 Section 35 of the Inheritance by Susan Edmundstone-Farrier, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Volume 2, Chapter 1, croit que ces personnes n'aient point d'entrer à ce qu'il dit, il ne faut pas conclure de l'absolument qu'il demande point. Pascal. Mr. Lindsey was neither a weak nor a vain man, and he was too well acquainted with the nature of Ms. Pratt to attach much credit to anything she said. He was aware that without absolutely speaking falsehood she very rarely spoke truth, that like many other people she failed in repeating precisely what she heard, not so much from design as from confusion of brain, redundancy of fancy and perfect organic construction, or in short someone or all of the causes which seem to render simple repetition infinitely more difficult than the most compound multiplication or addition. Much might be said upon this subject, but few readers are fond of digressions, especially when of amoral or didactic nature, the cause of Ms. Pratt's observations must therefore be left to the construction of the world, which is seldom disposed to be overcharitable in its conclusions. Mr. Lindsey indeed was little in the habit of attending to her words, being possessed of that enviable power of mental transmigration which placed him when even within her grasp quite beyond the influence of her power. He had however been struck with the mystical fragments of speech she had bestowed on him, the preceding evening. He was aware how little dependence was to be placed upon them, but like the spider her webs, even though wove out of her own intellectual resources, must still have something to cling to, and he resolved to lose no time in demolishing those cobwebs of her imagination. He therefore accosted her the following morning, as according to customs she stood airing herself at the hall door and without allowing her time to spread her wings and fly off in any of her discursive flights, he gravely begged to know the meaning of the words she had addressed to him the evening before. My words exclaimed she in some astonishment at being for the first time in her life asked for words. My words, what are you going to make of my words, my dear? Not much, but I confess I'm rather curious to know in what way I am thought to have played my card so well as, oh, I know where you are now, but if you want to take me in, Mr. Edwick, that won't do. They say daylight peeps through a small hole, and love like smoke will not hide, so you needn't trouble yourself to go about the bush with me, but you needn't be afraid, mom's the word, mom, and budget. Do you remember that? It's mom with you, it seems, and budget with a certain gay colonel, for he's off the field. I, you've really been very sly, but what will my lord and his member say to it, thank you? It would be affectation in me to pretend that I do not understand your illusions, groundless and absurd as they are, said Lindsay, but I do assure you upon my word of honor. By all while, my dear, don't to me of your words of honor in love affairs, I'll rather trust to my own eyes and ears than to any of your words of honor. I declare you as bad as Anthony White. I thought he would have raised the country at the report of his marriage with Lady Sophia Bellandine. He certainly did pay her some attentions, but he never went the links that people said, though it wasn't for want of good encouragement. Well, but as I have never presumed to pay attentions, and cannot boast of having received any encouragement, any report of that kind must have originated in some mistake and replace both parties in an awkward predicament. Fiddled faddle, really, my dear, when that lady doesn't deny it, I don't think it sets you very well to be so discomposed about it. You may look, but I assure you it's the case that she, as much as confessed it to me last night, now confessed what, asked Mr. Lindsay in amazement, just that the Colonel had got his offset. Oh, how I enjoy that, and that a certain person with a bow was her humble servant. Impossible, your ears have deceived you. My ears deceive me indeed. What would they do that for? You surely don't think I'm deaf, and if I am, I'm sure I'm not blind. You lovers seem always to think other people have lost their senses as well as yourselves, but it's only love that's blind, my dear. Miss Pratt, I beg you will listen to me seriously while I assure you in the most solid manner that you are under a complete delusion. For myself I can only be honored by such a supposition, but it is injurious. It is insulting to Miss St. Clair to have it imagined that she has already bestowed her regards upon me, who am in fact still almost a stranger to her. Mr. Lindsay spoke with that air of truth and sincerity that would have carried conviction to any other mind. As to that, it doesn't take a lifetime to fall in love, and your sudden love is always the strongest. Many a one has been overhead in ears before you could say, Jack Robinson. I really don't see why you should take it so much to heart when the lady puts up with it so quietly, but more than that I happen to hear something last night. I may as well tell you what it was if it was only to save you telling any more fibs to me about it. I happen to be taking a turn through the rooms last night just to cool myself a little after losing seven points, all owing to your good uncle's obstinacy. When I came to that, what do you call it, room there? The door was open, and there I heard the colonel say in a voice like any lion, raising hers in imitation. You love that, that, no matter what, that Edward Lindsay says he and you've deceived and bamboozled me. I know that you've given your affections to him, but he shall answer for it, and so he went on like any madman. I didn't hear so well what she said for, you know, she doesn't speak very loud, but I heard her say that she couldn't and wouldn't endure such insolence and that he had no right to speak to her in that way, but just then Lord Rossville was calling me to go and play the game over again with him, and at any rate, you know, I wouldn't have stayed to listen. All that is nothing to the purpose, God, Mr. Lindsay, and some little emotion. At least the only purpose is to show how little dependence you ought to place on any of your senses, since they must all have beguiled you in this matter. You will therefore act a prudent part for yourself, and a more delicate one towards Miss Sinclair, if you refrain from making any such comments in future, be assured you will only render yourself highly ridiculous. Oh, you needn't be afraid, I'm not going to trouble my head about the matter, return this prat reddening with anger that you'll not easily persuade me that I've lost my senses, because I happen to have a little more penetration than my neighbors, and a way patted the offended fair, rather confirmed than shaken in her preconceived notions on this subject. Disbelieving, as he certainly did the greater part of Miss Pratt's communications, still it was not in nature that Mr. Lindsay should have felt altogether indifferent to them, although not a person to yield his affections lightly. He certainly had been charmed with Miss Sinclair's beauty and grace, with the mingle of the vastity and softness of her manners, and with the open naive cast of her character. There was all to captivate a mind and taste such as his, but there was still something wanting to render the charm complete. Firm, in his own religious principles, he vainly sought in Gertrude for any corresponding sentiments. Gertrude was religious, what mind of any excellence is not, but hers was the religion of poetry, of taste, of feeling, of impulse, of any and every thing but Christianity. He saw much of fine natural feeling, but in vain sought for any guiding principle of duty. Her mind seemed as a lovely flowery pathless waste, whose sweets exhaled in vain, all was graceful, luxurious, but all was transient and perishable in its loveliness. No planted or mortal growth grew there, no flowers worthy of paradise. Mr. Lindsey had discernment to trace the leading features of his cousin's mind, even through the veil which was cast over it by Lord Rossville's tyranny, and Miss Sinclair's art of this. He saw her ardent, enthusiastic, and susceptible, but rash, visionary, and unregulated, he feared she was in bad hands, even in her mother's, but he dreaded still more or less Colonel Delmore should succeed in gaining her affections. He suspected his design, and from his previous knowledge of his habits and principles, was convinced that such an union would be the wreck of Gertrude's peace and happiness. Since that strange a mysterious adventure in the wood, he had felt a still deeper interest in her, and he wished, if possible, to gain her friendship and confidence that he might endeavor to save her from the snares with which she was beset. In short, Lindsey's feelings towards her were compounded into one which could not have been easily defined. It was neither love nor friendship, yet part took of the nature of both, for it had somewhat of the excitement of the one with the disinterestedness of the other. The mutual embarrassment of the cousins was not lessened when they next met, and they seemed by a sort of tacit agreement to avoid each other, which Miss Pratt sat down as a proof positive that there was a perfect understanding between them. But she was highly provoked that with all her watching and spying, she never could detect stolen glances or soft whispers or ta ta ta walks or private meetings or any of those various symptoms which so often enable single ladies to anticipate and settle a marriage before it has been even thought of by the parties themselves. Not daring, however, to give utterance to her thoughts where she was and enable any longer to keep her discovery pent up within her own bosom. She availed herself of the opportunity of a free cast, as she called it, to make out her visit to Lady Milbank, and there she accordingly betook herself with her budget, containing in strict confidence all the particulars of Colonel Delmore's refusal, his impertinent perseverance, his frightening mis-send clear into hysterics by his violence, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Then came the history of Mr. Lindsey's acceptance, her own bright discoveries, a full and minute description of the pearls well-garnished with conjectures as to how it would all end when Mr. Member came to poll and found another elected and returned. Some of these dark saints she had even dared to throw out to Lord Rossville, but his lordship's thoughts were so engrossed by the realities of electioneering that he had none to throw away upon it metaphorically. Ms. Pratt's departure was, as usual, a relief to the whole party, but to none so much as to Ms. St. Clair and Mr. Lindsey, who soon found themselves conversing together, if not with their former ease with more than their former interest in each other. She could not be insensible to the quiet elegance of his manners and the superiority of his conversation, but yet she failed to do him justice for solely occupied with one engrossing object. She merely sought in any other wherewithal to lighten the tedium of his absence. Two different pictures have been presented to her in the characters of the cousins, the one rich, varied and brilliant in its colouring, the other correct and beautiful in its outline, the one attracting instant admiration, the other appreciated only by the careful and discriminating, had perfection itself now been placed before her, it had failed to captivate the heart over which a dazzled imagination had cast its deceitful hues. The idol of that heart had gained an absolute ascendancy over her affections, and on it she looked not with the steady eye of sober truth, but with the fascinating gaze of spellbound illusion. The following letters were put into Gertrude's hand one morning. The first she opened was sealed with an evergreen leaf. I am inexpressibly pained to think what an opinion my dearest cousin must have formed of me from having allowed so much time to elapse there I commenced a correspondence from which believe me I expect to derive the most unfaigned and heartfelt delight. But you, my dear friend, whose fate it has been