 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Martin Geeson in Hazelmere Surrey. The Mysteries of Udolfo by Anne Radcliffe. Volume 1, Chapter 8. O'er him whose doom thy virtues grieve, Aerial forms shall sit at eve, And bend the pensive head. Collins. The monk who had before appeared, Returned in the evening to offer consolation to Emily, And brought a kind message from the Lady Abeth, Inviting her to the convent. Emily, though she did not accept the offer, Returned an answer expressive of her gratitude. The holy conversation of the friar, Whose mild benevolence of manners bore some resemblance to those of Saint Aubert, Soothed the violence of her grief, And lifted her heart to the being, Who extending through all place and all eternity, Looks on the events of this little world as on the shadows of a moment, And beholds equally, and in the same instant, The soul that has passed through the gates of death, And that which still lingers in the body. In the sight of God, said Emily, My dear father now exists as truly as he yesterday existed to me. It is to me only that he is dead, To garden to himself he yet lives. The good monk left her more tranquil than she had been since Saint Aubert died, And before she retired to her little cabin for the night, She trusted herself so far as to visit the corpse. Silent and without weeping, she stood by its side. The features, placid and serene, Told the nature of the last sensations that had lingered in the now deserted frame. For a moment she turned away, In horror of the stillness in which death had fixed that countenance, Never till now seen otherwise than animated, Then gazed on it with a mixture of doubt and awful astonishment. Her reason could scarcely overcome an involuntary and unaccountable expectation of seeing that beloved countenance still susceptible. She continued to gaze wildly, took up the cold hand, spoke, still gazed and then burst into a transport of grief. Lavoisin hearing her sobs came into the room to lead her away, but she heard nothing and only begged that he would leave her. Again alone she indulged her tears, and when the gloom of evening obscured the chamber and almost veiled from her eyes the object of her distress, She still hung over the body, till her spirits at length were exhausted and she became tranquil. Lavoisin again knocked at the door and entreated that she would come to the common apartment. Before she went she kissed the lips of Saint Aubert as she was wont to do when she bad him good night. Again she kissed them, her heart felt as if it would break, a few tears of agony started to her eyes. She looked up to heaven, then at Saint Aubert and left the room. Retired to her lonely cabin a melancholy thought still hovered round the body of her deceased parent, and when she sunk into a kind of slumber the images of her waking mind still haunted her fancy. She thought she saw her father approaching her with a benign countenance, then smiling mournfully and pointing upwards his lips moved, but instead of words she heard sweet music born on the distant air, and presently saw his features glow with the mild rapture of a superior being. The strain seemed to swell louder and she awoke. The vision was gone, but music yet came to her ear in strains such as angels might breathe. She doubted, listened, raised herself in the bed and again listened. It was music and not an illusion of her imagination. After a solemn steady harmony it paused, then rose again in mournful sweetness and then died in a cadence that seemed to bear away the listening soul to heaven. She instantly remembered the music of the preceding night with the strange circumstances related by Lavoisin and the effecting conversation it had led to concerning the state of departed spirits. All that Saint Aubert had said on that subject now pressed upon her heart and overwhelmed it. What a change in a few hours. He who then could only conjecture was now made acquainted with truth, as himself become one of the departed. As she listened she was chilled with superstitious awe. Her tears stopped and she rose and went to the window. All without was obscured in shade, but Emily turning her eyes from the massy darkness of the woods whose waving outline appeared on the horizon, saw on the left that effulgent planet which the old man had pointed out setting over the woods. She remembered what he had said concerning it and the music now coming at intervals on the air, she unclosed the casement to listen to the strains that soon gradually sunk to a greater distance and tried to discover whence they came. The obscurity prevented her from distinguishing any object on the green platform below and the sounds became fainter and fainter till they softened into silence. She listened but they returned no more. Soon after she observed the planet trembling between the fringed tops of the woods and in the next moment sink behind them. Chilled with a melancholy awe she retired once more to her bed and at length forgot for a while her sorrows in sleep. On the following morning she was visited by a sister of the convent who came with kind offices and a second invitation from the Lady Abbas and Emily though she could not forsake the cottage while the remains of her father were still in it consented however painful such a visit must be in the present state of her spirit to pay her respects to the Abbas in the evening. About an hour before sunset, Lavoisin showed her the way through the woods to the convent which stood in a small bay of the Mediterranean crowned by a woody amphitheatre and Emily had she been less unhappy would have admired the extensive sea view that appeared from the green slope in front of the edifice and the rich shores hung with woods and pastures that extended on either hand but her thoughts were now occupied by one sad idea and the features of nature were to her colourless and without form. The bell for Vespers struck as she passed the ancient gate of the convent and seemed the funereal note for Saint Aubert. Little incidents effect a mind enervated by sorrow. Emily struggled against the sickening faintness that came over her and was led into the presence of the Abbas who received her with an air of maternal tenderness an air of such gentle solitude and consideration as touched her with an instantaneous gratitude. Her eyes were filled with tears and the words she would have spoken faltered on her lips. The Abbas led her to a seat and sat down beside her still holding her hand and regarding her in silence as Emily dried her tears and attempted to speak. Be composed my daughter said the Abbas in a soothing voice do not speak yet I know all you would say your spirits must be soothed we are going to prayers will you attend our evening service it is comfortable my child to look up in our afflictions to a father who sees and pities us and who chastens in his mercy. Emily's tears flowed again but a thousand sweet emotions mingled with them the Abbas suffered at a weep without interruption and watched over her with a look of benignity that might have characterised the countenance of a guardian angel Emily when she became tranquil was encouraged to speak without reserve and to mention the motive that made her unwilling to quit the cottage which the Abbas did not oppose even by a hint that praised the filial piety of her conduct and added a hope that she would pass a few days at the convent before she returned to Lavalé you must allow yourself a little time to recover from your first shock my daughter before you encounter a second I will not effect to conceal from you how much I know your heart must suffer on returning to the scene of your former happiness here you will have all that quiet and sympathy and religion can give to restore your spirits but come added she observing the tears well in Emily's eyes we will go to the chapel Emily followed to the parlour where the nuns were assembled to whom the Abbas committed her saying this is a daughter for whom I have much esteem be sisters to her they passed on in the train to the chapel where the solemn devotion with which the service was performed elevated her mind and brought to it the comforts of faith and resignation twilight came on before the Abbas's kindness would suffer Emily to depart when she left the convent with a heart much lighter than she had entered it and was reconducted by Lavalé through the woods the pensive gloom of which was in unison with the temper of her mind and she pursued the little wild path in musing silence till her guide suddenly stopped looked round and then struck out of the path into the high grass saying he had mistaken the road he now walked on quickly and Emily proceeding with difficulty over the obscured and uneven ground was left at some distance till her voice arrested him who seemed unwilling to stop and still hurried on if you're in doubt about the way said Emily had we not better inquire it at the chateau yonder between the trees no replied Lavalé there is no occasion when we reach that brook Mamzelle you see the light upon the water there beyond the woods when we reach that brook we shall be at home presently I don't know how I happen to mistake the path a seldom come this way after sunset it is solitary enough said Emily but you have no bandit here no Mamzelle no bandit what are you afraid of then my good friend you are not superstitious no not superstitious but to tell you the truth lady nobody likes to go near that chateau after dusk by whom is it inhabited said Emily that is so formidable why Mamzelle it is scarcely inhabited for our lord the Marquis and the lord of all these fine woods too is dead he had not once been in it for these many years and his people who have the care of it live in a cottage close by Emily now understood this to be the chateau which Lavalé had formally pointed out as having belonged to the Marquis Villarois on the mention of which her father had appeared so much affected ah it is a desolate place now continued Lavalé and such a grand fine place as I remember it Emily inquired what had occasioned this lamentable change but the old man was silent and Emily whose interest was awakened by the fear he had expressed and above all by a recollection of her father's agitation repeated the question and added if you were neither afraid of