 Section 89 of the Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stuhn-Farrier. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Volume 3, Chapter 18, Fair, Seamly, Plaisance, Each to Other Makes, With Goodly Purposes, There as They Sit, Fairy Queen. A name, a musical, To Evolstian Ears, And Harsh in Sound to Thine, Shakespeare. Bellevue was her first destination, For she could now endure to meet Anne, Since she found her conduct was not viewed In the light she feared it would have been. She was welcomed by Mrs. Black With even more than her wanted cordiality And having dismissed the children Who were in the room with her, She immediately started the subject of Anne's marriage, Prefacing her observations with a deep sigh Or rather, groan. I'm sure we were all much obliged to you, My Lady, for refusing to give them your church. I was in great hopes that might have put an end To the thing altogether, And I really believe it would If it had not been for Mr. Lindsey. Folk are really ill-employed sometimes When they think they're doing good. And it would maybe be just as well If there was less of that kind of interference In the world. As Mr. Black says, Let Ilka sheep hang by its own shank And it might have been long enough Before William Leslie would have got a curtain And in that time there's no saying What might have happened. But now her father's just weary And sick of the subject, And he has given his consent And what could he do else? So it will be all over soon now. And Mrs. Black heaved another sigh. I trust they will both be very happy, Said Gertrude. It may be so, said Mrs. Black coldly, But it will be but a waith kind of happiness Very different from her two sisters Who want for nothing And both keep their own carriages. But I must always think her family Are little obliged to Mr. Lindsey. Anne's entrance put a stop to her mother's lamentations And Gertrude was then strictly questioned As to all she had seen or heard Of Mrs. Larkins, Who Mrs. Black seemed to think Must from her own account Be a very distinguished personage In London. Lady Rostel made no attempts to Undeceive her, But gave as flattering a picture As she could of the Larkins' prosperity Upon hearing that her cousin Was going to walk to Bonford To visit her aunts, The Countess offered her a seat in her carriage Which she willingly accepted of. While Anne went to make ready, Mrs. Black again returned to the charge And again expressed her own And Mr. Black's gratitude for the friendly part She had acted in refusing the Kirk. As for this marriage, Said she, I have no heart To make any ploy of it, So I shall ask nobody, The lads may come out to it if they like, But I'm very doubtful If the major and his lady Will countenance it. Gertrude was on the point of offering To attend, But just then Anne returned And they set off. No sooner were they alone Than Anne began to repeat her acknowledgements For what had been done. Had it not been for Mr. Lindsay, Said, gee, I know not What would have become of us. For my mother had resolved Upon sending me to London To live with my sister In hopes that a change Might have been wrought In my sentiments, But it would have served no purpose But to render us both unhappy For the love that is founded in religion And virtue cannot change. No, Said Gertrude, I do not think the love could have been true That any circumstances could ever change. It is perhaps sometimes difficult To distinguish false from true, Said Anne, But I'm sure whoever Mr. Lindsay loves, He will love truly And whoever loves him Will love forever and I. He is made a warm advocate in youth, Said Lady Rosbill Smiling. He deserves much more than I can say of him. Had you but seen with what warmth and kindness He entered into our affairs And how feelingly he sympathized In our disappointment And how vexed he seemed Upon your account too. Upon my account, Exclaimed Gertrude while aglow Of conscious shame Suffused her cheek how What could he say for me? He did not say much, But when my father and mother Argued from your having Otherwise disposed of the church That you were opposed to our union He disclaimed that idea altogether And said that although you had inadvertently Made an engagement Which you thought you could not break Yet he was sure You suffered more than any of us did And he said it in a way that showed How much he felt for you. It is in sorrow then And not in anger that he thinks of me Thought Gertrude, But there was something more humiliating In the one than the other She could have made overtures to be reconciled But she could not sue to be forgiven And she sought to steal herself Against the repentance That her cousins recital Had awakened in her breast As Anne was about to renew the grateful theme The Countess abruptly changed the conversation And as they were then inside of Uncle Adam's mansion She proposed to pay him a visit To which Anne timidly assented Not having had the courage to encounter him Since her marriage had been made known to him They were received as usual In a very doubtful sort of way But Mr. Ramsey Gertrude's looks commonly Softened his asperities By recalling the image of his Lizzie And it was so long since he had seen her That he would have almost hailed her appearance Had not the rumor Of her engagement with Colonel Delmore Reached his ears and caused them to Tingle to the very drum With indignation She looked pale and out of spirits too And less like Lizzie than usual So that he was ready to take the field against her Especially as he saw that she had got anew And more splendid equipping In her dress was something he was not accustomed to see pass His windows every day I cannot say London has improved you Said he's scarcely looking at her I didn't think I would Hey, can't you if I had met you If that's a you have made by it I think you would have been just as real at hand Much better I believe so Lady Ross filled with a sigh She did not intend London is not the place for either light heads Or light purses like mine Uncle Adam thought this savored of an Attack upon his hordes And he resented it accordingly I, light heads, mac, light purses And its best they should keep company We aim a nither Lady Ross filled only smiled at this rebuff Then said, well, as you don't seem to make my Light head and my light purse very welcome Here is a light heart that I hope will please you better Pointing to Anne who's happy blooming face And little simply dressed figure formed quite a contrast Of the Countess's pale complexion Disatisfied expression and elegant but fanciful style of dress Who I, sweethearts, are I lighthearts But maybe that's our light, a word for you And your Dominique, identical in what you religious folk Caught yourselves, hey ye only godly name That you carry on your courtships with poor Anne blushed as she answered in some confusion That her uncle might call her what he pleased And if I should caught you to a great fools Demanded he, perhaps you will only call us By our right names, said Anne With a smile, there's some modesty at least in that Said uncle Adam, more benignly But what did you mean by carrying on this Hidlann courtship of yours, say, Lang? I never heard a word until I heard it Fray your father last week I thought it unnecessary to trouble you Upon a subject which did not interest you Said Anne, how did you can, whether it would Interest me or no? I suppose if I had had a kirk in my heart You had, hey, thought it very interesting Then as his attention was attracted to the carriage Moving forward, that's a fine ute Set for a minister's wife or else Know to be riding up and down the country In a fate and fowler and her twey flunkies But at that moment, the Waddell carriage Took the place of the Rossville one And Mrs. Major herself appeared in all her pomp and bustle This is very hard, muttered Mr. Ramsay As he turned to and fro, that I cannot Ca, ma, hoose, ma, ain The Mrs. Major now entered in a very slow, solemn, Interesting manner, and as if much fatigued By the exertion of walking from her carriage To the house, she seated herself Immediately on her entrance And then held out her hand, first to uncle Adam Who would not take it next to Lady Rossville With an affectionate shake and lastly to Ann Whom she scarcely touched This is the second time I've been out So she's speaking in a languid affected tone In applying a spelling bottle to her nose And I feel quite fatigued with the exertion Of walking from the carriage here I'm sorry to hear you have been unwell Said Lady Rossville, nothing serious I hope Good gracious Lady Rossville, exclaimed Mrs. Waddell Roused into energy, have you forgot That I have been confined Oh, I beg pardon, said Gertrude As some confused notion darted across her brain Of having heard of some such event when in London The Major announced it to Mrs. Sinclair I know, said the Lady Yes, very true, I forgot, but I And you must have seen it in the papers I know the Major sent it to all the papers He had very little to do, observed Uncle Adam What paper do you get, demanded Mrs. Major Determined to dive to the bottom of this mystery I seldom read any but the morning pose And was it not there, perhaps, very likely I dare say it was, but you know If it had been there, you must have seen it And it wasn't a thing to overlook I must let the Major know that and have it Enquired into I know he sent it to every one of the papers I know that perfectly Lady Rossville now thought she recollected Mrs. Sinclair mentioning an air To the race of Waddell's And by way of atoning for her lapse She said, I hope you are little boys Quite well, boy Exclaimed a still more exasperated lady It happens to be a girl And I assure you The Major and I were much better pleased We were both very anxious for a girl For although where there is a title in the family It is natural to wish for a son Yet we both think it is of the greatest consequence The eldest should be a girl So it was a great gratification to us It was just what we wanted Very true, I beg your pardon But the outraged mother turned towards Mr. Ramsey I come, uncle, to make a request In the name of my little miss Who we must really think of having christened Some of these days As the Major is an Episcopalian We will, of course, have it done According to that service And we hope you will kindly officiate As God Father upon the occasion At this proposal, uncle Adam looked Black as night, fierce as tin furies And he seemed on the point of uttering Some awful anathema When suddenly, checking himself, he said In one of his alarmingly mild tones I made great ejections Provided him to have the Baron called after me Mrs. Waddell was confounded On the one hand that was all but Declarens of child desire On the other Adam Waddell Was rather an uncouth appellation For a young lady But then a movable tale Might be tacked to Adam She might be Adam to him And Adamine or Adam Mella Or Adaminta to the rest of the world And Mrs. Major invariably chuckled At the proposal Though she resolved at the same time To enhance the value of the concession She therefore said why To tell you the truth, uncle Had fixed in my own mind To have our little miss Called after the Major Although he declares She must be named after me But I think Andromache Is such a beautiful name And so off the common Andrew Mack Hayes A very good name for her to be sure Said uncle Adam gravely Good gracious, uncle Such a way of pronouncing Andromache However, I shall give up all thoughts Of that since you are so anxious To have our missing named after you We said uncle Adam With a savage smile That's a subtle For you will know object To a bit trifling addition To the name For it's rather short and pooky Is not Why to tell the truth I think it is And in addition Would certainly be an improvement Adam Menta, for instance I like a name that has some meaning Int and the name That year to call your Baron After me Might be Adamant For I can tell both you and her That Adamant, you will find me To the last generation of you The natural man here broke out And Adam was himself again Really, uncle, you have the oddest ways Began the lady affecting to laugh In order to cover her confusion So we shall say no more About it at present I shall leave it to the major And you to settle it And addressing Lady Rossville When it does take place We hope, cousin, you will be One of the godmothers And favor us with your company On the occasion And I flatter myself Your goddaughter Will not discredit you Dr. Bambleton says she is Without exception The largest and finest child He ever beheld And just her father's picture Lady Rossville bowed Then rose to take her leave And motioned Anne To accompany her Bless me, exclaim Mrs. Waddell Is it possible, Anne, That you were flaunting about In a fine open carriage I had no idea You would have done anything So dissipated What will the Senate say to that In an affected whisper? Anne was too meek to retort But Uncle Adam was always ready To take up their cudgels For the oppressed Are you known, satisfied, with Hand of chase Oh, your aim But you, ma'am, envy Your sister, poor thing Allied in other folks