to remain. There was no want of subjects of conversation in a library, for I beg to assure you that I had not quite misemployed the last few years of my life, and that my studies were no longer confined to old novels. We spoke of general literature, of poetry, of music, and of painting. Leamington and its gossipping coteries, Lady Elvington and her frivolous guests, were never so much as mentioned by us; our communion was that of congenial tastes and feelings. I thought of Abelard and Eloïse, of Anhalt and Amelia, of Lionel and Clarissa, and deemed that no character in the world was so fascinating as that of a handsome, intelligent, young tutor. Two hours elapsed, the party returned home. Lady Elvington inquired after me, and in a few minutes she entered the library. Now Lady Elvington was one of the stiffest and proudest of aristocratic ladies, and I began to fear that she would feel somewhat displeased with me for being thus seated in familiar colloquy with her son's tutor; however, such was not the case, she welcomed me smilingly and cordially, and said, 'I am glad you have had agreeable society,' with a kind glance at the silent tutor, who had opened the folio, and was again intently engaged in reading. What merit,' I thought, must Holcombe be possessed of, thus to thaw the ice of Lady Elvington's pride!' Presently Lord Elvington entered; and, after speaking to me, began telling the reader of the folio the particulars of his morning's ride, and complaining that his tutor had restricted him from taking a particular leap, which he knew his horse could have executed famously. "Your tutor! Lord Elvington,' I exclaimed with astonishment, have I not been conversing with Mr. Holcombe for the last two hours?' 66 6 Certainly not,' said Lady Elvington; I should have introduced Mr. Walgrave to you directly I came into the room, but I had not any idea that you could have resided some days at Leamington without making his acquaintance.' "The introduction was now made in form, and Walgrave was greatly entertained at the idea of my mistake; nor was I surprised at his amusement when I saw the real Simon Pure,' a heavy, coarse-featured man, with high shoulders, and shaggy eyebrows, uncouth in manner, and sparing of speech, whose distinguished classical and mathematical attainments were little qualified to render him an acceptable companion or lover to a romantic young lady like myself. This, our first interview, seemed to draw Walgrave and myself more closely together than months of common intercourse could have done; in fact, had I been introduced to him in the usual manner, I should probably have been reserved and distant in my demeanour towards him, and we should never have found out how thoroughly we suited each other. I passed three happy days with Lady Elvington; and when I returned to Leamington, I immediately introduced Walgrave to my uncle and aunt as my friend; and in a little while he declared himself my lover. I need not say that I joyfully accepted his proposals; but even at the | moment when I breathed forth the important yes,' Emma Tracey's voice seemed to ring in my ears-No woman ever marries her first love!' How happily passed the three months that my uncle and aunt thought it desirable should elapse before our union took place! I was the general object of remark at Leamington for having won the prize for which all contended, but this I little cared for. I went to few parties, I preferred quiet walks, and quiet evenings at home with my lover. In a few weeks we all repaired to London, where we remained a month, and I provided myself with wedding clothes, or rather, I should say, suffered my aunt and my sisters to choose them for mefor dress was never a passion with me, and was now less so than ever. London has many enjoyments for the intellectual: we attended concerts of delightful music, and visited galleries of exquisite paintings and sculpture; my lover was continually by my side, and was always devising some new scheme of enjoyment for me. At length we returned home; Walgrave was introduced to our friends and neighbours as my betrothed lover, the day was fixed, and the bustle of preparation had begun. Walgrave had been staying for some days at the house of one of his friends, who resided a few miles distance from us; the evening before the day appointed for our union, he took an affectionate leave of me, and as he ascended his curricle, and set off at a very tardy pace, he assured me, smilingly, that his horses should go faster on the morrow, when they were to bear him to me, instead of from me. It had been settled that we should travel for some months after our marriage, and I was delighted with the anticipation of visiting new countries in the society of one so dear to me; no cloud, however slight, had intervened to dim our sunny prospects, and I began to persuade myself that Emma Tracey was in the wrong, and that it was not only possible but probable, that a woman might marry her first love. "It was a fair, smiling morning in February; the guests had assembled who were to accompany us to church, the veil and the orangeflowers had been placed on my head, and my sisters, and some young friends who were to act with them as my bridesmaids, were full of rapturous praises of my appearance. "You realize a stock phrase in our favourite old novels,' whispered Geraldine to me; 'it may be said of you, 66 never did she look so lovely!"' 