the inhabitants my good friend nor are superstitious how happens it that you dread to pass near that chateau in the dark perhaps then I am a little superstitious mums oh and if you knew what I do you might be so too strange things have happened there Monsieur your good father appeared to have known the late Marchionet praying for me what did happen said Emily with much emotion alas mums oh answered Lavalé inquire no further it is not for me to lay open the domestic secrets of my lord Emily surprised by the old man's words and his manner of delivering them for bore to repeat her question a nearer interest the remembrance of Saint Aubert occupied her thoughts and she was led to recollect the music she heard on the preceding night which she mentioned to Lavalé you was not alone mums oh in this he replied I heard it too but I have so often heard it at the same hour that I was scarcely surprised you doubtless believe this music to have some connection with the chateau said Emily suddenly and are therefore superstitious it may be so Mums oh but there are other circumstances belonging to that chateau which I remember and sadly too a heavy sigh followed but Emily's delicacy restrained the curiosity these words revived and she inquired no further on reaching the cottage all the violence of her grief returned it seemed as if she had escaped its heavy pressure only while she was removed from the object of it she passed immediately to the chamber where the remains of her father were laid and yielded to all the anguish of hopeless grief Lavoisin at length persuaded her to leave the room and she returned to her own where exhausted by the sufferings of the day she soon fell into a deep sleep and awoke considerably refreshed when the dreadful hour arrived in which the remains of Saint Aubert were to be taken from her forever she went alone to the chamber to look upon his countenance yet once again and Lavoisin who had waited patiently below stairs till her despair should subside with the respect due to grief forebore to interrupt the indulgence of it till surprise at the length of her stay and then apprehension overcame his delicacy and he went to lead her from the chamber having tapped gently at the door without receiving an answer he listened attentively but all was still no sigh, no sob of anguish was heard yet more alarmed by this silence he opened the door and found Emily lying senseless across the foot of the bed near which stood the coffin his calls procured assistance and she was carried to her room where proper applications at length restored her during her state of insensibility Lavoisin had given directions for the coffin to be closed and he succeeded in persuading Emily to forbear revisiting the chamber she indeed felt herself unequal to this and also perceived the necessity of sparing her spirits and recollecting fortitude sufficient to bear her through the approaching scene Saint Aubert had given a particular injunction that his remains should be interred in the church of the convent of Saint Clair and in mentioning the north chancel near the ancient tomb of the Vélois had pointed out the exact spot where he wished to be laid the superior had granted this place for the interment and thither therefore the sad procession now moved which was met at the gates by the venerable priest followed by a train of friars every person who heard the solemn chant of the anthem and the peel of the organ that struck up when the body entered the church and saw also the feeble steps and the assumed tranquility of Emily gave her involuntary tears she shed none that walked her face partly shaded by a thin black veil between two persons who supported her preceded by the abbess and followed by the nuns whose plaintive voices mellowed the swelling harmony of the dirge when the procession came to the grave the music ceased Emily drew the veil entirely over her face and in a momentary pause between the anthem and the rest of the service her sobs were distinctly audible the Holy Father began the service and Emily again commanded her feelings till the coffin was let down and she heard the earth rattle on its lid then as she shuddered a groan burst from her heart and she leaned for support on the person who stood next to her in a few moments she recovered and when she heard those affecting and sublime words his body is buried in peace and his soul returns to him that gave it her anguish softened into tears the abbess led her from the church into her own parlor and there administered all the consolations that religion and gentle sympathy can give Emily struggled against the pressure of grief but the abbess observing her attentively ordered a bed to be prepared and recommended her to retire to repose she also kindly claimed her promise to remain a few days at the convent and Emily who had no wish to return to the cottage the scene of all her sufferings had leisure now that no immediate care pressed upon her attention to feel the indisposition which disabled her from immediately travelling meanwhile the maternal kindness of the abbess and the gentle attentions of the nuns did all that was possible towards soothing her spirits and restoring her health but the latter was too deeply wounded through the medium of her mind to be quickly revived she lingered for some weeks at the convent under the influence of a slow fever wishing to return home yet unable to go there often even reluctant to leave the spot where her father's relics were deposited and sometimes soothing herself with the consideration that if she died here her remains would repose beside those of Saint Aubert in the meanwhile she sent letters to Madame Sherron to the old housekeeper informing them of the sad event that had taken place and of her own situation from her aunt she received an answer abounding more in common place condolment and in trays of real sorrow which assured her that a servant should be sent to conduct her to Lavalais for that her own time was so much occupied by company that she had no leisure to undertake so long a journey however Emily might prefer Lavalais to Toulouse she could not be insensible to the indecorous and unkind conduct of her aunt in suffering her to return with her where she had no longer a relation to console and protect her a conduct which was the more culpable since Saint Aubert had appointed Madame Sherron the guardian of his orphaned daughter Madame Sherron's servant made the attendance of the good Lavalais unnecessary and Emily who felt sensibly her obligations to him for all his kind attention to her late father as well as to herself was glad to spare him along and what at his time of life must have been a troublesome journey during her stay at the convent the peace and sanctity that reigned within the tranquil beauty of the scenery without and the delicate attentions of the abbess and the nuns where circumstances so soothing to her mind that they almost tempted her to leave a world where she had lost her dearest friends and devote herself to the cloister in a spot rendered sacred to her by containing the tomb of Saint Aubert the pensive enthusiasm too so natural to her temper had spread a beautiful illusion over the sanctified retirement of a nun that almost hid from her view the tenderness of its security but the touches which are melancholy fancy slightly tinctured with superstition gave to the monastic scene began to fade as her spirits revived and brought once more to her heart an image which had only transiently been banished thence by this she was silently awakened to hope and comfort and sweet affections visions of happiness gleamed faintly at a distance and though she knew them to be illusions she could not resolve to shut them out forever it was the remembrance of Valencourt of his taste, his genius and of the countenance which clothed with both that perhaps alone determined her to return to the world the grandeur and sublimity of the scenes amidst which they had first met had fascinated her fancy and had imperceptibly contributed to render Valencourt more interesting by seeming to communicate to him somewhat of their own character the esteem to which Saint Aubert had repeatedly expressed for him sanctioned this kindness but though his countenance and manner had continually expressed his admiration of her he had not otherwise declared it and even the hope of seeing him again was so distant that she was scarcely conscious of it still less that it influenced her conduct on this occasion End of Volume 1, Chapter 8, the first part This is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Martin Geeson in Hazelmere, Surrey The Mysteries of Udolfo by Anne Radcliffe Volume 1, Chapter 8, Continuation It was several days after the arrival of Madame Chéran's servant before Emily was sufficiently recovered to undertake the journey to Lavalais On the evening preceding her departure she went to the cottage to take leave of Lavoisin and his family and to make them a return for their kindness The old man she found sitting on a bench at his door between his daughter and his son-in-law who was just returned from his daily labour and who was playing upon a pipe that in tone resembled a nobo A flask of wine stood beside the old man and before him a small table with fruit and bread round which stood several of his grandsons fine rosy children who were taking their supper as their mother distributed it On the edge of the little green that spread before the cottage were cattle and a few sheep reposing under the trees The landscape was touched with the mellow light of the evening sun whose long slanting beams played through a vista of the woods and lighted up the distant turrets of the chateau She paused a moment before she emerged from the shade to gaze upon the happy group before her upon the complacency and ease of healthy age depicted on the countenance of Lavoisin the maternal tenderness of Agnes as she looked upon her children and the innocence of infantile pleasures reflected in their smiles Emily looked again at the venerable old man and at the cottage The memory of her father rose with full force upon her mind and she hastily stepped forward afraid to trust herself with a longer pause She took an affectionate and affecting leave of Lavoisin and his family who seemed to love her as his daughter