 Section 69 of the Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stoonfarrier. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Volume 2, Chapter 35. But all in vain, I bolt my sentences, Euripides. Mrs. St. Clair's general ship was exerted so successfully throughout the evening that without any apparent design, the lovers were effectually precluded from exchanging words with each other, except in the way of common conversation. But this could not always continue. She felt she had committed herself with her daughter and must now either act with decision and authority or give up the attempt altogether. The first would be a dangerous experiment with one of the Countess's high spirit and the other was too galling and alternative to be voluntarily embraced. Sooner or later she saw it must end in guardians being appointed for her daughter and she therefore determined to put the best face she could upon it and be the first to propose the measure herself, not without hopes that while she thus appeared to throw up the reins, she might at the same time be enabled the more effectually to strengthen her own hands. When the party broke up for the night, she took Lady Rossville's arm and led her to her own dressing room. When dismissing her attendant, she thus began, Gertrude, as this is perhaps the last time I may have an opportunity of addressing you under your own roof. O Mama, exclaimed the Countess, seizing her mother's hand, do not I beseech you, do not recur to what has passed on that subject. This house is yours, you must not leave it, I will not leave you. Gertrude, be calm and hear me. No Mama, first hear me, declare that all remonstrance will prove unavailing, that no earthly consideration ever can change my resolution. I will not renounce my own free choice. Lady Rossville spoke slowly and she pronounced the last words in a manner which showed that opposition would indeed be vain. My object is not to contend with you, Gertrude, said her mother with a sigh, for I am fully aware how little influence I now possess over you, but my wish is to see you placed under the protection and guardianship of those who, if they want a mother's love, may soon possess more than a mother's influence. Say who it is that you would choose for your guardian. I choose you, Mama, for one and my cousin, Lindsay, for another, if a third is necessary, do you and he appoint whom you please. Mrs. Sinclair was thunderous, struck at the promptitude and decision of this answer, and she could only repeat in a tone of amazement, Mr. Lindsay, your guardian, what an idea. Surely there is nothing wrong in it, Mama, and who else could I name? It certainly is not customary to choose so very young a man for such an office, but Mr. Lindsay knows how I am situated. I consider myself, as having been repeatedly obliged to him beyond the possibility of my ever repaying him. And although on one point we certainly differ, Gertrude blushed as she spoke, yet that does not prevent my doing justice to his general character. I respect and esteem him as my friend, as the person who has twice saved me from insult once from destruction. And I would vain prove to him in perhaps the only way I may ever have in my power the reliance I have on him by placing myself under his control. After the scenes he has witnessed, I owe it to myself to make Edward Lindsay my guardian. Mrs. St. Clair was silent for some time, while in her own mind she balanced the pros and cons of this measure. In the first place, she disliked the thought of having to deal with the person of Edward Lindsay's acute understanding, unbending principle, and high standard of rectitude, a person who besides already knew too much of her private concerns and consequently could not be impressed with a very favorable idea of her character. But to balance these drawbacks, he was evidently no friend to Colonel Delmore, and she thought she might safely calculate on his assistance to further any scheme to preserve Gertrude from becoming the dupe of his artifices. He was aware that he took more than a common interest in her daughter, and she had no doubt that she would so manage as by that means to gain an ascendancy over him while she had little fear that he would ever succeed in supplanting his rival. She would be on her guard against that, and at any rate it was worth running all risks to detature from her present entanglement. Still, even in this view, it was a bitter pill to swallow, and she remained thoughtful and disconcerted. At last she said you talk of repaying your obligations to Lindsay as though it were a benefit you were about to confer on him by choosing him for your guardian. Are you aware that it is an office attended with much trouble and responsibility and that you will only be adding to the weight of that mighty debt you have already incurred? My cousin, I know, will not consider it in that light and even if he should, I would rather be indebted to him than anyone else. Yet there are others on whom you have at least equal claims and whom the world might think rather more suitable guardians for you. I do not know to whom you allude, Mama. It is not for me to point them out to you, said Mrs. Sinclair, with affected dignity. If you mean my uncle Adam, he is out of the question. He is so odd. I do not mean my uncle interrupted her mother. You have still nearer relatives. Lady Rossville colored at the thoughts of Mr. Alexander Black. There was a good-humored vulgar familiarity about him. She could scarcely brook and to subject herself to it was more than her proud spirit could submit to. She made no reply. There is also another person whom I have less scruple in naming to you and either or both of those I believe the world in general would deem perfectly unexceptionable in point of station, connection, character, experience, property, in short all the essentials for such a trust. Neither of them certainly are worders or Sampeur, but they are both what I think fitter for the purpose. They are both men of unblemished character, respectable understandings, mature age and good, if not great families. But to one or both of these add, if you choose any third party, such as Lord Milbank, Sir Peter Wellwood, Lord Fairacre, all of them you have seen and know something of, and one of them joined either with Mr. Black or Major Waddell. Major Waddell exclaimed the Countess Shirley Mama, you are not serious. Major Waddell, my guardian. No, that is too, really too degrading. You assume a vast deal too much with your new dignity, said Mrs. Sinclair warmly when you presumed to talk in that strain of a man born and bred, a gentleman and connected to with the first families in the county, the time may come when you may know what degradation is and much as you despise my family, you may yet but know more of this folly. I have named to you no less than five individuals each and all of whom I consider perfectly unacceptable in every respect. Well then, if I must be so guarded, let Mr. Lindsey and you raise a whole regiment of guards, if you will, with the exception of Major Waddell. Everything else I leave to you and my cousin, Lady Rossville, laid particular emphasis on the word cousin, and now Mama, pray dismiss me, I'm dying of sleep. And I, of care, said her mother with a deep sigh, do not say so Mama, be assured we shall both be happy in our own way and kissing her Gertrude withdrew to her own apartment. Unwilling as she was to yield, Mrs. St. Clair felt that she had no alternative. Sometimes she thought of leaving Rossville and taking her daughter along with her. But where could they go that Colonel Delmore would not follow? And by adopting violent measures, she found she would only drive the Countess to extremities, perhaps accelerate the very evils she was most anxious to avoid. In short, after a night of restless deliberation, the mortifying conclusion she arrived at was that in this instance she must submit to her daughter's decision and adopt the plan she had declared herself determined to pursue. It was particularly disagreeable to her to, on account of the footing she was upon with Mr. Lindsey, she still stood pledge to him for an explanation of the mysteries he had witnessed, but that pledge she had no wish nor intention to redeem. The time was past, she had nothing to fear from him, and she felt averse to recur to a subject which she wished to be forever consigned to oblivion. In spite of all this, however the thing must be done and it would be much better done were she to come boldly forward as if of her own free will than if she waited till she was compelled to do so in compliance with her daughter's wish. The following morning, therefore, she sent at an early hour to desire Lady Rosville to attend her inner dressing room, and Gertrude was surprised upon obeying the summons to find her mother already up and dressed. As ever since Lord Rosville's death, she had indulged in late hours and secluded herself in her own apartment during the greater part of the day. I wish to know Gertrude said she in a solemn manner whether you still retain the same sentiments that you professed last night. Is it still your determination to throw off the parental yoke to publish your distrust of your mother? It is still my determination answered the countess gravely to obey my mother in all things compatible with what is due to myself, and I proclaim my sentiments to the world when I voluntarily make choice of her as my guardian. The other must be Edward Lindsey. Lady Rosville spoke even more firmly than she had done the preceding night, and Mrs. Sinclair found that all attempts to turn her from this resolution would prove abortive. Be it so then, Cray, she anything must be better than this state of things. Give me your arm. I mean to breakfast below today, and they descended together to the breakfast room where only Uncle Adam and Miss Pratt had just appeared. These two worthies were in the heat of our colloquy, but on the entrance of the ladies it suddenly ceased in a very abrupt and suspicious manner, and Uncle Adam shuffled away to the window with ears pendant while Miss Pratt, who at first was quite thrown on her beam, and began to rally her forces. The mystery was simply the last night's wager renewed, not without hopes, on Pratt's side of persuading Uncle Adam to knock under at once upon the voluminous mass of evidence she was pouring out upon him, in which she flattered herself would finally terminate in her fingering the five guineas as she already looked upon them as her own, and felt somewhat impatient at being kept out of her lawful property. They had, however, all the air of detected lovers and Mrs. Sinclair's antipathy against Miss Pratt was troubled tenfold as the idea flashed upon her that she was endeavoring to inveigle Uncle Adam and his 70,000 pounds into an alliance offensive in the highest degree. However, their loves were a secondary consideration at present, and she allowed them to pass unnoticed in the virtuous intention of crushing them if actually at some future period. Breakfast passed very heavily. There was an evident constraint on all present, for even Miss Pratt was more intent on watching the progress of her wager than in dispensing the usual flow of chit-chat. Mrs. Sinclair maintained the same hearty reserve towards Colonel Belmore, which he either was or affected to appear quite unconscious and directed his looks and attentions solely to Lady Rossville. But Miss Pratt's abstraction seldom lasted long, and as she chanced to cast her eye on Lindsay, she suddenly exclaimed, Bless my heart, my dear, what makes you look so ill today? I was not aware that I was looking particularly ugly this morning, answered he, ugly, my dear, that's a very strong word. As Anthony White says, it's one thing to look ill and another thing to look ugly and that there's many a one it would be paying too high a compliment to tell them they were looking ill, for that would imply that they sometimes looked well. So you see you ought to be much flattered by my telling you that you are looking ill, don't you think so, Lady Rossville? I suspect Mr. Lindsay is not easily flattered, answered she. I was trying my powers with him in that way yesterday, but I cannot flatter myself, I