inasmuch as Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes received none but the best company, and then, generally found her own delicate appetite for affection," continued Mrs. Reginald Courtrevive, through the medium of conjugal sym- ney Gibbes, "we are like one family, so pathy no doubt, just at Mr. Reginald Court- united. We have but one heart and one mind ney Gibbes's dinner hour; and thus, though amongst us all-we live in such perfect harshe nominally dined with her pupils, she mony." practically dined with her caro sposo. The lady the principal was interrupted with a message from the gentleman in the receiving-room, purporting that if it were not convenient for Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes to see him at that present time, it was not convenient for him to wait any longer. "My compliments, and I will see him immediately. So then he is not a drawing-master, or a music-master, or a writing-master, or any of those sort of people. If he had been, he would have waited long enough— and to ring the bell too! Young ladies, will you take any more? Here, then, take away. Give me my gloves, Miss Wilks." 66 con Lord Killikelly said that that was a summation devoutly to be wished; but he was much afraid that she was over-exerting herself." "O no; the children are so much attached to me-so docile-so amiable-so tractable, that it is quite enough for me to wish a thing, and before I can utter the wish it is done. Allow me to show you this testimony of their affections. And Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes rose and lifted a chased silver basket from a rose-wood table, on which it reposed on a rug of German wool, worked by the same young ladies, and presented it to Lord Killikelly, while she went off into the pathetic. "I am sure that I never look on this testimony of the affection of my children without tears." Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes took out a French cambric handkerchief, elaborately worked all round, and applied it to her eyes. "And this handkerchief, too, embroidered by my children; would you believe it, sir? took it in turns to rise at four in the morning to work this for me. Are you a judge of needlework, sir? This is considered as quite a sample. Gentlemen understand everything in these days." Lord Killikelly was exceedingly sorry that he was not a judge. "And see, sir, marked with their hair: Jemima Letitia Gibbes; presented by her affectionate seminary,' in a wreath.” "Very flattering indeed." Begloved and beringed, and bechained and befrilled, a sandalled slipper, a satin dress, a silk apron, a lace collar, a blonde cap with roses and ribands innumerable-but no, we cannot finish the inventory; suffice it to say, that Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes was as fine as the hundred young gentlemen who daily lecture on costume at Swan and Edgar's and Waterloo House could possibly make her. Just at the door of the receiving-room she pulled out her sleeves, elevated her person into a double dignity, and entered somewhat larger than life. Lord Killikelly was fidgeting about the room, thoroughly tired of waiting, although the lady the principal had only kept him three quarters of an hour, and she had established a rule of never granting an audience in less time, because it made both herself and her time appear of no conse- "And this silver salver, sir, saved out of quence. Lord Killikelly's appearance rather their pocket money-the pocket money of the confirmed the idea of his being a travelling whole school-and I knowing nothing of the master going about for orders for accom- matter-nothing, upon my honour-or I cerplishments, but he removed the unfavourable impression by telling her that he had called to request a circular, her terms, particulars, &c. That was quite sufficient. Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes immediately began her accustomed lesson, for she had a lesson as well as her pupils. "Her plans for conducting her establishment were of so peculiar a nature, that their effect was most marvellous. They had cost her much pains and study to mature, and she flattered herself they were perfectly original. She had formed an entirely fresh plan, a wholly new method, and "It is, indeed, most gratifying; and I am it gave her the most philanthropic pleasure equally happy in the approbation of the pato watch the development of her process, is- rents and guardians of my pupils. I could suing in the perfection of the children en- show you such letters, but I have sent about trusted to her care. But virtue was ever its a hundred and fifty of them to be elegantly own reward! She had invented a mode of bound up, to lie on the table. It is a satisinstruction altogether different from any that faction to other parents to see such testimohad ever been practised since Mrs. Adam'in-nies of my success, and I propose to leave structed Miss Adam in the accomplishments them for an heir-loom, (Mrs. Reginald Courtof the young days of the young world. No ney Gibbes looked very pious,) when I shall matter what the capacity, her seminary was be taken away." tainly should not, could not, have permitted it. I must have refused them, though I think it would have broken their hearts-and they have such hearts! it would have been such a pity. But read the inscription, sir." Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes; presented by her affectionate pupils, as a mark of their gratitude for her never-to-be-enough estimated, and more than maternal, kind. ness. "Very touching, indeed," said Lord Killikelly. a hot-bed for forcing all manner of accom- Lord Killikelly tried to look very much plishments. The chain of memory was affected. elongated into an endless web, the citadel of "I have just enlarged my establishment. the heart had new wings built to it, the mind I was so much pressed to do it, that I could no longer refuse. A lady of title-but I ought | pale emaciated girl. Languid and inert, not to mention names-did so wish me to take with a countenance dead in its expression, some of her young relations. They were left and a look of utter hopelessness, she quite dependent upon her, and she declared seemed to do all that was required of her that unless I would receive them, she would mechanically. "My dear Miss Warwick," give them up, she would have nothing to do said the lady principal, assuming her part with them. Poor girls! my feelings would in the general harmony, "have the goodnot allow me to refuse her. So I made some ness to play this gentleman one of your sacrifices. But my number is quite limited." admirable pieces-anything you pleaseLord Killikelly passed some eulogiums you play everything so delightfully." on tenderness of feeling and humanity. Miss Warwick sat down and commenced "I was induced to receive another young like a piece of machinery. Her attitude lady also, a ward in chancery; her friends and her fingering were perfectly unexentreated me to make room for her, but I did ceptionable. You might have laid a sixnot like the guardian that the lord chancellor pence on every knuckle. Mrs. Reginald had nominated; he was a man that-but I Courtney Gibbes kept time, occasionally have no right to injure his reputation-(Mrs. claiming admiration from Lord Killikelly Reginald Courtney Gibbes looked the very by look and gesture, and low-toned soul of candour,) and, perhaps it might be a "charmings," admirables," ," "fines," and prejudice (here the lady was all humility)- "effectives," with a few words of encoubut however it might be, I said No!' I ne- ragement to Miss Warwick, followed by ver would, never could, receive the young appealing looks to himself claiming his adlady into my seminary, unless the lord chan-miration for being so very kind, so very cellor would nominate another guardian condescending, so very amiable, and once whom I could approve." murmuring, We live in such harmony." Just at this juncture there was a loud crash, and some loud screaming heard from the school-room, and as Miss Warwick went on playing like an automaton, Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes thought it expedient to go herself and learn what had produced such discord in her harmonious seminary. "A most serious affliction for the young lady." It turned out a great benefit to her. My determination was communicated to the lord chancellor, and he immediately placed the young lady under another guardian." Lord Killikelly commended the lord chancellor. Lord Killikelly could not remove his eyes from the pale teacher's countenance; he had never before felt so strangely "I have now just one vacancy, only just one; and I shall be most happy to receive any young lady in whom you are inter-affected. He had never seen a face so perested." Lord Killikelly was most profoundly obliged. He was not prepared at once to close, but he begged to know who did the music in Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes's seminary. Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes had a music governess in the house-a young lady of most extraordinary talents-edu. cated in the Royal Academy-a pupil of Rubini, Tamburini, and Lablache. Lord Killikelly would consider it as a great obligation if Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes would permit him to hear the lady's style, and she rather reluctantly rang the bell, and ordered Miss Rachel Wilks, whose department it was to answer it, to send up the music governess. Lord Killikelly had heard from Mrs. Phillicody that Miss Warwick taught the music, and as he had determined to search out all his relations, Miss Warwick he was determined to see. In fact, Miss Warwick was everything that might happen to be wanted. She was music governess, and French governess, and Italian governess, and German governess, besides being governess for the globes, and astronomy, and geography, and geology, and everything else. In the character of music governess, Miss Warwick now presented herself. Lord Killikelly looked with compassion on the fectly ground down into an apathy of wretchedness. He could almost have wept himself. "If I could but see one emotion, even of pain, pass over that girl's face, it would be a relief to me," thought Lord Killikelly; "anything that would break up the chains of such a misery, the petrifaction of such a hopelessness. If I could but see a tear! What a relief must tears be to such a girl!" But no tear came. The pale teacher finished her performance without evincing anything like either feeling or emotion. Lord Killikelly muttered something about calling again, and moved towards the door. Miss Warwick attended him