Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

might attribute my absence to some consciousness relative to the discovery of the locked door yesterday, and therefore I went; perhaps, too, the hope of seeing her on whom my soul dotes, also influenced my decision. The porter told me his lady was not at home, in a tone (but it might have been my imagination that so interpreted it) which seemed more than ordinarily brusque. I asked, whether Lord Annandale was at home? but he, also, was denied, though his cabriolet was at the door.

What can this conduct mean? Was the order given by her, or by him? I remember that there was a fierté in her countenance I never before saw it wear, when Miss Montressor commented on my compromising Lady Annandale's reputation; and the proud and indignant manner in which she repelled the insidious insinuation of that lady, still is pre

sent to my memory. Probably that heartless woman's observations have induced Lady Annandale to close her doors against me; and, if she have so acted, while lamenting this cruelty, I must admit its wisdom. I never should have had courage to tear myself from her sight; for I am become weak and vacillating as a child, This engrossing passion has mastered all my energies, destroyed my best resolves, and left me naught of manhood but its wilfulness.

I have this moment received an anonymous letter, in a female's hand its contents asto

nish me! It states that I am beloved

[ocr errors]

yes,

fondly beloved by the woman, the writer is sure, I prefer above all others on earth; that the natural reserve, prudery, or sense of duty, call it what I will, of the lady in question, may induce her to conceal her affection for me; but that I may rest assured that affection

exists, and must not despair, though the person who entertains it should continue to repress all external symptoms of it.

This letter is signed, " A Friend," and must, I am sure, come from Miss Montressor. Who else knows or suspects my feelings? And yet what could be the motive of such a communication? I am all bewildered! I will call on Lord and Lady Vernon; perhaps they may be able to throw some light on the rejection of my visit at Annandale House.

I found Lord and Lady Vernon in their library, both greatly agitated, and the latter

in tears.

"Look here," said Lord Vernon, handing me a letter; "this is the fac-simile of one addressed also to my wife. It is anonymous, and contains the most vile and infamous charges against the honour of our child. Yours, also, is assailed; but we know you

too well, my dear lord, brief as has been the term of our friendship, to doubt your honour, any more than we do that of our idolised Augusta, on the faith of whose virtue we would risk our lives. But to have that virtue questioned, and her name thus profaned, is indeed a severe blow."

So saying, he pointed to a pile of newspapers, in which, he said, the most indelicate references were openly made to a supposed attachment between Lady Annandale and myself. Now was it that all the guilty imprudence of my conduct, in so frequently attending Lady Annandale in public, and visiting her daily, appeared in its true light, while I perused the disgusting attacks to which my selfish. folly had exposed her; and beheld the shame and sorrow it had inflicted on her excellent parents. I, who knew the world, ought to have foreseen that such must be the result;

but, criminal as I was, I closed my eyes on the danger to which my attentions subjected her; and have, consequently, been the means of having that honour impugned which I would have risked my life a thousand times to defend.

I stood shocked and abashed before Lord and Lady Vernon; for, though free from even a guilty thought with regard to their daughter, my conduct had all the semblance of guilt. The innumerable liaisons between parties of my acquaintance, of whose culpability no doubt exists, were all characterised by conduct similar to mine; so that I had injured the reputation of this pure-minded and innocent woman to the utmost extent, by the selfish indulgence of seeking her society in a manner that must have impressed a belief of impropriety on the minds of all who had opportunities of observing it.

"If Augusta should become aware of these

« PoprzedniaDalej »