Envy, repeated Mrs. Major With her toss I'm sure I don't know What I should envy her Or anyone else for As for four horses I could have them Whenever I choose But I greatly prefer a pair So what I have to envy I'm sure I don't know With an affected laugh of contention It's a pity you should be at a loss For something to rack your envy upon Said Uncle Adam As he opened his little old bureau And took out the identical 500-pound bill He had received from Lady Rostel And which had lain there ever since Hey, my dear, to Anne There's something for you To begin the world with See what it is Anne looked at the bill And was too much overwhelmed To be able to speak But the glow that overspread her face And the tears of joy That stood in her soft blue eyes Spoke volumes Uncle Adam Saw her vainly attempting to thank him And patting her on the shoulder said You needn't a flash to say Only thing about it So gang, your ways Hey, you apoclete to pit it in And he almost thrust her out at the door Mrs. Waddell was now past speaking She was to have waited for the Major Whom she had permitted to go To a meeting in the county hall But to wait was impossible She instantly drove off And called the Major away from his business To attend to her injuries And consult whether it would not be possible To cognizce Uncle Adam And give the editor the morning post Put in the pillory So much time had been spent At Bellevue and Uncle Adam's That Lady Rostel found She had little to bestow upon her aunts She had pleasure, however, in seeing them And in seeing very many things She had contributed to their enjoyments Their rooms were filled with the choices Flowers and plants from Rostel Some beautiful scriptural engravings Which she had sent them Decorated their walls And she had filled an empty space At one end of the room With a pretty bookcase filled With well-chosen books All these things were aunts were at pains To point out to her And to tell her what pleasure her kind Considered gifts had afforded them She pressed them to come to Rostel For a few days While her mother and she were quite alone For even Lady Betty was absent on a visit But Aunt Mary was too much of an invalid To leave home And her sister never quitted her So with many thanks The kind offer was declined And they parted, still more favorably Impressed with each other End of section 89 Section 90 Of The Inheritance By Susan Edmundstone-Farrier This LibriVox recording Is in the public domain Volume 3, Chapter 19 This is the State of Man Improsperous fortune A shadow passing light Throws to the ground Joy's baseless fabric In adversity comes malice with a sponge Moistened in gall and wipes Each beautyous character away Escalus The weather had now setting wet Everything without was cheerless Within was dull And surrounded with all That wealth and luxury could furnish Lady Rostel felt that neither Could protect their possessors Against weariness and satiety Delmore had taught her to despise The society of the neighborhood And since her return She had kept rather aloof From any intercourse But she would now have been glad Of anyone to break the tedium Of the maternal teth-out-teth Her reading, her music, Her drawing, her embroidery For all tried and all failed To interest or amuse For her ardent but ill-regulated Mind sought in every occupation Not the medicine to cure But the element to feed Her distempered fancy Delmore voluntarily absent from Her was the idea that haunted Her day and night To look at his picture To shed tears over it To begin letters of reproach Only to be torn To think of whether She ought ever to see him again Were the chief resources Against the weariness of existence The third day of hiscessant reign Was drawing to her close The mother and daughter Were together in the saloon When the countess rose And opened a window For the fifth time Within the last hour To see whether the rain Was not abating But it fell thicker than ever Everything was dripping But there was not a breath of wind To relieve the surcharged trees Of their moisture No living thing was to be seen Except now and then a bird Which shot silently past Not a sound was to be heard Except the silent roar of the river As it was urged along Beyond its natural course Lady Roswell in despair Was about to shut the window When dimly Disonable through the mist and rain She described a carriage approaching It is Delmore after all Thought she with a throb of delight Is meant to take me by surprise And all sadness and ennui Pled at that idea Amma, it is, he is There is a carriage Clad she in all the flutter of joy As a hack chasing full With one gentleman inside Wealed rapidly round To the entrance Since was lost to sight In a second The door was thrown open No name was announced But preceded by the groom Of the chambers There entered Lewiston At sight of him Gertrude stood immovable While Mrs. Sinclair Uttering her shrie Clapped her hands before her eyes As if to shut out the dreadful apparition He only smiled at this salutation And approaching the countess Held out his hand to her With the freedom Of an old acquaintance But her cheeks clothed with indignation While she turned from him With an air of lofty disdain He looked at her for a moment With an expression half menacing Half ironical Then turned to Mrs. Sinclair Who, trembling and convulsed Rested her head upon a table As if not daring to look up This intrusion is too much Said the countess As she moved towards the bell But in passing Her mother caught her gown With almost frantic energy And without raising her head Exclaimed in a low gasping tone Gertrude, Gertrude Have mercy upon me Then making a violent effort She rose and tattered Rather than walked a few steps Towards Lewiston And extending her hands Tried to welcome him But her face was ghastly And the words died upon her lips What is all this Said he in his usual tone Of familiar assurance As he took her hands in his You look as though you had seen a ghost My good lady Instead of an old friend But don't be afraid I'm not from the other world Only from the wrong side of this one With my honest trudge here Padding a great sneaking lurcher Which stuck to him like a bird And he lied Pardon me, said Mrs. Sinclair But the surprise I believed you, I But her lips seemed parched In her tongue as though It clothed to the roof of her mouth She could not proceed It must be apparent to you, sir Said Lady Roswell-Hodley While yet her heart trembled within her That your presence was unlooked for Is unwelcome Added she as even while she spoke He seated himself And smiled saucily Her indignation got the better of her fear I know not who you are Said she again, approaching the bell And I received no visitors Who are unknown to me Again, Mrs. Sinclair called her Gertry, dear as Gertry, be quiet All will be well The Countess was going to order her servants To show me to the door where she demanded Lewiston in the same insulting tone of irony But her ladyship may spare herself the trouble I've sent off the chase This will be my home for some time Will it not? To Mrs. Sinclair Lady Roswell disengaged herself from her mother And rang the bell with violence Gertry, will you destroy me? Exclaim, Mrs. Sinclair, in a voice of agony That thrilled to her daughter's heart And made her pause When the summons was answered Nothing, nothing Thompson cried Mrs. Sinclair eagerly To the servants shut the door That's all Gertry's face was in that glow With the emotions that struggled in her breast To be thus brave in her own house Her resentment knocked her power As it were annihilated Her mother trembling before a menial Were at least one whom she herself only recognized As the husband of a menial Her brain felt as on fire And she stood speechless From excess of agitation So you thought I suppose I had gone to Davies locker Said Lewiston, addressing Mrs. Sinclair I read the account of the shipwreck of the Dauntless By the by, it was in that same paper With the old gentleman's death For these things are sometimes A long while of reaching us On tether outside the Atlantic So when I saw how the land lay Thinks I, it is time I was off To pay my respects to the Countess She hasn't given me a very kind reception though But wasn't it a luckiness That I had changed my ship? Some poor devil of a jack lapsly It was, I think, was in a hurry to be off And I gave up my birth to him And waited for the next, the heebie Wasn't I good-natured? But I am very good-natured And virtue, you know, is always its own reward, eh? If such are your friends, said Lady Rossville Addressing her mother in a voice almost in articulate This house is no longer a residence for me And again ringing the bell Which was instantly answered Probably from Mr. Thompson Having stationed himself outside the door She desired her carriage To be got ready immediately Then rushing past the servant She flew to her own apartment There her exasperated spirit gave way to tears And she wept in uncontrollable agony In a few minutes she was followed by Mrs. Sinclair But on her entrance Gertrude turned away her head from her As if determined to listen to nothing she could say Gertrude said her mother in a deep and agitated voice But she made no answer Gertrude cried she again As she would have taken her hand But the Countess withdrew it Gertrude repeated she And she sank on her knees at her daughter's feet Lady Rossville started up in horror But her mother clung to her gown Do not turn for me Cry she wildly But tell me Can I do more to soften you On my knees I beg of you To have mercy upon me Oh, exclaimed Gertrude with a shudder As she sought to raise her mother No, I have to beg for my life for my fame At your hands This is too dreadful, exclaimed the Countess If you would not drive me to distraction rise Will you then hear me? I will, I will Anything but this Mrs. Sinclair Rose Gertrude, you may bring me yet lower Than you have now seen me You may bring me to my grave Oh, that I were already there Cried she with a burst of twos Tell me, only tell me The meaning of this horror of mystery Said Gertrude, trying to speak calm But tell me why That man dares to treat me as he does Oh, do not, in mercy to yourself of me Do not ask me Lady Rossville stood for some moments With her eyes bent upon the ground While her color gradually rose Till the very brow was crimson Then in a voice of assumed calmness Which only spoke for pressed agony She said, speaking slowly, am I The daughter of Thomas Sinclair Then raising her clasp pans to her forehead She pressed them upon it As if to steal the throbbing of her brain Mrs. Sinclair looked upon it With a wild and ghastly stare Her very lips turned white And she seemed as if the rest Of all power of reply But by a sudden revulsion The blood flew to her face And she said in a tone of bitterness Even this humiliation I will endure as I hope to be saved I was ever a true and faithful wife So judge me heaven There was a fervor and solemnity In the appeal which carried conviction Lady Rossville uncovered her eyes And fetched to breath and a pause ensued Which after some minutes As the Sinclair gathered courage to break It is in vain that you would seek To penetrate the mysterious tie Which links my feet without a bluestom And which extends even to you And it will be no less vain To attempt to free yourself from his power Hear me Gertrude, hear me You promised you would If it were possible If it were in human endeavor Can you for a moment imagine That I would submit to what you have witnessed In tears of passion drop from her eyes Still less can I imagine any cause Which can make you submit to it Said the Countess And it is impossible that I should I will not, I cannot do it Be the consequences of what they may At that moment her maid entered To say her ladyship's carriage was waiting And while she spoke the rain fell Like a waterspout That is enough, let it wait, said her mistress Who in the tumult of her mind Forgot all feelings of humanity For man or beast The Abigail withdrew to agree With Mr. Thompson that something strange Was certainly going on Of what they could not divine The gentleman in the saloon Had ordered up some lunch in for himself And was eating and drinking to his heart's content While the ladys were above stairs all in tears To us strange, to us passing strange No sooner was this interruption over Than Mrs. Sinclair exclaimed, Go, go then, but I will also go Not in my carriage, attended as you are But even as I am on foot and alone Without even a quote to cover me It is no idle threat, I hear solemnly swear That if you this day leave your house I too leave it never to return It required no very high feelings Of filial duty to turn with horror From such an alternative Aggravated as it was by every circumstance Which could give effect to the picture Her mother, but lately recovered From a severe illness And yet far from well driven From her daughter's house Exposed to the inclemancy of the weather It was too dreadful to be dwelt upon Lady Rosville felt as though her senses Were forsaken And she said in a vacant, dejected manner Do what you will Mrs. Sinclair seized her daughter's hands