Lucretia, Complete

ndon. And "reigns" seems scarcely a metaphorical expression as applied to the sullen, absolute swa

ocial shadows flit amidst the mist, like men on the eve of a fatal conspiracy. Each other month in London has its charms for the experienced. Even from August to October, when The Season lies dormant, and Fashion forbids her sons to be seen within hearing of Bow, the true lover of London finds pleasure still at hand, if he search for her duly. There are the early walks through the parks and green Kensington Gardens, which now change their character of resort, and seem rural and countrylike, but yet with more life than the country; for on the benches beneath the trees, and along the sward, and up the malls, are living beings enough to interest the eye and divert the thoughts, if you are a guesser into character, and amateur of the human face,-fresh nursery-maid and playful children; and the old shabby-genteel, buttoned-up officer, musing on half-pay, as he sits alone in some alcove of Kenna, or leans pensive over the rail of the vacant Ring; and early tr

uncing that that book was superfluous. By the last of three dim-looking windows, made dimmer by brown moreen draperies, edged genteelly with black cotton velvet, stood a girl of very soft and pensive expression of features,-pretty unquestionably, excessively pretty; but there was something so delicate and elegant about her,-the bend of her head, the shape of her slight figure, the little fair hands crossed one on each other, as the face mournfully and listlessly turned to the window, that "pretty" would have seemed a word of praise too often proffered to milliner and serving-maid. Nevertheless, it was perhaps the right one: "handsome" would have implied something statelier and more commanding; "beautiful," greater regularity of feature, or richness of colouring. The parson, who since his entrance had been walking up and down the small room with his hands behind him, glanced now and then at the young lady, but not speaking, at length paused from that monotonous exerci

ring's knock," said

and, light as was her step, the

t wants an hour yet to dark; yo

reen. I am sure we'd rather stay here," said one of the children, as

alk alone with your mother. However, if you like best

n go into

rson; "you must n

bout being disturbed. I w

he mother's turn to address them. And though Mr. Fielden was as anxious and fond as most fathers, he grew a little impatient before comforters, kerchiefs, and muffettees were arranged, and minute exordiums as to the dang

nce, "I am extremely une

l, and sits so moping alone; but she sees Mr. Mainwaring eve

ing, though I did not interrupt you, for it

o duty for you at the vicarage, while we all came up here, in hopes London town would divert her.

at mournful foreboding,-"I say, I was then only thin

ft-hearted, and she mus

om us, is not sad herself, only reserved. On the contrary.

s of the gre

d Mr. Fielden, a

not one of the high-spirited wives wh

it was very wrong in me; but I cannot-do wh

hat I fear is the case, I'm sure we can't feel too

Mr. Fielden, what

closed, and replied, in a whisper: "I mean, that I fe

ck in the ground, and the other point threatened war upon flounces and to

a most false-he

y-what I kept secret before. When Mainwaring visited us, many months ago, at Southampton, he confessed to me that he felt warmly for Susan, and asked if I thought Sir Miles would consent.

ock of Sir Miles's death was over, she got back

e had a fortune to bestow on Mr. Mainwar

u are! How did you

th Susan's poor little heart, I let out, in a jest-Heaven forgive me!-what William had said; and the dear child blushed, and kissed me, and-why, a day or two after, when it wa

ear, dea

to her, I thought she was calm; and I am sure she p

all now. Dear me, dear me! a sad piece of work indeed

, and Mr. Mainwaring's visits to Lu

een you paying court to another, I should have-I don't know what I shou

are say, it is only now in seeing them both together, and comparing the two, that he feels what a treasure he has lost. Well, what do you advise, Mary? Mainwaring, no doubt, is bound in honour to Miss Clavering; but she will be

vice? Why, I'd speak to Miss Clavering at once, if I dared. I'm sure love will never break he