66 Why was it that an allusion to our old novels seemed to sadden my heart even in the midst of happiness-was it that they were associated in my mind with my old companion, and her words of melancholy warning? At length, wonder began to be felt at the non-appearance of the bridegroom; the time wore on, the guests were grave and silent. I was disturbed with the fear of some accident, although even my worst fears fell short of the terrible reality. Let me pass briefly over the events that ensued; the arrival of Mr. Grenville, the friend with whom Walgrave was staying-his request to speak alone with my uncle-his terrible communica- | one than to have had happiness placed within tion! The spirited horses had taken fright, the my grasp, and to feel that it is gone from me for curricle had been overturned-Mr. Grenville ever!" had escaped without injury-my lover had met with instant death. I sank into insensibility when these terrible tidings were gradually broken to me; a long and severe illness ensued, and it was many weeks before I could leave my room. A severe trial which some time afterwards befell my dear sister Geraldine, seemed to increase my own sorrow; it appeared as if the daughters of our unhappy house were destined to disappointment and affliction. One day my aunt entered the room with an open letter in her hand. "You remember the Feltons, Alicia,' she said; they have long promised to come and stay a few weeks with us, and now Mrs. Felton writes me word that they shall be delighted to do so. I am so glad of it; they are all such lively people, and I am sure we seem to require enlivenment in our party, especially you, my love, and Geraldine. I mean to write immediately, and tell them that I shall be rejoiced to see them.' "I did not oppose the writing of my aunt's letter, for I felt that she herself required cheerful society, and would enjoy it; but for Geraldine and myself, I shrank from the idea of encountering Mr. Felton's puns, and capital good stories,' Mrs. Felton's ceaseless titter, and Miss Felton's wearying prattle about balls, officers, and new fashions. I knew that our friends Mr. and Mrs. Camelford were at this quiet little watering-place. I requested my uncle and aunt to allow myself and my sisters to remove here, and prolong our stay till the end of the autumn; an old trustworthy servant accompanied us, and we were all glad to escape for a time from the associations of our own neighbourhood. It is now seven months since I endured my great trial, but I still seem to feel it in its original freshness and intensity. I have heard people complain of sad and gloomy dreams; my dreams trouble me from being of a contrary description; continually in them I am re-united to my lover; I hear the sweet sounds of the marriagebells, I stand beside him at the altar, he claims me as his bride. I awaken, and awaken, alas! to the sad conviction that he is lost to me; I can look forward to no consolation in life, for I feel how thoroughly impossible it is that I should ever form a second attachment. Some of my friends, in attempting to mitigate my sorrow, have spoken of the far heavier trial endured by a widow who loses the dear companion of many happy years, but I cannot agree with them. Wedded life, however happy, must have its occasional clouds and blights; but the days of courtship, at least of a courtship like ours, are undimmed in their brightness and joyousness. Walgrave and I had seemed 'To love as they loved in the first golden time,' and the change from such perfect felicity to the extreme of misery, is more than a spirit timid and weak like mine can support. This is my trial, and surely there cannot be a more heavy "I truly commiserate my dear sister," said Geraldine; "but her trial meets with the kind sympathy of the world, and she is soothed by it; my trial, on the contrary, exposes me to the world's contemptuous pity, and I am irritated by it. Like Alicia, I was fond of fanciful reading, but principally so of books of chivalry and romance; it delighted me to read of a constant knight assailed by a hundred temptations, yet remaining among them all, true to the charms of his lady-love; a man who could love idly, or lightly, or changeably, was the object of my utmost disdain; and I never could thoroughly like the "Two Gentlemen of Verona," because Proteus proves false to Julia; nor could I readily understand how Julia could forgive him when he again professed himself her lover, and pass over his intervening passion for Silvia. I had never pictured to myself exactly what sort of lover I should prefer, but