was successful. A fair acknowledgement that you were only flattering me all the while, said he, forcing a smile. I have suspected as much and therefore to punish you for your insincerity, I shall certainly remain where I am for this day at least. I suspect that will prove rather an encouragement than a corrective of the vice, said Mrs. St. Clair Gailey, and lest Mr. Lindsay should next mistake the matter so far as to think of rewarding our plain dealing by running away from us, I engage him to attend me now to the library. Mr. Lindsay bowed his acquiescence not without some surprise, and as he rose Mrs. St. Clair put her arm within his and was leaving the room, when as if recollecting something she called her daughter to her and contrived to converse her out of the room and to lead her through the suite of apartments till they came to that adjoining the library. We'd hear my love for a few minutes, said she, I would first speak with Mr. Lindsay alone, but it will be necessary you should join us immediately. Lady Rossville felt as if she had only been taken there to be away from Colonel Delmore, and she almost smiled in derision at her mother's petty stratagems. Now, cried Miss Pratt in an exulting tone to Uncle Adam as the party left the room. Weal what new demanded he in an undaunted tone. That's really speaking out, continued she, pointing after them, and at the same time casting a glance at Colonel Delmore who had hitherto sat in a sort of bitter scornful silence but on finding himself left at table was such a group as Uncle Adam, Lady Betty and Miss Pratt. He had immediately risen, and after carelessly tossing some fragments of the breakfast to his dog and whistling a French air to him, he sauntered away with his usual air of hybrid nonchalance. Sour grapes whispered Miss Pratt to Uncle Adam. I'm no very sure about that, was the reply as he prepared to creep away to his turret to Lizzie Lundy and Meg Merleys in the section 69, section 70 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmund Stoom Thayer. This Libra Vox recording is in the public domain, volume 2, chapter 36. For my part, I think there is nothing so secret that shall not be brought to light within the world. Bernat, Mrs. Sinclair's nerves almost failed her when she found herself alone with Lindsay for the first time since their meeting in the wood, but then the reflection that the secret connected with that scene was forever buried in the deep or what was still deeper her own heart recalled her self-possession and without betraying any fear or hesitation, she began, it must doubtless appear extraordinary to you that I should have allowed so much time to elapse without giving you the éclair, which you must naturally have expected, which I was promised, said Lindsay emphatically, true you were so, but my own illness, the subsequent events which have taken place in the family rendered the performance of such a promise for a time impracticable. Since then it has become unnecessary, the person who was the cause of so much needless alarm to my daughter and myself is no more, he has perished at sea. You must have observed in a late newspaper the detail of the shipwreck and probably drew from it the same conclusion that the wrong-headed infatuated man who had caused us so much annoyance had met his fate. Yes, so far I did conjecture about the circumstances which seem to have placed Lady Rossville and you so completely in the power of such a man, you surely do not mean to lead these to conjecture. It is certainly not everyone on whose candor and liberality and charity I could place such reliance as to leave a shadow of doubt on their minds, which was in my power to clear away. But when I balance on the one hand the painful task I should have to perform in recurring to past events and disturbing the ashes of the departed in harrowing up my own feelings by recalling the unmerited obliquely, the poverty and privations my unfortunate husband was doomed to endure in consequence of his ill-fated attachment to me. Can I ought mine to be the hand to tear aside the veil in which his errors are now forever shrouded? On the other, what have I to dread from a nature so honorable and candid as yours, one which I believe to be as incapable of suspecting evil as of committing it? I fear you give me credit for an extent of virtue I do not possess, said Lindsay Gravely, for I must freely confess that I have received impressions of so unfavorable a nature that I find all my charity quite insufficient to dispel them. Surely then justice is due to the living as well as tenderness to the dead. You say true, and rather than that my daughter should suffer in your estimation, Mrs. St. Clair stopped inside. Yet I flattered myself that with the thousand opportunities I have lately afforded you of gaining a thorough insight into her character and of witnessing the almost childish openness of her disposition you would air now have been enabled from your own knowledge of her an infinitely sure criterion than a mother's commendation to have acquitted her of all culpability in this unfortunate occurrence, ambiguous as it may appear. My suspicions do not in the least agree attached to Lady Rosville, cried Lindsay warmly, I could stake my life on the purity of her mind in conduct, but you distrust me, well be it so, since my daughter does not suffer, I am satisfied. Let mine be the obliquely only let me scream from reproach the memory of a husband. I'm little used to disguise my sentiments, said Lindsay, and the present occasion I think warrants my expressing them very plainly. You must excuse me then when I say that I can scarcely conceive any motive so powerful as to induce a mother to endanger her own and her daughter's reputation I have twice seen Lady Rosville insulted that I possess the power she should certainly have been under other protection before now. It is a same cleric colored deeply and struggled for some moments to retain her composure, but she succeeded in her zoom. I was aware that such must be your opinion and mortifying as it is I shall make no attempt to change it at present erefter perhaps you may do me greater justice. In the meantime it is my determination to resign the guardianship of my daughter into other hands. It is my wish and that Lady Rosville that Mr. Lindsay would accept this trust the strongest proof we can either of us give of our own self-respect as well as our confidence and esteem for him. Mr. Lindsay's emotion at this proposal did not escape Mrs. St. Clair's piercing observation and she secretly hoped he might decline the proposal but after a few minutes consideration he said I accept of the trust and hope I may be enabled to discharge it faithfully but I cannot take the whole responsibility of such an office there must be other guardians appointed. My daughter insists upon my acting also in that capacity although it was my wish to have delegated the office entirely to others to my brother for instance or my nephew Major Waddell or any other of the county gentlemen she would name the moveable on that point so we have only to consider hereafter who it will be proper to make choice of meanwhile allow me to consider you as the actual guardian of my daughter and as such anxious to cooperate with me in all that is for her advantage and Mrs. St. Clair went over pretty much the same ground she had done before in painting the anticipated miseries of her union with Colonel Delmore aggravated to by his late he based of conduct the whole of concluding with had his absence been prolonged but for a few months this childish fancy would have passed away a more rational and more enduring attachment would have taken its place already I sometimes flattered myself the work was begun and she sighed as she fixed her eyes on Lindsay whose changing expression and varying color spoke the feelings he would not for worlds have uttered and now what is to be done separated they must be our sufferer to remain together his influence will prevail over every other already his ascendancy is obvious every day every hour spent together will only serve to strengthen it my authority singly will be of no avail to counteract it but you possess weight and influence with Gertry which I've neither the right nor the inclination to use at present rashness and violence can serve no purpose but to increase opposition rely upon Lady Rossville's promise not to marry and Lindsay's voice faltered a little as he said it till she is of age in the meantime treat her with openness and confidence these will prove firmer holds than bolts or bars without nature such as hers suffer her mind to expand and her judgment to mature suffer the slow but gradual process of mental elucidation to go on let her see others perhaps as gifted as Colonel Delmore and leave her free to form her own opinions and draw her own conclusions perhaps when she knows him better she will learn to value him less but any attempt to force a mind such as hers against its own bent will never succeed you may gall and fret her temper but you will not change or at least improve her nature and I never will consent to any measures of the kind this was very contrary to what Mrs. St. Clair had anticipated she advited herself that he would have caught eagerly thrown out and would have been ready to assist her in any scheme she might have suggested for the separation of the lovers but Lindsay's mind was much too mobile and generous to allow any selfish considerations for a moment to sway him even where the temptation was most powerful he had no base passions to gratify neither envy nor jealousy nor revenge and consequently his decisions were always just and upright but it was far otherwise that she was provoked and disappointed at having failed to stimulate him to cooperate with her in the violent measures she had projected she was aware however that it would be in vain to oppose the counters and him together and she was therefore obliged to yield an unwilling assent for the present Lady Rosbill was now summoned to the conference and the result was that Lord Milbank and Mr. Alexander Black should be requested to accept the office of joint guardians along with Mrs. St. Claire and Mr. Lindsay as there are now no secrets amongst us Gertrude said her mother in her most ostentatious manner waving her hand to Mr. Lindsay I may inform you that it has been agreed upon by Mr. Lindsay and myself that Colonel Delmau shall be permitted to remain here for the present on the footing of any other guests such as the confidence we both place in your good sense and propriety Lady Rosbill blushed to the forehead at this extraordinary address and both Lindsay and she turned away their eyes from each other it would be a strange assumption of brief authority in me said he were I to presume to interfere with Lady Rosbill and the choice of her guests and with a slight inclination of ahead he quitted the room what a load has been taken from my mind by this arrangement said Mrs. St. Claire with a sigh which rather belied her words and now Gertrude left will you we must pay some visits in particular we must go to my brothers Mr. Lindsay has promised to ride to Lord Milbangs this morning and several matters with him he is a stupid man but it seems he is a relation of yours and understands business so he may do very well as for your uncle just proper you should see him yourself I don't think you have been at Bellevue since Lord Rosbill's death but this morning is so delightful it would be a sin to race it on a Bellevue a much worse one might serve equally well for that purpose and there are a thousand things I have to do today I must see what progress have been made with my rusting bridge whether the terrorist walk has yet been begun how speeds might bow if my flower knots are arranging according to rule I propose mama what a lack of shrubs and flowers are here I must have quantities immediately not a day must be lost I must have clouds of dropping roses to meet this ethereal mildness and do all honor to this gentlest of gentle springs don't be a fool Gertrude or at least remember there is a time for all things even for falling the present belongs to more important subjects than building baby houses and dressing dolls