CHAPTER VI. Oh Love! no habitant of earth thou art- And to a thought such shape and image given, As haunts the unquench'd soul-parch'd-wearied-wrung -and riven. BYRON. It was now advancing towards the close of September, when, as we were one day preparing for the accustomed visit to Aust, the horses being at the door, a message came from my Lord, desiring Sir Maurice would immediately repair to him. He obeyed the summons, and the interview was not of long duration; but, on returning from it, and receiving the bridle of his horse from my hand, it was very plain that something had disconcerted him to the last degree, We rode forth, and in silence, for some distance; when at last Sir Maurice said : "So, Herbert, my brother has just discovered, or, at least, has just imparted his discovery to me, that Miss Mead is not thy sister, but thy cousin; and that she is, moreover, the daughter of a man for whom he is pleased to entertain a most charitable detestation. He added also, that he was well acquainted with our frequent journies to thy house; and further, that he was desirous of imparting to me some advice touching my future conduct; but which in all likelihood I shall feel myself in no way bound to follow." I replied, that I knew Master Mead had made himself unpopular, respecting the harbour-dues at Bristol, and other things; but still, such a circumstance could have nothing to do with a visit to my parents, for whom my lord himself was pleased to express the kindest consideration. Sir Maurice made no reply to this, but continued to ride on in silence; apparently revolving in his own mind, the interview he had had with his brother. We soon after came in sight of Aust, then of the garden and approach to my paternal roof. I now directed my eyes to the arbour in the pleasure ground, which commanded a view of the path by which we had heretofore arrived, and where Isabel used frequently to sit. She was not there; nor did she come tripping down the straight grassplat, that led from the house to the garden-gate, as she had often done, when aware of our presence. Not knowing what to think of her absence, I looked up to the window of her apartment, and there she stood, holding her small white hand up in an attitude of caution, while the tears still glistened in her eyes. Sir Maurice also observed her; and springing from his horse, indicated equally by his air, and by the pace at which he strode to the door, that he too laboured under considerable excitement. A servant arriving to take the horses, I joined him ere he was admitted; and now, instead of being shown into the every-day parlour, we were ushered into a smaller one, which was generally used on matters of business. We did not, however, enter it so quickly but that I observed on the table in the passage, not only a cap which I recognized as Master Mead's, but also a steel headpiece. We found the room empty; and on the withdrawal of the servant, had barely time to interchange a look of inquiry and surprise, when the door flew open, and in came Mead himself. He motioned to us to seat ourselves, and then introduced his subject, by mentioning the debt of gratitude he owed Sir Maurice, for the safety of his daughter; as also for the attention she had received at the castle, as well as for that which he had since continued to pay her. Though he had been absent, watching over the sick couch of a valued friend, (alluding evidently to Master Rufus,) still, all that concerned Miss Mead, regularly reached him; and he also felt sure, that where a daughter's future prospects were at stake, a man of honour would not desire secrecy. Seeming anxious to arrive at the end of a dis agreeable topic : 66 "You know, Sir Maurice," he continued, "at Miss Mead's time of life, this sort of adventure is calculated to make some impression; and as such romantic passages can only be considered in the light of a fleeting dream; according to my humble conception, the sooner the delusion is dispelled the better. Her happiness is dearer to me-far dearer, than anything now left in the world; and, as the solemn request of her departed mother strictly enjoined me to place my child, at a period fast approaching, under the care of a surviving friend of her's, whose name was delivered to me in a sealed packet, such behest shall be religiously observed. The time for opening the parchment having just expired, I have discovered that the guardian therein named, is the head of a family entertaining an implacable feud with you and your brother, the merits of which enmity, we will not now discuss. It is therefore merely necessary to state, that into the future home |