Oh! that her guardian angel would sometimes whisper in exulting beauty's ear, that man is often only enraptured with his own genius, when he seems most to adulate her charms!
Baron Wildenheim directed all his penetration to the investigation of Frederick's character; and, fearing to trust entirely to his own observation on a point of so much importance, resumed his correspondence with Mr. Austin, from whom he received the most satisfactory confirmation of the honourable opinion his judgment had previously led him to form of the lover, on whom his daughter had unconsciously bestowed her affections. He therefore resolved, that whenever Mr. Elton should demand her hand, he would restore her to all her rights, by accomplishing her introduction to her mother's family and his own. His satisfaction at the prospect of securing Adelaide's happiness, by uniting her to a man worthy of his highest approbation, reconciled him to the idea of losing the only solace of that life, which he felt would not be much longer a burthen to him. Not less generous was his daughter—and from the moment she was aware of Frederick's love, she determined to discourage it, for the reasons he related to Sedley. The Baron's indignation at Frederick's abrupt departure was as great, as the satisfaction his love for Adelaide had afforded him. She endeavoured to preserve her usual cheerfulness; but his penetration soon discovered she had feelings, that were not communicated to him. One day, on perceiving her ill suppressed agitation, as the subject of conversation glanced on Elton, he muttered, "Villain! rascal! how he has abused my confidence!" Adelaide, hurt at this undeserved censure, entered warmly into his defence, and her father soon extorted from her, that she had refused his offers, though she still concealed, or thought she concealed, her motives and her regrets. "Adelina!" exclaimed he, with unusual asperity, "is this the reward of an existence devoted to your welfare? I could not have believed that you would have set at naught my authority; nay worse, have deceived me." When she however threw herself into his arms, imploring his forgiveness, all the tenderness of his feelings returned with redoubled force; and penetrating her motives, he pressed her fondly to his heart, making a silent vow that his "too generous child should not sacrifice her happiness to his." The name of Elton was never again articulated by either; but the rapid progress of Baron Wildenheim's complaint warned him he must quickly put his design in execution, or that his lovely daughter would shortly be left in a foreign country, without relation or protector; Sicily being perhaps of all others the most dreadful to leave her in thus situated, from the depravity of its inhabitants, and its corrupt, ill administered government.
When he informed Adelaide of his intention of taking her to England, her joy was extravagant; but on perceiving the mournful expression of her father's countenance, she ceased to display her pleasure, and affectionately embracing him, said, "You know, my beloved father, you are all the world to me; my greatest delight in the prospect of going to England is, that I shall there see you in your native country, with your own friends: I can never be happier than I have been with you; but I often mourn, that all my exertions are insufficient to make you so." "Adelina, I charge you, be silent on that subject," replied the afflicted parent; and, overcome by the torturing reflections she had unconsciously conjured up, retired to compose his mind in solitude.
A few days after this conversation they proceeded to Paris. From whence Baron Wildenheim wrote an earnest request to Mr. Austin and Maurice O'Sullivan to meet him at Dover, for which place he immediately set out when their answers reached him; and there without delay delivered to the former a will, appointing him trustee to all that remained of the wreck of his fortune, for the benefit of Adelaide, with the exception of a small annuity reserved for his own life, but nominating Maurice O'Sullivan her guardian. The unhappy father then went through the distressing task of disclosing to his former friend and fellow soldier the principal events, which had marked his life previous to the commencement of their acquaintance, beseeching him to relate them hereafter to Adelaide as delicately as possible, and also to introduce her to her grandfather and Lord Osselstone. Both these injunctions Maurice willingly promised to fulfil, happy to have any means of serving a man to whom he owed many obligations. The Baron had never told his daughter the history of his early years: he could not in her childhood, and when she was capable of accurately distinguishing right from wrong, he feared it might irreparably injure her character, to have her respect diminished for the person engaged in forming it. Perhaps his reluctance to be his own accuser to his child was not the least powerful motive for silence on this subject: he could not bear to think she should ever in his presence be obliged to appeal to her affection, to silence the censures her judgment must pass on his conduct—such voluntary self-abasement, in a mind of this high tone, was indeed almost more than human nature is equal to. He therefore had contented himself with informing Adelaide, that some disagreeable circumstances had made him prefer residing in the country in which his estates were situated, to that of which he was a native. He would sometimes converse with her of Lord Osselstone, whom he early taught her to love and revere; but never made the most distant allusion to her mother's name or connexions, partly because the subject was too afflicting to himself, partly because he could not in that case account for his having concealed his relationship from the uncle of Rose, with whom he had been so many years associated, and with whom he had subsequently maintained a constant correspondence, having resolved to resign his daughter, in the first instance, to the protection of Maurice, whenever the effects of unextinguishable grief should indicate the probable termination of his own life.