one thing was indispensable, he must be a model of firmness and constancy. Like Alicia, I was not of a susceptible nature, and refused several offers of marriage. When she endured her trial, how deeply and truly did I feel for her sufferings, and how little did I think that I should soon be called upon to sustain sufferings still more severe. We saw no visitors during Alicia's illness, and after her recovery we felt no wish to mingle in general society, but we renewed our intercourse with a few of our immediate neighbours. The nearest of these neighbours, whose grounds, indeed, adjoined those of my uncle, were Mr. and Mrs. Sedgely, an amiable and agreeable young couple. I was a great favourite with them, and constantly in the habit of spending long mornings, and even long days, at their house; and now, relieved from my attendance on Alicia by her restored health, I was glad to renew my pleasant visits. "You must remain with me during the day,' was Mrs. Sedgely's greeting to me; we have a guest in our house quite worthy of an introduction to you; he is one of the most attractive young men I know.' "How did you meet with this paragon?' I asked,' who seems so suddenly domesticated in your house, and what may his name be?' "His name is Linburn,' she replied; ' my husband met with him at the house of a friend in London, and was so pleased with him, that he invited him to stay with us; he is the only son of a man of good fortune in Yorkshire, so you see I am not introducing you to any objectionable connexion; he is rather out of spirits at present, being on bad terms with his father, poor young man; I do not know the cause, but suppose he must have committed some youthful folly; however, only sons are seldom long kept in disgrace.' "I was introduced to Linburn at dinner; without being handsome, he was indeed anattractive young man ; but perhaps I might be disposed to be fascinated with him from the indisputable fact that he appeared to be suddenly and strongly fascinated with me. There was something in the intent inquiring look of admiration with which he regarded me, that gave me the idea that he must have recognised me as one whom he had formerly seen in a dream, or met with in a previous state of existence; he appeared to listen to every word that fell from my lips not only with attention, but I may say almost with reverence; and when we returned to the drawing-room, Mrs. Sedgely laughingly congratulated me on my conquest, which, she said, although well worth gaining, had been achieved with less trouble than she had ever witnessed on similar occasions. Music was proposed in the evening. Linburn sang delightfully, and our voices united in the beautiful melodies of our own and other lands. When I returned home, I felt that I had indeed gained the preference of a man of no ordinary attainments and recommendations. I had been introduced into society for some years, I had received the notice of admirers, and the proposals of wooers; therefore you must not regard me as a vain, heedless young girl, prompt to construe every compliment into a token of attachment, and ready to give her heart in exchange for a few trifling courtesies. Attentions were not rare to me, and I had more than once inspired a sincere and true attachment; but I had never met with any one who was so thoroughly and palpably charmed with me at first sight as Linburn seemed to be. Can you then wonder that I felt very happy that evening, beholding a long vista of varied and increasing joys before me? I met with Linburn every day, and our mutual impressions in favour of each other remained unchanged, or rather, I should say, they became stronger. He soon entreated me to introduce him to my uncle and aunt. "I will do so with pleasure,' I said, and wish that I could introduce you to many more friends; but we have been suffering lately under painful circumstances, and ours is a dull house.' "No house can be dull to me of which you are an inmate,' was his reply. "I was struck with his anxiety that I should introduce him to my uncle and aunt, when it would have appeared more natural that he should have made the same request of his hostess, Mrs. Sedgely; it seemed clearly to intimate that he wished to be introduced as a suitor. So it appeared to my aunt, who told me I had reason to feel proud of so devoted a lover, and laughingly said to my uncle, that courtship had very much improved since his youthful days, for that he never sat perusing her features, and hanging on her accents, as Linburn did on those of Geraldine.' We passed much of our time in walking in the grounds either of my uncle's house or that of Mr. Sedgely. One reason, it appears to me, why attachments so rapidly progress in country-houses, is from the circumstance that they have gardens. A gentleman may pause before he requests a lady to take a long walk with him; he might deem it too palpable an attention to offer to her, unless he had serious intentions; but how easy to encounter her in a garden, how pleasant