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throw myself on your mercy--I am an impostor-- when your hospitality received
me into your house, it is true, you admitted George Denbigh, but he is better
known as the Earl of Pendennyss.
The Earl of Pendennyss! exclaimed Lady Moseley, in a glow of delight, as
she saw at once through some juvenile folly---a deception, which promised both
happiness and rank to one of her children; is it possible, my dear Charlotte,
this is your unknown friend. --
The very same, Anne, replied the smiling widow, and guilty of a folly,
that at all events, removes the distance between us a little, by showing he is
subject to the failings of mortality. But the masquerade is ended, and I hope
you and Edward will not only treat him as an Earl, but receive him as a son.
Most willingly--most willingly, cried the Baronet, with great energy; be
he prince --peer--or beggar--he is the preserver of my child, and as such, he
is always welcome.
The door now slowly opened, and the venerable bachelor appeared on its
threshold.
Pendennyss, who had never forgotten the good will manifested to him by Mr.
Benfield, met him with a look of pleasure, as he expressed his happiness at
seeing him again and in London.
I never have forgotten your goodness in sending honest Peter, such a
distance from home, or the object of his visit. I now regret a feeling of
shame occasioned my answering your kindness so laconically; turning to Mrs.
Wilson, he added, for a time, I knew not how to write a letter even-- afraid
to sign my proper appellation, and ashamed to use my adopted one.
Mr. Denbigh, I am happy to see you. I did send Peter, it is true, to London,
on a message to you--but it is all over now, -- and the old man
sighed-- Peter, however, escaped the snares of this wicked place; and if you
are happy, I am content. I remember when the Earl of--
Pendennyss! exclaimed the other, imposed on the hospitality of a worthy
man, under an assumed appellation, in order to pry into the character of a
lovely female, who was only too good for him, and who now is willing to forget
his follies, and make him, not only the happiest of men, but the nephew of Mr.
Benfield.
During this speech, the countenance of Mr. Benfield had manifested evident
emotion-- he looked from one to another, until he saw Mrs. Wilson smiling near
him; pointing to the Earl with his finger, he stood unable to speak, as she
answered, simply,
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Lord Pendennyss.
And Emmy dear--will you--will you marry him? cried Mr. Benfield,
suppressing his feelings, to give utterance.
Emily felt for her uncle, and blushing deeply, with great frankness, put her
hand in that of the Earl, who pressed it with rapture again and again to his
lips.
Mr. Benfield sunk into a chair, and with a heart softened by his emotions,
burst into tears. Peter, he cried, struggling with his feelings, I am now
ready to depart in peace--I shall see my darling Emmy, happy, and to her care,
I shall commit you.
Emily, deeply affected with his love, threw herself into his arms in a
torrent of tears, and was removed from them by Pendennyss, in consideration
for the feelings of both.
Jane felt no emotions of envy for her sister s happiness; on the contrary,
she rejoiced in common with the rest of their friends in her brightening
prospects, and they took their seats at the supper table, as happy a group, as
was contained in the wide circle of the Metropolis; a few more particulars
served to explain the mystery sufficiently, until a more fitting opportunity
made them acquainted with the whole of the Earl s proceedings.
My Lord Pendennyss, said Sir Edward, pouring out a glass of wine, and
passing the bottle to his neighbour: I drink your health-- and happiness to
yourself and my darling child.
The toast was drank by all the family, and the Earl replied to them with his
thanks and smiles, while Emily could only notice them, with her blushes and
tears.
But this was an opportunity not to be lost by the honest steward, who had,
from affection and long services, been indulged in familiarities, exceeding
any other of his master s establishment. He very deliberately helped himself
to a glass of wine, and drawing near the seat of the bride-elect, with a
humble reverence, commenced his speech as follows:
My dear Miss Emmy:--Here s hoping you ll live to be a comfort to your
honoured father, and your honoured mother, and my dear honoured master, and
yourself, and Madam Wilson. The steward paused to clear his voice, and cast
his eye round the table to collect the names; and Mr. John Moseley, and sweet
Mrs. Moseley, and pretty Miss Jane, (Peter had lived too long in the world to
compliment one handsome woman in the presence of another, without qualifying
his speech a little) and Mr. Lord Denbigh--Earl like, as they say he now is,
and --Peter stopped a moment to deliberate, and then making another
reverence, he put the glass to his lips; but before he had got half through
its contents, recollected himself, and replenishing to the brim, with a smile,
acknowledging his forgetfulness, continued, and the Rev. Mr. Francis Ives,
and the Rev. Mrs. Francis Ives. Here the unrestrained laugh of John
interrupted him; and considering with himself that he had included the whole
family, he finished his bumper. Whether it was pleasure at his eloquence, in
venturing on so long a speech, or the unusual allowance, that affected the
steward, he was evidently much satisfied with himself, and stepped back,
behind his master s chair, in great good humour.
Emily, as she thanked him, noticed with a grateful satisfaction, a tear in
the eye of the old man, as he concluded his oration, that would have excused a
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thousand breaches of fastidious ceremony. But Pendennyss rose from his seat,
and took him kindly by the hand, as he returned his own thanks for his good
wishes.
I owe you much good will, Mr. Johnson, for your two journies in my behalf,
and trust I never shall forget the manner in which you executed your last
mission, in particular. We are friends, I trust, for life.
Thank you--thank your honour s lordship, said the steward, almost unable to
utter; I hope you may live long, to make dear little Miss Emmy as happy--as I
know she ought to be.
But really, my lord, cried John, observing that the steward s affection for
his sister, had affected her to tears, it was a singular circumstance, the
meeting of the four passengers of the stage, so soon at your hotel? and
Moseley explained his meaning to the rest of the company.
Not so much so as you imagine, said the Earl in reply; yourself and
Johnson were in quest of me; Lord Henry Stapleton was under an engagement to
meet me that evening at the hotel, as we were both going to his sister s
wedding--I having arranged the thing with him, by letters previously;-- and
the General, M Carthy, was also in search of me, on business relating to his
niece, the Donna Julia. He had been to Annerdale House, and through my
servants, heard I was at a hotel. It was the first interview between us, and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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