to Rome and other realms to view will, I am sure, make allowance for the apparent neglect and unkindness I have been guilty of, which, be assured, was very far from designed on my part. Indeed, scarce a day has elapsed since we parted that I have not planned taking up my pen to address you and to attempt to convey to you some idea, however faint, of all I have seen and felt since bidding adieu to Caledonia. But alas, so many of the vulgar cases of life uptrude themselves even here, in wiles unknown to public view, as have left me little leisure for the interchange of thought. Were it not for these annoyances and that want of a congenial soul to pour forth my feelings to, I could almost imagine myself in paradise. Apropos is a certain regimen, still at be, and have you got acquainted with any of the officers yet? You will perhaps be tempted to smile at that question, but I assure you there is nothing at all in it. The Major and Bell, or Mrs. Major Waddell, as she wishes to be called in future, as she thinks Bell too familiar and appellation for a married woman, are, I think, an uncommon, happy, attached pair. The only drawback to their happiness is the Major's having been, particularly Billius of late, which he ascribes to the heat of the weather, but expects to derive the greatest benefit from the waters of Harrowgate. For my part, I am sure many a longing, lingering look I shall cast behind when we bid adieu to the silver shores of Winander. I have attempted some views of it which may serve to carry to you some idea of its beauties. One, on a watch paper, I think my most successful effort. The Major has rallied me a good deal as to who that is intended for, but positively that is all a joke, I do assure you. But it is time that I should now attempt to give you some account of my travels, though as I promise myself the delight of showing you my journal when we meet, I shall omit the detail of our journey, and it once waft you to what I call Lakeland. But where shall I find language to express my admiration? One thing I must not omit to mention in order that you may be able to conceive some idea of the delight we experienced, and for which we were indebted to the Major's politeness and gallantry. In order to surprise us, he proposed our taking a little quiet sail, as he termed it, on the lake. All with silence, when upon a signal made, figure to yourself the astonishment, and delight of Mrs. Major and myself, when a grand flourish of French horns burst upon our ears, waking the echoes all round, the delightful harmony was repeated from every recess which echo haunted on the borders of the lake. At first, indeed, the surprise was almost too much for Mrs. Major, and she became a little hysterical, but she was soon recovered by the Major's tenderness and assurances of safety. Indeed, he is without exception the most exemplary and devoted husband I ever beheld. Still I confess, but that is entree new, that to me the little taste he displays for the tune for nine would be a great drawback to my matrimonial felicity. After having enjoyed this delightful concert, we battled long adieu to the silvan shores of all's water and proceeded to Keswick, or as it is properly denominated, Durwent water, which is about three miles long. It's pure, transparent bosom studded with numberless wooded islands, and its sides beautifully variegated with elegant mansions, snow-white cottages, taper spires, pleasant fields adorned by the hand of cultivation, and towering groves that seem as if impervious to the light of day. The celebrated fall of Ladour I shall not attempt to depict, but figure if you can, a stupendous cataract rushing headlong over enormous rocks and crags which vainly seem to oppose themselves to its progress. With regret, we tore ourselves from the cultivated beauties of Durwent, and taking a look on Passant of the more secluded Grasmere and Rydall, we have link-bound ourselves on the shores of the magnificent Winander. Picture to yourself, if it be possible, stupendous mountains rearing their cloud-capped heads and all the sublimity of horror, while in immense sheet of azure reflected the crimson and yellow rays of the setting sun as they floated, or its motionless green bosom on which was impressed the bright image of the surrounding woods and meadows speckled with snowy cottages and elegant villas. I really felt as if inspired so much was my enthusiasm kindled, and yet I fear my description will fail in conveying to you any idea of this never-to-be-forgotten scene, but I must now bid you adieu, which I do with the greatest reluctance, how thought flows upon me when I take up my pen, how inconceivable to me the distaste which some people express for letter writing. Scribbling as they contemptuously term it, how I pity such vulgar souls, you, my dear cousin, I am sure are not one of them. I have scarcely left room for Mrs. Major to add a p. s. Adieu, your affectionate lily. Mrs. Waddell's post-script was as follows, ma cher cuisine. Of course you cannot expect that I, a married woman, can possibly have much leisure to devote to my female friends with an adoring husband, who never stirs from my side into whom my every thought is due. But this much injustice to myself I think it proper to say that I am the happiest of my sex and I find my Waddell, everything generous kind and brave, Isabella Waddell. The perusal of this letter was a severe tax upon Gertrude's patience, as it is doubtless been upon all who have read it, though tempted to laugh at it, she was, however, too generous to expose it, too ridicule, and therefore hasten to commit the fair lily's lucubrations to the flames. Poor Miss Lily, like many other misses, had long aimed at the character of an elegant letter writer, and this epistle she looked upon as one of her happiest efforts. She had studied it, she had meditated upon it, she had written a scroll of it, she had consulted her journal upon it. In short, she had composed it. One may compose a sermon or an essay, or in anything save a letter, but when a letter is composed, all persons of taste must feel it is an odious composition. To speak with the pen is the art of letter writing, and even a confused, vulgar, natural letter flowing direct from the brain, or it may be from the heart of one of uncultivated intellect, is more pleasing than the most studied and elaborate performance from the same source. But in letter writing, as in conversation, many seem to study to make themselves tiresome, who, had they allowed their pens in their tongues to take their natural course, might have remained at least inoffensive. Yet many have lived to write good, plain, matter-of-fact letters who have spent the early years of their life, composing sentences and rounding periods and writing descriptions from the false ideas they entertain on this subject, but enough of condemnation on this, after all, venial transgression. The other letter was in a different strain as follows. My dear cousin, I feel encouraged to the liberty I'm going to take by the kindness you showed me when at Bellevue. Your good will may now be the means of rendering me an essential service, and I would feel myself to blame if false diffidence should hinder me from unbusinessing myself to you. I was several times on the point of explaining myself to you but thought I could more easily do it in writing, and now that I take up my pen I wish I had rather spoken to you when I had so many favorable opportunities. But why am I so wavering and foolish when I ought with confidence to look to him, who has promised to direct the Christian's path, and who has promised that he will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in him and acknowledge him in all their ways? I must now trust your patience while I tell my tale. A mutual attachment has subsisted between William Leslie and myself from our earliest years, but he is poor, and on that account and that only, it is not sanctioned by my parents, of course, he will believe that I never would enter into a so sacred a connection without their consent. I love and reverence them too much, and above all I fear God, but vain would I hope that had he a competency their prejudices for prejudices I must call them would be overcome. William's choice was early pointed to the church, and his clerical education has for some time been completely finished, but hitherto all his efforts to procure a living have proved ineffectual. My father might assist him, but he is very lukewarm in the cause, as both my mother and he declare they cannot bear the idea of seeing me the wife of a poor minister. But I have learned that poverty is a comparative thing, and that a competence to some is riches, while to others wealth seems a little better than splendid want. It is true riches will be denied me, but the greater blessings of peace and mutual affection may, by the blessing of God, be my happy lot. Even when called upon to endure hardship and privations, our souls will not be cast down, for with one heart and one faith, we will cheerfully bear the crosses of this life, looking forward to the inseparable and everlasting happiness of that which is to come. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than to sit in the joyless ease of indifference amidst heartless grandeur or to drink the bitter cup of variance. My dear cousin, God only can put gladness in the heart, and does not by the world or the things of the world. If as I believe religion be indeed the soul of happiness, then may I reasonably hope for that peace, which the world cannot give with one whom I have known in love from my earliest years, and whose faith and practice are those of a follower of Jesus Christ. This attachment is no phantom of a heated imagination. Our mutual love is now a principle. It cannot be extinguished, but it may be sacrifice to a still more sacred claim. I again repeat, I never will marry without the consent and blessing of my parents, but where my dear William provided for, I think their pride would yield to their stronger feeling of affection for me. Yet I almost blush to trouble you with my selfish concerns, though I know you will befriend me if you can. The Church of Clearburn is in Lord Rossville's gift. The present incumbent is old and infirm, and an assistant and successor is to be immediately appointed. I do not ask you to recommend William Leslie because you ought not to recommend one to fill so sacred an office who is utterly unknown to you, but if you would name him to Lord Rossville, if you would request of him to inquire into his character and qualifications of those who can judge of them, and then if you will support him with your influence, you will confer a heartfelt obligation on your faithful and affectionate cousin and Black. End of Section 36. Section 37 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmundsdune Ferrier. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Volume 2, Chapter 3, with a great understanding as a round orb that tumbles hither and thither, able to guess at the depth of the great sea, Hindu's description of their God. To feel and to act were with Gertrude commonly one and the same thing. Reflection seldom was allowed to interpose its cooling influence, and scarce they had she finish reading the letter when she flew to Lord Rossville to ask and she had no doubt to obtain the boon solicited. She found the Earl alone in his study surrounded with papers and parchment and looking, if possible, even more than usually portentous. I am come, my Lord, to ask, to beg a favor. She began almost breathless from haste and emotion. Miss St. Clair, this is rather an interruption, but be seated, be seated, and be composed. You, and indeed all who have any claims upon my time, influence or assistance, will ever find my ear open to the voice of proper solicitation. Therefore I again repeat, be composed, and allow this flow of spirits to subside ere you commence. There is nothing less likely to promote its end than a recommendation to be cool and composed when one is all ardor and eagerness, but this was one of Lord Rossville's methods of tormenting his victims. He was always composed himself even when, in anger, that is, he was always heavy, dull, and formal, and no subject could warm him so as to make him neglect the slow pompous formation of his sentences. His body was heavy, his nerves were tough, his blood was thick, he was a dull man. But, like many other men, he deceived himself for he thought his dullness was self-command, and that he had the same merit in being composed as one whose perceptions are lively, whose blood flows rapidly, and whose ready imagination comprehends whole sentences such as as Lordship composed ere they were half pronounced, one in short who thought and spoke with natural feeling and animation. Different indeed was Lord Rossville's composure from that of one who had learned to rule his own spirit, for he had a temper to rule, but no spirit. He had a sluggish, obstinate, thick-headed, pragmatical temper, incapable of hurrying him into the evolutions of passion, to his true but not the less troublesome and tormenting to those who opposed it. But this day's iteratum, for it was mere absence of animal heat that kept his Lordship cool, was more than compensated by what he deemed the masculine tone and nervous energy of his language, heightened as it was by gesticulation suited to the subject. Be composed, repeated he again after a pause, his own composure becoming more and more heavy. Oh, it is nothing I only feel a little afraid lest you should think me too presuming when I ask, but I believe the petition itself will plead its own cause better than I can do, and she put her cousin's letter into his Lordship's hands with very sanguine anticipations as to the result. Lord Rossville perused it in silence, but his looks became darker for it every line, and his head shook or rather trembled from beginning to end. A most wild, dangerous, and improper letter said he when he finished it, vainly endeavoring to speak quicker, I am pained to think that such a letter should have been addressed to you, that such a letter should have been presented by you to me, and his Lordship walked up and down the room and composed this composure while Gertrude remained aghast emotionless at seeing her church in the air thus vanished like the baseless fabric of a vision. Is it possible, Miss Sinclair, as he, his hands slowly rising, is it possible that you had perused this letter, pointing with his obstinate looking fingers to the paper in question, and is it possible that having read you can also sanction and approve and assist a young female in setting up her own judgment in opposition to the known will and intention of her parents and to the opinion and approval of the world in general? Although my cousin is so unfortunate as to differ from her parents on that subject, said Gertrude timidly, she declares that she will not disobey them, not disobey them. Good heavens, Miss Sinclair, what do you term disobedience? The dignity of this appeal was interrupted by a cough. I have lived longer in the world and have seen rather more of mankind than you have done, and I do not hesitate to say that the principles contained in this letter evicted upon by the bulk of mankind, and it is only by generalizing principles that we can fairly bring them to the test, must eventually prove highly destructive to the present order of things in as much as they are totally subversive of all filial obedience and parental authority. Gertrude was much at a loss to answer this tirade, which confounded without in the smallest degree convincing her. Again, however, she tried to urge something in extenuation, but it was, as Jeremy Taylor expresses it, treading on the corns of his lordship's mind to attack any of his opinions or prejudices, and it was resented accordingly. I own, I am distressed, mortified, shocked. Miss Sinclair, that a letter containing such sentiment should be advocated by you, sentiments fraught with so much mischief, principles destructive of the mutual relationship of parent and child, while fantastical newfangled notions setting at defiance all proper doctrines of religion and only calculated to disturb and finally abolish all orders of society, and yet it is such, such I say I should consider myself as acting a most highly culpable part, were I to lend the smallest countenance or sanction to such measures. And he walked up and down the room, his shoes creaking at every step. Mr. Black is a sensible, well-principled man and obviously views the matter in the same light as I do, and as indeed all persons of a right way of thinking should do. A young female to presume to judge for herself in opposition to the wishes of her parents, to the opinion of the world, to the general voice of mankind and to seek to, to assume the mask of religion in order to stifle the voice of duty, it is lamentable, it is deplorable, it is monstrous. What was it? But by such depth as these established order of things in a neighboring country were gradually undermined, and at length finally overthrown. It was by such depth as these, knocking the letter slowly with his knuckles that the altar and the throne, religion and, and, and loyalty, and, and sound morality, all that were formally held sacred, fell sacrifices to these very leveling principles. And he threw the letter from him with all the energy of virtuous indignation. Gertrude could scarcely refrain from smiling at the idea of Anne Black's marriage endangering church and state and something of that sort she ventured to express. I beg pardon, my Lord, said she, but even supposing my cousin's marriage were to take place, I cannot perceive any bad consequences that would result from it unless to herself. You do not perceive, you do not perceive the pernicious effects of such an example operating on young females in the same sphere, operating to, under my sanctioning countenance, and, and, and, and I to become the patron of rebellious and dutiful children, the conniver at low and improper and clandestine connections were such a precedent once established. Where is it to end? You yourself, I shall suppose, for the sake of illustrating my argument, you presuming upon my license in this instance, deem yourself authorized to select, choose, and, and, and declare that you will select and choose, nay, that you have selected and chosen. A partner for yourself, not only without my concurrence but indirect opposition and contradiction to my will and authority. I ask, would not such behavior on your part be, I do not scruple to say, monstrous. Gertrude was not prepared for this digression, but she saw by his lordship's bend that an answer was expected, and in some trepidation she replied, I hope it never will be my misfortune to differ from your lordship on this subject. But if it should, she stopped in much agitation. You hope it will never be your misfortune to differ from me, repeated his lordship with a very dissatisfied look. That is a style of language, Miss Sinclair, I own, which does not satisfy me. On that subject I can allow no differences, no young lady of a right way of thinking ought or can have a different opinion on so important a point from those whom it is her duty to reverence and obey. His lordship paused and seemed to be revolving some mighty matter in his mind and Gertrude trembling to what this might lead, rose and taking up her cousin's letter was preparing to leave the room when her uncle motioned with his hand for her to resume her seat, then in a slow solemn tone spoke as follows. It certainly formed no part of my original plan with regard to you, that at this early stage of your existence you should have been made acquainted with the plans I had formed and laid down for your final disposal. But from what has passed I am inclined to think that, in deviating from my former purpose, I shall do wisely and well. He then proceeded in the same prolix manner to unfold to Gertrude the future web of her life as spun and wove by his lordship's own hand, or rather head. Gertrude heard, without surprise but not without emotion, that she was the destined wife of Mr. Delmore, and in that light was considered by him and by all the members of the family and by all the freeholders in the county and her heart glowed with resentment at the thoughts of any one having thus dared to appropriate her without her own consent. Scarcely could she listen with patience while Lord Rossville detailed in the most minute yet guarded manner his plans with regard to her future establishment as if afraid of making her too happy or raising her expectations too high. Thus, after having settled everything regarding her marriage with more than a lawyer's punctilio, he hastened to undo his own work in the same breath by adding that it was not his intention that the marriage should take place until she had attained the age of 21 as soon as. Perhaps not even then, as he was no advocate for early alliances, that is too early, there was a time for all things, and that time must be regulated by circumstances, but in the meantime, in the meantime, my lord, quite Gertrude, with great emotion, I must be allowed to disclaim any engagement with Mr. Delmore. The Earl regarded her for some moments with the greatest astonishment and seemed as if wholly bereft of the power of expressing the indignation which swelled in his bosom almost to suffocation at this act of overt rebellion. At length he found words, though ideas were still wanting. What am I to understand from this most extraordinary speech, Miss St. Clair interrogated he with some difficulty. Gertrude in much emotion but with the utmost gentleness of manner repeated her words, allowed to disclaim any engagement with Mr. Delmore, a most extraordinary proposal at such a time, at a time when so much is at stake, a most improper, nay, a most indelicate proposal in the present posture of affairs. His lordship cleared his voice, hem coughed and proceeded. You cannot be ignorant, Miss St. Clair, of the very important contest at present carrying on in this county, a contest which is of vital importance to the power and consequence of this family, and I may add of some interest to the country at large, as in these times of anarchy and rebellion, when the throne and the government are assailed on all sides by factious and turbulent demagogues, it is of the utmost importance that our representation in Parliament be sound, loyal, and patriotic if we expect that our religion and laws may be preserved and handed down unimpaired to our posterity. Her assent seemed to be expected to this opening speech, but Gertrude could make none. The ear went on, you are probably not aware of the motives which have actuated me in thus developing my schemes and intentions to you and to the world in general at this period, and in doing so I certainly have deviated from my original plan, but we must all occasionally be regulated by circumstances, and I think I have only to state to you that the success of this most important political contest depends very considerably upon the understanding that Mr. Delmort will eventually in an all probability one day become through your instrumentality the lawful possessor of the family estates in this county to grant your hearty concurrence in their proposed arrangement. In one word I could not with propriety offer Mr. Delmort as the representative of this county, he having little more than a nominal interest in it at present, unless as the in all likelihood the intended husband of the presumptive of Zerv, I say presumptive, not apparent, Eris of Rossville. His lordship was so much pleased with the eloquence and brilliancy of his harangue that as he went on he gradually spoke himself into good humor, and by the time it was ended he had almost forgot the origin of his elocution. Gertrude remained silent, struggling with contending feelings. On the one hand was the fear of betraying her secret predilection for Colonel Delmort, on the other her scorn and detestation of everything resembling duplicity and deceit. I think her natural love of truth and candor prevailed and must encourage she said, much as it pains me to oppose you, my dear uncle, yet I should be still more unworthy your affection were I to leave you in an error. Forgive me, she paused her heart throbbed and her color rose, forgive me, I will not deceive you, I cannot sanction the engagement you have formed for me, I never can be the wife of Mr. Delmort. This was something so