and shed tears Emily shed many She avoided going into the cottage since she knew it would revive emotions such as she could not now endure One painful scene yet awaited her for she determined to visit again her father's grave and that she might not be interrupted or observed in the indulgence of her melancholy tenderness She deferred her visit to every inhabitant of the convent except the nun who promised to bring her the key of the church should be retired to rest Emily remained in her chamber till she heard the convent bell strike 12 when the nun came as she had appointed with the key of a private door that opened into the church and they descended together the narrow winding staircase that led thither The nun offered to accompany Emily to the grave adding, it is melancholy to go alone at this hour but the former thanking her for her consideration could not consent to have any witness of his sorrow and the sister having unlocked the door gave her the lamp You will remember, sister, said she that in the east isle which you must pass is a newly opened grave hold the light to the ground that you may not stumble over the loose earth Emily thanking her again took the lamp and stepping into the church sister Mariette departed but Emily paused a moment at the door a sudden fear came over her and she returned to the foot of the staircase whereas she heard the steps of the nun ascending and while she held up the lamp saw her black veil waving over the spiral balusters she was tempted to call her back while she hesitated the veil disappeared and in the next moment ashamed of her fears she returned to the church the cold air of the isles chilled her and their deep silence and extent feebly shone upon by the moonlight that streamed through a distant gothic window would at any other time have awed her into superstition now grief occupied all her attention she scarcely heard the whispering echoes of her own steps or thought of the open grave till she found herself almost on its brink a friar of the convent had been buried there on the preceding evening and as she had sat alone in her chamber at twilight she heard at distance the monks chanting the requiem for his soul this brought freshly to her memory the circumstances of her father's death and as the voices mingling with a low query-less peel of the organ swelled faintly gloomy and affecting visions had arisen upon her mind now she remembered them and turning aside to avoid the broken ground these recollections made her pass on with quicker steps to the grave of Saint Aubert when in the moonlight that fellow thought a remote part of the isle she thought she saw a shadow gliding between the pillars she stopped to listen and not hearing any footstep believed that her fancy had deceived her and no longer apprehensive of being observed proceeded Saint Aubert was buried beneath a plain marble bearing little more than his name and the date of his birth and death near the foot of the stately monument of the Velhoit this is grave till a chime that called the monks to early prayers warned her to retire then she wept over it a last farewell and forced herself from the spot after this hour of melancholy indulgence she was refreshed by a deeper sleep than she had experienced for a long time and on awakening her mind was more tranquil and resigned than it had been since Saint Aubert's death but when the moment of her departure from the convent arrived all her grief returned the memory of the dead and the kindness of the living attached her to the place and for the sacred spot where her father's remains were interred she seemed to feel all those tender affections which we conceive for home the abyss repeated many kind assurances of regard at their parting and pressed her to return if ever she should find her condition elsewhere unpleasant many of the nuns also expressed unaffected regret at her departure and Emily left the convent with many tears and followed by sincere wishes for her happiness she had travelled several leagues before the scenes of the country through which she passed had power to rouse her for a moment from the deep melancholy into which she was sunk and when they did it was only to remind her that on her last view of them the prayer was at her side and to call up to her remembrance the remarks he had delivered on similar scenery thus without any particular occurrence passed the day in languor and dejection she slept that night in a town on the skirts of Languedoc and on the following morning entered Gascony towards the close of this day Emily came within view of the plains in the neighbourhood of Lavallee and the well-known objects began to press upon her notice and with them recollections that awakened all her tenderness and grief often while she looked through her tears upon the wild grandeur of the Pyrenees now varied with the rich lights and shadows of evening she remembered that when she last saw them her father poor took with her of the pleasure they inspired suddenly some scene which he had particularly pointed out to her would present itself a sick languor of despair would steal upon her heart there she would exclaim there are the very cliffs there the wood of pines which he looked at with such delight as we passed this road together for the last time there too under the crag of that mountain is the cottage peeping from among the cedars which he bade me remember and copy with my pencil oh my father I never see you more as she drew near the chateau these melancholy memorials of past times multiplied at length the chateau itself appeared amid the glowing beauty of Saint Aubert's favourite landscape this was an object which called for fortitude not for tears Emily dried hers and prepared to meet with calmness the trying moment of her return to that home where there was no longer a parent to welcome her yes said she let me not forget the lessons he has taught me how often he has pointed out the necessity of resisting even virtue as sorrow how often we have admired together the greatness of a mind that can at once suffer and reason oh my father if you are permitted to look down upon your child it will please you to see that she remembers and endeavours to practice the precepts you have given her a turn on the road now allotted a nearer view of the chateau the chimneys tipped with light rising from behind Saint Aubert's favourite oaks whose foliage partly concealed the lower part of the building Emily could not suppress a heavy sigh this too was his favourite hour said she as she gazed upon the long evening shadows stretched a thought the landscape how deep the repose how lovely the scene lovely and tranquil as in former days again she resisted the pressure of sorrow till her ear caught the gay melody of the dance which she'd so often listened to as she walked with Saint Aubert on the margin of the garan where all her fortitude for succour and she continued to weep till the carriage stopped at the little gate opened upon what was now her own territory she raised her eyes on the sudden stopping of the carriage and saw her father's old housekeeper coming to open the gate Manchon also came running and barking before her and when his young mistress alighted fawned and played round her gasping with joy Dear Mamzao said Theresa and paused and looked as if she would have offered something of condolment to Emily whose tears now prevented reply the dog still fawned and ran round her and then flew towards the carriage with a short quick bark Ah Mamzao my poor master said Theresa whose feelings were more awakened than her delicacy Manchon's gone to look for him Emily sobbed aloud and on looking towards the carriage which still stood with the door open saw the animals spring into it and instantly leap out and then with his nose on the ground run round the horses Don't cry so Mamzao said Theresa it breaks my heart to see you the dog now came running to Emily then returned to the carriage and then back again to her whining and discontented Poor rogue said Theresa thou hast lost thy master thou mayst well cry but come my dear young lady be comforted what shall I get to refresh you Emily gave her hand to the old servant and tried to restrain her grief while she made some kind inquiries concerning her health but she still lingered in the walk which led to the chateau for within was no person to meet her with the kiss of affection her own heart no longer palpitated with impatient joy to meet again the well-known smile and she dreaded to see objects which would recall the full remembrance of her former happiness she moved slowly towards the door paused, went on and paused again how silent, how forsaken how full-lawn did the chateau appear trembling to enter it yet blaming herself for delaying what she could not avoid she at length passed into the hall crossed it with a hurried step as if afraid to look round and opened the door of that room which she was wont to call her own the gloom of evening gave solemnity to its silent and deserted air the chairs, the tables every article of furniture so familiar to her in happier times spoke eloquently to her heart she seated herself without immediately observing it in a window which opened upon the garden and where Saint Aubert had often sat with her watching the sun retire from the rich and extensive prospect that appeared beyond the groves having indulged her tears for some time she became more composed and when Thérèse, after seeing the baggage deposited in her lady's room, again appeared she had so far recovered her spirit as to be able to converse with her I have made up the green bed for you, mamzelle, said Thérèse she set the coffee upon the table I thought you would like it better than your own now but I little thought this day month that you would come back alone oh well a day the news almost broke my heart when it did come who would have believed that my poor master when he went from home would never return again Emily hid her face with a handkerchief and waved her hand do taste the coffee said Thérèse my dear young lady be comforted we must all die my dear master is a saint above Emily took the handkerchief from her face and raised her eyes full of tears towards heaven soon after she dried them and in a calm but tremulous voice began to inquire concerning some of her late