And pressed them repeatedly to her lips Calling her at the same time By every endearing epithet For Gertrude sat in passive endurance And as if scarcely conscious Of the caresses lavished upon her Her mother then wrung for her maid To dismiss the carriage And ordered her to bring some drops From her dressing room For the countess who had been overcome She said outside of an old friend of her father's And having both administered and partaken of them She saw her laid upon a couch to rest And leaving her in charge of Mashin She returned to the saloon to her guest End of Section 90 Section 91 Of The Inheritance By Susan Edmundstone Ferrier This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Volume 3, Chapter 20 But that shall go all the most Will be the worthless and vile company with whom Thou must be thrown into these straits Danté, eau du moment d'horre empoisonné Alsire The hour of dinner came And when Mrs. Sinclair returned To her daughter's dressing room She found her as she had left her extended upon a couch And after all, Miss Mashin's hints of dressing Mrs. Sinclair dismissed the maid and then In a soothing voice said Gertrude, my dearest You will come to dinner I have had a long conversation with Lewiston He has promised not to offend you With the bluntness of his American manners But you ought to make allowance for them He is an independent citizen Of a Republican state where all you know Is liberty and equality But he means no offense and will endeavor To adapt himself more to our notions of propriety While he remains, which I expect will be For a very short time While he remains, I shall keep my own apartment Said Gertrude, without raising her head Impossible Exclaim, Mrs. Sinclair, in agitation He will never consent That is, I cannot consent, dearest Gertrude If you would not have me On my knees again rise and come with me Lady Rossville, side heavily and rose You will suffer Mashin, my love, to dress you No, I will not be dressed today Said the Countess in an absolute manner At least you will have your hair arranged A little, my love I will go as I am, said Lady Rossville In the same self-willed tone Or not at all Mrs. Sinclair saw it would not do to contend She gave up the point and accompanied by her daughter Descended to the dining room Lady Rossville's appearance certainly was not in unison With the pomp and order And high keeping of everything that surrounded her Her dress was deranged, her hair was disheveled The cheek on which she had rested Was of a crimson hue While the other was of a deadly pale And though she passed on with an even loftier air than usual It was without once lifting her eyes from the ground I hope your Lady Ship feels recruited, said Louis Danez She took her place at table He evidently meant to be polite But there was something in the tone That grated on her ear She started at the sound of his voice And a faint flush over spread her whole face As she slightly bent Her head in reply I found the count as fast asleep when I went to her Said Mrs. Sinclair quickly as if answering for her daughter But she has not slept away that vile headache it seems However, we are such a little quiet party That I persuaded her to appear We shall not expect you to talk my love But do eat something The soup is very good I think Brumo has even surpassed himself today You keep a French crook, demanded Louis Danez That's a confounded expense, is it not? Not for Lady Rossville, said Mrs. Sinclair With a blush at the vulgarative of her friend As she saw a sneer on the faces Even of the well-bred gentleman of the second table Ah, but there are better ways and worse of spending money However, another plate full of it If you please my lady You may give me two spoonfuls there That's it Now will you do me the favor to drink a glass of wine The countess is so poor a wine drinker Again, interposed Mrs. Sinclair That you had better accept of me as her substitute Come, we shall all drink together Come, my lady, take a glass To drive away the blue devils this bad day Gertrude's agony was scarcely endurable But she still sat immovable With her eyes bent upon her plate Though, without even attempting to taste What Mrs. Sinclair had put upon it What have we got here, said Lewiston As he uncovered one of the dishes And looked at it as that something He had never seen before A blank head, two poo yards Sir, said the maitre d'hôtel Blanque day pollard, repeated he Shall I help your ladyship to some of them? Come, let me persuade you Gertrude with difficulty made out a no Thank you, but Mrs. Sinclair was ready, as usual, To atone for her deficiencies You seldom eat, I think, my love Till the second course I hope there is something coming that you like What was it you liked so much to the day? Do you remember? I don't know, said the countess with a sigh And an absent look, sure, Dan You ought to observe what Lady Rossville likes How stupid that I can't think what it was You said was so good Was it beurre, drot, saute, eau, truffe? Perhaps I can't tell, said Lady Rossville with an air That showed she was rather oppressed Than gratified with this show of attention Meanwhile Lewiston was eating and drinking With all the ardor of a hungry man And the manners of a vulgar one He tasted of everything evidently from curiosity And though it was apparent that the style Was something he had not been accustomed to Yet he maintained the same forward ease As though he were quite at home Well, that may do for once, said he After having finished But in America we should scarcely call this a dinner A trudge to his dog Why another such as myself Would have looked silly here I like to see a good joint or two Mrs. St. Clair tried to laugh But she called it again as she said Lady Rossville and I make such poor Figures by ourselves At anything of a substantial repass That our dinners have indeed dwindled away Into very, very like entertainments But your dad, you will remember to let us Have something more solid tomorrow What do you think, for instance, About fine, jolly, juicy, 30-pound round Of well-corned beef and parsnips Or a handsome leg of pork and peas Putting in a couple of fat geese Well stuffed with sage and onion Swimming in apple sauce These are the dishes for me And he rubbed his hands with horrid glee It was a relief when dinner was over And the servants had withdrawn For although the degradation was not lessened At least there was no one to witness it Unless it were the portraits of the Rossville family As they frowned from their frames On the rude plebeian Who seemed thus to have usurped their place Gertrude had wrought herself Up to a pitch of forbearance Which it required all her powers of mind To maintain a thousand times She was on the point of giving way to her feelings And ending this hateful scene But as she caught her mother's eye Fixed on her with a look of imploring agony She checked herself No thought she would bear All for this night But worlds shall not tempt me To submit to such another And she sat in a sort of marble endurance While yet every nerve and fiber Were stretched as upon a rack Like all vulgar people Lewiston told so many good stories of and about Himself and talked so very loud And laughed so very heartily Reason or none That he completely deadened every other sound A slight commotion in the hall Caused by an arrival Had not therefore been heard By any of the party When suddenly a servant entered And approaching the Countess said Colonel Del Moore, your lady ship And scarcely had he spoken When Del Moore himself advanced with eager step Gertrude rose to welcome him With a rush of delight Which for the moment Absorbed every other consideration But the first rapturous emotion over He was instantly succeeded By the painful consciousness Of the strange and unaccountable situation In which he found her Mr. Lewiston, Colonel Del Moore Said Mrs. Sinclair in almost breathless agitation A friend of the family added she As she marked the haughty condescending bow With which Del Moore acknowledged the introduction But before Lewiston had opened his lips His assumed overdone air of nonchalance His vulgar but confident deportment The very cut of his clothes Audit of single glance Betrayed to Colonel Del Moore's Practiced eye and refined tact That this friend of the family was no gentleman There was something so commanding In his own presence such a decided air Of superiority about him That even the American Corse and Blantas he was In feeling and perception Seemed for the moment over odd Or at least was silenced Gertrude began to breathe as she thought Her lover had come to deliver her From the hateful bondage In which she was held by this man And her mother, who were both in the Jockey phrase evidently thrown out By his arrival It was not till he saw the counters Seated at table that Del Moore Was struck with her appearance As contrasted with all around her She who was always so gay And splendid in her evening dress Was now in a morning desabeal Her hair was beautiful even in disorder But still it was in disorder And although nothing could grieve her Of her loveliness and her grace Yet she looked ill and was embarrassed And altogether unlike herself You have been ill, Gertrude, said Del Moore In a low voice and speaking in Italian While he gazed upon her with looks Of the deepest interest No, nothing, only since the morning Answered she, and what has happened Since the morning, inquired he Still speaking in the same language While he turned a quick glance Upon the stranger of all those pictures Said Lewiston, throwing himself Back in his chair And addressing Mrs. St. Clair in very bad French As he pointed to the family portraits Which do you reckon worth most money? Mrs. St. Clair's face crimson While she replied She was no judge of pictures And Gertrude already wished Del Moore Had not come She could not answer his question But scarcely knowing what she said She asked whether he had dined Yes, I was detained at Darlton For want of horses And was obliged to have recourse To a greasy mutton chop And a bottle of bad port By way of pastime And after all I could only get One wretched pair Who I had the start of you there, sir Said the American rudely interrupting him I had four horses from Darlton By Jupiter How one does go with four horses And he chucked and made a gesture As though he were driving This was too much Lady Rossville started up And forgetting all her mother's cautions Said to Del Moore Since you have dined There is no occasion to remain here And taking his offered arm With the haughty air She led the way to the drawing room Leaving Mrs. St. Clair and Lewiston Confounded at her temerity But as they passed on Mrs. St. Clair's voice was heard In accents of entreaty to her guest In the name of heaven What does all this mean? Said Colonel Del Moore When the Countess and he were alone Brought pride, shame, indignation Checked Gertrude's utterance And she could not answer Something is wrong Tell me what it is Who is that man? Gertrude tried to repress her feelings While she answered He is an American That may be But certainly not an American gentleman He is an old acquaintance Of my father's, it seems Then you have seen him before Yes, but he only arrived today And I trust we'll depart tomorrow It is unfortunate that you should have come At the very time when we are encumbered With such a guest You don't think I have come too soon I hope, said Del Moore with a smile Sooner, certainly than I had reason to expect you Said Gertrude roused a recollection of the slight Put upon her by her lover Considering what interesting pursuits You were engaged in Del Moore colored slightly And in some confusion said So you really were taken by my excuses Lame as they were The fact was I was rather unwell At the time I wrote And not caring to say so to you I wrote I forget what something about making a fishing Party with Ereben Was it not? No matter what it was Cried Gertrude since it was not so Though I would rather you had told me the truth at once But the fact was even so As he had first stated it But whether he had taken the alarm At receiving no letter from the Countess Or that he had tired of his company Or that some sudden freak had seized him He suddenly left his party and set off by himself For Rossville leaving them to follow at their own time Gertrude's heart felt lightened Of half its load Del Moore loved her as much as ever And he was there to protect her What had she to fear And again her sanguine buoyant spirit Danced in her heart and sparkled in her eyes For you will endure this odious American for tonight Said she and tomorrow will surely rid us of him But he is so rude and overbearing In his manners that I fear you will scarcely be able to tolerate him Promise me then that you won't notice him I'm so afraid of your quarreling Quarreling, repeated Del Moore with a smile of contempt No, I expect to be much amused with him But as for quarreling was such a person Oh, he is not a person to be amused with Said Gertrude in alarm He is coarse and violent and must not be provoked Do not for heaven's sake attempt to make game of him What has