well mama pray manage them as you will but leave me at liberty to have a walk today Andrew pray is to be your escort in this important survey Lady Rosbill blushed and hesitated then in a faint voice said mama Lady Rosbill is not to ramble all over the country with anybody or everybody said her mother sarcastically I will have no clandestine meetings remember clandestine repeated the countess no to my own guests and relations why should I have recourse to clandestine measures my intention was to walk with Colonel Delmore but since it is your desire that I should accompany you I will do so and she rose to ring the bell and order the carriage when the movement was arrested by hearing the sound of wheels crisping the gravel as they roll slowly round to the grand entrance there are my aunts exclaimed lady Rosbill I wrote yesterday to invite them but I scarcely looked for them so soon I must fly to welcome them and in an instant she was on the other steps of the entrance ready to assist her aunt Mary herself end of section 70 section 71 of the inheritance by Susan Edmond Stoon Farrier this deeper box recording is in the public domain volume 2 chapter 37 these Indian wives are loving fools and may do well to keep company with the areas and porches of old Rome Dryden but the carriage door being open there stepped out major Waddell having upon his back a vast military cloak with all its various appliances of tags and jags and flags and waving capes and scarlet linings and shining brooch etc etc etc the major having placed himself on one side of the carriage door Black Caesar in no less gorgeous array stationed himself at the other and then after a little feminine delay there came forth Mrs. Major Waddell in all her bravery a rich and voluminous satin mantle enveloped her person a rare and costly lace veil streamed like a meteor to the wind moth, bonnet, feathers, boots reticule all were in perfect keeping a Mrs. Major Waddell from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot might have stood for the frontist piece of La Belle home-blay placing a hand upon each of her supporters she descended the steps of the carriage with much deliberate dignity and then as if oppressed with the weight of her own magnificent she gave her moth to Caesar while the major gallantly seized her reticule and assisted her to ascend the flight of steps where stood the countess provoked at herself for her precipitation having so unwarely rushed out to receive this unexpected importation well cousin this is really kind to exclaim Mrs. Major but you see what it is to be without a lord and master here is mine would be in perfect agonies if I were to stand for a single moment outside the door without my bonnet you ought to tell Lady Rossville at the same time who it was tied to double neck claws round my throat yesterday when but Lady Rossville could not listen to the major's playful recrimination and she interrupted him by saying whether somewhat state the air I imagined it was my Aunt Mary who had arrived and knowing how helpless she is a hastened out to see that she was properly attended to but my friends are all welcome at it she with her usual sweetness of manner and she led the way to the saloon Mrs. Waddell was a prize to Lady Betty and Miss Pratt who were both fond of seeing fine-dressed people and Mrs. Waddell had so much to look at and her things were all so new and so rich and so fashionable and India Muslim and India shawls and India chains and lace and drinkers were heaped upon her with such an unsparing hand that it was quite a feast to sit and scan each article individually Miss Pratt even went farther and anticipated at the least half a piece of sprigged India Muslim to herself the same as Mrs. Waddell's gown which she forthwith began to admire with all her might moreover she intended to ingratiate herself so far as to obtain a footing in the house for as she reasoned with herself there was nobody knew good living better than your nebobs they were commonly squeamish and bilious and needed a nice bit and at any rate one might depend upon genuine honey and Madira at their tables and to use stomach these were great restorative for a fortnight or so now and then Miss Pratt there upon began to do the honors with even more than her usual activity she made a point of taking off Mrs. Waddell's mantle with her own hands commenting upon its beauty as she did so she insisted upon her using a footstool and having two additional squab cushions to lean upon and press with chocolate in a manner not to be withstood she was obliged to give back a little however when Mrs. Sinclair came sweeping in with her usual authoritative air and welcomed her relations with a patronizing grandeur of department that sunk Miss Pratt's nimble civilities into nothing Mrs. Sinclair was vulgar enough to feel gratified by the appearance made by her knees her equippage was handsome her dress fashionable and expensive very pretty the major's rank was respectable his connections were good and though they were both fools yet a fool and satin was a very different thing from a fool in sat-cloth and was treated accordingly she therefore began to observe your carriage has not been put up Isabella Shirley major Waddell and you have not come so far to pay us a mere morning visit Gertrude you must endeavor to persuade your cousins the best of all persuasion said Miss Pratt is to force us to be put up that's a sure argument is it not major let me pull the bell lady Rossville right to tell you the truth the major now had agreed before we set up that if we found you living quietly here and no company we would have no objection to spend a day or two with you all familiar but as I go nowhere at present it must be upon condition that I remain quite incognito Mrs. Sinclair already repented of her invitation and Gertrude could only say we are quite a family party in that case then major I think we must remain where we are you'd better speak to Robert yourself about the horses and tell Caesar to see that everything is taken out of the carriage as we were quite uncertain of remaining I didn't think of bringing my own maid with me and major I think I must have left my vinaigrette in one of the pockets of the carriage when one travels in their own carriage they are so apt to litter it you know and leave things lying about your mind is almost like my dressing room a very handsome carriage it is submissed brat as it wheeled past the windows very plain but the major and I are both partial to everything plain this plainness consisted of a bright blue body with large scarlet arms bearing the black and Waddell quarterings, mantel crest cypher, coupe ghouls and all appliances to boot by the by I hear strange things of my poor uncle submissed his major when the carriage was out of sight because then you found him all but dead in his own house and had him carried away in a fit the major and I were from home at the time we were on a visit at Lord fair acres and heard nothing of it till two days ago that we returned or I should certainly have made a point of seeing after him poor man he is not confined to bed I hope does he know we are here I wonder I should let him know myself said lady Rossville who instantly conjectured that if uncle Adam came unwarily to the knowledge of the major and lady who had the same roof for themselves stone and lime could scarcely contain him she therefore glad at the same time of an excuse for leaving her company hastened to the yellow turret she tapped several times at the door but received no answer she listened all of a sudden she slowly opened the door no notice was taken she looked in and there sat uncle Adam with spectacles on nose so intent upon a book that all his senses seemed to be completely lapped in his pages Gertrude cough but in vain she spoke but she went close up to him but he saw her not at length she ventured to lay her hand on his shoulder and guy mentoring dropped upon the floor you seem to be much interested in your studies said lady Rossville as she stooped to pick it up for him Mr. Ramsey purple was shamed as he tried to effect a tone of indifference and said oh I him it's just a ween idle havers there that I just him they mawn hey little to do that talk up their heads writing sick nonsense I never heard the author accused of idleness before said lady Rossville with a smile and no one need be ashamed to own the interest excited by these wonderful works of genius interiors to folk may hey other things to interest them I think in this world I wonder if there's only your truth I cannot think how a man could sit down to contrive of that I dinner midst do that spoon girl gloss and nada I would agree a losing pound out of my pocket to see that rascal hang to hang in was not our good for him where you may be at ease on that hit as even worse befalls him said lady Rossville will I rejoice at that for if that school had gotten leave to keep that property by my drop I believe I would have burnt the book then ashamed of his order in such a cause he added in a previous tone but it's a nonsense together and I'm no gone to bash my head only more about it lady Rossville not the doubts the arrival of the law bells in the most conciliating manner she could but in any way it was an event to rouse all uncle Adam's angry feelings though for some minutes he said nothing the merely walked round and round the turd rubbing his forehead as if at a loss out of receipt at last he stopped and said I can wheel enough what's brought them here that creature though she is who has the cunning old Nick himself but you may just tell her for me she'll make nothing of me she shall there see a Bobby of mine you may just tell her that her truth here attempted a sort of vindication of her cousin from such debasing suspicions but she was cut short with we only if he went out tell her I'll tell her myself I'm no going to be hunted up and down in and out that I cannot turn myself but Magister and there's a major wild-doll mom be at my heels and he resumed his perambulations as if to give the lie to his words by his actions I'm just withering resumed he rather to quit the hoose this minute or rather to stay still and see the creature's food audit then as is I in a fine frenzy rolling glance from Lizzie Lundy to Guy Mannering he had but I'll no give them the satisfaction I think in there he driven me away I dare say that's just what she wants so I'll stay still where I am this magnanimous resolution form Lady Rossville tried to prevail upon him to return to the saloon with her to meet his relatives but in vain he declared that till dinner it was on the table he would not stir from where he was and Lady Rossville who had too much sense to attempt to combat his prejudice is open was obliged to leave him and make the best excuse she could for his non-appearance no sooner had she left the room than Mr. Ramsey locked and bolted the door to prevent any farther intrusion after a few glances at Lizzie his ruffle opinions were smooth and he returned with unabated ardor to his studies Colonel Delmore and Mr. Lindsey had both joined the party during Gertrude's absence and she again felt something like shame as she marked her lover's lofty bearing towards her relations while the major seemed to grow 10 times sillier and as Lady 20 times more affected in their struggles to keep on par with him with Lindsey it was otherwise for although his manners were not less elegant yet as they emanated from better feelings so they never oppressed others with the painful consciousness of their own inferiority and even the major and Lady and his company might have become something better had not his benign influence been counteracted by the haughty port and humiliating condescension of the other but his sources had been sometime distanced and he set out upon his ride to Millbank House do you know I begin to think Mr. Lindsey really quite handsome and his manners extremely pleasing submissive major with an air as though her approbation set the seal to him at once he sits his horse remarkably well said the major I wonder whether he ever was in the dragoons do you walk today Lady Rosville demanded Colonel Delmore abruptly as the expedition to Bellevue was now Gertrude answered