far beyond what Lord Rossville could have anticipated that it was sometime ere the fact could find admittance to his brain choked up as it always was with his own notions. While the process of conviction was carrying on, he therefore sat as if petrified at length the light began to penetrate the dim opaque of his understanding, but his lordship had as usual recourse to other people's words till he could muster his own forces. Never can be the wife of Mr. Delmort repeated he in the tone of one who was not quite sure whether he were asleep or awake, not sanction the engagement I have formed for you, what, in the name of heaven, am I to understand from such language, Miss Sinclair? The understanding seemed so perfectly obvious that Gertrude felt much at a loss how to make it clearer. The question was again repeated, excuse me my lord, but Mr. Delmort is not the person I, but indeed I do not know how to express myself in a manner less likely to offend. I would say that I wish to be left free, that I might be allowed to choose in so important, you wish to be left free, you wish to be allowed to choose in so important, and really, Miss Sinclair, I am too much astonished at that, what shall I call it, the unwarrantable levity of such a proposal to answer it as it ought, you wish to be left free to choose, and that in a point of such vast, such vital importance, astonishing, are you aware in what capacity it is that a suitable alliance is formed for you, that it is not a simple Miss Sinclair, and daughter of the Honorable Thomas Sinclair, but as niece to the Earl of Rossville, and presumptive heiress to the title, and the states thereof, with the exception of the barony of Larchdale, which by deed of the entail of Alexander I, Earl of Rossville, devolves upon the heiress male of the family, and therefore it is to consolidate these properties that they may be again reunited in the persons of your mutual heir or heirs, an arrangement which has Mr. Delmore's entire approbation. I say that under these circumstances there is not, there cannot, there must not be a choice in the matter, but indeed I am very much at a loss to know what to understand by such an expression. I certainly have not been accustomed to hear of young ladies of family, unfortunate distinction, choosing for themselves in their matrimonial course. I can only say for my own part, I, I had no choice. Gertrude could scarcely restrain a smile at hearing Lord Rossville quote himself as a pattern to be followed instead of a rock to be shunned, but such as the blindness of human nature we are all but to apt to hold ourselves up as guides when we ought to be satisfied to serve as beacons. Allowed to Jews, I, I, and pray, Miss St. Clair supposing for one moment it was, so where I ask, where would you, where could you find such another gentleman as Mr. Delmore, a gentleman of birth and fashion, a fine address of appearance, of accomplishments, possessing a first-rate understanding of which he has already given and doubted proofs to the world. By having been appointed one of the financial committee, which for so young a man I consider as a very distinguished mark of preeminence, a magnifying person of sound principles of devoted loyalty of high political consideration, but who not withstanding all those advantages yet submits himself, in this case solely to my guidance and management, I ask again, where could you find such another perfect gentleman. I acknowledge Mr. Delmore's good qualities, my Lord, so far as I can pretend to judge of them upon so slight an acquaintance, answered Gertrude hesitatingly, but pray forgive me if I still repeat that I must be allowed to consider myself as perfectly disengaged. Miss St. Clair cried the earl now absolutely gasping, I can only say that, that if you persist, if you presume to report yourself throughout the county, as, as, as disengaged I, the pulse of life seemed to stand still, and nature made a pause, an awful pause, prophetic of its end. The clenched hand was slowly uplifted, then descended with the weight that shook the table. I cannot answer for the consequences. This is a threat which always forms a happy climax to an argument from its vagueness and consequently its sublimity. At that moment the partying question entered his hands full of open letters, and with an air of bustling business not at all calculated to fascinate a romantic imagination, such as Gertrude's. He was beginning some rather formal and complementary apology for his interruption, when she rose and in some confusion stammered out a few words in reply, then bowing to the earl was retiring, when Mr. Delmort begged to note whether she had any friends in the western extremity of the county, as he was afraid he should be under the necessity of setting off for that quarter immediately, and should be much honored by being the bearer of Miss St. Clair's commands. Gertrude disclaimed all interest in that part of the county, and scarcely able to express the commons' abilities of parting hastily withdrew. End of Section 37. Section 38 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stone-Farrier. This Lieberbach's recording is in the public domain. Volume 2, Chapter 4. My love's so true that I can neither hide it where it is, nor show it where it is not. Dryden's all for love. In every generous mind there is a spring, which, if touched rightly, yields fine issues, but if struck by an unskillful hand produces only discord. So it was with Gertrude affection would have led her, reason might have guided, but mere authority could never control her. To one of an independent spirit nothing therefore could be more irksome than the situation in which she was placed. She felt that to be approved of she must cease to act, cease to think, cease to feel, cease to love, but as directed by the will of her mother and uncle. A spirit such as hers could not at once be thus subdued, and no one who has anything noble in their nature can be subdued but by their own will, their understanding acknowledging the fitness of their submission. The Christian indeed has his spirit subdued to yield obedience contrary to his own ideas to those who are placed over him by nature. But Gertrude's principles were not derived from this high and an earring standard, and though she gave a general assent to the doctrine that children owed obedience to their parents, yet it was with so many limitations that the principal only wanted sufficient temptation to be set aside. With regard to her uncle, his right to control her seemed very doubtful, and indeed the authority of uncles commonly comes in a very questionable shape and is perhaps only to be considered as binding when the uncle has received authority from a living parent or has early and long supplied the place of a departed one. As for aunts they are in general accustomed to dictate but are seldom so unreasonable as to expect to be obeyed, yet love and tenderness, almost maternal, have sometimes given them a power over a young and affectionate heart which all the violence of improper authority never could have obtained. These would have subdued a mind such as Gertrude's but those gentle weapons were unknown and unused either by Lord Rossville or Mrs. St. Clair. Authority with the one, artifice with the other were the means used to gain their different purposes with one whom opposite methods would have rendered submissive as a child and open as noon day. Gertrude's first impulse was to hasten to her mother and relate to her all that past between Lord Rossville and her. She expected to encounter reproaches, but Mrs. St. Clair seemed almost frantic at her daughter's disclosure and absolutely shook with terror while she listened to Gertrude's account of what had passed. But ere she had time to express her sentiments on the subject a message was brought from the Earl requesting her presence for half an hour in his study. It was easy to guess that the subject in hand and Mrs. St. Clair, though in great agitation, instantly obeyed the summons. Gertrude waited with impatience for nearly an hour and a half ere the conference was ended and her mother appeared. When she did, she read vexation and discomforture in her countenance. She was, however, too prudent to express her feelings, but contended herself with saying that she had found Lord Rossville in great displeasure against his niece and had left him quite immovable as to the proposed alliance and declared engagement. And this was all Gertrude could draw from her mother. She therefore sat down to answer the unfortunate letter that had been the innocent cause of this premature eclaire small which she did by lamenting her present inability to aid her cousin in any shape but concluding with the warmest assurances of regard and promises of assistance should it ever be in her power to befriend her. She was then preparing to dress for dinner when the following note was presented to her. The Earl of Rossville presents compliments to Miss St. Clair and while matters remain in their present unpleasant position and until some arrangement of an amicable nature has taken place, it is his wish and expectation that Miss St. Clair should confine herself to her own apartment. It may be presumed from in disposition. Rossville Castle, 29th August, 18 blank. His lordship when he perused this masterpiece of a billet had fondly imagined it would speak daggers to the soul of his niece and he peaked himself not a little at the finesse of punishing her in this exemplary manner and at the same time keeping her transgression a secret from the rest of the family whom he wished to remain in ignorance of this defiance of his power. Gertrude of course complied with his embargo and left her mother to give what name she pleased to her disorder. A weak lapsed and Gertrude still remained endurance but she bore her imprisonment with great heroism and his languid hours were enlivened by a packet received through some unknown channel from Colonel Delmore. It effected to be merely a parcel of music but it contained a letter full of all that love letters are usually full of hopes, fears, lamentations, vows, reproaches, raptures, despair. It may be supposed this did not tend to render Gertrude more compliant to her uncle's wishes and his lordship was beginning to feel much at a loss how to proceed when all the combustible particles of his composition were roused into action and he hastened to array himself in all his honors and take the field in full force. The report of his niece's engagement with Mr. Lindsey had by the ingenuity of Miss Pratt quickly circulated throughout the county and had resounded and reverberated from all the corners of it before the last echo reached the dull ear of Lord Rossville. But when it did it produced all the effect of a thunderbolt upon his senses not that he could all at once give credit to such a monstrous supposition but it was quite bad enough that the thing should be said or for one instant believed. As soon as he recovered so far as to be able to ruminate he therefore resolved upon his plan of proceeding and as the first step summoned his niece to his presence. For some minutes he regarded her with the look which he vainly expected would cause her to sink to the ground for the earl thought of expression as Glendauer did of spirits that he had only to call them and they would come. After waiting in vain for the effects he had anticipated his lordship found he must have recourse to his voice. Not that he was averse to using that but having witnessed the magic influence of a sedence and a keen he had no doubt but that he too could look unutterable things. And he had intended first to kill with the lightning of his eye and then to revive with the gracious sound of his voice all this he had intended but how often are the best intentions frustrated. Gertrude was quite ignorant of these intentions and in her uncle's persevering stare saw nothing but a stare which being always a disagreeable thing she sought to avoid by casting down her eyes still having somewhere read that women can see even with their eyes shut Lord Rossville flattered himself that his piercing gaze would penetrate through the eyelids of his knees and he waited a little longer in hopes of seeing her at his feet. At length