oh no Cecilia, it is all this marriage which 
 has worried me to death — ^made me ten years 
 older. I almost feel," and Mrs. Cameron sank 
 down pale and dejected by the side of her kind 
 friend, " that this will be a break up — not only 
 of my looks, but what is of rather more con- 
 sequence — the happiness and peace I have 
 hitherto enjoyed. I scarcely know why it 
 should be ; this discontent is certainly unac-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 209 
 
 cuutable concerning an event, for wliich I 
 ehould be so thoughtful— but poor darling 
 Lena ! I wonder how it will answer. She is 
 so different from other girls, as timid and cHng- 
 ing as a child. I can scarcely fancy her exist- 
 ino^ without me for so lono; a time — I have 
 never quite realized the idea of what I am 
 about to do — commit this delicate gentle, child 
 into the hands of strangers. However," ^Mrs. 
 Cameron added with much agitation, " come 
 weal, come woe, it is I who have done it all — 
 Ceciha I never till this moment felt the extent 
 of the responsibility which I have brought 
 upon myself." 
 " ;My dear Laura, your spirits are naturally dis- 
 composed by the idea of the exertions you have 
 to encounter to-day. Do not say that you are 
 giving up your child into the hands of strangers 
 — a husband cannot be classed under such a 
 denomination — especially one .^o tender and per- 
 fectly devoted as Mr. Beauchamp must prove. 
 You must trust to me," the Duchess soothingly
 
 210 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 added, **for watching over her as assiduously as 
 I possibly can, during your absence from Eng- 
 land." 
 
 "Thank you much, dearest Cecilia; that 
 idea will indeed be a comfort. I ought — I am 
 quite aware, to confide more, as you say, on Mr. 
 Beauchamp's care and affection — and my feel- 
 ings on the subject are most morbidly sensitive 
 to-day: but I am weak and upset altogether. 
 My mind is filled with every kind of gloomy 
 pre-vision. Oh! Cecilia; if you could only 
 feel for a moment the anxieties of a mother, you 
 would never again repine at being childless I 
 However," Mrs. Cameron added, rising and 
 preparing to quit the room, " this is indeed a 
 bad preparation for the trials of the day, and 
 there is poor Lena still asleep; I would not 
 allow her to be disturbed, she has yet to open 
 her eyes upon her wedding morning !" 
 
 Mrs. Cameron gave a slight shudder, paused 
 one moment to give an admiring glance at the 
 Duchess's Paris bonnet hanging ready for the
 
 DAUGHTERS. 211 
 
 occasion, then withdrew, a little relieved by this 
 outpouring of her feelings. 
 
 Poor Lena — she stood in the midst of the 
 assembled guests after the ceremony was over, 
 in the drawing-room at Beechy Place, leaning 
 on her husband's arm, to be looked at and con- 
 gratulated. She would not weep if she could 
 help it — though she felt her powers of suppres- 
 sion fast melting away. So whilst she smiled 
 faintly in answer to those who addressed, or 
 commented upon her, she fixed her large dark 
 eyes on the most joyous object she could find — 
 her youngest brother's smiling face gazing upon 
 her with cheerful, childlike curiosity. 
 
 But it was too dear an object to serve long as 
 a preservative to her composure ; soon as she 
 gazed upon the child she loved so tenderly, her 
 eyes were blinded by the swelling drops, and 
 Mr. Beauchamp was in another moment lead- 
 ing her away, in order that sh'; might vent her 
 uncontrollable emotion in greater privacy. 
 Annie and Janet immediately followed in her 
 train.
 
 212 DAUGHTERS, 
 
 '^ Mama says," they exclaimed, ^^ Lena is to 
 come with us, and you, Mr. Beauchamp, are to 
 go to the breakfast." 
 
 But the brother-in-law still retained his 
 bride from them, with grave determination. 
 
 " I should have wished you to have accom- 
 panied me, Lena," he said, " if it were only 
 for a few minutes — do you not think you can 
 compose yourself sufficiently to please me ?" 
 V "Oh no, Mr. Beauchamp !" Annie hastily 
 exclaimed, " I am sure she would much rather 
 not — and really you must leave her with us — 
 we, who are to lose her directly for, perhaps, 
 a very long time^would you not rather go 
 with us dear Lena ?" 
 
 " Oh yes !" cried Lena turning towards them 
 from Mr. Beauchamp, sobbing. 
 
 "' Well," Mr. Beauchamp said, yielding her 
 reluctantly, " I must only beg that you will 
 not agitate yourself with your sisters — you 
 know," he added, addressing himself with se- 
 vere gravity to the two girls, " that Lena has
 
 DAUGHTERS. 213 
 
 a long journey before her. You must not be 
 allowed to weep, my love," he again repeated 
 to the young bride, or a headache will be the 
 consequence." 
 
 " Oh she cannot help it, Mr. Beauchamp ; 
 it is impossible !" Annie somewhat petulantly 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " But she will try for my sake," was his 
 grave rejoinder," and Lena was led away. 
 
 The breakfast was over, the carnage at the 
 door, and ^Irs. Cameron soon saw the first 
 bride of the family depart from her, with feel- 
 ings little similar to those she had once ex- 
 pected to have experienced, at such an epoch of 
 her existence. 
 
 And how truly does this feeling correspond 
 with the usual circumstances of our lot in 
 this disappointing world- — how often do we 
 anticipate, with feelings of unmixed delight, 
 some approaching event — some coming enjoy- 
 ment, perhaps, as innocent and natural, as the 
 desire of water to the thirsty soul. It comes--^
 
 214 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 but alas ! how changed from all that our joyoua 
 anticipations had pourtrayed it ; how little — 
 how less than little does it contain to satisfy 
 our expectations ! We have looked for too 
 much from the creature, and the creator has 
 vindicated his own Majesty, by depriving it of 
 the little it really possessed, and of which 
 otherwise he would have permitted the en- 
 joyment. 
 
 * ♦ * * ♦ 
 
 The married pair were to pass the honey 
 moon in the Isle of Wight. 
 
 They were retarded a few hours after their 
 departure, by a slight accident, which obliged 
 the carriage to stop for some moments. Mr. 
 Beauchamp had himself impatiently alighted 
 to superintend the necessary repairs. Whilst 
 thus employed, a young man rode past, and 
 paused for a moment to see what was going 
 on ; but his attention was quickly riveted by 
 the most interesting feature of the scene — the 
 lovely occupant of the chariot, whose beautiful
 
 DAUGHTERS 215 
 
 head, drooping with dejection, was visible at 
 the window against which she languidly re- 
 clined — 
 
 " The cup was all full and the leaves were aU wet, 
 And it seemed to a fanciful view 
 To weep for the buds it had left with regret, 
 On the flourishing bush where it grew." 
 
 This simple couplet on the shower- washed rose, 
 might truly have suggested itself to " a fanciful 
 view," as symbolical of the pretty bride's appear- 
 ance at that moment— the delicate flush of her 
 fair, young face, brightened by the shadow cast 
 upon it by the rose coloured bonnet she wore, 
 and bedewed with the fast dropping tears, 
 which — profitting by the absence of her bride- 
 groom — she now again suffered to trickle un- 
 restrained. 
 
 The young man's heart beat quick and pain- 
 fully. For a moment he felt bewildered, as if 
 a vision had appeared before his eyes. But 
 then the whole character of the scene before
 
 216 DAUGHTEES. 
 
 him suggested explanatory recollections- 
 rendered more lucid by the bridal appearance 
 of the gentleman, who with a surprised and 
 half offended countenance, now hastily turned 
 tow^ards him, from the operations he was over- 
 looking. 
 
 Soon, indeed, was the yovmg stranger dis- 
 enchanted. He bowed with crimsoned brow, 
 murmured some offers of assistance — civilly, 
 but coldly declined by Mr. Beauchamp — and 
 •Lena, awaking from the bewilderment with 
 which she had at first gazed on the well- 
 known face, now began to make some embar- 
 rassed signs of recognition. 
 
 The young man who seemed to hesitate 
 whether or not it would be proj^er to address her 
 further, finally bowed again and rode on. 
 
 " Do you know that person, Lena ?" asked 
 Mr. Beauchi\mp in a tone of slight an- 
 noyance. 
 
 " Oh yes ! it was Mr. Frederick Sackville, 
 a near relation of the Duchess of Stratheden ; 
 I knew him in London," Lena answered.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 217 
 
 " You had better not sit so forward my 
 love," Mr. Beauchamp remarked, " we are 
 close to Brighton," which is very full now, we 
 shall be very likely to fall in with acquaint- 
 ances, and these rencontres are not very agree- 
 able at this moment. A weeping bride espe- 
 cially," he added, looking on the signs of recent 
 tears visible on her face with an air of re- 
 proach, " should not be exposed to the vulgar 
 gaze." 
 
 And he lowered her veil, so that if he could 
 not plainly bid her tears not to flow, at least 
 he might not see her shed theuL 
 
 VOL. L
 
 218 DAUGHTERS, 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 There was a shadov/ on their mirth 
 A vacant place is on their hearth, 
 When at the purple evening's close, 
 Around its fire-light gathered those 
 With whom her youth's sweet course had run." 
 
 L. E. L. 
 
 " Oh then 'tis time to look forward, 
 And back, like the hunted hare ; 
 And to watch as the little bird watches, 
 When the falcon is in the air." 
 
 Barry Cornwall. 
 
 We will intrude no longer on the married 
 pair. Let us glance back briefly to the in-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 219 
 
 mates of Beecliy place, ere we part to meet 
 again in Ireland. 
 
 We will not dilate upon the desolate blank 
 occasioned by the departure of the much loved 
 bride. It was felt almost like a second death 
 in the family by her relations. 
 
 The dreary autumn weather, and the con- 
 sequent gloom which it cast over the outward 
 aspect of Beechy Place and its environs, 
 tended to increase the depression of their 
 spirits, and it was, perhaps, better for them all 
 that the opportunity of indulging those feelings, 
 was interrupted by a break in their family 
 party, although it was one by no means palatable 
 to any of their tastes. 
 
 Two days after the wedding, the Duchess 
 was taken by surprise by Lady Rachel's gra- 
 ciously accepting an in\dtation to spend a few 
 days at Beechy Place, before her return home, 
 which had been given certainly without much 
 expectation of such a result. Her Ladyship 
 even fixed the day immediately following that 
 L 3
 
 220 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 on which she received the invitation ; it not 
 being her wish, she said, to trespass on the 
 bounds she had fixed as to the period of her 
 absence from home. 
 
 For this favour her noble hostess later dis- 
 covered, that she was indebted to a disagree- 
 ment which had taken place between the domi- 
 neering mother and her clerical son during the 
 few days of their sojourn together. 
 
 This opportunity therefore of a removal from 
 the roof of her offending child to the abode of 
 his noble neighbours, afforded her a more dig- 
 nified and convenient mode of shewing forth 
 her displeasure, than by a premature departure 
 in dudgeon from the country. 
 
 Her ladyship arrived then with her youngest 
 daughter, a tall girl of sixteen — rather pretty, 
 in spite of the disadvantages of dress — and the 
 misery, through shyness and fear, with which 
 in her mother's presence she seemed oppressed 
 and subdued. 
 
 By the arrangement however of the Duchess,
 
 DAUGHTERS. 221 
 
 — to which as a guest Lady Rachel was forced 
 in a measure to submit — the young Agnes, 
 during her stay at Beechy, was spared from 
 much of that infliction, by being appointed to 
 form one of the school-room party. Lady 
 Rachel would have perhaps more unwillingly 
 conceded to a plan which so completely re- 
 moved her daughter from her vigilant espionnage 
 had she not remarked that the young Cameron s 
 were more than usually excluded from free 
 access into the drawing-room — never entering 
 it except by invitation. 
 
 The fact was that the General and Mrs. 
 Cameron felt scrupulous in presuming on the 
 kindness of their noble hosts, by intruding the 
 society of so many young ones upon them, at all 
 times ; and strove to the utmost to prevent their 
 feeling any annoyance from the fact of so large 
 a family, being domesticated beneath their 
 roof. 
 
 But if Lady Rachel could have fully real- 
 ized the idea of the perfect freedom and joyous
 
 222 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 cheer, of this schoolroom, into which her daugh- 
 ter was introduced as an honorar}' member, in 
 contrast with the iron discipline of her so 
 named house of bondage, her ideas of decorum 
 would truly have been outraged. All was 
 holiday too during that unsettled period, and 
 although Annie and Janet had at first been 
 really miserable and depressed by the loss of 
 their sister, their rebounding natures and the 
 salutary call on their exertions by Miss Beau- 
 champ's visit, enabled them soon to rally, and 
 their efforts were not a little encouraged by the 
 agreeable surprise of finding their guest not 
 quite the hopelessly despondent, frightened 
 creature, she had appeared to them under dif- 
 ferent circumstances — but indeed wonderfully 
 disposed under the influence of her temporary 
 relief from parental oversight, to expand into 
 SQci ability and unconstraint. Luckily for her, 
 the school-room establishment was sufficiently 
 isolated from the precincts inhabited by the 
 elders, for the indulgence of the social merri-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 223 
 
 ment its walls often resounded, and Agnes 
 Beauchamp was soon excited into taking a part 
 therein, without danger of the joyous sounds 
 reaching the ears of her lady mother. 
 
 But it was amusing — or rather we ought to 
 say sad, to note with what a sudden change — 
 how like a flower at the approach of night — 
 the girl would shrink and close up, as soon as 
 her parent's presence — or even vicinity, cast its 
 shadow over her. 
 
 One of the greatest sources of martyrdom en- 
 dured by young Agnes at this time, was caused 
 by the malice prop.inse of the young Gerald 
 Cameron, who in order to shock Lady Rachel, 
 would talk to her, and intrude upon her his 
 boyish attentions in her mother's very face, and 
 in a manner which frightened her to death — 
 indeed she knew that if observed, it would at 
 once put an end to all her present enjoyed 
 liberty — nay she doubted no^ ,, to the visit itself, 
 if it were remotely suspected by Lady Rachel 
 to what a degree she was exposed to the com- 
 pany of the youth during the day.
 