brought such a person here? I cannot tell But promise me that you will for this night Bear with him such as he is Del Moore promised but smiled at the same time At the importance she attached to so insignificant a being Nothing more was said for just then Mrs. St. Clair entered With traces of agitation still visible on her countenance Gertrude expected that her mother would have taken notice of her abrupt retreat From that dining room But she did not speak She seated herself with a soon calmness And began stringing some pearls belonging to one of her bracelets But her hands shook and her thoughts were evidently otherwise employing In a few minutes she rose and rang the bell when it was answered Have you got the sea guards for Mr. Lewiston? Inquired she of the servant I do not know, ma'am Replied Mr. Thompson whose business it was to adjust chairs Not to furnish pipes And who seemed to resent the question by the cold pomposity of his reply Inquired then and let me know immediately So in addition to his other agreeable qualities Mr. Lewiston is a smoker, said Lady Rossville Provoked that this pollution of her beautiful apartment But she was sorry she had said it For Mrs. St. Clair only answered with those signs So profound that it seemed to come from the very bottom Of her heart Some minutes elapsed and again she rang Have the sea guards been taken to Mr. Lewiston And she seemed relieved when an affirmative was returned While Mr. Lewiston is indulging his taste then, said the Countess I must go and dress the old adage of better late than never Is certainly illustrative of my case tonight And she turned from the mirror a shame for the first time Of the image it reflected And the best apology I can make for my boots Said Colonel Delmore is to take them off as fast as possible And the Countess and her lover Severally retired to their toilettes End of Section 91 Section 92 of The Inheritance By Susan Edmundstone-Farrier This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Volume 3, Chapter 21 What he did amiss Was rather through rudeness and want of judgment Than any malicious meaning Heyward Upon returning to the drawing room Gertrude found her mother and Colonel Delmore Seated at opposite sides of the room He lounging over some books of engravings She with her head resting on her hands As if buried in thought Upon her daughter's entrance she looked up Have we had coffee? Inquired she in a way which betrayed The wandering of her mind But at that moment Lewiston came into the room In the loud, noisy manner of an Underbred man who had taken rather too much wine And she seemed instantly roused to recollection She pointed to a seat on the sofa where she was sitting But his eyes were riveted on the Countess Whom he did not at first recognize in her Change of dress When he did he exclaimed by Jove, I didn't know you You're so rigged out Why what's going to be acted now? The deuce I was almost thinking of my bed And he yawned Lady Rossville crimsoned But she caught her mother's eye And she said in a low voice to Delmore Take no notice And she began to talk earnestly to him About some of the engravings he was looking at While Mrs. St. Clair said We have brought London hours to the country with us But we must make a reform Ah, reform, yes, that's a very good word I like the word reform Interrupted the American Reform, reform, repeated he yes It's a good thing, is it not my lady And I will reform your fire in the first place And he began to stir and beat it in the most annoying manner Then threw down the poker with a horrid clang And drawing his chair close to the fire He put his feet actually within the fender And rasped and crunched the ashes Which he had scattered all over the hearth Lady Rossville was on the point of rising and leaving the room When Mrs. St. Clair crossed to where she was sitting And under pretence of looking at one of the pictures She pressed her daughter's hand in a significant manner While in a low voice and speaking very rapidly to Delmore In French she said I must beg your forbearance for American manners You will oblige me by it This was the first time Mrs. St. Clair Had ever addressed Colonel Delmore On easy or friendly terms Their intercourse hitherto had been marked either By constraint or enmity And now all of a sudden she condescended to sue to him Gertrude cascarsly credit her senses And even Delmore looked surprised While he answered with a bow After sitting two or three minutes whistling With his hands clasping one of his knees Lewised and started up And pushing back his chair in the same rude Violent manner that marked his every action He planted himself directly before the fire So as to screen it from everyone else In the manner usually practiced by vulgar ill-bred men All this was excruciating to Lady Rosville And Colonel Delmore both so elegantly quiet And refined in all their habits and movements And they exchanged looks with each other As much as to say off this to be endured Mrs. St. Clair perceived it and hastily said How shall we pass the evening? Gertrude, my dear, will you give us some music? Mr. Lewiston, are you fond of music Or should you prefer cards? Quite agreeable to either man I like a song, none of your Italian gibberish though And have no objections to a game But by the by, my lady, can you play at drafts? That's the game for me No, sir, was the Countess's cold, laconic reply That's a pity, but I'll teach you You have a draft board, surely There's a table, still better Come, my lady, and he touched her arm Colonel Delmore looked as if he would have shot him Excuse me, sir, said Lady Rosville Drawing back and coloring With indignation, no, no, come away Don't be afraid, you'll soon learn And again he took hold of her Lady Rosville is not accustomed to be so impotent, sir Said Delmore while his lip quivered with passion Is Lady Rosville, sir, accustomed to have you For her prompter? Demanded Lewiston fiercely Colonel Delmore, Mr. Lewiston Explained Mrs. St. Clair in violent agitation I entreat, I beg, Mr. Lewiston I shall be happy to play at drafts with you Lady Rosville cannot play, indeed she cannot So much the better, so much the better I like to teach people their duty Added he with an insolent smile And looking at Colonel Delmore Another time then, said Mrs. St. Clair But for this evening, except of me No, no, I will have my lady, said the American With all the determination of unconquerable obstinacy He is either mad or drunk, exclaimed Delmore Passionately and no company for you And rising he took the countess's hand To lead her away No, sir, I am neither mad nor drunk As you will find, cried Lewiston Placing himself before them But I have something to say Mr. Lewiston, cried Mrs. St. Clair With almost a shriek for heaven's sake Gertrude, Colonel Delmore, what is all this? How childish, Gertrude, I command you As a daughter to sit down to drafts With Mr. Lewiston That's it, that's right, said Lewiston With exaltation Lady Rosville's cheeks Glowed in tears of pride and anger Stood in her eyes She hesitated You must not, said Delmore Impetriously, you shall not For God's sake obey me Whispered her mother in a voice of agony And taking her hand She led her to the table Sit down, my love, whispered she And I will play for you Gertrude had mercy upon me And she wrung her daughter's hand As the countess would have drawn back Do you submit to be so compelled? Cried Delmore, almost frantic with rage At the idea of his beautiful countess Sitting down to play at drafts With a rude low-bread unknown Yes, yes, said Gertrude Moved to pity at her mother's appeal I will try for once And she seated herself and Mrs. Sinclair Took a chair, closed by her Lewiston satisfied with having carried His point of getting Lady Rosville To sit down with him Allowed Mrs. Sinclair to play the game For her daughter He entered into it himself With loud boyish delight Rubbed his hand, snapped his fingers Swore by Joven, by Gingo And when he came to the castling Or crowning always insisted That the countess should perform that ceremony I will have all my honors from you, Said he, laughing all, all You shall crown me, you shall castle me Shant she to Mrs. Sinclair Who looked the picture of wretchedness Though she strove to keep up With his intemperate mirth He is certainly mad, thought Lady Rosville And she began to feel afraid She wished for it Delmore But Delmore, in displeasure, Had left the apartment And she heard him knocking About the billiard balls By himself in an adjoining room Game after game was played And won by Lewiston With unabated energy and delight Till at last Gertrude's patience Could endure no longer And she rose with an exclamation Of weariness Well, you have had a good lesson For one night, my lady, Let us see how much it has cost you And he began to count over His winnings, then putting them Between his hands He rattled them with a glee That under other circumstances Would have been ludicrous. Now give us a song, my lady, Do come, mama, to Mrs. Sinclair, Exert your authority. I must have a song While I haven't heard you sing yet And I have something of a pipe myself. Lady Rosville has done so much for me That I am sure she will not refuse me This request, said her mother, In an imploring manner As she took her daughter's hand And pressed it tenderly in hers. I cannot sing, said Gertrude, Almost choking with the conflict of her feelings. What's the matter? Not in tune? Never mind. You'll do very well. The night is nearly over, Said Mrs. Sinclair soothingly, But in a whisper, as Lewiston tired Of checking his money was busy Transferring it to a large silk purse, Your compliance may prevent a quarrel. Would to heaven, this were ended, Said Gertrude with emotion, As her mother took her arm And let her into the music room Never again shall I submit to What I have this day done And scalding tears burst from her eyes. What, you seem rather piano, My lady, said Lewiston, Looking at her with a smile. Well, I'll give you a song, Since you won't give me one, In one of your own scotch ones, too. I'm half a scotchman, Now you know, with a wink to Mrs. Sinclair. So here's for your glorious Robert Bruce, And he burst out with scotch wahey, Wet Wallace blood in a key That made the very walls reverberate the sound. Yet to own the truth he had A fine, deep, clear voice, And sung well in a very vulgar style With a great deal of gesticulation, Clenching of hands, stamping of feet, And suiting of the action to the words, To that succeeded an American song, And another and another in rapid succession, For his lungs seemed inexhaustible, And he sung volumes of odious political songs With the same vehemence and enthusiasm Till both Mrs. Sinclair and Lady Rossville Were ready to faint With the fatigue of listening to him. The former indeed encouraged him to go on By her applause while at the same time She held her daughter's hand, And by her looks and gestures constrained her In spite of herself to remain. To add to the mortification Delmore Attracted by the noise that entered the room But with a look expressive Of his indignation and contempt Had instantly quitted it. Now, my lady, I've done my part, haven't I? I have a right to your song now. Come, I must have it. I never gave up a point in my life. I've got a square head and square heads As well as square toes are all obstinate. At least some people call it obstinacy. I call it firmness. And I'm firm for your song. This insolence is not to be borne, exclaimed Lady Rossville, starting up, And endeavoring to rest her hand From her mother's grasp That she might leave the room, But she clung to her with fear and agony In every liniment. I will call my servants, gassed she, Lewised and only whistled, Gertrude, Gertrude, hear me, but this once, This is my last attempt. For such a trifle would you drive me to destruction? It will come soon enough, but not now. Spare me, oh, spare me now. There's a pretty daughter for you by Jingo, exclaimed Lewiston, as the Countess Stood with her face averted from her mother, Who still held her hands in spite of her efforts To liberate them. Lady Rossville's passion rose, Come what may, I care not, cried she, I command that man to leave my house. That's easier said than done. My lady, returned he, with the most provoking coolness. Is it not my good trudge, As he pulled his dog by the ear? But come now, give us the song, The night's wearing on, And he was going to have taken her arm To lead her to the instrument, When by a sudden effort she freed herself From her mother's grasp, And rushed into the adjoining room Where, throwing herself on a seat, She almost sobbed in the bitterness of her feelings. Lewiston's voice, loud as if in argument, Am as the St. Clairs as if in treaty, Were distinctly heard, But they added nothing to Lady Rossville's emotion. In a few minutes her mother joined her In the wildest and most violent agitation, Gertrude, cried she, I no longer ask your forbearance, Your mercy, I see it cannot be, And she wrung her hands in agony, Tomorrow must end it, O, that the earth would cover me before tomorrow. Violent passion has always the effect