father's pensioners alasaday said Thérèse she poured out the coffee and handed it to her mistress all that could come have been here every day to inquire after you and my master she then proceeded to tell that some were dead whom they had left well and others who were ill had recovered and see mamzelle how did Thérèse there is old Mary coming up the garden now she has looked every day these three years as if she would die yet she is alive still she has seen the shades at the door and knows you or come home the sight of this poor old woman would have been too much for Emily and she begged Thérèse would go and tell her that she was too ill to see any person that night tomorrow I shall be better perhaps but give her this token of my remembrance Emily sat for some time given up to sorrow not an object on which her eye glanced but awakened some remembrance that led immediately to the subject of her grief the favourite plants which Saint Aubert had taught her to nurse the little drawings that adorned the room which is tasted instructed her to execute the books that he had selected for her use and which they had read together her musical instruments whose sounds he loved so well and which he sometimes awakened himself every object gave new force to sorrow at length she roused herself from this melancholy indulgence and summoning all her resolution stepped forward to go into those forlorn rooms which though she dreaded to enter she knew would yet more powerfully affect her if she delayed to visit them having passed through the green house her courage for a moment forsook her when she opened the door of the library perhaps the shade which evening and the foliage of the trees near the windows threw across the room heightened the solemnity of her feelings on entering that apartment where everything spoke of her father there was an armchair in which she used to sit she shrunk when she observed it for she had so often seen him seated there and the idea of him rose so distinctly to her mind that she almost fancied she saw him before her but she checked the illusions of a distempered imagination though she could not subdue a certain degree of awe which now mingled with her emotions she walked slowly to the chair and seated herself in it there was a reading desk before it on which lay a book open as it had been left by her father it was some moments before she recovered courage enough to examine it and when she looked at the open page she immediately recollected that Saint Aubert on the evening before his departure from the chateau had read to her some passages from this his favourite author the circumstance now affected her extremely she looked at the page wept and looked again to her the book appeared sacred and invaluable and she would not have moved it or closed the page which he had left open for the treasures of the Indies still she sat before the desk and could not resolve to quit it though the increasing gloom and the profound silence of the apartment revived a degree of painful awe her thoughts dwelt on the probable state of departed spirits and she remembered the effect in conversation which had passed between Saint Aubert and Lavoisin on the night preceding his death as she mused she saw the door slowly open and a rustling sound in a remote part of the room startled her through the desk she thought she perceived something move the subject she had been considering and the present tone of her spirits which made her imagination respond to every impression of the senses gave her a sudden terror of something supernatural she sat for a moment motionless and then her dissipated reason returning what should I fear said she if the spirits of those we love ever return to us it is in kindness the silence which again reigned made her ashamed of her late fears and she believed that her imagination had deluded her or that she had heard one of those unaccountable noises which sometimes occur in old houses the same sound however returned something moving towards her and in the next instant pressed beside her into the chair she shrieked but her fleeting senses were instantly recalled on perceiving that it was Marchand who sat by her and who now licked her hands affectionately perceiving her spirits unequal to the task she had assigned herself of visiting the deserted rooms of the chateau this night when she left the library she walked into the garden and down to the terrace that overhung the river the sun was now set but under the dark branches of the almond trees was seen the saffron glow of the west spreading beyond the twilight of middle-air the bat flitted silently by and now and then the morning note of the nightingale was heard the circumstances of the hour brought to her recollection some lines which she had once heard sobear recite on this very spot and she had now a melancholy pleasure in repeating them sonnet now the bat circles on the breeze of eave that creeps in shuddering fits along the wave and trembles mid the woods and through the cave whose lonely sighs the wonderer deceive for often when melancholy charms his mind he thinks the spirit of the rock he hears nor listens but with sweetly thrilling fears to the low mystic murmurs of the wind now the bat circles and the twilight dew falls silent round and all the mountain cliff the gleaming wave and far discovered skiff spreads the gray veil of soft harmonious hue so falls or grief the dew of pity's tear dimming her lonely visions of despair Emily wandering on came to St. Aubert's favorite plane tree where so often at this hour they had sat beneath the shade together and with her dear mother so often had conversed on the subject of a future state how often too had her father expressed the comfort he derived from believing that they should meet in another world Emily overcome by these recollections left the plane tree and as she leaned pensively on the wall of the terrace she observed a group of peasants dancing gaily on the banks of the garan which spread in broad expanse below and reflected the evening light what a contrast they formed to the desolate unhappy Emily they were gay and debonair as they were wont to be when she too was gay when St. Aubert used to listen to their merry music with accountants beaming pleasure and benevolence Emily having looked for a moment on this sprightly band turned away unable to bear the remembrances it excited but where alas could she turn and not meet new objects to give acuteness to grief as she walked slowly towards the house she was met by Theresa dear Mamzel said she I have been seeking you up and down this half hour and was afraid some accident had happened to you how can you like to wonder about so in this night air do come into the house think what my poor master would have said if he could see you I'm sure when my dear lady died no gentleman could take it more to heart than he did yet you know he seldom shed a tear pray to raise a cease said Emily wishing to interrupt this ill judged but well meaning harangue Theresa's loquacity however was not to be silenced so easily and when you used to grieve so she added he often told you how wrong it was for that my mistress was happy and if she was happy I'm sure he is so too for the prayers of the poor they say reach heaven during this speech Emily had walked quickly into the chateau and Theresa lighted her across the hall into the common sitting parlor where she had laid the cloth with one solitary knife and fork for supper Emily was in the room before she perceived that it was not her own apartment but she checked the emotion which inclined her to leave it and seated herself quietly by the little supper table her father's hat hung on the opposite wall while she gazed at it and this came over her Theresa looked at her and then at the object on which her eyes were settled and went to remove it but Emily waved her hand no said she let it remain I'm going to my chamber nay Mamzell supper is ready I cannot take it replied Emily I will go to my room and try to sleep tomorrow I shall be better poor doings said Theresa dear lady do take some food I've dressed a pheasant and a fine one it is old Monsieur Barros sent it this morning for I saw him yesterday and told him you were coming and I know nobody that seemed more concerned when he heard the sad news than he did he? said Emily in a tender voice while she felt her poor heart warmed for a moment by a ray of sympathy at length her spirits were entirely overcome and she retired to her room end of volume 1 chapter 8 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Mysteries of Udalfo by Anne Randcliffe volume 1 chapter 9 can music's voice can beauty's eye can painting's glowing hand supply a charm so suited to my mind as blows this hollow gust of wind as drops this little weeping rill soft-tinkling down the moss-grown hill while through the west where sinks the crimson day meek twilight slowly sails and waves her banners gray Mason Emily some time after her return to Laval received letters from her aunt Madame Charonne in which, after some commonplace condolment and advice she invited her to Thelouse and added that as her late brother had entrusted Emily's education to her she should consider herself bound to overlook her conduct Emily, at this time wished only to remain at Laval in the scenes of her early happiness now rendered infinitely dear to her as the late residents of those whom she had lost forever where she could weep unobserved retrace their steps and remember each minute particular of their manners but she was equally anxious to avoid the displeasure of Madame Charonne though her affection would not suffer her to question even a moment the propriety of St. Albert's conduct in appointing Madame Charonne for her guardian she was sensible that this step had made her happiness depend in great degree on the humour of her aunt in her reply she begged permission to remain at present at Laval mentioning the extreme dejection of her spirits and the necessity she felt for quiet and retirement to restore them these she knew were not to be found at Madame Charonne's inclinations led her into a life of dissipation which her ample fortune encouraged and having given her answer she felt somewhat more at ease in the first days of her affliction she was visited by Monsieur Barreau a sincere