 224 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Young Cameron finding the society of his 
 lively young sisters more to his taste than the 
 chilling atmosphere of Lady Rachel's presence, 
 passed most of the time, supposed by her Lady- 
 ship to be spent by him. in the duties of secre- 
 taryship business, for his father, ministering to 
 the amusements and enlivenment of the school- 
 room party. This delusion, for the peace and 
 quiet of the poor girl, the other ladies aided in 
 maintaining ; Agnes's fears and cautions against 
 any such discovery, affording no little enter- 
 tainment to the youth himself, whilst it sur- 
 prised his sisters, who could not at all under- 
 stand why it should be, 
 
 " Why, Miss Agnes, I suppose you are kept 
 like a mouse in a trap at home ?" Gerald ex- 
 claimed, one day ; when she was forced to re- 
 fuse in terror to join in some escapade, proposed 
 by her companions by way of amusement — too 
 boldly in defiance of discovery, and the awful 
 consequences which would thereby inevitably 
 accrue.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 225 
 
 ^' How came it then may I ask ?" continued 
 Gerald, "that Lady Rachel was induced to 
 bring you to the wedding instead of your sisters 
 who are as it is called — ^ come out ?' " 
 
 " As it is called indeed !" was Agnes's reply, 
 " but except that they do not learn as many 
 lessons, and are taken out occasionally by my 
 mother " 
 
 " From which honor I should think they 
 would rather be excused," was Gerald's paren 
 thesis, and without contradiction from Miss 
 Beauchamp. 
 
 "Except that!" she continued, "there is no 
 great difference in being out. I was certainly 
 surprised at being brought into Sussex ; it was 
 not so arranged until the morning we started — 
 my sisters being ready dressed to go, but they 
 were sent back up stairs by Mama, who was 
 not pleased with their appearance, or something 
 of that sort I suppose. The carriage was post- 
 poned for an hour or two — my clothes huddled 
 
 L 5
 
 226 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 together, and I was made ready to accompany 
 Mama." 
 
 " And were your sisters disappointed ?" asked 
 Annie and Janet. 
 
 " Oh no !" was the answer, " they are used 
 to such adventures, and I dare say they will 
 have great fun." 
 
 " When the cat's away the mice may play." 
 laughed Gerald. 
 
 Agnes laughed too. 
 
 Was that quotation ever more aptly applied ? 
 
 " Then there really is fun going on some- 
 times at Beauchamp Towers?" asked Janet, 
 her spirits slightly raised by the improvement 
 which this idea cast upon Lena's prospects. 
 
 " Oh, yes, sometimes ; for our rooms are 
 separated from the rest of the house, and when 
 they are quite sure that Mama is thoroughly 
 occupied with company, or other matters, 
 Rachel and Amelia do pretty well what they 
 like." 
 
 ** But are not your governesses very strict ?^
 
 DAUGHTERS. 227 
 
 " Oh, my sisters have got rather above them 
 now; and the governesses are, I think, be- 
 coming weary of the task of keeping them in 
 order, and leave them more to their own de- 
 vices. I am kept at it still pretty tightly — but 
 that will I hope soon be over — and then — " 
 
 She broke off with a heavy sigh, as even 
 then no very bright anticipation presented itself. 
 
 " How charming it will be for you to have 
 dear Lena as a sister I she will be so kind and 
 affectionate, and make Mr. Beauchamp inter- 
 cede for you to be a great deal with her," re- 
 marked Annie. 
 
 " Oh, no ; I dare say we shall be very little 
 together," replied Agnes. " The apartments 
 prepared for her and Lionel are far from ours ; 
 we have never seen much of our brother, 
 except when he has been sent by Mama to 
 lecture us — and I suppose we shall see as little 
 of liis wife." 
 
 ^' An extraordinary establishment, indeed r 
 Gerald exclaimed. " Well, I hope when I am
 
 228 DAUGHTEES. 
 
 invited to the Towers to see my sister, Lady 
 Rachel will depute me some grave office — 
 father confessor perhaps — to the school-room 
 department, and we will see if we cannot con- 
 trive to get np a little amusement." 
 
 Agnes gave a hopeless sigh, which, however, 
 was followed by a laugh ; the last almost she 
 laughed at Beechy, for an unfortunate finale 
 was put that very afternoon to Miss Agnes'& 
 short lived reign of liberty and enjoyment. 
 
 The weather — so hopelessly rainy the first 
 few days of the Beauchamps' visit — having 
 cleared up, the carriage was ordered for the 
 ladies, and the young party were left to walk, 
 as was supposed, by Lady Rachel. Indeed 
 strict injunctions were given by her to Agnes 
 that such should be her mode of passing the after- 
 noon—to walk with the governess in demure 
 order, up and down the dry shrubbery. But 
 the sea looked so fresh and tempting from the 
 downs, into which the girls ventured, by the 
 little wicket opening upon them, that Annie
 
 Daughters. 229 
 
 and Janet entreated Miss Manners to let them 
 walk thither ; and not even the necessity of 
 leaving^ their o^uest behind, could induce the 
 high-spirited, indulged little maidens to resist 
 the temptation after their long confinement, of 
 an expedition with the pony to the delightful 
 sea beach. 
 
 Agnes Beauchamp, evidently considered that 
 it would be as much as her life was worth, the 
 discovery of such a transgression of her 
 mother's injunctions. Alas ! it was from the 
 discovery not the transgression the unfortunate 
 girl had through injudicious severity been 
 brought to shrink, with terror I She was there- 
 fore left, after some hesitation on the part of 
 her young friends, to walk with the two 
 younger children and the nurse. With rather a 
 rueful, longing face she watched the happy 
 party set oif and strove to content herself — 
 which she could readily do- -for every breath 
 of freedom she drew was a novel delight to her ; 
 and the society of little Cecil and Laura — who
 
 230 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 merry as two little chirping birds chattered and 
 frolicked by her side — added to her enjoyment. 
 After a time the children were taken in, and 
 Agnes was left alone leaning against the shrub- 
 bery gate in rather a melancholy reverie, mus- 
 ing on the bitter contrast aiForded by the happy 
 lives of the young Camerons to that which had 
 been or ever could be her portion. Her sisters, 
 they were introduced, but their prospects were 
 little brightened by it, still shut up, as Gerald 
 said, " like mice in a trap," with little hope of 
 emancipation — even by marriage — for they 
 never were allowed to speak to any one — and 
 marriage had been their long cherished hope of 
 freedom for the future. 
 
 " Oh, I wish I could marry !" she exclaimed, 
 bitterly — " or run away somewhere, and live 
 in a cottage and work for my bread — anything 
 to be at peace, and kindly treated." And 
 images and wishes were conjured up before 
 her mind which probably would never have 
 visited the girl of a happier culture and
 
 DAUGHTERS. 231 
 
 education. 
 
 At length she heard — 
 
 " A noise of some one coming through the grass, 
 And singing clearer than the crested bird 
 That claps his wings at dawn." 
 
 It was Gerald Cameron, who, with his gun 
 on his shoulder, came up to the little gate on 
 which she leant — gay and handsome as he 
 always was. Having heard from her — startled 
 and confused by his sudden appearance — an 
 explanation of her solitary state, he declared 
 it was very rude of his sisters to have thus 
 deserted her — that he would give them a good 
 scolding, and finally invited her to take a brisk 
 walk with him along the pleasure grounds. 
 She complied with this invitation, but at first 
 seemed little at her ease, listening to every 
 sound like a startled hare, and asking every 
 moment if Gerald did not hear the carriage. 
 
 " Oh ! you need not expect them home for 
 some time," at length Gerald said, smiling at 
 her alarm ; " but why should you care about 
 it, even were the carriage to arrive ?"
 
 232 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " Certainly I must run in— I must be up 
 stairs before Mama returns," replied Agnes. 
 
 " Why ?" questioned her companion. 
 
 " Oh ! she would be dreadfully angry to 
 find me out alone." 
 
 " Alone I" said Gerald, " you are with me." 
 * " Oh ! that would be a thousand times 
 worse ; you must not tell Mama, if you please, 
 that — that—" 
 
 " That we took a little walk together — 
 nonsense — what's the harm ?" said Gerald. 
 
 The girl coloured and hung her head. 
 
 " I don't know," she replied, ** but she would 
 think it very shocking — if she found us 
 out." 
 
 " Found us out .'" repeated Gerald to himself, 
 quite provoked ; for with his clear, good judg- 
 ment — young as he was — he felt the folly, to 
 say the least of it, of bringing up a girl in such 
 a manner — of puttings such notions into her 
 head — leading only to hypocrisy and deceit. 
 " Well ! if the old fool has something worse to
 
 DAUGHTERS. 233 
 
 scold her for some of these days, it will serve 
 her only right — she's a pretty girl," Gerald 
 thought, as he glanced at his companion ; her 
 dark complexion brightened by the glow of 
 shy embarrassment — her face, partly shaded 
 by her large unseemly bonnet — a certain 
 character of interest being cast even over the 
 gaucherie of the tall drooping girl. 
 
 Gerald pitied her from the bottom of his 
 heart, and began gradually to draw her out 
 to confide in him a history of her grievances, 
 which his kind, frank, sympathizing manner 
 soon encouraged her to do with considerable 
 animation ; till in the interest and excitement of 
 her tale, she forgot to mark, how the shadows 
 were deepening on the beech trees, the nao- 
 ments passing unmarked, and also that the 
 moisture of the leaf-strewn ground would cause 
 the sound of the carriage wheels to be less 
 audible. 
 
 They were talking of Lena — Gerald telling
 
 234 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Agnes to make a friend of his sweet, kind 
 sister — saying, how sure he was that her amia- 
 bility would effect much of amelioration for 
 them all-^when suddenly, as in closest con- 
 verse they walked side by side, a shadow, darker 
 than the shades of night, overcast their narrow 
 patL 
 
 Lady Rachel stood before them with that 
 written on her countenance which her daughter 
 required little examination to decipher. 
 Indeed her presence itself was sufficient — 
 and the poor girl shrank at once before her, in 
 abject resignation to her fate. Gerald bowed 
 in fearless confidence, though he felt for 
 Agnes. 
 
 He thought it best to be the first to speak, 
 and therefore said — 
 
 " I trust your ladyship has had a pleasant 
 drive — my sisters, I am shocked to say, had 
 the impoliteness to leave Miss Beauchamp to 
 a solitary walk. " 
 
 " Not solitary it seems !" her ladyship res- 
 ponded, with a sneer.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 2 35 
 
 " Xo, not since I was allowed the pleasure 
 of joining your daughter,'' Gerald coolly but 
 civilly replied. 
 
 " Miss Agnes Beauchamp doubtless fully 
 appreciated the pleasure," her ladyship con- 
 tinued; but it is one in which it is not my plea- 
 sure that she should indulge — her own room, 
 rather than the open shrubbery would have 
 been the more proper place for her, in the ab- 
 sence of the Miss Camerons and their gover- 
 ness. However," she added, her brow growing 
 darker and darker, " this is the consequence 
 of bringing young ladies of her age out of their 
 proper sphere — from the privacy and restraint 
 of their own school-room. It will teach me 
 wisdom for the future — Miss Agnes you will 
 oblige me by accompanying me to our apart- 
 ments." 
 
 And from these precincts the unlucky Agnes 
 did not appear again that evening. 
 
 The Cameron girls were much dismayed 
 when informed by their brother of what had
 
 236 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 occurred, deeming themselves too truly the 
 cause of the catastrophe. Miss Manners also 
 reproached herself excessively for having acceded 
 to what might be considered a breach of duty. 
 
 All the party did indeed receive a very 
 grave lecture from Mrs. Cameron ; for although 
 disposed, with the Duchess, to look upon Lady 
 Rachel's serious treatment of the aifair as an 
 absurd characteristic of her ladyship's temper, 
 still she felt much annoyed at the idea that 
 her children's thoughtless conduct had caused 
 the present disagreeable business. 
 
 Mrs. Cameron considered it incumbent upon 
 her to mention her regret and displeasure to 
 Lady Rachel — upon which her ladyship merely 
 coldly bowed her acceptance of the apology, 
 demonstrating only by a somewhat clouded 
 brow and even more stiffened manner, that 
 anything had occurred to discompose her. 
 
 None of the young party appeared that even- 
 ing, therefore the confinement of Agnes to her 
 room was enabled to pass unnoticed.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 237 
 
 On retiring for the night, Lady Eachel 
 announced her intention of bringing her visit 
 to an end the following day; an intimation 
 her host and hostess had little inclination to 
 resist. 
 
 The girls had been in deep distress to find all 
 access to their unfortunate friend debarred by 
 Lady Rachel's maid, who was set as a watch 
 over her chamber. 
 
 Gerald was by far the most uncomfortable of 
 the party — the evening was passed by him in 
 much disquiet of spirit — so truly did he com- 
 passionate poor Agnes — and when the next 
 morning, she was suffered to make her appear- 
 ance, equipped for the journey close by her 
 mother's side, to take leave of the assembled 
 family — he took advantage of any necessary 
 withdrawal of the Cerberus eye of Lady 
 Rachel to cast looks of kindness and com- 
 miseration upon ; her and the quick sidelong 
 glances darted in return from beneath the 
 drooping eyelashes, showed that he was not
 
 238 DAUGHTEJIS. 
 
 only answered, but with deep expression and 
 understanding. 
 
 How much more interest and importance 
 had the tete-a-tete shrubbery walk received, 
 from the persecution which had been its conse- 
 quence, than twenty such walks would other- 
 wise have effected ! 
 
 Poor Agnes had soon entered the carriage, 
 and bid adieu to liberty, light and joy for many 
 a long and weary day ; but there would exist 
 henceforth a ray of sunshine at her heart amidst 
 the darkness of her existence — a pleasing 
 dream of romance to beguile the weariness of 
 bondage.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 239 
 
 CHAPTER XVI, 
 
 " Thou hast been reared too tenderly 
 Beloved too well and long, 
 Watch'd by too many a gentle eye — 
 Now look on life — be strong ! 
 But oh ! too beautiful and blest 
 Thy home of youth hath been ! 
 Where shall thy wing, poor bird, find rest, 
 Shut out from that sweet scene ?" 
 
