Whilst Mrs. Hungerford was wasting her good advice upon Lady Angelica, Sir James Harcourt, at his toilette, received this day's letters, which he read, as usual, while his hair was dressing.—— Some of these letters were from creditors, who were impatient to hear when his advantageous marriage would be concluded, or when he would obtain that place which had been so long promised. The place at court, as he was this post informed by a private, very confidential letter, under a government cover and huge seal, from his intimate friend, my Lord Skreene, "ministers had found themselves under the unfortunate necessity of giving away, to secure three votes on a certain cabinet question." Sir James threw the letter from him, without reading the rest of his dear friend's official apologies——"So the place at court is out of the question, a wife must be my last resource," thought he, but how to bring her to the point?——
Sir James knew, that though he was now in high favor, he might, at some sudden turn of caprice, be discarded or deserted by his fair one, as had been the fate of so many of his predecessors.—— The ruling passion, vanity, must be touched, and the obvious means of wakening jealousy were in his power. He determined to pay attentions to Miss Caroline Percy: his experience in the tactics of gallantry supplying the place of knowledge of the human heart, he counterfeited the symptoms of a new passion, and acted "The Inconstant" so well, that Lady Angelica had no doubt of his being what he appeared. She was not prepared for this turn of fate, well as she thought she knew her game, and at this unlucky moment, just when she wanted to play off Sir James against Mr. Barclay——and in an old castle in the country, too, where no substitute was to be had!
Her Ladyship was the more vexed, because Mrs. Hungerford must see her distress. Unused to any thing that opposed her wishes, she lost all temper, and every word and look manifested resentment and disdain towards her innocent and generous rival. In this jealousy, as there was no mixture of love to color and conceal it's nature, it could not pass for refinement of sentiment, it bore no resemblance to any thing noble, it must have been detected, even by a less penetrating and less interested observer than Mr. Barclay.——His eyes were now completely opened.
In the mean time, Caroline's character, the more it was brought into light, the more it's value, goodness, and purity appeared.——In the education of a beauty, as of a prince, it is essential early to inspire an utter contempt of flattery, and to give the habit of observing, and consequently the power of judging of character.
Sir James Harcourt was quite astonished by the composure, with which a young girl, who looked as if she had never heard, as if she did not know that she was handsome, received the full fire of his flattery. He was mistaken, however, in thinking that she had never heard, or that she did not know she was handsome.——Her parents had not attempted, by paltry absurd deceit, to conceal from her this truth; so that there was no danger, that the pleasure of making the discovery should be suddenly and dangerously associated with a first admirer. Whilst her parents had never pretended to deny that she was handsome, they had inspired her with the ambition to be something better than a beauty, and to disdain the compliments, which are paid to mere personal charms——Nor had gentlemen much chance of imposing upon her by false professions of love. Without being rendered suspicious, Caroline had been so well accustomed to observe whether the action was suited to the word and the word to the action, that no one could, without offending her, "overdo a passion," even a passion for herself. She saw at once, through his assumed appearance, that Sir James Harcourt had not the slightest attachment to her; Rosamond also, whose penetration was quickened on this occasion by affection for her sister, discerned the truth immediately, and her indignation could scarcely be restrained.
Caroline, on this occasion, when, perhaps, some little temptation might have been felt by some ladies, remembered her own prayer against coquetry, her manner towards Sir James was free from all possibility of reproach or misconstruction. And by simply and steadily adhering to the truth, and going the straight road, she avoided all the difficulties in which she would have been involved, had she deviated but for a moment into any crooked path.
It may seem small praise, that she avoided all coquetry and deception by word or look; yet those who know the world and the fair sex best will be inclined to have the highest opinion of a young lady, who entirely deserved this praise.——But to return to Lady Angelica Headingham. She was pleased to see Sir James Harcourt at a fault, and delighted to see him mortified. Her Ladyship's disdainful manner towards Caroline was thrown aside,
"And all the cruel language of the eye" changed at once. Lady Angelica acknowledged, "that no one could show more magnanimity, than Miss Caroline Percy had displayed in her conduct to Sir James Harcourt."——This speech was made of course to be repeated, and when Caroline heard it, she could not help smiling at the word magnanimity, which sounded to her rather too grand for the occasion.
