Ernest Maltravers, Book 8

would in my situati

traction, you shoul

. I will not sacrif

jud

. /Lover

lord; the wel

tting short tha

ARE. /H

spring of lo

n glory of a

s all the beau

y a cloud ta

he Two Gentlem

her grace, her genius-her singular and enthusiastic passion for himself-the voice still replied, "Thou dost not love. Bid farewell for ever to thy fond dreams of a life more blessed than that of mortals. From the stormy sea of the future are blotted out eternally for thee-Calypso and her Golden Isle. Thou canst n

shonour to repent and to repine. I have gone through the best years of youth without finding the Egeria with whom the cavern would be

ing-room, and there awaited his return from London. She knew his worldly views-she knew a

ming, I declare,-never saw you with such a colour-monstrous like me, certainly. We always had fine complexions and fine eyes in our f

ed to speak with you on a

what, imm

es

-your Slingsby pr

-pray sit down and

curious-he seated himself in silence, and

young ladies. Believe me, my dear father. I am most grateful not only for your affection but your esteem. I have been a stra

cried Lord

bout to-to-well, the tr

of --- been

ve promised my hand-it is a nobler and rarer dignit

nsent to any such nonsense. A country gentleman-very respectable, very clever,

thout your consent, though my fortun

d-and now let me dre

Just consider, if I married the Duke of ---, he would expect all my fortune, such as it is. Ten thousand a year is at my disposal; if I marry Mr. Maltravers

n't h

prevent you from being embarrassed. To whom should a daughter give from her superfluities but to a parent?-from whom should a parent receive, but from a child, who can n

that before Lord Saxingham began his toilet, he promised to make no obstacle to the marriage, and all he asked in return was, that at least three months (but that, indeed, the lawyers would require) should elapse before it took place; and on this understanding Florence left him, radiant and joyous as Flora herself, when the sun of spring makes the world a garden. Never had she thought so little of her beauty, and never had it seem

possible honour in taking my daughter, the beauty of London, with fifty thousand a year, off my hands." But this was quite Maltravers!-if he had been proposing to the daughter of a country curate, without a sixpence, he would have been the humblest of the humble. The earl was embarrassed and discomposed-he was almost awed by the Siddons-like countenance and Coriolanus-like air of his future son-in-law-he even hinted nothing of the compromis

ning Street as usual, and Lady Florence and Ernest fou

eing and the breathing genius-she imagined she understood what seemed dark and obscure to others. He whom she had never seen grew to her a never-absent friend. His ambition, his reputation, were to her like a possession of her own. So at length, in the folly of her young romance, she wrote to him, and dreaming of no discovery, anticipating no result, the habit once indulged became to her that luxury which writing for the eye of the world is to an author oppressed with the burthen of his own thoughts. At length she saw him, and he did not destroy her illusion. She might have recovered from the spell if she had found him ready at once to worship at her shrine. The mixture of reserve and frankness-frankness of language, reserve of manner-which belonged to Maltravers, piqued her. Her vanity became the auxiliary to her imagination. At length they met at Cleveland's house; their intercourse became more unrestrained-their friendship was established, and she discovered that she had wilfully implicated her happiness in indulging her dreams; yet even then she believed that Maltravers loved her, despite his silence upon the subject of love. His manner, his words bespoke his interest in her, and his voice was ever soft when he spoke to women; for he had much of the old chivalric respect and

more alone. It was not silence that breathed around them, as they sat on that bench with the broad beech spreading over them its trembling canopy of leaves;-but those murmurs of living nature which are sweeter than silence itself-the songs of birds-the tinkling bell of the sh

ition seems for ever at an end. I have found all; I am no longer haunted with the desire of gaining a vague something,-a shadowy empire, that we ca

ears ever b

d of ever being loved for myself; my wealth was a fatal dower; I suspected avarice in every vow, and saw the base world lurk at the bottom of every

ve thee more wi

ll seem to you exacting-I am jealous already. I was jealous even of Lady T---, when I sa

if he had been more deeply in love. Jealousy, in a woman of so ve

le; "for love should have implicit confidence as its bond and

nce's too expressive face

he terrace: at the same instant, a dark cloud crept over the sky, the waters seemed overcast and the breeze fell: a chill and strange pre

your cousin has doubtless learned our engage

to Lumley? what think you of his character?-it is one that perplexes me; sometimes I think