 Mrs. Hemams. 
 
 After about a month's sojourn in the Isle of 
 Wight, the married pair arrived to take up 
 their abode at Beauchamp Towers, and Lena 
 Beauchamp 
 
 " A sad sweet weddec' wife " 
 entered her husband's home.
 
 240 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Those who saw her, ever remembered how 
 that fair gentle creature appeared among them 
 like some angel guest — some better spirit — 
 whose presence inspired a hope, that her com- 
 ing might infuse a purifying influence around — 
 might dispel the harshness and oppression, and 
 consequent bitterness and strifes, which had be- 
 fore pervaded the atmosphere of the gloomy 
 mansion. 
 
 And with what feelings did the young bride 
 enter the portal of her new home ? 
 
 As much cheerfulness as it was possible to 
 summon to her aid, did Lena assume for the 
 satisfaction of her husband, though many spoilt 
 brides in her case, would have considered him 
 little meriting such exertions, considering that 
 it was in part that husband, who had increased 
 the cause for peculiar sadness which oppressed 
 her spirits that day. 
 
 It was only that same morning an their 
 journey, that Mr. Beauchamp had broken to 
 her the fact, of having resisted an invitation
 
 DAUGHTERS. 241 
 
 from her parents to meet them at where 
 
 they were to remain a day on their route for 
 Ireland 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp's reason for thus acting was 
 listened to with tears of disappointment. He 
 deemed that it would have been only cruelty 
 to have exposed her to the pain of a second 
 parting ; he had therefore requested her parents 
 not to mention it in their letters to their daugh- 
 ter, and then he concluded by informing her, 
 that on that veiy day they were all to embark. 
 
 Their letter of farewell he then drew forth 
 and presented to her. 
 
 Poor Lena ! she could not read it for her 
 blinding tears, and then her husband remarked 
 that her agitation, even on this occasion, but, 
 confirmed the prudence of the course he had 
 pursued. 
 
 Thus, though her sweet temper soon enabled 
 her to accept his attempts at consolation, and to 
 rally sufficiently to resume her patient placidity 
 ere she arrived at the Towers, and to receive the 
 
 VOL. I. • Bt
 
 242 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 gracious welcome of her mother-in-law witli 
 becoming cheerfulness, yet she could not com- 
 bat with the feeling of desolation which stole 
 over her when at length she found herself re- 
 leased from the necessity of exertion, in the 
 solitude of her stately apartments^ 
 
 Thither she had been immediately conducted 
 after her arrival by her husband and his mother ; 
 and paraded, first through the suite of sitting- 
 rooms, boudoir, and sleeping chamber with 
 proud complacent certainty of the surprise 
 and gratification, with which their luxury — 
 even splendour must inevitably strike her. 
 
 And Lena had striven not to disappoint that 
 expectation, but by her smiles, admiration and 
 thanks, to show forth demonstrations of that 
 nature. 
 
 " I flatter myself indeed," Lady Rachel 
 had then observed, " that no princess could 
 find reason to discover any fault in the accom- 
 modation and arrangements we have prepared 
 for you Mrs. Beauchamp ; and now, Lionel,
 
 DAUGHTERS. 243 
 
 having established your lady in her territory, I 
 must request you to leave her for a space 
 to repose after her journey, and you will not 
 grudge me an hour's conference before dressing- 
 time on business which has been awaiting your 
 return." 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp complied ; but not with 
 great readiness. 
 
 He had adopted the idea that his young wife 
 could not — or ought not to be left alone for 
 ten minutes together — an idea which was cer- 
 tainly kindness most mistaken, as all who have 
 ever been thus tried will most assuredly agree. 
 
 We can easily enter into the feelings which 
 prompted that first sovereign request of the 
 Queenly daughter of our realm on entering her 
 new dignity 
 
 " That she mio:ht be left alone for ten mir 
 nutes !" 
 
 Alone to commune with one's own heart ! — 
 to feel — to breathe — to move — to think — to 
 look ! — without the gene of human observatiou 
 M 3
 
 244 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " No loving eye which watches thine " 
 Close as the air which wraps thee round " 
 
 to seek 
 
 " The reason why we smile or sigh — " 
 
 lo seem to hear e^en the throbbings of the full 
 heart to know its bitterness or to intermeddle 
 with its joy ! — for" when we are alone, and the 
 falsehood of that ealm^— even insouciance which 
 we assume to others is thrown off like an irksome 
 garment, who does not know the flood of wild, 
 deep, natural feelings, which rush upon the 
 heart, and make it beat again, whether to joy 
 or sorrow with a pulse unchecked by any neces-* 
 £ity for assuming gravity or mirth, which it 
 does not feel ?" 
 
 And Lena thought to enjoy a similar period 
 of relief when the door of the apartment had 
 closed her in — and venturing to disobey her 
 husband's considerate commands that she shoul(^
 
 DAUGHTERS. 245 
 
 ring for her maid, and have lights — for the 
 short November afternoon was fast closing: in — • 
 she seated herself on a low stool near the fire 
 and rested her head upon the couch by its 
 side. 
 
 But busy thought soon recalled recollections 
 which rendered her freedom from constraint, 
 but very loneliness indeed. In her mind's eye 
 she saw the vessel which bore so many dear 
 ones far from her — never before had she so 
 fully realized the idea that she was separated 
 for so many a long day from all those dear fami- 
 liar beings — from a mother's love and care, from 
 a father's tenderness — from brothers' and sisters' 
 ''joyous cheer." It was being alone indeed now 
 that she felt ehe could not people that strange, 
 errand room with their loved faces, or hear their 
 dear voices break the stately quiet of all around. 
 
 She was in her future home ; but could she 
 ever feel it home, with every object seeming 
 coldly frowning upon her in its strangeness. 
 
 She beo:an to wish for her husband's return.
 
 MS DAUGHTEUS. 
 
 She felt so desolate and forlorn. But 
 no— he had better stay away a little longer, 
 for much as she might and ought to appreciate 
 his anxious care, yet at that moment it was for 
 other affections her heart was yearning — -the ties 
 ©f nature were pressing round it — and she felt 
 she should receive no sympathy from him — 
 nay she must hide her feelings— if she would 
 fKrtjby his countenance at least, be reproached ;: 
 for she knew alas ! he deemed that his love 
 should ww^ be her all in all — that leaving father 
 and mother, h^r heart and soul should cleave 
 wholly unto her husband. 
 
 But how cast off at once the cords which 
 had bound her from her cradle, with such 
 gentle but steadfast force ? As a little child 
 bereft of the parents* arms, and set to run 
 alone, she felt ; if unsupported by their powers, 
 she could scarcely stand — but her love for 
 those beloved ones was an offence to her hus^ 
 band ! She would endeavour not to intrude 
 it upon him, and yet she thought — had he but
 
 DAUGHTERS, ^47 
 
 allowed her to weep forth her filial sorrow upon 
 his bosom, unblamed, unrepressed, far from 
 doing wrong to the affection he had claimed, 
 the feeling would but have mingled in her 
 heart more surely, with the other affections 
 already emplanted there by nature. 
 
 Our readers will no doubt deem this a most 
 gloomy picture of the feelings of a bride, only 
 just past the month of honied bliss — dismal 
 indeed ; — so different from the idea generally 
 formed of that epoch, so interesting to every 
 female heart. 
 
 But let us remember that Lena's was no 
 marriage of love. Too true it was that the 
 young girl had sacrificed all idea of self, in the 
 business, on the shrine of what she considered 
 filial devotion. She married to please 
 her mother, not herself. Lena was as backward 
 in womanly notions as she was young in years 
 — she had never thought of any love save that 
 of father, mother, brother, sisters. Had she 
 really loved her husband, with that love which
 
 248 DAUGHTEBS. 
 
 passeth all other, she would not have felt thus 
 desolate. 
 
 The young wife might have sorrowed at 
 leaving the home of her childhood, and all the 
 dear ones it contained, but there is a myste- 
 rious charm which binds devoted wedded hearts, 
 and seems to loosen every other tie. The 
 loving bride weeps — yet she willingly departs, 
 and clings at once to him alone ; with him all 
 places — all circumstances are alike; he is her all 
 in all — and although her first home may be 
 tenderly remembered, her new one is dearest 
 whatever it may be — for it is his, and she is 
 by his side. But alas ! the case we now record 
 is one of marriage without love, and truly this 
 is ever a fearful experiment — an awful risk ! 
 We do see such unions {marriages de convenance) 
 sometimes turn out well — even happily. Time 
 and custom — intrinsic worth will do its work of 
 attaching a heart ; but it is an unnatural— nay 
 if rightly considered, a sinful act — and it is 
 our opinion, that however convenience may
 
 DAUGHTERS. 249^ 
 
 promote, or raiik or fortune adorn a marriage — 
 without real bona fide, love — as its basis — no 
 lesser power — no mortal agency, can turn the 
 bitter waters of this world's trials into wine. 
 
 Lena, little used to muse and droop in soli- 
 tary sadness, could bear the silence that reigned 
 around no longer, and was about to ring 
 for her maid— not Justine — she had not 
 been considered sufficiently dignified fur 
 the establishment at Beauchamp Towers, but 
 an older person who had before lived with the 
 Camerons, of whom they entertained a high 
 opinion, and had consented to enter Mrs. Beau- 
 champ's service — but just at that moment, 
 Lena heard a low knock, and the door of the 
 apartment softly open. 
 
 She started into a sitting posture, and looking 
 round saw her three sisters-in-law advancing 
 cautiously towards her. Ere she could rise 
 they were close to her, and kneeling before her 
 the girls embraced the young bride by turns, 
 looking upon her with mingled pity, kindness 
 M 5
 
 250 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 and interest, as she sat in the firelight, her 
 hair, disarranged by her reclining position, droop- 
 ing around her face which was pale with sadness 
 and fatigue. 
 
 "We thought perhaps you might like to see 
 us and woidd think it strange that we did not 
 appear to welcome you," the eldest said, when 
 Lena, gently smiling, expressed her pleasure at 
 seeing them, and expressed how kind she thought 
 it in them, having thus come to her. 
 
 " But you know," Rachel continued " we 
 are not quite our own mistresses, and have only 
 now slipped in here for a very few minutes, 
 having ascertained that Lady Rachel is safely 
 closeted with Lionel till the dressing bell 
 rings." 
 
 " But I hope you will be allowed con- 
 stantly to come and see me without any con- 
 cealment," Lena said — " I trust indeed we shall 
 be a great deal together ; your mother will not 
 surely object to your coming to see me^ 
 
 The two elder girls shrugged their shoulderi?, 
 with a doubtful expression.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 251 
 
 The youngest stood timidly aloof and shook 
 her head, sadly regarding her young sister-in- 
 law with quiet but earnest interest and admi- 
 ration. 
 
 " Poor Agnes !" the sisters said, " you must 
 not say, if you please, that you have seen her 
 yet. We do not mind it much — we have no 
 idea of being any longer kept shut up like 
 children, afraid to move. She is under school- 
 room discipline ; and since her unfortunate visit 
 to the Duchess, the reins are held tighter than 
 ever." 
 
 Lena who had heard something of the shrub- 
 bery adventure which Lady Rachel had com- 
 municated to Mr. Beauchamp, glanced instinc- 
 tively at the offender, and beheld her face cast 
 down and crimsoned with confusion. 
 
 " I shall see you all this evening ?" said 
 Lena, wishing to turn the subject. 
 
 " Oh yes ! Rachel and I shall enact the 
 part of two dummies at the dinner-table, 
 Amelia answered ; "as for poor Agnes you will
 
 252 DAUGHTEES. 
 
 be paraded up to see her to-morrow I suppose, 
 but nothing will be expected from you but an 
 embrace of cold propriety ; so you need not be 
 afraid of betraying, by too little warmth, that it 
 is not a first meeting." 
 
 Lena looked puzzled and distressed ; all 
 these crooked dealings were so new and strange 
 to her. 
 
 " I know you will be our friend," the eldest 
 continued, "and do what you can with our 
 brother, to make our lives more supportable ; 
 Lionel is inclined to be kind to us, but then he 
 requires to be well managed. Above all," she 
 added, laughing, " you must take care not to 
 seem too anxious about us, or too good-na- 
 turedly partial ; that will send hun at once over 
 to the enemy — ^begging Lady Rachel's pardon 
 for thus naming her." 
 
 Poor Lena! — her eyes opened still wider 
 with bewilderment, not unmixed with terror. 
 She, since her birth, had only been amongst 
 those, who were open as the broad daylight ! —
 
 DAUGHTERS. 253 
 
 No back stairs proceedings had she ever even 
 heard of, amongst children and their parents — 
 and now what a field seemed opening before her 
 of dissimulation and manoeuvre ! To her mind 
 it appeared not only sinful, but it grated 
 upon it as vulgar — low — and what shocked 
 her most in the matter was the last concluding 
 words of Eachel Beauchamp— she who associ- 
 ated the idea of her mother, as her tenderest 
 of supports — that rock of confidence which 
 could never fail her— to hear a mother brought 
 forward as the enemy, against whom she was 
 urged to defend her children ! Lena's heart 
 sickened and revolted at the idea, and she en- 
 deavoured to turn the conversation on other 
 subjects, striving particularly to bring forward 
 the youngest girl, towards whom she felt her 
 heart incline with more particular interest. 
 
 The two eldest seemed to be made of sterner 
 materials than the poor timid Agnes; their 
 education of tyranny had done its work of 
 hardening, in a degree, their natures— they
 
 254 ' DAUGHTERS. 
 
 were now buoyed up by the spirit of resist- 
 ance, which was by this time burning" fiercely 
 in their hearts, against the despotism under 
 which they existed, and a determination to 
 endeavour to ameliorate their condition — or 
 endure it no longer. 
 
 But Agnes, younger, and by nature more 
 gentle, looked as crushed and broken-spirited 
 as when Lena had first seen the poor girl creep 
 into her presence seven years before. 
 