of absorbing, Or annihilating all inferior degrees of excitement, And Lady Rossville was gradually composed Outside of her mother's real despair. She would even have tried to soothe her, But at that moment Lewiston entered, As if nothing had happened. Well, you have made a fine row, Said he, addressing Gertrude, and all, For what? Because I ask you to sing a song, You must be ducidly thin-skinned, my lady, To fly off like a witch in a storm for that. You have something to learn yet, I can tell you. She will learn all soon enough, Submissive St. Clair Gloomaly, tomorrow, But let this night pass over, Not without some supper, I hope for your blind Kate's lie Very light upon me I can tell you, And he laughed heartily at his own witticism. Lady Rossville rang the bell For some refreshments eager To end this hateful evening, And at the same time Delmore made his appearance With evident traces of ill-humored, Visible on his countenance. But she felt too happy to see him On any terms to resent his behavior. There was protection, there seemed even a Propriety in his presence, and her looks brightened, And her tears passed away when he came And placed himself by her in a manner To screen Lewiston from her sight, Who was on the opposite side of the room Making a noise with his dog. You have passed a gay, and of course, A pleasant evening, said he, In a bitter, ironical tone. One of your guests, at least, Has no cause to complain of lack of courtesy. O Delmore, said Gertrude, in a tone of wretchedness, Do not add to my unhappiness by your reproaches. It is unkind when you see me thus, And her heart swelled almost to suffocation. It is degrading to you and myself To suffer this, cried he passionately. This instant I will end it By ordering that fellow from your presence. And he made a movement towards Lewiston. Gertrude caught his arm. No, not now. Suffer him for a little longer. Tomorrow is to end it. If he does not leave this house tomorrow, She stopped. A faint red tinge to her cheek As she gave her hand to Delmore and said, You shall take me from it. Pray, heaven, he may remain then, Said Delmore earnestly, If upon these terms you will indeed be mine. Gertrude only sighed, But it was her firm determination. Unless this mystery was cleared up, And Lewiston left the house To throw herself on the protection of her guardian, Lord Milbank, and holding herself absolved From her promise to her mother there To have her marriage with Colonel Delmore solemnized. On Delmore's side, The suspicion was that Mrs. St. Clair Was privately married to Lewiston, And much as his pride revolted from such a connection, Still his interests might benefit by it. Lady Rossville would instantly emancipate herself From her mother's authority And give him a legal right to protect her, And it would be easy to get rid of the couple By agreeing to settle something upon them, Provided they were tired to America for life. A tray with refreshments such as Lady Rossville And Mrs. St. Clair had been in the habit of taking Was now brought in, But at which the American expressed great dissatisfaction. Why these are what we give to our porkers On to the side of the water, Said he contemptuously taking up a peach, And as for your French wines and liquors, By Jingo I wouldn't give a glass of good grog For a dozen of them. Hark ye, my good friend, To one of the servants you'll please To lay a bit of a cloth for me, And order your cook to send up a good Rash or bacon, And bob-race or two eggs of Virginian If you have him, and cut at least as thick As my finger. And Mr. Butler, I'll trouble you For a bottle of your best Hollins, That's the thing, but faith I'll go down And see the porker cut myself, Where does your kitchen lie, And the way he marched? Let us to bed, Submissous and clear in a tone, Of suppressed torment, And as if taking advantage of his absence To leave the room. Her daughter rose to accompany her, But she lingered behind a moment, To say to Delmore, You will not remain here, I hope. No, I shall leave the butcher to use His knife upon his porker, And go to my own apartment. I pray he may make a good supper Here for some nights to come, Add he with a smile. But Lady Rosfield shook her head inside, Then followed her mother to her dressing room. I will say nothing tonight. cried Mrs. St. Clair. As she entered, leave me then. Leave me. At least my ma suffered me to stay with you a little. Not an instant leave me, I say, cried she impatiently. What would you have more than my ruin and your own? That I have told you you have nearly accomplished. Be it so then, said Gertrude with emotion, There can be no ruin. Surpass the disgrace and ignominy. Peace, exclaimed Mrs. St. Clair. You will drive me mad, And she put her hand distractedly to her forehead. Gertrude would have embraced her, But she repelled her. Tomorrow your embrace may be of some value to me tonight. It is of none. It is worse than none. I will not have it. And she pushed her daughter from her. Leave me. I command you. cried she violently. And Gertrude was obliged to obey. No sooner was she outside the door Than she heard the lock turned upon her. And when her maid came, she was refused admittance. Lady Rosfield was terrified, And she lingered long at her mother's door And heard her walk backwards and forwards, And groan as if in anguish. But when she tapped or spoke to her, She was instantly silent and would make no reply. As her apartment communicated with her mother Several times in the course of the night, She rose and listened, And the same thing went on, And the morning was far advanced before, Exhausted as she was, She could compose herself to sleep. End of section 92. Section 93 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmundspoon Thayer. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Volume 3, Chapter 22. O visions ill foreseen, Better had I lived ignorant of future, So had borne my part of evil only Milton. When Lady Rosfield awoke, One subject naturally engrossed her mind To the utter exclusion of every other, This was the day of her cousin Anne's marriage, And she had promised to be present, But the thoughts of that never once occurred to her. Everything was absorbed in the intense interest She felt as to the disclosure That was to take place, Or failing that the strong measure That she had determined upon, As to her own disposal. Upon leaving her own apartment, She hastened to her mother's, But the door was still fastened. She knocked repeatedly, But no answer was returned. She listened, all was silent, Her heart trembled within her, And she was on the point of calling out, When she bethought her of a backstair Communicating with the dressing room, By which she might probably gain access. She was not disappointed, The door was open, And she entered her mother's bedroom, But it was dark, except here and there, Where a bright ray of sunshine Checkered the floor, And the candles, Which had been burning all night, Cast a sickly gleam as they died away In their sockets. Gertrude hastily withdrew a window curtain, And opened a shutter, And there discovered her mother asleep In an armchair in the dress she had won Through a preceding evening, And would form an unnatural contrast With her situation and appearance. A file, Mark Lauderman, Stood on a table by her, And it was evident that she owed her sleep To medicine, not to nature. Such as it was, it was certainly not rest That she enjoyed, for she was disturbed And agitated, sighed heavily, And muttered some unintelligible words, As if in an agony. And Gertrude's name was once or twice Pronounced with a kind of shriek, Shocked beyond expression, That beholding her mother thus haunted By her sense of wretchedness, Even in sleep, Lady Brassville Felt it would be humanity to rouse her From such a state. And after a while she succeeded. Mrs. St. Clair opened her eyes, But it was some time before she came To her recollection, Or that her daughter could make her Comprehend perfectly how and where she was. I fear, Mama, you have taken too much Lauderman, said she, in alarm, As she looked at the bottle. Too much, and yet not enough, Answered her mother with a sigh. Allow me to send for Dr. Bruce, Cried the countess, an increasing agitation. You are ill, Mama, indeed you are, As she pressed her mother's burning hand in hers. I shall soon be better, said Mrs. St. Clair, With a still deeper sigh. What time is it? I have been asleep, I believe. Shall we sup, as she looked upon her dress, With a bewildered eye? Oh, Mama, suffer yourself to be undressed, And put to bed. No, I will go to breakfast, is it? Yes, I remember now, to breakfast, As she looked up to a blazing sun, Then turned to a mirror. Will my dress do, Gertrude? Lady Rossville was too much shock to reply, For the contrast was frightful Between her mother's gay, Handsome dress and her parched lips, Hagrid cheeks and distended eyeballs. The air will revive you, Mama, Said she, as she led her mother to the window, And threw it open, But the lovely landscape seemed as though It smiled and scorn upon her, For all things looked fresh and renovated and happy. Mrs. St. Clair sat for some time With her head resting on her hand, At length she suddenly looked up, And said abruptly, You are very fond of Rossville, Are you not, Gertrude? Oh, it is paradise to me, Said the Countess, as she looked on her Towering woods and far-spreading domain. But why do you ask, Mama? Then you will never part with it, Cried Mrs. St. Clair, In a tone of wild interrogation. Never, never, exclaimed Lady Rossville emphatically, Then recalled to her mother's situation, She said in a soothing voice, Do, Mama, allow me to ring for Leasel to undress you, It will refresh you. And what then interrupted Mrs. St. Clair, But I know what I have to do, Yet I would see that man once more before, Perhaps, yes, I will ring for Leasel then. And she began impatiently to tear, Rather than to take off her ornaments. Now go, leave me. Why do you stand there looking upon me? Cried she angrily. Lady Rossville burst into tears. It is distracting to me to see you thus, Mama, And to think I am perhaps the cause. Perhaps, repeated Mrs. St. Clair bitterly, There is no perhaps you are the cause. Only, say in what way, tell me how, Trust me, and I will do all, All but the very thing I require of you, Interrupted Mrs. St. Clair impatiently, All but obedience and forbearance, All but duty and patience, All but love and tenderness. Answer me then once for all, Tis for the last time I put the question, Its consequences be upon your own head, Can you, will you be guided by me In your behavior to Lewiston? I cannot, said Lady Rossville, In an agony of grief, Then go, cried her mother, Ringing the bell, violently for her maid, Not another word. If your fate is sealed, do not blame me. Then as her maid entered, She waved her hand for her daughter to leave her, And gored withdrew, Afraid to irritate her by father's opposition. What can this dreadful mystery be? Was the question that had naturally presented itself At every turning of her mind, To still thought had been lost In the mazes of conjecture, The idea which most frequently occurred was That her mother must have been previously married to Lewiston, And in the belief of his death, Had become the wife of St. Clair, But then, his youthful appearance, They all accorded with such a supposition, Indeed seemed to render it altogether impossible, And again the idea was rejected, For others which were no less improbable, Be it what it may, Thought she this day must end it, And at that moment, in crossing the hall, She suddenly encountered the object of her dread, And her wonder, he looked heated and ruffled, And as if he had been engaged in a squabble. So, said he, seizing her hand before, She was aware and looking earnestly in her face, Which bore traces of her agitation. So you have been with the old lady, I see, Well, has she let the cat out of the bag, Or has she left it to me? Some of the servants just then entered the hall, And Lady Rossville, without answering, Passed on to the saloon, Where she hoped to find Delmore, But he was not there. Lewiston followed, and again began, What all in the dark yet? What's the old lady about? But by Jove, I'll not wait another day To be treated as I've been By you and your confounded rapscallions. But I've given one of your grooms, As you call them, a settler. I've given him a bit of a knob On the side of his head To keep him in mind of his duty, And I'll have them all broke in for you By and by a set of lazy insolent Eating and drinking scoundrels That you keep about you, And one of these low-lived rascals To pretend to pass off his heirs To a gentleman like me. This is past all-bearing, Cryed Lady Rossville, As her face flushed with shame And indignation at having been thus Disgraced to her servants. I commend you instantly to quit my house, For my servant shall compel you to it. And she stretched out her hand To ring the bell. Lewiston hastily snatched it, And looked at her with an expression Which made her tremble, Even in spite of her resentment. Do you know who it is You are speaking