in the affirmative and invited Mrs. Waddell to be of the party oh you must first get my lord and masters leave for that major what would you think of my taking a walk today looking very archly to the rest of the company the major looked distressed while you know Isabella the very last time you walked was to see Lord Fairacre's new binary and you certainly caught cold where you may remember Lady Fairacre remarked next morning how heavy your eyes were and I think you look a little pale today my love there now I knew how it would be you see how completely I'm under orders however I beg I meant prevent you from indulging your taste in a rural stroll with your bow added she in a whisper to Lady Rosville who was shamed and worried of such intolerable folly Rose and went to prepare for a walk at the same town in a general way inviting such of the party as chose to accompany her on returning she found the party was to consist of herself and the two gentlemen Lady Betty and Mrs. St. Clair like Mrs. Waddell never walked when they could help it and Miss Pratt had attached to herself so assiduously to that nabobus and had so much to tell and to say that contrary to her usual practice she was a fixture for the day Major Waddell cried Mrs. St. Clair in her most authoritative manner as they were leaving the room remember I commit Lady Rosville solely to your care Gertrude you will be at pains to point out to Major Waddell the beauties of Osville and get his opinion of the improvements you have begun you see what you have brought upon yourself Major by your care of me cried his lady not much delighted with this arrangement which she thought was rather interfering with her privileges Lady Rosville and Colonel Delmore were too much annoyed at this appendage to say anything the letter indeed was revolving in his own mind how to dismiss him the moment they were out of sight and the Countess was hesitating whether she should do more than merely take a single turn under such guardianship when as they crossed the hall Mrs. Waddell's voice was heard loudly calling the major back and the lady herself presently appeared in great agitation now major is it possible you were really going out without your cloak when you know very well you were so hoarse this morning that I could scarcely hear what you said well for heaven's sake compose yourself my dear girl said the major in a whisper now major that is impossible unless you put on your cloak but I assure you I am much more likely to catch cold of it where this is almost like a day in Bengal I do assure you my cloak would be quite overcoming now major well my dear don't say anymore do I beseech you compose yourself but this cloak is so confoundedly heavy do just feel it now major well no matter my dear anything to make you easy and the poor major buckled on his apparatus while the lady set up to collar clasped the brooch and drew the voluminous folds closed round his personality bursting at every pore now major be sure you keep it close round you and for any sake don't open your collar do you promise but my dear bell while major I can only say well well gasp the poor major that is enough there now I feel quite comfortable said the lady as she completed her operations it is more than I do thought the major as he slowly salad forth and caught a glimpse of Lady Rossville and Konodelma who had taken advantage of this conjugal delay to make their escape so my companions have got started and he footed away as fast as his short and ponderous cloak permitted but in vain like panting time did he toil after the fugitives whose light figures and elastic steps mocked his utmost exertions to overtake them and the provoking part of it was that while he was puffing and blowing and sawing the air with his arms without ever gaining a single step upon them they have the appearance of sauntering along quite at their ease and after his repeated calls in the section in the volume second section seventy two of the inheritance by Susan Edmund Sting barrier this Libra box recording is in the public domain volume three chapter one oh sooner shall the rows of may mistake her own sweet nightingale and to some meaner minstrel's lay open her bosoms glowing veil then love shall ever doubt a tone a breath of the beloved one Lala Rook meanwhile the lovers had much to say to each other but for a time the eloquence and the vehemence of Colonel Delmore bore down the softer accents of the counties as he pleaded his suit in all the energy of passion and appealed to herself as a witness of the injurious treatment he met with Mrs. Sinclair but when he proceeded to urge immediate union as the only means of putting an end to the machinations against him she stopped him by saying do not renew that subject again for years to come as you love me I promise my mother that I will enter into no engagement till I am 21 but I promise you then, then interrupt Delmore impetuously that is a mere mockery Gertrude if you loved as I do you would not talk so calmly of what may be years hence every day seems to me an eternity until you are mind beyond the power of fate to separate us years better tell me at once that I have nothing to hope to spare itself would be almost a blessing compared to this intolerable agony of suspense I'll Delmore why should you be so unjust to yourself and me as to talk to us I have no doubts of your faith and constancy why should you have any of mine because no one can love as I do to destruction without inquire to passion without passion is an anomaly I cannot comprehend and love without confidence in the person beloved seems to me still more inconceivable I have no doubt of your fidelity than I have of my own but everything will be done to destroy your confidence in me your mother is ambitious Gertrude she wants a more expanded alliance for you she thinks I am unworthy of you and perhaps she is right in that I must choose for myself and she knows my choices made set the countess with a blush but not confirmed Gertrude would to God you loved as I do that you could conceive the miseries of separation the worse than death it will be to me to part from you but we shall see each other frequently you must give up the army you must not go abroad again indeed you must not in two years will soon pass away and in that time what may not be affected by the misrepresentations of your mother and the artful insinuations of that cold-blooded stoic Lindsay you wrong your cousin indeed you do by such a supposition is far above anything of the kind as he'd never once said anything that had a tendency to injure me in your estimation I did Colonel Delmore turning his eyes full upon her if he had he has certainly been very unsuccessful set the countess with a smile but indeed Edward is incapable of meanly insinuating what he spoke out then exclaimed Delmore passionately he told you of the follies and the extravagances of my boyish days in which however he himself went hand in hand into vices and warned you to beware of the profligate who had lost I forget how many hundred pounds one night at cards no indeed he told me nothing of all this you wrong him you misunderstand each other but you must be better friends now but he is my guardian your guardian exclaimed Delmore as if thunder struck what in the name of heaven do you mean even that it seems it was necessary for me to have guardians appointed and so I have made choice of my cousin for one he has already proved himself my friend on more occasions than one and to him I think I owe my life you cannot therefore wonder at my choice yet you must be aware that Lindsay is no friend to me nor I confess it am I to him we think differently upon those subjects and his greed is much too bigoted for me indeed I have not found him so on the contrary I should say he was extremely liberal in his sentiments and lenient in his judgments and I'm sure he has a great deal more toleration than I have I wish I saw you both better friends why should it not be so because I am no hypocrite Gertrude and perhaps also because shall I confess my weakness to you I'm jealous that you should be so much of regard upon him jealous of my regard for Edward Lindsay exclaimed the Countess then you would be jealous if I had a brother whom I loved yes I believe I should when a man loves as I do to adoration he can seldom broke any interference in those affections which ought to be exclusively his own your lukewarm sort of people I know make all welcome but I'm not one of these Gertrude woman's heart is indeed a royal palace if it admit but one guest and then tis a glorious privilege to be that one nay you would rather turn it into a cell I think said Gertrude smiling and become yourself a moping monk no matter what it is provided it is mine solely and exclusively mine returned out more impatiently but being yours holy yours the Countess and she blushed at the tone of emphatic tenderness with which she said it surely you would not wish it to be unjust and ungrateful to all the world beside such a thing would be no better worth having than this pebble on which I tread as she touched one with her foot do not blame me Gertrude because conscious that I possess a pearl richer than all its tribe I fear to leave it open to all even a part of it should be stolen from me common things may be shared but who could lose the hundredth part of a rare and costly gem without feeling that its value was gone even such a miser am I with your affections you are all the universe to me day and night I think I dream but of you a desert island in the midst of the ocean with you would be a paradise Gertrude if you shared in these feelings who would you think will care for others in comparison alas you little know but how shall I convince you skeptic as you are of my folly how did she with a smile you would not have me purge you and to my mother or drive from my house a friend in relation to whom I owe so much or retract my word passed to him when I chose him for my guardian Colonel Delmore remained silent surely you would not have me so base as to do any of those things nor would you value such proofs of my attachment Colonel Delmore found he had gone far enough for the present and that gentle and feminine as Gertrude was his influence over her mind must be more gradual than he had expected he saw that he was beloved with all the fervor and simplicity of a young confiding heart but love with her was yet too pure and solid a passion to have tainted the better feelings of her nature these still flowed free in generous she loved and was beloved and her heart expanded beneath the joyous influence and the bright rainbow hues of hope and fancy tinged every object with their own celestial colors but no shade of suspicion nor mistrust fell on that noon tide of her happiness even the narrow selfish domineering sentiments he had just heard fall from the lips of her lover seemed to her to breathe only the quintessence of love and she looked on him in all the calm radiance of a happy trust in heart be it as you will Gertrude said he might fade as in your hands you know your power for I have told you what I am proud jealous vindictive perhaps where you are concerned but such as I am you avowed to be mine have you not when I'm 21 that is unless you should change your mind added cheese portably I've changed repeated he no Gertrude you will see many a strange sight before that comes to pass this river may change its course and these rocks may change into planes but my heart can never change in its love for you much more of the same sort past for lovers it is well known carry the art of tautology to its utmost perfection and even the most impatient of them can both bear to hear and repeat the same things times without number till the sound becomes the echo to the sense or the nonsense previously uttered but lovers walks and lovers vows must have an end and Lady Rossville and Colonel Delmore found themselves at the castle where they had uttered one hundredth part of all they had to say end of section seventy-two section seventy-three of the inheritance by Susan Edmundsden Farrier this leap of ox recording is in the public domain volume three chapter two hot from the field indulge not yet your limbs and wished repose nor court the