 The dressing bell at length startled the party 
 from the forgetful ease into which they were 
 gradually sinking, and they all hurried away 
 just in time to miss meeting Mr. Beauchamp, 
 who on rejoining his young wife, expressed a 
 hope that she had not been very dull during 
 his absence. 
 
 Her spirits had somewhat rallied in the 
 society of the girls. It had been a relief after 
 the month's complete tete-a-tete with a com- 
 panion, at the same time so devoted and 
 exigeant as Mr. Beauchamp. She had often
 
 DAUGHTERS. 255 
 
 blamed herself as ungrateful for the weariness 
 and oppression with which that devotion and 
 care had begun to oppress her spirit; Lena 
 now therefore was able to answer with more 
 ready cheerfulness than she could have done 
 half an hour before, that she had not been at 
 all dull, for his sisters had paid her a visit. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp only remarked, that he 
 should have imagined it better for Lena, to have 
 rested herself in quiet after her long journey, 
 as she was to meet them at dinner. He then 
 led her to her dressing room, and returned 
 after the toilette was completed to conduct her 
 to the dining-room. 
 
 Lady Rachel followed with the two Miss 
 Beauchamps in her train. She took the head 
 of the table, placing Lena by Ler side. Her 
 Ladyship smiled graciously and with condescen- 
 sion as she took her seat, saying she was glad to 
 welcome her son's wife to their board. 
 
 Indeed, during the meal Lady Rachel was 
 not wanting in kindly attentions ; so that Lena,
 
 256 DAUGHTERS. . 
 
 between her husband and mother-in-law was 
 scarcely suffered to rest unnoticed for a moment 
 
 As for the Miss Beauchamps — except when 
 occasionally addressed by their brother, or by 
 Lena who made some timid efforts to draw 
 them out to take their part in the conversation, 
 they sat in silence ; and certainly the reception 
 their occasional speeches received was not en- 
 couraging, as they generally called forth some 
 severe looks, or comment from their mother. 
 
 Soon after retiring to the drawing-room, 
 Agnes, escorted by a governess, entered. 
 
 Lena embraced her, and then was informed 
 by Lady Kachel that the young lady had been 
 allowed on her account alone to spend the 
 evening in their company — that it was not her 
 system to bring her daughters forward till they 
 were eighteen — nor had she found — and she 
 looked with severe significance on poor Agnes 
 — that any infringement of that rule had been 
 attended with satisfactory results. 
 
 Th e frightened girl shrunk back to take her
 
 DAUGHTERS. 257 
 
 place at the work-table by the side of the go- 
 verness, where she and her sisters passed the 
 evening in silence, or covert whispers, occa- 
 sionally carried on by tbfe two eldest. Lena soon 
 was joined by her husband, who sat by her side 
 on the sofa whilst he read the papers, and his 
 letters ; Lady Rachel with her tapestry work 
 before her conversing with him, chiefly on the 
 subject of the company they were to receive 
 during the following week. 
 
 Thus passed the evening slowly and wearily 
 to poor Lena, who, what with bodily fatigue 
 and the mental oppression, which the gene and 
 formality surrounding her served to increase, 
 had scarcely energy to use her needle or to 
 utter a word. 
 
 Her thoughts flew to her evenings at home 
 — those periods of unmixed delight to the 
 whole party, when they were all together — the 
 more serious occupations of the day at an end 
 — nothing required but to be happy and merry. 
 How she missed the bright joyous faces of her
 
 258 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 brothers, and sisters — their ringing laugh and 
 unrestrained prattle — her pleasant occupation 
 of amusing her darling pet, the youngest boy, 
 until the melancholy moment of bed-time came ! 
 Could she not in imagination see them all — 
 even hear the clear melodious voices of Annie 
 and Janet as they warbled their father's 
 favorite songs — or the sound of the dance 
 inspiring tunes they rattled on the piano ? Yes, 
 she saw them all, poor girl, in fancy, as she 
 sat in that great, grand, gloomy, silent room, 
 peopled with such dismal spirits. 
 
 But there were two faces in her picture of 
 home on which she had not courage to dwell ; 
 ^ she must not look upon them, or she should 
 weep aloud. They were the countenances of 
 her father and mother — those beloved, tender 
 parents whose love had ever been so precious 
 te her I Yes, ever — for it was not only now 
 that she was severed from them that she had 
 learnt to know its worth — from a child it had 
 been her dearest delight — her most prized 
 treasure.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 259 
 
 It was not certainly very flattering towards 
 a bridegroom of only a month's standing, but 
 most assuredly Lena felt at that moment she 
 could lay down her life contentedly, if but once 
 more she could but feel her father's arm around 
 her waist — whilst she pressed her lips upon his 
 dear white forehead, from which she so loved 
 to stroke back the hair which thought, and 
 the constant, and the anxious charge of so 
 many dear ones, more than age had sprinkled 
 with grey-— or could she only have fallen upon 
 her mother's bosom, and wept in peace ! 
 
 At length Mr. Beauchamp perceiving how 
 pale Lena looked, proposed an oarly retiring 
 which was thankfully accepted — and wearily 
 she laid her head upon the pillow that first 
 time in her new dwelling— to dream, of the 
 old home, and all the kind hearts which com- 
 posed it.
 
 260 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEK XVII. 
 
 A, " Look on her. Is she not most beautiful? 
 Most happy, too ? for rank, and youth, and health, 
 
 Are hers. 
 
 Can you foresee what earth 
 Has more to yield ?" 
 -S, « Methiaks a 'more might be." 
 
 Baery Cornwell. 
 
 The next day a party composed of the best 
 county families was expected to dine at Beau- 
 champ Towers, and some of the guests were 
 to remain all night. 
 
 They were assembled in order that Mrs. 
 Beauchamp might be presented to her neigh-
 
 DAUGHTERS, 261 
 
 hours, and for the week succeeding, the house 
 was thrown open to the company. Universal 
 was the interest and admiration the gentle 
 youthful bride attracted. So unassuming in her 
 demeanour, it was hard to realize the idea that 
 she was the rightful mistress of the stately 
 mansion — yielding as she did all preeminent im- 
 portance to her stately mother-in-law — meek as 
 a child, yet sweetly winning in her manners 
 — she might have only appeared a more favoured 
 younger daughter of the family, except indeed 
 from that peculiarly vigilant solicitude^ which fol- 
 lowed her every look — tracked her every move-» 
 ment. 
 
 ^* Mr. Beauchamp makes the most devoted of 
 husbands," was the general remark, although 
 some of the younger part of the company added, 
 r— " Almost too devoted to be agreeable," 
 
 For the pretty, gentle bride seemed ever 
 fearful, without asking his leave, to stir even 
 for a moment from his side, or bestow her at- 
 tention on another when in his presence. 
 
 The two Miss Beauchamps made their ap-
 
 262 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 pearance, but were never permitted to move 
 beyond the boundary of their mother's observa- 
 tion; benefiting consequently little by the 
 comparative liberty of a large party. 
 
 They were handsome girls — the eldest strik- 
 ing in her appearance. It must have been not 
 a little trying to their patience^ to be cut off so 
 completely from any communication with the 
 gentlemen of the party ; many of whom shewed 
 every inclination to make polite advances to- 
 wards the young ladies of the house ; but who 
 they soon found unapproachable, from the 
 magic circle drawn around them by their for- 
 midable mother. 
 
 The Miss Beauchamps had each a fortune 
 of thirty thousand pounds, and perhaps 
 this circumstance was one of the reasons upon 
 which Lady Rachel based her conduct towards 
 her persecuted daughters ; imagining that their 
 pecuniary advantages might expose them to the 
 advances of mercenary aspirants. For the 
 better security of their persons in case of being
 
 DAUGHTEKS 263 
 
 occasionally obliged to remove her own eyes 
 from the girls, Lady Eachel had installed as 
 a sort of duenna, the head governess — an elderly 
 person, who consequently made her appearance 
 amongst the company, acting her part to per- 
 fection — as stern and stiff in appearance, as 
 even her ladyship could desire, saying little, 
 but seeing everything. 
 
 She had gone through truly a hardening fur- 
 nace, poor Miss Ricketts — no wonder she issued 
 forth from it the stiff moulded impenetrable 
 mettle of which she appeared composed. 
 
 Sixteen years before, she had entered the 
 family as a sort of nursery governess. A well 
 educated but poverty stricken individual, she 
 soon discovered, her only chance of securing 
 her present situation, and the means of subsis- 
 tence it afforded, was by fashioning herself after 
 the wishes and ideas of Lady Rachel— steeling 
 her heart against any particle of the softer 
 feelings of her nature which might have stood 
 in the way of the calling, decidedly marked 
 out by her patroness.
 
 264 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Like the task-masters of Pharaoh, her heart 
 seemed to harden with her employer's, enabling 
 her unrelentingly to follow the increasing re- 
 quirements of her position, to draw tighter and 
 tighter the bands of school-room discipline and 
 bondage, according as her pupils advanced in 
 years and decreased in passive humility and 
 obeyance. 
 
 The two elder girls though comparatively out 
 of school-room domination, hated her as pri- 
 soners loathe their unrelenting jailor. But 
 Agnes, though •to all appearance owing her no 
 more of love than the others — ^perhaps on the 
 same principle as a dog attaches itself to the 
 master who chastises it — seemed as if to cling 
 with something like attachment and a sense 
 of protection, to her severe and sinister 
 looking Cerberus, 
 
 The week of entertainment at an end, the
 
 DAUGHTERS. 265 
 
 household relapsed into its regular routine, and 
 the bride settled down into the quiet and uni- 
 formity of domestic life — unbroken save by the 
 dinner visits they were called upon to accept, in 
 return for the hospitality the neighbours had 
 received from Beauchamp Towers. 
 
 The domestic course of life upon which Lena 
 started, differed entirely from that which gene- 
 rally awaits a young wife's first entrance into 
 the state of matrimony. 
 
 There was in her case none of the excitement 
 and sense of importance generally attendant on 
 stepping into the new post of mistress of an 
 establishment — an event, be it of a cottage or a 
 palace, ever bringing with it some feeling of 
 pleasurable pride to a young house-^keeper's 
 heart. 
 
 But Lena found herself merely admitted a 
 member of a household as an honoured guest 
 rather than a mistress — every thing arranged 
 and prepared — nothing left either to desire or 
 command. Hers was however not the disposi- 
 
 VOL I. N
 
 266 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 tlonta cavil at tliis, even in thought : submissively 
 and contentedly Lena conformed to the ap- 
 pointed character she was expected to fill in 
 her new position. 
 
 That character seemed evidently to be wife to 
 Mr. Beauchamp — nothing else. She was to be of 
 no use either as mistress of a family, or occasional 
 companion to her sisters-in-law ; her husband 
 appearing determined by his constant devotion 
 to leave her no plea for desiring any other 
 occupation or companionship. Their mornings 
 were spent together in reading and writing ; 
 afterwards— weather permitting — walking, rid- 
 ing or driving. Their evenings on the model of 
 the first, passed at Beauchamp Towers — save 
 that music was sometimes introduced, rendering 
 their tediousness more supportable. 
 
 And Lena received weekly letters from her 
 family, their arrivals constituting her greatest 
 delight. Not so much pleasure did she feel in 
 replying to them, for she felt her answers to be 
 unsatisfactory and constrained, not the sponta- 
 neous effusions of her heart
 
 DAUGHTERS. 267 
 
 This perhaps happened because her husband 
 was near her when she wrote, and she knew, ge_ 
 nerally expected that she would oiFer the letter 
 when finished for his perusal. And of facts she 
 had little to relate, after she had once made her 
 family au fait with the programme of her 
 existence — the books and work with which she 
 was engaged ! She had little familiar inter- 
 course with her sisters-in-law ; when her hus- 
 band was forced by business to absent himself 
 for some hours during the day. Lady Rachel 
 took his place as her companion in her drives — 
 and if on such occasions her sisters-in-law were 
 allowed to visit her in her apartments. Miss 
 Ricketts was of the party, and sat, whilst 
 they read together some most dry obstruse 
 work chosen by that lady herself. It seemed 
 next to impossible that anything like excitement 
 or rebellion could disturb the strict discipline 
 which regulated the movements of the inmates 
 N 3
 
 2&B DAUGHTERS. 
 
 of tHe Towers ; any outburst of impatience ois 
 iliepart of tlie girls would have appeared to Lena, 
 as startling and momentous a crisis as a prison 
 mutiny — ^yet from Lints she had received she 
 surmised that such things were not of unheard 
 of occurrence. 
 
 However, the long winter months passed on 
 in outwardly unbroken quiet — Lena, herself 
 perhaps, in a great degree proving the peace 
 preserver. Any break or change in a state of 
 existence sueh as the Beauchamps, is in some mea- 
 sure a relief — a kind of spur to the spirit — an 
 infusion of new life ; and the fact of a fresh in- 
 mate being established in the mansion was an 
 important event — ^much more so when that inmate 
 was of a nature so angelic — her very presence 
 seeming an antidote against har&hness, unkind- 
 ness,and alluncharitableness. It seemed to force 
 imconseiously some forbearance even from the 
 unrelenting Lady Rachel ; and calm into submis- 
 sion the oppressed spirits writhing under her y oke. 
 
 Even Miss Eicketts — poor Agnes had re-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 269 
 
 marked, with wonder — had once or twice been 
 seen to relax into something like a smile, and 
 with a slight moisture in her stern eye, reply 
 gently when addressed by Lena's sweet, sub- 
 missive, half timid Toice. 
 
 The first emotions of marked pleasure or 
 pain produced in the young wi£e's breast, by 
 any particular event since her arrival at Beau- 
 champ Towers, were elicited on the following 
 occasiono 
 
 She one day received a letter from her 
 brother Alick, announcing that his regiment 
 had changed its quarters firom Scotland to Eng- 
 land, and proposing that he should visit his 
 dear sister, to make up for his great disappoint- 
 ment in having failed to obtain leave to attend 
 her wedding. 
 