mourner for St. Albert I may well lament my friends that he for I shall never meet with his resemblance if I could have found such a man in what is called society I should not have left it Monsieur Barreau's admiration of her father endeared him extremely to Emily whose heart found almost its first relief in conversing of her parents with a man whom she so much revered and who, though with such an ungracious appearance possessed to much goodness of heart and delicacy of mind several weeks passed away in quiet retirement and Emily's affliction began to soften into melancholy she could bear to read the books she had before read with her father to sit in his chair in the library to watch the flowers his hand had planted to awaken the tones of that instrument his fingers had pressed and sometimes even to play his favourite air when her mind had recovered from the first shock of affliction the danger of yielding to indolence and that activity alone could restore its tone she scrupulously endeavored to pass all her hours in employment and it was now that she understood the full value of the education she had received from St. Albert for in cultivating her understanding he had secured her an asylum from indolence without recourse to dissipation and rich and varied amusement independent of the society from which her situations occluded her nor were the good effects of this education confined to selfish advantages since St. Albert having nourished every amiable quality of her heart it now expanded in benevolence to all around her and taught her when she could not remove the misfortunes of others at least to soften them by sympathy and tenderness to all that could suffer Madame Chiron returned no answer to Emily's letter who began to hope that she should be permitted to remain some time longer in her retirement and her mind had now so far recovered its strength that she ventured to view the scenes which most powerfully recalled the images of past times among these was a fishing-house and to indulge still more the affectionate melancholy of the visit she took thither her loot again here there of the tones to which St. Albert and her mother had so often delighted to listen she went alone and at that still hour of the evening which is so soothing to fancy and to grief the last time she had been there she was in company with Monsieur and Madame St. Albert a few days preceding that on which the latter was seized with a fatal illness now when Emily again entered the woods that surrounded the building they wakened so forcibly the memory of former times that her resolution yielded for a moment to access of grief she stopped leaned for support against a tree and wept for some minutes before she had recovered herself sufficiently to proceed the little path that led to the building was overgrown with grass and the flowers which St. Albert had scattered carelessly along the border were almost choked with weeds the tall thistle, the fox-glove and the nettle she often paused to look on the desolate spot now so silent and forsaken and when with a trembling hand she opened the door of the fishing-house ah said she everything everything remains as when I left it last left it with those who never must return she went to a window that overhung the rivulet and leaning over it which was placed on the current was soon lost in melancholy reverie the loot she had brought lay forgotten beside her the mournful sighing of the breeze as it waved the high pines above and its softer whispers among the ossears that bowed upon the banks below was a kind of music more in unison with her feelings it did not vibrate on the chords of unhappy memory but was soothing to the heart as the voice of pity she continued to muse unconscious of the gloom of the evening and that the sun's last light trembled on the heights above and would probably have remained so much longer if a sudden footstep without the building had not alarmed her attention and first made her recollect that she was unprotected in the next moment a door opened and a stranger appeared who stopped on perceiving Emily and then began to apologize for his intrusion but Emily, at the sound of his voice lost her fear in a stronger emotion its tones were familiar to her ear and though she could not readily distinguish through the dusk the features of the person who spoke she felt a remembrance too strong to be distrusted he repeated his apology and Emily then said something in reply when the stranger, eagerly advancing exclaimed good god, can it be? surely I am not mistaken memoiselle saint albert, is it not? it is indeed sent Emily who was confirmed in her first conjecture for she now distinguished the countenance of valencourt lighted up with still more than its usual animation a thousand painful recollections crowded to her mind and the effort which she made to support herself only served to increase her agitation valencourt, meanwhile having inquired anxiously after her health and expressed his hopes that memoiselle saint albert had found benefit from travelling learned from the flood of tears which she could no longer repress the fatal truth he led her to a seat and sat down by her while Emily continued to weep and valencourt to hold the hand which was unconscious he had taken till it was wet with the tears which grief for saint albert and sympathy for herself had called forth I feel, said he at length I feel how insufficient all attempted consolation must be on this subject I can only mourn with you for I cannot doubt the source of your tears would to god I were mistaken Emily could still answer only by tears till she rose and begged they might leave the melancholy spot when valencourt though he saw her feebleness could not offer to detain her but took her arm within his and led her from the fishing house they walked silently through the woods valencourt anxious to know yet fearing to ask any particulars concerning saint albert and Emily too much distressed to converse after some time however she acquired fortitude enough to speak of her father and to give a brief account of the manner of his death during which recital valencourt's countenance betrayed strong emotion and when he heard that saint albert had died on the road and that Emily had been left among strangers he pressed her hand between his and involuntarily exclaimed why was I not there but in the next moment recollected himself for he immediately returned to the mention of her father till perceiving that her spirits were exhausted he gradually changed the subject and spoke of himself Emily thus learned that after they had parted he had wandered for some time along the shores of the Mediterranean and had then returned through Languedoc into Gaskony which was his native province which he usually resided when he had concluded his little narrative he sunk into a silence which Emily was not disposed to interrupt and it continued till they reached the gate of the chateau where he stopped as if he had known this to be the limit of his walk here saying that it was his intention to return to Estuvier on the following day he asked her if she would permit him to take leave of her in the morning and Emily perceiving that she could not reject an ordinary civility without expressing by her refusal an expectation of something more was compelled to answer that she should be at home she passed a melancholy evening during which the retrospect of all that had happened since she had seen Valencourt would rise to her imagination and the scene of her father's death appeared in tints as fresh as if it had passed on the preceding day she remembered particularly the earnest and solemn manner in which he had required her to destroy the manuscript papers and awakening from the lethargy in which Sorrow had held her she was shocked to think she had not yet obeyed him and determined that another day should not reproach her with the neglect End of Volume 1 Chapter 9 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Mysteries of Udolfo by Anne Radcliffe Volume 1 Chapter 10 Can such things be and overcome us like a summer's cloud without our special wonder? Macbeth On the next part On the next morning Emily ordered a fire to be lighted in the stove of the chamber where Saint Aubert used to sleep and as soon as she had breakfasted went thither to burn the papers Having fastened the door to prevent interruption she opened the closet where they were concealed as she entered which she felt an emotion of unusual awe and stood for some moment surveying it trembling and almost afraid to remove the board There was a great chair in one corner of the closet and opposite to it stood the table at which she had seen her father sit on the evening that preceded his departure looking over with so much emotion what she believed to be these very papers The solitary life which Emily had led of late and the melancholy subjects on which she had suffered her thoughts to dwell had rendered her at times sensible to the thick coming fancies of a mind greatly innovated It was lamentable that her excellent understanding should have yielded even for a moment to the reveries of superstition or rather those starts of imagination which deceive the senses into what can be called nothing less than momentary madness instances of this temporary failure of mind had more than once occurred since her return home particularly when wandering through this lonely mansion in the evening twilight she had been alarmed by appearances which would have been unseen for several days to this infirm state of her nerves may be attributed what she imagined when her eyes glancing a second time on the armchair which stood in an obscure part of the closet the countenance of her dead father appeared there Emily stood fixed for a moment to the floor after which she left the closet her spirits however turned she reproached herself with the weakness of thus suffering interruption in an act of serious importance and again opened the door by the directions which Santo Bear had given her she readily found the board he had described in an opposite corner of the closet near the window she distinguished also the line he had mentioned and pressing it as he had bad her it slid down and disclosed the bundle of papers together with some scuttered ones and the purse of Louis with a