the case, the stupid blockhead to whose care it was committed, mislaid it, and thus caused me to incur what none ever less merited (as I have proved to your parents,) resentment and suspicion.' Elizabeth started at these words, and lifted her hitherto downcast eyes to his. "Yes,' pursued he,' I have been to Heathwood again, and have not only seen your father and mother, but so thoroughly justified myself in their opinion, as to obtain their permission to follow you hither. When we met last night (so fortunately I flatter myself for both, I was hastening to throw myself at your feet, but forebore hinting my intentions, in consequence of the agitation you were then in. See,' drawing out a pocket-book, and taking a letter from it, my authority for coming here.... did you ever,' holding up the letter to her with a gay or rather playful air,' see any hand this reminds you of?' Elizabeth, with encreasing agitation, cast her eyes on the superscription.... Yes,' she replied,' 'tis like my father's.' You are not mistaken; 'tis written by him and addressed to you,' kissing and presenting it to her as he spoke. Elizabeth, trembling from her anticipation of its contents, broke the seal, and read as follows: To Miss Munro. 'I DESIRED you, my dearest girl, to consider yourself released from your engagement to Mr. Eaton, but I did so merely because I thought he did not merit your keeping it; the circumstances which led me to think. so have been explained so entirely to my satisfaction, that my opinion of him is totally changed, and, of course, my wishes for your union with him renewed: in honour you are bound to him, and equally so, I hope, by inclination; for I know no man to whom I more sincerely desire to see you married; not, however, let me assure you, because I know his fortune to be large, and his connex ions illustrious, but chiefly because I know his heart to be good and his disposition amiable....of the nobleness of it, his proposing for you gives undeniable proof, this not being the age in which disinterested love holds sway. 'I cannot, my dear child, do justice to your mother's feelings, and mine, at the contemplation of your smiling prospects; and equally so, I am convinced, should I find myself unable to paint our anguish, were these prospects not realized, persuaded, as we are, that there is but little probability of so advantageous an opportunity of settling in life again occurring as Mr. Eaton now affords you, and besides, of the derogatory light in which refusing him would make you appear, since, assuredly, either to some unworthy attachment or unjustifiable caprice your doing so would be imputed: my wishes are, and hitherto they have been considered as commands by my dear girl, that you should not only immediately permit the renewal of his addresses, but give him your hand without delay, urgent business, he informs me, requiring his speedy presence in London. As I think the knowledge of your being the wife of so respectable a man might occasion a pleasing revolution at Glengary, I could wish your nuptials celebrated where you now are, although their being so would prevent your mother and me from having the pleasure of witnessing them, since we could not think of visiting a house so immediately in the vicinity of one we have, at present, so many powerful reasons for disliking to be near. Emboldened by the goodness and condescending manners of Mrs. Elford, I have written to her on the subject, and, should she have no objection, to the ceremony taking place at her house, I trust you will make none, especially as, the day after, Mr. Eaton has promised to return with you to Heathwood, when it will be decided whether you shall now accompany him to London, or defer your visit to that region of luxury and pleasure till the winter....I know you'll be happy to hear, that, whenever you go, your mother and I are to bear you company. 'Mr. Eaton is impatient to be gone....I have therefore only time to add, that your mother unites with me in fervent wishes for your happiness in the new state you are, we trust, about entering into....but that you will fail of experiencing this with such a man as Mr. Eaton, cannot be doubted either by her or your Affectionate father, Heathwood. 'ROBERT MUNRO.' Elizabeth kept her eyes fixed on this letter long after she had perused it, convinced, the moment she raised them, she should be called upon to ratify hopes revolting to her feelings....hopes, however, which, notwithstanding this, a little deliberation made her resolve on not disappointing; for she saw plainly that the heart of her father was set upon her union with Mr. Eaton; and, as he had hitherto guided, so still she resolved he should guide her, since his judgment she believed unerring, and his advice she knew dictated by solicitude for her welfare. She strove to argue herself into a belief that he compliance with his wishes in the present instance would soon cease to occasion her pain, that the unworthiness of the object who had first caused an alteration in her sentiments for Mr. Eaton would soon permit her to think of him again as she had originally done; in a word, that she could not see him studying to contribute to her happiness, and that of her family, without experiencing for him feelings calculated to reconcile her to the destiny that made her his. Spite of these arguments, however, she felt most reluctant to unite her fate with his, insomuch, that, but for the dread she entertained of her refusing him being imputed to an attachment she now blushed to think of, she would in all probability have done so. Impatient at her silence, as well as evidently alarmed by it, Eaton, at length, in agitated tones enquired, whether or not her father had proved a successful pleader for him? Elizabeth as she folded up the letter, attempted to say yes; but this, her first effort to speak contrary to her feel ings, proved abortive....what she tried to say was inarticulate. 'Elizabeth,' exclaimed her impassioned lover, with a Alushing cheek and kindling eye, you alarm me by your manner! Have I in vain endeavoured to obtain for myself an interest in your heart? does your father advocate my cause in vain ? No, no,' faintly replied the agitated Elizabeth, half shunning half meeting the glance of his keenly-enquiring eye. 'Then you are mine! you are mine! in the most exulting accents. 'You consent to bless me with this treasure!' snatching her cold trembling hand, and alternately pressing it to his lips and heart. Elizabeth bowed. 'Oh, transport he continued, and, throwing his arms around her, he strained her to his breast, and with his lips would have touched her cheek, but that Elizabeth, trembling and disgusted, shrunk from his grasp. • Cruel!' cried he, as she disengaged herself from his arms, with a countenance expressive of her feelings at the moment. She was, indeed, highly offended by the violence of his transports; since, in the first place, she conceived them unbecoming his years, and, in the next indecorous before a third person. In a few minutes, however, she recollected herself sufficiently to be able to reflect on the necessity there was for wearing a complacent air towards him in future, lest, otherwise, she should lead him to imagine, in consenting to become his, she acted contrary to her inclination, and thus, perhaps, lay the foundation of much future misery to herself and connexions; she tried, therefore, to force a smile, and prevent herself from shrinking at his touch; but painful was the effort it cost her to do this....her whose countenance, till the present moment, had never been illuminated by a smile that did not immediately emanate from her heart. 'Well, my sweet girl,' said Mrs. Elford, in the kindest accent imaginable, permit me now to congratulate you on your happy prospects, and to intreat that you will acquiesce in your father's wishes, for having your nuptials solemnized here....he has, I presume, mentioned to you his letter to me on this subject.' Again Elizabeth bowed....she could not reply in any other way at the moment. • He had also, I make no doubt,' said Eaton, in an impatient tone, explained the necessity there is for our marriage immediately taking place?' 'Yes,' faltered out Elizabeth. Then this evening, my love, my angel,' looking with mingled earnestness and anxiety at her. She started. • Well, well, to-morrow then let it be,' he added, in consequence of perceiving the horror the proposition gave her. You see, my adorable girl,' again taking her nearly inanimate hand, and pressing his lips to it, you have not a very bad chance of happiness with a man who can so readily yield his wishes to yours." Elizabeth hesitated for a few minutes; she thought of trying to prevail on him to postpone their marriage till his return from London; but the suspicion of her indifference, which it suddenly occurred to her such a measure might, nay probably would, be the means of exciting in his mind, induced her to relinquish the idea, and, though most reluctantly, consent to be his on the morrow. CHAP. VI. "Some say, no evil thing that walks by night, MILTON. BUT, but,' added Elizabeth, in the same faltering voice in which she had expressed her acquiescence to his wishes,' I....I should like to have........' What, my angel?' finding she paused, eagerly demanded the enamoured Eaton, as he hung over her. |