y, after all. Still, it's scarce my business to meddle; and if it were no

nce wedded, custom and duty would have strengthened the chain imposed on himself, had it not been for Lucretia's fatal eagerness to see him, to come up to London, where she induced him to meet her,-for with her came Susan; and in Susan's averted face and trembling hand and mute avoidance of his eye, he read all which the poor dissembler fancied she concealed. But the die was cast, the union announced, the time fixed, and day by day he came to the house, to leave it in anguish and despair. A feeling they shared in common caused these two unhappy persons to shun each other. Mainwaring rarely came into the usual sitting-room of the family; and when he did so, chiefly in the evening, Susan usually took refuge in her own room. If they met, it was by accident, on the stairs, or at the sudden opening of a door; then not only no word, but scarcely even a look was exchanged: neither had the courage to face the other. Perhaps, of the two, this reserve weighed most on Susan; p

uture; and in her efforts to console him, her attempts to convince him that greatness in England did not consist only in lands and manors,-that in the higher walks of life which conduct to the Temple of Renown, the leaders of the procession are the aristocracy of knowledge and of intellect,-she so betrayed, not generous emulation and high-souled aspiring, but the dark, unscrupulous, tortuous ambition of cunning, stratagem, and intrigue, that instead of feeling grateful and encouraged, he shuddered and revolted. How, accompanied a

rred the fire, and gave a tug at the curtains. Her eye, glancing from his, round the mean room, with its dingy horsehair furniture, involuntarily implied the contrast between the past state and the present, which his sight could scarcely help to impress on her. But she welcomed him with her usual stately composure, and without reference to what had been. Dalibard was secretly anxious to discover if she suspected himself of any agency in the detection of the eventful

cretia did not see a pretence for accusing him. Indeed, when he related the little subterfuge of Gabriel, his attempt to save her by taking the letter on himself, she felt thankful to the boy, and deemed Gabriel's conduct quite in keeping with his attachment to herself. And this accounted satisfactorily for

fter a pause, "that the girl should have detected the le

two or three persons had entered before, and

e evil is now

still adhere to one who has

hs more I shal

eeply, but offere

and since Mainwaring has talents, that fortune will suffice for a career. Are you at length convinced that I have conquered my folly; that I was disinterested when I incurred your disp

before her; he ingratiated himself with the Fieldens, played with the children, made himself at home, and in the evenings when Mainwaring, as often as he could find the excuse, absented himself from the family circle, he contrived to draw Lucretia into more social intercourse with her homely companions than she had before condescended to admit. Good Mr. Fielden rejoiced; here was the very person,-the old friend of Sir Miles, the preceptor of Lucretia her

he would control his very sadness. Lucretia, offended, might leave your house, and certainly she would regard her sister as having influenced your confession,-a position unworthy Miss Mivers. But do not fear: if

een distant to him, as you may suppose, for I felt disappointed and displeased.

at Laughton of this acquaintance,-th

I am sure," s

I thank you for your confidence. I will watch well over my poor young pupil. She

ng jests on the more sober passengers, and attracting the especial and admiring attention of sundry ladies in plumed hats and scarlet pelisses; for the streets then enjoyed a gay liberty which has vanished from London with the lanterns of the watchmen. Noisi

the Provencal, and laying his hand very gently on

he prospect of a scene, they now gathered round, with countenances and g

hough morally most resolute, physically he was not brave,-"g

reaming down from a hat very much battered. "At the juvenile age, the child is consig

the rest, clapp

Hurrah!" and the hideous diapason nearly split

Reflect!" So saying, he bowed low to the unpropitious assembly, and as if

iumph died away, Dalibard looked

he boy stood still, he added, "I p

ed Gabriel, and he jo

your mother's most respectable brother, I ought to have contemplated what would be

rely, "that they are riotous fellow

ng the gait of his son. "Do you learn that accomplishm

nk for the world. I see people when they are drunk are me

magine that I will permit you any longer to remain with that vagabond Varney and yon crew of vauriens? Y