I admire his boldness and candour; his scorn of the world's littleness and falsehood; I like his

to me selfish an

lute will-and, believing everything done in this noisy stage of action a cheat, he has accommodated his ambition to the

e to look on him more indulgently. I suspect the real frankness of men whom I kn

unwelcome in the country; and I flatter myself that I am the exact

er modest,

h years and wisdom. What say you, Maltravers?" and F

hing to be sneered at by you old-family people. I am next heir

s Mr. Te

a more sounding title; De Courval has a nobler sound,-but my good uncle has nothing of the Norman about him: so we dropped

ngratula

ertainly owes it much to me, he will, I suppose, be very grateful-or hate me ever afterwards-that is a toss up. A benefit conferred is a complete hazard between the thu

or rather Lady Vargrave's, daughter by a for

an unexpectedly stormy night the last of the session-strong division-ministers hard pressed. I made quite a good speech for the

ner-bell. Cleveland was in high consultation about the proper spot for a new fountain; and he summoned Maltravers to give his opinion whether it should spring from the centre of a flower-bed or

est without coming hither to offer my best and most earnest wish for your happiness. I may seem a careless, I am considered a selfish, person; but my heart is warm to those who reall

were so different from those he usually assumed. She warmly returne

ion. In addition to the deep and ardent love that you cannot fail to inspire, he will owe you eternal gratitude. In this aristocratic country, your hand secures to him the most brilliant fortunes, the most proud career. His talents will now be measured by a

o pure, the too refined!" said Florence, with trembling eage

did not say there was. The very greatness of his aspirations, his indignant and scornful

id Florence, faintly sm

s would make a distinguished connection in marriage. He would not permit himself to love the lowborn or the poor. His aff

n her disposition, even as a child, had prevented her winding into the hearts of those around her. Deprived of her mother's care-having little or no intercourse with children of her own age-brought up with a starched governess, or female relations, poor and proud-she never had contracted the softness of manner which the reciprocation of household affections usually produces. With a haughty consciousness of her powers, her birth, her position, advantages always dinned into her ear, she grew up solitary, unsocial, and imperious.

us that she was not loved; it was wormwood and poison to her to fancy that Maltravers had ever considered her advantages of fortune, except as a bar to his pretensions and a check on his passion. It was the same thing to her, whether it was the pettiest avarice or the loft

umphant a conquest you have effected over Ernest! Will you believe it?-he conceived a prejudice

true-he has almost sai

love you! Surely he

ost learned Lumley?" said

his eyes from you-with whomsoever he converses, whatever his occupation

f the room, her lover was conversing with Clevela

e this practical contradictio

upon another-sorrowful if your lip be less smiling-a thing of doubt, and dread, and trembling agitation-slave to a shadow-no longer lord of the creation? Such is love, such is the love you should inspire, such is the love Maltravers

said poor Florence mechanic

o had been more observant than he

erly, "you look pale-I fear yo

o not feel, pray," said Florence, wi

feel, Fl

hat you have observed whether I am

is tone?-how have I offen

e of those of whom all speak highly. But do not let me det

t, and laughed hysterically. She, however, deceived Cleveland into the notion that she was in the best possible spirits. By and by she rose, and passed through the suite of rooms: her heart was with Maltravers-still he was not visible. At length she ente

he said, extending her

fair hand, and a

would not, from the vain desire of showing command over you, inflict upon you a single pang.

est. I told you you would not love

, every day, every hour I love you mor

l, anxious to pain herself, "t

really a possession you desire,-beware how you arm my reason against you. Florence, I am a proud man. My very consciousness of the more splendid allia

e words went home, "forgive me but this

ifices to him deserved was becoming very dear to him. In his heart he knew that she was not formed to render him happy; but that was

silent, thoughtful; and Flo

nature; their very disturbance is a proof that they are at war with our natures. Ah, sweet Florence, let us learn from yon skies, over which, in the faith of the poets of old, brooded the wings of primaeval and serenest Love, what earthly love should be,-a thing pure as light, and peaceful as