she raised her eyes but it was to exclaim at seeing a hawk dart past the window in pursuit of a dove. The Earl now spoke. Miss Sinclair look at me. Gertrude obeyed and did look but with an expression which seemed to say and what then. Look at me Miss Sinclair if indeed it is possible for you to meet my eye after what has recently come to my knowledge. Miss Sinclair this is neither a subject nor a time for trifling and I will have neither equivocation nor prevarication. I ask you again and I warn you to be cautious how and in what manner you frame your reply. I ask you again are you willing to be restored to my favor and protection upon the terms I proposed namely that you consider yourself as engaged and as having been for some time past engaged to Robert Burlington Delmore Esquire Member of Parliament the air male of this family and do you consent that the nuptials be solemnized at such time as I shall deem proper. My lord I grieve that I cannot obey you but I will not deceive you. Mr. Delmore has my good wishes my affections she stopped and colored deeply then added in a low voice are not mine to bestow. Lord Rossville was struck down at this daring or vow which seemed to mock the thunderbolt he held in his hand ready to hurl when the proper moment came. Miss Sinclair gaspy at length are you aware of the construction that may be put upon such language that it amounts in the ordinary language of the world to an avowal or confession of a very particular I may add improper nature. Miss Sinclair what am I to understand from such a declaration a declaration which in the eyes of the world would be considered as tantamount to an express and direct an explicit declaration of a prior and illegal attachment unsanctioned by me Gertrude bowed her head either to hide her blushes or to testify her ascent the oral resumed Miss Sinclair my delicacy would have spared you this to you humiliating to me distressing avowal but you have thrown aside the disguise which which which but I must now inform you that I am no stranger to this most improper unaccountable and unjustifiable transaction and that as the preliminary step towards gaining my forgiveness for this I must say unpardonable offense I must insist upon a complete and total renunciation of all farther intercourse with the party implicated my lord say Gertrude trying to repress her tears I can only repeat what I have already said I am sensible of your goodness I grieve that I should have offended you but I never will renounce the right of choosing for myself that choice is made would it were one more pleasing to your lordship Miss Sinclair I will not hear another syllable cry the earl with an energy unparalleled in the annals of his life and conversation I here lay my positive injunctions upon you to refrain from speaking thinking or acting any farther in this most faulty and improper transaction and I shall at the same time signify to the other party concerned that from this time he likewise must cease to presume to consider you in any other light than that which the present relationship by blood warrants I hear positively an all and pronounced void whatsoever engagement contract deed or instrument whatever by which this clandestine and consequently unlawful and improper correspondence has been no my lord quite Gertrude in her term roused by such approbrious epithets you cannot unlaw the affections of the heart I'm not a slave to be thus bought and sold exclaimed she giving way to her long suppressed tears Miss Sinclair such language such sentiments are no less unbecoming for you to utter than they are improper for me to hear I will listen to nothing more of the kind but it is proper you should be made acquainted with what you have to expect from me should you persist in this obstinate and infatuated and destructive course in which you have begun you are then to learn that in the event of your persisting in your headstrong and unaccountable refusal to fulfill the engagement I have contracted for you with the airmail of this family it is my firm resolution and final determination instantly to withdraw from you my countenance alienate from you and your heirs every six pence of property heritable and personal which it is in my power to dispose of and farther there is good reason to believe that it will bear a question whether I am not at liberty under the deed of Simon second Earl of Rossville to dispone and bequeath the whole of the lands and the states according to my will and pleasure at all events the right of tying them up for an indefinite term of years is undoubted and shall most unquestionably be put in force you have therefore to choose betwixt an annual income of 20 000 pounds to which you are at present presumptive heiress that is eventually or to sink at once into comparative poverty and insignificance and obscurity my choice is made my lord said Gertrude instantly calmed into the most perfect composure then miss St. Clair you know and are fully aware of the consequences Gertrude only bent her head in silent acquiescence and rising to leave the room the Earl rang the bell with rather more of energy than was his custom and as she retired she heard him desire that mr. Lindsay might attend him immediately end of section 38 section 39 of the inheritance by Susan Edmund Stoon farrier this lever vox recording is in the public domain volume 2 chapter 5 the man scarce lives who is not more credulous than he ought to be and who does not upon many occasions give credit to tales which not only turn out to be perfectly false but which a very moderate degree of reflection and attention might have taught him could not well be true adam smith there's nothing tends so much to brace the nerves and keep up the tone of the spirits as the sense of having been treated with injustice for sometime therefore Gertrude felt as though she had gained a triumph by the sacrifice she had made to her lover she exalted in the thought of thus proving to him the sincerity and the devotedness of her affection and delighted her fond and simple fancy by imagining how much dear she would be to him as the for his sake poor Gertrude St. Clair than she ever could have been as the heiress of Rossville but the first glow of enthusiasm over she sighed as she thought yet how sweet would have been the pleasure of bestowing upon him all that I now see these noble woods this far spreading domain I had hoped to have made him master of they tell me he is expensive that is he has a magnificent taste and loves show and splendor and pictures and fine horses and everything that is beautiful ah how happy I should have been in the means of gratifying him and of making him so happy oh so happy that he should have had nothing to wish for yet all these he will sacrifice for me for he has often declared my affection was all the world to him what signifies then the loss of wealth to those who can be rich and mutual love thus commune Gertrude with herself and at 18 who would not have done the same meanwhile the Earl was somewhat at a loss what course to pursue with the other supposed offender Mr. Lindsay his lordship unknown to himself had that sort of intuitive respect for his nephew which weak minds however against their grain must always feel towards strong ones but he still trusted to his powers of expression and therefore arranged his aspect as nearly as he could into that cast with which he imagined Brutus had passed sentence on his sons but looks were as much thrown away upon Mr. Lindsay as they have been upon Gertrude that gentleman testified no sort of emotion whatever at beholding his lordship's brows bent full upon him and the Earl again found himself reduced to the vulgar method of explaining himself in words he then entered upon a speech which for intricacy of design and uselessness of purpose might have died with the far famed labyrinth of creed poor Mr. Lindsay toiled after him in vain quite unable even to conjecture where his lordship was driving and what was to be the issue of his torturous harangue at length the Earl emerged from the dim eclipse in which shorn of his beams he had so long shed disastrous twilight if not upon nations at least upon individuals and the truth burst upon Lindsay's almost benighted senses for a moment a strange glow of delight came over his heart at hearing himself called upon to renounce all claim to the hand and affection of Miss Sinclair but it as quickly faded as he thought of the difference of their views and sentiments and he smiled and scorned at his own credulity for having for an instant given ear to such a delusion it is impossible for me to relinquish what I never possessed said he in answer to the Earl's appeal nor can I even flutter myself it is in my power to obtain this is some of Miss Pratt's idle rumors which have found their way to your lordship's ear believe me they are quite unworthy of moments consideration that it was in vain to hold this language to Lord Rossville it was seldom an idea found entrance into his head and then once there it was no easy matter to dislodge it it became not the mere furniture of the head to be turned or changed at will but seemed actually to become a part of the head itself which it required a sort of mental scalping or tree panning to remove in vain therefore was Mr. Lindsay's denial the Earl remained steadfast in his belief and rejected the idea of Miss Pratt with the greatest contempt he was perfectly informed of the whole from authority it was impossible to question he then went over the same ground he had taken with Gertrude the loss of his countenance the breaking of the entail the tying up of the property etc etc were I as you imagine honored with Miss St. Clair's partiality said Lindsay I must frankly tell you that all you have now said would not have the slightest influence upon me I hope it never will have upon the man who is so fortunate as to gain her affections much as he may value your lordship's favor and the Rossville estates I trust he will never put either of them in competition with Miss St. Clair this was passed answering Lord Rossville took two or three turns through the room before he could trust himself to reply then spoke Mr. Lindsay I can only impute this Tergibur station of yours to call it by no harsher name to a very mistaken and destructive sense of honor but what will you say sir when I inform you that not many minutes have elapsed since in this very apartment and on this very spot I've received from the lips of the young lady herself the open and devout acknowledgment of her her her what shall I call it her highly improper attachment to and engagement with yourself impossible exclaimed Mr. Lindsay his face flushing with a variety of contending emotions she did not she could not say so Mr. Lindsay knew his uncle to be a weak tiresome conceded man but he also knew him to be a man of perfect veracity one who at least always intended to speak the truth such an unqualified assertion therefore as that he had just made could not fail to be heard by him with some emotion however mingled within credulity Lord Rossville in great displeasure that his words should be doubted repeated his nephews last words with more than usual pompous indignation then added I should deem it derogatory to myself to insist farther upon this subject I can only repeat and that upon the honor of a peer that I have received from this St. Clair the avowal of her clandestine attachment to you and father heard her assert to maintain her right to make such a choice enough my lord cried Mr. Lindsay to his in vain to attempt to answer such assertions at present but I shall endeavor to furnish you with some explanation of this mystery ere long and he hastily withdrew despairing of any elucidation from Lord Rossville yet how aware to find that he knew not still less could he form any plausible conjecture as to the truth there was none to whom he could apply for there was no one on whose judgment or principles he could place any reliance at one time he thought was it possible Gertrude could be playing false and using his name as a cover to some clandestine engagement the stranger colonel delmore but the next minute he checked the idea as unworthy of her of himself whatever her faults might be duplicity certainly was not of