briel, firmly, and compressing his lip

right? Dare you diso

ill not enter it again." D

of age yet, Mr. Varney; you are not fr

my name rightly,-it is Varney, not Dalibard. We have no rights over

hich was acute, the child uttered no cry; but he growled beneath h

said: "I know. I am a boy, but you have made me man enough to take care of myself. Mr. Varney, my uncle, will maintain me; when of age, old Sir Miles has provided for me. Leave me in peace, treat me as free, and I will visit you, help you w

and hurrying down the street,

"Ay, let him go, he is dangerous! What son ever revolted even from the

start up, and walk away. She would have attributed the change to some return of his ancient passion, but she heard him once murmur with unspeakable pity, "Poor child, poor child!" A vague apprehension seized her,-first, indeed, caugh

before," he said,

! But how was it

"we were always talking of each other or

tural excuse. In the present of

idelong glance,-"still, as you mus

on his gaiter (gaiters were then worn tight at the

were so little intimate with your sister; I feared to o

o did her whole heart and soul grapple to the rock left serene amidst the deluge, that s

ould scorn myself if I could be so absorbed in one emotion as I am proud to be now,-I, poor woman! I know," again she would think,-"I know how

glance. Susan loved,-loved William Mainwaring; but was it not a love hopeless and unreturned? Might not this be the cause that had made Mainwaring so reserved? He might have seen, or conjectured, a conquest he had not sought; and hence, with manly delicacy, he had avoided naming Susan to Lucretia; and now, perhaps, sought the excuses which at times had chafed and wounded her for not joining the household circle. If one of those who glance over these pages chances to be a person more than usually able and acute,-a person who has loved and been deceived,-he or she, no matter which, will perhaps recall those first moments when the doubt, long put off, insisted to be heard. A weak and foolish heart gives way to the doubt at once; not so the subtler and more powerful,-it rather, on the contrary, recalls all the little circumstances that justify trust and make head against suspicion; it will not render the citadel at the mere sound of the trumpet; it arms all its forces, and bars its gates on the foe. Hence it is that the persons most easy to dupe in matters of affection are usually those most as

were required. He waylaid Mainwaring on the young man's way to his lodgings, and after talking to him on indifferent matters, asked him carelessly

, we shall not see her again before your marriage; she is going away in a day or two. The change of air may possibly yet restore her,-I own, though,

g no sooner reached his lodging than he wrote and d

ielden's words take the shape of comfort; for he himself was seriously alarmed for her health. The sound of her low cough rang

urance. After such an interview both would have new fortitude,-each would unite in encouraging the other in the only step left to honour. And this desire he urged upon Fielden with all the eloquence of passionate grief as he entreated him to permit and procure one last conference with Susan. But this, the plain sense and straightfo

that see Susan I will and must. I will watch round her home, wherever it be, hour after hour; come what may, I will find my occasion. Is it not better that the interview should be under your roof, within the same walls which shelter her sister? There, the place itself imposes restraint on despair. Oh, sir, this is no time for formal scruples; be merciful, I beseech you, not to me, but to Susan. I judge of her by myself. I know that I shall go to the altar more resigned to the future if for once I can give vent to what weighs upon my heart. She will then see, as I do, that the path before me is i

terview, and to arrange that it should be undisturbed. Mr. Fielden should take out the children the next morning. Dalibard volunteered to contrive the absence of Lucretia at the hour appointed. Mrs. Fielden alone should remain within, and might, if it were judged proper, be present at the interview, which was fixed for the forenoon in the usual drawing-room. Nothing but Susan's consent was now necessary, and Mr. Fielden ascended to her room. He knocked twice,-no swe

ch relates to you, and which I refer to you. He asks you to grant him an interview before you leave us,-to-morrow, if you will. I refused at first,-I am in doubt still; for, my dear, I have always found that when the feelings move us, our duty becomes less clear to the human heart,-corrupt, we know, but still it is often a safer guide than our reason. I never knew reason unerring, except in mathematics; we ha

and the hand clasped in Fielden's was as cold as ice. Then, turning her eyes to her guardi

e to do his duty; to fe

an, firmly,-"he is right; it will

my child; if my heart be

h a sad, wandering smile; and she

sted form, and lifting up his eyes, his lips stirred wi