Sir James Harcourt finding himself completely foiled in his schemes, and perceiving that the parties were closing and combining in a manner which his knowledge of the world had not taught him to foresee, endeavored with all possible address and expedition, to make his separate peace with Lady Angelica. Her Ladyship, however, was proud to show, that she had too much sense and spirit, to accept again the homage of this recreant knight. He had not time to sue for pardon——his adventure might have ended in a jail. So forthwith he took his departure from Hungerford-Castle, undetermined whether he should again haste to court to beg a place, or bend his course to the city, there to barter his fashion against the solid gold of some merchant, rolling in his Majesty's coin, who might be silly enough to give his daughter, for a bow, to a courtier without a shilling. On one point, however, Sir James was decided——betide him weal, betide him wo,——that his next mistress should neither be a wit, nor a beauty, nor yet a patroness.
After the departure of the baronet, the Lady Angelica expected to find her remaining lover at her feet, in transports of joy and gratitude for this haughty dismissal of his rival.——No such thing!—— Mr. Barclay seemed disposed to throw himself at the feet of another, and of the last person in the world, at whose feet her Ladyship could bear to think of seeing him. Yet if she had even now taken Mrs. Hungerford's friendly warning, she might still have saved herself from mortification. But she was hurried on by her evil genius——the spirit of coquetry.
She had promised to pay a visit this summer to an aunt of Mr. Barclay's, Lady B——, who lived in Leicestershire. And now, when every thing was arranged for her reception, Lady Angelica changed her mind, and told Mr. Barclay, that she could not go, that she had just received letters from town, from several of her fashionable friends, who were setting out for Weymouth, and who insisted upon her meeting them there——And there was a delightful Miss Kew, a protégée of hers, who was gone to Weymouth in the hope and trust, that her Ladyship would produce her and her new novel at the reading parties, which Lady Angelica had projected.——She declared that "she could not possibly disappoint Miss Kew ——besides, she had promised to carry Mr. Seebright to Weymouth, to introduce him and his poem to her friends,——his subscription and the success of his poem entirely depended upon her going to Weymouth——she could not possibly disappoint him.
Mr. Barclay thought more of his own disappointment——and said so——at which her Ladyship rejoiced, for she wished to make this a trial of her power; and she desired rather, that her reasons should not appear valid, and that her excuses should not be reasonable, on purpose that she might compel Mr. Barclay to submit to her caprice, and carry him off in triumph in her train.
She carelessly repeated, that "Leicestershire was out of the question at this time, but that Mr. Barclay might attend her, if he pleased."——
But it did not please him——"He did not think, that his aunt was properly treated, and he preferred her to all the bel-esprits and fine ladies who were going to Weymouth ——her charming self excepted."
She depended too much on the power of that charming self.——Mr. Barclay, whose bands she had gradually loosened, now made one resolute effort, asserted and recovered his liberty.——He declared, that "to Weymouth he could not have the honor of attending her Ladyship——if her Ladyship thought the claims and feelings of her protégées of greater consequence than his, if she held herself more bound by the promises she had given to Mr. Seebright, Miss Kew, or any of her bel-esprit friends, than by those with which she had honored his aunt, he could not presume to dispute her pleasure, or further to press Lady B.'s request, he could only lament——and submit."
Lady Angelica flattered herself, that this was only a bravado, or a temporary ebullition of courage, but, to her surprise and dismay, Mr. Barclay continued firm, calm, and civil.——His heart now turned to the object, on which his understanding had long since told him it should fix. He saw that Miss Caroline Percy was all that could make him happy for life, if he could win her affections. But of the possibility of succeeding he had great doubts. He had, to be sure, some circumstances in his favor: he was of a good family, and had a considerable fortune; in a worldly point of view he was a most advantageous match for Caroline Percy, but he knew, that an establishment was not the first object, either with her, or with her parents; neither could he wish, that any motives of interest should operate in his favor. His character, his principles, were good, and he had reason to believe, that Mr. Percy was impressed with a highly favorable opinion of his good sense and general understanding. Caroline talked to him always as if she liked his conversation, and felt esteem for his character; but the very freedom and ease of her manner showed, that she had no thoughts of him. ——He was many years older than Caroline: ——he was six and thirty, and she was eighteen, this did not amount to an absolute disparity, but it was an alarming difference.——Mr. Barclay, who estimated himself with perfect impartiality and candor, was sensible, that though his temper was good, yet that it was somewhat fastidious, and though his manners were polite, yet they were reserved, they wanted that amenity, gayety, and frankness, which might be essential to win and keep a lady's heart. The more his love, the more doubts of his own deserts increased; but at last he determined to try his fate. He caught a glimpse of Caroline one morning as she was drawing in the Oriel——Her sister and the two Lady Pembrokes were in the library, and he thought he was secure of finding her alone.