to unite his own language with the language of flowers while gathering blooming roses, fragrant carnations, and dewy myrtle to present to her; how delightful to tempt her to rest in a bower of honeysuckles, similar to that in which Beatrice concealed herself to overhear the conversation between Hero and Margaret; how desirable, when she has rested, to suggest astroll in the shrubbery! Young people may pass hours together in this way without exciting any remark from the seniors, when if they took halfan hour's walk on the turnpike-road they would be considered to have committed themselves to something beyond a flirtation. If I were to mention the great charm which endeared Linburn to me, I should say that it was the intense interest which he took not only in everything I did, but in everything I had done in early life. He was most anxious to ascertain my tastes, my pursuits, the studies I loved best, the description of friends that I had chosen; and these questions he asked, not in a tone of idle curiosity, but with the air of one who felt that there was not a subject in the world on which it was so delightful to him to speak. Constantly, in my replies, he detected the great congeniality of my spirit with his own; and, encouraged by his sympathetic feelings, I told him even the little anecdotes of my childhood, to which he listened with earnest interest, and to which he responded in those low, sweet, suppressed tones, which, more than any other attraction, exercise a mastery over a woman's heart. Our attachment soon became a matter of commentary in the neighbourhood; the Sedgelys saw much company, and we still received morning visitors; my aunt was congratulated on the advantageous connexion that I was likely to form, for the Sedgelys had made it known that Linburn was the only son of a rich man; and my young friends were full of praises of his fine eyes, and melodious voice. Thus passed some weeks, and Linburn had asked me what kind of residence I had pictured to myself as most desirable for a permanent home? and I, although I could well have answered him in the words 'Where'er thou art is home to me, And home without thee cannot be !' yet exercised my fancy in sketching a charming little cottage, overgrown with roses and jessamine. He entered into my ideas, and we laid out in thought an exquisite flower-garden, fitted up a fairy boudoir, and filled a little library with our favourite authors. I had passed a morning with the Sedgelys, and returned home about an hour before dinner. My aunt called me into her dressing-room as I passed; she seemed uneasy and disturbed. "Do you know," she said, "that Linburn speaks of you in the neighbourhood as 'Geraldine?" "Does he?" I replied, with a smile; "I am not much surprised at it, for it is some time since he began to call me so.' "Then," said my aunt, her counte nance brightening up, "I suppose there is a association with the weather and the county good understanding between you." "Certainly paper. "Well, Geraldine," said my aunt, "it there is," I replied, with some surprise; "how appears that you are determined not to receive eame you to suppose there was not?" "Be- me into your confidence, you have certainly cause, my dear Geraldine," said my aunt, caught from Linburn that reserve which you gravely, "you have hitherto been perfectly con- have just now accused him of possessing; how fidential with me; you have never received an ever, you will I hope remember that whenever offer of marriage, nor even attentions which you feel disposed to be more open, you cannot might seem likely to lead to one, without freely have a safer or sincerer friend than myself." conversing with me upon the subject, and I am Thus closed this interview. I had never re sure you must do me the justice to say that you ceived from my aunt anything so nearly aphave never found in me a rigid duenna or un-proaching to a lecture; and when I retired to my kind censor. If Linburn were not a desirable room at night, I began to examine myself connexion for you, no one could be more ready whether I had deserved to have it. I had certhan myself to reason the matter with you in a tainly been very happy during the last few weeks. kind and friendly spirit, and to smooth any It is the nature of happiness to be communicadifficulties that were in your way, if it lay in my tive. Why then had I never told my aunt, or power to do so. Linburn, however, is every even my sisters, of Linburn's declarations of thing that could be wished, not only in himself, affection for me? I paused. The reason too but in his fortune and position in society, there quickly suggested itself to me. It was because fore why should you have withheld from me the I had nothing to tell! Yes, strange as it may pleasure of knowing that you are engaged to appear, I could not recall a word that Linburn him?" "I thought it premature to speak at had ever said to me signifying his wish that I present," was my reply. "It cannot be prema should unite my fate with his