down. It did not lie in her department to ring the bell. As soon as Miss Warwick opened the door of the receiving-room, which the lady principal had carefully shut, sounds of a dire confusion became fearfully audible. The doors of the school-room were wide open. Mrs. Reginald Courtney Gibbes was scolding most energetically, and with her own fair white hand was distributing those tokens of open-handed benevolence, vulgarly called slaps, on the backs of her loving children, together with sundry of those well-known boxes, vulgarly known boxes on the ear, while a particularly stout gentleman, whose appearance testified that he lived to eat, and did not eat to as live, and who had evidently come home | Thou hast quaffed the goblet of sparkling rather too soon for his share of the chick wine, glad, ens and celery sauce, stood vainly expos- But though mingling thus with the gay and tulating and interposing between the tender preceptress and her loving pupils, with Thy step is slow, and thine eye is sad. whom she lived in such perfect harmony, Thou hast toiled in Mammon's crowded entreating her to desist, as the impression of her fair fingers remained in blood-red streaks upon their luckless backs and shoulders. "Now don't, my dear, pray don't exert yourself so much, you will hurt yourself! Indeed you will hurt yourself!” mart, Thou hast given to grasping thoughts thy heart, Thou hast bowed thy noble mind to share Borne on their course by a favouring That happiness cannot be bought or sold. Thou hast won a crown of deathless bays, bless Yet thy spirit pines in weariness. Lord Killikelly paused in amazement. Veronese Rowland was standing in the centre of the room, a table near her with drawing utensils, and some half-dozen She had evidently pupils surrounding it. been disturbed in the midst of giving a drawing lesson. At the moment that Lord Killikelly caught the grouping and the supposable circumstances of the case, the lady principal, tired with her philanthropic labour, turned suddenly upon poor Veronese. "I am surprised, Miss Rowland-I must say that I am surprised, considering all the obligations of your family, that you should not take a little interest in the children during my temporary absence, when you know that they are so mischievous. You Where shalt thou true refreshment find? know very well that your cousin is indebted Its source exists alone in the mind to me for board, and lodging and washing, Yet wait till thy mind be purified and all the comforts of a home, and that I From feverish passions, and warring pride; make her a handsome present into the bar- Thou must set it free from earthly things, gain; and as for yourself, Miss Rowland-" And from light and vain imaginings, "For myself, madam," said Veronese, Ere it own such sweet and placid rest, her whole person wrapped up in pride; As to welcome peace as a lasting guest. for myself, madam, I trust that I earn whatever I receive from you." O! seek for the blessing that attends On holy books, and on virtuous friends; The purer solace thou next may'st share of lonely musing, and humble prayer. Devote thy mind, in thy youthful hours, To the God who gave its wondrous powers, And a joy that yet thou hast never known Shall spring from thy daily thoughts alone. ، Lord Killikelly passed on: he dreaded to meet the eye of Veronese-he could not bear that she should know him as a witness of the indignity she was enduring. He went out of that happy seminary of docile and affectionate children, asking himself if it were the fault of society, or of themselves, that Veronese Rowland and her cousin and his should thus be thrown upon their own exertions, and that in return for those exertions they should reap such a harvest of bitterness? THE MASK AND THE FACE.* BY JOSEPH PRICE. Frederick.-Que feriez-vous à ma place? A DELIGHTFUL August day was drawing towards its close; and the oppressive heat, which is so intense during the short duration of the northern summers, was sensibly diminishing in proportion to the lengthened shadows of every object on the surface of the earth. The rising wind was refreshing the fervid atmosphere, and whispering through the flickering foliage of the trees, which had already began to assume their gorgeous livery of purple and gold, the last and dazzling splendour which for a short *The sequel to the "Queen's Diamonds." vol. vi. p. 119. See period conceals the approaches of decrepi- | of the youthful prince royal to the throne, tude and death. A gentleman, accompa- had disappeared. His affable and condescendnied by about a score of horsemen, who kept ing manners, his ready and popular eloat a respectful distance from their leader, quence, and his anxiety to listen to the grievreined in his steed for an instant at the ances of his subjects of every degree, to whom summit of a long ascent, which he had rap- he gave audience twice a week, had, at first, idly surmounted, on the road from Carls- enlisted all hearts in his favour; but the incrone to Christianstadt. The scenery terminable and idle discussions in the Eswhich was presented to view from this tates, respecting the act of safety to which point was admirably picturesque. To the he was to swear for the maintenance of the left, like a broad and dark belt, were seen constitution, had delayed his coronation to the black waves