trembling hand she removed them replaced the board paused a moment and was rising from the floor when on looking up there appeared to her alarmed fancy the same countenance in the chair the illusion another instance of the unhappy effect which solitude and grief had gradually produced upon her mind subdued her spirits she rushed forward into the chamber and sunk almost senseless into a chair returning reason soon overcame the dreadful but pitiable attack of imagination and she turned to the papers though still with so little recollection that her eyes involuntarily settled on the writing of some loose sheets which lay open and she was unconscious that she was transgressing her father's strict injunction till a sentence of dreadful import awakened her attention and her memory together she hastily put the papers from her but the words which had roused equally her curiosity and terror she could not dismiss from her thoughts so powerfully had they affected her that she even could not resolve to destroy the papers immediately and the more she dwelt on the circumstance the more it inflamed her imagination urged by the most forcible and apparently the most necessary curiosity to inquire father concerning the terrible and mysterious subject to which she had seen an illusion she began to lament her promise to destroy the papers for a moment she even doubted whether it could justly be obeyed in contradiction to such reasons as there appeared to be for further information but the delusion was momentary I have given a solemn promise said she to observe a solemn injunction and it is not my business to argue but to obey let me hasten to remove the temptation that would destroy my innocence and embitter my life with the consciousness of irremediable guilt while I have strength to reject it thus reanimated with a sense of her duty she completed the triumph of her integrity over temptation more forcible than any she had ever known and consigned the papers to the flames her eyes watched them as they slowly consumed she shuddered at the recollection of the sentence she had just seen and at the certainty that the only opportunity of explaining it was then passing away for ever it was long after this that she recollected the purse and as she was depositing it unopened in a cabinet perceiving that it contained something of a size larger than coin she examined it his hand deposited them here said she as she kissed some pieces of the coin and wetted them with her tears his hand which is now dust at the bottom of the purse was a small packet having taken out which and unfolded paper after paper she found to be an ivory case containing the miniature of a lady she started the same said she my father wept over on examining the countenance she could recollect no person that it resembled it was of uncommon beauty and was characterised by an expression of sweetness shaded with sorrow and tempered by resignation Saint Aubert had given no directions concerning this picture nor had even named it she therefore thought herself justified in preserving it more than once remembering his manner when he had spoken of the Marsh Ness of Ville-roix she felt inclined to believe this was her resemblance yet there appeared no reason why he should have preserved a picture of that lady or having preserved it why he should lament over it in a manner so striking and affecting as she had witnessed on the night preceding his departure Emily still gazed on the countenance examining its features but she knew not where to detect the charm that captivated her attention and inspired sentiments of such love and pity dark brown hair played carelessly along the open forehead the nose was rather inclined to aquiline the lips spoke in a smile but it was a melancholy one the eyes were blue and were directed upwards with an expression of peculiar meekness that cloud of the brow spoke of the fine sensibility of the temper Emily was roused from the musing mood into which the picture had thrown her by the closing of the garden gate and on turning her eyes to the window she saw Valancourt coming towards the chateau her spirits agitated by the subjects that had lately occupied her mind but she was unprepared to see him and remained a few moments in the chamber to recover herself when she met him in the parlour she was struck with the change that appeared in his air and countenance since they had parted in Roussillon which twilight and the distress she suffered on the preceding evening had prevented her from observing but dejection and languor disappeared for a moment in the smile that now enlightened his countenance on perceiving her you see, said he I have availed myself of the permission with which you honoured me of bidding you farewell whom I had the happiness of meeting only yesterday Emily smiled faintly and anxious to say something asked if he had been long in Gascony a few days only replied Valancourt while a blush passed over his cheek I engaged in a long ramble after I had the misfortune of parting with the friends who had made my wanderings among the Pyrenees so delightful a tear came to Emily's eye as Valancourt said this which he observed and anxious to draw off her attention from the remembrance that had occasioned it as well as shocked at his own thoughtlessness he began to speak on other subjects expressing his admiration of the chateau and its prospects Emily, who felt somewhat embarrassed how to support a conversation was glad of such an opportunity to continue it on indifferent topics they walked down to the terrace where Valancourt was charmed with the river scenery and the views over the opposite shores of Guyenne as he leaned on the wall of the terrace watching the rapid current of the noble Garon I was a few weeks ago said he at the source of this noble river I had not then the happiness of knowing you or I should have regretted your absence it was a scene so exactly suited to your taste it rises in a part of the Pyrenees still wilder and more sublime I think than any we passed in the way to Roussillon he then described its fall among the precipices of the mountains where its waters augmented by the streams that descend from the snowy summits around rush into the valley between whose romantic heights it foams along pursuing its way to the northwest till it emerges upon the plains of Long Dock then washing the walls of Toulouse and turning again to the northwest it assumes a milder character as it fertilizes the pastures of Gascony and Guyenne in its progress to the Bay of Biscay Emily and Valloncourt talked of the scenes they had passed along the Pyrenean Alps as he spoke of which there was often a tremulous tenderness in his voice and sometimes he expatiated on them with all the fire of genius sometimes would appear scarcely conscious of the topic though he continued to speak this subject recalled forcibly to Emily the idea of her father whose image appeared in every landscape which Valloncourt particularized whose remarks dwelt upon her memory and whose enthusiasm still glowed in her heart her silence at length reminded Valloncourt how nearly his conversation approached to the occasion of her grief and he changed the subject though for once scarcely less affecting to Emily when he admired the grandeur of the plain tree that spread its wide branches over the terrace and under whose shade they now sat she remembered how often she had sat thus with Saint Aubert and heard him express the same admiration this was a favorite tree with my dear father, said she he used to love to sit under its foliage with his family about him in the fine evenings of summer Valloncourt understood her feelings and was silent had she raised her eyes from the ground she would have seen tears in his he rose and leaned on the wall of the terrace from which in a few moments he returned to his seat then rose again and appeared to be greatly agitated while Emily found her spirit so much depressed that several of her attempts to renew the conversation were ineffectual Valloncourt again sat down but was still silent and trembled at length he said with a hesitating voice this lovely scene I am going to leave to leave you perhaps for ever these moments may never return I cannot resolve to neglect though I scarcely dare to avail myself of them let me however without offending the delicacy of your sorrow where the admiration I must always feel of your goodness oh that at some future period I might be permitted to call it love Emily's emotion would not suffer her to reply and Valloncourt who now ventured to look up observing her countenance change expected to see her faint and made an involuntary effort to support her I called Emily to a sense of her situation and to an exertion of her spirits Valloncourt did not appear to notice her in disposition but when he spoke again his voice told the tenderest love I will not presume he added to intrude this subject longer upon your attention at this time but I may perhaps be permitted to mention parting moments would lose much of their bitterness if I might be allowed to hope the declaration I have made would not exclude me from your presence in future Emily made another effort to overcome the confusion of her thoughts and to speak she feared to trust the preference her heart acknowledged towards Valloncourt and to give him any encouragement for hope on so short an acquaintance for though in this narrow period she had observed much that was admirable in his taste and disposition and though these observations had been sanctioned by the opinion of her father they were not sufficient testimonies of his general worth to determine her upon a subject so infinitely important to her future happiness as that which now solicited her attention though the thought of dismissing Valloncourt was so very painful to her that she could scarcely endure to pause upon it the consciousness of this made her fear the partiality of her judgment and hesitate still more to encourage that suit for which her own heart too tenderly pleaded the family of Valloncourt if not his circumstances had been known to her father and known to be unexceptionable of his circumstances Valloncourt himself hinted as far as delicacy would permit when he said he had at present little else to offer but a heart that adored her he had solicited only for