the number there was an air and expression of candor and openness in her countenance manners words which placed her above the meanness of suspicion at length he resolved to seek her himself and try whether he could not penetrate this mystery Gertrude had remained standing at the window of one of the public rooms she had to pass through and leaving Lord Rossville's apartment she had been gazing with a vague mingled feeling of pride and regret at the lovely scene that lay before her in all the glowing tints of autumn when she was roused from her reverie by the entrance of mr. Lindsay he accosted her with an inquiry after her health and then one of those awkward silences which everybody has felt ensued at length as she turned to quit the room he spoke once my dear cousin said he you conferred upon me the privilege of her friend that of speaking the truth to you it is one you have hitherto made little use of replied she then deeply coloring as the thoughts of the midnight wrong contra rush to mind she added i have perhaps no right to expect that mr. Lindsay should do what circumstances must have rendered so disagreeable a task for him you wrong yourself and me by such a supposition said he however inexplicable some things may appear a few words of truth i'm very sure will set all to rights no exclaim Gertrude in much agitation inexplicable i must still remain to you ask me nothing i cannot indeed i cannot answer any questions Gertrude said mr. Lindsay with great emotion it is essential to my happiness perhaps to yours that we should understand each other he paused then by a strong effort proceeded you will call it folly presumption madness when i tell you that lord rossville under the influence of some unaccountable delusion has called upon me to resign all pretensions to your favor to your hand he stopped and Gertrude overwhelmed with surprise and confusion remained silent had i dared to aspire to it continued he increasing agitation i know no earthly motive that would have induced me to relinquish my claims but Gertrude and he would have taken her hand but riles do self-possession she saw there was only one course she could now pursue she must throw herself upon the generosity of her cousin she must confide to him the secret of her attachment to colonel delmore noble and disinterested as he was she knew him to be incapable of abusing her confidence and with a mixture of embarrassment and simplicity she disclosed to him the situation in which she stood mr. Lindsay heard her with the deepest interest while she lamented the misunderstanding that had occurred with her uncle and avowed that her affections weren't no longer her own to bestow but win with faltering tongue and downcast eyes she named colonel delmore as the object of her choice a shade of anguish overcast his face tis then as i feared exclaimed he ah Gertrude would i could have saved you from this saved me repeated Gertrude coloring deeply with shame and displeasure as she turned away forgive me my dear cousin cried he i did not mean to offend you i spoke too abruptly but i cannot retract what i have uttered did not you promise to hear and to bear the truth from me i was ignorant then that under the name of truth i was to be called upon to give ear to detraction and detraction against the absent lindsey looked upon her more in sorrow than in anger while he answered yet if you saw one in whom you were interested on the brink of a precipice would any consideration withhold you from giving them warning of their danger from saving them if you possibly could but do not injure me so far do not suppose me so baseless to have said to you what i have not said what i will not again repeat to colonel delmore himself i have warned him that i would do all in my power to save you from ever becoming his if that is detraction be it what it may quite Gertrude i will hear no more already i've heard too much and her voice quivered with emotion i will go to lord rossville i will clear up this error be the consequences to myself what they may and rejecting lindsey's effort to detain her she flew to lord rossville and in all the excitement of wounded feeling acknowledged colonel delmore as the object of her preference it was sometime ere the earl could open his eyes to this flood of new light but when he did long and tiresome was the scene that ensued this was worse and worse to have chosen the wrong brother twas strange twas passing strange and a parallel was drawn betwixt the two brothers that in his lordship's estimation at least might have rivaled that of hamlet in vain was he denounced even had she credited the aspersions cast upon him they would have now come too late they might grieve but they could not change her heart i think the whole concluded with her being discarded from her uncle's presence and protection mrs st. claire was next summoned and a long consultation ensued her anger and dismay were at least equal to the earls though caused by different views of the same subject how to dispose of the offender was the next question to permit her to bask in the light of his lordship's countenance even while under excommunication would never do yet to confine her to her apartment or discard her utterly would be making the matter public and as he had no doubt he would ultimately prevail he was anxious he said that the flame of rebellion should not be seen until he had fairly extinguished it in this emergency the only course mrs st claire could suggest was that her daughter and she should pay a visit to her sisters to this his lordship had first objected but upon hearing that they lived in the most retired melancholy manner and that it would be a perfect act of penance for gerter to reside there he consented under pretense of change of air therefore for mrs st claire's cold it was settled that they should immediately depart and the necessary arrangements having been made for the sake of appearances and as he expressed it to stifle any unpleasant surmises to which this hasty removal might have given birth they were escorted to the carriage by the Earl himself he actually handed in mrs st claire but only appeared to assist Gertrude thus preserving the beautiful unity of his design to the last end of section 39 section 40 of the inheritance by susan edmund stune farrier this libre vox recording is in the public domain volume 2 chapter 6 to the worldly mind there is always something depressing in the transition from grandeur to mediocrity this mrs st claire and her daughter experienced upon entering the simple dwelling of the miss blacks the one loved the pumps and the luxuries of high life the other its elegancies and refinements and both had lost their relish for the humbler sphere which they were now entering they were received by the sisters with an affection and tenderness which seemed to flow from a better source than mere worldly politeness there was an openness of character a calm sweet gentleness of manner which could not fail to please but there was at the same time a difference of tastes principles and pursuits betwixt them and their visitors which no courtesy of manner or cordiality of reception could entirely do away the miss blacks were no vain professors of that religion which all pretend to honor with their lips well with many their heart is far from it their time their talents their fortune their hearts were devoted to its service and in devoting the heart to god how various and comprehensive are the duties which it embraces different portions indeed had been assigned them but both were laborers in the same vineyard thousands at his bidding speed and post or land and ocean without rest they also serve who only stand and wait milton the word of god was the rule of their faith and practice they believed and they obeyed yet impressed as they were themselves with the importance of those divine truths they were aware that it is not by the mind but with the heart that man believeth unto salvation and they sought rather to make christianity loved and desired than to prove it by reasoning and disputation as the glories of the firmament are reflected in the placid bosom of some deep unruffled stream of the valley so did divine truth shine in them with a clear yet subdued light while that charity which vaunt of not itself is not easily provoked think of no evil was visible in the deportment of its votaries and shed an indescribable charm over the tone of their conversation without neglecting their own avocations or sacrificing their own pursuits they nevertheless endeavored by every means in their power to render their house agreeable to their visitors and to promote if not mirth and revelry at least cheerfulness and amusement still there was something in her sisters with which Mrs. St. Clair could not assimilate she felt their faith and their practice of reproach to herself and she turned with aversion from their excellence as lucifer did from the sunbeams only because of their brightness thus it is with true christian piety which seldom fails to be an offense to some part of the world which denounces as zealots and phonetics all who rise above their own low standard it was otherwise with Gertrude though not sufficiently enlightened to be above imbibing prejudices she was yet to liberal minded and candid to retain them and she had not lived many days with her aunts ere she arrived at the conviction that all religious people are not necessarily fools, hypocrites or bigots the unvarying mildness and gentleness of her aunts their charity to all their indulgence towards young people could not fail to gain her affections and though their sentiments were totally different from hers and what she deemed very out of the way still the fruits were so fair that she could not but apply to them popes often misapplied maxim they can't be wrong whose life is in the right but it was a species of virtue Gertrude felt no inclination to imitate all her ideas of virtue were those of imagination she loved to expatiate in thought on deeds of romantic sentimental excellence her money and her tears and her emotion were always ready to bestow but when she herself was brought into contact with real genuine human wretchedness she shrunk with horror and disgust from the encounter the dirtiness of the houses the coarseness of the people the ugliness of the children were all revolting to her fine spun notions of the beauty of benevolence and she longed to discover some fair specimens of elegant woe some interesting vestiges of human calamity on whom to lavish the ardent sensibility of her warm and generous but unrenewed heart in short her religion was the religion of impulse and feeling and as has been finally said virtue requires habit and resolution of mind as well as delicacy of sentiment and unfortunately the former qualities are sometimes wanting where the latter is in the greatest perfection alas it is not in this world that charity assumes the fair and graceful form with which painting and sculpture and all the richness of their imagination have so often decked it although the miss blacks lived according to the worldly phrase out of the world they nevertheless had a society which even misses st. clare and her daughter felt it no degradation to mix in their doors were open to all for they practiced hospitality towards all though their chosen friends were those whose faith and practice most closely resembled their own William Leslie the innocent cause of Gertrude's present disgrace was a frequent visitor and could not fail to make a favorable impression on her from his interesting appearance and the modesty and propriety of his manners from the delicacy of his features he looked even younger than he was and may be represented in the words of an ancient and somewhat quaint description as seeming much about 20 years of age brown hair tall of a sweet face and of a most neat composure she felt as much interest in the success of that attachment as the engrossing influence of her own would admit of her taking in any subject foreign to it but to the disquietes of absence was now added a sort of restless anxiety to receive renewed assurances of affection from her lover not that she doubted his fidelity or for a moment believed it could be shaken by any vicissitude of fortune that might