 The prospect ef seeing this best loved 
 brother was, as may be imagined, a source of 
 great delight, and with that feeling sparkling in 
 her face, Lena laid the lette.' before her hus- 
 band, to receive his sympathy and expressions
 
 270 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 of gratification at the expected pleasure. It 
 came not as unhesitatingly as she would have 
 imagined ; and then he said he would defer his 
 answer, as it required further consideration. 
 
 At first Lena deemed this manner of pro- 
 ceeding but a part of her husband's natural 
 manner ; a sort of tiresome way which he had 
 of conferring a favour. 
 
 She had little idea poor girl I that one of the 
 greatest delights her fancy contemplated, in- 
 deed the hope which had sustained her, in this 
 her new and very different existence — the free 
 admission of her family into her home — was so 
 early to be put under restriction. 
 
 Sharp was the pain which struck upon her 
 heart, when kindly — ^but firmly, her hus- 
 band in the evening began to speak upon 
 the subject of the letter — informing her 
 that it was his intention to take her to London 
 in the spring — that there it would be quite 
 certain she would see her brother as his regiment 
 was at Hounslow, adding he would therefore
 
 DAUGHTERS. 271 
 
 prefer her writing, to postpone the pleasure of 
 meeting him till that period 
 
 " I must own," Mr. Beauchamp said " that 
 I incline towards my mother's scruples upon 
 the subject of admitting a young man into our 
 domestic circle on such familiar terms as a visit 
 in a country house from your brother must 
 entail — on account of my sisters, these objec- 
 tions arise." 
 
 Poor Lena was thunderstruck, and could not 
 conceal her dismay and disappointment. What ! 
 write and tell dear Alick — that brother so pe- 
 culiarly sensitive in his feelings — so like her- 
 self in heart and disposition — who she knew 
 would feel hurt, rather than angry and provoked, 
 as Gerald would perhaps have been — write and 
 tell him that he must not come — '^hat she could 
 not receive him in her own house! — the very 
 idea was heart-breaking. 
 
 " Lionel !" she faltered through the rising 
 tears which well nigh choked her utterance, 
 ** Alick might spend his time entirely with us
 
 272 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 — he need only stay a very few days— and 
 never even see your sisters, if Lady Eachel 
 object to that. But what harm could ensue 
 even if they were thrown together ? Dear 
 Alick," she added in a tone of slightly injured 
 feeling, " will care to speak to none but me 
 whilst he is here." 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp looked and felt sorry and 
 annoyed at witnessing his gentle wife's distress ; 
 but was perhaps only the more reconciled to 
 his determination, on perceiving the too earnest 
 desire which this unusual excitement manifes- 
 ted for the society of another. 
 
 " I never interfere with my mother's ideas 
 and scruples with regard to my sisters, Lena," 
 he continued ; " whilst they are in my house I 
 feel it my duty not to disregard Lady Rachel's 
 wishes. I trust there may be many future op- 
 portunities of receiving your brother at the 
 Towers, either in the absence of my mother 
 and sisters — an event which sometimes occurs — 
 or amongst the other guests to whom the house 
 is occasionally thrown open,'*
 
 DAUGHTERS* ^73 
 
 Finally Mr. Beauchamp concluded by re- 
 minding poor Lena in a tone of mild reproach, 
 that in these their first months of married life, 
 it was soon for her to begin to long sO earnestly 
 for other society save that of her husband; 
 adding that it grieved him to think she could 
 not be content to wait patiently, a few weeks, 
 to behold a brother, when she had himself by 
 her side. 
 
 " It is not flattering to your husband, dear 
 Lena, I confess, to wish to have our private in- 
 course thus early disturbed. Your attention 
 divided so completely, would be to me insup- 
 portable." 
 
 " Well !" said Lena, with a heavy sigh, " I 
 will write to him, of course, if his coming is 
 not agreeable to you." 
 
 The sister's heart was too full to let her 
 pursue the subject 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp seemed as if by his increase 
 of devotion and attachment to wish to atone 
 for the wound he still unrelentingly inflicted.
 
 274 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 but whether it were that his conscience smote 
 him, certain it is he left his young wife when 
 the time came for her to write her unwilling 
 letter. Lena when she was left alone had seated 
 herself at the writing-table, with a heavy 
 heart indited the words — " Dearest Alick !" 
 then threw down her pen and wept, and sat 
 imtil her tears were exhausted, without energy 
 to proceed. She was at length startled by the 
 entrance of her two eldest sisters-in-law, they 
 having contrived to precede Miss Eicketts 
 who was following with Agnes, and a book, 
 kept for perusal on occasions, when it was 
 thought expedient by Lady Rachel, that her 
 daughters should visit Mrs. Beauchamp in her 
 apartments. 
 
 The girls immediately perceived that some- 
 thing particular was amiss with their sweet 
 sister, who could not greet them with her 
 usual smile of welcome. 
 
 " Oh !" she said when they told her for what 
 purpose they had come^-" I haye my letter to
 
 DAUGHTERS. 27l5 
 
 write ; do, dear Amelia, ask ]VIiss Ricketts not 
 to come just yet — I must finish it for the 
 post" 
 
 " Poor dear Lena ! and you have been crying 
 over it !" said Hachel, compassionately taking 
 her hand ; " does it make you sad to write 
 home r 
 
 " This letter is to my brother Alick who isf 
 not at home just now," Lena replied. 
 
 " Oh !" said Amelia looking at her sister, 
 " we overheard something about his having 
 proposed paying you a visit. Is he to come ?" 
 
 " No — ^no I" faltered Lena ; and her tears 
 flowed afresh, 
 
 " This is too bad !" exclaimed Rachel, indig- 
 nantly ; " however, it is only what might be 
 expected when my mother and Lionel put their 
 heads together. But, Lena, if I were you, I 
 would not bear it ; what is the good of being a 
 married woman if you are to be under Lady 
 Rachel's dominion with the rest of us ? It is 
 she, you may be sure, who chiefly instigates
 
 276 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 my brother in conduct such as this, though he 
 would not have it so imagined for the world. 
 Dear Lena, this is the time — if ever — ^to with- 
 stand such tyranny in Lionel — I know him 
 well. Do not be too yielding — or it is all up 
 with you. If he have his own way now, what 
 will it be some years hence ? There, now," 
 added Rachel — " I have given a piece of sage 
 advice which would bring the house about my 
 ears were it retailed — and stone walls, they 
 say, have ears," she added, laughing, and 
 looking round ; " but do take my advice, and 
 try in this instance : make a little more fight 
 for your brother." 
 
 '^ Oh, my dear Rachel, you are very kind," 
 replied Lena ; " but I would not force Alick 
 into any house, not even into my own, without 
 my husband's approval; you must not try 
 to make me a rebellious wife," she added, with 
 a smile. " There, sit down," she continued ; " do 
 not leave me — I never can do anything that 
 grieves me without some kind person near to 
 cheer me."
 
 DAUGHTEES. 277 
 
 And Lena had just taken up the pen to con- 
 tinue her letter, when her husband, imagining 
 that he had given her sufficient time to write 
 half a dozen epistles, and listen to Miss 
 Ricketfs chapter besides, made his appearance. 
 " Still writing?" he said. 
 " Yes, I have not yet finished my letter," 
 Lena answered in some confusion ; " Eachel 
 has been paying me a visit, and we have been 
 talking." 
 
 " A visit of condolence it would seem," he 
 said looking suspiciously from the tear-stained 
 face of his young wife, to his sister, who had 
 risen on his entrance, and was preparing to 
 depart. 
 
 " I think condolence was necessary cer- 
 tainly," Rachel took courage to say ; " for 
 Lena seemed much disappointed at having her 
 brother's visit prevented." 
 
 " Pray Rachel say no more about it !" ex- 
 claimed Lena, as she nervously hurried on
 
 278 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 with her letter ; for she saw her husband's brow 
 overshadowed by an ominous cloud, and trem- 
 bled lest any thing like a dispute should arise 
 between the brother and sister. Mr. Beau- 
 champ only looked coldly on Rachel as he 
 said 
 
 " Lena does not to seem to have profited 
 by your lesson, Rachel." 
 
 " I fear not," she murmured significantly, her 
 colour rising. 
 
 But she had gone as far with her brother as 
 she deemed prudent, so Rachel departed — 
 having only succeeded in placing, from hence- 
 forth, a stronger barrier of suspicious jealousy, 
 between the brother's wife, and sisters.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 279 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 That continuous sweetness, which with ease 
 
 Pleases all round it, from the wish to please. 
 This was the charm that Annie's smile bestowed, 
 The waves fresh ripple from deep fountains flow'd. 
 Below exhaustless gratitude — above, 
 Woman's meek temper — childhood's ready love. 
 
 The new timon. 
 
 Since therefore I seem to incur 
 
 No danger of wishing in vain. 
 
 When making good wishes for her, 
 
 I will e'en to my wishes again. 
 
 CoWPER. 
 
 The spring following found the Camerons es- 
 tablished in Ireland.
 
 280 PAUGHTEKS. 
 
 The General inhabited a commodious resi- 
 dence close to the town of Athlone. 
 
 The family were all prosperous and contented. 
 To the young ones, the novelty of the existence 
 in itself was happiness, and all around was seen 
 through the medium of couleur de rose. Though 
 the daughters of an officer of high rank, the 
 girls had seen little of military life, since they 
 were quite children. The gaiety and stir 
 therefore of a garrison town, was constant in- 
 terest and amusement. 
 
 For the first few months the young ones were 
 full of excitement. They listened to every 
 blast of the trumpets in expectation of the sound 
 ushering in some grand event ; the tout ensemble 
 of the dashing dragoon regiments — the bearing 
 of the men — ^their martial duties — the beautiful 
 horses — ^managed so skilfully by the practised 
 hands of their riders — the trappings of regi- 
 mental finery — and then the bands of music, 
 announcing their approach with their heart- 
 stirring strains ! — all this was very fascinating to
 
 DAUGHTERS. 281 
 
 the eyes — and the fancy of young fresh creatures, 
 and Mrs. Cameron, who saw in it, but the re- 
 newal of what she had felt and enjoyed in her 
 own youthfxd days, was scarcely inclined to 
 enter mth less enjoyment into the lively bustl- 
 ing life. 
 
 In spite of the venerable prospect which 
 opened to her, of soon becoming a grandmother, 
 she found herself quite as popular, as much 
 sought — nay, even admired by the society 
 drawn towards them, as when years ago she 
 had made a campaign in Ireland, the mother of 
 babies. Mrs. Cameron felt nevertheless, how 
 time and circumstances had changed the spirit 
 of her dream — how completely her heart had 
 enlisted in another cause — how since that period 
 her own individual enjoyment in society had lost 
 its interest and importance. And too soon she 
 felt a blank — a regret at finding herself de- 
 prived of the aim and object of all the pleasure 
 she had of late taken, in worldly pursuits. How 
 she missed the daughter she had so quickly dis-
 
 282 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 posed of — ^her sweet, her beautiful Lena ! Mrs. 
 Cameron saw too, that had she only not have 
 been in such a hurry, but allowed her daughter 
 to take her chance and accompany them to Ire- 
 land, it would not have been after all such a 
 case of burying alive as her anxious fears had 
 so impatiently settled, it must prove. In the 
 secrecy of her own heart, often and often did 
 she wish she could live over the few last months. 
 How differently would she have acted ! Oh ! 
 that she had now but her pretty Lena by her 
 side, disengaged from that dull splendour and 
 tiresome husband I 
 
 There was an Irish unmarried Earl in the 
 neighbourhood, and there was young Lord 
 Alfred Townshend in the hussars — he was a 
 great favourite of Mrs. Cameron's — so hand- 
 some, so agreeable with, the other accom- 
 paniments of rank and fortune (which certainly 
 weighed heavily in the scale with the General's 
 lady.) However though Mrs. Cameron was nom- 
 inally without any daughter out, the evenings
 
 DAUGHTERS. 283 
 
 at her house were not a little enlivened by the 
 lovely, lively, graceful girl, who though al- 
 ways announced by her mother as not yet 
 sixteen, and greeted when perceived by her 
 father, by a shake of the head, and an attempt 
 at a frown, which meant that he thought 
 she was brought too frequently, and conspic- 
 uously forward — seemed as free from any of 
 the hoydenish shyness of that age, and as 
 fully qualified to enjoy, and afford delight to 
 society, as any young lady of more advanced 
 years. 
 
 Not but that she was completely childish and 
 simple in heart and manner ; indeed it was 
 that, joined to an evident superiority of sense 
 and intellect which rendered her certainly the 
 most fascinating little creature in the world. 
 
 And Mrs. Cameron appreciated these attrac- 
 tions only too fully, and felt it very difficult to 
 resist the pleasure and pride of having Annie as 
 her a2c?e-c?e- camp at her parties, as she would 
 laughingly style the bright-eyed little beauty ;
 
 ^84 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 and though the General would talk seriously 
 and reprehensively on the subject^ a few kisses 
 and a little coaxing from his favorite child, 
 would stop his mouth, and reluctantly change 
 his frowns into smiles — both Annie and 
 Mrs. Cameron being perfectly aware that the 
 father was never so proud or so happy as when 
 his young daughter was before his eyes — 
 so happy and so admired. Mrs. Cameron 
 herself did sometimes think that it was 
 not quite right bringing Annie forward so 
 very early ; and perhaps her conscience might 
 occasionally smite her when the conviction 
 flashed across her mind, on how much 
 of vanity her weakness in this respect was 
 founded. Would she have acted thus if a 
 plainer, a less attractive child had been in 
 question ; although in that case the indiscre- 
 tion was so much less likely to prove in- 
 jurious ? But after all, Mrs. Cameron only acted 
 as most mothers would, and do act under such 
 circumstances. "We fear they must all plead
 
 DAUGHTERS. 286 
 
 guilty if brought to a strict examination. Few 
 parents, especially mothers, exist of natures 
 sufficiently philosophical not to prize and 
 take delight in the external advantages pos- 
 sessed by their children. It is a fault, or rather 
 a frailty, which will ever cling to the natural 
 man. Philosophers may urge the wisdom of de- 
 spising personal charms — moralists endeavour 
 to correct the estimate of their value, but they 
 will ever fail to teach man's heart to despise or 
 even to value aright these pleasant gifts. 
 