fanningale nor taste the spring O by the sacred tears of widows, mothers, sisters aunts, or bear Armstrong what have you done with the major exclaimed his lady as they entered the saloon and found her in misprud with their heads together group she was at a loss how to answer this question as till this moment she had as completely forgot the major as though no such person were in existence where in the world is the major was repeated in a voice of alarm very snug in his quote probably answered Colonel Delmore with a disdainful smile lady Rossville cousin I am freed of you what has become of the major I dare say he is not far off answered the countess but he did not overtake us good gracious exclaimed the lady all panting with alarm did he not overtake you then the major is lost my dear Mrs. Waddell don't distress yourself began misprud dip in the punnett he'll cast up there's good daylight yet and he may meet some of the work people in the woods and we'll send out some of the servants to seek for him Colonel Delmore will you pull the bell he never would think of taking the quote for a crack and that's the only ugly turn about the banks Lady Rossville I'll thank you for the smelling bottle bear there's not much water in the river now Jackson a glass of water here as quick as you can and send out some of the men to look for major Waddell with bells ropes and lanterns said Colonel Delmore there is major Waddell man said the pompous Jackson as he glanced his eye but without turning his head towards the window where oh where exclaimed his lady as she flew to the window thank God as she again sunk upon her sea the major is certainly was in the area persona slowly and laboriously plotting his weary way close button to the chin though evidently ready to drop with heat and fatigue he carried a handkerchief in his hand which he ever and a man applied to his face it's shown forth like a piece of polished you to add to his perturbation this plot filling open a window screech out to him come away major make haze tears your good lady in history it's almost about you an ejaculation of despair it is at most tremendous place and again the grouping capes arms sails and tails of his quote in commotion as the inward man struggled and plunged amidst the toys of broad cloth and timmon that at length the whole mass came floundering into the room oh major exclaimed his lady faintly as she rose to meet him my sweet girl what is all this cried the major as he cast back part of his folds extended his arms like claws towards her I have been so frightened about you major you must have met with something you are so heated and do tell me what has happened I see you have met with something my dearest girl I do assure you I've met with nothing I've been rather on a wild goose chase to be sure trying to overtake my charge the count is there but turning to Colonel Delmore and her I could not make you hear me at all though I heard you inside almost the same way at this remark there was a smile on Colonel Delmore's lip and a slight blush on Lady Vosville's cheek which Miss Platt did not like and that sort of big tremor ran through her frame that was very odd said Mrs. Major recovering I never doubted you were all together I shall take care another time how I trust you to walk without me oh you have got yourself heated to such a degree I am sure you will catch your death of cold pray Miss Platt shut down that window now Major do you sit away from the door and I beseech you don't think of taking off your cloak till you are cool my dear Belle gassed the almost supplicating major now major I am treated you but upon my soul this is a thousand degrees hotter than ever I felt it in Bengal well but major you know very well how ill you were in consequence of filling off your cloak suddenly one sunny day when you have got yourself overheated and you promise me that you never would do so again but my dear Belle this is absolutely like a day in June now major I can only say but happily for all concerned the ladies were here stopped by the sound of the dressing bell and half distracted the tricks to desire to superintend the cooling of the major by keeping him in a hot room enveloped in his cloak and her anxiety to dedicate the full three quarters of an hour to the duties and the display of her oriental finally she felt much at a loss which to choose at length the woman prevailed over the wife and the major was allowed to be take himself to his dressing room by the lady repaired to hers into section 73 section 74 of the inheritance by Susan Edmund Stoonfarier this Libra Vox recording is in the public domain volume 3 chapter 3 ah sure as Hindu legends tell when music's tones the bosom swell the scenes of former life return air sunk beneath the morning star we left our apparent crimes afar imured and mortal forms to mourn or if as ancient sages wean departed spirits half unseen can mingle with the mortal long to his wind from heart to heart we roll the deep tone music of the soul that warbles in our Scottish song laden at dinner mrs. major reappeared in a dress which might have done honor to Cinderella's godmother but which even with the aid of hydro-allies a carb uncle had no effect in subduing uncle Adam's flinty heart towards her he however received her salutations with tolerable composure and moreover permitted her to touch his hands but as for shaking them that was an effort little short of tearing the limpets from its native rock as for the major he was too much exhausted by the toils of the day to be able even to offend being reduced to a state of perfect passiveness what a pretty woman your niece mrs. Waddell is whispered mrs. Pratt as uncle Adam and she started along as usual to dinner pretty what makes her pretty we are faced like a sook at carvey are to be sure she's not like lady rasville but where will you see the like of her such a distinguished looking creature as she is or you see although she has but that bit hurdle in her hair that she brought in in her hand from the greenhouse before dinner how much better her head looks than mrs. Waddell's with that fine pearl spring that must have cost her many gold rupee as anthony white would say she's really very classical I wish you wouldn't have compared them interrupted mr. Ramsey impatiently as this temper was still farther irritated at seeing the hearty but graceful air with which Colonel Delmore led the Countess to the top of the table and as a matter of course placed himself by her there's a bold stroke for a wife playing there but it won't do again respond to mrs. Pratt with a slight palpitation at the heart which she would have scorn however to have admitted even to herself dinners are commonly dull things unless when there is some bill as free to take the lead and act as sauce pecan to the company but here was nobody except mrs. Pratt who could or would lay themselves out to talk and even she was somewhat damp as the thoughts of her five guineas came across her now and then with a qualm as if to counteract that her chief business was in calling for and then construing lady rossville's most common sabilities towards mr. Lindsay to the great annoyance of both and the repressed indignation of colonel delmore mrs. Waddell thought neither the major nor she met with that attention that was their due she therefore sat very stately with hider allies carbuncle emitting dark and lurid glooms as if it shared in her displeasure in the evening it was somewhat better though in any way it was difficult to get such incongruous materials as the company was composed of to hang together but then they were more at liberty to follow their own devices and if music has not always trans to sue the savage breast it has at least the merit of keeping civilized beings sometimes in order although lady rossville had little expectation of deriving any pleasure from an exhibition of mrs. Waddell's musical powers yet she was too polite to pass her over pray sing me a scotch song said she seeing her preparing to execute an Italian one I've taken quite a fancy for scotch songs scotch songs repeated mrs. Waddell with astonishment and contempt I hope cousin you don't think me quite so vulgar as to sing scotch songs I assure you they are quite exploded from the drawing room now they are called kitchen songs with an affected giggle call them what they will said lady rossville I shall certainly learn to sing the songs of my own country and to sing them to in my own way con amore if so you will sing them better than any mere taught singer will do said mr. Lindsay but I assure you cousin nobody sings them now said mrs. major vehemently the more ashamed then to everybody said Gertry to everybody who can sing them said Lindsay but I believe it is much more difficult to sing one's national music well in their native land than it is to discourse most eloquent music in a foreign town the first speaks to everyone's heart and feelings the other merely addresses itself to the ear or the taste or it may be the ignorance of the audience to sing scotch songs well requires great compass of voice a clear articulation and the very soul of feeding pray mr. Lindsay were you ever abroad demanded mrs. Waddell abruptly I spent two years on the continent one of them in Rome indeed in a manner as if she doubted the fact and rather displeased to think that anybody should have been where the major had not been well I must say I'm rather surprised that anybody who has ever been abroad being able to tolerate scotch music I think you say major you have had little relish for it since you were in India oh surely said the major who just knew a drum from a fight I like everything that is good of its kind said Lindsay some of the scotch ears are rather pretty said Colonel Delmore who but for his opponents of mrs. Waddell would have had an anathema against them and I hope you admire the words of mrs. Waddell with an identical air indeed I do many of them said Lady Rossville here for instance is such a pretty sentiment pretty expressed and as she leant against her heart she touched its cords and sung with taste and feeling Waddell be my dear when sorrow rings thy gentle heart but Waddell let me cheer thee by the treasure of my soul and that's the love I bear thee well I suppose it's my want of taste for I can't say I can discover anything very beautiful there said mrs. major with a disdainful toss my dearie what a vulgar expression how should I look major if you were to call me your dearie very good but that is a charming thing you sing my dear Rosina Miakaro said the major who was half asleep some of the scotch songs are undoubtedly course vulgar and silly said Lindsay and most of them some from beginning to end would certainly be somewhat of a penance but many of them are charming and a verse here and a verse there in almost all of them will be found to possess infinite beauty and I thought people who were really musical cared little for the words of a song interrupted mrs. major triumphantly milked and thought otherwise and few will dispute his ear from music but if words are not fit to be heard they ought not to be sung it by no means follows that because words are scotch they must need to be vulgar on the contrary I've heard good musicians say that from the frequent termination of the scotch words and vowels there is a softness in the language which renders it much better adapted to music than any other the Italian accepted and then what a superiority in the poetry of our songs a little nature of feeling or variety is there in the greater part of the Italian arietas and Venetian canzanettes did you ever hear D. Tenty P. P. T. asked mrs. Baudel with a consequential air mr. Lindsay could scarcely restrain a smile at the question to Tenty Pappetta being scarcely less hackneyed than the flower of the dumb blaine or the white blossom slow etc but without waiting and answer the lady fourth with squared her elbows rounded her arms spread out her fingers and commenced waving her head and rolling her eyes from side to side in the manner usually practiced by vulgar affected singers who tried to make up about their bodily gestures for the want of all taste feeling and expression Colonel Delmore had been talking in a low voice during