"May I beg the favor of a few minutes. ... he began with a voice of much emotion as he entered the room, but he stopped short at the sight of Lady Angelica.
In spite of all the rouge she wore, her Ladyship's change of color was striking. Her lips trembled and grew pale——Mr. Barclay's eyes fixed upon her for one moment with astonishment, then turning calmly away, he addressed himself to Caroline, his emotion recurring, though he merely spoke to her of a drawing which she was examining, and though he only said,
"Yes, Lady Angelica has just given it to me; it is one of her drawings——a view of Weymouth."
"Very beautiful," said Mr. Barclay, coldly,——"a view of Weymouth."
"Where I hope to be the day after to morrow," cried Lady Angelica, speaking in a hurried, piqued, and haughty voice,——"I am dying to get to Weymouth. ——Mr. Barclay, if you have any letters for your friends there, I shall be happy to carry them.——Only let them be given to my woman in time," added her Ladyship, rising; "and now I must go and say vivace! presto! prestissimo! to her preparations.——Well, have you any commands?"
"No commands——but my best wishes for your Ladyship's health and happiness, whenever and wherever you go."
Lady Angelica sunk down upon her seat——made a strong effort to rise again ——but was unable.——Caroline, without appearing to take any notice of this, turned to Mr. Barclay, and said——"Will you have the goodness now to give me the book, which you were so kind as to promise me?"
Mr. Barclay went in search of it. Caroline proceeded with her drawing, gave Lady Angelica time to recover, and left her the hope, that her perturbation had not been noticed. Her Ladyship, as soon as she could, left the room, repeating that she had some orders to give for her departure.——Caroline waited some time in vain for Mr. Barclay and his book. Afterwards, as she was going up stairs, she was met by Rosamond, who, with a face full of mystery, whispered,
"Caroline ... my father wants you this instant in my mother's dressing-room ... Mr. Barclay,"——added she, in a low voice, and nodding her head, "Oh I see you know what I mean——I knew he would propose for you, I said so last night.——Now go to my father, and you will hear all the particulars.——Are the Lady Pembrokes in the library?"
"But my dear Rosamond," said Caroline, stopping Rosamond, "let me beg that you will not mention this to the Lady Pembrokes."——
"Why not?" said Rosamond, "your intimate friends! I thought you had no secrets for them?"
"No secrets of my own.——But I have no right to tell my most intimate friends another person's secret."
"But I dare say Mr. Barclay would have no objection——I am sure it is to his credit."
"But I don't know whether he would choose to have it told——I have no right to tell it. It might be ... in all probability it will be of consequence to him, that it should not be known.——My father is waiting for me, I have not time to reason or explain further; but I do earnestly beg, Rosamond, that you will not mention or hint it to the Lady Pembrokes, or to any one else."
"Not to Mrs. Mortimer?" said Rosamond.——
"To no one——promise me!" urged Caroline, eagerly.
"Well, well, I do promise you.—— Now go to my father.——You have less vanity than any one I ever saw,"——pursued Rosamond, as she went down stairs, "and how you can contrive always to think of others instead of yourself I am sure I do not know."
"I think you might guess," said Caroline.
Caroline heard from her father the confirmation of Rosamond's intelligence, and she received from him and from her mother the kind assurance, that they would leave her entirely at liberty, to accept or refuse Mr. Barclay, according as her own judgment and feelings might dictate. They said, that though it might be, in point of fortune, a highly advantageous match, and though they saw nothing to which they could object in his character, understanding, and temper, yet they should not attempt to influence her in his favor.——They begged her to decide entirely for herself, and to consult only her own happiness.
"All I insist upon, my dear daughter, is, that you should, without any idle and unjust generosity, consider first and solely what is for your own happiness."
"And for Mr. Barclay's"——said Caroline.
"And for Mr. Barclay's, as far as you are concerned, but remember, the question he asks you is, whether you can love him, whether you will marry him, not whether you would advise him to love or marry somebody else.——Don't I know all that passes in your mind?"
