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 'J^M
 
 LI E) R.AFLY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UN IVLRSITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 82B 
 v.l 
 
 \ :
 
 Digitized by tine Internet Archive 
 
 in 2010 witii funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana'-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/summeratbrighton01you
 
 SUMMER AT WEYMOUTH; 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 STAR OF FASHION. • 
 VOL, I.
 
 Printed by G.Sidney, 
 Northumberland Street, Strand.
 
 SUMMER AT .WEYMOUTH ; 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 STAR OF FASHION. 
 
 A NOVEL, 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 Vol. I. 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF A SUMMER AT BRIGHTON^ &C. &C, 
 
 '♦ Je ne me suls propose que de representer la vie des 
 
 hommes telle qu' elle ejt. A Dieu ne plaise que j'aie eu des~ 
 
 scin de designer quel qu'un en particulier." 
 
 Le Sage. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. V. HUGHES, WIGMGRE STREET;^ 
 CAVENDISH SQUARE. 
 
 1808.
 
 8^3 
 
 TH£ 
 
 STAR OF FASHION, 
 
 OR 
 
 A SUMMER AT WEYMOUTH. 
 
 
 -J CHAPTER i 
 
 i.^ 
 
 Youth and age, with a retrospect. 
 
 'S "My jewels are come home^ here 
 
 ""- they are ! see, uncle how beautiful they 
 
 look — the effect of the patterns I sketch- 
 
 ^ ed from my fancy, exceeds even my ex~ 
 
 ^ pectation. Are they not elegant ? " 
 
 VOL. r, B . '' Verj
 
 2 
 
 '' Very brilliant indeed, Stella, they 
 dazzle my eyes, but will not charm my 
 pain — take care, do not touch my foot ! '* 
 
 '' Forgive me, it was but a momentary 
 forgetfulness — I will take away the 
 baubles. " 
 
 '' No, no, I will admire their beauty 
 presently, when I am easier. A cross 
 gouty old man going out of the world, is 
 a sad companion for a gay blooming 
 young girl just coming into it, Nay> 
 do not look so grave, my love ; I am glad 
 you like your jewels, and very sorry an 
 ugly tw inge made me check, for an instant, 
 your pleasure at seeing th^m honou^ your 
 fine taste in their arrangement. Take 
 
 your
 
 your harp, my child, and sing me a song; 
 ' Sweetly slumbring on the ocean/ per- 
 haps it will lull me to sleep, I had a very 
 bad night ; this has been along fit/' 
 
 '' I hope it is almost over, and then we 
 will visit the watering-places, and keep 
 oiF another by amusement and exercise." 
 
 ^' Yes, and very pretty it will look, io 
 see the shattered hulk of an old man of 
 war towed along the stream of pleasure 
 by a light, and gaily decked gondola. I 
 had better not go." 
 
 *' I hope you wi//, my dear uncle, I am 
 sure you will find the excursion agree- 
 able* " 
 
 B 2 '^ Well
 
 4 
 
 *' Well, well, sing me to sleep, and 
 perhaps I may dream about it ; I am an 
 old fool, Stella ; my inclination leads me 
 to keep you up securely from the follies 
 of the world. I am too selfish, my girl, 
 1 know, ill wishing to confine you always 
 within the rugged walls of Rockalha Cas- 
 tle; but age is fearful and suspicious." 
 
 " But are not you with me, to advise 
 and protect me ? will not the amiable 
 Mrs. Moreland be still my sensible in- 
 structress ; were I to be left entirely to 
 my own guidance, indeed, I might, to 
 use your naval expressions, my uncle, be 
 lost in the quick-sands of dissipation ; 
 but under the convoy of experience, wis- 
 dom, and affection, hope to steer my 
 
 course
 
 course safely through the ocean of fa- 
 shionable life/' 
 
 *' Heaven send you may ! and that, 
 before these eyos shall be closed in death, 
 I may have the superlative blessing of 
 seeing you do honour to your sex and 
 country^ in the saci'ed characters of wife 
 and mother ! the untimely deaths of 
 your dear parents^ in your early infancy, 
 \e^i you to my guardianship, and never 
 had an uncle a more dutiful niece; you 
 have constituted the happiness of my life, 
 you have soothed and comforted me^ by 
 your affectionate tenderness, in all my suf- 
 ferings from the fate of war, and of old 
 
 s 3 '' Cruel
 
 6 
 
 '' Cruel war ! it deprived me of a fa- 
 ther before 1 saw the lighf ! it deprived 
 nic of a mother soon after my birth^ be- 
 cause the fatal stroke that slew her Hen- 
 ry gave a mortal wound to her poor 
 heart! then how near^ how very near it has 
 .been, twice, of depriving me of you, my 
 beloved uncle, whose kindness never has 
 euffered me to miss parental fondness ! '* 
 
 '' Dear girl ! now for the song, or we 
 shall grow melancholy :" — 
 
 Said Sir Edward Fitzalbion, passing 
 his left hand over his eyes to brush away 
 the tears of sensibility, not that he 
 thought the tears given to the memory 
 of an only and beloved brother disgraced 
 
 the
 
 the character of a British sailor, but 
 that he wished to dissipate those which 
 he beheld swelling in the dark blue eyes 
 of his niece. 
 
 Colonel Fitzalbion.the father of Stella^ 
 possessed every requisite from nature, to 
 charm the eye, and engage the heart ; at 
 an early age he distinguished himself as 
 an orator in the senate, and, by his bravery 
 and military knowledge, acquired equal 
 fame in the iield. He married the only 
 daughter of the Earlof Grassmere, it was 
 a match of mutual love ; but alas ! before 
 two blissful years had passed away, his 
 regiment was ordered to Ireland, to quell 
 an insurrection in that Kingdom. Lady 
 Stella Fitzalbion, not being in a state to 
 B i venture
 
 9 
 
 venture on a voyage, was^ greatly against 
 her inclination, compelled to part with 
 her adored husband. The Colonel con* 
 queredtheinsurgentSj but received a mor- 
 tal wound from the hand of their despe* 
 rate leader, and expired immediately. 
 
 The grief of Lady Stella, at receiving 
 Ihe melancholy tidings, can be imagined, 
 but not expressed; she just existed to 
 give birth to a daughter ; to bless her, 
 and recommend her to the affection and 
 protection of the Earl of Grassmere, and 
 Sir Edward Fitzalbion, whom she highly 
 esteemed for his courage as an Admiral, 
 and his fraternal regard for the Colonel. 
 Her Ladyship then gave the infant to 
 Mrs, Morcland, the widow of a brave 
 
 naval
 
 naval officer, and requested her to be a 
 mother to the orphan Stella. Mrs. More- 
 land was the daughter of a dignified cler- 
 gyman, who had not only cultivated her 
 mind with the most indefatigable care, in 
 the essential points of religion and morali- 
 ty ,but.he had given it all the polish of a fi- 
 nished education. Lady Stella, who had 
 a sincere regard for this elegant and ac- 
 complished woman, gave her an invita 
 tion to Grassmere Abbey, where her La-- 
 dyship intended to reside during the ab- 
 sence of the Colonel ; rightly considering^ 
 that a sensible woman, in the first year 
 of her widowhood, and so excellently 
 brought up, would find the retirement of 
 Grassmere Abbey more congenial to the 
 state of her mind than the bustle of the 
 B 5 tovvn.
 
 10 
 
 town. On the death of colonel Fitz- 
 albion, the moment she could arrange 
 her ideas^ she told the Earl^ that in case 
 of her deathj she wished Mrs. Moreland 
 to have the sole cafe of her little one ; 
 the Earl who was in a very ill state of 
 health himself, and who had no female 
 relatives^ readily agreed to his daughter's 
 proposal • and Mrs. Moreland promised 
 to take charge of the child in case any 
 thing happened to Lady Stella ; and • 
 truly did she verify her promise ; the Earl 
 survived his daughter only three months^ 
 and, at his decease^ the little Stella Fitz- 
 albion became Countess of Grassn.ere in 
 her own rights and removed to Rockalba 
 Castle, the seat of Sir Edward Fitzalbion, 
 her uncle^ and then sole guardian. 
 
 The
 
 11 
 
 The Admiral let Grassmere Abbey to 
 his friend Lord Charlewood to whom 
 he knew he could safely confide that 
 ancient^ noble structure^ and its superb 
 gardens, which;, from his intimacy with 
 the family^ he might visit frequently ; 
 but the romantic situation of Rockalba 
 Castle, bending its rugged battlements 
 over the sea^ its vicinity to Weymouth, 
 and within a pleasant sail of the princi- 
 pal sea-ports, rendered it too pleasing, 
 and convenient to the Admiral for him to 
 leave his paternal castle to reside with 
 his niece at the abbey; although that 
 was beautifully situated on the banks of 
 the Severn, in Gloucestershire; Sir Ed- 
 ward was a true son of Neptune, and 
 thought no air so salubrious as the fresh 
 
 gales
 
 12 
 
 gales from the ocean, no sound so charm- 
 ing as the billows breaking against the 
 rock. 
 
 As the young Countess grew up, she 
 became more and more the delight of his 
 life ; the rose of health gave animation 
 to her beauty — she was a living portrait 
 of his lamented brother Henry ; she in- 
 herited her father's sweetness of temper, 
 his gaiety, his benevolence, his affec- 
 tionate heart. The Admiral was a ba- 
 chelor,he had been fondly attached,in his 
 youth, to a lovely woman who returned 
 his affection; the period was fixed for 
 their nuptials, but, before it arrived, her 
 life fell a sacrifice to a false report, that 
 Sir Edward, who was then abroad, had 
 
 beejj^
 
 13 
 
 been slain in an engagement — she beard 
 it mentioned abruptly as she was waiting 
 for her carriage at the Opera, was taken 
 home in a state of torpor^and never reco- 
 vered the shock ; when the report was 
 contradicted^ she was in the last stage of 
 a rapid decline. Sir Edward arrived 
 just time enough to take a last farewel 
 of his dying Emma, who existed but to 
 behold him once more^ and to expire in 
 his arms. . . He was inconsolable — Naval 
 duties at length roused him from the tor- 
 pidity of grief; death would have been 
 welcome ; but victory crowned him with 
 laurel. 
 
 The loss of his brother, six years after, 
 gave another severe wound to his manly 
 
 heart.
 
 14 
 
 hearty and it was some time before the 
 playfulness and innocent prattle of Stella 
 diverted his attention^ or the sensible 
 conversation t)f Mrs.Morcland dissipated 
 the gloominess of his afflicted mind. 
 
 He was not, however;, insensible to the 
 daily improvement of his niece ; her per- 
 sonal and mental attractions expanded 
 rap id 1 J;, and her duty and affection to 
 him increased with her years. He high- 
 ly respected Mrs.Moreland, and admired 
 her excellent method of instructing- the 
 young Countess, who made a most sur- 
 prising progress in her education, without 
 the slightest indication of tatigue, or dis- 
 content. The only trouble of her child- 
 hood was partiiig from her uncle when 
 
 honour
 
 15 
 
 honour called him to join the fleet ; until 
 she was fourteen she had the pleasure of 
 seeing him return in health and safety, 
 she then had the affliction of hearing that 
 he had been severely wounded in an 
 engagement, and to behold him, at his 
 return, in a very weak and languid 
 state ; she studied his looks, anticipated 
 his wishes, and soothed his pain. He 
 recovered, and went forth again to meet 
 the enemies of his country, over whom 
 he was successful, at the expense of his 
 brave right arm, which was splintered 
 in the action, and immediately . am- 
 putated. Stella was agonized when she 
 heard of this accident. Mrs. Moreland 
 said every thing good sense could dic- 
 tate, to render the Countess capable of 
 
 meeting
 
 16 
 
 meeting Sir Edward with congratula- 
 tions on bis escape from a more serious 
 accident^ and accustomed her to converse 
 frequently on his loss^ that she might be 
 familiarized to the expectation of seeing 
 him deprived of an arm, and not hurt his 
 feelings, by appearing shocked, when he 
 arrived at the Castle 
 
 Yet, when she beheld Sir Edward pak, 
 and much fallen awa}'^ when she beheld 
 the empty sleeve,Stella could not repress 
 her feelings; she wept on his bosom as he 
 fondly clasped her with his one arm, but 
 hastily raising her head, and smiling 
 through her tears, she exclaimed '' O ! 
 my uncle ! these are tears of joy — you 
 are returned in safety to Rockalba Castle. 
 
 Heaven
 
 17 
 
 Heaven has been merciful, and spared 
 to the orphan Stella her only guardian^ 
 her aftectionate uncle ! " From that 
 time slie redoubled her attention, asrain 
 she watched his looks and anticipated his 
 wishes, again she soothed htm by the 
 most filial tenderness, enlivened him hy 
 her enchanting gaiety, and devoted her 
 various accomplishments to the enter- 
 tainment of her uncle, whose cultivated 
 understanding, and correct taste, were as 
 conspicuous as his fortitude and bravery ; 
 Sir Edward Fitzalbion, as a British Ad- 
 miral, was the glory of his country, and 
 the terror of her foes ; as a senator, he 
 maintained her cause with true patriotic 
 firmness and energy ; in society, his con- 
 versation evinced his perfect knowledge 
 
 of
 
 18 
 
 of politics, ancicat and modernliterature, 
 
 « 
 
 the fine arts^ and the world in general ; 
 in his domestic circle he was an alFectio- 
 ' nate relative^ a considerate and liberal 
 master, and a sensible instructor. Such 
 was the guardian of the orphan Coun- 
 tess ; and never were father and daughter 
 more tenderly attached ; Stella could not 
 have been more dutiful, or more affec- 
 tionate to her parents, had they survived, 
 than she was to Sir Edward and Mrs. 
 Moreland, who regarded her as the 
 preserver of their lives ; when, deprived 
 of all which made those lives delightful, 
 they were rapidly sinking into the gulph 
 of despair, she engrossed their hours, 
 and stole them, as it were, from their 
 own melancholy thoughts. 
 
 The
 
 19 
 
 The Countess of Grassmere had arri- 
 ved at an ao:e when Sir Edward Fitzal- 
 bion considered her introduction at court 
 indispensable^ as he by no means would 
 consent to her appearing in public until 
 that ceremony had taken place^ and a tour 
 round the coast, without visiting the 
 rooms at the respective watering places, 
 lie rightly conjectured, would be very in- 
 sipid to his lively niece, who was just 
 turned seventeen, and at eighteen, accord- 
 ing to her grandfather's will, she was to 
 be put in possession of theGrassmere 
 estates. 
 
 The superb jewels which the Earl 
 had given to Lady Stella Fitzalbion on 
 her marriage, were now new set for the 
 
 youn^
 
 20 
 
 young Countess after her own taste^ and 
 Sir Edward had made an elegant addition 
 to them ; and^ that she might enjoy the 
 amusements of the metropolis after her 
 presentation^ he had taken a ready fur- 
 nished house for a months in Arlington- 
 street^ the park-side ; but immediately on 
 his arrival, he was attacked by a severe 
 fit of the gout, which was a great disap- 
 pointment to both himself and the Coun- 
 tess, who had never before paid a visit 
 to London, and they were to have made 
 a tour of observation within and around 
 the capital previous to her presentation.
 
 21 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The triumph of Duty, 
 
 Sir Edward Fit/albion had frequent- 
 ]y experienced the cheerful and un- 
 wearied assiduities of his beloved niece, 
 but yet he was astonished to see her so 
 patient under disappointment. During 
 their journey^, her lively imagination had 
 anticipated all the pleasures which no- 
 velty, and scenes of gaiety, can bestow ; 
 and now, he beheld her resign, without a 
 
 word
 
 S3 
 
 word or look of regret, all her delight- 
 ful expectations, and devoting her time 
 and her thoughts, to his amusement and 
 comfort, with her usual cheerfulness. 
 
 Every elegance requisite to the first 
 appearance of the youthful peeress- had 
 hyeen ready for some days, but no symp- 
 toms of Sir Edward's amendment flat- 
 tered her with the hopes of wearing 
 them ; she and Mrs. Moreland relieved 
 each other in their attendance on the Ad- 
 miral; for the affectionate Stella would 
 not leave him to the care of domestics ; 
 Triton Oakheart alone was permitted to 
 share their tender task, for he had been an 
 attendant on Sir Edward, both at sea, 
 and on land, ever since Triton was a 
 
 little
 
 23 
 
 little hoy ; he had lost a leg in the 
 service of his countrji, but was extreme- 
 ly alert and watchful^ and greatly es- 
 teemed by the Countess for his faithful 
 attachment to her uncle. One day, af- 
 ter Stella had been endeavouring to 
 cheer the invalid with some of his favou- 
 rite airs, he said to her. 
 
 '^ My beloved girl, I fear this tor- 
 menting gout will not leave me while I 
 
 in town ; I will hire a vessel, and 
 return to Rockalba by sea.'' 
 
 " Do my dear uncle, and let us set 
 out immediately^ if you can bear the 
 voyage. '[ 
 
 '' I can
 
 24 
 
 /^ I can lie at my ease ; I could not 
 endure the shaking of a carriage. " 
 
 /' But how are you to get to the ship 
 sir?/' 
 
 ** With the assistance of n\y servants, 
 and a sedan-chair I can reach to a barge, 
 and that will convey me to the ship in 
 an easy manner ; but do not think, my 
 dear child, that I mean to take you with 
 me; no, no, I will not be so selfish; 
 
 I will entreat the Duchess of N d 
 
 to take charge of you. " 
 
 " No, my dear uncle, you must not 
 leave your Stella ; if you return to 
 Rockalba, so will I; if you go in a ship 
 
 there
 
 there must be a little cabin in it for me, 
 too. Pardon my disobedience^ but in- 
 deed this is a point, sir, on which I wfll 
 be absolute; and if you will not suffer me 
 to be the companion of your little voy- 
 age, you shall find me at the Castle, rea- 
 dy to receive you. 
 
 f» 
 
 '' What ! put off your presentation, 
 and forego all the novelties, all the 
 amusements, which the town will afford 
 you, and impair your health, and curb 
 your spirits, while you watch over the 
 couch of a gouty uncle !" 
 
 '^f I could noi— if I could find a 
 charm in amusements and the brilliancy 
 of a court, while you, who have never 
 
 VOL. I. c let
 
 26 
 
 let me miss parental tendernesSj are con- 
 fined to your couch, and suffering an- 
 guish, .the air of the metropolis must 
 have the po^i^er of Circe's fatal beverage, 
 and have transformed jour poor Stella 
 into a monster; for oh ! how unlike my- 
 self, the yoang creature whose mind you 
 and Mrs. Moreland have cultivated, if I 
 could stay in town, and let you return 
 by yourself to Rockalba !" 
 
 ^' This is indeed, the triumph of duty ! 
 may you be as exemplary a wife as you 
 are a niece, and may your husband be as 
 sensible of your merit as I am ! and then 
 Stella, you will be happy. I assure you,my 
 child, that I have no inclination to leave 
 London, at present^ I feel myself con- 
 siderably
 
 27 
 
 siderably better ; I beheld you in a new 
 situation, elated with new and pleasing 
 expectations ; pardon an old man's 
 doubtS;, age is always suspicious ; I have 
 made an innocent trial of your affection 
 for nie, and your firmness convinces me 
 that I may trust you in the gay world 
 without fear/' 
 
 ^' Ah ! my naughty uncle, to doubt 
 your Stella, and to tell fibs ! I am aknost 
 angry with you — As to my being hap- 
 py in the marriage state, that will de- 
 pend greatly on my own sagacity in the 
 choice of a husband : having lived ex- 
 tremely happy all my life hitherto with 
 you, my kind uncle, I will endeavour to 
 find a clever young man of your dispo- 
 c 3 sition.
 
 28 
 
 sition.that is excepting your cruel doubts, 
 ou knoWj sir; foir/when you give me to 
 liim, I wish you to say these words of 
 advice. Behave to her as / have always 
 done : 
 
 Send her abroad, and let her sec 
 That all this mingled mass, which shf 
 Being forbidden, longs to know, 
 Is a dull farce, an empty show ; 
 Wait on her to the park and play ; 
 Put on good humour ; make her gay ; 
 Be to her virtues yery kind ; 
 Be to her faults a little blind ; 
 Let all her ways be unconfin'd, 
 And clap your padlock on her mind. 
 
 I love Prior for giving such excellent 
 
 advice : rigorou^restraiiit wiiri>ever win 
 
 ?iffi^c^t|gn, and I am su^ jthe 4)^ds .of 
 
 di^jt^ are very slight, if not linked with 
 
 ihost of affection." 
 
 '' You
 
 29 
 
 '' You are right, my love ; a truly 
 affectionate daughter will never elope 
 from her parents^ nor will the connubial 
 ties of mutual affection, and mutual con- 
 fidence, ever be dissolved by libertine 
 art; but a woman whose vanity is Iier 
 predominant passion, loves herself better 
 than her husband and her children, and 
 continually exposes herself to the seduc- 
 tion of flattery, until, too frequently, she 
 becomes its victim: nor is the husband 
 less excusable who is inconstant to his 
 wife, and negligent of his children ; for 
 he not only sets her a bad example, but 
 be leaves her unguarded, and forces her, 
 whenever she appears in public, on the 
 protection of some dangerous cicisbeo^ 
 by whom a neglected wife is reckoned 
 c 3 fair
 
 so 
 
 fair game^ particularly if she is kno\Tn 
 
 to be an anc*:ler for admiration. You 
 
 will meet too many characters like 
 
 these in the circle of fashion,* you have 
 
 already seen sketches of them in several 
 
 fashionable publications, which have 
 
 endeavoured to hold a mirror up to vice 
 
 and folly; you have read with discrimf- 
 
 nation ijoritten characters, and I trust 
 
 you will do the same by living ones, 
 
 which 1 am sorry to say you will not find 
 
 so much exaggerated, cither by authors 
 
 or caricaturists, as you have reason to 
 
 imagme. 
 
 *' What a pity that persons in a con- 
 spicuous station of life, should appa- 
 rently take a pride in rendering them- 
 ' '** selves
 
 31 
 
 selves ridiculous ! Yet it is well for the 
 world if all their aim is to be iaug:lied 
 at by the more sensible part of mankind ; 
 they are not the terror of society, like the 
 Mohocks, whom our dear Spectator de- 
 scribes ; and Yanbrugh's Sir John Brute, 
 who sallies forth with his mad compa- 
 nions^ absolutely with the intention to 
 aanoy, if not to injure every one who had 
 the misfortune to come in their way: 
 thank Heaven, we do not hear of such 
 midnight rioters in these days !'* 
 
 '' In those days, my dear, the streets 
 were not so well guarded and lighted as 
 they, are now; wine was cheaper; and 
 eyery young fellow, who called himself 
 a gentleman, wore a sword, which per-; 
 c 4 haps
 
 S2 
 
 haps he could mofe skilfully wield to 
 terify a peaceable uiiairmcd loitizen, than 
 he could to defend* JM^stlCagfl^inst an 
 •rraed enetoj^.** ^^JC«^H %S 5 - '^^ 
 
 .^*** By tliis sir, you infer that they are 
 now compelkd to behave with more pro- 
 priety; DOW I flatter myself that the 
 young men have grown more humane 
 and good-natured ; that they had rather 
 amuse than torment the commonalty ; and 
 it is certainly better to be contemned for 
 fblly^ than to be despised and abhorred 
 for mischief an4 wickedness/' 
 
 " So then we must allow that the age 
 is improved since the days of Steele and 
 Vanbrugh, and in some respects since 
 
 Richardson'a
 
 33 
 
 Richardson's; for I believe^ my dear girl, 
 you may venture to a masquerade with* 
 out the least appreheosioo of being car- 
 ried off by a Sir Hargrave Pollexfen ; the 
 young men of the present day detest 
 trouble^ even to obtain a ridi» heiress ; 
 but if a willbg fair one throws herself 
 and her fortune into their arm9> they will 
 take care to have a post-chaise in readiness, 
 as the money will keep up their credit in 
 th^ fashionable world, although they 
 declare that a journey to Scotland, and 
 a wife, are each a cursed bore." 
 