 None but a higher power, the power of Him 
 who bestows the gifts, can render clear the 
 parents' vision to estimate them as they are 
 seen by His all-piercing glance — as "the flowers 
 of the field which to-day are, and to-morrow 
 are cast into the oven — as the grass that 
 withereth ere it is cut down," so is beauty — 
 evanescent — uncertain! God alone can disci- 
 pline the parents' heart to prize it in their 
 children as perishable, fading delights —
 
 2S6 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " Which do awhile to sport among 
 But not to love too fervently." 
 
 to gladden their hearts, as the sight of loveliness 
 must ever do—but not to make alas ! as too 
 often is the case, the God of their idolatry a — 
 snare and a destruction, not only to themselves 
 — but — ^heavier still the responsibility! — to 
 those worshipped idols. Who first instilled 
 the seeds of vanity, worldliness and 
 folly, into their children's hearts, and 
 turned them on " the downward slope to 
 death ?" Dreadful thought when the answer 
 too often of the fallen child of beauty must be 
 --"My Mother !!" 
 
 The General having permission to attach a 
 son to his military staff, Gerald Cameron 
 gazetted into a good Infantry regiment about 
 the same time, acted in the capacity oi aid-de-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 287 
 
 camp to his father for a few months. During 
 this period however the General had discovered 
 the expediency of making some change in 
 these arrangements. 
 
 He saw that the ease and indulgence of such 
 home service was injurious to the peculiar 
 character of Gerald, and likely to prove preju- 
 dical to the habits of industry and good disci- 
 pline so essential in a soldier; the father there- 
 fore decided that his son should join his regi- 
 ment, which had about eighteeen months foreign 
 ser\ace to complete at Gibraltar; the young 
 man being far from reluctant to embark upon the 
 enlarged sphere which would thus be given to 
 his experience of the world and his profession. 
 
 The plan being communicated to the Came- 
 rons' kind friends, the Duke and Duchess of 
 Stratheden, a request was made by them, with 
 which it was most grateful to the General's 
 feelings to be able immediately to comply. It 
 was that he should appoint as aid-de-camp in 
 Gerald's stead, a young man of the name of
 
 288 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Mildmay, wlio was about to join the Hus- 
 sars, quartered at . He was a connec- 
 tion of the Duchess, and the son of a particulai; 
 friend. 
 
 The young cornet therefore immediately 
 after his arrival at Athlone was presented 
 to the General and attached to his staff. 
 
 General Cameron was much pleased with 
 the gentlemanly bearing of the new aid-de^camp. 
 He was exactly the sort of person he would 
 have chosen from amongst a hundred other 
 young men, more striking and showy in their 
 appearance ; for there was something pecu-^ 
 liarly and irresistibly gentlemanlike in his 
 person and deportment, giving at once the as^ 
 surance that in every capacity, private or 
 public, he was sure to bear himself with credit 
 and propriety. Perhaps it would be no less 
 favourable to the young man in the General's 
 eyes, as his thoughts glanced towards his 
 pretty daughters, that certainly the new aid-de- 
 camp was by no means, what could be called 
 handsome.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 289 
 
 He was not above one and twenty — rather 
 below the middle stature — delicate in appear- 
 ance, but interesting in face and features, as 
 well as in manner and demeanour ; and as we 
 before said, most strikingly gentlemanlike. 
 
 The first time he joined the dinner party at 
 the General's, it chanced to be Annie's birthday, 
 which formed a legitimate excuse for her being 
 admitted as one of the party. 
 
 She was introduced to Mr. Mildmay just as 
 dinner was announced, and he offered his arm 
 to conduct her to the dining room. She sat at 
 the bottom of the table between her new ac- 
 quaintance and her father, who joined in the 
 cheerful, unrestrained conversation. Annie 
 never chatted more freely — her eyes never 
 sparkled more merrily, and never had a long 
 dinner, in her experience, passed so quickly, or 
 agreeably. And Frank Mildmay, on his part, 
 showed no symptom of thinking otherwise; 
 indeed, during the continuation of the agree- 
 able meal, he felt only that he was looking on 
 
 VOL. I. o
 
 290 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 the brightest, and most bewitching little face 
 he had ever beheld, was seated by the most 
 fascinating creature in the world, whose pre- 
 sence not a little heightened the relish of the 
 excellent fare and capital champagne. And 
 what more can or does a young officer ever 
 require to make " a dinner " one of the most 
 agreeable hours in the day ? 
 
 In the evening, all the children were per- 
 mitted to sit up to a later hour than usual, and 
 the officers, many of whom had become, through 
 the cheerful hospitality of General and Mrs. 
 Cameron, quite domesticated in the family, 
 and on intimate terms with the young people, 
 begged for them a little dancing ; Janet and 
 Minny being, as well as Annie, perfect little 
 sylphides in that art. 
 
 So Mrs. Cameron sat down to play for the 
 dancers, and there was a laughing arrangement 
 proposed by Lord Alfred Townshend, that on 
 this occasion the usual forms should be reversed 
 and that the ladies should select their own
 
 DAUGHTERS. 291 
 
 partners — of course, the queen of the day 
 taking precedence in the choice ; and his Lord- 
 ship twisted his dark moustaches with an 
 amused smile lurking in his eye, as he watched 
 the pretty Annie stand irresolute for an instant 
 after her first gay laughing exclamation against 
 such an arrangement, with colour raised and 
 eyes most beautifully shy. 
 
 Comfortably assured was his Lordsliip, 
 towards whom the little beauty's choice would 
 no doubt incline, and he was about to presume 
 on his right of precedence in rank to relieve 
 her of any modest scruples, and second her 
 supposed wishes, by gaily advancing to offer 
 himself as her cavalier, when, with a sudden, 
 gazelle-like spring forward, Annie passed his 
 Lordship, and presented her hand with a frank, 
 unaffected smile, to Frank Mildmay. 
 
 This act might have arisen from a slight 
 impulse of coquettish contrariety, or, aS in- 
 deed it appeared, from kind civility towards 
 
 the least familiar of the guests. But Frank 
 o 3
 
 292 DAUGHTERS, 
 
 Mildmay paused not to consider why or 
 whence the action flowed ; he only looked and 
 felt charmed and flattered as he ought to be ; 
 whilst Lord Alfred turned towards Mrs. 
 Cameron with a shrug, and a smile of good- 
 natured discomfiture, and suffered himself to 
 be monopolized by Minny, whom he was soon 
 swinging gaily round, following his young 
 subaltern, and fairy-footed partner. 
 
 The General was, with a benevolent smile, 
 looking on this little scene; Annie's conduct 
 seeming to him but as one of the specimens of 
 the usual good taste, and judicious feeling which 
 appeared naturally to prompt every impulse of 
 his young daughter. It was just the mode of 
 proceeding to please his kind, high-minded 
 feelings. It did not occur to him, how seldom a 
 young heart is quite disinterested and single 
 minded in such matters — he was only glad to 
 perceive, as he watched the graceful, agile move- 
 ments of the well paired couple, how excellent 
 a partner his Annie had won for her paina ;
 
 DAUGHTERS, 293 
 
 that was the extent to which, good easy-hearted 
 man ! his thoughts and feelings were carried on 
 the subject. 
 
 If his mind wandered from the sufficiency of 
 the present moment, from its pleasant occu- 
 pation of witnessing the happiness and enli- 
 vening mirth which he beheld so many dear 
 ones in the act of enjoying, it was not that he 
 was drawn away into the busy realms of specu- 
 lating thoughts, but because, some sudden 
 pang of regret pierced his heart, that the present 
 happiness was not more conplete — complete 
 as it might have been scarcely a year before, 
 when his group of flowrets was unbroken — when 
 one poor little girl, since cut down and hidden 
 from his sight, flourished strong and healthful 
 with its sister buds— and Lena, his gentle, be- 
 loved^ eldest daughter, was not, as now, trans- 
 planted from the only sphere which suited her 
 age and peculiar cast of character — her home 
 and the bosom of her family. 
 
 This marriage of Lena's was an event
 
 ^94 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 wHch the General had not as yet brought him- 
 self to contemplate with satisfaction. Indeed 
 the idea rankled in his heart, that it had been 
 a hurried business. Much he blamed himself 
 for having forwarded the affair in any way, and 
 committed the piece of madness — as it now 
 seemed to him— of giving away his darling 
 child — for what — for her good it was presumed. 
 For a fine house — an establishment — a rich 
 husband, or the old story, " for a name and 
 for a ring," all of which something whispered 
 to his heart, she would as soon be without — 
 nay would at that moment willingly relinquish 
 to be but once more Lena Cameron, smiled on 
 like her sisters, by the eyes of those she loved 
 so well. Ah, fond father, the shadow of his 
 fancy would not so soon have yielded to the 
 influence of the pleasant reality of the scene 
 before him, if he could have imagined how over 
 true might be the picture his tender imagining 
 had drawn !
 
 DAUGHTERS. 295 
 
 Mrs. Cameron had added her smiles to 
 those of her husband upon the pleasant scene 
 around them, but ere her fingers had rattled 
 many bars of the enlivening waltzes, her mind 
 had taken a wider range — it lingered not upon 
 the present moment ; her active fancy could 
 leave the present to take care of itself— her 
 wisdom wasted not itself in idle regrets upon 
 the past — what profit — what reparation in re- 
 gret ? 
 
 " The past is past," the future is the only 
 hopeful field of action. 
 
 It was thus when the first passion of grief 
 for poor Carry's death had exhausted itself, 
 Mrs. Cameron had roused herself from the still 
 subduing sorrow, for the sake of the living 
 dear ones who claimed her active love and 
 care ; and she went 
 
 " Cheerily to work again 
 With heart new strung and set—" 
 
 with patient courage, and firm fortitude, how
 
 296 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 beautiful, had that work, in which she thus^ 
 engaged been sanctified by a less worldly 
 spirit ! But alas ! how soon was it seen, that 
 the probing wound of maternal bereavement 
 closed without producing the effect which He 
 who loveth when He chasteneth doubtless in 
 His merfey intended. The sorrow had not taught 
 the mother to seek earnestly the best gifts for 
 her children, and leave their earthly portion in 
 the hands of Him who clotheth the lilies of the 
 field, and much more would care for them*— 
 she remembered not how soon could be set at 
 nought, all her worldly carefulness and trouble, 
 that truly these cherished treasures fade as sud- 
 denly as the frail flower. 
 
 In Lena's case we saw how eagerly 
 she stretched forth her hand for the great 
 things, or rather the glittering shades offered to 
 her view ; and even now, when the fancied 
 delight had proved disappointing in the sensible 
 enjoyment she expected to taste from her suc- 
 cess in its attainment — as the fabled apple
 
 DAUGHTERS. 297 
 
 proved to him, who reached it but to find it 
 nouscht but ashes between his teeth— still Mrs. 
 Cameron was not discouraged. It was well 
 after all, that she had accomplished Lena's 
 marriage ; it was advantageous to her child, in 
 every point of view, though perhaps as far as 
 she herself was concerned, it might have been 
 more agreeable, had the bias of the character of 
 the husband been different. However, the 
 deed was done, and the sanguine spirited 
 mother formed future plans, without casting 
 backward thoughts on the irrevocable past. 
 
 The busy imagination of Mrs. Cameron, was 
 now engaged in building castles — founded on 
 an idea which had just pierced her brain — that 
 there had been something more of real than 
 mock pique and discomfiture in the glance of 
 her favorite Lord Alfred, when Annie had 
 chosen another for her partner in the waltz ; 
 and then came the sobering reflection that An- 
 nie was too young to be loved and wooed by the 
 Marquis's brother, who though not heir to the 
 o 5
 
 298 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 title, possessed advantages sufficient to render 
 him not unworthy — even of Annie ! Therefore, 
 the ambitious mother followed with her eyes, 
 the pretty pair of waltzers, thinking little how- 
 ever of young Mildmay, except that she re- 
 joiced that her beautiful child had found a 
 partner, who served to show off to such great 
 advantage the dancing of the graceful girl, 
 whose movements she was not slow to perceive, 
 were followed with much interest by Lord 
 Alfred ; and with her mind's eye fixed on one 
 object — one desire alone engrossing her 
 thoughts — Mrs. Cameron witnessed without 
 heed or annoyance many such dances — many 
 such traits of Annie's kindness to, and prefer- 
 ence of, the young aide-de-camji. Frank Mild- 
 may became quite a child of the family, but 
 there was also always Lord Alfred with his 
 dazzling appearance and handsome person, to 
 eclipse and overshadow him in Mrs. Cameron's 
 eyes — and of course she concluded, in Annie's 
 also. But as it is in most cases fortunate, we
 
 DAUGHTERS. 299 
 
 see not all with the same eyes, and there is a 
 homely proverb — the expressiveness of which 
 must plead as an excuse for its want of elegance — 
 to the truth of which, Mrs. Cameron might 
 have ere long to open wide her sagacious eyes— 
 *' What is one marCs meat, is another man's 
 poison /"
 
 BOO DAUaHTEKS, 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The rose grows on her cheek : is there no thorn V 
 
 Bakrt Cornwall. 
 
 On passing through London on the eve of 
 embarkation, Gerald Cameron was gladly met 
 by Alick — his brother shadow — as the former 
 was wont laughingly to denominate him ; for 
 though in form and nature the twin brothers 
 were the " whole matter and copy" one of the 
 other, Alick, both as to size and coloring, was 
 a softer, more delicate type of the manly
 
 DAUGHTERS. 301 
 
 looking Gerald ; he might have seemed almost a 
 spiritualized edition to that of the — in all res- 
 pects — more earthly brother. 
 
 " And Lena — I am longing to see her — poor 
 little darling !" was Gerald's exclamation, ere 
 he had passed ten minutes in his brother's 
 society at the hotel which had been their 
 rendezvous—" Come with me, Alick, there's a 
 good fellow, to Belgrave Square — I suppose 
 you are a pretty constant ^dsiter there. How- 
 do you get on with Beauchamp and the de- 
 lectable Lady Rachel?" 
 