own. He had ture," said my aunt, "to speak on a subject spoken of the pleasure he received in my which engrosses the conversation of so many of society; of the congeniality of our ideas; of my your acquaintance. The Forbes's called on me accomplishments; of my refinement of mind, this morning; they were asking me if the day and kindness of heart, but all these remarks was fixed, and if your marriage would remove might have been addressed to a sister. True, you from the neighbourhood; saying they there were looks and tones which would never feared that as Linburn was an only son, his have been directed to a sister; but how could father would wish you to reside in Yorkshire." I describe looks and tones? might it not be sup "It is strange," I said, "that people will form posed that I had deceived myself, and that words such hasty and unwarrantable conclusions on so free from passionate revealings could scarcely subjects of which they are perfectly ignorant; have been accompanied by a manner so widely Linburn has never said anything to me about different from the matter? I had mechanically living in Yorkshire." Here I stopped. Memory said that Linburn was reserved, to escape the made the unwelcome suggestion to me that in questioning of my aunt. She had disbelieved the "cottage of love" which we had sketched me; and yet when I came to reflect on our past together, myrtles were to grow in the open air conversations, I found that I had spoken the all through the winter; the locality clearly could truth; with all his flow of words, all his innot be in Yorkshire. "Geraldine," said my sinuating softness, Linburn was, in truth, very aunt, "you are unlike yourself this morning. reserved. How had he won from me countless I wish you would be more open and candid; details of my youthful days, and had he ever redoes Linburn's father disapprove of his attach-lated to me the slightest anecdote of his own? ment to you?" "Linburn has never mentioned Had he ever even alluded to his father, his relahis father's name to me," I replied. That is tives, or his friends? Sometimes we see a rather extraordinary," said my aunt, incredu-handwriting which at a little distance strikes us lously; "I should have thought that engaged as fair and clear, but when we inspect it closely, persons would have been on more confidential the lines seem confused and intricate. Just so terms." "I cannot say that we are actually engaged," I answered, in a hesitating tone; "there is rather a reserve in Linburn's manner." ." "I cannot at all agree with you," said my aunt; "I never met with any one less reserved than Linburn; and certainly when I observe you both from my window, walking in the flowergarden, his head bent down to listen to your whispered words, and your eyes lifted up to his face as if no contemplation was ever half so delightful to you, I have never suspected that you were talking about the changes in the weather, or the news of the county paper, I always thought that your conversation was about your selves." "And so it has been," I replied, feeling somewhat indignant that our delicious soulfraught colloquies should be desecrated by any was the character of Linburn. It struck you on first acquaintance as being remarkably open, and yet, in effect, it was impossible to have daily associated with the most reserved person for several weeks and have heard less of their antecedents than I had done of those of Linburn. The next day I called on Mrs. Sedgely, intending to ask her advice and opinion on the subject, but visitors were with her. Linburn, also, was in the room, and in his softest whisper asked me if I would walk to the shrubbery with him. It struck me then, and not for the first time, that he was very fond of asking me to walk when morning visitors were present, and also of whispering to me in a far lower tone than there was any occasion to do. This I had made my dear relatives very happy by telling them that all my suspense and anxieties were at an end, and that I was resolved to marry Linburn with or without the independent provision that he was soliciting from his father. The next morning I hoped to receive a visit from Linburn, to tell me the contents of his father's letter; but instead of Linburn came Mrs. Sedgely, looking very strangely and speaking very nervously. I was alone when she arrived. How is Linburn?' I asked. Linburn is a mystery to me,' she said, he has just taken leave of us in the highest spirits, his father's letter reached him this morning, and he said it was everything he could wish.' 