 '' Oh f the ungratefut creatures ! If a 
 journey to the north i^ deemed a trouble, 
 I^*J|^Q§e-(hey would relinquishfth^pur- 
 5'^ii^i'Aev^reatest beauty in the wbrici^ 
 
 m^'h-mbiff c 5 rather
 
 34 
 
 rather than take the pains which Lovelace 
 did to suhdue the virtuous pride of 
 Clarissa. '* 
 
 *'Your supposition is just; you will 
 find many young men indolent in their 
 attentions to ladies^ in general ; particu- 
 larly to the truly modest ; the drawling 
 out a few common-place compliments 
 now and then^ is the utmost of their ex- 
 ertion ; and that is accompanied with an 
 apparent indifference, whether they 
 please or not the object whom they 
 address .... Others there are who seem 
 to have copied the gaiety, freedom, and 
 inconstancy of Farquhar's Sir Harry 
 Wildair ; they will stare you full in the 
 face, swear you are a divinity, whose 
 charms might fix the most wandering 
 
 heart.
 
 35 
 
 b^art, then, starting, look at the hour, 
 whistle an opera tune, curse a very par- 
 ticular appointment, made with a certain 
 
 beautiful duchess, which tears them from 
 
 > 
 
 you, and quit the room with a confident 
 smile, and a careless bow/' 
 
 *^ If such," said Stella laughing hear- 
 tily, '^ are our sprigs of fashion, I am 
 in no danger of dying for love, unless 
 you have kept a reserve of nobler knights 
 to perform more effective execution oa 
 the heart of your Stella/* 
 
 '' Yes, thank heaven ! England is still 
 
 adorned with many sensible young men, 
 
 who, scorning the frivolities and vices of 
 
 the age, may be worthy candidates for 
 
 c 6 your
 
 your Iieart^ if it has not already fixed i^ 
 choice/* "^ 
 
 *' Oh f no indeed^ sir, I mean to sec 
 a variety of personages, male observa- 
 tions, draw comparisons, and choose 
 with judgment." 
 
 *' Certaialy you are right, according 
 to the ripened jitdgment of seventeen," 
 
 "Aye, uncle; for seventeen, instructed 
 by wisdom, is more competent to judge 
 correctly than seventy tutored by folly." 
 
 " How prettily our pupil compliments 
 us, Mrs. Moreland,tbat we may indulge 
 her inclination ! Ida you think we can 
 
 trust
 
 3T 
 
 trust to bei^ discretion in the choice of 
 a husband before she is One-and-twen-- 
 
 ** As I was not in the room, I cannot be 
 a judge of the argument preyious to 
 jour question^ sir^ but I think a hiisband 
 ought not to be chosen hastily/' 
 
 ** My dear Mrs. Moreland^not a word- 
 was said about husbands; I merely spoke 
 ef choosing a lover/' 
 
 " With reasonable persons tbe loyef 
 ought certainly to be chosen first\ but 
 alas ! in modern, interested marriages 
 the lover is too frequently chosen aftev 
 the husband, aud a divorce ensues/' 
 
 " Very
 
 38 
 rr Very true Mrs. Moreland : young 
 persons should have time to be ac- 
 quainted with each othci's disposittoa 
 before they marry therefore 1 will give 
 my niece leave to choose a lover now ; 
 and if she finds no unpardonable faults^ 
 in him within four years^ I will consent 
 to call him nephew/' 
 
 " Agreed, my dear sir ; and Mrs. More- 
 land is witness^ that titled, or not titled, 
 rich, or poor, provided I think that I can 
 be happy with the object of my choice^ 
 you will not refuse your consent.'* 
 
 *' No, my love, I will not ; or, if I do, 
 will you at that period of your life, and 
 possessed of an immense fortune, sacrified 
 
 your
 
 39 
 
 your happiness to the whim of an old 
 uncle ? " 
 
 " Yes, for my independence would in- 
 sure my obedience to that uncle." 
 
 " How so, my child ?" 
 
 " Because, as there would be a suffici* 
 ency on my side, you, who were never mer- 
 cenar}^ could not object to a want of for- 
 tune, on the man's side ; consequently you 
 must have more essential reasons for with, 
 holding your consent in any case where 
 my happiness is concerned; and having 
 experienced from my infancy your kind 
 indulgence to my wishes, and your dis- 
 criminating judgment^ I should certainly 
 
 make
 
 4a 
 
 make my duty triumph over my in- 
 elinatioQ." 
 
 '^This is a point wliicb we cannot 
 prove now — I sincerely hope that ray Stel- 
 la .will never have cause for a moment's 
 contentionhetween inclination and duty." 
 
 ''^ If they do contend, sir, / shall be in 
 fault; and heaven forbid that I should 
 grow worse as 1 grow old !** 
 
 *' The pleasures of the world, and ba 
 examples^" said Mrs. Moreland, '' cor- 
 rupt many, who by nature are amiable, 
 and who in a retired life would have 
 been good and happy. The votaries of 
 dissipation laughat the social virtues>$li- 
 al Aixty, conjugal affection, parental ten^ 
 
 derness.
 
 41 
 
 dierness, and sincere friendship, and call 
 
 them the bonds of slavery, whi6h'bind 
 
 only the weak and stupid, but are thrown 
 
 off by the gay and spirited, who love io 
 
 frolic unconfined in the enchanting paths 
 
 of pleasure. Characters noted for wit and 
 
 beauty, whose high stations entitle them 
 
 io take the lead, dance, gaily smiling, 
 
 down the flowery road, neglecting every 
 
 dvity, and are followed by a too numerous 
 
 train of deluded beings of both sexes, 
 
 who sacrifice fortune^ fame, health, every 
 
 real blessing this world can bestovr, 
 
 and even eternal bliss in the world to 
 
 come, at the gay shrine of ^dissipation." 
 
 " Ah ! my dear Mrs. Moreland,you 
 make me tremble for myself^ lest the 
 
 Datural
 
 4* 
 
 natiirarl gaiety of my heart should irapet 
 me^o joia the thoughtless traia t*' 
 
 '' Instead of following the fools of 
 
 fashion^ my dear niece, I hope you will 
 
 yourself become a leader, the bright 
 
 load-star of fashion ; guide your own 
 
 sex to real happiness^ and discover to 
 
 the men by your ottn lustre, the fascinat- 
 ing and permanent charms of modesty^ 
 
 and good sense." 
 
 " Depend on my endeavouring to 
 display, in their truest light, all the beau- 
 ties with which you, sir, and Mra. 
 Moreland have so richly adorned, my 
 mind; and if I thoughtone virtue would 
 b€ sullied by my entrance into fashionable 
 
 life.
 
 43 
 
 life, my most ardent request should be 
 to return immediately to Rockalba Castle, 
 where^ from my earliest remembrance^ I 
 have enjoyed the purest felicity. •' 
 
 " I am sure Sir Edward will not con- 
 sent to your quitting your station like a 
 coward, when fortune has placed you in 
 an exalted rank. No, ray dear Countess, 
 you must maintain it with fortitude even 
 at the hazard of being wounded. You 
 are called upon to perform your duty 
 heroically,and nobly withstand the siren's 
 deludijig song, which tempts to ploa3ure> 
 and also the weak dictates of apprehen- 
 sive, timidity, which warn you to fly from 
 imaginary dangers, or such as good senss 
 
 can easily avoid. Thank heaven, there 
 
 are
 
 44 
 
 are many amiable characters in high life^ 
 who do honour to the families from 
 whence thej sprung ; who in their filial^ 
 conjugal, and parental duties, have been, 
 and are^both from principle and affection, 
 shining examples to their welt instructed 
 offspring, and ta the world in which 
 they live uncontaminated by its follies. 
 With such you will chiefly associate, by 
 such you will be introduced into the 
 circles of fashion, where you will meet 
 with very different characters, whom I 
 will leave to your own observation ; for 
 they will soon develop themselves to a 
 sensible observer, notwithstanding the 
 dazzling splendor with which they are 
 •urrounded, and the admiring crowds^ 
 
 wh«
 
 45 
 
 tvho look up to them as models of fa- 
 shion and elegance." 
 
 *' How grateful I have reason to be 
 for the invaluable blessing of wise in- 
 iftructors ! You will listen with in- 
 dulgence to the remarks of your Stella, 
 and kindly correct the errors of her in- 
 experience. Ah ! what a good world 
 this would be, if all the young persons 
 in it were blessed with such instructors 
 as my Mrs. Morcland and Sir Edward 
 Fitzalbionr* 
 
 
 '' The proof odhBi is tocome-^lt 
 is now, Stella, in your power to evince 
 your gratitude to Mrs. Moreland and nie. 
 The lessons that we have with care im- 
 pressed
 
 46 
 
 pressed upon your hearty may soon be 
 obliterated, if once they are disregarded 
 by you, even for a moment ; therefore do 
 not be too secure in their efficacy, but re- 
 member that it is in your power, and j/owrs 
 alone, to destroy or to preserve them. . . . 
 
 Stella ! no promises I would rely 
 
 more firmly upon doubts ; for believe me, 
 I have heard many seamen boast of their 
 bravery, who in battle proved cowards; 
 while others, more diffident, have shown 
 the truest fortitude in the heat of an en- 
 gagement — Ring the bell; I feel myself so 
 much better that I will venture down to 
 dinner ; and to-morow, perhaps, I may 
 be able to take the air with you/* 
 
 Triton Oakheart attended the sum- 
 mons
 
 .47 
 
 mons with his usual alacrity^ and was 
 heartily rejoiced to hear that the Admi- 
 ral was sufficiently recovered to quit his 
 apartment.
 
 48 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Triton Ojkheart, 
 
 This brave seaman was god-son to 
 the Admiral, who gave him the name of 
 Triton, in consequence of his being born 
 at sea. 
 
 When Sir Edward was Captain of the 
 Triton man of war, his ship having re- 
 turned successful from an engagement, 
 lay off Plymouth, and Tom Oakheart, a 
 
 very
 
 49 
 
 very gallant sailor who had received a 
 wound which confined him on boards re- 
 quested that his wife Sally^ at Plymouth, 
 might be permitted to attend him, an in- 
 dulgence readily granted by the humane 
 Captain ; and the affectionate Sally ven- 
 tured to go on board the ship to nurse 
 her beloved Thomas, although she daily 
 expected to present him with the first 
 pledge of their mutual attachment. 
 
 The skill of the surgeon, and the ten- 
 der care of Sally seemed to promote a 
 rapid amendment in poor Tom, when un- 
 fortunately, a sudden and tremendous 
 storm of thunder, lightning, and wind 
 arose, drove the ship -from its moorings, 
 and threatened its destruction. Sally, 
 
 VOL. I. D terrified
 
 50 
 
 terrified beyond expression, met the Cap- 
 tain at the door of his cabin, and falling 
 at his feet, exclaimed : — 
 
 *' Oh ! save us ! save us-! — preserve 
 the life of my dear w^ounded Tom V* 
 
 I She could say no more, violent convul- 
 sions shook her frame — Sir Edward took 
 her tenderly in his arms, laid her on his 
 bed, and sent the surgeon and Tom to her 
 assistance. 
 
 The storm continued to rage, the rain 
 poured down in torrents, and the vessel 
 was furiously driven by the tempest over 
 the mountainous billows, until the day 
 appeared, when the storm abated;, and the 
 
 pilot.
 
 51 
 
 pilots once more able to guide the helm 
 was ordered by the Captain to steer the 
 Triton to Falmouth, which was the 
 nearest port. 
 
 Sir Edward finding it absolutely ne- 
 cessary to change his wet habiliments, 
 went down to his cabin, where he was 
 welcomed by the cry of an infant, and 
 beheld Oakheart weeping over a fine 
 boy. 
 
 *' Courage, my brave fellow, do not 
 baptize thy son and heir with tears — 
 Bless thee pretty little one,thou hast ven- 
 tured forth in a storm — volunteered 
 thyself into my service, and from this 
 
 D 2 moment 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of , 
 jLUNOIS LIBRAftC
 
 52 
 
 moment I will take thee under my pro- 
 tection/* 
 
 ^' Heaven bless your honour ! but my 
 Sally— my poor Sally is dying/' 
 
 Sir Edward looked at "the surgeon, 
 who shook •his head in mournful si- 
 lence, confirming the words of the af- 
 flicted Oakheart. The exhausted Sally 
 was sensible of her danger, and appre- 
 hensive that her child would share her. 
 fate,, conjured Sir Edward to let the 
 chaplain baptize him before she expired; 
 a request with which he immediately 
 complied, and with the consent of both 
 the parents, named the infant Triton, after 
 the ship in which he was born ; and Sir 
 
 Edward,
 
 53 
 
 Edwardj the surgeon, and the chaplain 
 were his sponsors. 
 
 Sally Oakheart did not survive the 
 ceremonj above two hours;andToiii was 
 forced from her pallid corse, in a sta,t8 
 cf agony likely to prove of fatal con- 
 sequence, as it caused the wound in his 
 side to bleed so profusely internally^ that 
 the surgeon exerted all his skill in vain 
 to stop the effusion. 
 
 Sir Edward Fitzalbion was greatly 
 affected by the melancholy sciene ; he felt 
 for the suffering Oakheart.for he himself 
 had, not long before, witnessed the death 
 of his heart's dearest treasure, and, when 
 D 3 the
 
 b^ 
 
 the surgeon informed him that Tom 
 was past all hopes^ he exclaimed : 
 
 " Happy Oakheart ! thou wilt not 
 survive thy beloved ! — I cannot wish thee 
 to survive her, and feel the pangs which 
 I have feltj though never did the navy 
 lt)se a braver lad ! Tom ! have no fears 
 for thy sonj I will never forsake him.** 
 
 Tom looked his thanks^ for he could not 
 give them utterance ; and in a short 
 time breathed his last^ and lay at peace 
 by his Sally. Sir Edward asked the 
 surgeon, if it were possible for his mates, 
 under his directions, to take care of the 
 young Triton, until they returned to 
 Plymouth, when he woald give him into 
 
 the
 
 03 
 
 the charge of Tom's mother, a strong 
 hearty woman, who had brought up her 
 own sons to be brave and hardy seamen. 
 The surgeon assured the Captain, that 
 their young charge was a remarkably 
 stout, healthy child, that he had already 
 bathed him in sea-water, and given him 
 proper food, and every necessary attention 
 should be paid to him, that his infant 
 state required. 
 
 Coffins were bespoke at Falmouth, for 
 the deceased pair, but Sir Edward 
 brought them to Plymouth, where they 
 had been born, and where their friends 
 resided, and had them interred in a man- 
 ner that evinced the regard he paid to 
 their remains; numbers attended the 
 D 4 funeral.
 
 5G 
 funeral, and many tears were shed 
 over the grave of the youthful pair, 
 whose memory was preserved, and their 
 untimely fate recorded, on a neat monu- 
 ment, which Sir Edward Fitzalbion erec- 
 ted in commemoration of bravery, and 
 of conjugal affection. 
 
 Dame Oakheart gladly took the charge 
 of her grandson, who, inured to sea 
 bathing, and sea breezes from his birth, 
 increased daily in health and strength ; 
 and was early instructed, by his grateful 
 grandmother, to respect Sir Edward as 
 his preserver, and kind benefactor. 
 
 When Triton grew old enough to 
 leave ofFhis petticoats, he appeared be- 
 fore
 
 57 
 
 fore his pati'on, in a little blue jacket and 
 white trowserSj and shewed him a complete 
 first-rate man of war^ in miniature^, made 
 by an experienced seaman, who had also 
 taught the child the proper terms for 
 the rigging, which, froiii habit, he re- 
 peated with a correctness that astonished 
 the Captain. 
 
 '' And now,"' said the rosy boy, '' I be 
 a jolly tar, I may go with you, Captain,to 
 my own home, the great Triton, where I 
 was born, and stay on board for ever, and 
 light by your side, like a brave British 
 sailor, and cry huzza ! the wooden 
 walls of old England for ever ! then, if I 
 live, you will love me-and if I die glo- 
 riously, may be you Avill put a pretty 
 
 white
 
 58 
 
 white tomb-stone over mj, grave ; will 
 you Sir f" 
 
 " That I will, my brave fellow ; you 
 are like your father, little Oakheart/* 
 
 ""' Yes, your honour, grandmother 
 and Ben Backstay says I be a true chip 
 of the old block, and I scorn to cry. Ben 
 did not cry, when both his legs were shot 
 off; no, because we had conquered our 
 enemies. Ben made me that little ship 
 Triton, to teach me all my business on 
 board the great Triton, and he teaches 
 me every thing, to make me a good sailor, 
 and do my duty to my Captain, my King, 
 and my country,'' 
 
 Sir
 
 59 
 
 Sir Edward desired the boy to in- 
 troduce him to Ben Backstaj^with whom 
 he was greatly pleased, and reward- 
 ed him handsomely for the ingenious 
 model of the Triton^ and for his in- 
 structions to young Oakheart^ who^, from 
 that time, became a constant attendant on 
 the Captain when on board his ship, and 
 at a very early age, evinced the most in- 
 trepid courage on several occasions. 
 
 He bore the loss of his leg with heroic 
 fortitude; grieving only at being rendered 
 incapable of naval service, while in the 
 bloom of his youth, and at the thought 
 of leaving the Admiral, who soon dis- 
 sipated that apprehension, by appointing 
 him his secretary, and taking him home 
 
 to
 
 60 
 
 to Rockalba Castle, when he himself re- 
 turned to it, after the loss of his arm. 
 
 There, in the double capacity of se- 
 secretary, and valet de cliambre, Triton 
 Oakheart enjoyed his earnest wish of be- 
 ing a constant attendant on his revered 
 patron, and obtained free leave to wear 
 his favourite dress, a jacket and trow- 
 sers, in which, with a cork leg and smart 
 stockings, shoes, and silver buckles, he 
 still appeared a very clever young man, 
 and was not without hopes of winning 
 the heart of Susan Fairfield, the daugh- 
 ter of a worthy farmer, who had brought 
 up a large family of boys and girls, to 
 be a blessing to their industrious parents. 
 
 
 and
 
 and a credit to the village in wliicb 
 they were born. 
 
 From this respectable family Sir Ed- 
 ward had requested Mrs. Moreland to 
 select an attendant for the Countess^ and 
 her choice was fixed on Susan^ the 
 youngest daughter^ who was rather a 
 slight, delicate looking girl,, apparently 
 not so well calculated for the business 
 of a farm-house, as her more robust sis- 
 ters ; therefore, at twelve years of age, 
 Susan Fairfield was placed under the 
 tuition of nurse Rhodes, who had suck- 
 led the Countess, and being a widow, 
 had been kept in the Castle ever since, 
 at Mrs. Moreland'fi particular request, 
 
 to
 
 62 
 
 to assist her in the care of her young 
 charge. 
 
 Susan was made, in a short time, a very 
 useful personage in Rockalba Castle, 
 and grew fondly attached to her young 
 Lady^ with whom she had now lived se- 
 ven years, beloved by all the family, for 
 her good humour and cheerfulness ; but, 
 when the young sailor arrived, Susan felt 
 a little flattered by the attention he paid 
 her ; they met frequently by chcmce, 
 and, being both unaffected children of 
 nature, they expressed, in their looks, the 
 feelings of their hearts. Triton's fa- 
 vourite song became Gay's '' Black eyed 
 Susan,'' and he noticed with pleasure, 
 that Susan Fairfield had given up all her 
 
 pastoral
 
 63 
 
 pastoral for sea songs, yet his honest 
 heart frequently felt a pang of apprehen- 
 sion, lest the defect in his gait should in- 
 jure him in the opinion of his beloved 
 and lively g'*rl ; and certainly his mis- 
 fortune cost her many sighs, and many a 
 sorrowful if, as thus : — '' Ah dear I 
 what a pity that such a fine young fel- 
 low should limp so in his walking. If 
 he had not lost his leg in that desperate 
 engagement^ there would not be a hand- 
 somer, or genteeler lad in the whole 
 county^ than Triton Oakheart V
 
 64 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Laudable indulgexcEj aki> 
 observations, 
 
 As the Admiral^ although consi- 
 derably better, was not sufficiently re- 
 covered to leave the house^ and the ladies 
 could not be prevailed on even to take 
 an airing without him,, he said : — 
 
 ^' Since you will persist in domesticat- 
 ing yourselves with me, I think we may 
 
 take
 
 05 
 
 take this opportunitj of rewarding the 
 attention and fidelity of our servants^ bj 
 permitting them to see those wonders of 
 the metropolis which afford the highest 
 gratification to all country people^ qp. 
 their first arrival in it ; Triton Oak- * 
 heart and Susan Fairfield are strangers 
 in London, I will spare Goodwin to be 
 their guide, and you, Mrs. Moreland, 
 wilij am 8ure,give your prudent Wilson, 
 leave to chaperon the young Susan." 
 
 '^ That I will, most readily. Sir, for she 
 is an excellent creature, and I am happy 
 in having an opportunity of indulging 
 her in what I know will give her plea- 
 sure/' 
 
 '' And
 
 66 
 
 '' And I shall be delighted/' said Ihe 
 Countess, '' to hear Fairfield's remarks, 
 on every thing she sees ; for if she went 
 to a fair, harvest-home, or a play in a 
 barn, I always encouraged her to express 
 the pleasure which her cheerful looks 
 proclaimed within her joyous heart, 
 and it would have been cruel to check 
 its lively effusions, even if they had not 
 amused me ; but 1 actually enjoyed the 
 description of her rural sports, and so I 
 shall of the town novelties, which will 
 afford the artless girl scope for variety, 
 from which I expect great entertainment." 
 
 " Nor will you be disappointed, my 
 unsophisticated child of nature, nor shall 
 I in the new conversation of my brave 
 
 Triton,
 
 67 
 
 Triton. The pleasure we have bestowed;, 
 will always cast a lustre back upon our- 
 selves ; whereas, if we wrap ourselves 
 in the chill and gloomy fog of apathy, 
 or ill nature, we behold a chilling gloom 
 on all around us ; may we never catch 
 the infection, but always possess the 
 power, and inclination, to communicate 
 happiness to our domestic circle, and be 
 cheered by the beams cf happy faces, 
 and the warm effusions of happy and 
 grateful hearts !" 
 
 '^ Oh ! may we ever, my uncle ! and if 
 you, or Mrs. Moreland, perceive those 
 blighting fogs stealing around your 
 pupil,snatch her from them, and con- 
 vey her to the pure air of Dorset- 
 shircj where she may recover her
 
 68 
 
 mental lustre^ and difFuse cheerfulness 
 around, heart-felt cheerfulness^ from the 
 lord of Ihe Castle to the little barefooted 
 cottagers, who gambol in her paths — '' 
 
 ^•^My dear Stella/'exclaimed Mrs. More- 
 land laaghing, *' w ere gome of the fa- 
 shionables to hear youthej wouldcertain- 
 ly call you^ the rustic Countess, and smile 
 with contempt at your cottage ideas/' 
 
 '• I will not expose myself to their 
 contemptuous smiles, for my ideas of ru- 
 ral felicity are too precious to be thrown 
 away on those who cannot comprehend 
 them-I will now inform Susan of your 
 kind indulgence. Sir." 
 
 ^' Do, my love, they shall go this 
 
 evening
 
 69 
 
 levening to Drury Lane Theatre^ in the 
 pit/' 
 
 When the Countess went into her dress- 
 ing room^ she told Susan, that Goodwin 
 the butler, and Mrs. Wilson, had leave 
 to see the plaV;, and that she might go 
 with them, if it were agreeable to her. 
 Susan replied hesitatingly. 
 
 '' Thank your Ladyship, but-but I 
 promised to go, with your permission, 
 and if the Admiral can spare him, to see 
 Westminster Abbey, and the tombs, and 
 the wax figures, along with Mr. Oak- 
 heart .... I do not know how to break 
 my promise — " 
 
 ^/ Oakheart is going to the play.'' 
 
 '' Oh
 
 70 
 
 '' Oh dear ! is he ? that is far better 
 still ! a London play must be so charm- 
 ing ! how good your Ladyship is to spare 
 me ! Mr. Oakheart has seen plays at 
 the sea ports^ so well acted^ he says, that 
 he was quite delighted with them ; and 
 has told me their stories. I have only seen 
 Pizarro and King Lear, in a barn, and I 
 thought they were very fine, and so sad 
 that they made me cry/* 
 
 '' It is a comedy to night, so you will 
 be diverted." 
 
