Sandra Belloni (originally Emilia in England) — Complete

rom Brookfield, through lane

hford testified to the direction of their thoughts; and the absence of a sign of exultation may be accepted as a proof of the magnitude of that happiness of which they might not exhibit a feature. The effort to repress it must have cost them horrible pain. Adela, the youngest of the three, transferred her inward joy to the cottage children, whose staring faces from garden porch and gate flashed by the carriage windows. "How delighted they look!" she exclaimed more than once, and informed her sisters that a country life was surely the next thing to Paradise. "Those children do look so happy!" Thus did the weak one cunningly relieve herself. Arabella occupied her mind by giving Emilia

eaking, save just to show that her ideas ranged at liberty,

n of her open actions, choice of phrase, and by-play. Without communication or pre-arrangement, each knew that the other would not let slip the opportunity, and, after the first five minutes of languid ge

was a travelled Welsh squire, Lady Gosstre's best talker, on whom, as Brookfield learnt to see, she could perfectly rely to preserve the child from any little drawing-room sins or dinner-table misadventures. This gentleman had made sacrifices for the cause of Italy, in money, and, it was said, in

eauty, not too foolish. She thought it proper to punish h

ght arm of the Member for Hillford, the statistical debate, Sir Twickenham Pryme, who had twice before, as he ventured to remind her, enjoyed the honour of conversing, if not of dining, with her. Nay, more, he revived their topics. "And I have come round to your way of thinking as regards hustings addresses," he said. "In nine cases out of ten-at lea

ford. Her sisters had married captains in the army and navy, lawyers, and parsons, impartially. Lady Charlotte was nine-and-twenty years of age; with clear and telling stone-blue eyes, firm but not unsweet lips, slightly hollowed cheeks, and a jaw that certa

talking to her of Italy, in t

u leave it?

ture; and as I was accustomed to a black one, and not half

an, Aus

d

u hate

at

an you love

ve them and not to hate their enemies. Your Itali

otte murmuring aloud: "And in the third chapter o

e and forgive them, do we not

nd her, and re

Christian word with the point of

ut the Italians?" Wi

I prefer the Austrians. A very gentlemanly set of me

stic people cannot hate long. Hotly for the time, but the oppression gone,

things?" said Lady Gosstre, who

hate when her mind is given to music, s

Italian operatic spitfires, and

in this controversy?" Corneli

: "It has been computed that five-and-twenty murders per month to a population...to

t allow for

hink

h the ninety thousand souls are p

!" went Sir

other, because he never gets it. Where law is established, or tolerably secure, the k

n are as just to their mistresses," L

agitated. "I want to be told the name of that gentleman.

u know

his n

r to look at me.

t

ce was resolutely ke

bella, "that you think of bidding for the B

s modern, and I confess that

n having you nearer neighbours

e Tinleys wishing to purc

y?" asked Lady Charl

y what Dissenters are to religion

in that description

s on gravel; the river has trout; there's a splendid sweep of grass for the horses to exercise. I think there must be sixteen spare beds. A

parkled as she dwelt on these pa

d uncertain: she was set and decisive. In his soul he adored the extreme refinement of woman; even up to the thin edge of inanity (which neighbours what the philosopher could tell him if he would, and would, if it were permitted to him). Nothing was too white, too saintly, or too misty, for his conception of abstract woman. But the practical wants of our nature guide us best. Conversation with Lady Charlotte seemed to strengthen and ripen him. He blushed with pleasure when she said: "I remember reading your n

m flattered delight to vexed perplexity. Rounding one of the rhododendron banks, just as he lifted his head from that acknowledgment of the lady's commendatio

Emilia and Captain

dinner?" said he. "Was it not be

with me and talk to

come down here next we

going t

es

I know they will not hurt me, but I don't like being alone. I have given my promise to sing to some poor people. My friends say I mus

would be needed by his curious little friend, and as she was resolved not to break h

up an appointment

o Brookfield and get my harp, and then to Ipley Common. I am to be

; he to seek out Adela, she to wander about, the calme

e, Emilia was asked by him, who i

ld you of. Now I know his n

llowed to

he says?" Lady

e accidentally, in the park, in London, I think;

rred him with an i

r his name. That's all

y a characteristic of young men, is it not? no special dis

hen she said, "If you feel any responsibility about this little person, take my advice, and don't let her have appointments and meetings. They're bad in any

rk. The kindly lady brought Emilia between herself and Mr. Powys, saying, "I don't intend to let you be the star of the evening and outshine us all." After which, conversation commenced, and

lry. "What we do," she uttered distinctively once or twice. Among other things she spoke of "our discovery," to attest her declaration that, to wakefu

eated Adela's words. "Well, I suppose it is possibl

ss; and related how he had been introduced, a

n the income that sort of office b

it simply for some sort of occupation

to gentlemen in disguise," said Lady G

essed Mr

" he said. "Sir Justinian Barrett married a Miss Purcell, who subsequentl

dela. "Our Emilia brought him to us.

la

hand just now,"

in Gambler quitted the r

d he

ation came

fear to tell you what

er with the preposterous pledge given by Emilia, that she

her respectfully,

id Lady Gosstre. "For all that, she had bett

planations of the impropriety of such a thing could do, we have done

here this place was t

Emilia's extraordinary exhibition of will, to see that no reflex of her shameful and hideous proceeding had really fallen upon them. Their exclamations w

d?" Lady Charlotte murmured

r a little piec

.-Your dark-eyed maid has eloped. She left

eet, looking eagerly to

he questioned himself why his heart should be beating at such a

ter her," said Adela

ay as well let her keep her promise; and then hurry her home. T

soon walking rapidly under a rough sky in the direction of