befall her but still as she knew Lord Ross still had communicated to him what had passed it would have been gratifying to have been assured that his faith was unshaken she saw by the papers that his regiment was still in England perhaps then he meant to come himself and bear her through the storm to which her attachment to him had exposed her and day after day hour after hour Gertrude waited till waiting degenerated into watching turned into the sickness of hope deferred Mrs. St. Clair read what was passing in her daughter's mind and tried to take advantage of it by prevailing on her to renounce the man who at such a crisis could leave her in doubt but for a single moment as to the nature of his sentiments but his long air the young and generous heart can believe in anything so monstrous as the deceit of the object beloved and Gertrude even while she felt the anxieties of doubt yet rejected almost with horror the idea of his unworthiness in vain did her aunts endeavor to lead her thoughts to better things or even to direct her mind to other sources of occupation Gertrude under the influence of a wayward and domineering passion could listen only to its voice and the voice of the charmer charm it ever so wisely fell unheeded on her ear she felt almost provoked at their calmness and placidity as contrasted with her own uneasy thoughts and unsettled habits and she secretly sighed at the insipid monotony of her life End of section 40 section 41 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stewn Barrier This LibriVox recording is in the public domain volume 2 chapter 7 In hope a king doth go to war In hope a lover lives for long In hope a merchant sails full far In hope just men do suffer wrong In hope the plowman sows his seed Thus hope helps thousands at their need Then faint not heart among the rest Whatever chance hope thou the best Richard Allison hitherto the weather had been fine and though fine weather in any town but more especially in a little dull dirty provincial one never appears to less advantage still it was a relief to Gertrude to saunter alone in her aunts little garden and sometimes to extend her rambles to the neighboring fields but two days of incessant rain deprived her even of this resource and she found herself shut up in the same apartment with her mother and her aunts unable to take any interest either in their occupations or conversation where people's hearts are in unison a very small space indeed suffices for their bodies but where there is no blending of tastes and pursuits social intercourse necessarily becomes irksome and depressive and we sigh for even the joyless freedom of solitude in the narrow dull streets of barnford there was little to amuse or attract but Gertrude sat at the window most part of the morning gazing she knew not at what perhaps there are few stronger proofs of operation of intellect than that of a person looking out of a window where there is nothing to be seen and at another time she would have smiled and scorn at the idea of ever being reduced to so pitiful a resource certainly the objects up on which she looked with bacon dive were not of the most attractive order an old gentlewoman sat knitting her hands at one side of her body her head at the other in the manner usually practiced by expert knitters this old gentlewoman then sat knitting a large thick shaped white lambs wool stocking with wires and quills like those upon the fretful porcupine stuck in her girdle and which her well-trained fingers ever and anon exchanged and adjusted in a manner which none but a knitter could comprehend or explain it is a galling finger those whose hands will not move a finger without the intervention of the head thus to be hold other hands performing all the intricacies of heel and toe apparently by their own free will and accord there are few servants who do not require to be occasionally looked after but these trusty and vigilant members never appeared to relax in their labors though the eyes of their mistress never were once directed towards them but seemed to be inactive observance of all that was to be seen beyond the sphere of her own dwelling much might be said upon this subject but doubtless my readers love a well knit story as well as a well knit stocking and it would be like letting down a stitch to enter upon a long digression at present at the next house a great washing was going on made servants with pinned up sleeves crimson arms and loose caps came occasionally to the door to discharge tubs full of soap suds while a roaring infant was dandled at the window by a little dirty dog-eared looking minks with her hair on poppy yonked on the other side of the knitting lady nothing was visible to the naked eye but the sound of an old cracked jingling spinot was heard unceasingly practicing Barbados bells and Nancy Dawson below was a shop and over the half door leant the shopmaster with a long sharp raw nose looking as anxiously as ever did sister and to see if there was anybody coming now and then the street was enlivened with the clank of a pair of patents at another time a spattered cow was driven reluctantly along lowing most plaintively there was also an occasional cart shaking the houses in its progress as it rumbled over the rugged pavement a horse shrieking ballad singer made an attempt to collect an audience by vociferating bright shanty clear proclaims the dawn and spangled deck the thorn the lowing herds now quit the lawn the lark springs from the corn dogs huntsman round the window throng fleet taller leads the cry arise the burden of my song this day a stag must die with a hey ho jevy hark forward hark forward tentivy hark hark tentivy this day a stag must die this day etc but his only listeners were a boy going to school and a servant girl bound on a message which required dispatch these were sounds of hopeless misery but the blowing of a horn with what is it not fraught to the watching heart and listening ear gertrude strained her eyes but a long coach covered with red cloaks and umbrellas was just setting off there was not even the hopes and fears of an arrival to agitate the day was beginning to close in dinner had been ordered and gertrude with a deep sigh was turning from the window when again the sound of wheels was heard she turned a carriage was in sight it approached in the dubious straggling manner of one uncertain of its destination the glasses were up and dimmed with rain but oh agitation unspeakable as it stopped for a moment opposite the window gertrude recognized the well known delmore crest for some moment she saw heard nothing always silent tumult in her mind as she thought he is come even now he seeks me she looked up the carriage had moved on a few doors but there it stood she saw the hind wheels but she could see no more save that it seemed to be causing a little bustle heads were put out from the opposite windows and two or three people came out of their dwellings and crossed the street to it every instant seemed an age to gertrude and some minutes elapsed when again it was set in motion it turned she saw the horses heads they were almost at the door there was no longer doubt it was soon reality the carriage drew up allowed knock at the door startled even the mist blacks the bustle of an arrival was heard below what was said gertrude heard not a mist was before her eyes a rushing sound in her ears the door was thrown open and in an instant the whole illusion vanished as if by the touch of some fell enchanter for in patterned miss pratt into section 41 section 42 of the inheritance susan edmund stewen farrier this libra vox recording is in the public domain volume 2 chapter 8 how convenient it proves to be a rational animal who knows how to find or invent a plausible pretext for whatever it has an inclination to do franklin my dear miss black this is really too much now don't let me disturb you but what do you think i've got into a fine scrape thanks to my pretty madam of a maid miss mary i hope you feel yourself getting stouter this is said whether for rheumatism mrs. st. claire miss gertrude my dear are you well enough but as i was saying i really never was in such a situation in my life before i've been staying for the last week at all general crab trees poor man the gout really does not improve his temper and the house is small and all together to tell you the truth i was glad of an excuse to get away so when our friend mr. delmore who's there for a day or two on his political purposes proposed sending in his carriage to get something done to the lamps i thought i would just take the opportunity of coming in having a little business of my own at this time but what do you think upon coming to my own house though and behold it's hard and fast locked up and that lightheaded toppy is off to a sick mother or a brother from the sea or some such shan and i'm left to shift for myself without a hold to put my head in if she had had but the sense to have left my key i could have made a shift at that instant miss black servant entered with a large key bearing to be the key of miss pratt's house which he said had been sent by mrs. dunesmore the grocer with whom babby braidfoot had deposited it at her departure that's my key is it asked the owner regarding it with a very bitter look and as much the better i'll be of that to be sure taking it with great reluctance i'll find cold quarters there i think for anybody just come off a journey miss black was too sincere to make speeches or express pleasure she did not feel but she took advantage of the first pause afforded by miss pratt to express her wish that she would remain with them and to assure her of a hearty welcome to such accommodation as they had my dear miss black this is really kind of friend in need as a friend indeed well i may say that but are you sure it's not putting you to any inconvenience i know i may depend upon your telling me honestly to be sure nobody need mine me for i think my stars i'm easily put up i'm not one of those who can only sleep in their own beds i can lie in any bed if it's not too hard and is well made and has plenty of pillows and enough for blankets well since you insist upon it i'll just take the liberty of having my bits of things brought out here they can easily be moved afterwards then my dear to the servant girl will you just tell the coachman to take out my luggage he must get somebody to help him with the largest trunk and tell him to keep the small one with the right end up most and do you hear my dear will you take here and carrying up the band boxes and there's a large green bag see that it's well fastened at the mouth and there's a pair of stout walking shoes in one of the pockets a might work bag and that little brown paper parcel in the other and there's a little basket in the corner and that's all well this is really comfortable drawing in a chair for a person just come off a journey taking off her shoes and holding up her feet to the kindly influence of a blazing fire and what's more it is really kind seizing miss mary's hands and giving them a most emphatic squeeze as much as to say and there is your reward the servant now entered to say everything had been taken out and the coachman back to know if there was any word this miss pratwell knew was in other words craving adieu sir and she looked a little blank as she answered no word he is just to take the carriage as his master desired him to spring well the coach makers in the high causeway and show him what's to be done to the carriage and he's just to leave it there and make the best of his way home with my compliments then as if communing with herself if i had been at home i would have given him something this wed day not that he's come so far as to need it for its but scrim six miles but to be sure the day is bad this black here is all these doubts by giving orders for the coachman to have some refreshment but that is really very humane of you my dear miss black but i have my doubts whether it's right to give other people servants anything indeed it's a principle with me never to give them money with a look as much as to say am i not right when people give trouble said mrs st. clear who was rather in a bad humor and consequently very sensible in her remarks they have