the greater part of this colloquy which otherwise he never would have suffered to proceed as he seemed to look upon the major and his lady as quite beneath his notice and although he might have to contradict he never would have stoop to reason with either of them when she began he suddenly would have left the room had not Gertrude's presence restrained him not that her singing was more obnoxious to him but the one was accustomed to consult only his own pleasure the other who consider the feelings of others what a store of pretty old scotch songs your sister Anne has said lady Rossville trying to gloss over the deficiencies of the one sister in the praises of the other my sister Anne has a great store of nonsense in her head said Mrs. Waddell with the toss of her own stuff with religion and poetry I think and with texts and songs and hymns that there seems little room for good common sense from your account she must greatly resemble a little quaint simple sketch I have met with somewhere and admired said Lindsay I think it is one of old Isaac Waltons speaking I presume of some such person he says to say truth she is never alone for she is still accompanied by beautiful songs honest thoughts and prayers but short ones that seems to suit my cousin Anne exactly said lady Rossville she is very sweet and very pleasing and I am sure very good I wish her to have come here with my aunts but she writes me she cannot be spared at present and they will not be persuaded to leave home it seems so we must do the best we can without them and they sung Italian and French duets for the rest of the evening Ms. Pratt and Mr. Ramsey battled away as usual at backgammon but she was victorious and again his suspicions of her occurred and he thought of which she may be the thing after all she kins our wheel how to shake the dice in the section 74 section 75 The Inheritance by Susan Edmunds Stonefarer this Libravox recording is in the public domain volume 3 chapter 4 unless one could cure men of being fools it is to no purpose to cure them of any folly as it is only making room for some other Horace Walpole Mrs. Waddell did not find herself at all at home at Rossville except Lady Betty and Ms. Pratt nobody seemed to notice her finery the simplicity of Lady Rossville's dress was felt to be impertinent towards her a married woman and the major could not stand beside Colonel Bill Moore's lordly port unfashionable nonchalance then except at Meals there seemed no possibility of getting hold of Uncle Adam and there was no speaking to him before so many people it was only exposing him poor man to observation and the less he was called out the better it was inconceivable to what he made of himself all day there was no getting a private word of him and in short the result was a determination to depart the following day fortune however seemed to favor her design on Uncle Adam as she found herself in the breakfast room with only him and the major none of the others of the party having yet appeared she therefore accosted him in her most ingratiating manner which was met as usual by a very cool response it is very difficult to get a word of you Uncle except in the midst of these fine people you seem always engaged you are certainly composing something maybe I'm making my will was the reply in a manner most suspiciously calm and benign indeed but I'm sure Uncle you have no occasion to think of that just now the major and I were both remarking how uncommonly well you were looking you were just saying to me yesterday Major that you really thought my Uncle looked 20 years younger than he did last time you saw him yes indeed on my word I think so it's a sign that change very agrees with you Uncle so I hope you will take a seat with the major me in our carriage and accompany us to Thornbank I assure you I shall be quite affronted if you don't after staying here so long it will have a very odd appearance in the eyes of the world if you pass the major me over and me a married woman and besides you know Uncle if you really wish to do anything about your property though I'm sure there can be no hurry about that you know you are much near the law people at Thornbank than here and indeed Mr. Aikenhead the advocate has promised us to visit this vacation and perhaps you might like to advise with him before I thank you but I need nobody's advice as to the disposal of my own property replied Uncle Adam still preserving a sort of hard supernatural mildness my mind's made up indeed well I really think I should be at a loss how to dispose of such a charming property as Bloom Park but I'm at main I'm just gone to make a mortification at a mortification of Bloom Park repeated Mrs. Waddell in tones well suited to the words a mortification my dear sir ejaculated the major yes just a mortification what is there wonderful in that why I must say I think Uncle considering gas Mrs. Waddell mainly trying to preserve her unruffled dignity how much is done for the lower classes now I really think the higher rank stand quite as much in need of mortifications I think say too so it's lucky we're both agreed I can assure you Uncle although it's a thing I would not choose to say to everybody the major fines he is quite enough to do with his money I didn't do that there's so much required now to support one's rank in the world that I assure you it is no joke joke way said it was a joke in short Uncle I can assure you in spite of the appearance we make in the eyes of the world the major not both find ourselves pinched enough and he now doubts very much about buying a place although certainly Thornbank does not suit us in many respects the house is very indifferent we have only one drawing room and with his connections that is not the thing and the garden is really a poor affair so that all together I'm really anxious the major should find another residence he'll maybe find Aime at Bloom Park before it's laying said Uncle Adam Dryland oh Uncle I'm sure we never thought of that and I thought you said you were going to make a mortification of it so I am but it's to be a mortification as you say for the rich it's to be a mortification for the miserable unfortunate men that are married to topies avarals that spend their substance for them Uncle Adam had here broke out into his natural manner and there's no saying how much plainer he might have spoken had he not at that moment been checked in his career by the entrance of Mr. Lindsey who was the only person strange as it may appear for whom he felt anything approaching to respect but there was so much mildness and calmness of manner with so much manly dignity in his department that even Uncle Adam was ashamed to behave ill before him the rest of the party came dropping in and Mrs. Waddell with one cheekberry red was obliged to take her seat in silence he gradually cooled however as she began to think it was just her uncle's way he liked to rough joke and so on while the major for some little time sat revolving whether he should not call upon the old man to say what he meant if there was anything personal in his illusion he but the poor major even to himself could not say what he would do at last he too gulp down the affront with his last dish of tea and by the time breakfast was over both were ready to enter the list again with Uncle Adam upon hearing of the proposed departure of the major and lady Gertrude said all that was necessary on the occasion but she was too sincere to be pressing in her entreaties for them to prolong their stay she felt that her relations were ridiculous and she saw they were despised by Colonel Moore it was rather a relief therefore to hear they were going away any deficiencies on her part were however amply atoned for by Miss Pratt who was vehement in her remonstrances assuring them they had seen nothing of Rossville yet that it was really no visit at all people scarcely knew one another's faces till they had spent at least three days together etc. in spite of all that could be urged by Miss Pratt however the major and lady remained fixed in their purpose to return home all they would conceive was to remain part of the morning and the carriage and Caesar were ordered to be in readiness accordingly the breakfast party with the exception of Lindsay having lounged over their repass to the utmost length of procrastination read their letters and newspapers pampered their dogs and in short done all that idle people do to kill time even at his very outset on mass were severely sauntering away to try their skill individually each their own way when as uncle Adam was retreating Mrs. Waddell followed him into the ante room and was as usual followed by the major before we go uncle I wish to know if there is anything I can do for you since you don't seem inclined to accompany us at present any message to boom part we shall pass close by you know and by the by uncle I really wish you would give us an order of admittance there it has the most extraordinary appearance in the eyes of the world that the major has never seen before my dear bell you know if your uncle has any objections to showing his grounds we'll we'll dinner plague me since it's to be a mortification at all any rate give me pen and ink and you shall have an order if that's a you want said Mr. Ramsey impatiently pen ink and paper were speedily procured and uncle Adam seating himself in a most deliberate manner produced the order Mrs. major glance to her she exclaimed such a way of wording it good gracious uncle can you suppose I will go on these terms admit major Waddell and his wife wife I really never met with anything like that what is do you mean demanded uncle Adam in a voice of fun are you know major Waddell his wife why my good sir began the major you know it is not customary to call ladies of a certain rank wives now certainly not interposed as lady everybody had known that wife what else could you have said if the major had been a Carter what are you then if you're know his wife why my lady you know my dear sir would have been the more proper and delicate thing your lady quite uncle Adam with a sardonic laugh your lady certainly said the lady with much dignity there can be no doubt about that and I can assure you I have too much respect for major Waddell and to submit to any such low vulgar appellation I met with money a daft thing in my day said uncle Adam but this beats them are a married woman that'll know submit to be called a wife identity and what's to come next will you be his dearie then really uncle I must say I have born a great deal from you but there are some things that nobody can put up with and there is a duty we owe to ourselves that I must say I think either the major nor I have been very well used by you and the ladies passion grew strong the major look frightened do compose yourself my dear I'm sure your good uncle had no intention of doing anything disrespectful why my dear sir a very little will set all the rights offering the pen to uncle Adam if you will just take the trouble to write the line over again in the customary style major Waddell and lady all will be well I'll just as soon cut my finger said uncle Adam ferociously and if she went a gang to my house as your wife she shall never set her foot in and on the other capacity my dear bell you hear that said the poor major yes major I do but I have too much respect for you to give up the point it would be lowering you indeed in the eyes of the world if I were to allow myself to be put in a footing with any common man's wife in the country it is what I will not put up with and with much majesty she sees the order and put it into the fire uncle Adam looked at her for a moment as if he too would have burst into ablaze then as if disdaining even to revile her he walked out of the apartment banging the door after him in a manner enough to have raised the ghost of Lord Chesterfield the old gentleman is very testy this morning said the major I'm surprised that your patients with him major I have no idea of allowing oneself to be trampled upon in this manner wife I really can't think enough of it what else could he have said speaking of my coachman's wife it's very true my dear the same thing struck me and in a political point of view I assure you