 " I am so rejoiced that I scarcely 
 know what I am doing ; I hope your 
 Ladyship* will forgive my mistakes." 
 
 '' Freely,
 
 71 
 
 " Freely, mj good girl, I like to se« 
 jou happy, and hope that you will be 
 highly entertained." 
 
 '^ I know I shall, for Triton will ex- 
 plain them to me, and then I shall un- 
 derstand what I see; for indeed,my Lady, 
 he is very sensible and good natured — it 
 is a pity that he lost one of his legs ! but 
 then he lost it bravely, and honourably, 
 like a British sailor, and Sir Edward 
 calls him a nohle fellow. Your Lady- 
 ship has heard the Adnairal say, how 
 well he fought against the French, J 
 believe." 
 
 ^' Yes, I have, and think a brave man, 
 who had even lost both his legs, more 
 
 worthy
 
 worthy admiration^ than a coward^ al- 
 though he has taken care to preserve his 
 form complete, lest he should disgust 
 silly girls^ who prefer a good figure to a 
 good heart — but go now^ Susan, and see 
 if Mrs. Wilson is ready ; I must not let 
 you make her wait, as my uncle says it is 
 necessary for you to be at the theatre 
 early, to get a place." 
 
 '^ Oh, thank your Ladyship ! I will 
 go to Mrs. Wilson directly — and have 
 we leave to stay to see the show to the 
 very end ?" 
 
 • '' Sir Edward will give orders concern- 
 ing that, and I fancy he will not wish 
 to abridge your amusement." 
 
 While
 
 73 
 
 While the Countess was talking to 
 Susan, the Admiral told Triton Oak- 
 heart that he would treat him to the 
 plaj; Triton replied: — 
 
 " I hope your honour will not be an- 
 gry, and think me ungrateful for your 
 kindness, if I humbly request to decline 
 your favour this evening." 
 
 ^' Why so, my lad ? What objection 
 have you to going to the theatre this 
 
 evenmg 
 
 p„ 
 
 '' Why your honour, I have promised, 
 if you can spare me, to go with Susan 
 ij Fairfield to the fine old cathedral, to see 
 the painted windows^ • and the monu- 
 ments of some brave naval oflScers ; and 
 
 VOL. I. E your
 
 74 
 
 your honour knows that it will be unbe- 
 coming a sailor to break his promise 
 with a young woman — will it not ?'* 
 
 '" Well said^ my boy, I admire your 
 firmness^ and mean to arrange this affair 
 to your satisfaction ; you shall go with 
 Susan to the play to nighty and to the ab- 
 bey to-morrow^and I will take the change 
 upon myself, and the honour of Triton 
 Oakheart shall remain unblemished in 
 the opinion of the black-eyed Susan," 
 
 ^' That will do, your honour, and I 
 will go to the play with flying colours/' 
 
 ^' So you shall, my brave one ! yo u 
 have had a great deal of fatigue and 
 trouble with me, Triton, in this long fi
 
 T5. 
 
 of the goutj and deserve a little pleas ur 
 now I am better.'* 
 
 *' Thank God you are,for it is a melan- 
 choly thing to see you in pain, who make / 
 ^^verybody around you easy and hap- 
 
 The week passed away joyously with 
 the faithfully attached domestics, in their 
 survey of London, and very pleasantly 
 with Sir Edward, the Countess, and Mrs. 
 Moreland, in morning airings through 
 its delightful environs ; and evenings 
 passed in social converse, reading, music, 
 and sometimes cards, backgammon, or 
 chess, amused them for an hour or two 
 aft^jr their evening repast. 
 
 fig The 
 
 ..y
 
 76 
 
 The complete convalescence of her 
 revered uncle restored all its native 
 gaiety to the affectionate heart of Stella ; 
 joy smiled around her ; the weather was 
 fine, the sunbeams sparkled on the rira- 
 pled pond, in the Green-park, and the 
 trees and grass were in beautiful ver- 
 dure. From the virandas she inhaled 
 the early breeze, scented by fragrant 
 shrubs and flowers blooming beneath 
 her eye; and although she did not behold, 
 or enjoy nature in the majestic beauties 
 with which she was adorned at Rock- 
 alba,yet Stella viewed,with grateful eyes, 
 so many of her charms in London, where 
 she did not expect to find the slightest 
 resemblance of them, except on canvas, 
 therefore, to see the country blended with 
 the town ap^^ared as agreeable as it was 
 
 unex;r
 
 77 
 
 unexpected; the road of Constitution Hill, 
 appropriated to the conveniencj of roy- 
 alty, and a select few, was well contrasted 
 by the busy whirl of carriages of all 
 denominations, which pass through Pic- 
 cadilly, particularly during the Mid- 
 dlesex election ; that bustle, and the gay 
 throng who parade the park on a Sunday 
 eve;iing,were entertaining novelties to the 
 Countess, and her kind heart rejoiced to 
 see such numbers, who had devoted six 
 days of the week to honourable industry, 
 genteely dressed by its produce, and en- 
 joying such innocent and salubrious re- 
 creation after their fatigue ; she loved al- 
 so to see the neat groups of humbler ap- 
 pearance, yet perhaps more opulent 
 than the gayer fashionists, scattered 
 over the plain beyond the crowded 
 E 3 walk;
 
 7S 
 
 walk; here a liappj looking couple 
 would walk slowly on^ leading their little 
 ones^ too young to be trusted from their 
 hands^ while another pair would rest 
 themselves on the grassland behold with 
 parental delight their sportive offspring 
 bounding lightly over the grass, or bu- 
 sied in gathering the little wild flowers 
 which adorned their verdant carpet. 
 One day, with her eyes fixed on the 
 pedestrians^ the Countess exclaimed : — 
 
 *^ What a heart-cheering scene this 
 is !• with what pleasure must their ma* 
 jesties behold the crowds of happy sub- 
 jects which repair, on this weekly holi- 
 day, to the parks and gardens of their 
 various palaces, and how warmly attach- 
 *dj how very grateful the people must 
 
 be
 
 m 
 
 be to sovereigns who beneficently in- 
 dulge them with the liberty of ranging 
 whenever they please in such charming 
 places-as the three parks^ and Kensington 
 gardens^ to- which those who dwell in 
 the remotest parts of London may con- 
 veniently come, with their little ones^ to 
 breathe 'pure air, and, in a manner, mix 
 amicably with those whom fortune has 
 placed above them. I know that envy, 
 pride, vanity, aiid .many vices may in- 
 trude among that passing multitude; but 
 I vwill not let the idea of such monsters 
 spoil my more pleasing thoughts; it is 
 my delight to gaze on human beings as I 
 do on a parterre^ and enjoy the beauty of 
 the flowers -i^'ithoiat searching for reptiles 
 which may lurk beneath their blooming 
 beauties/' 
 
 E 4 '' In
 
 80' 
 
 '' In some cases^ it is wise to look be- 
 low the surface, which too frequently is 
 treacherous, and conceals heart-wound- 
 ing snakes ; when you mix with a more 
 exalted crowd, my Stella, I would not 
 have you be suspicious, but penetrating; 
 if you choose to view the world in gene- 
 ral on the favourable side, it will cer- 
 tainly afford you more pleasure than the 
 worst : leave that for Cynics to snarl at, 
 who love to magnify evils, and to make 
 mankind more ridiculous, more vicious, 
 than they make themselves, which, in my 
 opinion, is productive of more harm than 
 good ; therefore continue, my child, to 
 picture the world according to your own 
 pure ideas of what it ought to be, lest 
 your mind by contemplating too frequent- 
 ly on the vices of the age, should cease 
 
 to
 
 81 
 
 to be shocked at them; the better peor 
 pie think the world, the more ashamed 
 they will be of doing wrong, and I be- 
 lieve, that upon a strict examination, rnore 
 than three parts of mankind would be 
 found irreproachable, the fourth I fear 
 may be composed of fools, hypocrites, 
 and openly abandoned characters, bj 
 fools, in this group, T mean those of both 
 sexes, who render themselves conspicu- 
 ously ridiculous and doubtful charac- 
 ters, by dress and levity.'* ^ , 
 
 ''I think;, sir,'' said Mrs. Moreland, 
 '^that you have made a very just calcu- 
 lation, and imagine, that were we to di- 
 vide this fourth part, a quarter of it only 
 would be occupied by the openly aban- 
 
 e5 dojied;
 
 83 
 
 doncd ; levity and hypocrisy might claim 
 the three others.'* 
 
 " This is a fair division/' said Sir Ed- 
 ward, '' for I am sure the guilty do not 
 exceed that number. Robbery, seduc- 
 tion, adultery, duelling, and murder, ge- 
 nerally render the persons concerned in 
 those crimes conspicuous to the world, 
 and furnish it with conversation at their 
 expense; thewickednessof the age is writ- 
 ten and exclaimed against, while the num- 
 bers who support, by their honest in- 
 dustry, large families, among the labour- 
 ing poor, and mechanics ; with all those 
 who in a higher sphere silently move, the 
 bright examples of, humanity, honour, 
 virtue,and religion,seem to be forgotten ; 
 when every opportunity should be taken 
 
 to
 
 83 
 
 to point them out ; for the virtues are 
 modest and retiring^ the vices bold and 
 obtrusive, therefore we hear too little of 
 the former^ too much of the latter, and 
 in addition to this, the rigid among reli- 
 gionists rank the most harmless amuse- 
 ments with th;* vices, and the bad are 
 indefatigable in their endeavours to de- 
 tract the good, in order to level them to 
 their own base standard ; of this, I am 
 sorry to say, we have had recent, and too 
 public proofs .... for, alas 1 few will ex- 
 ert their tongues or their pens in the 
 vindication of injured merit; but many 
 will join to annihilate it for ever in the 
 opinion of the world : but there is a 
 world to come, where truth will tri- 
 umph." 
 
 zQ /It
 
 "It is atlessing to injured innocence, 
 Ihat there is ; for I am sure in this world 
 it is very difficult to judge beween riglit 
 and wrong, when each partv alternately 
 appears the one, ortheother^ according 
 to ihe artful representation of their re- 
 spective vindicators, in news- papers, 
 pamphlets, novels, and romances/' 
 
 // And in which, my dear, we may ea- 
 sily perceive, by the style, that some wri- 
 ters, for the entertainment of the public^ 
 and their own emolument, take up both 
 3idf^s of the question, and anwer them- 
 selves; a proceedmg which has long been 
 practised in political publications, and 
 which the authors thiiik is a harmless 
 species of bliick-ball and white-wash, 
 that cannot essentially injure either par-
 
 85 
 
 ty, being only a temporary defilemei?t of 
 their characters, which another slight 
 touch of the goose-quill will rub ofF^^^ 
 ticately, and leave no stain. These sort 
 of publications^ although thej have but 
 a momentary existence, answer the pur- 
 pose of the autlforsand booksellers ; for 
 scandal is sure to have a rapid sale ; 
 tbrow it on whom they will, it is sought 
 after, arid read with avidity, which shows 
 a^ perversion of mind similar to that 
 ^tiith we remarked. yesterday, on seeing 
 a* print-shopi exhibiting engravings 
 Kvhich did honour to the artists, totally 
 ^jieglec ted, while the crowd of spectatoi-s 
 which surrounded a neighboring cari- 
 cature-shop, extended over the broad 
 pavement, even into the kennel, to the 
 great annoyance^of the foot passengers." 
 
 '' Arc
 
 86 
 
 *' Are not caricaturists and publishers 
 frequently called to an account for the 
 shameful liberties which thej take with 
 conspicuous characters^ whom they not 
 only exhibit in a ridiculous^ but too of- 
 i;en in a criminal light ; could they not 
 be severely punished for the latter. 
 
 Sir 
 
 3>' 
 
 *' Treasonable^ .immoral, and irreli- 
 gious publication?, such, I mean, as at- 
 tempt to undermine the established reli- 
 gion, and political Government, of the 
 country, the laws are severe agamst, and 
 many have been punished for their ten:e-, 
 rity in vending prints of writings of that 
 nature ; but in regard to individuals, they 
 are safe enough, for who, if they saw a 
 face, though it might bear a frightful 
 
 resem-
 
 87 
 
 resemblance of their own, upon the 
 form of a goat, a monkey, or an ass, 
 would claim the likeness, and say, ' that 
 caricature is drawn for me, I will call 
 the designer of it to an account for his 
 impertinence in making an ass of a 
 person of my consequence!* who do 
 you think would thus publicly own the 
 resemblance^ and acquire a nick-name 
 attached to their own ever after ?'' 
 
 '' That, indeed, wi)uld be making bad 
 vcorse.'' 
 
 " And in regard to printed characters^ 
 with fictitious names, or a single letter 
 in the alphabet, from A to Z, let them 
 be represented ever so ridiculous or 
 abandoned, what real characters, male 
 
 or
 
 88 
 
 or female, although they may behold 
 exactly their own follies and vices, and 
 conscieiiCe tells them who the writer 
 meant, will come forward and publicly 
 declaie themselves the Mrs. Frails, the 
 Mr.Cornutos,the Misses Unveils,and th^ 
 various simple, and criminal Earls and 
 ponutesses, Dukes and Duchesses of this^ 
 that, and the other. A, B, C, D, &c. &c.i 
 who are blended with ihe good charac- 
 ters in j/?f?f/ow, as they are in the tior7(i 
 by all authors who *^cat( h the manners 
 as jthey rise* and whose duty it is to ren- 
 der vice and folly contemptible, aiid vir- 
 tue and good sense, amiable and happy ; 
 the worst characters are sure to be 
 embodied by the lovers of srandalwltli 
 the forms of their friends ; but it is a 
 wonder indeed; if ever they place their 
 
 own
 
 89^ 
 
 own among the group and openly con- 
 fess a faulty character to be made for 
 themselves.*' 
 
 '' You have convinced me, my dear 
 uncle, that it is certainly better to pass 
 over an equivocal libel in silence, than 
 to declare there is /rw^/i in it, by resent- 
 ment or threats. I suppose that / 
 shall be honoured with a place in some 
 future publication ; but I will promise 
 ^ou never to own a ridiculous character, 
 even if it happens to be distinguished 
 with the initial of my title, any Lady 
 G. shall have it with all its follies^ or its 
 errors, rather than Stella of Grass- 
 mere." 
 
 ^^ I hope Stella of Grassmere will 
 
 never
 
 90 
 
 never deserve a character that she will 
 be ashamed to own; by a carelessness 
 of conduct, ladies of an exalted rank 
 have frequently given rise to scandalous 
 insinuations, I sincerely believe, often 
 without actual criminality, but Nvhen 
 any lady imagines that she is above re- 
 garding the good opinion of the world, 
 she exposes herself continually to its 
 censure,and if she is judged too severely, 
 the fault originates in herself, she is in- 
 discreet, and she is pronounced guilty, 
 because appearances are against her ; 
 therefore never forget, my beloved Stella, 
 fiiat the slightest indiscretion may throw 
 a lasting blot on the reputation of a fe- 
 male, which her high rank will only 
 render the more conspicuous/'
 
 91 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The British Court, 
 
 On the morning of the King's birth- 
 dajj the Countess observed that Mrs. 
 Moreland appeared to be nearly as 
 much agitated as herself, and said : — 
 
 '' My dear Mrs. Moreland, why do 
 you feel apprehensive ? you have fre- 
 quently paid your duty at court, and 
 can be nq stranger to the ceremony." 
 
 *^ Think,
 
 n, 
 
 ^' Think, my love^ how long it is 
 since I made my last appearance there, 
 a happy wife, graciously complimented, 
 ilicUi by their Majesties, on a sigtlal vic- 
 tory obtained by Captain Moreland, 
 while standing, a beloved and happy 
 daughter, by my revered father. Doctor 
 . Mowbray, at that time chaplain to the 
 King— since when, I have lost my 
 father, husband, and an only son ; can 
 you wonder, that my heart feels some 
 painful sensations at the renewal of 
 courtly scenes ?" 
 
 '^ My dear mother ! forgive your 
 adopted daughter, for selfishly soliciting 
 you to a proceeding which wounds your 
 heart, or rather makes the old wounds 
 
 bleed
 
 93 
 
 bleed afresh ; wliy did you not tell me 
 that it would give yoii pain ?'* 
 
 *' Because you will want a companion, 
 I should say a chaperon^ when you go 
 
 to courtj or eles where ; and as it is con- 
 venient to have a being of thait sort in 
 the same house, I was determined to 
 subdue my own feelings for your accom- 
 modation." 
 
 " And my happiness, kind Mrs. 
 Moreland! your presence will give? me 
 courage ; how much more timid I should 
 feel without you, among so many stran- 
 gers ; you I hope will soon recover your 
 wonted ease in scenes once so familiar to 
 you-Lord Charlewood's family would 
 have given me courage, also ; I wish 
 
 Lady
 
 , . - 94 
 
 Lady Charlotte was going with us — La- 
 dy Charlewood's illness lasts longer than 
 my uncle's gout/' 
 
 '' Wc may perhaps meet the sons of 
 that noble family ; Lord Heathland^and 
 Mr. Elmsberry, as their mother is so 
 much better/' 
 
 ^' If they come^ I imagine Geoge Ar- 
 randale the handsome East Indian will 
 be presented." 
 
 ^' Do you not recollect that he had 
 been at Court previous to our seeing 
 him at Grassmere ?" 
 
 '' I recollect it now; he brought dis- 
 patches from Calcutta/* 
 
 Sir
 
 95 
 
 Sir Edward sent to let the ladies know 
 he was in the drawing room, and hoped 
 they were ready ; and the business of 
 the toilet being completed^they descended 
 immediately. Mrs. Moreland led the 
 Countess to the Admiral, who was in 
 his naval uniform, with a superb dia- 
 mond star, being a Knight of the Bath; 
 he saluted his niece, and admired the 
 delicate taste displayed in her dress, 
 which was white thin satin, covered with 
 British lace, the train ancj drapery of 
 the same, made with beautiful borders 
 expressly for the purpose ; wreathed with 
 Hawthorn blossoms, and looped up 
 with braids of ribbon-grass, which al- 
 so formed knots, confining small bou- 
 quets of violets, primroses, lilies of the 
 valley, and wild roses ; full lace sleeves 
 
 -were
 
 96 
 
 were drawn up with small wreaths of 
 ribbon-grass and violets^ over armlets of 
 rubies and emeralds^ forming a chain^ 
 each link fastened with a single brilliant; 
 a correspondent chain fgrmed the cestus, 
 and ornamented the dress^ beneath a full 
 tucker of lace^ which, with her lappets, 
 was also made in Great Britain ; her hair 
 in tasteful puffs and ringlets, was encir- 
 cled by a wreath of jessamine, in brilliants 
 and emeralds, tied on the left side, with 
 a knot of brilliants, which confined three 
 white feathers ; necklace, ear-rings, and 
 shoe-bows, of diamonds completed her 
 dress, which was neat, elegant, and be- 
 coming. 
 
 Mrs. Moreland's dress was green- 
 gage colour silk, with train and drapery 
 
 of
 
 97 , , ^,. ^ 
 
 of British lace ia Vandyke poiots, orna- 
 mented with bows and loops of ppearls ; 
 all her ornaments were to correspond; her 
 head-dress was lace intermixed with 
 pearls, but no feathers/* 
 
 Sir Edward Fitzalbion bad presented 
 the ladies with all the lace they wore on 
 that day. He had requested them to 
 assist the best lace makers in Dorsetshire 
 and Gloucestershire^ with patterns and 
 advice, that its beauty might promote 
 the encouragement of that art in ^ur 
 native land, until it were brought to 
 perfection. 
 
 The Countess was handed by her 
 uncle into a new chair, of blue velvet 
 richly ornamented with silver, which 
 
 VOL. I. y -was
 
 98 
 
 was preceded by two footmen, and a 
 youth in an elegant hussar dress of blue 
 and silver, to correspond >Yith her chair 
 and liveries. The Admiral had pre- 
 sented his niece with this^, her first 
 chair ; and at the same time he desired 
 Mrs. Moreland to accept-tof one in a 
 g-raver style, black, lined with white sar- 
 snet ; fringe and tassels crimson, the 
 deepest colour, which matched her li- 
 veries. Sir Edward followed the Ladies 
 in his own plain chair to St. James's 
 palace, where they were soon joined, 
 according to appointment, by the ami- 
 able Duchess of N^ d and her charm- 
 ing daughters whose presence seemed 
 to inspire the young Countess of Grass- 
 mere with courage ; and soon after their 
 arrival they were favoured with a pri- 
 vate
 
 §9 
 
 vate audience of her Majesty and the 
 princesses, to whom the Countess_, on her 
 first appearance, and Mrs. Morcland, 
 after her long absence from court, were 
 presented by the Duchess^ and most 
 graciously received. 
 
 His Majesty was not able to appear in 
 the drawing room to receive the sincere 
 congratulations of the court on his 
 birthday, which was a great disappoint- 
 ment to the Admiral and the ladies, 
 particularly Stella, who had never seen 
 him. The Queen conversed for some 
 lime with Sir Edward, and afterwards 
 took an opportunity of complimenting 
 Mrs. Moreland on the elegant child of 
 her adoption, who hxid so well rewarded 
 her maternal care by being one of the 
 F 3 brightest
 
 100 
 
 brightest ornaments of the British court, 
 where she hoped to see them both fre- 
 quently, and also at Windsor. 
 
 The Countess wr^s enchanted with the 
 amiable aftability of the Royal family, 
 and the dazzling splendour of the court; 
 and slie was gazed at with admiration, 
 not so much for her beauty, as for the 
 brilliant animation of her intelligent 
 features^ and the graces which adorned 
 her every motion ; for after the first 
 embarrassment, she felt perfectly easy 
 and in good spirits. 
 
 The Prince of Wales, and his Royal 
 brothers expressed their pleasure at 
 seeing the Admiral, who introduced 
 the Countess of Grassmere and Mrs. 
 
 More-
 
 101 
 
 Moreland to them ; the latter thejr recol* 
 lected, notwithstanding her long seques- 
 tration from courts since the death of 
 her brave husband, whose untimely fate 
 was well remembered, and much re- 
 gretted. 
 
 The Countess was agreeably sur- 
 prised at seeing Lady Jane Elmsberry, 
 with her brothers, Lord Heathland, 
 and Mr. Elmsberry, standing very near 
 her. They presently advanced ; and 
 Lady Jane informed her that she ar- 
 rived in town only the day before, with 
 Lady Loughmead, and added: — 
 
 '' I would not write, because I wish- 
 ed to surprise you.** 
 
 " And where is Lady Charlotte ?" 
 
 r 3 '' My
 
 \0% 
 
 "" Mj Mother could not spare both^ 
 as she is not perfect! j recovered — Have 
 you seen Arrandale ?" 
 
 '' No my dear, but do roe the honour 
 of introducing me to Lady Lough- 
 mead." 
 
 [' With pleasure ; and to her daugh- 
 ter. Lady Ellen O'Roon. I assure you 
 they are both prepared to love you, 
 and our dear Mrs. Moreland. As to 
 the Admiral, fame has introduced him 
 to every body, so he has nothing to do 
 but to make his bov^^, and be adored as 
 usual/' 
 
 ' The Countess of Loughmead and 
 Lady Ellen received Stella from the 
 
 hand
 
 103 
 
 hand of her lively friend in a manner 
 calcuUted to engage her friendship, nor 
 was their reception of Mrs. Moreland 
 ,k^ pleasing to tbat lady ; and Sir Ed- 
 ward ' was not, indeed^ regarded as a 
 stranger, fofv he had long been known 
 throughout the united Kingdoms, as one 
 of their truest friends, and bi'avest pro- 
 tectors ; their respective Cities had often 
 blazed with illuminations, while the mer- 
 ry bells, and de^^prtoned carmons have 
 joyously proclaimed the. glorious Victo- 
 ries of the brave Fitzalbion. 
 
