Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

"It would be too condescending." "Then I shall retain my first formed opinion."

Eliza felt painfully called upon to speak; yet what could she say. Her father's words recurred to her memory, "It was a stranger who brought a letter from my father." Such a sentence would close the conversation and end her difficulties. It was a dreadful temptation, and-her integrity failed.

"It was a stranger who brought a letter from my father."

"I thought," said Mr. De Lisle, “that you told us, when you assented to receive this stranger, that it was a friend-a dear friend."

Surprise, horror, and astonishment rushed upon Major Douglas. This then was the pure minded ingenuous Eliza! The sickness of blighted hopes-of fallen esteem-prevaded his heart. Those who live in the constant practice of petty dissimulation, and regard that practice as

reflecting no disgrace, can form no conception of the anguish of withdrawing our esteem from those whose love is necessary to our peace, and whom we cannot love without respecting.

It was an influx of many combined emotions that now rushed across the Major's mind; not with their after separation, but in overwhelming multitude. One involuntary glance he cast upon Eliza, and their eyes met: that moment of anguish not years of quiet peace could compensate: it told with more than the faith of language all that was within. It was the last look that months or years should see cast upon Eliza. He arose, and left the room, and was instantly followed by Mr. De Lisle.

Is it not strange that when Mr. De Lisle had with persevering obstinacy obtained what he sought, that then feelings of the man and of the gentleman returned with redoubled force. He sympathised with Major Douglas, and sorrow mingled with

the anger and contempt he felt towards Eliza. He even half regretted that the work of discovery had been effected by his means; and an almost involuntary pity entered his heart. He went in search of Major Douglas, even while he dreaded to encounter him.

[ocr errors]

For Eliza, self possession forsook her, and she sunk into the arms of the astonished and pitying Mrs. De Lisle, in an agony of tears. No word of complaint escaped her; and to every soothing expression that Mrs. De Lisle could urge, continued tears were her only reply; till exhausted with her grief she lost the power of its further audible expression, and sank into a state of wordless, tearless, misery.

Eliza felt that henceforth misery was her portion. She knew the abhorrence Major Douglas entertained towards every species of dissimulation; and that he took a noble pride in the unimpeached veracity of all that were dear to him. She

felt that her prospects, late so smiling, were passed away. The charm was broken, and could not be restored. It was even her hope, that she should never again meet Major Douglas's eye, for its glance seemed to carry with it annihi, lation.

For a time Mrs. De Lisle strove to re assure and comfort her; but, as delicacy tied her tongue, her conversation could only glance towards, without reaching, the root of the evil: but when she found the attempt to engage Eliza's attention vain, she desisted; and they both sunk into a silence of wretchedness.

Sir Archibald's carriage had been or dered to be in readiness early in the evening to convey Eliza home, and it was now announced. She had wished for the time of her departure, but now that it came, it came unwelcome. Even when we know that our treasures are gone, our heart still clings to the vacant

casket. Eliza felt like him who, having by an unluckly throw lost his right to riches, reluctantly yields them to another we hardly believe that they are ours no more, till they are taken from our sight.

A maid entered to adjust her habiliments, and when this ceremony was concluded, during which Eliza was merely passive, Mrs. De Lisle, who stood by, gently drew her shawl in closer folds around her throat, to guard her from the evening air. The action was in itself simple, yet so kindly performed, that it instantly went to Eliza's heart: she caught the hand, that having done this service was gently withdrawing, and pressed it to her lips.

"My dear Eliza," said Mrs. De Lisle, in accents of sympathy and tenderness, "forgive me, if my friendship overcome my delicacy. Condescend to afford some little explanation. It is in vain to

« НазадПродовжити »