I think is the duty of every gentleman who wishes well to the government of the country to support the standing order of things and to keep up the existing ranks of society that is exactly what I think major it is quite necessary there should be distinctions kept up wife every beggar has a wife undoubtedly my dear beggar wife in fact means neither more nor less than the wife of a beggar man and in these times when there is such a tendency to a bad spirit amongst the people and such an evident wish to bring down the higher ranks to a level with themselves it becomes the duty of every gentleman to guard his privileges with a jealous eye I for once certainly never will give him to these liberty and equality notions that I am determined I hope not indeed said the major warned and to fervor by the spirit of his lady I hope not indeed how said the lady cannot servants possibly look up to me with proper respect when I am brought upon a level with themselves you are perfectly right my dear they cannot do it it is impossible perfectly wife indeed in the section 75 section 76 of the inheritance by Susan administering failure the sleep of ox recording is in the public domain volume 3 chapter 5 lead we are to disease or hurt your person only ways and for leather to want you time's journal the dialogue was now at its lowest head when this plant came pattering into the room full speed while this disturbance was going on in one room Mrs. St. Clair was conversing with Mr. Lindsay in another on the subject of daughter's pupil each and Lady Roswell and Colonel Delmore found themselves together in the drawing room where they flattered themselves with enjoying an uninterrupted ten but within the drawing room was a small turret containing piles of music poured of drawings and engravings heaps of worsteds and sowing silks and in short of a variety of miscellaneous articles which the Countess had not yet had leisure to look over this was a favorite haunted Miss Crats who was fond of digging and grubbing amongst other people's goods not that she actually stole but that as she expressed it she often met with bits of things that were of no use to anybody and that when she showed to Lady Roswell she always made her welcome to for some time her head had been completely immersed in a large Indian chest containing many odds and ends a few of which she had selected for the purpose of being hinted for and she was surprised by the sound of her ears from the cobwebs they might have contracted in their researches when they were suddenly smoked with the sound of her own name pronounced by Colonel Delmore she heard the Countess's voice in the play but it was too soft and low to enable her to ascertain her words since Miss Pratt is disagreeable to you and odious to me why don't you dismiss her the house then ask Colonel Delmore much but here Colonel Delmore's voice sunk into a tenderer strain and it's undistinguishable accents only penetrated the massive door which was depicts them Miss Pratt had met with many a prophet in her day but she never had met with anything like this and her ears tingled with rage and mortification at hearing herself talk to them in such a manner I wish Anthony White heard him was her first mental ejaculation though even to herself had she heard the moment the mortifying conviction must have been that if Anthony White did hear it it would only be to laugh at it she tried to make out something more which might prove either a confirmation or a refutation of this appropriate expression but love doubts a dual agony suspense an alterable heart holy mind et cetera were all she could pick up but these were too much the sword that had just fallen her respectability and that was her weak side was compromised her footing in a house she had long looked upon as a home was endangered and her five guineas were in the most imminent peril in short she found she was in a very great scrape and the best thing she could do at present would be to take the first word of flight and depart dismiss indeed dismiss one's own blood and Miss Pratt's danced and bubbled at the bare thought of such a thing there was a little backstair from the turret by which she could emerge without going through the drawing room and confronting her adversaries and to that she betook herself and after a little searching found the major and his lady just beginning to recover their equal agreeing when one's mind is ruffled it is always a satisfaction to meet with others in the same state especially when the cause is somewhat similar and their neither party would for the world have betrayed to its discomposure yet both felt that sort of sequel sympathy which made it fail fellow well met Miss Pratt was too experienced in the art of offering visits securing a seat in a friend's carriage and such like maneuvers to be at any loss on the present occasion and as the major and lady in spite of all that finally were not particularly sought after they were much better than the compliment and soon settled that she should accompany them in the first instance to Thornbank where she insinuated she would not be allowed to remain long as both Lady Welwood and Lady Restall would go mad if they heard she was in that neighborhood till they got hold of her this important point settled the next thing to be done was to give all possible bustle and importance to her departure that she might not appear to have been driven away by anything that incident puppy had said she had no notion of sneaking away as if her nose had been bleeding or herself any way flustered or giving him the slightest satisfaction in any way she therefore went openly to work wrong all the bells called to the servants spoke loudly but calmly about her preparations to Lady Betty and Mrs. Sinclair and finally prepared to the room where she had left the Countess and her lover and where she still found them well Lady Roswell I'm just coming to apologize to you for doing what is really an ill-bred thing but your good friends the major to take a seat in their carriage and as there's many visits I ought to have paid long ago our cousins the mail banks for one I'm just going to run away from you I declare there's the carriage and by the by Countess there's a bit of Indian silk I have of yours that I got for a pattern and have always forgot to return but I shall bring it with me next time I come with a look of cool defiance at Colonel Delmore you are perfectly welcome to it said Lady Roswell and some little embarrassment but this is a very sudden resolution of yours I'm a great enemy to your long preparations a long warning is just out lingering parting as Mr. White says so farewell God bless you my dear and take care of yourself in a most emphatic and miraculous turn take care of yourself and in a loud whisper if you would take an old friend's advice you would dismiss at least one of your lovers with a glance at Colonel Delmore who from the moment of her entrance was missing himself with a musical snuff box which she continued to play off with the most unceasing attention as if quite unconscious of her presence Gertrude was leaving the room with Miss Platt to do the parting honor to your guests when looking up you call shall I walk to the stables now and examine the state of your stutter shall I wait for you I'm no judge of horses then to the Countess so I shall leave that department entirely to you and she passed on to the saloon before Miss Platt could find words or indignation at finding he had already begun to interfere in the Rossville Maynard all was now leave taking regrets compliments promises and imitations and final of use and a tree wed length for a real doll much solace they found in each other's society during the drive for each and all of them had something to animadvert upon as to the state of affairs at Rossville Uncle Adam Miss Bratt at dinner and the kind message she had left for him with Mr. Sinclair was not delivered Lindsay was out of spirits and Lady Rossville was inattentive and in short Uncle Adam began to feel himself one too many he was also within two pages of the end of Guy Manning and therefore upon retiring to his chamber he sent off a line to the Blue Boar desiring that Jays might be sent for him the following morning at six o'clock in section 76 section 77 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmundsden this the bravox recording is in the public domain volume 3 chapter 6 ah what will not a woman do who loves what means will she refuse to keep that heart where all her joys are placed the seeds of false shame were beginning to be sown in Lady Rossville's heart and she was secretly pleased when she heard of Uncle Adam's intended departure she felt the contrast between Colonel Delmore and him was too much the golf seemed impossible that was betwixt them and it was painful to her to feel that she was ashamed of her uncle I wonder why I never felt this with Edward Lindsay thought she it must be that he is not so refined in his ideas as Delmore and with that answer the thought passed away from her mind she however pressed her uncle to wait breakfast and to accept of her carriage to take him home but he was resolute in taking his own way which was commonly the most uncomfortable that could be contrived very real said he was something of softness and his look and manner he want Nathan fray me so you will attack Nathan no indeed my dear uncle said Gertrude affectionately shaking his hand I do not require anything but I shall always remember your kindness to me when I did I only wish I could make you as happy as as I am myself added she with a smile and a blush Mr. Ramsey shook his head and uttered the trickster groan and a hen wheel wheel I wish it may last but through and time grow based in a garden but I need me to give you only my advice for one folk need anything else they'll no take that so fair you will it was something amounting almost to a squeeze of a hand in its own uncouth way the uncle and niece parted her relief from the presence of her mother's relations was however of short duration the fallen days were almost entirely devoted to business for Lord Milbank and Mr. Alexander Black came to Rossville and long meetings and discussions ensued that many of which Gertrude was obliged to be present to her and Colonel Delmore's infinite weariness and chagrin his only solace during the hours she was shut up from him was in lounging about the house and grounds devising plans of useless expense which he longed impatiently to have put in execution no views of beneficence or charity made any part of his schemes his every ideas centered in self-indulgence and luxury and magnificence were all to which he looked as his recompense at length the business was brought to a conclusion and Gertrude was once more at liberty for Mrs. Sinclair after several ineffectual attempts to gain the entire direction of her daughter and the control of her every action found it vain and she was therefore obliged to carry the reins with a light hand blessed the Countess should have sought to free herself from them all together Lindsey alone of all the guests now remain and he still lingered as though loath to give her up entirely to the influence of Colonel Delmore he was aware that the heart cannot belong and exclusively devoted to one object without contracting somewhat of affinity towards it and he sighed in bitterness of spirit when he thought how Gertrude's nature even now with all its faults still so pure so lofty so generous so amiable he debased and perverted by the baser alloy with which it mingled what a different creature might she become under other guidance so easily managed when her affections led the way what capacities of happiness for herself and others seemed now at stake but alas how misdirected how useless if not pernicious might they become under such control and Lindsey unlike himself became wavering and irresolute as to the part he ought to act every day seemed to increase the alienation between Colonel Delmore and him but on Lindsey's part it was so calm and mild so free from all wrath and bitterness that it might have escaped notice altogether but for the sort of repressed animosity which the other occasionally betrayed why is it said Lady Rosville one day