to, said he? I neither know nor care, Said the Countess while her heart beat As though it would have burst. Lewiston was silent for a minute. He then said abruptly, But in some agitation, What if I am your father? Gertrude gazed upon him, With a look almost bordering on idiocy. Her lips were apart, But no sound came from them. It's very true, though. Ask the old lady who you call your mother, If it ain't. She'll confess it that she will. She'll tell you you're no more Countess Of Rossville than I am. You're the daughter of Jacob Lewiston here, And you're a nurse. But Gertrude could hear it no more. She had fainted. The deuce exclaimed he in some consternation At this unlooked-for result. Why, I better have let the old one Manage at her own way, After all, and ringing the bell, He desired the servant to fetch Mrs. Sinclair cleverly, For that her lady, Ship the Countess, Was in a fit. The alarm was instantly communicated. The whole house was presently in commotion. End of section 93. Section 94 of the Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stonefarrier. This, the Brevox recording, Is in the public domain. Volume 3, chapter 23. What shall such traces of my birth appear, And I not follow them? It may not be. Sophocles. Long ere Gertrude had power to unclose her eyes. The frantic exclamations of her lover Had pierced her ear as he hung over her In an agony of apprehension, And joy sent the first faint flush To her cheek and spoken the look With which she met his anxious gaze. For a moment all was forgot by her, Or rather seemed as a hideous dream. And Elmore, kneeling by her side In all the agitation of love and fear, Was the only image that presented itself. I hope, my lady, your ladyship feels better, Said Lewiston, thrusting himself forward. But at the sound of his voice, A deadly paleness again, Over spread her face, And her senses foresook her. Will none of you drag that mad man away? Cried Elmore, passionately, to some of the servants Who were bustling pompously about With glasses and decanters. No, no, no, shrieked Mrs. St. Clair Throwing herself between Lewiston and them As they approached him. Marshall, Jodin, on your peril, touch him. Send instantly for advice, Cried Elmore, wildly, As Gertrude's lifeless hand grew colder Even in his grasp. Make haste, bring Bruce, Smith, all of them. Why do you stand there? By heaven, she will be gone. And snatching every restorative offered By the housekeeper and ladies' maids, He would administer them himself. Once more Gertrude slowly opened her eyes, And again they rested on her lover. It was all a dream, was it not? Said she, in a low gasping voice. Ah, our countess is herself again, Cried Lewiston in a loud, significant tone As much as to, say, keep your own secret. Protect me, murmur she, As she convulsively held Delmore's hand And again relapsed into a death-like swim. For heaven's sake retire, Cried Mrs. St. Clair To Lewiston, dreading some scene of violence When Delmore should extricate himself From Gertrude's unconscious grasp Only to the next room till this is over. If, added she in a whisper, If you would prevent discovery, go. And she led him to an adjoining room And shut the door. Once more Gertrude's marble features Showed signs of returning life, But she neither spoke nor opened her eyes. She remained motionless as if Unwilling to be scared by sight or sound or ought. They could break the death-like repose In which she lay. Lady Rossville, dearest, exclaimed Mrs. St. Clair As she would have lifted her hand, But when she spoke a tremor, Sure Gertrude's whole frame, And she recoiled from her touch with a shudder. Gertrude, my life, suffer, Mrs. Roberts, And mash him to assist you to your dressing room. You will be quieter there. No one shall enter but those you wish to see. They shall not, indeed, my angel. But a low convulsive sigh Was Gertrude's only answer. Gertrude, speak to me. Save what it is that has alarmed you. Tell me what you wish, and it shall be done, Cried Delmore, in an accent of grief and tenderness, Which seemed too thrilled to her heart. Shall I order the carriage to take you to Lord Milbank's? Added he in a low voice. Oh, no, no, cried she, putting her hands to her face. Colonel Delmore, I must intrigue that you will not thus agitate Lady Rosfield, cried Mrs. Sinclair. This is neither a time nor a place for such questions. When she has had a little quiet repose in her own apartment, I will not lose sight of her again, interrupted Delmore passionately, Till I see her in safer hands than any here. This is too much, cried Mrs. Sinclair, Struggling to preserve her composure, And dreading every instant lest the disclosure Which she had once perceived to take in place, Should burst from Gertrude's lips, if Delmore persisted in talking to her. But I submit suffer her to be removed to her own apartment, With Mrs. Roberts and Masham to attend upon her, Till this nervous attack has subsided, And I consent to remain here till the arrival of Dr. Bruce. Delmore could not object to this arrangement, For Mrs. Roberts was a discreet and respectable person in her way, And both she and Masham were devoted to their lady, He therefore consented, and she was accordingly conveyed there, And left to the care of her two faithful attendants, Who received the strictest injunctions upon no account to speak to her. Mrs. Sinclair felt secure that unless in a fit of delirium She would not betray herself to them, And if in that state she did drop anything of the truth It would all pass for the raving of fever. Gertrude was therefore left to silence and to darkness, While Mrs. Sinclair and Colonel Delmore, By a sort of mutual understanding, Seemed resolved not to lose sight of each other. He indeed was bent upon more than that, He was determined that instant to force an explanation of the mystery, Which involved such a person as Lewiston, And that in no common way in the family concerns of Lady Rosville, And ringing the bell he ordered the servant to inform Mr. Lewiston, Who was in the next room, That his presence was desired in the saloon. At this message Mrs. Sinclair turned pale, And trembled, she rose from her seat, She would have stopped the servant, But she knew not what to say, And before she could summon recollection, Lewiston entered, and her confidence returned at sight Of his free, unabashed air. Well, said he, accosting Mrs. Sinclair with an air of freedom, You see, I am yours to go and to come, But what have you made of my lady? You are not here to ask questions, but to answer them, sir, Said Delmore, his lip quivering with passion. I insist upon knowing by what right You have intruded yourself into this house. I must first know what right you have to ask the question, Retorted the other boldly. Colonel Delmore exclaimed Mrs. Sinclair eagerly, As she saw his flashing eyes and dreaded some act of violence. Mr. Lewiston is a friend of the family. He is my friend. That is enough. Your friend, repeated Delmore contemptuously, That is indeed enough, quite enough, To warrant Lady Rossville seeking other protection. He rang the bell furiously. Desire Lady Rossville's traveling carriage. Am I riding horses to be ready at a minute's warning? Called he to the servant. Hark ye, my man. There is no hurry about the first. Cried the intolerable Lewiston. We shall have two words about that yet by Jove. But the servant evidently disregarding him About his acquiescence to Delmore and withdrew. What is the meaning of this? Colonel Delmore cried Mrs. Sinclair In the most violent agitation. Delmore endeavored to speak coolly While he said it was settled last night By Lady Rossville. That while Mrs. Sinclair's unknown friend Remained here this was no residence for her. She leaves it therefore for the protection Of her guardian Lord Milbank. And when Dr. Bruce arrives, I intend that he shall accompany her. And he looked with a sort of resolute Indifference of one whose determination Could not be affected by any circumstances. This is the most extraordinary proceeding. Colonel Delmore said Mrs. Sinclair Pale and trembling, You can have no authority for such interference In Lady Rossville's situation To take her from her own house From my protection it shall not be. No faith by Jove. She shall not stir a foot from this house today. Cried Lewiston nor any day Without the leave of those who have something Of a better right to dictate to her Lady ship than you have, sir. And he nodded to Mrs. Sinclair As if to encourage her. Delmore's passion was at its climax And he could no longer suppress it. What is this infernal mystery? Cried he to Mrs. Sinclair, Which allows such a person To dare to talk in this manner. I will know it. Something is at the bottom of all this. If, and he seemed almost, Choked to utter it, If this man is, as I suspect, Your husband. No, oh no, Shrieked Mrs. Sinclair wildly. Well, and if I am the lady's husband, Sir, what then? What is your objection to me, sir? My Lady Countess's proud stomach. It seems can't put up with me for her father. But what is that to you? You're not my lord yet. And one gentleman's as good as another. Colonel Delmore, oh no, help me. I am not. I exclaim, as Mrs. Sinclair, In a state of distraction, As finding herself caught in such horrible toils. But again, Lewis didn't propose. Come, come, tis of no use to deny it now. The thing's over. My lady will come to herself by and by. When she finds she can't make a better of it. There, I told you, As a servant entered to say That his lady wished to see Mrs. Sinclair immediately. Delmore, who had been pacing the room In a perfect tumult of passion, Stopped short at this, And demanded of the servant Who had brought this message. Miss Mashin, sir, was the reply. Then desired Miss Mashin to come And deliver it herself, sir. Quite he fiercely, and Mashin, Not without fear and trembling, Confirmed the fact. He then abruptly quitted the room To traverse the gallery Opposite the Countess's apartment And see that no one else obtained entrance. At sight of Mrs. Sinclair, All Gertrude's tremors returned upon her, And again she relapsed into successive fainting fits From which her attendance with difficulty recovered her. At length she became more composed, Whether from strength or weakness, And in a faint voice inquired for Mrs. Sinclair, Who, conscious of the impression She made upon the victim of her guilt, Had retired out of sight. Mrs. Sinclair is there. My lady whispered Mrs. Roberts. Then leave me, Roberts. Smash and go. I will ring when I want you. But they still lingered. Colonel Delmore, my lady, Forbid that we should lose sight Of your ladyship upon no account Till the doctor's arrival. Colonel Delmore repeated Gertrude, Ah, and tears. The first she had shed burst from her eyes. They gave her a temporary relief, And she with some difficulty dismissed Her faithful attendance. And Mrs. Sinclair once more approached her. Many and bitter were the tears shed on both sides Before either had power to utter a syllable. At length Mrs. Sinclair said, Can you forgive me, Gertrude? But Gertrude only turned away her head And wept the more. Then suddenly looking up by a violent effort She stopped her tears. And while they yet hung round her eyes And her pale lips quivered, she said, Tell me all. Oh, not now. Spare yourself. Spare me, cried Mrs. Sinclair With a fresh burst of weeping. No, no. There is nothing to spare. Say that it is not, that he, And again she seemed as though She would have fainted as the thoughts Of Louis and her father rushed upon her. Oh, tell me all. I must. I will. Know all. And Mrs. Sinclair was obliged to commence A broken and weeping narrative Of the events of her early days. End of section 94. Section 95 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stoonfarrier. This Libra Vox recording is in the public domain. Volume 3, chapter 24. O light, thy beams no more Let me behold, for I derive my birth From those to whom my birth I should not owe. Sophocles. She dwelt upon the injurious And exasperating treatment She had received from the Rossville family As though she sought in their conduct An excuse or at least a paliation For her own. She spoke of the exile And the poverty in which she had for so many years Dragged out a joyless existence Of her husband's disinheritance Of the utter hopeless insignificance of their lot As outcast childless annuentence On the one hand or the brilliant destiny Would seem to court them on the other Where riches and honors awaited them In the person of their offspring. It was at this time Continued the wretched narrator of her own guilt That accident brought me acquainted with With Marion Lamotte. With my mother, was she not interrupted Gertrude In a voice of repressed agony? Mrs. St. Clair's only answer was a burst of tears. Gertrude hid her face On the cushion of the couch on which she lay And without looking up, in the same tone Said go on, tell me all. In her I discovered the daughter of Lizzie Lundy Whose name and history had been familiar to me In my younger days She had emigrated to America With her husband and upon his death Had married a French Canadian. Marion