 Lkdy Lough mead, although she was 
 extremely handsome, evinced, by the 
 matronly style of her dress, that she wish- 
 fed not to rival her lovely daughter. Her 
 Ladyship wore a dress of violet-coloured 
 thin stuffy interwoven with silver, manu- 
 F 4 fartiircd
 
 104 
 
 factured in Ireland ; with a tram and 
 drapery of British lace, wreathed with 
 oak-leaves and acorns, intertwined with 
 shamrock and thistles ; her head drest 
 was composed of lace, a very splendid 
 circlet of brilliants, and a bird of Para- 
 dise' plume. Lady Ellen, tall, full- form- 
 ed, and very graceful, wore a stuff of 
 thin and light texture, plain white, traiti 
 and drapery of net lace spotted with 
 gold, and adorned with gold wreaths, 
 emblematic of the union, like her mo- 
 ther's ; a tiara of gold, pointed and edged 
 w^ith pearls, confined her dark tresses, 
 and a rising plumo of nine ostrich fea- 
 thers; the rest of her ornaments were 
 pearls. Stella beheld her with admira- 
 tion, she had never seen a more elegant 
 figure* 
 
 Lady
 
 105 
 
 Lady Jane's small sjlph-like form, 
 was covered witli pale blue stamped 
 gause, edged with points of patent pearls, 
 and drawn up with knots and tassels of 
 the same ; a radiated circlet of pearls 
 confined her ringlets of pallid gold, over 
 which one light blue feather gracefully 
 waved : this dress, added to the dazz- 
 ling fairness of her complexion gave her 
 a bright, celestial appearance, which at- 
 tracted universal notice, and gratified 
 the vanity of her fair Ladyship, who was 
 rather apprehensive that the Countess 
 of Grassmere, and Lady Ellen O* Roon 
 would, it being their first presentation 
 in the Court of Great Britain, claim the 
 general admiration of the djiy, while she, 
 who had frequently appeared there, be- 
 ing no novelty, might, perhaps, be un- 
 F 5 noticed ;
 
 106 
 
 Hoticed ; to prevent which^ she studied 
 the becoming in her dress more than the 
 brilliant^ and never appeared to greater 
 advantage; the praises bestowed on her 
 by the spectators, as she entered the Pa- 
 lace, and the compliments which she re- 
 ceived in the drawing-room completely 
 satisfied her gay heart ; and she nevec 
 was in better spirits. 
 
 Lord Heathlan<i, was lively and 
 thoughtless, like his sister Jane ; had no 
 fixed attachment, but was an admirer 
 of the sex in general. Lady Char- 
 lotte, and Mr. Elrasberry were of a 
 more serious turn, the former was sensi- 
 ble, but not handsome ; the latter was a 
 fine young man, and designed for the 
 church, to which he promised to be an 
 
 honour.
 
 107 
 
 honour. • The Earl and Countess of 
 Charlewood, were a very amiable and 
 affectionate couple, and indulgent pa- 
 rents to both their sons and daughters, 
 without evincing the least partiality. 
 The Earl was guardian to George Ar- 
 randale, an East-Indian, who had been 
 left an orphan to his care when quite a 
 child, the Earl having spent some years, 
 previous to his marriage, in Bengal, 
 in a high Military capacity. When he 
 left Calcutta, he brought young Arran- 
 dale with him to England, where he had 
 him educated in the most liberal man- 
 ner, and taught the Eastern languages 
 in their purest style,, by a learned native 
 of Bengal,whoni he sent for on purpose, 
 and with whom, when but eighteen, 
 George Arrandale returned to India, 
 F 6 in
 
 108 
 
 in a very lucrative and horwurable 
 pdst, and after acquirirtg a considera^ 
 ble fortune, in the course of seven 
 years, he had that spring arrived, 
 in his official capacity, with dispatcher 
 to' the court of threat Britain^ where, 
 although his dark complexion discover- 
 ed him to be on one side the son of an 
 Indian^, the regular beauty of his fea- 
 tures, the sensible expression of his fine 
 dark eyes, and the symmetry of his grace- 
 ful-form adorned by the most polished 
 manners rendered him the admiration 
 of all who beheld him; 
 
 Rather at a late hour this elegant 
 East-Indian entered the drawing-room, 
 leading the Marchioness of Ceresfield, 
 an involuntary -^gh escaped fromi 
 the he^rt of Mr. 'Elmsberry as he 
 
 observed
 
 obsenned a deep blush overs p read the 
 face and bosom of Stella, when Ar- 
 raiidale appeared, nor were Lady Ellen's 
 less glowing, while the arch Lady Jane, 
 with unvarying complexion, said softly; 
 
 '^ This Eastern luminary of ours 
 .seems to throw a glow of heat on 
 some people ; now I am so accustomed 
 to its beams that they do not affect me 
 in theleast." 
 
 " Observe, Jane," said her brother, 
 William Elmsberry,'' Sir Pic-nic Haut- 
 ton and tell me if you ever saw any 
 thing more naturally beautiful than that 
 embroidery of heart's ease in all its rich 
 variety of coloursj on the dove coloured 
 silk." 
 
 ♦* And
 
 110 
 
 '' And with what taste the simple 
 flowerets are blended ! — I declare I 
 will have a mantle embroidered exactly 
 like Sir Pic-nic's coat.and now^William^ 
 regard the very plain appearance of 
 George Arrandale^ in the drake-neck silk, 
 unadorned, except by the diamond but- 
 tons,Heathland looks much finer without 
 a single gem/*^ 
 
 *' The silver embroidery on the bottle- 
 green looks very light and elegant, to 
 be sure; but I think with such splendid 
 buttons, sword and buckles, George re- 
 quires no other ornament. This is the 
 last birth day that I shall wear co- 
 lours." 
 
 *' Ah I poor William ! so it is, well, 
 
 never
 
 lii 
 
 Revcr mind, I think you will lock very 
 graceful in your flowing robes, and 
 so thittks theCouatess — " 
 
 '^ What Countess, Jaae V* 
 
 " Of Grassraere — Brother^ do you 
 intend to wear such rouge as that when. 
 you are a reverend divine ?" 
 
 " You are a teazing girl. Lady Jane.'" 
 
 " Do not he angry, hlushing hoy ; I 
 wish his Maiesty was in perfect health, 
 that we might be indulged with birth- 
 night balls, George dances so divinely ; 
 he has found us out, here he comes." ' 
 
 Mr
 
 112 
 
 Mr Arrandale having paid his duty 
 to her Majesty and the Royal FamJ/ 
 approached with Sir Pic-nic Haut-ton, 
 a gentleman with whose family the Ad- 
 miral, and the Earl of Charlewood 
 were intimate. 
 
 The elegant East-Indian aecosted 
 the Countess of Grassmere, and Lady 
 Jane^ with the easy freedom of a bro- 
 ther ; but when he addressed Lady Ellen 
 O'Roon, his eyes appeared unusually 
 brilliant ; a circumstance not unobserved 
 by Stella, whose heart acknowledged, 
 with something Jikea sigh, that nature 
 seemed to have formed the elegant pair 
 for each other. She turned to Sir Ed- 
 ward and said. 
 
 " Win
 
 ^ us 
 
 " Will you not be fatigued, Sir^ with 
 standing so long?*' 
 
 " We wi^l go, my cbild, the roota 
 begins to thin^ and we may pass with 
 ease ; 1 feel rather exhausted, and you 
 begin to look pale. Will Lady Lough- 
 
 roead accept of a left hand.** 
 
 : . • .- r- 
 
 '^ Proudly, Sir Edward, will I ac- 
 cept so brave a protector. Mr. Ar- 
 randale you will take care of my daugh- 
 ter; do you see your brother Ellen ?"^ 
 
 '' We shall pass them, madam, they 
 are conversing with the Duchess of 
 B d near the door." 
 
 Stella volnntarily answered an hum-
 
 114 
 
 ble, beseeching loqk of Mr. Elmsberrj 
 bj giving him her hand with an en- 
 chanting smile. Sir Pic-nic Haut-ton of- 
 fered his hand to Lady Jane^ and when 
 Lord Heathland, who had been chat- 
 ting with Lady Eva Gossamer, rejoined 
 the party; he found that Mrs. Moreland 
 only had a hand to bestow on him, and 
 after examining her dress through his 
 glass, he said : — 
 
 *' Upon my soul you look charmingly 
 to day ! permit me to have the ho- 
 nour — have you seen Splendormore ? 
 by all that's gaudy he is a complete 
 peacock; he sports a primrose-coloured 
 suit embroidered, with feathers of that 
 gay bird very well imitated in silk, 
 gold, and gems of various hues; there he 
 
 i&
 
 115 
 
 is faith;, sparkling away in the sun- 
 beams to dazzle the lovely Duchess of 
 B. while his brother, Dermot O'Roon. 
 looks as plain as the real Simon Pure, 
 just come to town in a long-bodied^ lea- 
 thern conveniency ; and yet they are both 
 worthy fellows in their way: I will tell 
 you some devilish good things of them 
 the first (Opportunity, perhaps this even- 
 ing ; we are all invited to Arlington- 
 street to see fire works. Are you tet 
 have music ?^' 
 
 '' A little, I imagine/^ 
 
 Lord Splendormore, and Mr. 0*Roon^ 
 joined the party, and were introduced to 
 the Admiral, the Countess of Grassmerc, 
 and Mrs. Moreland ; they were tall^ 
 
 handsome
 
 116 
 
 handsome young men; his Lordship af- 
 fected the stare, drawl, and lounge 
 which render too many young men dis- 
 agreeable to the admirers of ease, ele- 
 gance, and good sense. Mr, O'Roon 
 seemed free from aflfectation, he was re- 
 seryed and embarrassed, hie actually 
 looked as if }ie selt ashamed of being 
 the plainest dr.essed man in the room, 
 and yet he glaqced his ,eyes on his bro- 
 ther as if he felt^still more ashamed to 
 see him in such "gaudy plumage. The 
 Earl of Loughmead, also, joined his 
 family, and was a gentleman of most 
 prepossessing appearance, with that sua- 
 vity of manners which irresistibly wins 
 respect, and friendship ; Sir Edward and 
 his Lordship were old friends, and truly 
 rejoiced to see each other. The young 
 
 Count*
 
 117 
 
 Countess regarded him as another Lord 
 Chesterfield, who had in vain attempted 
 to teach the graces to his sons which he 
 himself posssessed in an eminent degree, 
 and thought Lady Ellen alone seemed to 
 have caught the courtly graces of her 
 father. 
 
 When they arrived in Arlington- 
 street, the Countess gave free scope to 
 her loyal sentiments. She exclaimed 
 with rapture : — 
 
 '' Oh ! my uncle, what a happy day 
 I have enjoyed ! Can there be a more 
 soul-inspiring sight, in the world, than 
 on. ' court of Great Britain ? When I 
 beheld the royal mother and her lovely 
 daughters, my heart seemed oppressed 
 
 with
 
 118 
 
 with delight and reverential awe — 
 I thought that I should faint at, the feet 
 of my Queen — but her benign smile, and 
 the sweetness of hei* manners, restored 
 me, and changed instantaneously the 
 awe which I at first felt, into affection, 
 filial affection, I may say, for indeed she 
 seemed to look on me ,with maternal 
 kindness ; and the Princesses, who in the ' 
 expressive words of the Psalmist, may 
 be justly styled ' the polished corners 
 of the Temple,' were so amiably encou- 
 raging that they made me feel at home 
 in the palace of their father. I wish 
 the King had honoured it with his pre- 
 sence ; sincere were my prayers for his 
 recovery, and most graciously were they 
 received by her Majesty and Princesses. 
 Then, when the drawing room was adorn- 
 ed
 
 119 
 
 ed by the Prince of Wales and his six 
 brothers, they recalled to my memory 
 this stanza. 
 
 Here the lov'd Monarch reigns secjire. 
 No factions fill his soul wih dread, 
 A sevenfold shield of valiant sons 
 From danger guard his sacred head. 
 
 ^' And added to those Royal sons and 
 daughters, were the Princess of Wales, 
 the Princess Charlotte, the Duchess of 
 York, the Princess Sophia of Glouces- 
 ter, and the Duke, her brother. How I 
 should like to see their Majesties gra- 
 cing the head of a large table with the 
 eight Royal branches of the British 
 Oak flourishing on one side, and the 
 nine Roses, England's pride, blooming 
 on the other. Oh \ it would be a glo- 
 rious sight !" 
 
 '' Which
 
 120 
 
 " Which you, my enthusiastic loy- 
 alist, will most probably behold at Wind- 
 sor, for I imagine the Frogmore Fete 
 given by the Queen, in honour of the 
 King*s birth-day will be adorned by 
 every branch of the royal family in 
 England — How did you like the ode ?" 
 
 '' Oh ! I thought it divine ! what a 
 fine band ! what excellent singers ! I 
 could not distinguish the words very 
 well, but caught enough to know that 
 it was a loyal effusion of good wishes 
 for his Majesty's restoration to perfect 
 health ; and for the success of his arms." 
 
 '' It will be in the papers for to-mor- 
 row, and you will read it with more 
 pleasure than ever you did any former 
 birth day ode.
 
 121 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The King's Birth-night, 
 
 Sir Edward Fitzalbion^ who loved t© 
 encourage new inventions, had his house 
 illuminated with gas lights, both to Ar- 
 lington-street and the park, in elegant and 
 appropriate devices and sentences. The 
 Countess had disencumbered herself of her 
 hoop, court-dressj and feathers, but wore 
 the rest of her ornaments with a robe of 
 white stamped gauze, lightly embroider- 
 ed with myrtle in emerald- green foil. 
 Mrs. Moreland changed her full-dress 
 for a half-dress of silver grey sarsnet bor- 
 dered with the purple lotos. 
 
 TOL. I. « Thej
 
 122 
 
 They were just ready to receive their 
 visitors when the Countess of Lougrh- 
 mead^ Lady Ellen O'Roon^ and Lady 
 Jaae Elmsberry were announced, and 
 iipmediately followed by the Earl of 
 Loughmeadj his two sons;, Lord Heath- 
 land, Mr. Elmsberry, Sir Pic-niCj Lady 
 Haut-ton and Mr. Arrandale. The La- 
 dies were without hoops, but their dresses 
 were nearly sinailar to those they wore at 
 court, the gentlemen were in their draw- 
 ing-room suits. Many persons of fa- 
 shion, to whom cards had been sent, join- 
 ed^the party, which divided into groups. 
 The elder devoted themselves to the fa- 
 shionable games, the younger preferred 
 music and singing ; in the latter, many of 
 the gentlemen declared that the Countess 
 of Grassmere excelled the Catalani, both 
 
 ia
 
 123 
 
 in voice and scientific knowledge. Stella 
 replied to this compliment : — 
 
 ^' I have not heard the famous Cata- 
 lan!, but those who wish to give me a 
 high opinion of her voice, must not tell 
 me that she sings worse ihsLU myself , but 
 letter ihwoi Lady Ellen, who excels every 
 female whom I have yet hea: d — Lord 
 Splendormore, will you favour us ?" 
 
 His Lordship sung a comic air of Nal- 
 di*s with great humour, and tolerable exe- 
 cution. But, when his brother, the plain 
 Dermot O'Roon, «at down to the piano, 
 and accompanied himself while he sung a 
 simple ballad, the hearers were fascinated, 
 the melody was played with such skill and 
 delicacy, and the words alluding to an 
 G% absent
 
 124 
 
 absent fair one, sung with such appro- 
 priate expression of voice and looks^ that 
 Stella^ and Mrs. Moreland saw him in a 
 very different light to that in which they 
 beheld him at court, where he appeared 
 a bashful, awkward clown ; now they ob- 
 served that his features were handsome 
 a d expressive; at the instrument he was 
 graceful, and played with the ease of a 
 first master, while strains of harmony flow- 
 ed from his lips; when he ended theballad, 
 the pause of silent attention was broken 
 by an ardent encore, with which he po- 
 litely complied. When he arose from 
 the piano, Stella said to him : — 
 
 ^^ Is that enchanting song to be pur- 
 chased ? if it is, be so obliging as to tell 
 me where, and by what name I am to ask 
 for it/* 
 
 - It 
 
 I
 
 125 
 
 *' It is not to be purchased^, Lady, for 
 it has never been printed — permit me 
 to write it for you, and I shall think my- 
 self honoured by your acceptance of the. 
 trifle.** 
 
 '' I will write it for the Countess ; and 
 you, brother, may employ so much time 
 in composing another^ for you know that 
 I am partial to your soft madrigals/' 
 
 Stella was hesitating on the propriety 
 of accepting the song, when Lady Ellen's 
 proposal relieved her from the embarrass- 
 ment. Arrandale was skilled in the Per- 
 sian, Arabian, and Indostan music, and 
 sung the songs of those languages with 
 great expression; and he obliged Lady 
 Ellen with a short air in each. Mr. 
 e 3 Elms-
 
 126 
 
 Elrasberry sung Handers fine composi- 
 tions in a style of excellence scarcely to 
 be equalled by any public, or amateur 
 singer, and favoured the company with 
 two of his sublimest airs. 
 
 At twelve the lower room was op- 
 ened, and displayed a profusion of de* 
 licacies arranged with taste beneath su - 
 perb lamps, and garlands of real flowers 
 carelessly intertwined among them, and 
 supported in each corner of the room 
 by zephyrs lightly standing on transpa- 
 rent pillars representing amber, adorned 
 with trophies; the royal initials, and 
 laurel wreaths all in emerald-green; 
 the doors beneath the viranda, wepc 
 thrown open, and discovered the garden 
 beautifully illuminated. The Duke of 
 
 York'^
 
 127 
 
 York-sband,stationedintheGreen.park, 
 
 played during the repast; after wh.ch. 
 the music still playing, superb fireworks 
 
 .vere exhibited on the green, which com- 
 menced at one, and concluded about two, 
 havingdisplayedarich variety of emble- 
 „,atic devices suitable to the day, "Rule 
 Britania." and " God Save the King, 
 weresungbythe finest voices in the par- 
 ty to the full band,audnumbers who were 
 admitted into the park, and others, look- 
 ing through the rails in Piccaddly, 
 joined in the choruses of those favourites 
 
 of the Loyal Britons, and the soul- 
 cheering sounds were wafted to their de- 
 lighted sovereigns, who, amidst the 
 Royal offspring, and a select few, had 
 passed the evening in social > 'ppiness, 
 atthe Queen's Palace; from the wm- 
 6 4 dows
 
 12S 
 
 dows of which there was an excellent 
 view of the fire works, and heautiful 
 illuminations at Sir Edward Fitzalbion% 
 in honour of the day, which afforded 
 great satisfaction to the Royal family, 
 who expressed themselves very much 
 pleased with the Admiral for such an 
 expensive and elegant proof of his loy- 
 alty! 
 
 After the company had, in part, re- 
 tired from Arlington -street. Sir Ed- 
 ward arranged some parties with Lady 
 Loughipead, in order that his niece 
 might see the Opera-house, and the two 
 theatres under the protection of the 
 Earl of Loughmead, in case he himself 
 should Ve again confined, her Ladyship 
 replied : — •
 
 129 
 
 ^' We shall be well accommodated at 
 the Opera, as Lady Jane Elmsberry^ 
 her brothers, and Mr. Arrandale have 
 the Countess of Charlevvood's box, and 
 the Duchess of L — has lent me her's, 
 which is -the next to it, as she is in Ire- 
 land with her family." . 
 
 " And we must pay some visits to 
 Argyle-street-rooms, and hear the Cata- 
 lani there; the apartments are superb ; 
 the company select; the " — 
 
 '^ Take care, Heathland ; i^ you raise 
 our expectations too high, we shall see 
 the rooms to a disadvantage, so pray let 
 us be surprised with their beauty.** 
 
 'J- You are a little simpleton^ Jane, 
 g5 who
 
 130 
 
 ■who stand ia need of information^ and 
 yet despise it when offered/* 
 
 " Only from you, brother. Had Sir 
 
 Pic-nic Haut-ton started the subject, I 
 
 should have listened patiently ; but you 
 
 know, I believe, little more than myseH" 
 
 of that elegant species of amusement/' 
 
 I 
 
 *' You are right. Lady Jane, "said the 
 Earl of Loughmead, '' the founder can 
 certainly give us the best information^ 
 and be our best guide, he and Lady 
 Haut-ton dine with us to morrow, and 
 we will learn the particulars^." 
 
 '' I think the subscription runs high} J 
 my Lord/'
 
 131 
 
 " I hope not too high for the ho- 
 nourable Dermot O' Rooii's finances — 
 this son of mine is a complete miser. 
 Sir Edward, and for ever gives me cause 
 to blush for his meanness/' 
 
 " Thank Heaven, it is not for my 
 guilt ! and surely a younger brother 
 had better be blamed for his parsimony 
 than for the numerous debts he has con- 
 tracted/' 
 
 Oh ! aye, poor Dermot is most con- 
 foundedly apprehensive of debts, duns 
 and grated windows, and absolutely 
 holds them up to me, in hopes those scare- 
 .crows will frighten me from my plea- 
 sures, and the necessary appendages of a 
 
 man of quality/' 
 
 G 6 '' A man
 
 132 
 
 *' A man of quality ougbt to be » 
 man of 5^n5e, brother.*' 
 
 " Countess — Lady Jane-the carriages 
 are announced — your sermon must be 
 postponed^ my good brother/' 
 
 ^^ I am sorry for it. Lord Splen- * 
 dormore, for I liked the text :" — 
 
 Said Sir Edward^ as he gave his hand 
 to the Countess of Loughraead. Lady 
 Ellen, and Arrandale, who had been con- 
 versing for some time in an under-tone, 
 apparently insensible to all around them, 
 were roused by the Earl, who said : — 
 
 '' Ellen ! Arrandale ! are you a-sleep ! 
 or saying your prayers, perhaps." 
 
 Lady
 
 ISS 
 
 Lady Ellen started up, blushing like 
 tlie morning clouds which were then 
 gliding from the East ; her father took 
 her hand and led her out of the room ; 
 Mr. Arrandale immediately gave his to 
 Lady Jane^ who looked archly at him, 
 and said^ in a whisper, — 
 
 *' Poor George ? well^ well^ an old 
 friend is better than none, there is my 
 wn-welcome hand, but do not weep over 
 it — and poor Splendormore ! Oh ! the 
 naughty papa, to cause this double 
 disappointment V* 
 
 '' Dear Elrasberry, do me the favour 
 to step into my carriage with Dermot ; 
 Lord Heathland goes in my father's, and 
 I with Lady Jane and Mr. Arrandale."
 
 134 
 
 ^' I thank you, Splendormore, but I 
 shall go with my sister, as Heathfield 
 does not — there is a place for you, my 
 Lord/' 
 
 " Take it brother, and do not mind me, 
 I will walk home this lovely morning." 
 
 " Walk 1 Mr. O'Roon, with only a 
 court hat — your head exposed to the 
 dew!" 
 
 Exclaimed Arrandale, in surprise. 
 Lord Splendormore said, droUy : — 
 
 '*^^You do not know Dermot O^'Roon, 
 he makes every thing conform to his con- 
 veniency ; when he gets into the street he 
 will clap his chapeau-bras on the top of 
 
 his
 
 135 
 
 Ills head^ and tie it under his cliin with 
 his handkerchief, just like a fish woman, 
 carry his sword in his hand, using it as a 
 walking stick, Und setting off with the 
 speed of a post-man, go five miles be- 
 yond Portland- place before he thinks he 
 hag arrived half way to it,he is soabsent*'' 
 
 '^ If it were not for my oddities^ 
 Splendormore, your talent for ridicule 
 would be lost. However, I shall not be 
 so ridiculous as to walk, I forgot that 
 my hat was useless, and will certainly 
 accept your carriage, in which I should 
 have been happy with such a companion 
 as Mr. Elmsberry, but I highly applaud 
 him for his attention to his sister. " 
 
 [[ Because ^ow would have been just 
 
 so
 
 136 
 
 so precise in regard to Ellen, although 
 you know preciseness is quite obsolete, 
 even grandmammas and maiden aunts 
 despise it, and lay it by with the many 
 articles of dress which are now deemed 
 horrid inc umbrances . Dermot,m ay yo ur 
 solitary drive produce a love-sonnet after 
 the manner of Petarch, or a Shenstonian 
 pastoral." 
 