to give something besides i beg your pardon mrs st. clear i know many people who set their faces against allowing their servants to take money many they think it makes them greedy and rapacious and i think so too indeed i'm satisfied it's a wrong thing to give other people's servants money but i think i ought to give my pretty lightheaded mrs babby a month of the tool boot as a reward for her behavior dinner which had been retarded by miss pratt's arrival was now announced bless me is at that time of day looking at her watch i declared 20 minutes past five enforcing on her shoes you must excuse my sitting down in my police for i'll show you a little thought of dining in anybody's house but my own today and having taken her a station at the table barley broth beeping into the terrain and a very good thing it is wind well made and this is very nice clear and strong it's a great favorite of mine miss mary let me recommend the broth to you miss st. clear my dear you don't look as if you were hungry that's with not being out today i wish anthony white could see you just now for he says an elegant female at dinner i'd always look as if she did not care whether she were eating or not i really think you would please him there i'm sure i seldom care whether i sit down to dinner or not said mrs st. clear with a sigh though by the by she generally contrived to pick up the best of what was going my dear mrs st. clear did you ever try to go without your dinner i dare say i have frequently a big apartment really i think you must be mistaken there take my word for it nobody that has tried it once will ever try it again i speak from experience i once tried to go without my dinner but i can tell you it was anything but agreeable in short it will not do let people say as they will what nicely king widings that's one of mr white's favorite dishes nicely crisp with breadcrumbs and this is above you chucky i'm sure that unfair i declare it's a treat to me to sit down to such a dinner for i'm perfectly sick of the sight of turtle soup and great fat venison i was really wearing to get to my own house for a little if it was only to refresh myself for the drop plain barley broth and a bit boiled mutton and what a pleasant thing for a few friends to meet this way instead of these great Hubble shoes the people one sits down with now where there's no caring on anything like rational conversation mrs st. clear allow me to help you miss mary you're doing very little mrs st. clear my dear take a little wine with me to cheer you this bad day is this elder flower wine miss black upon my word it's very little inferior to anthony whites front and yuck here's a health to them that's the way with a significant look and an attempt at the tune by the by what did you think when you saw mr delmo's carriage stop i doubt you were a little disappointed day Gertrude felt too miserable even to be moved by miss pratt's ill-timed jests and she remained pale cold and silent to attempt to carry on anything resembling conversation in miss pratt's company was impossible yet to endure her idle title for a whole evening was a sacrifice to great even for miss black's patients and good breeding it was in vain to have recourse to music as she then fastened herself upon someone of the company and carried on her colloquy and loud whispers even more annoying to a nice tone deal then open declination the only effectual mode of silencing her then was by reading aloud and although she highly disapproved of that manner of passing the time and indeed remarked what a wearing out thing it was for the reader and how much easier it was for all parties just to sit and chat yet her objections were politely raved and miss mary taking up a volume of mckenzie read the exquisitely beautiful story of la roche which served as a prelude to the solemn acts of devotion with which the evening closed end of section 42 section 43 of the inheritance by susan edmund stein farrier this lever box recording is in the public domain volume 2 chapter 9 i played the torturer by small and small to lengthen out the worst that must be spoken shakespear the sacred emotions which had been raised in gertrude's soul had while they lasted shed their soothing influences on her heart but when these ceased she felt gladness only that the day was done and that she should now be alone hurrying to her chamber she took out the often peruse letter of her lover the only one she had ever received from him but that one did it not stand for a thousand there was all that the warmest tenderness passion could dictate there was every assurance of devoted unchanging everlasting attachment and again and again she repeated that to doubt was base was dishonorable but even while she repeated it a vague secret doubt nevertheless lurked in her mind unknown to herself she was roused from her contemplation by a knock at her door and air she had time to reply to the summons miss pratt's head in a nightcap presented itself with may i come in and taking it for granted as people generally do on those occasions she immediately entered so i guess you would not be in a hurry to go to your bed young people all like to sit up late and indeed i'm not over fond of very early hours myself so we'll just have a little chat carefully extinguishing her candle this is a nice snug little room and i dare say you will sleep as sound here as in your fine silk bed at rosville and by the by how long is it since you left the castle and how came your uncle to part with you contrary to miss pratt's usual manner she waited for an answer and gertrude replied that they had left rosville almost three weeks since and there she stopped and your uncle made no objections to your coming here of course you could not have come indeed if he had opposed it and i suppose you're to make some stay in that case gertrude replied that there was no time fixed for their departure and miss pratt for a moment looked as if a little baffled but quickly recovering she sees gertrude's hand and trying to look tender my only reason for asking my dear is that i really don't think you agree with this town you don't look so well as when i saw you at rosville i wish all may be quite right patting the hand which was withdrawn from her with something of a look of displeasure but the ice was now broken she plunged boldly in my only reason indeed for supposing there was anything wrong is that i received the most extraordinary letters since i saw you from lord rosville really a most impertinent letter rummaging her pockets and dragging out from each receptacle a vast collection of letters notes memoranda et cetera et cetera amongst which she picked for some time but to no purpose for the missive in question then with a look of alarm bless my heart i wish i may have lost it shaking herself most vehemently it would really be an awkward thing for upon my word it's a letter not fit to be seen by anybody what he could mean by writing such a letter to me of all people in short the substance of it was this the lord rosville had heard with inexpressible astonishment and pain or some such roundabout phrase that miss prat had presumed to circulate certain reports of a clandestine and consequently improper nature regarding certain juvenile members of his family which reports and so he went on you know his style but the short and the long of it was this that i was not to say black or white about any of his juvenile members and that i was to contradict everything i had said or might have said or had heard or might have inferred previous to this period but i can give you no idea of the way it was worded but what do you think he can mean gertrude well knew what he meant but shocked at her uncle's absurdity and at the publicity he was thus giving to her attachment she remained silent such a fancy to take into his head that i of all people in the world should have said any such reports are going so far from that i'm the very person that has put a stop to them for i can't tell you all the nonsensical stories that were going about one said you was positively engaged to the colonel another headed that you were to be married to 27th of next month to the member and that cards for a grand ball to the county on the 31st were making out already in mrs delmore's name a third headed that the brothers were on the point of fighting a duel for you when lord rostro got word of it and threatened to disinherit them and send you to a french nunnery and in the meantime he has sent you here as the next thing to it but in short i can't tell you half the nonsense that was going and everybody came to me for the truth but they made little of me for my uniform answer was that to my certain knowledge neither the one brother nor the other would ever be the husband of miss saint claire that it was quite a different person from either of them that would be her choice so i leave you to judge if that was spreading reports but i see how it is lord rossville honest man has seen over his nose at last and he's mad at my having had more penetration than himself and to be sure it was a most extraordinary piece of blindness in him not to have seen how the land lay long ago but bless my heart there's 12 o'clock i'm afraid you're sitting up too late my land you're looking very white go to your bed as fast as you can good night good night my dear and lighting her candle she was hastening off when gertrude roused into displeasure said there you go suffer me once for all miss pratt to assure you that you are in an error in everything relating to me and that mr lindsay never never can be anything to you interpose the incorrigible pratt with an incredulous small very well that's enough i'm quite convinced from what i saw that mr lindsay is nothing to you no no in the tone and manner used by false nurses to waver children when assuring them of some monstrous falsehood gertrude turned from her in silent indignation as she repeated her good nights and was softly closing the door when popping in her head again oh by the by i wish you joy of being quit of a certain disappointed lover he's fairly off his brother tells me at last a fair wind and a good voyage to him and i wish him better luck another time now go to sleep my dear gone repeated gertrude to herself in an agony as the door at length closed on her tormenter gone without one word for him i'm driven from my uncle's house for him i've renounced all and he neglects and abandons me and she gave way to the long suppressed anguish of her heart and for a while experienced all that agony of spirit of which her ardent and enthusiastic nature was susceptible but hers was not a mind long to suffer despair to have dominion over her it is not the first stroke of grief however heavy it may fall that can at once crush the native buoyancy of youthful spirits it is the continuance of misery which renders its weight insupportable and where there is even the possibility there is generally the wish to escape from its pressure so it was with gertrude the first burst of grief over the dreadful surmise which she had at first hugged to her bosom with frantic eagerness she now cast from her with scorn and indignation that there was deceit somewhere she could not doubt but that deceit was not with colonel delmore it was impossible that he should have quitted england without writing to her but surrounded as she was by his enemies how could she suppose his letters would now be permitted to reach her lord ross bill and her mother both so violently opposed to him both acting in concert and carrying on a constant correspondence with each other though the contents of the letters were kept a profound secret from her all these circumstances she revolved in her mind till from the first faint suspicions they gradually grew into proofs strong as holy writ her heart felt lightened by the discovery and in the morning she took her place at the breakfast table with her nerves braced and her eyes kept from tears by the determination of rising superior to all the petty artifices that might be practiced against her breakfast was but just over when the return of the renegade babby braidfoot was formally announced to miss proud who immediately left the room for the purpose as she said of giving her a good hearing end of section 43