of the Baltic, where some the 29th of May, 1772; and Gustavus the vessels were spreading their large white Third, disgusted with his inability to do sails to the breeze like the wings of sea good, had made up his mind to pass his life birds; while the setting sun, on the right in philosophic contemplation beyond the hand, descending slowly on the horizon of walls of Stockholm, in the residences of EckScania, towards the waters of the Sound, holmsund and Ulricksdall, leaving it to the inundated the west with straggling streaks conquering party to demand and obtain the of light. The fortifications of Christian- deposition of the members of the senate bestadt, where the cavalier intended to rest longing to the opposite faction; an impolitic after his journey, were just discernible at vengeance, which struck at the nobility, and, the extremity of the road, through the fog by reducing it to despair, rendered it more which, as evening comes on, always rises accessible to the hopes and wishes of a over the northern cities. All was calm change. To these causes of trouble and disaround; and no sound was heard in the quietude a still greater evil was speedily plains which were then so beautiful, but added; for while the members of the Stateswhich present so gloomy an aspect during General made open parade of the most the dreary and lingering season of snow. shameless venality and corruption, and lived The mind of the philosophic observer is on the subsidies, or publicly sold themselves impressed with an idea at once majestic to the promises of the English and Russian and melancholy, when he gazes upon the Ambassadors, the people were suffering under immense kingdoms of these regions, where accumulated misery. A severe dearth had inhabitants are wanting to subdue an un-afflicted the whole extent of the realm with grateful soil; and where two men, born at a distance of twenty leagues apart, are divided as it were by a desert. famine, and, whether it was by carelessness, or through a Machiavelian calculation to increase the general discontent, the purchases of corn in foreign countries were found far short of the necessary supply. When his companions had rejoined him, the Baron Rudbek resumed his gallop, in order to reach the gates of Christianstadt, Such was the situation of Sweden fifteen from which he was still a league distant, months after the death of Adolphus Fredbefore twilight. On his near approach to erick. Every one seemed to be conscious the city, he ordered one of his train to pre- that the measure was full, and that the slightcede him, and apprize the commandant of est shock would make it run over; but whothe fort, Captain Hellichius, of his presence. ever had presented himself to avert the imRudbek, the Governor-general of Stock-pending wreck would most probably have holm, had been commissioned by the se- perilled his head. Like all feeble powers cret committee to inform himself of the which, when they feel their authority feeling of the province of Scania, in which approaching its termination, accuse everyan attempt at insurrection was anticipated. body but themselves for the ill success of The Estates had been assembled since the their measures, the dominant party in the thirteenth of the preceding June; but they Diet imputed the general restlessness and had not been able to effect any reform on dissatisfaction to the machinations of their account of the violence of the contending adversaries; and, instead of vigorously actfactions, whose only object was their per-ing to baffle such projects, they lost invaluasonal and present interest, and their only ble time in listening to and discussing numeffort to maintain or recover their prepon- berless accounts of pretended plots. Notderance. The majority of the three infe- withstanding his withdrawal from public afrior orders of the Diet had passed from the fairs, Gustavus had become an object of disHats to the Caps, and these latter could not trust, not so much from his avowed intentions easily forget the tragical death of the on any positive acts, as from the fear lest at Count de Horn and his friends. Since any sudden hour, and by the sole strength of then, another change had occurred which the unity of his position, he should unite these was brought about by the weakness and scattered fragments of power, these small. irresolution of the late king, as well as by tyrannies always at war with each other, the fickleness and cupidity of the factions, but without root and cohesion, by absorbing and the Hats had opened a negotiation with the count, which the Caps, in their turn, controlled and oppressed. In the midst of this confusion, all the hopes which had been inspired by the accession them with his own influence. The journey of the princes Charles and Frederick, the king's brother, was looked upon by the States as a suspicious circumstance. One of them was in Scania, awaiting the return of the dowager-queen from Prussia; the other, by Rudbek took the paper from the soldier's his physician's advice, was taking the waters hand, and by the expiring light of day he at Metrivy. But in their protracted stay in read the manifesto, in which the Governor the provinces surrounding the capital was Hellichius declared "that he had been comperhaps couched a design of collecting troops; pelled to this