"Not all, perhaps," said Caroline, "nor can I tell it you, because it is another person's secret.——Therefore, I am sure, you will not question me further, but since you are so kind as to trust to my judgment, trust to it entirely, when I assure you that I will, without any idle or unjust generosity, consider, principally, what is for my own happiness."
"I am satisfied," said Mr. Percy, "no ——one thing more——Without meaning or wishing to penetrate into any other person's affairs, I have a full right to say to my daughter all that may be necessary, to assist her in deciding on a point the most material to her happiness. Now, Caroline," continued her father, looking away from her, "observe, I do not endeavor, from my knowledge of your countenance, even to guess whether what I imagine is fact. But I state to you this supposition——Suppose you had been told, that another lady is attached to Mr. Barclay."
"I never was told so," interrupted Caroline, "but I have discovered it by accident ... No——I have said too much ——I do not think that person is attached to him, but that she might easily have become attached, if this proposal had been made to her, instead of to me. And I think, that their two characters are exactly suited to each other——Much better suited than mine could be to Mr. Barclay, or his to me; she has wit, and imagination, and great vivacity; he has judgment, prudence, and solid sense; in each there is what would compensate for what is wanting in the other, and both together would make a happy union."
"My dear Caroline," said her father, "I must put you upon your guard against the too easy faith of a sincere affectionate heart. I am really surprised that you, who have always shown such good judgment of character, should now be so totally mistaken, as to think a woman capable of a real love, who is merely acting a part from vanity and coquetry."
"Vanity! coquetry!" repeated Caroline, "Nobody upon Earth is more free from vanity and coquetry than. ... Surely you do not imagine I am thinking of Lady Angelica Headingham?——Oh no: I have no compassion for her——I know, that, if she suffers from losing Mr. Barclay, it will be only from losing 'the dear delight of giving pain,' and I should be very sorry she ever again enjoyed that delight at Mr. Barclay's expense. I assure you I am not thinking of Lady Angelica."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Percy were in doubt, whether Caroline was thinking of her sister Rosamond, or of her friend Lady Mary Pembroke; but without attempting to discover, they only repeated that, whoever the person in question might be, or however amiable or dear to Caroline, she ought not to let this idea interfere with her own happiness, or influence her in giving an answer to Mr. Barclay's proposal, which she ought either to accept or decline, according as her own feelings and judgment should decide.——"My dear, do not determine rashly," continued Mrs. Percy——"Now that he is your lover. Mr. Barclay will, perhaps, appear in a new light to you. ——Till you have seen and considered him in this point of view, believe me, you cannot tell what your feelings may be. I request, that you will take some time to consider, before you give Mr. Barclay any answer."
Mrs. Percy added, that perhaps Caroline might feel unwilling to take this advice, because she might have heard young ladies accused of coquetry, or jilting, who, after having delayed to give a decided answer to a proposal, had at last given a negative; but she said she thought such censures were absurd and unjust, for that it was impossible a young woman could always determine at once, whether a gentleman, whose character she had had no opportunities of studying, and whom she had never considered as a lover, would suit her, and make her happy for life or not.
"In the present case," continued Mrs. Percy, "your father and I will, if you wish to take time to decide, make Mr. Barclay clearly understand, that he is not to consider this as any encouragement, and as to the rest,"——added Mrs. Percy, "when you are sure that you mean right, and that you do right, you will not, my dear Caroline, I hope, be deterred from determining upon what is best for your own happiness, merely by the weak fear of what idle foolish people will say about an affair in which they have no concern."
Caroline assured her mother, that no such weak fear acted upon her mind; and that in any case, where she had the least doubt whether she could like a person as a husband or not, she should certainly ask for time to consider, before she would give an answer: but that, with respect to Mr. Barclay, she had had sufficient opportunities of seeing and judging of him in the character of a lover, whilst he had been the admirer of Lady Angelica; that she fully appreciated his good qualities, and was grateful for his favorable opinion; but that she felt perfectly certain, that she did not and could not love him; and therefore she desired, as soon as possible, to put him out of the pain of suspense, to prevent him from having the mortification of showing himself the admirer of one, by whom he must ultimately be refused; and to leave him at liberty to turn his thoughts elsewhere, to some person to whom he was better suited, and who was better suited to him.