 " Oh, I have not much to do with her Lady- 
 ship," Alick replied ; " I am an occasional 
 guest at their state dinners, but then of course 
 I can expect nothing more than the " how do 
 you do," and " I hope you are well, Mr. 
 Cameron," with which I am honored, and which 
 is quite sufficient for me, I assure you," added 
 he in a tone of some haut<iur. 
 
 "But, good gracious!" exclaimed Gerald 
 " do you never dine there, in a sociable manner ?
 
 302 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Are you not quite at home in tlie house of 
 your sister?" 
 
 " I have dined there once or twice when 
 Lady Rachel and her daughters were out, 
 teie a tete with Beauchamp and Lena ; but if 
 you mean, do I often have our sister's society as 
 I should like," he continued seriously " and 
 can enjoy a good hour's unrestrained chat with 
 her, that is quite out of the question — her 
 husband scarcely leaves her, I believe morning 
 noon or night, and I can see plainly is not 
 fond of interlopers." 
 
 " Is the fellow not civil ?" interrupted Gerald 
 firing up indignantly. 
 
 " Not civil !" his brother replied, " I did 
 not mean to imply that ; had I experienced the 
 reverse, I should have taken pretty good care to 
 make myself scarce — No ! Beauchamp is civi- 
 lity itself; but then you know there is some- 
 thing more than civility required, to make one 
 feel at ease in another person's house." 
 
 " And Lena?" anxiously asked Gerald.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 303 
 
 " Oh, she, dear girl, often reproaches me for 
 going so seldom to Belgrave Square ; but I 
 fancy she cannot have much enjoyment of my 
 visits, or I would sacrifice every feeling of my 
 own for her sake." 
 
 " Yes, by heaven !" cried the impetuous 
 Gerald, " I should not be scrupulous when my 
 own sister was in the case — I consider that 1 
 have some right to consult her inclination as 
 well as that of her selfish husband— come let 
 us be off — I suppose they cannot do less than 
 invite me to dine, and if they do I'll put up 
 with no nonsense, but enjoy Lena's society 
 without caring a straw for any of them. By 
 the bye do you ever see that poor little 
 frightened Agnes Beauchamp ?" 
 
 *^ Agnes — oh ! that is the youngest — no I 
 should never have known that such a being 
 existed in the house. The eldest is a handsome 
 girl, and appears kindly and agreeably disposed 
 towards me ; but neither she nor her sister are 
 allowed to speak or act beyond the most formal
 
 304 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 limits of civility marked out by Lady Kachel." 
 
 " But Agnes," persisted Gerald, " you do 
 not mean that she is never allowed to show ? — 
 poor wretch ! and she is a pretty little creature 
 too ; and rather a sly one if I am not mistaken. 
 Did you ever hear of the shrubbery walk ? I 
 declare I'll try and hunt her out, if it be only 
 to spite that old griffin. Lady Rachel. I am 
 going to leave the country so it will not signify 
 much making her my sworn enemy." 
 
 " Except for Lena's sake, Gerald — you had 
 better not do anything to make Beauchamp or 
 her ladyship more shy of her relations than — 
 than they seem inclined to be," was Alick's 
 now really concerned rejoinder. 
 
 " But Alick, my father and mother do not 
 suspect how matters stand, I think — although 
 they did complain sometimes, that you were 
 not sufficiently circumstantial with regard to 
 your accounts of Lena." 
 
 " I thought it of no use to make them 
 uncomfortable on the subject; particularly as
 
 DAUGHTEES. 305 
 
 Lena does not seem herself to have any idea 
 that she has reason or right to complain, though 
 she cannot, dear gn-1, but mark the difference 
 between everything about her, to that to which 
 she has ever been accustomed." 
 
 The brothers were silent during the remainder 
 of the walk. They both felt a weight upon 
 their spirits, when they thought upon the 
 dearly loved sister they were about to see, with a 
 doubt as to her happiness, which was a shar}> 
 pang to their affectionate hearts. 
 
 On enquiring in Belgrave Square for Mrs. 
 Beauchamp they were shown into the receiving 
 drawing-room, which was vacant on their en- 
 trance, but in less than the five minutes employed 
 in transferring the announcement of their arrival 
 from one servant to another, till it reached Mr. 
 Beauchamp's own footman, a light, hurried step 
 was heard in the anti-room, the door flew open 
 which was as hastily but carefully closed, and 
 Lena with a bright, fresh, kindled glow lighting 
 up her fair face and beautiful eyes, cast one de-
 
 306 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 lighted gaze upon them, as if to assure herself 
 that the pleasure were indeed a reality, and then 
 threw herself into Gerald's open arms, receiving 
 his warm embraces with the clinging, gentle 
 gratification of an affectionate child. 
 
 " Such a fine lady ! I declare I am almost 
 afraid to touch her !" Gerald at length said, as 
 after having exhausted his first fervour, he 
 held his lovely sister at arm's length and gazed 
 upon her richly, fashionably attired form, with 
 playful wonder and admiration. " But these 
 are the same as ever," he added, as he stroked 
 the long fair ringlets, which in beautiful dis- 
 order were flowing around her shoulders. 
 
 Lena laughed and blushed, then disen- 
 gaging herself from Gerald, turned affec- 
 tionately but with a chastened joy to embrace 
 her other brother. 
 
 " Dear Alick," she said, " I have not seen 
 you for many days ; " and she looked not re- 
 proachfully, but with somewhat of timid inquiry 
 into his face.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 307 
 
 He made some not very satisfactory excuse. 
 Seating herself between the two brothers, she 
 began her eager questionings about the dear 
 ones from whom Gerald had so lately come — 
 her cheeks varying from pale to red and from 
 red to pale ; her eyes now smiling — now suf- 
 fusing tearfully as she listened to the lively, 
 graphic touches, by which he brought them all 
 before her. 
 
 " And now let me hear something of your- 
 self and your concerns," Gerald broke off, 
 after having with tolerable patience indulged 
 her for more than half an hour with desultory 
 infonnation. " How do you get on ? You 
 look well ; rather paler than when you first 
 came into the room, I think, but as fair and 
 beautiful a lady as ever. Your husband quite 
 well, I hope, and Lady Rachel and the Miss 
 Beauchamps — Miss Agnes in particular ? She 
 is my friend. How do you like them all ?" 
 
 The peaceful enjoyment of Lena's counten- 
 ance was now clouded by a slight shade of
 
 308 DAUGHTERS, 
 
 disquiet, and by the glance of her e'ye towards 
 the door, it was evident her thoughts were 
 suddenly carried farther than that apartment 
 and its occupants. 
 
 She started — the colour rising to her face, 
 as, in the act of replying in some sort to the 
 question last addressed to her, the door opened 
 abruptly, and Mr. Beauchamp made his 
 appearance. 
 
 He noticed, but by a cold, scarce percep- 
 tible glance, the two young Camerons, from 
 whom she hastily disengaged her hands, and 
 rose with them. 
 
 " I thought I should have found you ready," 
 he said, " the carriage has been at the door 
 several minutes." 
 
 " My brothers !" said Lena, in a slightly 
 nervous tone, and then Mr. Beauchamp shook 
 hands, and said he was glad to see them. 
 
 " Gerald only stays till to-morrow, he is on 
 his way for embarkation," Lena suggested, 
 looking at her husband with the wish doubt-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 309 
 
 less to postpone the intended drive, for which 
 he had returned, after an hour's absence, to 
 accompany her. 
 
 " It is unfortunate then that you are en- 
 gaged to dinner, or we might have had the 
 pleasure of his company this evening," said 
 Mr. Beauchamp. 
 
 " How very unfortunate indeed!" sighed 
 Lena ; " is there no possibility of my staying at 
 home ?" 
 
 " My dear Lena," exclaimed Mr. Beau- 
 champ, in a tone of as much surprise and de- 
 precation, as if she had proposed something 
 most preposterous. " How can you think of 
 such a thing ?" 
 
 Lena never argued a point. She looked re- 
 signed but still grieved. 
 
 Gerald said, 
 
 " Oh never mind ! I can come and spend to- 
 morrow morning with you;" and he showed 
 himself ready to depart, for he saw by Mr.
 
 310 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 Beauchamp's fidgetty looks that the waiting 
 horses were in his thoughts. And Alick too 
 began to look impatient for a move. 
 
 " I will not detain you any longer from your 
 drive," Gerald said ; but Lena still lingering, 
 held his hand and cast a wistful glance from 
 him to her husband, which he answered by 
 saying to the young man — 
 
 "You will not think your sister in good 
 looks if you judge by her appearance this 
 morning. I never saw you look so pale and 
 ill, Lena — I must beg you to dress yourself 
 directly for dri\dng — after your fatiguing 
 morning with the mantua maker, and this un- 
 expected interruption of the hour of rest I had 
 left you to take, you will not be fit for any- 
 thing to-night, if you do not get into the fresh 
 air, and enjoy the quiet of a drive." 
 
 " Perhaps we shall meet you this evening, 
 Lena," Alick interposed ; " I suppose you are 
 
 to be at Lady 's Ball. 1 have an invitation 
 
 and shall procure one for Gerald."
 
 DAUGHTERS. 311 
 
 Lena looked enquiringly at her husband. 
 
 " If your sister be not too much fatigued," 
 Mr. Beauchamp answered for her ; " but just 
 now she must not be allowed to do too much," 
 he added, mysteriously. 
 
 Lena revived by the new hope thus aiforded, 
 would not try his patience, or rather provoke 
 another irritable glance towards the door, but 
 with a gayer smile said, 
 
 " Oh I shall be so fresh and strong after our 
 drive, Lionel!" 
 
 She again hurriedly pressed her brother's 
 hand, and was going hastily away, but when at 
 the door, turned and said, 
 
 " Oh ! do stay and see us off, Gerald, with 
 my beautiful ponies!" 
 
 And Gerald began to hope that his sister 
 was happy — so easily are the young and 
 thoughtless satisfied on the score of happiness ; 
 A smile — a few gay, careless words are enough 
 to re-assure them that, for the time being at 
 least, happiness must exist.
 
 S12 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 The young men went to the hall door with 
 Mr. Beauchamp, but Alick remembering that 
 business required his immediate attendance, 
 made an appointment with Gerald to meet 
 elsewhere, and walked off. The prettiest ap- 
 pointed phaeton and ponies, with attendant 
 outriders, stood at the door in expectation of 
 Mrs. Beauchamp's appearance. Mr. Beau- 
 champ had approached to make some alteration 
 in the trappings, and Gerald stood looking on, 
 when an equipage, drawn by a pair of heavy, 
 slow paced horses, was seen approaching in all 
 the pompous state of peruked coachman and 
 powdered footmen, to which the phaeton im- 
 mediately gave place. 
 
 The steps were let down, and the high and 
 mighty Lady Rachel descended from the 
 coach, followed by her two eldest daughters. 
 
 They had just returned from the airing, it 
 was her ladyship's usual custom to complete at 
 this early hour — just the moment when the 
 most amusing time for driving was about to 
 commence.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 313 
 
 Grerald took off his hat and stepped aside to 
 allow her Ladyship to pass, who at first sight 
 doubtless supposed him to be his brother. 
 There must indeed have been great similarity 
 between the two young men to have allowed 
 the keen, piercing glance of Lady Rachel to 
 rest even a moment deceived ; in another instant 
 she perceived the difference between the care- 
 less, easy, saucy Gerald's bow, and the retiring 
 hauteur to which she was accustomed from the 
 brother she was occasionally in the habit of 
 seeing as a guest in Belgrave Square. Whether 
 or not in consequence of this discovery — her 
 Ladyship having most coldly and formally 
 bent her head — she turned her steps back, and 
 peremptorily motioned her daughters to pre- 
 cede her, just in time to catch tae eldest in 
 the very act of nodding her head — not un- 
 graciously — in answer to the salutation which 
 Gerald had then transferred to the young 
 lady— whilst Amelia was, with curious, puzzled 
 glance, attempting to discover whether it were 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 314 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 really the shy, quiet Mr. Alick Cameron who 
 was looking so very delightfully gay, and saucy, 
 even, in the very face of her mother. 
 
 But the two girls were compelled to pass 
 quickly on, daring to cast no backward glances 
 on the young man — Lady Rachel close at their 
 heels — and Gerald having watched them dis- 
 appear, with an amused expression hovering on 
 his countenance, was soon joined by Lena, look- 
 ing most lovely in her tasteful carriage dress 
 and he had the pleasure of placing her by the 
 side of her husband in an equipage as well 
 suited to her pretty person, as Lady Rachel's 
 heavy, ostentatious vehicle seemed illustrative 
 of her high and mighty appearance. 
 
 Gerald remained a few minutes by his sister's 
 side admiring the ponies ; but Mr. Beauchamp, 
 with whip half raised, was evidently only in 
 civility awaiting the completion of the com- 
 pliments as he sat stffliy back. 
 
 " Well I will not detain you any longer," 
 said Gerald, " au revoir, Lena — to Hyde Park 
 of course."
 
 DAUGHTERS. 315 
 
 " Oh no !" Mr. Beauchamp coldly replied, 
 " that is too gay for us quiet people," and 
 wheeling round he drove off in the direction of 
 Chelsea. 
 
 " Quiet people ! Slow, selfish prig !" was 
 Gerald's inward ejaculation, " the idea of tak- 
 ing that beautifully dressed creature off to be 
 covered with dust on the high road that he may 
 have her all to himself." 
 
 And again by as hasty a conclusion as that 
 by which he had dubbed his sister — " happy " 
 the young man feared it could not be so well 
 with his darling sister.
 
 316 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XX, 
 
 " She's decked with gold and jewels rare. 
 She moves in stately halls, 
 A diamond band confines her hair 
 
 The simple wreath of woodbine flowers 
 Is taken from her brow, 
 But yet she sighs for by-gone hours — 
 Can she be happy now V* 
 
 Carpenteb. 
 
 The young Camerons went early to the ball 
 in the expectation of again meeting their sister, 
 and they were not disappointed, for she soon 
 entered the room, looking most beautiful, lean- 
 ing on her husband's arm.
 