 When Sir Edward returned from 
 handing the Countess of Loughmead to 
 her carriage^ he said, — 
 
 '' My dear child, I fear the hours itt 
 London will destroy all the roses which 
 glowed upon your cheeks at Rockalba ; 
 they begin to fade already/' 
 
 " This
 
 137 
 
 " This has been a fatiguing day to 
 us all, sir ; my spirits are weary, but a 
 
 few hours' sleep will recover them ; yet 
 I own that my unfashionable heart feels 
 regret at losing the beauty of this love* 
 ly morning.'* 
 
 ^' No regrets ; no more words for 
 the present/' said Mrs Moreland, tak- 
 ing Stella by the hand, 
 
 " Or, we shall not close our eyes till 
 noon. Good morning, sir, 1 must be 
 peremptory." 
 
 Mrs. Moteland would not leave the 
 Countess until she had dismissed Susan, 
 fearing, if she retired to her own cham- 
 ber, and left them together, Susan's 
 
 curiosity
 
 138 
 
 curiosity might impel her to make some 
 inquiries conceroing the court, and in- 
 crease the fatigue and agitation of spirits, 
 which she perceived had too often, in 
 the course of the day, paled the bloom^ 
 and clouded the gaiety of her beloved 
 Stella, 
 
 1
 
 139 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A Dinner Party, 
 
 After rather a late breakfast, Sir Ed- 
 ward proposed an airing on the Hamp- 
 stead-road, to which the ladies acceded 
 with pleasure. When they were seated 
 in the carriage.he said to the Countess :- 
 
 ^^ You look remarkably grave this 
 morning, my dear Stella ; if you lose 
 your Tivacity in London^ we must re-^ 
 turn to Rockalba." 
 
 '' I hsiYC
 
 140 
 
 " I have a slight head-ach, sir, which 
 I hope the air will remove." 
 
 " How do you like the Loughmead 
 familj, Stella?^* 
 
 " The ladies very much ; the Earl 
 possesses all the fascination of elegant 
 mannersj a noble form, and fine features, 
 in which I really think both his sons arc 
 inferior to him, for Lord Splendormore's 
 affectation destroys, in my opinjon, every 
 attraction which Nature has bestowed on 
 him, and Mr. O* Roon veils the graces 
 of his person and mind, the former, in a 
 plain sombre-looking dress, suited neither 
 to his youth nor quality, and the latter 
 in a dark, impenetrable cloud of melan- 
 choly ; I will not say misanthropy, aU 
 
 though
 
 141 
 
 though it appears like it, except when 
 he sings and plays ; and the7i uncle". . . . 
 
 ' '^ What then, niece?'' 
 
 '^ The bright God of music and song 
 breaks through the dark cloud, and we 
 behold and listen in a kind of devout 
 astonishment. That is all, my uncle." 
 
 " And will you not add, that the Dei- 
 ty made Stella of Grassmere his Daphne." 
 
 '' Oh ! no, sir, I cannot do that — poor 
 Derraot O'Roon 1 his Daphne is far off, 
 as you will be convinced, when you hear 
 the song written and composed by himself. 
 Lady Ellen is to give it to me ; 1 believe 
 by her expressions that she is the confi- 
 dante ofher brother 0*Roon. Splendor- 
 more has no soul." 
 
 ''Your
 
 142 
 
 '' Your reasons^ Stella, for that strange 
 idea?*' 
 
 *' While his brother was playing a di- 
 vine symphony he came dancing toward 
 us, and said, addressing himself to Elms- 
 berry, — ' What have we here ? O'Rooii 
 on his hobby, I declare/ William Elms- 
 berry replied, ' On his Pegasus, you mean^ 
 my Lord, for he takes a sublime flight/ 
 Splendorraore laughed heartily, and said 
 with consummate affectation, '^Oh! aye, I 
 forgot, I believe that is the name which 
 most younger brothers give to their 
 hobby a la Grtque^ is it not, Elmsberjy, 
 my fine old Grecian ?' William answered 
 with spirit, 'Go back to school and learn, 
 young Ignoramus; or keep your modern 
 cant for the elder brothers in Bond-street,
 
 143 
 
 or Fops'-alley; Heathland and you will 
 shine there, but peace now, fox tlie sake 
 of those who love harmonj/ His Lord- 
 fhip bow^d aiFectedly and entered the 
 card-room. I was pleased with Elms- 
 berry for sending him away ; Lady El- 
 len did not look dis-p\eaLsed — I think 
 she loves Mr. O'Roon better than Lord 
 Splendormore/* 
 
 ^^You do, Stella, but form no hasty 
 
 judgment — I have known many men of 
 
 gaiety with good hearts, and others who 
 
 were grave and sententious in the eyes 
 
 of the world, very immoral characters 
 
 in private; the surface is frequently 
 
 deceiving, I must hear O'Roon sing; I 
 
 was in the card-room last night. Did 
 
 Arrandalesing?'* 
 
 ^' Eastern
 
 144 
 
 " Eastern «ongs, at the request of 
 Lady Ellen. I think he seems greatly 
 attached to that Lady, and I do not 
 -wonder, for she is certainly a beautiful 
 woman/' 
 
 " And Arrandale is a fine young fel- 
 low, and rich, yet I do not imagine the 
 Earl, her father, will think him a proper 
 match for Lady Ellen 0*Roon, as riches 
 without family will have no weight with 
 him ; he evinced a marked disapproba- 
 tion at the public attention which the 
 East- Indian paid his daughter, and said 
 to me, ' Lord Charlewood has given too 
 much encouragement to his dark-com- 
 plexioned protegee, the young man for- 
 getful that he himself is an illegitimate, 
 nobody knows who, makes himself too free 
 
 with
 
 145 
 
 with persons of high birth, and I believe 
 has the vanity to think that he may choose 
 a wife from among Earls* daughters^ be- 
 cause Earls* sons make him their com- 
 panion.' These were his words, and you 
 Vi^itnessed his displeasure at observing 
 Lady Ellen in such deep conversation 
 with him." 
 
 '' I did^ and with surprise, as the 
 Countess seemed pleased at the drawing- 
 room with Mr. Arrandale's attention to 
 Lady Ellen ; and indeed, I think the no- 
 blest family in the Kingdom might be 
 proud of calling such a man as George 
 Arrandale son — to be sure the mystery 
 concerning his birth should be cleared 
 up before he marries ; the Earl of 
 Charlewood must have known iis pa- 
 rents.*' 
 
 VOJL. I. H ^^ He
 
 146 
 
 *' He must^ my child^ and no doubt 
 Bas very particular reasons for never 
 mentioning them, ?ven to the young man 
 himself, >vho though now five-and- 
 twenty, knows only that they died when 
 he was an infant, but has never heard 
 who they were/' 
 
 '' Whatever may be the Earl's mo- 
 tives for his silence/' said Mrs. More- 
 land, '' they are unknown to his children ; 
 
 but Mr. Elmsberry says, that his father 
 has never told Arrandale in what part 
 
 of the East he was born, nor ever gav^ 
 him the least clue to hear of his parents ; 
 when he returned to India, the Earl al- 
 so evades giving him an answer as to 
 the legitimacy of his birth; which of 
 course, makes the poor young man be^ 
 lieve it to be dishonourable, and the 
 
 Earl's
 
 147 
 
 Earl's, four acknowledged children 
 fifmly believe George Arrandale to be 
 their elder brother, by an Indian favou- 
 rite, previous to the Earl's marriage 
 with their mother, from whom they 
 imagine their father, liaving at first 
 kept the secret, will preserve it invio- 
 lably duing her existence ; this is also, 
 Arrandale^s belief, and Mr. Elmsberry 
 thinks the Countess is of the same opi- 
 nion, although she keeps it within her 
 
 own breast, and has too much se nse to 
 make herself uneasy, or apparently 
 
 doubt the Earl's veracity by inquiring 
 too closly into what he chooses to con- 
 ceal." 
 
 '' I can by no means imagine that the 
 Earl of Charlewood has kept the secret 
 from his Countess, who is a woman of 
 ^ense, and the choice of his heart more
 
 148 
 
 for the excellent qualities of her mind, 
 than for her exterier charms^ and such 
 a woman maybe trusted. Ladj Char- 
 lotte is exactly both in mind and person 
 what her mother was when she married 
 my friend Charlewood^ then Lord Heath- 
 land ; Elmsberry possesses the mental 
 perfections of both *his parents^ and his 
 expressive countenance announces the 
 treasures which grace his manly bosom." 
 
 '' My dear uncle ! I love to hear you 
 give such due praise to my friends Char- 
 lotte and William. Yet though Jane 
 and Heathland are very different beings, 
 I do not think they are unamiable, do 
 you. Sir ? 
 
 '' If I did, I should think unjustly, for 
 they possess many amiabilities to which 
 time will give solidity, there is too 
 
 much
 
 149 
 
 much air and fire in their compositoHj 
 and with the volatiHtj of youthful spi- 
 rits they pursue the pleasures of life 
 with more avidity than Charlotte and 
 Elmsberry, to whom Nature has given a 
 much larger portion of gravity ; they 
 take delight in the calm, retired walks 
 of life ; Jane and llcathland, find more 
 pleasure in the gay scenes of fashion, 
 and if they keep within proper bounds 
 they may be very amiable as well as 
 shining characters. A gaiety of dis- 
 position frequently acts on individuals, 
 as cutting and polishing does upon a 
 diamonds which takes from its weighty 
 but renders it conspicuously brilliant, 
 and far more valuable in the eyes of 
 those who wish to purchase it^, for many 
 are captivated by brilliancy, while few 
 can appreciate intrinsic worth without 
 that lustre." ''But
 
 150 
 
 ^^ But do we not see many who at first 
 Hiay bave the appearance of genis^ yet 
 upon examination prove to be only c\it 
 glass ? nay sorae;,wbo at the slightest view 
 appears paltry and worthless, even by 
 their own glaring lustre ; so glittering 
 and wort hie S3;, in my eycs^ seems Lord 
 Splendormore/' 
 
 ' Yet you will see him caressed, and 
 Mr. O'Roon disregarded by most of 
 the company for w:aat of brilliancy." 
 
 *' And Arrandale, how will he be es- 
 teemed my uncle ?'* 
 
 *' As a diamond of Golconda, of in- 
 trinsic value, polished into the highest 
 tadiancy^before whose resplendent lustre 
 every other gem appears dim and worth- 
 less. Will that do, Stella, have I done 
 
 justice to the eastern brillis^nt ?" 
 
 '' No,,
 
 151 
 
 ^* No, Sir, because you are not serious 
 I believe." 
 
 '' Do you think that he does not de- 
 serve to be so highly spoken of ? Lady 
 Ellen O'Roon would think me very se- 
 rious to night, perhaps, your be- 
 lief vi ill change, and you will own that 
 1 htve placed him in his true light.'* 
 
 The Countess blushed^ and held down 
 her head, conscious that Sir Edward 
 knew her real opinion of Arrandale, 
 which only his apparent preference to 
 another would have made her blush to 
 own. Mrs. Morcland pointed out some 
 striking beauties in the prospect from 
 Hampstead-hill to the Admiral, and du-. 
 ring their drive home prevented the con- 
 versation from turning again on a sub- 
 H 4r ject,
 
 152 
 
 jeict, which she knew was distressing' to 
 the Countess. 
 
 When they arrived in Arlington-street, 
 dressing occupied them until they set 
 out for Portland-place, the Earl of 
 Charlewood having requested the 
 Loughmead family to take up their 
 residence in his house, as the Countess 
 and himself did not mean to visit Town 
 before the next Spring. 
 
 The Admiral, his niece, and Mrs. 
 Moreland were the only dinner guests, 
 except Sir Pic-nic and Lady Haut-ton. 
 The Countess of Loughmead placed Sir 
 Edward Fitzalbion on her right hand. 
 Sir Pic-nic on her left ; Stella, as she al- 
 ways cut the meat for her uncle, took the 
 seat next to him, but saw with regret 
 
 Lord
 
 153 
 
 Lord Splendormore at her side, next him 
 Lady Haut-ton, then Mr. Elmsberry 
 and Arrandale ; on the opposite side, 
 sat next to the Baronet, Mrs. Moreland, 
 Lord Heathland, Lady Ellen, Mr. 
 O'Roon and Lady Jane; and the Earl 
 of Loughmead next to her at the bottom 
 of the table. 
 
 The young Countess paid her usual 
 attention to Sir Edward, and so little to 
 the conversation of Lord Splendormore^ 
 that, with the completest modern indif- 
 ference to her, he addressed himself very 
 gallantly to I<ady Haut-ton, who, how- 
 ever, rather to his Lordship's mortifica- 
 tion, directed her discourse to Mr. Elms- 
 berry. Lady Ellen seemed to answer the 
 lively sallies of Lord Heathland with 
 chilling gravity, while Lady Jane was 
 h5 all
 
 154 
 
 all vivacity, and aimed apparently to en- 
 liven theseriousO'Roon. The Earl seeino: 
 that she failed in the attempt^ politely en- 
 deavoured to compensate for the gloom 
 of his son by keeping up the conversation 
 with a spirit equal to her own. Arran- 
 dale, though not so cheerful as usual, 
 was not remarkable either for gravity or 
 silence. 
 
 The Countess of Loughraead and Mrs. 
 Moreland heard the particulars of the 
 Fashionable Institution from Sir Pic-nic 
 Haut-ton^ with which they were so much 
 pleased that they expressed wishes to be- 
 come patronesses ; and the whole party, 
 even Derraot O'Roon, to be subscribers ; 
 the Baronet mentioned the concerts in a 
 manner which was irresistible to such a 
 musician as O'Roon. Lord Splendor- 
 more
 
 155 
 
 more laughed heartily at hearing him 
 cajhe would subscribe, and exclaimed: — 
 
 ^' By Heavens ! the very name of Cata- 
 lani prossesses more powerful magic than 
 Amphion's Lyre ! that only called forth 
 rocky particles to dance themselves into 
 the form of a regular wall;, now liernarr^e 
 opens the flinty heart of Dermot O'Roon, 
 and extracts from the hard substance 
 drops of pure gold !'' 
 
 '' And I,'' replied O^Roon, " can tell 
 you of a greater wonder which it has per- 
 formed — It has drawn something like 
 wit from the empty head of Splendor- 
 more. 
 
 *' Smart on both sides upon my soul ! 
 
 devilish good retort from Sir Gravity, i» 
 
 k not Arraudale P said Lord Heathland. 
 
 H 6 George
 
 156 
 
 George Arrandale answered him se- 
 riouly:-— ' 
 
 " I may be thought too particular.per- 
 haps^ in my ideas of fraternal affection, 
 when I say that it seencs to me as unna- 
 tural for brothers to point their wit 
 against each other, as their swords, the 
 latter, though played with in jest, may 
 wound the body, the former too frequent- 
 ly hurts the mental feelings." 
 
 '* Young man,'' said the Earl, "that 
 sentiment does honour to your heart, and 
 I sincerely wish that Heaven had blessed 
 you with brothers who might have ac-^ 
 knofiledgcd you with pride/* 
 
 *^ I have no cause for regret, ray Lord^ 
 although the only child of parents, who 
 
 left
 
 15? 
 
 left me an orphan in my cradle; from mij 
 first dawn of reason I found affectionate 
 parents in the Earl and Countess of 
 Gharlewoodj and as such have I always 
 revered them ; in their offspring I am 
 blessed with affectionate brothers and 
 sisters^ whom / have loved with frater- 
 nal affection from their birth^ and whose 
 love for me has seemed to strengthen with 
 their growth;, and as yet^the untitled East 
 Indian has never, by improper conduct^, 
 disgraced the noble family that so kindly 
 received him as — " 
 
 *' An /lonowr, Arrandale ; I will con- 
 clude your grateful speech in words my 
 father would have chosen for you/* said 
 Lord Heathland with spirit. Arrandale^s 
 eyes expressed his thanks, but his tongue 
 was silent. Stella of Grassraere gave 
 
 Lord
 
 158 
 
 Lord Heathland a look of approbation, 
 so did involuntarily Lady Ellen, which 
 was observed by the Earl with a frown 
 of displeasure; but recovering his usual 
 placidity of countenance, he touched 
 lightly on the politics and news of the 
 day, and then asked the Admiral if he did 
 not think it a shame to see five young 
 fellows, such as the sons of their friend 
 Char fe wood, including the adopted, and 
 his own sons, idle,when their country de- 
 manded their aid. Sir Edward replied :— 
 
 '' Thank Heaven, our three Kingdom^ 
 are each adorned with so many fine 
 young men that we can well afford to 
 give full scope to their inclinations; we 
 require their aid in various capacities, 
 i^ all were to choose the Military, or 
 Naval professions, what would become 
 
 of
 
 159 
 
 of our official business^ our religion, 
 and our laws, 1 maj also add^ our mer- 
 cantile affairs ? . . . . and so eager are 
 young men in general to wear a uniform 
 
 that I am pleased when I meet with 
 those who prefer the legal, or ecclesias- 
 tical robes ; or any establishment useful 
 to the state, which calls for wise and ho- 
 nourable men, equally, in my opinion, 
 with the church and the bar. I look 
 forward to the period when these young 
 Lords will do honour to themselves, and 
 justice to their country, as ministers of 
 state ; when my friend Elmsberry graces 
 lawn-sleeves and a mitre, I already see 
 
 Mr. Arrandale in the honourable and 
 confidential character of plenipotentiary 
 between his native India and Great 
 Brit an — and in what am I likely to see 
 Mr. O'Roon shine ?': 
 
 ^' As
 
 IGO 
 
 ^'As the chief-grazier and husband- 
 man, on the banks of the Banna, where 
 he has a fine estate which, if he continues 
 his improvements, will be one of the 
 most fertile as well as the most beauti- 
 ful in all Ireland, and produce the finest 
 flocks and herds. There in an Arcadia 
 formed according to his own taste, chief- 
 ly dwells the shepherd Dermot, blending 
 with his agricultural studies, like the 
 true Arcadian swains, music and poetry — 
 such. Sir Edward, is my youngest son." 
 
 *' And as such, Countess, he will 
 prove the friend of his country, and set 
 a noble example to mankind, while he 
 diffuses plenty over his lands." 
 
 '^ I am happy to find that my fa- 
 vourite study meets with your appro- 
 
 batioa
 
 161 
 
 bation Sir, I hope to improve greatly in 
 this plenteous Island, and during my vi- 
 sit I have no fear of my grounds suf- 
 fering by reglect, as my steward has been 
 my principal instructor, and is as anxiou? 
 concerning the improvements as I am 
 myself. The Duke of B. will introduce 
 me to the Agricultural Socfety, before 
 whom I mean to lay some ideas of im- 
 provement in the cultivation of lands^ 
 which I have committed to paper, and 
 proved their success on my own land/^ 
 
 The Countess of Loughmead, rising, 
 told the gentlemen that she hoped they 
 would not discuss too long on Agricultu- 
 ral or political subjects, but soon joia 
 the ladies, who would be happy to en- 
 joy a little more of their conversation 
 before the aparments were crowded^
 
 162 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A Fashionable Assembly, 
 
 The gentlemen had scarcely left their 
 wine and rejoined the ladies than visi- 
 tors were announced ; the Countess of 
 Grassmcre requested Lady Jane to sit 
 by her. and, as they entered, give her 
 a slight sketch of the characters, in 
 which the Lord's Heathland and Splen- 
 dormore, overhearing the request, pro- 
 mised to assist, as did the Admiral who 
 took a seat by his nicce^ and the young 
 Lords placed themselves behind and 
 were presently joined by their brothers. 
 Mrs. Moreland and Mr. Arrandale 
 were engaged in conversation with Sir 
 
 Pic-uic
 
 163 
 
 Pic-nic and Lady Haut-ton, near the 
 Earl and Countess of Loughmead and 
 Lady Ellen, who received their visitors 
 with inexpressible grace, and suavity of 
 mann«Fs, and Lord Splendormore and 
 Mr. O'Roon were soon called upon by 
 their father to assist in receiving the 
 company, who flowed in rapidly, and the 
 Earl was too proud of his children, not 
 to wish thera to be particularly noticed 
 by the votaries of fashion . Lord Heath- 
 land starting up, said to his sister: — 
 
 '^ Come Jane, as this is my father's 
 house^ and we are known to be in town, 
 we, also, must pay our compliments ta 
 every body ; brothers you wijl not be 
 negligent shew yourself among them 
 at least/' 
 
 " So ! '* said Sir Edward " we are 
 
 forsak^a
 
 16^ 
 
 forsaken by the fashionables who were 
 to give us sketches ; well^ never mind, 
 Stella, your old uncle has not lived so 
 liiuch out of the world as to render him 
 incapable of being your cicerone in 
 this museum of living curiosities^ many 
 of whom you saw, and were made ac- 
 quainted with at the drawing room." 
 
 *' There is a lady, sir, talking now with 
 the Earl, dressed very girlishly for her 
 time of life — a lace-frock, over pink, the 
 sleeves looped up quite to her shoulders, 
 wreaths of roses intertwined with her 
 tresses, yet she looks very old/' — 
 
 '" Stella ! the word old has been erased 
 from the vocabulary of Fashion, utter it 
 not in her circles, lest you should be 
 .deemed too un polite to enter them. That 
 
 lady
 
 165 
 
 lady in the frock is the Countess of Ever- 
 bloonijWho has been a potent rival to her 
 daughters, and now means to rival her 
 grand-daughters, if she can, by youth- 
 ful dress and artificial beauty. . . . Behind 
 her stand one of her sons, Mr. Paradel 
 Gossamer, and her youngest daughter 
 Lady Eva Gossamer, who, in my opini- 
 OHj too far exceeds the enbon point of 
 the Medicean Venus to exhibit her form 
 as the criterion of beauty ; yet such she 
 certainly thinks it is, or she would veil it 
 a little more closely from critical be- 
 holders/' 
 
 '^ There, sir, is a fine, interesting wo- 
 man with two young ones, who look as 
 amiable as herself, and their dress and 
 deportment are as gracefully modest as 
 her own. Who are they Sir ?" 
 
 *' Lady
 
 166 
 
 '' Lady B. and her two unmarried 
 <3augbters . . she is an honour to her sex 
 and country, and sister to the amiable 
 
 Duchess of N d by whom you were 
 
 presented you saw them at court, my 
 dear/' 
 
 " So I did, and admired them there ; I 
 jemember them now, and that you told 
 me the Earl was detained by Bona- 
 parte, and had been for some years from 
 his native land and beloved family, wait- 
 ing the issue of the war between France 
 and England ; and did you not say that 
 one of his sons was detained with him?" 
 
 " I did ; and that one of the happiest 
 couples in the connubial state are vtnir 
 evcdunJiappt/ by this cruel separation . . . 
 
 It is true, the Countess and her children
 
 167 
 
 have the liberty of visiting the deservedly 
 
 beloved husband, and son; fatherland 
 
 brother^, but cannot obtain the felicity 
 
 of bringing them back to England . . . 
 
 thus for years have the domestic com- 
 forts in which the tenderest affection 
 
 rendered this noble and amiable family 
 
 supremely blessed^ been destroyed by 
 
 the proud enemy to peace and to Great 
 
 Britain/' 
 
 '' Oh ! may the father and son be soon 
 happily restored to their family and 
 their country !" 
 
 '* Most sincerely do I join in that pray- 
 er Stella, for often have I regretted that 
 those whose hearts were early cemented 
 by mutual worth, and mutual affection ; 
 those who went hand ia hand proud of 
 
 each
 
 13g 
 
 each other and of their blooming off- 
 springs over whom they watched with 
 parental delight, should be compelled to 
 sufler the pangs of absence, while too 
 many discontented couples, who arc tor- 
 ments to each other, and negligent of 
 their children, might perhaps, have re- 
 garded such a separation as a blessing. 
 Come my dear child I will introdu*ce you 
 to Lady B. and her fair daughters, the 
 Earl of B. is brother to the Duke of 
 N d/' 
 
 As the Admiral and his niece passed 
 the Ladies Eva Gossamer, and Frivola 
 Airy; Miss Golightly and her sister 
 Flavia who were grouped very near 
 Mrs. Moreland, they entertained her 
 with their opinion of her Eleve. Lady 
 Eva said. 
 