Mr. Barclay had made Mrs. Hungerford alone his confidant.——As to Lady Angelica Headingham, he thought that her Ladyship could not be in any doubt of the state of his affections as far as she was concerned, and that was all she had a right to know. He never had actually declared his passion for her, and his attentions had completely ceased, since the determination she had made to break her engagement with his aunt, but Lady Angelica had still imagined, that he would not be able to bring himself to part with her for ever, and she trusted that, even at the moment of getting into her carriage, she might prevail upon him to forget his wrongs, and might at last carry him off.——These hopes had been checked, and for a moment overthrown by Mr. Barclay's appearance this morning in the Oriel; the emotion with which she saw him speak to Caroline, and the indifference with which she heard him wish her Ladyship health and happiness at Weymouth, or wherever she went, for an instant convinced her of the truth. ——But obstinate vanity recurred to the hope, that he was not yet irreclaimable, and under this persuasion she hurried on the preparations for her departure, impatient for the moment of crisis——of triumph.
The moment of crisis arrived——but not of triumph. Lady Angelica Headingham's landau came to the door.——But trunks packed and corded gave no pang to her former lover——Mrs. Hungerford did not press her to stay——Mr. Barclay handed her into the carriage——she stooped to conquer, so far as to tell him, that, "as she had only Mr. Seebright and her maid, she could give him a seat in her carriage, if he would come to Weymouth, and that she would thence, in a fortnight at farthest, go to his aunt, dear Lady B——, in Leicestershire."—— But all in vain——she saw it would not do——bid her servant shut the carriage-door——desired Mr. Seebright to draw up the glass, and, with a look of angry contempt towards Mr. Barclay, threw herself back on the seat to conceal the vexation, which she could not control, and drove away for ever from irreclaimable lovers, and lost friends.——We do not envy Mr. Seebright his trip to Weymouth, with his patroness in this humor; but without troubling ourselves further to inquire what became of her, we leave her
"To flaunt, and go down a disregarded thing."
Rosamond was never zealous in favor of Mr. Barclay. She said, that there was no occasion to pity him, because he was only soberly and quietly in love; that he had compared, and judged, and calculated well; that, after casting up his moral accounts, he had found, that between Lady Angelica Headingham, and Miss Caroline Percy, the balance of good qualities, and the chance of domestic happiness stood in favor of the latter, wherefore he had to her transferred his heart. Perhaps Rosamond was not interested in Mr. Barclay's favor, because there appeared no difficulty in his way; she thought that Caroline esteemed him more, and was more likely to marry him, than any other gentleman she had seen; and then the dénouement would be too near, too clear, and commonplace.——Rosamond said, that "in this case Caroline would just be married like any body else, to a man with a good fortune, good character, good sense, and every thing very good, but nothing extraordinary, and she would be settled at Mr. Barclay's seat in Leicestershire, and she would be Mrs. Barclay, and, perhaps, happy enough, but nothing extraordinary."
This plain view of things, and this positive termination of all hope of romance, did not please Rosamond's imagination. ——She was relieved, when at last Caroline surprised her with the assurance, that there was no probability of Mr. Barclay's succeeding in his suit. "And yet," said Caroline, "if I were compelled at this moment to marry, of all men I have ever yet seen Mr. Barclay is the person, to whom I could engage myself with the least reluctance——the person with whom I think I should have the best security for happiness."
Rosamond's face again lengthened.—— "If that is the case," said she, "though you have no intention of marrying him at present, you will, I suppose, be reasoned into marrying him in time."——
"No," said Caroline, "for I cannot be reasoned into loving him."
"There's my own, dear Caroline," cried Rosamond, "I was horribly afraid, that this man of sense would have convinced you, that esteem was quite sufficient without love."
"Impossible!" said Caroline. "There must be some very powerful motive, that could induce me to quit my family, my parents, my brothers and sister, the companions and friends to whom I am attached by every possible tie of gratitude, esteem, affection, long and dear habit, I can conceive no motive sufficiently powerful, except love."——
"For what else could I marry," continued Caroline, "I who am left by the kindest of parents freely to my own choice——could I marry,——for a house in Leicestershire? or for a barouche and four? on Lady Jane Granville's principles for an establishment? or on the Missy notion of being married, and having a house of my own, and ordering my own dinner, and, like Miss Dennel in Camilla, having every day minced veal and mashed potatoes?——Was this your notion of me?" said Caroline, with a look of such surprise, that Rosamond was obliged to fall immediately to protestations, and appeals to common sense.——
"How was it possible she could have formed such ideas!"