was the child of that union But at this time her parents were both dead And she was the wife of Jacob Lewiston An American traitor Whom she had accompanied to Bordeaux She was then in absolute want For his vessel had been wrecked And the whole cargo lost But at the time I became acquainted with them He obtained a situation on board a merchantman And went to see again, leaving his wife In delicate health to earn Her livelihood as best she could till his return To complete her wretchedness She looked forward to giving birth to a child Here Mrs. St. Clair stopped overcome with her feelings Then suddenly seizing Gertrude's hands Gertrude, Gertrude God knows I had then no evil thoughts I had not indeed But when she besought me on her knees That if she should die a stranger In a strange land And leave an orphan baby I would be as a mother to it Oh, then the tempter assailed me With that I had died ere I saw the light exclaimed Gertrude in an agony of grief O Gertrude, do not tear my heart By forcing me to retrace what can be of no avail What can it signify now To tell you of the thoughts, the fears, the struggles I endured myself Of the arguments and entreaties I used with her and my husband To induce them to co-operate in my schemes It is enough to tell you that it was done That we quitted Bordeaux on pretence of returning to Scotland And that at Bagnolais You were brought into the world as the heiress of Rossville And such you still are, Gertrude The secret is known, but to yourself And those who hush exclaimed Gertrude wildly And with a shudder There cannot be the possibility of discovery if you will But you have not told me all, cried Gertrude hurriedly Gertrude, I will not survive the shame The infamy, tell me all, all quickly Why did he leave her? Why has he so long? It is about him, gasped she, I would know From the day that he left her His wife never heard any tidings of him And we had last naturally concluded He had perished at sea Still there was no positive certainty of this being the case And she always cherished the hope of seeing him again For she loved him, Gertrude indeed, she did But Gertrude only wept the more to think that she could not love her father Your mother, oh Gertrude, how dreadful is it to me to call another By that title, and again Mrs. Sinclair wept long and bitterly, then went on Your mother had been long threatened with the consumption And when she found herself dying She had it seems unknown to me written a letter Containing the secret of your birth Which she had had attested by her priest For you know she was a Catholic This she confided to his care Receiving his solemn promise in return Never to divulge its contents Or part with it to another than Jacob Ruxton Lewiston of Perth and Boyd, New Jersey Years after this man went to America As a missionary, and there alas It was our evil fortune that he should find your father I need not tell you that he came immediately to Britain to claim you You must well remember our first meeting And the mysterious interviews that followed He would even then have made himself known to you That he might have established his authority over you But I prevailed upon him to forgo his claims At least till the Earl's death Oh, had he known you as I do He would never have dared the disclosure But you will not, Gertrude You cannot be so infatuated He is your father As such he is entitled to your duty Your obedience Now, now, no more, cried Gertrude Covering her face with her hands Gertrude only say You will not be so mad For heaven's sake, promise me you will not Gertrude, he threatens to carry you off to America Should you drop a hint of Oh, for the love of heaven, be calm Think of your mother You loved her, Gertrude For her sake, then My mother, oh, how could she sell her child Exclaimed Gertrude, wringing her hands In an agony She did not sell you, Gertrude Never mother loved her child As she doted upon you While she lived You may remember you were never out of her sight Worlds would not have bribed her To have parted with you And now could she see you thus great And, oh, that she had suffered me To remain the beggar I was born Do not talk thus, dear Gertrude If you would not kill me Compose yourself and all will yet be well It will indeed your father Do not, oh, do not call him Oh, God, forgive me, wretch that I am Exclaimed she, almost frantic with horror At herself or so abhorring his name Well, your mother, my dearest, think of her Think how you loved her Had she lived You would not have shamed her With this disclosure You will not bring disgrace upon her memory And Gertrude wept softer tears As she called to mind The well-remembered proofs of her mother's love How could she do it? Cried she again roused to agony Ah, Gertrude, can you wonder The temptation was too strong to be resisted Consider how we were both situated You could bring nothing but additional care And poverty to her To me you would ensure riches and honor Do not condemn us Gertrude, say you forgive me Gertrude's whole frame shook with emotion But she remained silent Gertrude, Gertrude Cried Mrs. Sinclair, seizing her hands Have I not been, as a mother to you, Will you not say you forgive me? I cannot Gasp Gertrude in a wild, suffocating voice And she turned, shuddering away Her maid now entered to announce the arrival Of Dr. Bruce, adding that Colonel Delmore Hoped her lady ship would see the doctor Without delay Lady Rosville ringed when she is ready Said Mrs. Sinclair in violent agitation Then when Masham withdrew, she cried Gertrude, you will not betray yourself to Dr. Bruce Promise me, promise me that, for the love of heaven And she wrung her hand To him, repeated Gertrude, no I will not see him at all Why should I? Teza, mockery, leave me Leave me to myself, cried she With a fresh burst of grief But just then Masham returned to say That Colonel Delmore was very impatient For her lady ship to see the doctor And as she spoke Delmore's voice Was heard outside the door At the dear, loved sound again Gertrude's pale cheek glowed for a moment And her eyes brightened But in another instant she dropped her head With an air of hopeless dejection And Dr. Bruce was now ushered in Mrs. Sinclair anticipated all questions By taking the doctor apart And telling him candidly, as she called it That the Countess was suffering under a severe nervous attack And that something of a composing nature Was what was wanted Gertrude was therefore spared answering any questions And having felt her pulse Administered some drops and recommended quietness The doctor withdrew to make his report to Delmore Who was impatiently waiting for him Mrs. Sinclair at the same time Haced into Lewiston to prevent him if possible From doing more mischief And Gertrude was once more left to the care Of her attendants who imagined she slept From the still and silent state in which she lay End of Section 95 Section 96 Of The Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stoonfarrier This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Volume 3, Chapter 25 O Fortune, with what weight of misery Does thou crush me? This is a stain fixed by some vengeful power Surpassing thought All that remains of life must waste away In anguish Such a sea of woe Swells o'er me That never can I rise again Or stem the surge of this affliction Euripides But sleep was far from Gertrude's eyelids And in the multitude of her thoughts within her She felt as though she should never know repose again Her very soul sickened in her brain world At the horrible destiny just opened to her To fall from her high estate to a condition So vile and abject Instead of the heiress of a mighty house The daughter of a noble line To be a beggar and imposter The child of one against whom her whole being revolted Yet voluntarily to proclaim this to the world To stand forth a mark for the finger of scorn To point at, to be laughed at By some despised by others to leave each thing Beloved most duly To become an outcast, an alien Could she do this and live? No, she would pass away in secret She would consume her days in grief and in penitence She would abjure, renounce, fly All that she had loved and enjoyed She would dwell in darkness and in solitude Few and sad would be her days But she would go down to the grave as countess of Rossville Her soul was ready to choose strangling Rather than life for what had life now To offer to her of good or fair Delmore, ah, there her heart trembled within her This day she had promised to be his At that instant a note was delivered to her Which Colonel Delmore himself had brought to the door Of her apartment and insisted on its being Instantly delivered I claim your promise, dearest Gertrude Dr. Bruce is of opinion You may be removed to Milbank with perfect safety If you wish it, he and Masham Will accompany you in the carriage And I shall attend it Say but yes, my angel, to your adoring FD Here was a fresh wave of misery to overwhelm The unhappy Gertrude The cup of happiness was held to her lips By the hand she loved And she herself must dash it to the ground forever Poor, low-born, degraded as she was What a bride for the proud, high-minded Delmore And Delmore would even, Delmore, despise And reject me if he knew all Thought she as, for a moment, she covered her face With her hands and bowed beneath the humiliation But soon a loftier feeling succeeded No, thought she as a bitter pang Shout through her heart if we must part It shall be nobly He shall learn all from myself He loves me and he will love me still But he loved me as Countess of Rossville He must now love me as an outcast A beggar She desired her maid to say to Colonel Delmore That she would see him in the library Then rising she bathed her eyes and adjusted her hair And endeavored to dispel as much as possible The traces of grief and agitation from her face I will not go to him a weeping supplicant Thought she I will owe nothing to his pity And she repressed each rising emotion And with calm and lofty air Entered the apartment where her lover awaited her But what a change! Had a few hours of intense suffering made upon her Her mutable countenance had now all the fixedness And the paleness of marble And those eyes, those lovely eyes Which had so often met him with smiles And which always seemed to love what air they looked upon Now heavy and brimful drooped Beneath the weight of her swollen eyelids Gertrude, my own, my adored, Cried Delmore as he took her passive hand And led her to his seat, speak to me, dearest It is death to me to see you thus Gertrude opened her lips and vainly tried to articulate But her tongue seemed to cleave to her mouth This is dreadful, it will kill you to remain in this house You must leave it, indeed you must My love, your carriage is ready Suffer me to order it And he was going to ring the bell When Gertrude laid her hand upon his arm Again she strove to speak But a sigh so deep, so sad, burst from her heart As told the unutterable anguish of her soul Gertrude, my life, exclaimed Delmore Terror struck as he felt her hand grow colder And saw her features gradually becoming more rigid For God's sake speak to me Gertrude spoke, but her voice was so changed That Delmore started at the sound You love me, Delmore, I know you do, and I But no matter, I never can be yours now Delmore, I have a strange, a frightful tale to tell you I am not what I seem I am not Countess of Rossville I am a beggar She hid her face for a moment While Delmore too much amazed to answer Remained silent It is true, they have told me all, all, all I am his daughter He is my father And her voice grew wilder In her attempts to speak calmly and firmly My dearest Gertrude, you take this matter too violently Although your mother has made A degrading marriage, that ought not to affect you In this manner It does not interfere with your rights Or diminish my attachment to you Why, then, ah, Delmore, you are deceived She is not my mother I am his daughter, the daughter of Jacob Lewiston I have been a new surfer, but I did not know it The dreadful truth now flashed upon Delmore With the force and the rapidity of a stroke of lightning And he remained, horror struck beneath its shock For some minutes neither of them spoke But Gertrude's breast heaved With agitation she would not betray And her eyes were distended in endeavours To retain her tears within the brim Good God, at length exclaimed Delmore Striking his forehead in a distracted manner Gertrude, dearest Gertrude, and he seized her hands No, it cannot be You are mine, my own Not now, Delmore, said Gertrude And her heart almost broke In the effort to appear calm In resigning him Not now, you are free, added she In an accent of despair Free, oh, Gertrude, my life And he paced the room with disordered steps Then suddenly stopped me No, you must, you shall be mine I will not believe it By heaven, tis false You, you, the daughter of that Oh, he is my father, cried Gertrude, shuddering No, there is some infernal plot At the bottom of this that shall be cleared up And he was hurrying towards the door When Gertrude called to him Stay, Delmore, tis from me You shall