صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

converfation of Sir Roger and the Reverend Mr. Claypole offered all the edification that experience could minister to a youthful hearer, yet perverse nature (or fomething we are willing to afcribe to nature) biaffed the judgment of our hero fo as to induce him to prefer the flightest fyllable, that gave motion to Ifabella's lovely lips, before all the anecdotes of Sir Roger, or the metaphyfics of Mr. Claypole: this was not a preference which his underftanding gave, for that he never called into council on the question; but he liftened as his eyes directed him, and judged as his heart prescribed. Though he was not to learn that time moves on with equal ftep, yet he miscalculated moft grofsly, reckoning hours but as minutes when alone with Ifabella, and minutes as hours without her. Any other person would have found out these were symptoms of love, Henry only found out they were mistakes, and never ventured to fearch into the cause of them: Ifabella, who was even lefs experienced, and fomewhat younger than himself, was fo fure that he loved no human creature comparably to her father, and really did love him with fuch true devotion, that he had no idea there might be attachments of another fort

to

to fhare her heart with him, and, in the full conviction of her own fecurity, never once thought of what the held impoffible to happen; she took her evening walks with Henry by her fide, and then the weather was so fine, or the profpect fo charming, or the difcourfe fo entertaining, that the minutes stole away fo imperceptibly she could not understand how they were gone fo faft, and fhe fo far from home; now she must haften back, and Henry's arm was wanted to affilt her speed: ftiles fometimes intervened, and then both arms found full employment; hillocks, and dales, and foot planks over rills with waters half a foot in depth tremendously rolling underneath, demanded a conductor of no fmall addrefs; in defiles and difficulties like thefe, all Henry's care was none too much; yet they occurred fo frequently, that flander would have faid they were more fought than fhunned.

Sometimes, when nothing more material occupied her thoughts, Ifabella would divert the subject of discourfe to questions about Sufan May." Did'nt Henry think her very pretty? Was'nt fhe a very open-hearted natural girl, a little wild or fo?-Had'nt fhe turn'd off her late mistress on his account? and

[ocr errors]

did'nt

did'nt that look as if fhe had a liking for him?"-These were leading questions, which Henry did not always chufe to follow without fwerving. With a great refpect for truth, he had fomething more than refpect for the perfon he was to addrefs it to, and though he fcorned to say what was directly false, he did not altogether like to fay what was strictly true. A little equivocation, but as little as his delicacy could dispense with, he certainly made free with upon thefe occafions; and if Isabella did not give him perfect credit for fincerity in all particulars, it was because she was as thoroughly informed of facts, as Sufan's full confeffion, honeftly avowed, could make her: fhe was not however fo mere a novice in the world as not to comprehend that there are fubjects, on which men of delicacy will not be perfectly explicit; but on the point of reputation Isabella was as forward to believe, as he was firm in afferting, the perfect innocence of Sufan's conduct; pure in her own nature, she was too candid in her judgment of others to fufpect that want of chastity was implied in freedom of behaviour.

In their conversations about Lady Crowbery, their hearts and tongues completely coincided

incided in bearing teftimony to the loveliness of her nature, and in lamenting her unhappy lot." I fhould not wonder," said Ifabella, "if that crofs ugly creature was to fcold and fcandalize my poor coufin for what he saw in the plantation walk, when her benevolent heart overflow'd with tendernefs and pity for you, fo that fhe could fcarce fupport herself from finking to the ground; his hard nature is not capable of understanding, and allowing for the foft emotions of a foul like her's. I know what the felt on your account, because I have heard her talk fo warmly in your praife, and how Mr. Ratcliffe lov'd and admir'd vou;. and then he wou'd bewail his lofs, and the misfortunes which it brought on you; I know alfo the impreffion that Lord Crowbery's behaviour made on her, and how fhe execrated that horrid Blachford, whom Providence nas now chaftis'd; and I don't doubt but the forefaw fome wicked plot wou'd be concerted against you, as in fact it was: all these terrors. were in her mind when fhe was fo affected as to fall upon your neck, and vent herself in tears; and who can wonder at it? What is fo touching as the fight of innocence diftrefs'd and perfecuted? How could a heart fo foft

and

and fenfitive as her's reflect on all that you had fuffer'd, all that you was ftill expos'd to, and not melt with fympathy? Was ever act fo noble, generous, and humane, rewarded with fuch base, malicious, and unjust oppreffion? For my part I cannot conceive how any one of common feelings can hear the ftory and be unmov'd: I'm not afham'd to fay my tears kept pace with her's on the occafion; yet I was not inform'd of all particulars, as fhe was; neither was I, like her, the friend of Mr. Ratcliffe ; I had, not feen you, but as you pafs'd into the houfe of Mr. Cawdle; fhe had both feen you and difcoure'd with vou and honed thofe wor.

***** juug mun negru Lisu mu

thy creatures at the cottage, in their natural manner, relate a thousand circumstances, which your modesty would not speak of. Heavens! muft we be hypocrites because we are women ! withhold our love for virtue in the dread of flander, and not beftow our praife and admiration where they are fo juftly due! That would be hard indeed! But when we fee a character like this accufed, infulted, punished, treated like a malefactor and a murderer, all mouths open, all hearts fhut against him, without a friend, or house, or food, but what one poor widow and her charitable cruise fupplied,

what

« السابقةمتابعة »