"Then why were you so much surprised and transported just now, when I told you, that no motive but love could induce me to marry?"
"I don't recollect being surprised, I was only delighted.——I never suspected that you could marry without love, but I thought, that you and I might differ as to the quantity——the degree."
"No common degree of love, and no common love, would be sufficient to induce me to marry,"——said Caroline.
"Once, and but once, before in your life, you gave me the idea of your having such an exalted opinion of love," replied Rosamond.——
"But to return to Mr. Barclay," said Caroline. "I have, as I promised my father that I would, consulted in the first place my own heart, and considered my own happiness.——He has not made any impression upon my heart.——Independently of the difference of age, of which I should think little, if he suited me in every other respect, there is a coldness, an austerity of manner and temper, which I could not love, unless it were connected with enthusiasm of character. But Mr. Barclay appears to me incapable of that enthusiasm, which rises either to the moral or intellectual sublime. I respect his understanding, and esteem his principles, but ... in conversing with him, I always feel ... and in passing my life with him, how much more should I feel! that there is a want of the higher qualities of the mind. He shows no invention, no genius, no magnanimity——nothing heroic, nothing great, nothing which could waken sympathy, or excite that strong attachment, which I think that I am capable of feeling for a superior character——for a character at once good and great."——
"And where upon Earth are you to find such a man?——Who is romantic now?" cried Rosamond. "But I am very glad that you are a little romantic, I am glad that you have in you a touch of human absurdity, else how could you be my sister, or how could I love you I do?"——
"I am heartily glad that you love me, but I am not sensible of my present immediate claim to your love by my touch of human absurdity," said Caroline, smiling.——"What did I say, that was absurd or romantic?"
"My dear, people never think their own romance absured.——Well! granted that you are not romantic, since that is a point, which I find I must grant before we can go on.——Now, tell me, was Mr. Barclay very sorry when you refused him?" said Rosamond.
"I dare not tell you, that there is yet no danger of his breaking his heart," said Caroline.
"So I thought,"——cried Rosamond, with a look of ineffable contempt.——"I thought he was not a man to break his heart for love. With all his sense, I dare say he will go back to his Lady Angelica Headingham. I should not be surprised, if he went after her to Weymouth to morrow."
"I should," said Caroline; "especially as he has just ordered his carriage to take him to his aunt, Lady B——, in Leicestershire."——
"Oh poor man!"——said Rosamond, "now I do pity him."——
"Because he is going to his aunt?"
"No, Caroline——you are very cruel—— because I am sure he is very much touched and disappointed by your refusal. He cannot bear to see you again. ——Poor! poor Mr. Barclay! I have been shamefully ill-natured.——I hope I did not prejudice your mind against him——I'll go directly and take leave of him——Poor Mr. Barclay!"
Rosamond, however, returned a few minutes afterwards, to complain that Mr. Barclay had not made efforts enough to persuade Caroline to listen to him.
"If he had been warmly in love, he would not so easily have given up hope.
'None, without hope, e'er lov'd the brightest fair; 'But Love can hope, where Reason should despair.'
"That, I think, is perfectly true," said Rosamond.
Never——begging Rosamond and the poet's pardon——never——except where Reason is very weak, or where the brightest fair has some touch of the equivocating fiend. Love ... let poets and lovers say what they will to the contrary, can no more subsist without hope, than flame can exist without fuel. In all the cases cited to prove the contrary, we suspect that there has been some inaccuracy in the experiment, and that by mistake, a little, a very little hope has been admitted. The slightest portion, a quantity imperceptible to common observation, is known to be quite sufficient to maintain the passion; but a total exclusion of hope secures it's extinction.