step, because some persons, by as at this season of the year, and according stratagem or violence, had unjustly dared to to the terms of the constitution, the greater assume the title of the Estates of the realm of part of the soldiers was scattered over the Sweden... had exercised a tyrannical powface of the country in their respective homes, er, outraged justice, and lent themselves to and could not be mustered under arms un- the views of foreign nations... that they less by the express order of the States. had taken no precautions to prevent the famGeneral Rudbek, who was a sincere friend ine, and had outrageously violated the just of Gustavus, but, at the same time, devoted and legitimate authority of the crown with all his heart to the upholding of the that in this juncture the garrison of Chrisconstitution, had already accomplished a tianstadt would set an example to every considerable portion of his tour of observa- Swede, protesting that it would not lay down tion without perceiving any symptoms of re- its arms until they had rendered unto God volt, and was proceeding onwards to Chris- the things that were God's, and unto the tianstadt, where there was a garrison of fif-king the things that were the king's." teen hundred men, and where he had no After reading this document, there was no reason to anticipate a reception different to what he encountered at any other place he had inspected. The officer whom he had detached from his small band had not yet returned; and Rudbek, who was anxious about his non-appearance, resumed his progress; but he had scarcely rounded the base of a hill which obstructed the view of the city, when his messenger was seen running towards him. "Do not advance, general," exclaimed the gentleman, as soon as he was within hearing distance-" do not advance, or they will fire upon you.” "What can you mean?" asked Rudbek. "I mean," answered the soldier, "that the garrison has revolted, and that the fortress is occupied by fifteen hundred incarnate devils, who keep guard on the ramparts with lighted matches and shouldered arms." "Did they refuse to open the gates to you." ... longer room for doubt. The king's name, which appeared in almost every line of this proclamation, seemed to infer a participation, the danger likely to ensue from which caused great alarm to Rudbek. As he had no disposable force at hand with which to attack the revolters, his only course was to return in all haste to Stockholm, and to make the secret committee immediately acquainted with the rebellion. Although fatigued by many hours' march, he turned his rein, and did not stop till the dawn of day at Calmar, where the escort changed horses. From this place a horseman was sent forward with despatches to the committee; and on the 16th of August, at four in the afternoon, General Rudbek himself reached Stockholm. Without taking an instant's rest, without pausing to ascertain whether his colleagues had received his message, he hurried to the king, who had only returned to his capital on the preceding evening. When Rudbek "I had scarcely time to ask them to per- made his appearance, all covered as he was form that civility. I called out that you were with sweat and dust, Gustavus was alone in coming in the name of the Estates, and the a retired apartment of his palace: through sole reply I got was, a shout of Vive le roi! the open window was seen a lovely garden, and a volley of musket-balls, which stretched whose dense and somewhat melancholy folimy poor horse dead on the spot. I did not age threw an air of freshness and repose over consider it advisable to continue the conver- the magnificent residence. This young king, sation, and hurried back to apprise your ex- who was accused of treasonable projects; cellency of what has occurred." this redoubtable conspirator, whom the statesRudbek did not reply, and seemed thun-men of Stockholm suspected of aspiring to derstruck at the report. After a minute or the despotism of Charles XII., was engaged two's silence, he exclaimed, "You must be at a frame in embroidering a flower which mistaken-it is impossible," and turning to- he had promised to one of the ladies of his wards his troop, he shouted, "Forward, my court.* At the noise made by Rudbek in enbrave friends!" But the soldier seized his bridle and compelled him to stop, adding, "General, you are hurrying to certain death. If you doubt the truth of my report, you cannot help giving faith to this:" so saying, he presented a paper to his chief. "What is this?" asked Rudbek. "A proclamation of Captain Hellichius." "From whom did you procure it?" "From some peasants who live close by the city gate, into whose cottage I entered for an instant to bandage a scratch in my left arm, by a shot from one of those madmen." I tering, the king turned round, and with that grace which he knew so well how to blend with his every word, he said, "You are welcome, my old friend. What! already back? thank you for the surprise you have occasioned me, for I can easily see, by the state of your dress, that you thought no one was entitled to dispute with me the favour of your first visit in Stockholm. And you are right, Rudbek: there need be no etiquette between you and me," added he, stretching out his hand, and trying to draw him to a * Histoire de Gustave III. By Trosselt. |