hear it at all I will not that you should hear it from another That you have loved an imposter, a beggar And with desperate energy She recapitulated to him The evidence of her birth As detailed by Mrs. St. Clair When she had ended, Delmore said nothing But he buried his face In his handkerchief as in An agony of grief And Gertrude's high wrought forwarded suit Almost foresook her As she beheld her lover thus overcome She felt she could not long support The continuance of the scene And she said Now I have told you all, Delmore I am no longer what I have been From this hour let my shame, my disgrace Be proclaimed and let us part Gertrude, if you would not drive me mad Do not, oh, you know not how I love How I adore you And he pressed her hands to his lips And Gertrude felt his burning tears Fall upon them and every drop Was as a life drop from her heart Gertrude exclaimed he passionately You have never loved as I do Or you could not be thus unmoved A faint smile of anguish Was on Gertrude's pale lip And a single tear Rolled slowly down her bloodless cheek Again along a bitter pause ensued Delmore still held her hands in his While he seemed to struggle With contending emotions Suddenly Lewiston's loud voice was heard As if issuing some orders In his usual authoritative tone The blood rushed to Delmore's face He started up and dropped the hands He had but a moment before Clasped in his own Gertrude too rose Cold drops were upon her brow And she shook in every joint But by a desperate effort She gained the door She thought she heard her name Pronounced by Delmore In an accent of tenderness and despair But a thousand sounds Were ringing in her ears A thousand figures were before her eyes And she only reached her own apartment When all sights and sounds had vanished For she had fainted End of Section 96 Section 97 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stonefarrier This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Volume 3 Chapter 26 What greater grief may come to any life Than after sweet to taste the bitter sour Or after peace to fall at war and strife Or after mirth to have a cause to lour Upon such props false fortune builds her tower On sudden change her fitting frames be set Where is no way for it to escape her net Thomas Churchyard Delmore's whole mind was a chaos Of conflicting passions That he loved was undoubted But his love was compounded of many ingredients Pride, vanity, ambition, self-interest And now all these were up in arms To oppose each pure or more generous sentiment That might have found place in his heart In this state of excitation he saw Mrs. St. Clair Who was yet ignorant of what had passed in her absence But Delmore's disordered looks and wild incoherent expressions Soon proclaimed that all was disclosed To deny or pervericate she felt would be in vain The tears of guilt and of shame were upon her Infamy and ruin had overtaken her There was nothing left to suspicion or conjecture The evidence was infallible, it was her own Still, while her very soul sunk beneath the weight of her crime Her proud spirit refused to humble itself before the man she hated And her only reply to his reproaches and invectives was That he would now have an opportunity of proving the sincerity And the disinterestedness of his attachment More than ever exasperated Delmore hastened from her To shut himself up in his own apartment Distracted at the thoughts of the evil which had come upon him His soul was tossed in a whirlwind of contending passions To resign Gertrude, his own beautiful, his betrothed Gertrude there Was despair in the thought But to marry the descendant of the huntsman, the daughter of Lewiston It was madness to dream of such degradation Innocent as she was in herself, there was a stigma affixed to her name Which never could be effaced, a changeling The child of wretchedness and imposter No, he never could dishonor himself and his family by such an alliance Then the image of Gertrude rich in native loveliness The tender confiding noble-minded Gertrude rose to view As if to mock the littleness of that pride that would have spurned her Delmore passed a sleepless night and that morning found him Resolved to renounce Gertrude forever But how to do it was the difficulty To see her again was impossible He attempted to write to her but could not He felt that he was about to pierce a heart which beat but for him And his hand shrunk from that barbarous task But something must be done It was impossible that Lewiston and he could remain under one root He shuddered at the thoughts of meeting him Meeting him as the father of Gertrude, the man who But for her disclosure might even now have been his father-in-law Yet to order him from the house would be to turn Gertrude also from the home Which but yesterday she had held as her own And that was too cruel even for Delmore's selfish heart The result of his deliberations was That he would leave things as they were And repair to London to consult with his brother upon what ought to be done And having formed this resolution he wrote as follows to Gertrude Dearest adored Gertrude, I will not attempt to paint to you What I have suffered since that sad disclosure took place Would to heaven it were in my power to raise you To that height from which you have fallen Or rather from which you have so nobly cast yourself But alas, my beloved, by uniting your fate with mine I should only involve you in deeper ruin I have neither wealth nor power to bear you Through this overwhelming tide of misfortune And yet to lose you voluntarily to renounce One a thousand times dearer to me than my own existence No Gertrude I cannot I will not resign you Mine you are in soul and in love Are you not Gertrude? You never can love another And what other ever could love you as I have done My brain is on fire I scarcely know what I write But you will understand me, dearest most beloved It is better that we should not meet I will depart, but you shall remain here As mistress for the present I will see my brother both until then Let nothing more be said on this heart-rending disclosure Farewell, dearest, biddy you're distressed But adoring F.H.D. Meanwhile Gertrude had remained in a state of morbid woe Infinitely more alarming than that wildest Ebullitions of grief She neither spoke nor wept But remained silent and passive Her glassy eyes fixed on vacancy And her ear unconscious of every sound When Delmore's note was brought to her She closed her eyes and turned away her head from it While she thought it is all over He has cast me from him It is from Colonel Delmore My lady said mash him soothingly Who concluded there was a lover's quarrel in the case He is most particularly anxious to hear How your ladyship is this morning Stiller lady remained motionless The Colonel looked so ill My lady I'm sure it will break his heart entirely If your ladyship does not take his letter A deep sigh burst from Gertrude's heart But mash him hailed it as a happy omen And went on Dear my lady, if you did but see the Colonel I don't think you'd have known him His face, my lady, is as white as your handkerchief And his beautiful eyes, my lady, Quite red for all the world As he had been crying Indeed, my lady, I could scarce keep From crying to look at him And upon the faith of this pathetic appeal Mash him made another attempt To prevail upon her mistress to take this letter But again Gertrude rejected it Dear my lady, what shall I do? I could no more tell the Colonel That you would not look at his letter Than I could put a knife into his heart, my lady Just the same thing Oh, my lady, Smith says he hasn't been in bed all night But has been walking up and down his room Tearing his hair, my lady, and taking on so That he says he's sure he'll lose his senses Unless something is done, my lady And mash him ended with a sob For Delmore's gaiety His good looks and his liberality Had completely won mash him's favour I'm sure my lady, he'll either kill himself Or somebody else if your ladyship refuses him for But at the horrid idea of Delmore And her father engaged in mortal strife Gertrude shuddered, then taking the letter She tore it open and as she read it Tears again found their way to her eyes Resh, unjust, misjudging that I am Thought she, he does not, he will not renounce me Involved me in deeper room About uniting my fate with his Ah, no, no, to his eye who would involve him in ruin Yes, I am his and so and in love In the heart and natural tension of mind Under which she had labour gradually Melted into softer feelings But he loves me, why, why then does he leave me? And again her doubts and her fears returned But then there was so much delicacy In wishing to have the discovery Of her disgrace kept secret Until he could have made arrangements for her She had no doubt to soften the blow As much as possible That again her sanguine spirit exalted In the truth and honour of her lover Had she followed the dictates of her own feelings She would instantly have declared herself To her whole household But Delmore had bestowed her not And painful as it was she thought for his sake She would submit for a while to carry on the deception But she would not appear She would not see the light She would pass the time in darkness and in solitude And her soul sickened at the very idea of ever again Beholding Mrs. St. Clair and Lewiston That lady and she had not met Since the disclosure had been made She had then hastened to her own apartment And there under the influence of guilt Shame and passion had swallowed the remainder Of the lotternum contained in the file Which although not sufficient to make her Sleep the sleep of death Had the effect of throwing her into a convulsive Stupor from which she could not be roused Dr. Bruce had taken leave After prescribing for Gertrude Whose disorder he soon discovered Was altogether of a mental nature And as such beyond his skill Lewiston had therefore been left to carouse By himself and to be his own master of the revels He was a man of much too coarse a mind To conceive the delicacy of such a character As Gertrude's and had always laughed At the idea of her being such a fool As to betray her own secret He therefore remained quite unconscious Of that storm which was ready to burst upon him Being always on the watch To spy everything that was going on He soon came to the knowledge Of Colonel Delmore's intended departure Which he heard of with great exultation And thought the field was now his own His vulgar curiosity therefore Led him as usual into the midst of the Preparations and he lounged about the carriage While it was packing questioned the servants Examined and patted the horses And waited till Delmore appeared When he briskly accosted him with So you're for the road, sir By morning my lady's four bays Will carry you at a famous rate You only have them as far as Barnford I guess I had some thoughts of taking them Out myself today to give the ladies a ride But you're welcome to them, sir Quite welcome, the grays will do for us Delmore with difficulty refrained From spurning him but he repressed his rage And as he passed said in a low voice Beware how you abuse the indulgence Showing you in the name of the Earl Of Rossville for the sake of one He could not finish but throwing himself Into the carriage drove off There was something so stern and Commanding in his eye and voice And yet so melancholy and subdued In his manner that Lewiston felt Alarmed the Earl of Rossville Who deduces he was his exclamation As he turned quickly round And entered the house Could anybody have blabbed? Not Mrs. Sinclair, not Gertrude For it was the interest of both to conceal it Know the thing was impossible But he must see them And he immediately sent a message To Mrs. Sinclair demanding an interview But it was answered by her maiden Great agitation to report that Her lady had with them That most difficulty been roused From her stupor and that she was Not herself, her mind was wandering The doctor it must be sent for Come, come, I'm for none of your doctors Crod Lewiston, a confounded prying useless Swindling pack Why, what did that pompous fellow Do for my lady countess yesterday Felt her pulse and gave her a glass Of water, ay, and for that he pockets His five guineas the do's Why, a man would be ruined in this Country if he were to give way To women's nonsensical vagaries Come, I'm something of a doctor myself I'll go and see your lady come along And drawing Mrs. Leasel's arm Within his he marched along And in spite of her remonstrances Made his way to Mrs. Sinclair But she was as her mate had represented Her in no condition to answer Questions or receive company There was a total aberration of Intellect and even Lewiston's presence Made no impression on her He was so far relieved to find She was not in the way of Endundering the secret As she merely muttered herself A few unintelligible words About her daughter Then repeated the word daughter To herself many times over Without ceasing She'll come to herself by and by If you let her alone Said Lewiston as he left her With the resolution of next seeing His daughter End of section 97