Mr. Barclay's departure was much regretted by all at Hungerford-Castle, most, perhaps, by the person who expressed that regret the least, Lady Mary Pembroke——who now silently enjoyed the full chorus of praise, that was poured forth in honor of the departed. Lady Mary's common mode of enjoying the praise of her friends was not in silence; all she thought and felt usually came to her lips with the ingenuous vivacity of youth and innocence. Caroline had managed so well by not managing at all, that Lady Mary, far from guessing the real cause of Mr. Barclay's sudden departure, repeatedly expressed surprise, that her aunt Hungerford did not press him to stay a little longer; and once said, she "wondered how Mr. Barclay could leave Hungerford-Castle whilst Caroline was there,——that she had begun to think he had formed an attachment, which would do him more honor than his passion for Lady Angelica Headingham, but that she feared he would have a relapse of that fit of folly, and that it would at last end fatally in marriage."——
Mrs. Hungerford smiled at the openness, with which her niece told her conjectures, and at the steadiness with which Caroline kept Mr. Barclay's secret, by saying no more than just the thing she ought. "The power of keeping a secret is very different from the habit of dissimulation. ——You would convince me of this, if I had doubted it," said Mrs. Hungerford to Caroline.——"Now that the affair is settled, my dear, I must insist upon your praising me, as I have praised you for discretion.——I hope I never influenced your decision by word or look, but I will now own to you, that I was very anxious, that you should decide precisely as you have done.——Mr. Barclay is a sensible man, an excellent man, one who will make any amiable woman he marries happy.——I am convinced of it, or I should not, as I do, wish to see him married to my niece—— yet I never thought him suited to you. Yours is a character without pretension, yet one, which, in love and marriage, would not, I believe, be easily satisfied, would require great qualities, a high tone of thought and action, a character superior and lofty as your own."
Mrs. Hungerford paused, and seemed lost in thought. Caroline felt, that this lady had seen deeply into her mind, and that she appreciated her fully. This conviction, beyond all praise, and all demonstrations of fondness, increases affection, confidence, and gratitude, in strong and generous minds. Caroline endeavoured, but could not well express in words what she felt at this instant.
"My dear," said Mrs. Hungerford.—— "We know that we are speaking plain truth to each other.——We need no flowers of speech.——I understand you, and you understand me. We are suited to each other. ... Yes, notwithstanding the difference of age, and a thousand other differences, we are suited to each other. This possibility of a friendship between youth and age, is one of the rewards Heaven grants to the early and late cultivation of the understanding, and of the affections. Late as it is with me in life, I have not, thank God, survived my affections. ——How can I ever, whilst I have such children, such friends!" After a pause of a few moments of seemingly pleasurable reflections, Mrs. Hungerford continued——"I have never considered friendship as but a name——as a mere worldly commerce of interest.——I believe in disinterested affection, taking the word disinterested in it's proper sense; and I have still, believe me, the power of sympathising with a young friend,——such a young friend as Caroline Percy. Early as it is with her in life, she has so cultivated her understanding, so regulated her mind, that she cannot consider friendship merely as a companionship in frivolous amusement, or a mixture of gossipping confidences and idle sentiment; therefore, I am proud enough to hope, that she can and will be the friend of such an old woman as I am."——
"It would be the pride of my life, to have——to deserve such a friend," cried Caroline——"I feel all the condescension of this kindness.——I know you are much too good to me.——I am afraid you think too highly of me. But Mrs. Hungerford's praise does not operate like flattery, ——though it exalts me in my own opinion, it shall not make me vain,——it excites my ambition to be——all she thinks me."
"You are all I think you,"——said Mrs. Hungerford——"and that you may hereafter be something yet nearer than a friend to me, is the warmest wish of my heart. ...But, no, I will not indulge myself in expressing that wish.—— Such wishes are never wise where we have no power, no right to act——Such wishes often counteract their own object ——Anticipations are always imprudent. ——But,...about my niece, Lady Mary Pembroke. I particularly admire the discretion, still more than the kindness, with which you have acted with respect to her and Mr. Barclay——You have left things to their natural course. You have not by any imprudent zeal or generosity hazarded a word, that could hurt the delicacy of either party. You seem to have been fully aware, that wherever the affections are concerned, the human mind is most tenacious of what one half of the philosophers in the world will not allow to exist, and the other half cannot define.——Influenced as we all are every moment in our performances and aversions, sometimes imperceptibly, sometimes avowedly, by the most trifling, and often the silliest causes, yet the wisest of us start, and back, and think it incumbent on our pride in love-affairs, to resist the slightest interference, or the best advice, from the best friends. ——What! love upon compulsion!——No ——Jupiter is not more tenacious of his thunder-bolt, than Cupid is of his arrows. Blind as he is, none may presume to direct the hand of that little urchin."——
Here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a servant, who brought the postbag——with many letters for Mrs. Hungerford.