 <'Well
 
 169 
 
 " Well, I declare I see nothing ex- 
 traordinary in the young Countess, that 
 the papers make such a fuss about — but 
 I suppose they are paid for paragraphing 
 her Ladyship to bring her into notice." 
 
 ^' Oh ! you may be sure of ^Zia^/' said 
 Lady Frivola.- '^ She is a mere rustic, 
 her birth-day dress, with the vareigated 
 grass, and trumpery wild-flo\vers,shewed 
 the taste of a cottager decked out to 
 dance round a may-pole.'* 
 
 "^And now," said Miss Golightly 
 laughing, ^^ I am sure she looks as heavy 
 in her thick folding drapery, and is as 
 muchcovered up as the quizzical demure 
 daughter of a more quizzical village cu- 
 rate, who is continually preaching against 
 VOL. I. I th€
 
 170 
 
 the beautiful fashions of the times^ and 
 exhorting his flock to be modestly corer- 
 cd in the wraps of their grandmothers/' 
 
 ''Observe her now, sister/' said Fla- 
 "via, affecting the wanton look and atti- 
 tudes of a Bacchante/' see how she is en- 
 cumbered — had Nature blessed her with 
 an ele<>'arit form she would not conceal it 
 I am sure; do you think she would, La- 
 djEva?" 
 
 " I think not, if left to herself, 
 or blessed with a fashionable mo- 
 ther who wanted to get her off: here 
 is my brother Parade]^ ask his opinion of 
 this blazing star/' 
 
 " Dear
 
 171 
 
 *' Dear Gossamer are you not dying; 
 for love of — / 
 
 ^' You enchanting Flavia ?" 
 
 '' Oh no ! of the young Countess, to 
 be sure." 
 
 '^ Certainly, for several Countesses, 
 wives and dowagers, or I should want 
 taste." - 
 
 " La ! Mr. Gossamer 1 you know 
 that my sister means the Countess of 
 Grassmere." 
 
 '' Oh ! — Grassmere ! — I have not 
 seen her." — 
 
 " Heavens ! not seen her, Paradel ! 
 1 3 -why
 
 173 
 
 Avliy you have fixed your glass M her 
 this half hour/' '^imtf 
 
 ''' Aye, and so gazed Paris, no doubt, on 
 the wise Minerva, and the stately Juno; 
 and reflected that the one, perhaps, 
 cased herself in armour, and the other 
 concealed herself iolongfuU drapery, 
 to hide personal defects, while the god- 
 dess of beauty, conscious of her perfect 
 symmetry, wore no such heavy cover- 
 ings.*' 
 
 ^' There now, your brother thinks as 
 wedorv 
 
 '^ You know. Ladies, the request of 
 Paris before he would give judgment, 
 and award the apple to the most beau- 
 tiful ?': 
 
 ' '^ Oh
 
 \7S 
 
 "Ok deat ! yes, they proved to be 
 horrible figures, and Venus won the 
 prize/' 
 
 " Yes, Lady Frivola, and we have no 
 reason to doubt the justice of the young 
 Trojan's decision, as Jupiter preferred 
 every pretty deity and mortal whom he 
 saw, to his own haughty wife, who was 
 a cursed virago ; and ^neryu^l^^^^ a 
 maid to all eternity.!*. .,. ,,. . 
 
 <' Oh 1 shocking 1— and Venus ?** 
 
 '* She, like the heauties who now sur- 
 round me, l^ePWH^'^wuiii iu> t 
 
 <' Hold ! hold,,^<3pssa^mer | what the 
 
 devil arc you going to say ? if 7^^^ 
 
 1 3 the
 
 174 
 
 the truth you will pay a cursed awk- 
 ward compliment to these fair Ladies." 
 
 Said Sir Jehu Hazard^ slapping Mr. 
 Gossamer, rather rudely, on the back, 
 and laughing heartily, while the Ladies 
 displayed their white teeth^ in an arch 
 simper, which declared they knew well 
 what the Baronet meant to infer ; and 
 the slight little Gossamer, writhing with 
 pain from the rude hand of Jehu, said : 
 
 " Upon my soul. Hazard, you are an 
 iron fisted fellow ! only fit to touch your 
 horses; curse me if you are not enough 
 to shake a man's ideas out of his head 
 but mine thank heaven ! are recalled by 
 the lovely objects before me like whom, 
 I was going to say, the Goddess of 
 
 beauty
 
 175 
 
 beauty became the object of unlversat 
 adoration." 
 
 " Dam'me ! little Gossy^ that is a de- 
 vilish neat turn ofF/^ 
 
 " So was yours, good tall-boy, when 
 you were going to drive my mother^s 
 barouche over the hedge, last tuesday." 
 
 '' Over ! no, no, only too near the ditch 
 that was under it ; dov/n went th^ car- 
 riage, sure enough, and rested itself very 
 composedly, against a hawthorn hedge, 
 those within to preserve their beauty 
 from scratches, leaned towards the high- 
 er side, which was judicious. I followed 
 their example and leaned too — but 
 I 4 where ?
 
 17^ 
 
 wherCj my boj ? — faith, on the flowers 
 ©f elysiurn^ pinks and lilies !" 
 
 ^' I understand you ; a beauty mounted 
 the box with you ; I suppose it wai 
 Lady Frivola Airy,** 
 
 '' No, indeed, I was in the barouche, 
 Lady Eva was on the box with with Sir 
 Jehu ; her shawl blew back, he held the 
 reins and whip in one hand, while he at- 
 tempted to replace the shawl with the 
 other, and so he overset us, against the 
 hedge, luckily, and the affair was more 
 laughable than serious ; the carriage 
 was soon righted and we pursued our 
 ,way." 
 
 *' You were talking of the deities little 
 
 Gossy ;
 
 177 
 
 Gossj ; and I^ just at the moment of the 
 overturn^ dreamed that Venus had fre- 
 quently solicited Apollo to give her a 
 drive in his brilliant jaunting car ; but 
 poor fellow, he was afraid the Muses 
 would be jealous^ and what mortal or 
 deity could venture to bring nine vi- 
 ragos about his ears at once by such a 
 public action ? so the Goddess^ not being 
 able to succeed with the father^, coaxed 
 Phaeton to borrow his dad's car^ and 
 give her a day's ride ; the boy was in- 
 dulged^ and^ with beauty by his side, 
 smacked the whip and drove off. She 
 complained of the heat^ and threw ofi* her 
 mantle. Phaeton was dazzled, lost his 
 track, and drove into the river Po ; 
 therefore I beseech you, ^fair Ladies, if 
 you value your lives> never to throw 
 off your mantles when you sit by 
 I 5 the
 
 ITS'- 
 
 tlie driver of any carriage lest he should 
 be dazzled, like poor Phaeton, and, your 
 humble servant , and losing the track, 
 drive you into a river, or overset you — 
 remember I warn you by my dream/' 
 
 " Upon my honour, your are blessed 
 with a fertile imagination, Jehu, give the 
 produce to the \v^(jrld ' The Fall of 
 Phaeton, a Vision, by Sir Jehu Hazard, 
 Baronet, and M. P.' and J will publish 
 * The Judgment of »Paris, with illustra- 
 tions, by the honourable Paradel Gossa- 
 mer, M. P/ Faith, let us put up for seats 
 in the Temple of Apoljo/' 
 
 '' Aye, my little Gossy ! but if, as can- 
 didates, we quarrel on the road, then you 
 know, we may chance to get a seat in the 
 
 temple
 
 179 
 
 temple of oblivion^ or at best^ waddle up 
 to our seats on Parnassus, like lame 
 ducks ; that is, if the Elections for that 
 House are contested." 
 
 '' Yes, faith, they are violently contest- 
 ed sometimes, but the candidates do not 
 draw either swords or triggers, nor stain 
 the earth with blood ; no, no, they stain 
 only reams of paper with ink, words ar^e 
 their ammunition, pens their weapons, 
 which give a slight scratch now and 
 then." 
 
 " A truce, dear Gossamer, with pens 
 'and scratches, and bring the enchanting 
 Splendormore this way, and Heathland 
 too, if you can, tell him Lady Eva" — 
 
 I 6 '' Oh !
 
 ISO 
 
 ^* Oh ! pray tell the man nothing from 
 me, Paradel — La ! Frivola^ if t/ou are 
 jealous of the attention those Lordlings 
 pay that prudish Countess^ 1 am not I 
 assure you; let them hover over the 
 rustic till they are surfeited with insipid- 
 ly — Howdo 7/ou like her^ Jehu ?" 
 
 '^ Oh ! Faith ! I think her a very harm- 
 less g'irl — she will not cause overturns, 
 though she does mount a dicky^ or ba- 
 rouche box with the driver5> as certain 
 fascinating Ladies do, who mischievous- 
 ly bewilder the poor mens' brains, that 
 whirl they go, and down fall their giddy 
 heads on — 
 
 *[ Hush ! Jehu — here comes Lady 
 
 Jane,
 
 181 
 
 JanC;, with her two friends^ and the sotU'- 
 broiis O'Roon." 
 
 '' True ! the Sylph ; the Hibernia ; the 
 bright Star ; and the misanthrope of the 
 drawing-room. But where is the Na- 
 bobj and Juno's bird I" 
 
 '' And pray what was I called Jehu ?'' 
 
 '' You, Lady Eva ? — Oh f the Venus^ 
 to be sure." 
 
 When the Countess of Grassmere and 
 her friends joined the Gossamer party, she 
 actually started back, crimsoned with the 
 blush of shame, at, what she thought, 
 the indelicate mode in which the Ladies 
 appeared before so many gentlemen. La- 
 
 dy
 
 183 
 
 dy Frivola Airy, fixing her eyes in a full 
 intimidating stare on the blushing Stella, 
 added to her blushes^, and her embarrass- 
 ment, by exclaiming, — 
 
 ^' For heaven's sake. Gossamer, open 
 the window — who has ottor of roses, or 
 Aromatic vinegar about them, the Coun- 
 tess of Grassmere will faint from the heat 
 of the rooms ; poor young Lady ! assist 
 her to a seat nearer the window, Mr. 
 O'Roon, Sir Jehu, or — " 
 
 " No, no, stop, dear Jehu, and undo this 
 chain first; 1 have ottor of roses in my 
 bosom-— The Countess will soon be able 
 to endure the heat of crowded assem- 
 blies — How do you find yourself, my 
 dear Countess ?" 
 
 Before
 
 183 
 
 Before Stella had time to answer La- 
 dy Eva/Mrs.Morelandj who overheard 
 what passed, came forward, and asked 
 anxiously : — 
 
 '' i)o you find yourself really itidis- 
 posedj my dear Stella f'*' 
 
 '' Not in the least, my dear Madam^ 
 not even incommoded with the heat; al- 
 though I might look as if I was, and am 
 obliged to ihe Ladies for their polite at- 
 tention to me.'' 
 
 The report, that the Countess of 
 Grassmere was fainting, flew round the 
 rooms, and in a moment she was sur- 
 rounded by gentlemen who, to the mor- 
 tification of the Gossamer group, totally 
 
 neglected
 
 IS4 
 
 neglected themj-alild^ bestowed all their j J 
 attention on the rieW beauty; even Paradel 
 Gossamer/ and Sir Jehu^ joined the ad- 
 miring throng, while the Ladies Ellen 
 0*Roon, and Jane Elmsberry, entered 
 into conversdtidri' with the piqued 
 nymphs, on fashionable topics. The 
 Admiral came up to them, and inquired 
 for his niece. Mr.O'Roon,, advancing^ 
 said : — 
 
 '' I have the plesure to inform you Sir 
 Edward that the emotion of Lady Grass- 
 mere, which some of these Ladies so 
 particularly noticed was not caused by 
 indisposition, but by delicate sensibility 
 on beholding an unexpected display of 
 feminine beauties, not knowing that 
 among her sex there are such devotees 
 
 to
 
 185 
 
 to Nature that tliey think a concealment 
 of her g'ii\s extremely ungrateful, if not 
 
 absolutely sacrilegious to the bountiful 
 
 Goddess/' 
 
 *' La ! what a cynical speech for a 
 young man ! from th© Admiral, indaad^ 
 one should not have b@@a. surprised/' 
 
 '^ You are right. Lady Frivola ; such 
 pointed irony from an old bachelor, 
 and prudery in an old maid, are per- 
 fectly characteristic but for the young 
 and beautiful of either sex to be"— 
 
 *' Modest and sensible^ Lady Eva 
 would think unnatural/' 
 
 *' Not exactly so. Sir Edward ; I was 
 
 going
 
 186 
 
 going to add precise and morose as un- 
 natural to yoirth and beauty/ can you 
 condemn me^ for thai Sir Edward Fitz- 
 albion ?" 
 
 '' I cannot condemn yoii Lady Eva 
 Gossamer— you think and speak ai you 
 were taught, and most sincerely do I pity 
 you." 
 
 '' I understand you. Admiral, but if I 
 am wrong, I must continue to be so, 
 unless you can alter the fashion ; for 
 positively I would not be a dowdy for 
 all the world, unless all the beauties of 
 fashion will be dowdies with me." 
 
 '' You will not adorn those fascinating 
 graces with beauty*s most captivating 
 
 charm
 
 187 
 
 charm the charm of modesty^ and rival 
 ?/i<?Ai^ perhaps, Stella of Grassmere; with- 
 out it you can never succeed with men 
 of sense/' 
 
 ^' I fancy^ Sir Edward, you w ill find 
 yourself mistaken/* gaid FlaviaGolight- 
 ly, pertly. '^ The, joung men of fashion 
 will see not only Lady Eva, but other 
 beauties who lead th e ton, with better 
 eyes than you can for you are blinded 
 by your partiality for your niece, whom 
 you have moulded after the obsolete 
 manners of other times, and you wish, 
 it seems, to form Lady Eva after the 
 same model. 
 
 '' I do most sincerely, and also your- 
 self, your sister, and Lady Frivola. 
 
 '' And
 
 188 
 
 '* And after having done so^ you must 
 marry one of us yourself ; give another 
 to the solemn Rector of your parish ; a 
 third to the prim apothecary, and the 
 fourth to the sententious Mr» O'Roon.** 
 
 ^^ And then, my dear Flavia, what ex- 
 cellent Lady Bountifuls and Mrs. Good- 
 bodys we should become/' said Lady 
 Frivola, laughing immoderately at 
 Flavians queer conceit, while Miss Go- 
 lightly, in a tone something above a 
 whisper, said to Lady Eva.^ 
 
 '* Really, my dear^I think the Admi- 
 ral would be no bad match for a young 
 3ady of small fortune. He is rich^ and 
 pays his court to you, though rather in 
 
 a rough
 
 189 
 
 a rough sea faring kind of waj^ I must 
 confess^ what do you say ?'' 
 
 '^ That jou. Miss Golightlj, who de- 
 clare your intention of marrying for a 
 title^ had better put up for him; he can 
 radkeyou a Lady — 7am one by birth /^ 
 
 *' Oh dear ! I beg your Ladyship's 
 pardon, I spoke as a friend ; for it is 
 well known that Sir Jehu Hazard's racers 
 and hunters, even some of his carriage- 
 horses have been upon the go for some 
 time, at Tattersall's, and will soon be 
 
 " Poor, dear Jehu ! . . . well then, do 
 you, like a good-natured Miss with a 
 great fortune, take compassion on the 
 
 distressed
 
 190 
 
 ilistressed Baronet, and keep his crop- 
 ^ ped head above water; and can a great 
 fortune be laid out to better advantage 
 than in the purchase of a handsome^ 
 dashing fellow, with a title ?" 
 
 '^ Your kind advice deserves my best 
 thanks, Lady Eva Gossamer — for Hea- 
 ven^s sake endeavour to make way, Fla- 
 Via, we have been immured in this stu- 
 pid, suffocating corner till I am half 
 dead, let us promenade, and mix with 
 the, company." 
 
 Lady Eva saw them depart with a 
 contemptuous toss of her head which 
 was answered by ber fi lend Frivola, 
 with a look not less e>:pressive of con- 
 tempt, but thoae looks were, changed 
 
 in-
 
 191 
 
 instantaneously for dimpled smiles; they 
 beheld Lord Sfjlendornioie and Sir Jehu 
 approaching^and turning to a mirror tiiat 
 happened to be behind them cun- 
 tem plated charms, which both regarded 
 as unrivalled;, with conscious satisfac- 
 tion. But, alas ! when they expected 
 to see Jehu and Splendormore close to 
 them, they saw the contemned Misses 
 look back at them with triumph, the 
 eldest sister being led taward the card 
 room by the elegant Lord, the youngest, 
 by the dashing Baronet. 
 
 This was a mortification to the two La- 
 dies,i\iQy could not support with temper, 
 they said a thousand ill-natured things 
 of the triumphant sisters, and then gazed 
 around the rooms in the fldttering hope's of 
 
 finding
 
 192 
 
 ing Lord Heathland, Mr. Arrandale, or 
 any other handsome^^ or titled men who 
 could compensate them for the mortify- 
 ing deprivation they had sustained ; but 
 again they were disappointed^ Heathland 
 was engaged in conversation with Ladj 
 Ellen O'Roon; Arrandale with Lady 
 Jane Elmsberry; and the rustic-ill-dresS' 
 e<i Countess of Grassmere appeared sur- 
 rounded by all the rest of the males, 
 whose attentions could have done them 
 honour, even the dear little Paradel 
 Gossamer, looked peculiarly happy at 
 having been so successful as to obtain a 
 place near the object of attraction ; then, 
 to add to their vexation, the mortified 
 Ladies Eva and Frivola, even heard 
 their taste called in question by the en- 
 comiums bestov^^ed on Grassmere robe.
 
 193 
 
 by Ladies who had always been remark- 
 able for their elegant taste in dressing. 
 This admired robe was plain lace net 
 over a primrose coloured sarsnet waved 
 with brilliant silver that sparkled through 
 the net^ which was bordered with^re- 
 foiL instead of Vandyke points^ and had 
 a simple and new effect ; the robe was 
 confined round the waist with a cestus of 
 Amethysts ; a row of the same passed 
 through the middle of a plaited lace, 
 and seemed to draw ihe full robe high 
 above the bosom^ her bracelets, loops for 
 the sleeves, and the combs which fastened 
 her braided tresses, were also Amethysts, 
 a colour that contrasted beautifully with 
 the primrose, and rendered the dress 
 completely elegant and becoming to the 
 finely proportioned form, and blooming 
 complexion, of the youthful Countess, 
 VOL. I. K Sir
 
 194 
 
 Sir Jehu kept close by the Cohei- 
 ressesy and the Lords Heathland and 
 Splendorniore judiciously divided their 
 attentions between the rich commoners 
 and the Peeress in her own right. The 
 Baronet thought Lady Eva a lovely 
 woman, but her fortune was very small 
 for her rank ; so was Lady Frivola's, as 
 their fathers had been too much like 
 himself, and pursued their pleasures with 
 avidity, to the ruin of their fortunes. 
 With the Countess of Grassmere Sir 
 Jehu thought he stood no chance, as the 
 Admiral would be a vigilant guardian, 
 and investis-ate the circumstances and 
 character of all who made proposals for 
 his niece, more closely than the old aunt 
 of the Golightlys, who,though deformed 
 and ugly was so imbecile in her mind 
 that she dressed ridiculously for her 
 
 figure,
 
 195 
 
 figure, and time of life, and was as much 
 delighted with flattery as her young 
 nieces were ; she had no great fortune, 
 having in her youth bestowed her hand 
 and fifty thousand pounds on a gay 
 young fellow, who married her for her 
 golden charms, the greatest part of which 
 he squandered away on pretty wantons, 
 leaving his detested wife to lament her 
 fate in solitude ; and when, after he had 
 endeavoured to terrify her with threats 
 to make over to him all which had been 
 settled on herself, she wisely took shelter 
 with her own relations, he found himself 
 so embarrassed and disappointed that he 
 put an end to his existence, in a fit of 
 desperation, to escape the horrors of 
 poverty and imprisonment. When Mrs. 
 Warpley heard of the exit of her hus- 
 band^ she rejoiced at her releasement 
 K 2 from
 
 195 
 
 from such a brute, and from the time she 
 put on her weeds, till the present mi- 
 nute^, she had neglected no opportunity 
 of making herself amends, in a second 
 choice, for the faults of the first; but alas ! 
 her smiles and ogles, false teeth, tresses, 
 and complexion, aided by pads and 
 whalebone, had totally lost their effect ; 
 for the great fortune was sunk into an 
 annuity for the life of the dowager, who 
 was three score according io her bro- 
 ther's account two by her osvn. To the 
 annuity which she had purchased with 
 the wreck of her fortune, Mr. Golightly 
 had made a considerable addition, when 
 he requested her, in his will, to reside 
 with his daughters at his death ; an ar- 
 rangement to which she gladly assented, 
 as their establishment was far more ele- 
 gant than what she could afford, even 
 
 with
 
 197 
 
 with her brother's bequest^ and she still 
 had the vauitj to think that when she 
 appeared with them in a stylish manner, 
 she might obtain a share of admiration, 
 and perhaps a title. To this ill-chosen 
 protectress for very simple young wo- 
 men with immense fortunes^ w^ere all the 
 mea who paid them the most common 
 place compliment referred^ and to her 
 were they leading Lord Splendormore 
 iand Sir Jehuj triumphing in the acqui- 
 sition of such tonish men, for whom 
 they knew many women of quality were 
 sighing, and to be envied by their supe- 
 riors in birth was the supreme felicity 
 of the » stock broker's daughters since 
 they dwelt in Portman Square, and vi- 
 sited in the circles of fashion. 
 
 While Splendormore and Heathland 
 K 3 . chatted
 
 198 
 
 cliatted with Miss Golightly and Flavia, 
 Sir Jehu paid his court to Mrs. Warp- 
 ley ; and by becoming her partner at the 
 whist tablC;, and being extremely for- 
 tunute in the strength of his cards^ added 
 to his skill in the game^ he won the fa- 
 vour of the aunt so effectually that^ as 
 she swept the guineas into a superbly 
 embroidered repository*^ she gave him a 
 very gracious invitation to Portman 
 Square, the very thing he aimed at when 
 he devoted himself to cards and the 
 dowager. 
 
 Lord Heathland felt no more affection 
 for the Countess of Grassmere than he did 
 for his sister Charlotte ; he preferred the 
 
 * The name lately giren, by sensible English la- 
 dies of fashion, to the Bag, called by the French a 
 
 ridicule. 
 
 lively
 
 199. 
 
 lively Jane to either of them, and wish- 
 ed^ if ever he should be tempted to en- 
 ter into the marriage state^ that he might 
 have a wife of the same gay disposition, 
 who, loving pleasure herself, would not 
 bore him with grave lessons of economy 
 and prudence. Lady Ellen, he thought, 
 looked too high-souled for him, but the 
 Golightlys were merry tonish girls, with 
 immense fortunes to indulge every fa- 
 shionable whim of the moment, and he 
 determined to engage the favour of the 
 coheiresses at least, by flattery, which he 
 knew was always acceptable to vain and 
 giddy women. 
 
 Lord Splendormore, whose extrava- 
 gance far exceeded his income, consider- 
 ed that a wife with a mine of wealth 
 was the only thing which could possibly 
 R 4 save
 
 200 
 
 ^ave him from a temporary embarrass- 
 ment, and his father's displeasure in con- 
 sequence; a present supply was neces- 
 sary, the Golightljs were both of age, 
 and a vast sum would be his immediate- 
 ly on his nuptials, and he might dash 
 one way and she another, until his fa- 
 ther's death enabled him to give a free 
 scope to dissipation. 
 