'Did his father then approve of his preference for me?' I asked. I cannot understand you, Geraldine,' said Mrs. Sedgely, bending a search thought excusable in a lover; but now, when I | presence, but returned to my own house, and remembered that he was yet an undeclared lover, I wished that he would not make his attentions to me so very public. "Is it not delightful," he said, as we proceeded to the shrubbery, "to get away from these tedious people, and to be in the society of each other?" I replied merely by a smile. I thought the time of declaration had come, and my assurance was confirmed by Linburn's next remark. "Have you not sometimes wondered, Geraldine," he said, softly pressing my arm, "that I have never spoken of my father to you?" I evaded a direct reply to this question by saying "Mrs. Sedgely mentioned to me that you had a trifling misunderstanding with your father; I trust that it is happily dispelled." "It is so," he replied; "it would be tedious to tell you the cause of our difference of opinion; suffice it that we both expressed ourselves warmly, and both felt sorrying glance upon me, I am sure I thought by afterwards for the needless warmth we had your looks yesterday that everything was settled shown. I had a letter from my father three between you and Linburn, and yet, when he days ago." "And all hereafter will be peace took leave of us, he said it was not likely that between you, I trust," said I. "So I hope," he should ever be in this neighbourhood again; he said; "but my father is of a peculiar temper, he desired his kind and grateful regards to you, and rather difficult to be dealt with. I replied and requested me to tell you how much it grieved to his letter immediately after I had read it, and him to be compelled to depart without seeing I hope that I shall hear from him to-morrow. you, but that the commands of his father for his I addressed him, Geraldine, on a very important immediate return were absolute.' 'And yet,' I subject, and if he really feels the interest in my replied, completely mystified, 'you say that his happiness that he professes to do, he will not be father wrote him a kind letter. Yes,' she said, be inclined to refuse my reasonable request." 'one that satisfied his utmost wishes.' 'Amazing!' My heart began to beat, and my cheeks to I cried, he told me that, if a few preliminary flush; I could not doubt that the "reasonable matters could be arranged, he hoped to present request" was that his father would give his con- his father with a daughter-in-law.' 'And you sent to his union with me. "When I reflect," imagined,' she said, with a somewhat scornful continued Linburn, in his lowest and most smile, that he could present him with no silvery tones, "on the many delightful conver- daughter-in-law but yourself. You must endeasations, Geraldine, which we have held together, vour to forget him, Geraldine; it has been a foolI ought to feel somewhat ashamed of introducing ish business, and I am afraid will be very much such a subject as money into our communica- talked about.' Mrs. Sedgely took leave of me tions, but the fact is, that my father, although coolly; she was a devoted wife, and it was quite I shall inherit a large property at his death, is evident to me that she would never forgive me unwilling to render me in the smallest measure for having been ill-used by a young man introindependent of him during his life. I wish him duced to the neighbourhood as her husband's to make over an estate of moderate value to me. friend. I had a more painful scene to undergo He has hitherto refused to do so; but several of when I sought my family, and communicated to our friends have signified to him that my request them the cruel disappointment which I had is not unreasonable or presumptuous, and I sustained. Some time afterwards, we heard hope he will accede to it." "But why," said I, a few particulars respecting Linburn; he was not quite pleased that my hero of romance should truly, as had been represented, the son of a wrangle with his father about money-matters, man of good fortune, in Yorkshire, he was "should you care about independence?" "Be-attractive, accomplished, elegant, insinuating, cause," he replied, "it is my purpose to present free from extravagance or dissipation; but my father ere long with a fair daughter-in-law, and I have no right to expect that she will accept the hand of a dependent man." I was on the point of answering that it would not make the slightest difference to me, when I remarked that Linburn had imperceptibly led me to the front of the drawing-room windows which opened on the lawn. Mrs. Sedgely's visitors stepped out to take leave of me, and I am sure that my neightened colour and embarrassed, but pleased manner, must have given them the idea that I had just accepted an offer of marriage. I could say nothing to Mrs. Sedgely in Linburn's he had two qualities which had an evil influence on his character and conduct-a restless spirit of vanity, and an excessive love of money. He was that most despicable of beings, a male coquet, and delighted in leading young, affectionate, and unsuspecting girls to believe that he was on the verge of declaring his attachment to them, when he would suddenly withdraw his attentions, and exultingly defy them to quote a word that he had ever addressed to them symptomatic of a warmer feeling than mere friendship! These were his amusements; but his real object in life was the ac |
