ketches the wildeft ftorm of the paffions, where the fun of reafon never beams, and where discretion never controls the raging elements, will pass over the uninteresting page that describes attachment without caprice, dejection ftruggling with a fenfe of propriety, and. fimplicity affecting a difguife which he cannot fupport. Such readers will not join in the reflections of lady Monteith, who, reviewing, during her folitary walk home, her friend's behaviour, and rightly afcribing her unwillingness to accompany her to a fear of being led to discuss a subject to which fhe was unequal, exclaimed, "Dear, artlefs, amia"ble girl! Where fhall I find another " Lucy?" Early the next morning the Monteiths fet off for London. At parting with his daughter, fir William difcovered the deep yet firm regret of difinterested VOL. I. M terefted affection. "I fhall mifs you "very much, my dear love," said he; "but it is for your good, fo I fhall "not complain. I must look for amuse"ment to your letters now, instead of "your pretty prattle. Don't be caft "down, child; for I fhall not be dull "if you are happy." The tender Geraldine could only answer with her tears. At this inftant Mr. Evans, who had been from home the preceding morning, interrupted the family party by his characteristic adieus. "I truft, my dear ་ lady, you are going to make many "hearts happy; you will leave many "aching ones behind you here." Then turning to lord Monteith, whose bosom glowed with fentiments which Nature meant he should have been better acquainted with, Providence," said the good man with patriarchal fimplicity, "has "has intrusted you, my lord, with a "rich jewel. Wear it at your heart." "That I will," replied the young earl, fhaking him cordially by the hand; " and for the share you had in giving "it to me, remember, when I am "prime minifter, you fhall be arch bishop of Canterbury." A fudden glow of pleasure brightened the general dejection. Sir William, enjoying the tribute to his daughter's worth, thus haftily extorted from her lord, more than he would have done a studied compliment, tenderly preffed his fon-in-law's hand, and led his drooping daughter to the chariot. The carriages drove off. London, and its round of pleafures, foon regained poffeffion of his lordship's mind, unaccustomed to the finer emotions; while his lady's eyes oft turned to take another view of Powerscourt. "Farewell," faid the to herself, M 2 herself, "ye dear scenes of my youth"ful pleasures. Farewell to the home " and the protection of the beft of fa"thers! I enter upon an untried, and, if I may trust to the experience of "others, a perplexing world. Will the "husband of my choice, the future mas"ter of my destiny, treat me with fuch << uniform tenderness as my indulgent parent did? Will he guide my inex"perienced steps, like my dear Mrs. "Evans? or, may I unbofom to him "my inmost foul, as I did to my symr pathifing Lucy? Ah! could I but be "fure that I shall return in a few months, "fatisfied with my own lot, find my "dear father unchanged in health and fpirits, Mrs. Evans well, and my "Lucy happy!" A tear obfcured her radiant eyes, when my lord roused her from her reverie, by telling her the number of miles they were from London. CHAP. XV. Come then, the colours and the ground prepare! POPE. On the clofe of the first day's journey lady Monteith accidentally inquired how far they were from Oxford. "Admira"bly recollected!" cried his lordship; "I have always intended to go there, " and never could find time. We will "take it in our way to London." "Don't you recollect," faid the countess, "that by the last accounts "from Scotland our friends intend to be "in town before the end of this week?" "O! we shall run all over Oxford " in a day or two. Befide, fuppose "they M 3 |
