Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 53, No. 331, May, 1843

in a spacious and shaded apartment, made cool, as well by the massive walls of the noble edifice as by the open and protected windo

s, was seated another young lady, Miss Julia Danvers, a friend who had arrived in the course of t

ently," said Miss Danvers, "fo

I dislike so much as thanks. And yet there is one cause of thankfulness you have, and know not of. Here have I listened to your troubles, as yo

iged to take refuge from an absurd selfish stepmothe

wful, my dear. No tautology

at is the

have another, or one who calls himself such, who has spoken, or

uth of the dumb, and stop

act

roceed by due climax, who is h

anity. He is vain of his person, of his wealth, of his birth, of his title, vain of all he has, and all he has not. He sets so great a value on his innumerable and superlative good qualities, that he really has not been able (until he met with your humble servant) to find any individual of our sex on whom he could, conscientiously, bestow so gr

r father. How can he venture on suc

ith a most complacent smile, that I should be the perfect co

a sort of providence in that.-Now, w

-can't y

to call him-though cousin I believe

is little cousin is a great heiress, he thinks it fit to be very proud, an

rcy and Griffith

of our friend, Sir Frederic Beaumantle. By the way, Reginald, he dines here to-day, and so will another gentle

his influence in my behalf, in whatever profession I may embark. If medicine, I am to have half-a-dozen dowagers, always ailing and never ill, put under my charge the moment I can add M.D. to m

depend upon Sir Frederic Beaumantle's promises

hat ridiculous ostentation he has of patronizing men, who, but they have mor

e eulogy he is in the habit of bestowing upon his friends, even to their faces. You must know, Mr Griffith, that Sir Frederic is a most liberal chapman in this commodity of praise: he will

in. But indeed Sir Frederic is somewhat more just in his dealings than you, perhaps, imagine. If he besto

; for he abuses the absent friend only to gr

the character of the baronet, and Sir Frederic Beaumantle

Captain Garland with all the cordiality of an old acquaintance. On the other hand she introduced the baronet to Miss Danve

Frederic," she said, "not to kno

the baronet, "to make the ac

he distressed princess in the Faery Queen, and I must look out for

dy thus introduced, "that I have heard

especially, drawn, I may say, from the archives of our family, which throws a new light upon the reign and character of Charles II. It is a very able performance is this 'History of the County of Huntingdon;' it is written by a modest and ingenious person of my acquaintance, and I felt great pleasure

y, "it were the more prudent plan for them to a

t, casting a deprecatory look at Miss Sherwood, "that

," said the young

e that name?' My ancestor, who was a grave man, and well brought up, answered, 'Sire, my godfathers and my godmothers at my baptism.' 'Well responded!' said the king with a smile; 'and they gave thee thy raiment also, as it seems.' These last words were added in a lower voice, and d

anvers, "appears to be histor

he looked round the circle with a countenance of the most imposing solemnity-"I hope soon that

then?" said Griffith,

hood. I have employed all my influence in the county, and I may safely say it is not little, to raise the character and estimation of Sir Robert,

rupted in mid career by t

tain Garland, and directed Sir Fr

r not meeting us in the drawing-room. His gout makes him a la

aced Captain Garland by her side, and conversed almost exclusively with him;

rt from within as well as from without, and therefore had brought down with him this fair ally. Nothing better than such a fair ally. She could not only chant his praises when absent, (and there is much in that,) but she could so man?uvre as to procure for the captain many a tête-à-tête, which otherwise would not fall to his share. Especially, (and this task she appeared to accomplish most adroitly,) she could engage to herself the attentions of his professed and redoubtable rival, Sir Frederic Beaumantle. In fifty ways she could assist in betraying the citadel from within, whilst he stood storming at the gates, in open and mo

arry, but she could not love him; she might be thinking of another, perhaps of her cousin Reginald, even while she gave her hand to him at the altar. But if the gallant captain, whose handsome person, and frank and gentlemanly manners, formed his chief recommendation, were to be the happy man, then must her affections have been won, and Emily was lost to him utterly. And then-with the usual logic of the passions, and forgetting the part of silence and disguise that he had played-he taxed her with levity and unkindness in so

sudden attachment to the captain, but his tongue absolutely refused the offi

nts which have so often, at least in novels and story-books, brought about the happiness of lovers, but

ing. Emily was a little in advance. Darcy rushed forward to plant himself between her and this ferocious assailant. He had no weapon of defence of any kind, and, to say truth, he had at that moment no idea of defending himself, or any distinct notion whatever of combating his antagonist. The only reflection that occurred to his mind was, that if the animal satiated its fury upon him, his companion would be safe. A strong leg and a stout boot might have done something; D

anxiety for the safety of his fair companion. Most men would have been willing to reap advantage from the grateful sentiment which such a conduct must inspire; Darcy, on the cont

side would have done, and most men in a far more dexterous manner. And, indeed, if instead of yourself, the merest stranger

been threatened with the danger that threatened me, you would have interposed, an

d her utterance, for the se

really nothing more than a just penalty for my own want of address in this notable combat. You should have had

her companion, and said-"Years ago, when you were cousin Reginald, and condescended to be my playfellow, the greatest services you rendered were to throw me occasionally out of the swing, or frighten me till I screamed by putting my pony into a most unmerciful trot; b

room, he would have seen her throw herself int