 DAUGHTERS. 317 
 
 Lady Rachel and her daughters were also 
 there — the young ladies standing unmoveably 
 one on each side of their lady mother, except 
 when temporarily released by the quadrille, for 
 which they were suffered to accept the partners 
 approved by her ladyship. 
 
 " Is not that your sister ?" said a tall young 
 man, in a low, earnest tone to Alick Cameron 
 on the Beauchamps' entrance. 
 
 *^ Yes, Sackville," answered the latter, " I 
 fancied you were acquainted with her." 
 
 The young man did not reply, save by a low 
 sigh. Seeing the brothers moving towards the 
 spot where Lena stood he advanced also instinc- 
 tively towards her, but when close to her 
 merely passed on with a formal bow. 
 
 " Who is that, Lena ?" Mr. Beauchamp en- 
 quired. 
 
 " Oh ! that is Mr. Sackville, Lionel. Do 
 you not remember," she added with a blush, 
 " seeing him when our carriage was stopped by 
 the accident on the day of -"
 
 318 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 " Oh ! yes, I remember that mal-apropoi 
 rencontre. Rather an awkward moment," Mr. 
 Beauchamp added with an equivocal smile ad-* 
 dressing Gerald, who had taken possession of 
 Lena's unoccupied side, 
 
 " What ! you met Sackville on your wedding 
 tour, Lena?" Gerald laughingly exclaimed, 
 " ah ! I remember, the Duchess of Stratheden 
 did tell us something of the sort, that she had 
 heard from his mother — some romantic adven- 
 'hire which had befallen her poetical son — a 
 narrow lane — a broken wheel — bride bathed in 
 tears 
 
 " And see o'er the valley 
 Who rides in full speed 
 A gallant young knight 
 On his spirited steed."' 
 
 something of that sort I suppose ?" 
 
 The music did not allow Mr. Beauchamp 
 very clearly to hear all Gerald's thoughtless 
 nonsense, but he was not fond of joking at
 
 DAUGHTERS. 319 
 
 any time, particularly if the subject were at all 
 connected with himself or his wife ; and he 
 would have drawn her on, but Gerald pertina* 
 ciously kept by their side. 
 
 " Do you dance now, Lena ?" he enquired. 
 
 " No !" she answered, and Mr. Beauchamp 
 looked his disgust at the question. 
 
 " Will you allow me, then, Mr. Beauchamp, 
 to set you at liberty, and take charge of your 
 lady for a time ?" Gerald said. 
 
 " Do you not dance, Mr. Cameron?" Mr. 
 Beauchamp coldly inquired. 
 
 " I should certainly prefer my sister's society 
 considering that I am on the eve of leaving the 
 country," Gerald as coldly replied ; and Mr, 
 Beauchamp having glanced at Lena's counten- 
 ance and seen there expressed nought but ill- 
 disguised support of her brother's wishes, 
 dropped her arm and silently withdrew. 
 
 " My dear Lena, you must not allow your 
 husband to get into the habit of for ever 
 sticking to your side. It is a most troublesome
 
 320 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 custom both for yourself and all your relations 
 and friends, I assure you Alick complains 
 bitterly of your unapproachability— of never 
 being able to have an hour's comfortable talk 
 with you/' said Gerald. 
 
 Poor Lena looked distressed and half sur- 
 prised ; for it was the first time that the ideas 
 which had truly began to suggest themselves 
 vaguely to her mind, were brought in a decided 
 form before her. The full perception of the 
 sad, disagreeable truth her brother's plain words 
 conveyed, had not yet been fully understood. 
 Meek, submissive and inexperienced, it was 
 hard for her to realize to her mind, and rightly 
 to comprehend, the strange spirits amongst 
 which she found herself domesticated. 
 
 Gerald would not vex her gentle spirit by 
 pursuing farther the subject. Alick joined them, 
 and with a sad, beseeching smile Lena invited 
 him to take his seat on her other side, on the 
 bench where they had placed themselves. 
 
 " How delightful it is to have you both
 
 DAUGHTERS. 321 
 
 with me again ! " Lena said looking from one 
 to another with fond affection ; almost forget- 
 ting they were not the only people in the 
 room. 
 
 The re-united trio absorbed in each other 
 sat talking happily some little time. They 
 were not so unobserved — as unobservant. 
 
 The interesting appearance of the three 
 young creatures, and the striking likeness each 
 bore to the other, plainly told their relative po- 
 sitions, and drew upon them many a remark 
 and many a glance, Lena being of course the 
 prominent feature of interest to the male por- 
 tion of the lookers on. 
 
 " Lena, shall I ask one of the Miss Beau- 
 champs to dance ?" Gerald at length demanded ; 
 " good Heavens what a look I caught just 
 now from Lady Rachel ! By the bye when 
 is that poor little Agnes to be liberated ? We 
 had such an affair down at Beechy — I should 
 like to have another peep at her, poor little 
 thing — does she ever mention me ?"
 
 322 ' DAUGHTERS. 
 
 ^^ No," answered Lena. 
 
 " Oh, but she is a^ sly one," he continued, 
 ** and I mean to run away with her some of 
 these days." 
 
 " Hush, dear Gerald," his sister murmured. 
 
 " Oh I hope you are not afraid of that old 
 cat. Here, Sackville I" exclaimed the thought- 
 less Gerald, as he saw the young man hovering 
 near, " come and tell us the story of the broken 
 wheel, fainting bride and swearing bridegroom." 
 
 " Oh, fie Gerald," interrupted Lena blush- 
 ing and smiling, " there was no broken wheel, 
 only broken traces ; I was not fainting, nor was 
 I even frightened, and Mr. Beauchamp never 
 swears." 
 
 Her brothers laughed, Mr. Sackville smiled 
 and strove to interpose some careless words on 
 the subject, and then Lena and he began to 
 converse as easily as they might have done a 
 year ago, but in the midst of this pleasant talk 
 she happened to raise her eyes, and saw, imme- 
 diately opposite, herturbaned mother-in-law,
 
 DAUGHTERS. 323 
 
 whose gaze was fixed upon her with not the 
 gentlest or most agreeable expression. She was 
 speaking at the same time with curling lip to 
 Mr. Beauchamp, and Lena felt her hour of 
 freedom had passed, which was but too true. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp had been stopped by his 
 mother, as he was returning from an unwilling 
 absence and conversation, into which he had 
 been drawn by some acquaintance in an ad- 
 joining room. 
 
 " Lionel," said she, " I think you are im- 
 prudent to allow your lady such prejudicial ex- 
 citement ; she will be ill, certainly." 
 
 " She looks very well," Mr. Beauchamp 
 answered, shortly ; never much relishing being 
 dictated to by his mother, however he might 
 agree with her in spirit ; and he did indeed 
 think that his young wife looked particularly 
 well— too well, perhaps, considering to what 
 cause her glowing cheeks and animated eye 
 seemed attributable. 
 
 «' Yes, of course those flushed cheeks and
 
 324 DAUGHTEKS. 
 
 unnatural animation of eye are becoming, I 
 allow," resumed her ladyship, " but I fear 
 haggard looks and langour, if not far worse, 
 will be the consequence for many days to come, 
 considering her situation, if she be allowed to 
 excite herself any longer with those thoughtless 
 youths, however pleasant it may be, which 
 certainly Mrs. Beauchamp seems to consider 
 her present occupation. However, I have no 
 right or inclination to interfere the least with 
 your arrangements, Lionel, having quite suffi- 
 cient on my hands with my own daughters. I 
 only take the liberty of suggesting." 
 
 " His wife excite herself with thoughtless 
 youths !" These words did not sound well in 
 Mr. Beauchamp's ears, particularly as at that 
 moment " the thoughtless youth " with whom 
 she was principally engaged was not one of her 
 brothers, Alick having gone off to dance, and 
 Gerald, though standing near, having turned 
 his attention to other objects. 
 
 " It was never my intention that Lena should
 
 DAUGHTERS. 325 
 
 remain here so long," Mr. Beauchamp said 
 somewhat testily ; " indeed I should have taken 
 her straight off to bed, from our dinner en- 
 gagement, had I followed my own ideas of 
 what was proper for her ; but that tiresome 
 young man, Gerald, put it into her head to wish 
 to come here, and as he is going to leave the 
 country — " 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp moving away without finish- 
 ing his speech, approached his wife and held 
 out his arm, saying, abruptly, 
 
 " Come, my dear, I shall order the carriage 
 round immediately, so we had better go down 
 stairs." 
 
 Lena rose immediately, but looked rather 
 anxiously on her husband's clouded counte- 
 nance ; scarcely giving her time to take leave 
 of Gerald, he led her away. 
 
 " Good bye, Lena, I shall see you to- 
 morrow," Gerald called after her, whilst Sack- 
 ville turned away sadly. 
 
 " A cavalier sort of husband that ! " solilo- 
 
 VOL. I. Q
 
 326 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 quized Gerald ; " but this last act was all my 
 Lady's doing. I watched her putting Beauchamp 
 up to it ; but I'll be quits with her." And 
 immediately stepping forward, he arrested the 
 steps of Kachel Beauchamp — ^whom he saw at 
 that moment returning on a partner's arm to- 
 wards her mother — and asked her hand for the 
 next dance. 
 
 " The next quadrille, with pleasure," she 
 answered. 
 
 "Nonsense! Quadrille? — the next waltz T 
 Gerald answered, sufficiently loud to reach the 
 ears of Lady Rachel. 
 
 Miss Beauchamp shook her head with an 
 understanding smile, and rejoined her mother. 
 Gerald begged to be introduced to Miss Amelia 
 in order that he might have the pleasure of 
 dancing with her in the course of the evening, 
 and then left them to the mercy of Lady 
 Eachel's thundering looks, to waltz with a 
 partner introduced to him by Alick. 
 
 On his return to claim Miss Beauchamp's
 
 DAUGHTERS. 327 
 
 hand for the quadrille, he found her engaged 
 in an'evident contention in his cause ; for a 
 sheepish, extremely plain looking youth was 
 retreating from the ground rejected as her 
 partner — ^and Rachel Beauchamp with rather 
 irreverent impatience stood enduring the sup- 
 pressed tirade which Lady Rachel, with looks 
 calculated to annihilate the tormented girl, 
 was pouring into her ear. 
 
 The young man she had rejected was a 
 parti. 
 
 " Well ! madam, would you have me insult 
 Mr. Gerald Cameron by dancing with another 
 person when I was engaged to him?" said 
 Rachel. 
 
 " I care not if you were to insult him, and 
 the whole tribe," was her ladyship's flattering 
 rejoinder. 
 
 " Miss Beauchamp, may I have the plea- 
 sure ? — " and both looking up saw Gerald at 
 their side, but with a countenance perfectly 
 unmoved and unabashed, although he had heard
 
 328 DAUGHTERS. 
 
 every word of Lady Rachel's speech. He 
 presented his arm to her daughter, and led her 
 off to the dance. 
 
 " I wish Mr. Alick Cameron would ask me 
 to dance," muttered Amelia, disconsolately; 
 with a wistful glance towards the young officer, 
 who passed them carelessly at that moment, 
 with no idea of the sort in his thoughts. 
 
 " I must say I cannot complain of the trou- 
 ble given to me by my second daughter's 
 numerous partners," Lady Eachel sneeringly 
 observed, in allusion to poor Amelia's cavaliers^ 
 that evening having been few and far between. 
 " This is certainly an unsatisfactory mode of 
 proceeding, and it will be the last London 
 season which I shall give myself the trouble 
 and annoyance of encountering." 
 
 Amelia yawned and thought that so it might 
 be, as far as any pleasure it had afforded her. 
 The back stairs tricks and contrivances at the 
 Towers she began to think were better fun and 
 quite as profitable as the gene and mortification
 
 DAUGHTERS. 329 
 
 of a London campaign under such chaperonage ; 
 and with sullen, apathetic looks she suffiered 
 herself to be dragged on by her mother to a 
 more convenient position for watcliing the 
 movements of Rachel and her partner. 
 
 This object in part obtained, served but to 
 increase the fidgetty impatience of Lady Rachel, 
 also the envy and interest of her companion : 
 for from the prudent foresight of the offending 
 couple, the situation in the quadrille they had 
 chosen only afforded distant and occasional 
 glimpses of their proceedings. 
 
 Sufficient, however, did Lady Rachel see to 
 raise her suspicions that something more than 
 the few remarks of a ball-room was passing 
 between them; treason, mischief, must be hatch- 
 ing amidst those "gibes and jests," and then 
 that earnest converse, which soon seemed to 
 engross them. 
 
 But when the music ceased, and instead of 
 the immediate re-appearance which Lady 
 Rachel's daughters were expected to make by
 
 330 DAUaHTERS. 
 
 her side, the pair vanished from before her 
 eyes, which had therein collected all their 
 lightning to receive them, and even some ^\e 
 minutes had elapsed and no Kachel returned, 
 the lady mother being informed with some 
 malice, by an acquaintance, that her truant 
 daughter was down stairs in the refreshment 
 room eating ices, her irritation became past en- 
 durance; so demanding the escort of an an- 
 cient beau, she descended the stairs in search of 
 the culprit, and found the young people as 
 described, their heads close together in the en- 
 joyment of deeply interesting discourse; so com- 
 pletely engrossed indeed that they were not 
 aware of the awful approach till Rachel started 
 round in affright, having received a smart tap 
 on her shoulder from her mother's fan. 
 
 Miss Beauchamp with resigned insouciance 
 — so experienced was she in such scenes — 
 prepared to yield herself to the mercy of her cap- 
 tor, whilst Gerald assailed her ladyship with 
 such a fire of officious civility in the way of prof-
 
 DAUGHTERS. 331 
 
 fers of ices and cooling beverages, that it was 
 some time before she was was able to shake him 
 off and disengage herself from his malicious im- 
 portunities, or make her daughter the peremp- 
 tory command to follow her to the cloak-room. 
 
 " But, Miss Amelia — my quadrille !" Gerald 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " My daughters dance no more to-night P 
 — and exit Lady Kachel. . 
 
 EKD VOL. I. 
 
 T, C. New by, Printer, 72, Mortimer-St., Cavendish Sqxiare.
 
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