to her lover that Edward and you are not better friends as any misunderstanding take in place betwixt you for you are not even upon the same terms you were when I first saw you then you walked road shot converse together but now you seem carefully to avoid all intercourse it is unpleasant to me to witness this tis you yourself are the cause of it Gertrude answered Colonel Delmore warmly how can you imagine I can endure the sight of a man who knowing the terms we are upon yet presuming upon the encouragement you give him there is to love you and is at this moment planning to undermine me in your affections by heaven I think I am but to patient Lindsey love me exclaim the countess what a fancy but at the same moment a confused crowd of half forgotten thoughts rushed upon her mind and raised a blush on her cheek which did not escape Delmore's notice yes in his own cold blooded methodical way not in the way I love you to madness to idolatry is existence his soul are not bound up in you as mine are but he would supplant me if he could is love must indeed be of a different nature from yours said Lady Roswell trying to laugh away Colonel Delmore's roused fashion for he has scarce the ever set a civil thing to me and as for a compliment I have sometimes tried whether I could not extort one from him but never have succeeded nay don't frown so Delmore if Lindsey does not flatter at least he never frowns this remark did not dispel the cloud from her lover's brow on the contrary he bit his lip as if to repress the rising of his anger after a few moments he said in a subdued voice I've never flattered you if by flattering you mean insincerity but I had flattered myself that you had been above practicing those paltry arts by which so many women seek to enhance their value I flattered myself Gertrude that you had been superior to coca tree but when I see you encouraging the attentions of one who presumes to love you even in the face of him to whom you have given your vows one to whom you must know to be my enemy can you wonder that I am sometimes driven to hate him and almost to doubt whether you really love me unjust unkind said lady Rossville turning from him in displeasure no Gertrude is you who are unjust unkind my heart is solely yours it's every thought and wish centering you but it must have yours yours holy and undivided in return less will not satisfy love such as mine lady Rossville remain silent and Colonel Delmois agitation increase I see how it is cried he passionately his artful insinuations have prevailed but he shall answer for this Gertrude later hand upon his arm while tears burst from her eyes ah Delmois if you love me as you say you do why do you thus grieve me I would not for worlds willingly afflict you but you do interrupt to he you torture me to agony and when I dare to complain you reproach me tell me what it is you require of me since all I have done and suffered for your sake is insufficient all that I require of you Gertrude is that you will not at least ask me to become the bosom friend of one who I know seeks to undermine me in your affections I cannot be the friend of a hypocrite Edward a hypocrite ah Delmois how your passion misleads you he is all truth and openness he is indeed then after a pause when I look back a few months and think of the uncertainty I was then in as to your faith and constancy when at times my own was almost shaken by my doubts at such a time had Lindsay been what you suppose had he sought to ingratiate himself with me I do not know I cannot tell perhaps he might have gained an influence over me but indeed he never tried he never spoke to me as a lover but on every occasion he proved himself my friend as such I must always consider him do not then dear Delmois embitter my peace with any of those idle jealousies the time has passed at achieve with a smile for Lindsay to think of loving me now but he does love you Gertrude I read it in the agitation he betrayed upon my arrival he guessed his schemes would then be frustrated he knew that I detested all underhand plots and would come boldly forward to bring matters to an issue I did so you have promised to be mine he knows you have and yet he would supplant me if he could and is it right in you Gertrude warned as you are of all this to continue to encourage him and lavish your attention on him what can I do ask the Countess beginning to give way to her lover's vehemence and to believe that she really was doing wrong what would you have me do nay it is not for me Gertrude to point out the line of conduct you ought to pursue I leave that to yourself I would have concealed from you if I could all that you have made me suffer but when you call upon me to make a friend of a man who in spite of our mutual vows dares to love you but this is mere fancy no I speak from certainty Gertrude is it possible you can be so blind as not to have perceived it yourself with that I were both blind and deaf to all the jarring elements which are forever threatening my peace said Lady Rossville sorrowfully how happy how perfectly happy might I be but for the passions and the prejudices of others but it is distracting to me to see all those I love thus unvariance if this is the necessary consequence of riches and grandeur oh how willingly would I exchange them for good will and mutual confidence and the tears drop from her eyes as she leaned her head upon her hand Gertrude dearest most beloved forgive me that I have thus distressed you for you but mine all these doubts but vanish a while it is in the power of malice or treachery yet to separate us can you wonder that it requires all your love to still the two molts of my heart call it suspicion jealousy until you are once mine your partiality for Lindsay will constitute the torment of my life and I must become unjust, ungrateful to one to whom I owe so much ah Delmore at what a price must I satisfy you end of section 77 section 78 of The Inheritance by Susan Edmund here this LibriVox recording is in the public domain volume 3 chapter 7 human faults with human grief confess does the art change from this time Gertrude's manner was wholly changed towards her cousin instead of the sweet smile with which she used to welcome him her eyes were now commonly diverted from him and an air of constraint and embarrassment had succeeded the open confiding carelessness which had hitherto marked their intercourse Lindsay felt the change and was at no loss to guess the cause the books they had been reading together the songs they used to sing together were now discarded for others of Colonel Delmore's choice and she read in song with him only the plans they had been carrying on together were stopped or overturned and others of a totally different nature were adopted will you walk with me today Gertrude asked Lindsay one morning when he accidentally was left alone with her it is long since you have seen your schoolhouse should you not like to look at it and see what progress it has made since we last saw it together certainly I should like very much to see it but the faton and horses Colonel Delmore ordered for me have arrived and I promised to take a drive with him perhaps you will drive that way and I shall meet you there I'm afraid it will not be possible then after pause she added I'm afraid you won't think me very foolish and expensive as you tell me I have not much money to squander but Colonel Delmore and I discovered such a lovely little spot lately on the banks of the river just a little below the cascade you know a sort of tiny paradise that the thought struck us both of making a sort of miniature of a firm ornay quite a baby house thing in fact a sort of lila-peuchin boat ideal of rustic life said she attempting by a laugh to hide her confusion with a flower garden and all sorts of prettinesses for you know flowers are my passion and we are pointed to meet some of the people there today to talk and walk over but I'm afraid you will think you did not used to be so afraid of me Gertrude said Lindsey mildly but gravely what have I done to inspire you with so much dread you know you are my guardian now said she with an us and gay it to of course it is my duty to be a little afraid of you especially when I know I deserve a scold well you will be relieved from your fears I shall leave you today my dear cousin I spoke but in jest by Gertrude throwing off a garden relaxing into her natural manner not entirely said Lindsey with a melancholy smile but whether you fear me or not I feel you no longer look upon me as your friend indeed you wrong me cried the countess in emotion I never can cease to regard you as my friend would you but become the friend of those who are due to me impossible exclaimed Lindsey while a flush passed over his face and he was for a moment silent he then added in a calmer tone I trust I am no one's enemy I wish well to all mankind and so far I may style myself the friend of all but with some characters father I cannot grow Lady Ross will call it deeply and remain silent but from her look and air she was evidently displeased you distrust me Gertrude said Lindsey at length breaking silence and that is worse than being afraid of me I am perhaps too little distrustful of anyone answered she it is not my nature to suspect evil I hope it never will surely there are other marks by which we may know those who love us than any that they's suspicion can furnish us with yes and here is one said Lindsey taking a book from amongst a mass of French novels which lay upon the sofa table it was the life of Colonel Hutchinson and Lindsey had begun to read it to her before Colonel Delmore's arrival since when it had lain neglected here's a picture of true and faithful love who studies that may soon learn to distinguish the real from the counterfeit and he read that simple description of the perfection of human attachment with an emotion which showed how deeply he felt it there's this only to be recorded that never was there a passion more ardent and less idolatrous he loved her better than his life with inexpressible tenderness and kindness had a most high and obliging esteem of her yet still considered honor religion and duty above her nor ever suffered the intrusion of such dotage as should blind him from marking her imperfections these he looked on with such an indulgent eye as did not abate his love and esteem of her while it augmented his love and blotted out all those spots which might make her appear less worthy of that respect he paid her he laid down the book but Lady Rossville made no comment she continued to busy herself arranging some fine forest flowers which had just been brought her in a vase and seemed to give her whole attention to them this continued for some minutes and Lindsey made no attempt to interrupt her but as a round of a carriage she raised her head and saw the fate driven by Colonel Delmore and drawn by four beautiful horses followed by two grooms mounted on two of that same set a throb of pride and pleasure was felt at her heart as she looked at the elegant marble which had stopped opposite the saloon and as she threw open the sage with childish delight Delmore called to her to know if she was ready she answered in the affirmative and was leaving the room to put on her is it thus then we are to part Gertrude after all the pleasant friendly days we have passed together Lady Rossville stopped and turned towards him you are not serious in thinking of leaving us today I am indeed perfectly so at least stay till tomorrow this is such a strange herd way of leaving us pray give us one day more I would give you many days if they could be of service to you but that cannot be forgive me my dear cousin if I have pained you farewell Gertrude's heart swelled and the tear started to her eye as she returned the affectionate pressure of her cousin's hand but she repressed her emotion you will come again soon said she but Lindsay made no reply and they parted I fear I have not done as I ought thought Gertrude with a sigh but in another moment the thought was gone and she was seated by her lover the equippage was perfect the day was beautiful all was gayity and brightness Colonel Delmore was more than usually hopeful and Lindsay was forgotten end of section 78