 Thus, with the most complete indif- 
 ference, did these heirs apparent of two 
 noble families think of uniting themselves 
 to women who had only wealth to recom- 
 mend them, whose personal attractions 
 were very trifling, and whose minds, a 
 chaos of fashionable follies, possessed no 
 virtues that could render them even tole- 
 rable wives and mothers ; they seemed to 
 have been educated by Pride, Folly, 
 
 Vanity,
 
 201 
 
 Vanity, Scandal and Immodesty — Nov 
 did the dress, or conversation of the La- 
 dies Eva Gossamer, and Frivola Airy, 
 prove that they, although Earls' daugh- 
 ters, had been blessed with better instruc- 
 tresses than the stock-jobber's; nor could 
 they boast of superior beauty to compen- 
 sate for their inferiority in point of 
 wealth ; no wonder, therefore, that they 
 found themselves deserted, both by the 
 sensible and dissipated men ; mortified 
 and disappointed they associated with 
 the envious, scandal-mongers who go 
 from rout to rout, only to circulate the 
 lies of euvy> and truths which blacken: 
 the characters of their acquaintance ; to 
 such tale-bearers, and tale-makers did 
 Eva and Frivola listen with avidity, un- 
 til their mother, weary of ill success left 
 the card-room^ and summoned her chil- 
 K. 5^ drea
 
 202 
 
 dren to attend her home. Poor little 
 Paradel Gossamer joined them in as 
 splenetic a mood^ for the Countess of 
 Grassmere had scarcely attended to what 
 he uttered as witticisms, but appeared 
 to be greatly interested with the conver- 
 sation of the misanthropic O'Roon, and 
 the pedantic Elmsberry, for so he styled 
 them, and the Countess of Everbloora 
 execrated the whole assembly, in which 
 she had lost her money^ and her children 
 their vivacity.
 
 203 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Humanity Applauded, and Para- 
 graphs. 
 
 As it was again the break of day 
 before Sir Edward and the Ladies retir- 
 ed to restj it ^vas an unusually late hour 
 in the morning when the Admiral rang 
 for Oakheart^ who, soon after he entered 
 the chamber J said, — 
 
 ^' I hope your honour will not be an- 
 gry at what I have done this morning," 
 
 '' London must have corrupted you, 
 
 my brave lad, if you desei^e my anger, 
 
 &6 but
 
 ^04 
 
 but tell mc why you fear my dis- 
 pleasure ?" 
 
 '' Because^ your honour^ I have 
 brought a strange woman into the house^ 
 without your leave." 
 
 ^^ Give me'your reasons for doing so/' 
 
 " She had fainted in the Green park 
 from fatigue and distress of mind ; I saw 
 her creeping by the rails, pale as death, 
 your honour, and then I saw her fall, 
 poor thing, close by our garden, so I 
 called the servants,and got the key of the 
 gate, and brought her into the house^ 
 where the tender-hearted Susan and good 
 Mrs. Wilson recovered her a little, and 
 have made her lie down a bit/' 
 
 '' And
 
 205 
 
 '' And didst thou think that I should 
 be angry with thee for assisting a fellow 
 creature in such a situation, Triton Oak- 
 heart?" 
 
 '^ I did not think it possible that you 
 ^could; but Mr. Turtleman, the new 
 cook, said he wa3 sure you would, be- 
 cause there are so many impostors in 
 London, who make pretences to get into 
 fine houses that they may rob them/' 
 
 " You did right, my good Lad, Tur-. 
 tleraan does not know Fitzalbion." 
 
 '' So I said, my noble Admiral, and 
 that you would not let even the very 
 worst of human beings perish in the road 
 for want of help, for fear they should 
 rob you, for you were able to take care 
 of them, and of your property too, 
 
 although
 
 20G 
 
 although you had not so many servants 
 to guard it.*' — 
 
 '' Well saidj niy boy^, you did me jus- 
 tice — What sort of a looking person is 
 the poor woman ?" 
 
 ''As decent and pretty looking woman 
 as one would wish to see — Mrs. Wilson 
 •would not let her talk muchr — but^for the 
 honourof the navy.I blush for the little 
 she did say, and so will your honour/* 
 
 '' Indeed ! I am sorry to hear that ! — 
 ?ee, Triton^ I believe the Ladies are 
 waiting breakfast for me^ if they are, " 
 you shall tell me in the parlour." 
 
 Oakheart returned, and told the Ad- 
 miral that they were in the breakfast 
 
 room^
 
 207 
 
 room, to which he immediately de- 
 scendedj and^ after the customary affec- 
 tionate salutations, he said to Oakheart^ 
 
 '^ Now sit down, my brave disabled 
 seaman, and say what blot has been cast 
 upon the British navy that will make 
 our weather-beaten faces blush/' 
 
 *' An inhuman press-gang''^ — 
 
 ''True;wx have too often cause io 
 blush for them who compel cowards to 
 enter his Majesty's service, those who 
 had rather be swindlers, pickpockets, 
 and housebreakers, who will run the ha- 
 zard of swinging before Newgate, rather 
 than swing in a snug hammock on board 
 a man of war, and boldly face the ene- 
 mies of their country/' 
 
 '' Aye,
 
 208 
 
 /*^ Aye, your honour, and such as they 
 are sure to desert the ship/or cause a 
 mutiny on hoard; and if a press-gang 
 does take hold of a brave man, over- 
 power him with numbers, bind him, and 
 then imprison him on board a tender, 
 will such treatment inspire him with loyal 
 ardour ? Oh no ! a brave man cannot 
 fight with spirit in defence of the liberty 
 of his country, who in that land oifree- • 
 dom has been treated like a slave hy his 
 own countrymen, themselves the slaves 
 to tyrannical commanders, who rule on 
 board the ships of war, over the free 
 subjects of Great Britain, like cruel slave- 
 traders in their floating Bastiles, over 
 their purchased Negroes ; and because 
 they arc known to do so, no man will vo- 
 luntarily enter their ships; therefore they 
 must mail them by compulsion, to th.e 
 
 disgrace
 
 209 
 
 disgrace and danger of the Kingdom ; 
 for what Captain can confide in his crew 
 if he gives them reason to say^ ' can anj 
 foreign tyrant treat us with more seve- 
 rity than our proud Captain has done ? 
 nOj we can but exchange one state of 
 oppression for another^ if we are taken, 
 death would free us from both.' Not 
 so could the happy craw of the Triton 
 say, they found an affectionate father in 
 Captain Fitzalbion, and" — 
 
 " Hush, boy, hugh— I want not to 
 bear my own praises, but the poor wo- 
 rnan*8 story," 
 
 ^' I will, with your leave, sir, only tell 
 these ladies that, you, my brave, and li- 
 beral -minded Admiral,never stood in need 
 of press-gangs ; never offered money to 
 
 man
 
 210 
 
 man your ship — ^no^ no ; the whole fleet 
 might have been manned with the over- 
 plus of those who wished to serve on 
 
 board the Triton, had all the Captains 
 
 « 
 been humane^ like your honour. . . .There 
 
 are many who support^by their noble and 
 
 humane conduct, the rights of their 
 
 King, country, and fellow creatures, and 
 
 they need only advertise for men, to have 
 
 them/' 
 
 '' I am sure Mr. Oaktheart's observa- 
 tion is just," said Mrs. Moreland ; '^ for 
 I have often heard Captain Moreland say 
 that he never was obliged to send out a 
 press-gang to bring men to his ship." 
 
 *^ Yes, yes, the boy can make very j ust 
 remarks ; but he is taking a strange 
 round-about flight before he gives us the 
 
 story
 
 211 
 
 story of our new inmate, of whom no 
 doubt vou have each heard some account 
 from Wilson and Fairfield, have you 
 not, Ladies ?" 
 
 They bowed in the aflSrmative, and ex- 
 pressing their wishes to hear Oaiheart's 
 account, he said, — 
 
 " When the poor woman recovreed a 
 little from her fainting, she said, that she 
 lived in Oxford-street, near Hyde-park, 
 in a second floor, that her husband, 
 whose name was Rowland, worked as 
 journeyman to an eminent cabinet maker 
 and upholsterer ; and that she took in 
 clear-starching, to assist in the mainte- 
 nance of themselves and three children, 
 which by their joint industry they had 
 done in a very comfortable manner. But 
 
 Mr.
 
 - 2\2 
 
 Mr. Rowland having business which 
 called him to Deptford,and detained him 
 for one nighty he lanfortunatelj fell into 
 the hands of a press-gang who forcibly 
 carried him on board a tender^, and con- 
 fined him like a criminal. One of the 
 sailorSj however, who had, like him, 
 been torn from a wife and children, took 
 compassion on him,and brought him ma- 
 terials for writing. Poor Rowland wrote 
 to his wife, and the sailor took charge of 
 the letter, and conveyed it"to the post-of- 
 fice. On being made acquainted with the 
 situation of her husband the affectionate 
 wife left her children to the care of a re- 
 lation, and immediately set out for Dept- 
 ford ; but in vain were her tears and 
 supplications to be permitted to take, 
 perhaps, a last leave of her husband, 
 bribery alone obtained that favour — yes, 
 
 your
 
 213 
 
 your honour, the greedy dogs, disc;ra- 
 cing the blue jacket, pocketed bribes 
 from a poor afflicted wife, before they 
 would let her see her husband, for the 
 good-natured sailor happened not to be 
 on board when she arrived.*' 
 
 '' I will have this affair strictly inves- 
 tigated, and Rowland shall be dis- 
 charged.'* 
 
 *' Oh ! my dear uncle, how glad I ara 
 to hear you say that ! Susan told me that 
 after leaving her husband, confined in a 
 dirty suffocating place below d ck, and 
 agonized with pain from the blows he 
 received when he resisted on being taken^ 
 she retraced ber melancholy steps to 
 Town, and formed the resolution of go- 
 ing into the Admiralty and stating the 
 
 case
 
 S14 
 
 case to some of the gentlemen^ hoping 
 that they might take pity on her being 
 left with three helpless little ones^ and 
 restore the father^ by whose industry they 
 were maintained. She entered the hall 
 with courage, but was too early to see 
 any one who had the power to act in 
 such a case." 
 
 '' Yet/' said Mrs. Moreland, '' the 
 poor thing, although dreadfully fatigu- 
 ed, would not go home ; she sat down 
 for a few minutes in the Admiralty hall^ 
 but being young, and Wilson says, ex- 
 tremely pretty, she was annoyed by im- 
 pertinent remarks, and disgusting flatte- 
 ry. She came into the park, and was in- 
 sulted on the parade, by gay rakes who 
 disgrace a sash and gorget by being the 
 rudeiasulters of unprotected beauty, in- 
 stead
 
 215 
 
 stead of honourable guardians. She fear- 
 ed to sit down lest she should expose 
 herself to new impertinence, for every 
 bench was accupied by idle looking men. 
 Scarcely able to support her weary 
 frame she wandered along by the gar- 
 dens of the Green park hoping to be re- 
 vived by their fragrance, and to find an 
 empty bench by the bason, where she 
 might rest a while in safety. Luckily, 
 I may say, she sunk exhausted on a spot 
 where only the e^es of humanity beheld 
 her, and where she will find a friend in 
 Sir Edward Eitzalbion." 
 
 '' She will, Mrs. Moreland ; Oakheart, 
 let it rejoice thy honourable soul that 
 thou hast been the bappy means of rescu- 
 ing a whole family from poverty and af- 
 fliction. Go, my brave lad, and order the 
 
 carriage —
 
 216 
 
 carriage — No you need not, I will walk 
 through Ihe parks. It is necessary for 
 me to speak with Mrs. Rowland before 
 I go to the Admiralty; see if she is able 
 to come to us^ tell her that I am going 
 to exert my interest for the releasement 
 of her husbandj and hope will cheer 
 her When I have obtained the or- 
 der for Rowland's^ liberation^, I will send 
 Oakheart in a post-chaise to fetch him 
 and will you, my Stella, send your Susan 
 with Mrs. Rowland to fetch her three 
 children, we will witness their joyful 
 meeting, my girl, and participate their 
 heartfelt satisfaction." 
 
 '' Permit me. Sir Edward, to make a 
 slight alteration in your kind scheme of 
 happiness, which is, for my Wilson to go 
 ill the coach with Mrs. Rowland to fetch 
 
 the
 
 217 
 
 the children, she is more matronly and 
 fitter to take care of them and their pret- 
 ty mother," 
 
 '^ I like your improvement, Mrs. More- 
 land, I see the propriety of it, and so I 
 perceive does my niece/' 
 
 ^' I do indeed. Sir, for if the poor wo- 
 man were to have a return of fainting, 
 or hysteric fits, the timid Susan would 
 .certainly scream for help and bring a 
 crowd about the coach, and then be so 
 terrified at so many people that she 
 would go into fits herself." 
 
 '' And then," said the Admiral, '' the 
 pretty invalids would be at the mercy of 
 the crowd ; it is a pity that females ia 
 general give way to a weakness of mind 
 
 VOL. I. L which
 
 218 
 
 which in many cases exposes them to 
 danger^ and in others^ when danger ac- 
 tually threatens renders them incapable 
 of the exertion necessary for their pre- 
 servation ; therefore remember;, ray dear 
 Stella^, that in all the accidents and mis- 
 fortunes to which human nature are liable 
 fortitude and presence of mind prove the 
 surest and most faithfiil protectors^ they 
 can lead their aid in a moment^ and en- 
 able you not only to save yourselfj but 
 also, others from destruction ; parti- 
 cularly in all accidents occasioned by 
 fire ; if the garments of children, or fe- 
 males catch fire it requires instantaneous 
 thought to check the rapidity of the 
 flames by enveloping them from the air ; 
 but while people run about calling for 
 help they fan the flames and a mise- 
 rable death ensues. If a house is on fire 
 
 :>- it
 
 219 
 
 it is extremely weak and selfish for one, 
 or two persons to save their own lives 
 and leave the other unfortunate inmates 
 to perish, when presence of mind might 
 have preserved the whole of the inhabi- 
 tants.'* 
 
 '' But, how can people think when 
 thej are overcome by terror ?" 
 
 ^' By accustoming themselves to think 
 when they are not overcome by terror — 
 when I was^ Captain of the Triton I used 
 frequently to consider how I should act 
 in order to preserve my ship and my men 
 in an engagement, a storm, and if it 
 caught fire, how I should prevent it 
 from blowing up ; and by Familiarizing 
 myself to such reflections, and by con- 
 versing occasionally on those subjects 
 l2 with
 
 220 
 
 with my officers, and with the most in- 
 telligent »^men among my crew; and by 
 this anticipation of management in those 
 times of danger, I have -not only been 
 collected myself, but have, also, inspir- 
 ed all under my command with a calm 
 fortitude, to which alone, we have se- 
 veral times owed the preservation of the 
 ship and ourselves from the foes of our 
 
 country, and the fury of raging Ele- 
 ments." 
 
 Oakheart returned with Mrs, Rowland, 
 who was a very pretty, genteel-looking 
 young woman, whose manners were gen- 
 tle^ and whose distress was interestingly 
 expressed in the forcible and concise 
 language of nature and sincere affec- 
 tion ; her auditors were greatly affected 
 by her modest and unobtrusive recital 
 of an event which threatened the des- 
 truction
 
 221 
 
 truction of der domestic felicity. Fre- 
 quently did sli6 strive to give firmness to 
 lier faultering voice, and to check the 
 tears^ that gushed into her large dark 
 eyes when she described the rough treat- 
 ment her Robert had suffered^ and his 
 present miserable confinement, because, 
 impelled by the feelings of his hearty he 
 wrestled with those, who were tearing 
 him away from a beloved wife and 
 children. 
 
 The Admiral, not doubting his in- 
 fluence, promised to restore her husband, 
 and proposed her fetching the children, 
 to which she consented with the joyful 
 expectation of presenting thera to their 
 father. 
 
 Sir Edward lost no time, and success 
 l3 * rewarded
 
 22^ 
 
 rewarded his kind endeavours to restore 
 happiness to a worthy couple. Oak- 
 heart was dispatched to Deptford and 
 the mother for her children. 
 
 The Countess of Grassmere, who had 
 taken up a certain fashionable news pa« 
 per, found in it a long account of Lady 
 Loughmead's rout at Charlewood house, 
 which wa,s succeeded by the following 
 paragraphs : — 
 
 " Notwithstanding the apostacy of a 
 certain elegant East-Indian, may dim for 
 a time the brilliancy of the Star so lately 
 discovered in the Courtly Hemisphere, 
 we sincerely hope that it will soon em- 
 merge from the cloud of disappointment, 
 and shine with radiant lustre/' 
 
 ' Stella
 
 ^. '. 223 
 
 Stella felt the glow of vexation crim- 
 san on her cheeks^ sighs heaved her bo- 
 som while her eyes, with an indignant 
 look unknown to them before, glanced 
 over another paragraph equally wound- 
 ing to her feelings. 
 
 'i A beautiful Hibernian just arrived 
 arrived in this Kingdom, has evinced 
 the potency of her charms by enslaving 
 a young Nabob, and carrying him off in 
 triumph to the surprise of a young and 
 lovely peeress, who imagined that she 
 had fixed him in her chains too firm- 
 ly to have her right to him disputed. 
 These rival beauties, by their partiality 
 to a dark complexion, prove the vera- 
 city of this quotation. ' Black men are 
 pearls in beauteous ladies* eyes/ It was 
 observed however, that the forsaken 
 l4 beauty.
 
 224 
 
 beauty, scorning to wear the willow on 
 her youthful tresses, bound them with 
 the modest jassamine/' 
 
 The Countess, throwing the paper 
 from her, exclaimed,— 
 
 '' Provoking ! how pointed ! imper- 
 tinent scribblers ! so soon am I to be the 
 mark for ridicule to point at ? no, fickle 
 Arrandale, they shall not say, justly, 
 that I am piqued at your behaviour, 
 i will appear gay and happy ; I have 
 been too grave — my eyes have watched 
 him, and I have been observed by the 
 busy-bodies in this gay world. Be- 
 loved homes Rockalba, and Grass- 
 mere, was it for this I wished to leave 
 you, and visit courtly scenes ? Let me 
 examine the Morning Herald, wijl that, 
 
 alsa
 
 225 
 
 so, proclaim me forsaken ? Ah ! what is 
 this?'' 
 
 The Coimtess of Grassmere, with still 
 greater surprise^ read as follow : — 
 
 " A certain Eastern Negociator was 
 observed to be in close conversation with 
 a very fair Ladj, at a recent fashiona- 
 ble partj;, not a thousand miles from 
 Portland-place, an event which occa- 
 sioned great confusion; the young Coun- 
 tess of G — s — e fainted away ; Lady 
 
 E. O'R— n wept. Lady E. G r 
 
 and Lady F. A — y swelling with envy, 
 burst their scanty drapery, and were 
 obliged to make a precipitate retreat ; 
 and the Misses G y would ^cer- 
 tainly have met with a similar misfor- 
 tune, if they had not luckly attracted 
 s Li the
 
 2^6 
 
 the attention of the Lords H. and S* 
 who were cought by a golden bait; 
 while a ceTia.in tumhlimg down Barouche 
 Driver was forced to bow at the shrine of 
 an old dowager, who, it seems, has pro- 
 mised him an annuity and seat on the 
 dicky for the title of Lady H — z — d." 
 
 This paragraph was not clearly un - 
 derstood by Stella at the conclusion, the 
 first part was too easily comprehended, 
 the fair Lady, she guessed, was Lady Jane 
 Elmsberry, with whom Arrandale cer- 
 tainly did converse more than with any 
 other lady on the preceding evening. As 
 ^either the Admiral nor Mrs. Moreland 
 were witness to the confusion the para- 
 graphs caused,she resolved not to say any 
 thing of them, and hoped they might es- 
 cape observatiar^, for she could not bear 
 
 the
 
 227 
 
 idea that her uncle should be informed, 
 by such a public vehicle as a news- pa- 
 per, that she had exposed her regard for 
 Artandale, and her vexation at his 
 marked preference to Lady Ellen. She 
 was sensible that her heart felt far more 
 than she was willing to confess even to 
 herself, at the desertion of the elegant 
 Arrandale, to whom a strong attachment 
 -when a child seemed at his return from 
 Bengal to have gathered strength during 
 his absence, and she was flattered by the 
 partiality of a man so deservedly admir- 
 ed as George Arrandale was by all who 
 beheld him ; and as she would have been 
 proud of being publicly preferred by 
 such a man, so was she equally mortified 
 by being publicly slighted for the Hiber- 
 nian beauty — Stella of Grassmere was 
 announced to the world as forsaken, and 
 
 unhappy^
 
 228 
 
 unhappy, and alas ! a flood of tears 
 proved the truth of the assertion. She 
 was ashamed of her weakness, and dread- 
 ing the enterance ©f Mrs. Moreland or 
 Sir Edward she arose hastily, wiped her 
 eyes^ hid the papers under some music 
 books and went to the window that the 
 air might take off the redness of her eyes. 
 Th^ return of Mrs. Rowland with 
 her three lovely children afforded the 
 the Countess a source of amusement 
 which enlivened her spirits, she played 
 with the innocent prattlers, and ^hilc 
 she endeavoured to divert them, felt 
 herself diverted,. 
 
 But^ when Oakheart returned with 
 the father, and she beheld them clingmg 
 round him, and expressing their joy by 
 the fondest words and caresses, while 
 
 tears
 
 229 , • 
 
 tears of joy flowed from the ejesof theip 
 
 happy parents, she was so interested by 
 
 the tender scene, that she forgot the 
 
 paragraphs, Arrandale, and every thing 
 
 but the restored felicity of the Row- 
 
 lands> whose gratitude to the Admiral 
 was too great for words to express ; he 
 
 said, the tear of pleasure glittering on 
 
 his manly cheek, — 
 
 '' My good friends, all your gratitude,, 
 and mine too, is due to the brave Oak- 
 heart, whose compassion to a female in 
 distress has rendered ?;ow happy, and in- 
 dulged me with a scene the most gra- 
 tifying to those who can rejoice in the 
 happiness of their fellow creatures." 
 
 The happy family concluded the day 
 of their reunion in Arlington-street, and 
 
 by
 
 230 
 
 by the orders of Sir Edward, were hos- 
 pitably entertained in the steward's 
 room. The considerate Baronet also, 
 sent Mr. Rowland a five pound note by 
 Odkheart, fearing he might be embar- 
 rassed by loss of time and extraordinary 
 expenses.
 
 !831- 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The Opera and ludicrous Dis- 
 asters, 
 
 In the evening, the Admiral and 
 the Ladies met the Countess of Lough- 
 mead and her party at the Opera ; Stella 
 was delighted with the regularity and ele- 
 gance of that immense theatre. She soon 
 perceived that Arrandale was missing> 
 and her eyes wandered around the house 
 in search of him, she dared not trust her 
 tongue to make inquiries concerning him^ 
 even of her friends Jane and William 
 Elmsberry. Stella of Grassmere, the 
 hitherto artless child of Nature, now an- 
 xiously
 
 232 
 
 xlously endeavoured to conceal the feel- 
 ings of her heart, and feared to ask a 
 natural and simple question. She 
 thought of the paragraphs, and scarcely 
 attended to the conversation of Lord 
 Splendormore, w^ho sat behind her, aad 
 talked incessantly of the beau monde 
 which adorned the theatre ; Catalani 
 alone could charm him into silence, and 
 Stella v^^as enraptured w^ith strains of 
 harmony, such as she had never heard 
 before; to her great joy, the charming 
 Bravura was encored, but while she lis- 
 tened to it a second time, Arrandale 
 entered an opposite box with the Coun- 
 tess of Everbloom, and Lady Eva Gossii- 
 mer, whose loud exclamation of, — 
 
 '' Oh ! heaven ! the enchanting Bra- 
 vura is just finished !'* 
 
 Drew
 
 232 
 
 Drew all eyes toward the box from 
 whence it came, and the bows of the 
 graceful East-Indian immediately turned 
 them to the party he noticed, and from 
 that moment, the Countess of Grassmere, 
 and the Ladies Jane and Ellen^ became 
 the object of attraction. 
 