a distant hope and she could not resolve to forbid though she scarcely dared to permit it at length she acquired courage to say that she must think herself honoured by the good opinion of any person whom her father had esteemed and was I then thought worthy of his esteem said Valloncourt in a voice trembling with anxiety then checking himself he added but pardon the question I scarcely know what to say if I might dare to hope that you think me not unworthy such honour and might be permitted sometimes to inquire after your health I should now leave you with comparative tranquility Emily, after a moment's silence said I will be ingenuous with you for I know you will understand and allow for my situation you will consider it as a proof of my esteem that I am so though I live here what was my father's house I live here alone I have alas no longer a parent a parent to whose presence might sanction your visits it is unnecessary for me to point out the impropriety of my receiving them nor will I affect to be insensible of this replied Valloncourt adding mournfully but what is to console me for my candour I distress you I would now leave the subject if I might carry with me a hope of being some time permitted to renew it of being allowed to make myself known to your family Emily was again confused and again hesitated what to reply she felt most acutely the difficulty the fullness of her situation which did not allow her a single relative or friend to whom she could turn for even a look that might support and guide her in the present embarrassing circumstances Madame Sharon who was her only relative and ought to have been this friend was either occupied by her own amusements or so resentful of the reluctance her niece had shown to quit Lavallé that she seemed totally to have abandoned her ah, I see said Valloncourt after a long pause during which Emily had begun and left unfinished two or three sentences I see that I have nothing to hope my fears were too just you think me unworthy of your esteem that fatal journey which I considered as the happiest period of my life those delightful days were to embitter all my future ones how often have I looked back to them with hope and fear yet never till this moment could I prevail with myself to regret their enchanting influence his voice faltered and he abruptly quitted his seat and walked on the terrace there was an expression of despair on his countenance that affected Emily the pleadings of her heart overcame in some degree her extreme timidity and when he resumed his seat she said in an accent that betrayed her tenderness you do both yourself and me in justice when you say I think you unworthy of my esteem I will acknowledge that you have long possessed it and and Valloncourt waited impatiently for the conclusion of the sentence but the words died on her lips her eyes however reflected all the emotions of her heart Valloncourt passed in an instant from the impatience of despair to that of joy and tenderness oh Emily he exclaimed my own Emily teach me to sustain this moment let me seal it as the most sacred of my life he pressed her hand to his lips it was cold and trembling and raising her eyes he saw the paleness of her countenance tears came to her relief and Valloncourt watched in anxious silence over her in a few moments she recovered herself and smiling faintly through her tears said can you excuse this weakness my spirits have not yet I believe recovered from the shock they lately received I cannot excuse myself said Valloncourt but I will forbear to renew the subject which may have contributed to agitate them now that I can leave you with the sweet certainty of possessing your esteem then forgetting his resolution he again spoke of himself you know not he said he the many anxious hours I have passed near you lately when you believed me if indeed you honoured me with a thought far away I have wandered near the chateau in the still hours of the night when no eye could observe me it was delightful to know I was so near you and there was something particularly soothing in the thought that I watched around your habitation while you slept these grounds are not entirely new to me once I ventured within the fence and spent one of the happiest and yet most melancholy hours of my life in walking under what I believed to be your window Emily inquired how long Valloncourt had been in the neighbourhood several days he replied it was my design to avail myself of the permission that Ober had given me I scarcely know how to account for it but though I anxiously wished to do this my resolution always failed when the moment approached and I constantly deferred my visit I lodged in a village at some distance and wandered with my dogs among the scenes of this charming country wishing continually to meet you yet not daring to visit you having thus continued to converse without perceiving the flight of time Valloncourt at length seemed to recollect himself I must go said he mournfully but it is with the hope of seeing you again of being permitted to pay my respects to your family let me hear this hope confirmed by your voice my family will be happy to see any friend of my dear father said Emily Valloncourt kissed her hand and still lingered unable to depart while Emily sat silently with her eyes bent on the ground and Valloncourt as he gazed on her considered that it would soon be impossible for him to recall even to his memory the exact resemblance of the beautiful countenance he then beheld at this moment a hasty footstep approached from behind the plane-tree and turning her eyes Emily saw Madame Chéron she felt a blush steel upon her cheek and her frame trembled with the emotion of her mind but she instantly rose to meet her visitor so nice said Madame Chéron casting a look of surprise and inquiry on Valloncourt so nice how do you do but I need not ask your looks tell me you have already recovered your loss my looks do me injustice then Madame my loss I know can never be recovered well well I will not argue with you I see you have exactly your father's disposition and let me tell you it would have been much happier for him poor man if it had been a different one a look of dignified displeasure with which Emily regarded Madame Chéron while she spoke would have touched almost any other heart she made no other reply but introduced Valloncourt who could scarcely stifle the resentment he felt and whose bow Madame Chéron returned with a slight curtsy and a look of supercilious examination after a few moments he took leave of Emily in a manner that hastily expressed his pain both at his own departure and at leaving her to the society of Madame Chéron who is that young man said her aunt in an accent which equally implied inquisitiveness and censure some idle admirer of yours I suppose but I believed Nice you had a greater sense of propriety than to have received the visits of any young man in your present unfriended situation let me tell you the world will observe these things and it will talk I and very freely too Emily extremely shocked at this coarse speech attempted to interrupt it but Madame Chéron would proceed with all the self-importance of a person to whom power is new it is very necessary you should be under the eye of some person more able to guide you than yourself I indeed have not much leisure for such a task however since your poor father made it his last request that I should overlook your conduct I must even take you under my care but this let me tell you Nice that unless you will determine to be very conformable to my direction I shall not trouble myself longer about you Emily made no attempt to interrupt Madame Chéron a second time grief and the pride of conscious innocence kept her silent till her aunt said I am now come to take you with me to Toulouse I am sorry to find that your poor father died after all in such indifferent circumstances however I shall take you home with me ah poor man he was always more generous than provident or he would not have left his daughter dependent on his relations nor has he done so I hope Madame said Emily calmly nor did his pecuniary misfortunes arise from that noble generosity which always distinguished him the affairs of Monsieur de Motvie may I trust yet to be settled without deeply injuring his creditors and in the meantime I should be very happy to remain at Lavalais no doubt you would replied Madame Chéron with a smile of irony and I shall no doubt consent to this since I see how necessary tranquility and retirement are to restore your spirits I did not think you capable of such duplicity niece when you pleaded this excuse for remaining here I foolishly believed it to be a just one nor expected to have found you with so agreeable a companion as this Monsieur Laval I forget his name Emily could no longer endure any dignities it was a just one Madame said she and now indeed I feel more than ever the value of the retirement I then solicited and if the purport of your visit is only to add insult to the sorrows of your brother's child she could well have spared it I see that I have undertaken a very troublesome task said Madame Chéron highly I am sure Madame said Emily mildly and endeavouring to restrain her tears I am sure my father did not mean it should be such I have the happiness to reflect that my conduct under his eye was such that he often delighted to approve it would be very painful to me to disobey the sister of such a parent and if you believe the task will really be so troublesome I must lament that it is yours well niece fine speaking signifies little I am willing in consideration of my poor brother to overlook the impropriety of your late conduct and to try what your future will be Emily interrupted her to beg she would explain what was the impropriety she alluded to what impropriety why that of receiving the visits of a lover unknown to your family replied Madame Chéron not considering the impropriety of which she herself had been guilty in exposing her niece to the possibility of conduct so erroneous a faint blush passed over Emily's countenance pride and anxiety struggled in her breast and till she recollected that appearances did in some degree justify her aunt's suspicions she could not resolve to humble herself so far as to enter into the defence of a conduct which