Need I paint that passion I have given you such proofs of?—No; all descriptions would fall short of my feelings. I will ever yield to every wish your soul can form; you are entirely absolute, unless you should attempt impossibilities, amongst which I reckon this as the greatest—for me to breathe a moment without being entirely and inviolably yours.
De Villeroy.
It may here be, perhaps, proper to inform the reader of what perhaps his own sagacity may have made him anticipate—The Duke de Salis had neither been able, by intreaties or threats, to compel the Countess de Sons to marry him, though he had given out that she had; this induced him to keep both her and his daughter closely confined. It has been already related, how he had consigned over his son as a house-breaker;—when he found him condemned to the gallies—like the cruel inconsistency of an Admiral's[40] judges—he laid himself under the necessity of declaiming the equity of his own sentence—and when he found the decree against his son was inevitable—unable to bear the reproaches of his inward monitor, and listening to the whispers of a gloomy disposition, he became almost frantic—In this situation of mind, torn with the agonies of grief, he became more careless of his ward—and the Countess and Julia escaped from him—After his conduct to his son—they trembled lest in some act of despair he should on some future occasion equal the past scene, which chilled them with horror—The Countess was seized with the small-pox, which altered her features considerably, without impairing her beauty; this circumstance facilitated their eluding all search after them from the Duke, as Julia wore men's clothes; and they supported themselves by the sale of jewels.
The intelligent reader now perceives, that Mademoiselle Querci and her brother, were no other than the Countess de Sons and Julia, whom Lord Munster had met at Venice.
When the Duke de Salis retired to La-Trappe, the Countess de Sons appeared, and took possession of her fortune. She had remained constantly and sincerely attached to Lord Munster was flattered by his attentions at Venice, and found her esteem increased by the regard he paid to his pre engagements; but would not at that time discover herself, fearing that she only flattered herself that he saw her with the eyes of affection, and lest the small-pox had made such an alteration, as might change his sentiments. Upon the Marquis de Villeroy's arrival in Italy, she was highly charmed to receive a letter from Lord Munster addressed to Mademoiselle de Querci, and determined to accompany him and Julia to England; but this was carefully concealed, to render the discovery more pleasing.
In the mean time, the family at Munster-house passed their time most agreeably, though Lord Munster, Sir Harry Bingley, and Mrs Lee, (who knew nothing of Mr Villars) often were melancholy and distrait.
Lord Munster made great preparations to celebrate the anniversary of Lady Darnley's wedding-day: on which occasion a number of buildings were added to those already mentioned on the pleasure-grounds—As all the best artificers were on the spot, these were executed in the ablest manner. One temple he finished without the inspection of any one.
On the morning of the masquerade, walking out with Sir Harry Bingley, he told him he should be glad to have his opinion of it. In this temple was painted the cataract of the river Dahl, which he had drawn on the spot[41]—the cottage where Miss Harris resided—and herself at work, in the same way in which he saw her, with her lovely boy playing beside her (Miss Harris had permitted Lord Munster to draw her picture, and he had fortunately taken an exact likeness)—Sir Harry Bingley started at beholding it, and exclaimed, 'It is her, it is, by Heaven, it is her! What artist drew the picture? it is, it is herself!'—he then sunk almost motionless in a chair!—Lord Munster carelessly answered—'Bingley, are you mad? That picture cannot concern you; I painted it from life! Where did you see her? Answer but that question, and I am gone, gone that instant; the world should not detain me!' 'It is, it is, my Lord, the lovely woman I told you of. But her graces were yet more charming still than her beauty! an external glare of beauty may captivate the eye, and ravish the sight; but it is the graces that win the heart, that powerfully attract every faculty of a kindred mind!—I loved her, and was beloved! She loved my person, not my fortune. Her tenderness, her affection were my only joy!' 'Why then, replied Lord Munster, did you leave her? but make yourself easy on her account; she can be nothing to you; I expect her soon in England.'—'In England!'—'Yes, Sir, in England, I fancy by this time she is married to my friend Ogilby.' 'Lord Ogilby!' 'Yes; he was passionately in love with her: she absolutely refused him; but it is not likely, possessing such beauty, such perfections—slighted by the author of her exclusion from every dear and valuable claim in society, relations, friends, reputation, and protection—that she should continue deaf to the earnest solicitations of another, who can restore her to these advantages—such a man as Ogilby, a tender lover, who would sacrifice his time and fortune to her, and who promised he would be a father to her boy.'
Sir Henry's senses appeared suspended.—He at last repeated, 'Distraction, madness, fury! But, by the great God of Heaven—he shall not be a father to my boy!' The agitation of his spirits rendered him almost unintelligible: Lord Munster could only understand that he intended to set out directly—he therefore dissuaded him from it—telling him, that if he refused staying that day (on which he meant to mark his respect to Lady Darnley) that he must renounce his friendship for ever! 'My Lord, returned he, I honor, I love you; your virtues demand the first, your amiable engaging qualities the last; but were you God instead of man you should not detain me!—A few hours may render her the wife of the happy Ogilby! There is damnation in that thought!'—As Lord Munster had contrived an agreeable surprise to Sir Henry—and Miss Harris and her child were actually arrived, and concealed at Mr Burt's, who had taken a separate house, for retirement,—it was necessary he should detain him; and as he had forgot to ask where there scene represented was, he availed himself of that circumstance, saying, 'Since, Sir, I cannot command your complaisance, I may at least enforce your obedience, for you know not where to go, without I tell you—and my lips shall be sealed up for ever, unless you pass this night here—If in the morning you choose to set off, I will instruct you in every particular.' In the time Lord Munster was enjoying Sir Harry's happiness—some of his friends were equally engaged for him. The Countess de Sons and Julia, the Marquis de Villeroy, Mr Villars, and Mr Worthy, came to London before the masquerade—Mr Villars wrote to Lord Darnley, acquainting him privately with their arrival, and it was agreed in return they should all make their appearance on that occasion.
This entertainment was executed equal to the munificence and taste of Lord Munster—and as it was given entirely in honor of Lady Darnley, the principal objects in his arrangements had a reference to her. Never was parental affection more fondly evinced, never was filial gratitude more entire.—It has been already observed, that nothing was ever more elegantly planned than Munster Village, the farm adjoining, and the pleasure-grounds which lead to the house: in the farm you wandered from variety to variety; buildings of great utility and much fancy, groves inspiring different sensations, from the lucid summits that wake the mind to gaiety, to the dark brown or clair obscure of trees crowding their branches together in the vale, which possess the soul with home-felt contemplation.