 Poor Stella beheld the glasses turned 
 toward her, and she thought all who 
 gazed through them had read the pa- 
 ragraphs, and considered her as forsaken 
 by Arrandale, and grieved at his fic- 
 kleness she changed colour from pale to 
 red several times, and vexed at doing so, 
 turned to Lord Splendormore, and, with 
 all the gaiety she could assume, express- 
 ed the high admiration of Catalani's vo- 
 cal powers, and while the young Lord 
 was drawling out his assent to her enco- 
 
 miums>
 
 334 
 
 niiums, she gave a glance at Ladj Ellen, 
 who seemed engaged in serious conver- 
 sation with Lord Heathland. Lady Jane 
 said^ — 
 
 '' Only see, my dear Stella, how pleas- 
 ed the old dowager of Everbloom 
 and her daughter look, at having caught 
 our East-Indian ; they do right to 
 make much of him for the happy mo- 
 ment; for poor souls they will not keep 
 him long — I declare he is upon the wing 
 already — and so are y-ou. Lord Splen- 
 dorraore/' 
 
 *' Yes faith. Lady Jane, I seldom can 
 stay long in one place. I shall take the 
 liberty of making a few observations fronx 
 the pit; look into the gallery lounge a- 
 
 while
 
 235 
 
 while in the coffee-room and then return 
 to the most lovely." 
 
 He quitted the box with a bow^ and 
 
 a tender look so artfully directed to 
 
 both the ladies, that each might have 
 claimed the honour, if they had been so 
 
 inclined, but neither of them thought it 
 worthy their acceptance ; for even Lady 
 Jane, who had not the least objection to 
 universal admiration, had just perceived 
 the handsome Marquis of Rosebower 
 enter the Duchess of Zephyrly's box, 
 and she could not waste her ideas on 
 Splendormore, for her fair Ladyship had 
 actually felt herself far more flattered 
 by the ^oft looks and polite attentions of 
 the Marquis than by any of the num- 
 berless compliments lavished on her by 
 other meu of fashioa. She rejoiced to 
 
 see
 
 236 
 
 see him, for she had heard he was on a 
 visit in Yorkshire^ and despaired of see- 
 ing him while she staid in Town there- 
 fore she was agreeably surprised ; but 
 now more than ever did she dread the 
 powerful attractions of the Countess and 
 Lady Ellen^ for she was by no means se- 
 cure of Rosebower's love, she knew 
 him to be a gay, unsettled character, he 
 had made no professions of a serious na- 
 ture to her, his honour, even in lier opi- 
 nion,could not be sullied by his address- 
 ing any other Lady although her gay 
 heart felt a severe pang at the idea of 
 his doing so. 
 
 Stella observed, with surprise, the 
 thoughtful gravity of her friend Jane, 
 and began to consider the cause of it 
 was she piqued at Arrandale for not com- 
 ing
 
 237 
 
 ing into their box, or at Splendormore's 
 departure, but before she could settle 
 the point, the Marquis bowed to Lady 
 Jane whose animated look and mantling 
 blushes plainly discovered on whom her 
 serious thoughts had been fixed, and by 
 the inquisitive gaze of the Marquis 
 through his glass at her two lovely 
 friends, her ideal fears seemed realized, 
 and she immediately beheld them in the 
 light of dangerous rivals, who would 
 inevitably endeavour to attract a young 
 and handsome heir to a Ducal coronet, 
 her emotions were visible to Stella, but as 
 she concluded that they were occasioned 
 by one who had never been mentioned 
 to Tier by Lady Jane,she thought it most 
 delicate not to notice them, and con- 
 Versed with Mr. Elmsberry. 
 
 Arrandale
 
 S38 
 
 Arrandale did not stay five minutes in 
 the Countess of Everbloom's box, and 
 Stella expected him to join their party; 
 but she saw him soon after with the Mar- 
 chioness of Ceresfield. 
 
 Lady Jai>e, said the theatre was quite 
 suffocating, and asked her brother to 
 walk with her in the coffee-room that 
 she might take a glass of Ice. 
 
 " Let us all go" said the Earl of 
 Loughniead, '' and take some refresh- 
 ment, will Lady Jkne accept my hand in- 
 stead of Mr, Elmsberry's ?" 
 
 Lady Jane had seen the Marquis quit 
 his mother's box, and by his not coming 
 to theirs, imagined she might chance to 
 meet him in the coffee-room, but by no 
 
 means
 
 239 
 
 means intended that the whole party 
 should accompany her, fearing the new 
 beauties would share his attention if not 
 totally withdraw it from herself^, yet she 
 could not retract her wish, and, with a 
 forced smile, gave her hand to the Earl. 
 
 They met the Marquis Rosebower at 
 the door ; Lord Heathland introduced 
 him to those unknown to him of the par- 
 ty, and his admiring looks and compli- 
 mentary expressions to the Countess of 
 Orassmere and Lady Ellen O'Roon were 
 so vexatious to Lady Jane, that seeing 
 Splendormore at some distance she led 
 the Earl toward him ; he was taking tea 
 with the Duchess of Zephyrly, and La- 
 dy Frivola Airy, mother and sister to 
 the Marquis, she immediately attempted 
 to draw him into a lively conversation, 
 
 but.
 
 240 
 
 butj he seeing the Golightlys, left her 
 Ladyship still under the protection of his 
 father, and joined those ladies, their aunt 
 and Sir Jehu Hazard, who was paying 
 great attention to the old dowager. 
 
 Miss Flavia, who had the evening be- 
 fore thought herself sure of the Baronet, 
 and flattered herself with the probability 
 of obtaining the charming Lord Heath- 
 land, who, she declared was vastly hand- 
 some and entertaining, now beheld him 
 so engrossed by Lady Ellen, that in vain 
 she had talked loud, and given him the 
 most inviting looks, he was not to be in- 
 ticed from the lovely Hibernian, for he 
 had heard only that morning that she 
 possessed a very capital fortune inde- 
 pendant of her father, which was be- 
 queathed to her by her maternal grand- 
 
 father.
 
 241 
 
 father who had also left Mr. O'Roon 
 the estate^ he had so much improved, on 
 the Banks of the Banna. This agreeable 
 information Heathland had from his 
 friend Splendor more, who wished Lady 
 Jane had a fortune similar to his sister's 
 that they might be doubly brothers, and 
 enabled to support the expences of fa- 
 shionable life, without embarrassments, 
 until they took their seats in the house 
 of Peers. 
 
 The fortune, more than the beauty, of 
 Lady Ellen determined Lord Heath- 
 land to win her affection, if possible, so 
 completely that if the Earl should make 
 any objections, she might be induced to 
 marry him without the consent of her 
 parents ; she was rather too grave for 
 him,, but he preferred her in every re- 
 
 voL. I. M spect
 
 2*2 
 
 spfect to the Golightljs^ therefore^ he 
 totally disregarded all the little arts of 
 Flavia to attract him^ while the weak- 
 minded girl was provoked by the indif- 
 ference of the Lord, of whose attach- 
 ment to her she had boasted with pride, 
 and, envious even of her sister and aunt, 
 because the former still retained Lord 
 Splendormore, and the latter, old and 
 ugly as she was, looked proudly tri- 
 umphant, while the Baronet paid her 
 such marked attention, Flavia, naturally 
 malicous, resolved to attract notice, and, 
 if possible, render her aunt ridiculous. 
 She had frequently affected to fall into 
 fliSj and thought she might play them 
 off on the present occasion, with good 
 success, to interest the feelings of Lord 
 Ileathland, and demolish the vain hopes 
 
 of
 
 243 
 
 of her coquettish old aunt ; "screaming 
 out that all the roonni might bear her. 
 
 <c Oh !— oh ! Lord Heathland !— 
 Lord Heathland ! I am dying/' She 
 stretched forth a beautiful white hand 
 toward hini^ and throwing herself back 
 into the lap of Lord Splendormore^ in 
 the violence of the fit hit her other hand 
 against the mouth of the unfortunate 
 Mrs. Warpley, who she not only threw 
 back with herself, but, by a slip of her 
 hand over the head of the terrified old 
 Lady, she drew off a chevelure of luxu- 
 riant braids and ringlets, which fell to 
 the ground, while nothing but a little 
 grey cropped head rested on the arm of 
 Splendormore,which saved it from strik- 
 ing, so unguarded, against the edge of 
 the bench. 
 
 m2 '^ Help!
 
 244 
 
 '' Help ! help ! — My sister ! my 
 aunt I — help for God's sake ! they are 
 both dying of convulsions — oh ! my poor 
 aunt is choaking, lift her up^ how she 
 rattles in the throat !'* 
 
 '' Zounds ! I believe she has swal- 
 lowed the spoon^ or the cup ! the coffee 
 is spilt in her bosom"— 
 
 Her apparent danger checked the risi- 
 bility which her strange appearance ex- 
 cited^ as Sir Jehu supported her^ until, 
 after many struggles, several fine white 
 teeth fell out of her mouth, and the Ba- 
 ronet exclaimed, — 
 
 " By heaven ! her teeth stuck in her 
 throat ! Miss Flavia has knocked them 
 all out — where the devil is the jazey 
 
 flown
 
 ^45 
 
 flown to ? she will take cold in nothing 
 but this natty grey crop of her own — 
 oh^ faith^ here is the Grecian wig/* 
 
 Sir Jehu put it on so awkwardly that 
 the side ringlets hung over her nose^ and 
 her ligwre was then so completely gro- 
 tesque, that the restrained laugh burst 
 forth instantaneously, and brought the 
 poor Lady to a perfect sense of all her 
 disasters; and quite overcome by shante 
 and mortification, she actually fell into 
 violent hysterics; again the Grecian 
 tresses forsook her head ; the artificial 
 lilies and roses which she had profusely 
 lavished on her face and neck, became 
 unnaturally blended ; her thin blue lips, 
 distended by deafening shrieks, disco- 
 vered her now toothless gums, her bosom, 
 one arm, and dress in front, were dyed 
 M 3 with
 
 246 
 
 with coffee^ her crooked legs were'ex- 
 posed by the twisting of the scanty dra- 
 pery, and convulsive distortions, added to 
 those of her frame and features, rendered 
 poor aunt Warpiey altogether such a 
 hideous little lump of deformity, that 
 the Ladies ran avvay terrified, and Sir 
 Jehu exclaimed,— 
 
 '' Zounds ! this is the work of the 
 Devil and his imps, who are showing 
 us the hag Sycorax in her true form !'* 
 
 In the mean time Flavia took care to 
 throw her fine form into a variety of at- 
 titudes, all calculated to expose its beau- 
 ties ; but, to her great mortification, the 
 misfortunes which she had spitefully 
 brought on her aunt, drew all eyes from 
 the young beauty;, to old age and de- 
 formity ;
 
 247 
 
 formitj ; one old peer^ alone^ stood gaz- 
 ing on the studied attitudes of Flavia^ 
 for Lord Slpendormore had left her in 
 the Care of Miss Golightly^ and one of 
 the tea-makerS;,whom he had sent to her 
 assistance^ and was going to join his fa- 
 mily, forhe detested trouble and confu- 
 sion, but Miss Golightlj said, with a 
 beseeching look and voice, — 
 
 '' Oh, for heaven's sake, mj Lord, do 
 not leave me in this distress !'' 
 
 So called upon, he was obliged to re- 
 turn and take his seat by her side, and 
 occasionally hold the aromatic vinegar 
 to the nose of Flavia, for Miss Golight- 
 ly, quite ashamed of her unfortunate aunt, 
 left her to the compassion, or derision of 
 strangers, and paid all the attention she 
 M 4 could
 
 248 
 
 could bestow on any human being to her 
 sister^althoughshe knew the litsof Flavia 
 were feigned^ and Mrs. Warpley's real; 
 but she felt no affection for her aunt^, and 
 not much for her sister — self was always 
 predominant in the bosom of Miss Go- 
 lightly ; but the moment she beheld the 
 enamoured Duke gazing on Flavia, she 
 grew careless and indifferent to Splcn- 
 dormore, and endeavoured to allure his 
 GracCj wisely thinking that the immedi- 
 ate possession of a Ducal Coronet was 
 far more agreeable than that of an Earl's 
 in expectancy; but Flavia thinking like her 
 sister^apparently insensible^again stretch- 
 ed forth her fine white hand, it was irre^ 
 sistible— it rested on the hand of his Grace 
 which opened mechanically to receive 
 and press it — the white hand drew him, 
 rather forcibly, close to its fair owner, 
 
 he
 
 249 
 
 he seated himself by her side — she start- 
 ed up wildly — then;, as if quite exhaust- 
 ed, reclined on his bosom Her 
 
 luxuriant tresses, which she had pur- 
 posely unloosed, fell in glossy waves up- 
 on his shoulder ; he pressed her fondly 
 to his side— she opened her soft eyes, and 
 looking languishingly up to him, heaved 
 her fair bosom with a deep sigh, and 
 faintly uttered, with an air of delicate 
 confusion, — ,.^ 
 
 " Where am I? — what is the mat- 
 ter ? — who thus kindly supports me ? 
 Oh ! I am very ill \ — where is my 
 sister?" 
 
 " Here I am, Flavia, compose your- 
 self/' 
 
 '' Oh J take me home away from 
 all these strangers." 
 
 M 5 '' We
 
 250 
 
 '' We cannot go yet, the carriage is 
 not come — recollect yourself, we are in 
 the Opera-house, and aunt War play, 
 poor soul, cannot be moved until she 
 comes oiit of her fits/' 
 
 The Duke offered his carriage, 
 and begged they would command it 
 where they pleased. Lord Splendor- 
 more immediately offered his ; the 
 Duke's was accepted by both at once, 
 each hoping to be his Duchess ; and 
 Splendormore, politely wishing the in- 
 valids better, and bowing with smiling 
 no7ichalcmce, went to Lady Jane, with 
 whom he re entered the box, and left the 
 Coheiresses and their aunt to the pro- 
 tection of the Duke, and several young 
 fellows, who were sure to hover near all 
 heiresses. 
 
 His
 
 251 
 
 His Grace of Mjrtlebank, would 
 gladly have taken charge of one fair 
 damsel, but by no means liked to have 
 a family imposed on him, particularly 
 such a quizzical, disgusting old hag as 
 aunt Warpley, for he despised every 
 thing that was old, except himself, all 
 his Grace could do, without forfeiting 
 his character for gallantry, was to make 
 inquiries for his carriage. It was not ar- 
 rived ; he, therefore, kept his seat by the 
 languid Flavia, who pretended to be un- 
 able to return to their box that evening. 
 Mrs. Warpley recovered from her fits,but 
 the recollection of their cause distract- 
 ed her; one of the tea-makers had lent 
 her a shawl,and arranged her head-dress 
 their own carriage luckily came before 
 the Duke's, both for her, who was anxious 
 to ^et home^ and for his Grace^ who did 
 M 6 not
 
 232 
 
 rfot wish to have exactly such a figure 
 in his^ nor did he much like the drive to 
 Portman-square^ unless it could have 
 been with only the lovely Flavia, whose 
 hand he fondly pressed as he led her to 
 the carriage, and the flattered, ambitious 
 girl concluded that he meant it to be hers 
 in marriage — what a triumph for her. 
 enviouS;, mischievous heart 1 
 
 Mrs. Warpley was so weakened by her 
 fits, that Sir Jehu Hazard was obliged 
 to carry her down the stairs, and to Miss 
 Golightly no hand was offered, but 
 Captain Banyan's, which she accepted 
 with a scornful air, as if she despised 
 the man to whom it belonged, because 
 he was not a Duke. 
 
 While this scene of ludicrous distress 
 
 was,
 
 253> 
 
 was performed in the cofFec-room, Lady 
 I^oughmead and Mrs. Moreland, seeing, 
 that there was no want of assistants 
 around the hysterical Ladies^ persuaded 
 Stella and Lady Ellen to return to their 
 box, to see the Grand Ballet ; Lady 
 Jane, who was conversing with the 
 Duchess of Zephyrly and Lady Frivola, 
 said she would join them presently, and 
 beheld the Marquis give his hand to 
 Stella of Grassmere with apparent sang 
 froid, but took care to inform the Du- 
 chess, his mother, that the young coun- 
 tess was absolutely engaged to her bro- 
 ther, William Elmsberry, and that Lord 
 Heathland was going to be married to 
 Lady Ellen O'Roon as soon as the writ- 
 ings were drawn up ; this information 
 she knew would immediately reach the 
 ears of the fickle Rosebower and, she^ 
 
 hoped.
 
 254 
 
 hoped, would make him in honour re- 
 linquish any design he might have form- 
 ed of obtaining either of her fair friends. 
 
 ^^And I suppose "said Lady Frivola, 
 ''' that the East-Indian is destined for your 
 grave sister Charlotte^, is it not so ?'* 
 
 '' No, no, George Arrandale will 
 never marry either Charlotte or nayself, 
 we are too much like brother and sisters; 
 Mr. O'Roon is my destined brother-in- 
 law, I believe, and Lord Splendormore 
 is — tell me what you think of* Splendor- 
 more ?" 
 
 '' Ah ! cruel Jane ! what do you 
 think of poor Rosebower ?" 
 
 *' That he is a butterfly of fashion.
 
 235 
 
 carelessly roving from flower to flower, 
 or^ now I reflect;, he is a bee of fashion, 
 in search of sweets which he would in- 
 dustriously gather to enrich his store.*' 
 
 '^' I am glad you think my son so wise. 
 Lady Jane, the extravagance of his fa- 
 ther renders such prudence absolutely 
 necessary for his future establishment.'^ 
 
 Lady Jane blushed ; she did not expect 
 such a declaration from the Duchess ; it 
 seemed to crush her hopes of the Mar- 
 quis for ever, her pride felt hurt, but she 
 stifled her feelings, and gaily repeated 
 her question concerning Splendormore, 
 to Lady Frivola, who replied as gaily,- 
 
 *' I think him a fashionable, handsome, 
 
 agreeable
 
 256 
 
 agreeable fellow, and hope soon to call 
 my dear Jane Lady Splendormore/* 
 
 '' Hush ! my dear, he is coming to 
 us/* 
 
 His Lordship, just escaped from the 
 heiresses, gave the Ladies a most laugh- 
 able account of the scene he had wit- 
 nessed. Lady Frivola, who loved to 
 laugh at the expense of others,beckoned 
 Lady Eva Gossamer, who just then 
 entered the room with Paradel, Eva, and 
 Frivola most highly enjoyed the mor- 
 tifications and disasters of the Golight- 
 ly's and their little hag of an aunt, be- 
 cause, the night before they had imper- 
 tinently deprived them of two gay 
 young Lords and a dashing Baronet. 
 
 As
 
 257 
 
 As Lord Heathland resolveil not to 
 give the Marquis of Rosebower an op- 
 portunity of conversing with Lady Ellea 
 he kept liis place by her side for the whole 
 evening, the Marquis devoted himself 
 to the blooming Countess, who, although 
 &he was not prepossessed in his favour, 
 paid a polite atttention to his unceasing 
 discourse that she might form some 
 knowledge of a man whose appearance 
 had so greatly affected Lady Jane, a-nd 
 whose obsequious attention to herself 
 she feared deprived poor Jane of her 
 accustomed gaiety, and the party of 
 her company. 
 
 The Marquis was handsome and well 
 formed, and looked perfectly conscious 
 of his exterior advantages ; which added 
 to a libertine air, and bold familiarity of 
 
 manner Sj
 
 258 
 
 manners^ rendered him extremely dis- 
 agreeable^ in himself, to Stella ; yet^ pi- 
 qued as she was at Arrandale's pointed, 
 and unexpected iiidiiference, the public 
 attention of an universally admired No- 
 bleman, of superior rank in life, certainly 
 gratified the natural vanity of the beau- 
 tiful Peeress, who felt herself slighted, 
 in the bloom of her youth, by a dark- 
 complexioned yoiing man of doubtful 
 birth, and by whom even the public 
 prints had pronounced her to be forsak- 
 en. The modest, seiisible, William 
 Elmsberry frequently gave lier a look 
 which forcibly expressed his mental an- 
 guish at seeing another potent rival. 
 Stella was perfectly sensible of the worth 
 and attachment of Elmsberry ; and if 
 Arrandale had not come from Bengal, 
 she would have preferred him to any 
 
 other
 
 259 
 
 other man, and now indeed she did so; 
 for Arrandale was changed^ oh how 
 changed ! since she saw him at Grass- 
 mere and Rockalba^, where lie always 
 sought for her as if he could not exist 
 without her ; while here, in the metro- 
 polis, he was equally studious to avoid 
 her; she imagined that Lord Heathland, 
 or the Elmsberrys could solve the my- 
 stery of his conduct^ but Lady Charlotte 
 was the only one to whom she could 
 speak on the subject ; surely she thought 
 if he loved Lady Ellen he would have 
 come into the box next to her^, where he 
 had a right to be, without fear of incur- 
 ring the Earl's displeasure. 
 
 Such were the thoughts of Stella while 
 the Marquis was entertaining her, as he 
 thought^ with many pleasant anecdotes 
 
 * of
 
 260 
 
 of the personages within their view ai^d 
 maiij elegant speeches in praise of her- 
 self which he flattered himself so yoiinu 
 a Lady must find irresistible. 
 
 While they waited in the coffee room 
 until Lady Jane had finished a glass of 
 Ice, Sir Jehu said, — 
 
 '' Why Marquis ! are you in colours ! 
 I thought you went to Yorkshire to bury 
 an old uncle'' — 
 
 ^' Dead, or alive Jehu ?'* 
 
 '' So then Nunky made you take 
 a devilish long journey, and would not 
 reward you for it at last ?" 
 
 *^* Just so, my boy, instead of lodging 
 him snugly in the family yault, faith, I 
 
 lodged
 
 261 
 
 lodged him very corafortablj on board 
 his own elegant yacht, in order to take a 
 salubrious sail from Scarborough to 
 Weymouth, and having paid this duty 
 to the old boy, I spanked away to Town 
 in my tandem like the DeviJ^ or like you^ 
 Jehu, over every thing that stood in my 
 way/" 
 
 *' Bravo ! that's the go, my fine fel- 
 low ! cursed provoking though, when 
 you had just got the treasure within 
 your grasp, to have the old codger start 
 up again and secure it for himself a lit- 
 tle longer — Marquis, why did you not 
 bring him in the tandem? A neat tip 
 over, and adien to delays — Flavia Go- 
 lightly can manage those matters better, 
 she knows how to knock an old aunt out 
 of the world in a twinkling; faith the 
 
 girl
 
 262 
 
 girl has done for poor Sycorax, her mis- 
 shapen form will never be exhibited ia 
 public again, I think she will not live 
 till to-morrow/' 
 
 '' Now I am ready/' said Lady Jane^ 
 mterrupting the sorrowful expression, 
 which Mrs. Wa'rpley's sad fate called 
 forth. 
 
 *"' I beg pardon for making you wait — 
 but I declare I could live upon Rasp- 
 berry Ice ; that is the fourth I have tak- 
 en siiice I have sat here, I believe ices 
 were the ambrosia of the deities.'' 
 
 ^' I fear they will freeze your heart. 
 Lady Jane— and i^ your heart is frozen, 
 mine, and many more will break in dis- 
 pair, therefore, in pity do not make ice 
 
 your
 
 26S 
 
 )^ourdiet!" Said Lord Splendormore, 
 as he offered her his hand^ which she ac- 
 cepted with an enchantting sniile^ pleas- 
 ed that the Marquis witnessed his gal- 
 lantry. 
 
 As they all had subscribed, for the ad- 
 vantage of passing through the Musi- 
 cal Saloon in Pall-Mail, they got to their 
 respective carriages without the slightest 
 embarrassment from pedestrians, or 
 other carriages. 
 
 The Marquis unwillingly resigned 
 the hand of Stella, and felt mortified 
 to see Mr. Elmsberry take the place 
 at her side which he wished to occupy. 
 He knew that the Portland-piace party 
 were to sup in Arlington-street ; he had 
 mentioned that his mother and sister 
 
 were
 
 264 
 
 were going immediately from the Opera 
 to Lady Haut-ton's rout, and flsittered 
 himself that the Admiral would ask him 
 to isupper; but the sensible guardian of 
 Stella had observed his pointed attention, 
 and was not willing to encourage his 
 hopes by such ahasty invitation^ for at 
 present, the Marquis of Rosebower did 
 not appear to Sir Edward Fitzalbion 
 worthy Stella of Grassmere. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 T. Wallis, Printer, Little Coram Street.
 
 m. 
 
 3 0112 056952853