had been so innocent and un-designing on her part she mentioned the manner of Valloncourt's introduction to her father the circumstances of his receiving the pistol shot and of their afterwards travelling together with the accidental way in which she had met him on the preceding evening she owned he had declared a partiality for her and that he had asked permission to address her family and who is this young adventurer pray said Madame Chéron and what are his pretensions these he must himself explain Madame replied Emily of his family my father was not ignorant and I believe it is unexceptionable she then proceeded to mention what she knew concerning it oh then this it seems is a younger brother exclaimed her aunt and of course a beggar a very fine tale indeed and so my brother took a fancy to this young man after only a few days acquaintance but that was so like him in his youth he was always taking these likes and dislikes when no other person saw any reason for them at all nay indeed I have often thought the people he disapproved were much more agreeable than those he admired but there is no accounting for tastes he was always so much influenced by people's countenances now I for my part have no notion of this it is all ridiculous enthusiasm what has a man's face to do with his character can a man of good character help having a disagreeable face which last sentence madame Sharon delivered with the decisive air of a person who congratulates herself on having made a grand discovery and believes the question to be unanswerably settled Emily desirous of concluding the conversation inquired if her aunt would accept some refreshment and madame Sharon accompanied her to the chateau but without desisting from a topic which she discussed with so much complacency to herself and severity to her niece I am sorry to perceive niece said she in allusion to somewhat that Emily had said concerning physiognomy that you have a great many of your father's prejudices and among them those sudden predilections for people from their looks I can perceive that you imagine yourself to be violently in love with this young adventurer after an acquaintance of only a few days there was something too so charmingly romantic in the manner of your meeting Emily checked the tears that trembled in her eyes while she said when my conduct shall deserve this severity madam you will do well to exercise it till then justice if not tenderness should surely restrain it I have never willingly offended you now I have lost my parents you are the only person to whom I can look for kindness let me not lament more than ever the loss of such parents the last words were almost stifled by her emotions and she burst into tears remembering the delicacy and the tenderness of santo bear the happy happy days she had passed in these scenes and contrasting them with the course and unfeeling behaviour of madame chéron and from the future hours of modification she must submit to in her presence a degree of grief seized her that almost reached despair madame chéron more offended by the reproof which Emily's words conveyed than touched by the sorrow they expressed said nothing that might soften her grief but notwithstanding her apparent reluctance to receive her niece she desired her company the love of sway was her ruling passion and she knew it would be highly gratified by taking into her house a young orphan who had no appeal from her decisions and on whom she could exercise without control the capricious humour of the moment on entering the chateau madame chéron expressed a desire that she would put up what she thought necessary to take to Toulouse as she meant to set off immediately Emily now tried to persuade her to defer the journey at least till the next day and at length with much difficulty prevailed the day passed in the exercise of petty tyranny on the part of madame chéron and in mournful regret and melancholy anticipation on that of Emily who, when her aunt retired to her apartment for the night went to take leave of every other room in this her dear native home which she was now quitting for she knew not how long and for a world to which she was wholly a stranger she could not conquer a pre-sentiment which frequently occurred to her this night that she should never more return to Lavalais having passed a considerable time in what had been her father's study having selected some of his favorite authors to put up with her clothes and shed many tears as she wiped the dust from their covers she seated herself in his chair before the reading desk and sat lost in melancholy reflection till Teresa opening the door to examine as was her custom before she went to bed if was all safe she started on observing her young lady who bad her come in and then gave her some directions for keeping the chateau in readiness for her reception at all times alas a day that you should leave it said Teresa I think you would be happier here than where you were going if one may judge Emily made no reply to this remark the sorrow Teresa proceeded to express at her departure affected her but she found some comfort in the simple affection of this poor old servant to whom she gave such directions as might best conduce to her comfort during her own absence having dismissed Teresa to bed Emily wandered through every lonely apartment of the chateau lingering long in what had been her father's bedroom indulging melancholy yet not unpleasing emotions and having often returned within the door to take another look at it she withdrew to her own chamber from her window she gazed upon the garden below shown faintly by the moon rising over the tops of the palm trees and at length the calm beauty of the night increased the desire of indulging the mournful sweetness of bidding farewell to the beloved shades of her childhood till she was tempted to descend throwing over her the light veil in which she usually walked she silently passed into the garden and hastening towards the distant groves was glad to breathe once more the air of liberty and to sigh unobserved the deep repose of the scene the rich sense that floated on the breeze the grandeur of the wide horizon and of the clear blue arch soothed and gradually elevated her mind to that sublime complacency which renders the vexations of this world so insignificant and mean in our eyes that we wonder they have had power for a moment to disturb us Emily forgot madame Sharon and all the circumstances of her conduct while her thoughts ascended to the contemplation of those unnumbered worlds that lie scattered in the depths of ether thousands of them hid from human eyes and almost beyond the flight of human fancy as her imagination soared through the regions of space and aspired to that great first cause which pervades and governs all being the idea of her father scarcely ever left her but it was a pleasing idea since she resigned him to God in the full confidence of a pure and holy faith she pursued her way through the groves to the terrace often pausing as memory awakened the pang of affection and as reason anticipated the exile into which she was going and now the moon was high over the woods touching their summits and darting between the foliage long level beams while on the rapid Garon below the trembling radiance was faintly obscured by the lightest vapor Emily Long watched the playing luster listened to the soothing murmur of the current and the yet lighter sounds of the air as it stirred at intervals palm trees how delightful is the sweet breath of these groves said she this lovely scene how often shall I remember and regret it when I am far away alas what events may occur before I see it again oh peaceful happy shades scenes of my infant delights of parental tenderness lost forever why must I leave you in your retreats I should still find safety and repose sweet hours of my childhood I am now to leave even your last memorials no objects that would revive your impressions will remain for me then drying her tears and looking up her thoughts rose again the time subject she had contemplated the same divine complacency stole over her heart and hushing its throbs inspired hope and confidence and resignation to the will of the deity whose works filled her mind with adoration Emily gazed Long on the plain tree and then seated herself for the last time on the bench under its shade where she had so often sat with her parents and where only a few hours before she had conversed with Valencor at the remembrance of whom thus revived a mingled sense of esteem tenderness and anxiety rose in her breast with this remembrance occurred a recollection of his late confession that he had often wandered near her habitation in the night having even passed the boundary of the garden and it immediately occurred to her that he might be at this moment in the grounds the fear of meeting him particularly after the declaration he had made and of incurring a censure which her aunt might so reasonably bestow if it was known that she was met by her lover at this hour made her instantly leave her beloved plain tree and walk towards the chateau she cast an anxious eye around and often stopped for a moment to examine the shadowy scene before she ventured to proceed but she passed on without perceiving any person till having reached a clump of almond trees not far from the house she rested to take a retrospect of the garden and to sigh forth another adieu as her eyes wandered over the landscape she thought she perceived a person emerge from the groves and pass slowly along a moonlight alley that led between them but the distance and the imperfect light would not suffer her to judge with any degree of certainty whether this was fancy or reality she continued to gaze for some time on the spot till on the dead stillness of the air she heard a sudden sound and in the next instant fancied she distinguished footsteps near her wasting not another moment in conjecture she hurried to the chateau and having reached it retired to her chamber where as she closed her window she looked upon the garden and then again thought she distinguished a figure gliding between the almond trees she had just left she immediately withdrew from the casement and though much agitated sought in sleep the refreshment of a short oblivion End of Volume 1 Chapter 10