When Mr. Austin met the Baron at Dover, he entreated him to leave England as speedily as possible, lest the friends of Montague, who resided in the neighbourhood of that town, should, by some fortuitous occurrence, make out his identity; a circumstance by no means improbable, as his person must be recognised should he meet the brother of his unfortunate antagonist, who not unfrequently visited the very hotel they inhabited, and which they could not quit without exciting observations that might prove dangerous in their consequences. Though Wildenheim cared not for life on his own account, and would willingly have resigned it to satisfy the laws of his country; yet he trembled in every nerve for his daughter's peace, should he fall a sacrifice to their justice; and therefore fixed the third day after their landing to bid her an eternal adieu!
Though he had sufficient strength of mind to resolve on tearing himself from his child, yet he felt totally unequal to the trial of witnessing her affliction on first hearing the dreadful intelligence. Mr. Austin therefore undertook the task; and on the morning preceding the day appointed, informed Adelaide of the indispensable necessity of their separation, and of the arrangement made with Maurice O'Sullivan, to introduce her to Lord Osselstone, presenting her with a packet of letters her father had written for her benefit, which she was to make use of when she came of age, in case any unforeseen occurrence should prevent her appointed guardian fulfilling his promise; adding, that should her relations refuse to receive her, he was in possession of the necessary testimonials of her birth. Of all these particulars the afflicted girl at the moment only understood she was to be deprived of her father! The thinking faculty within her was almost suspended by the agony of this idea. She offered no remonstrance to Mr. Austin; and making a sign of acquiescence, instantly sought her father, to try those powers of persuasion which never yet had failed in procuring from him every wish of her heart: but on seeing the despair of his countenance, she was wholly overcome; the hope, which had supported, now forsook her, and she sunk senseless in his arms.
When she revived, she implored his pity in the most moving terms; asked how she had merited this dreadful separation; and finding him, though deeply affected, inexorable in his determination, at last departed from her usual docility, saying, "Of what would promote your happiness, my dearest father, there can be no doubt; I am the best judge of my own and will not leave you: to lose you in the course of nature would be sufficiently dreadful; but this living death is tenfold more horrible: oh! can you desert your child, who lives but in you, whose only joy is in your approving smiles?"
Her miserable auditor now did violence to his feelings, by assuming, for the first time in his life, all the sternness of parental command. Adelaide convulsively sobbed on his shoulder. "Pardon me, pardon me; I submit, though my heart will break: that angry look would kill me to think of; smile on me, my father." "Smile! oh, my God! I shall never smile again;" exclaimed the wretched parent: then fondly caressing her, said, "My child, have mercy on your unfortunate father; my own feelings are those of desperation; spare me the sight of yours. By your present affliction I secure your future happiness; but mine—Adelina, I entreat—in a few hours we part: do not speak of what is yet to come." He was obeyed; and that day passed in the sullen calm which precedes expected misery.
Adelaide retired at a late hour to her own apartment, but not to bed; for she had perceived with terror how alarmingly ill her father looked; and fearing the return of a spasmodic complaint he was subject to, sat up, to be able to apply the necessary remedies at a moment's warning.
He in the mean time prepared to set out immediately on his voyage, wishing to spare her a parting he felt his own fortitude unequal to. Her room was inside his, and supposing her to be at rest, he entered it to take a last look of his lovely child!