For some minutes he only expressed by looks his commiseration for his nephew's feelings; but at length addressing him, "I own," said he, "I did not expect Lady Eltondale would have succeeded in her designs on Miss Seymour. I watched her closely and unremittingly while in London, and from some trifling circumstances I was led to believe, she would have made a far different choice. But my dear boy," continued he, with parental kindness, "though we have both been deceived, your misery is not aggravated as mine was. Do not despond; if Selina was capable of being either the tool or the dupe of Lady Eltondale, she was unworthy of you. Perhaps it is all for the best; perhaps the charming Adelaide you already so much admire, may yet repay you for all your sufferings." Though Augustus was incapable of receiving consolation, or listening even to reason at the first moment, yet he could not long remain insensible to the deep interest Lord Osselstone's looks and manner evinced; and in unburthening to him his whole soul, he felt a temporary relief from the grief that oppressed him; and thus, from a strange coincidence of circumstances and similarity of situation, the only confidant of his passion, except Mr. Temple, was the very man whose usual impenetrability of character repulsed all intimacy, and forbid even approach. Augustus, feeling the impossibility of communicating, even by letter, with Lord Eltondale on the subject of Selina's property, determined immediately to resign his charge as trustee, and was no less impatient for their arrival in London than his companions, in hopes, if possible, of anticipating in that respect the hated marriage. The very evening on which they reached town, Augustus hastened to Portman-square, to inquire whether his Lordship were still at Deane. He there learned that the Viscount had left it a few days before; and the servant, with agonizing precision, informed him, that orders had that day been received for the house in town being without delay put in order, as his Lordship expected to be married immediately, and he believed he was then at Eltondale, making similar preparations. Poor Augustus scarcely heard the concluding sentence, and returned to Lord Osselstone in a state almost of distraction. "I will go myself to Deane to-night," said he; "most of the papers are there in my bureau. I may get in time to deliver them to Mr. Temple before Lord Eltondale returns there.—It will be my last visit."
In prosecution of this plan, Augustus left London that night in the York mail; and such was his agitated impatience, that he scarcely thought even that conveyance sufficiently rapid. Anxious to avoid being either recognized or impeded in passing through the village of Deane, he alighted from the mail at a few miles distance from that place, and by a more unfrequented road entered the Park at one of the most retired gates. His feelings rose to agony as he again viewed all the well-known haunts of his infancy; and more especially when he recollected, that nearly at the same time the year before he had returned thither, to receive the dying benediction of the kind-hearted Sir Henry. Wishing to escape these sad remembrances, and desirous, if possible, to fly even from himself, he sprang forward, and darting into a neighbouring grove, was scarcely conscious of his near approach to the house. A rustling in the trees at last attracted his attention, and he turned towards the place from whence it came. In a few moments he perceived his favourite dog Carlo bounding towards him, and in an instant the faithful creature lay panting at his feet. A little basket, filled with chesnuts, was hung round his neck, in which, in former days, the dog had often carried the flowers Selina used to gather in their rambles. But almost before Augustus could caress him, Selina's voice calling "Carlo," thrilled to his heart, and springing from behind a fence with no less activity than the truant animal she pursued, she stood beside him like a bright vision of former days. "Selina!" "Augustus!" each exclaimed at once; and looks more eloquent than words told their mutual feelings.
But soon Selina endeavoured by language also to express her pleasure at once more beholding Mordaunt; and, forgetting at the moment all her disappointments, all her resentment for his apparent neglects, she gave her cordial and artless welcome with unembarrassed joy. Not so Augustus. Her unconcern he attributed to indifference, her evident happiness to her approaching marriage; and thus to his distempered judgment her vivacity almost appeared an insult. Selina quickly and resentfully perceived the coldness of his manners, and turning her head aside to hide the starting tears, invited him, with formal politeness, to accompany her to the house. But there the delighted Mrs. Galton was waiting to receive Augustus. She had seen him from the windows, and hastened to express her happiness at once more beholding him. The faithful old servants crowded round to bid him welcome. All congratulated him on his return to Deane, except its mistress. "And where has Selina flown to?" exclaimed Mrs. Galton; "we shall no doubt find her in her favourite room. Come, Augustus, I will introduce you, though you are already acquainted with it." His heart palpitated as he followed her through the well-known cedar hall, and up the massy staircase he so well remembered. But what were his emotions when she led him into what was once their school-room, and had been afterwards his own study! Selina had fitted it up with every elegance of modern improvement, arranged with her own peculiar taste, and in it she had assembled her various occupations of work, drawing, music, and books. When they entered, she was herself standing at a writing-table; her bonnet lay beside her, and her luxuriant hair, discomposed by her race, fell in loose ringlets on her shoulders; whilst the tear of wounded feeling stood on her beaming cheek. Augustus stopped, and casting his eyes around the altered room, "Is this your favourite apartment, Selina?" said he, while love, joy, and gratitude glowed in his countenance. "I sometimes sit here to enjoy the morning sun," answered she, blushing deeply; whilst his ardent and penetrating gaze increased her confusion. At last withdrawing the glance that evidently distressed her, his eye rested on the bronze garde de feuille, which represented Carlo. He took it up, and was examining it attentively, when Selina, with an expression of pique, observed, "That is scarcely worth looking at, Mr. Mordaunt; it is as trifling as the donor; I really forgot both, or I should not have kept it here;" and with an air of unusual dignity she left the room. "Incomprehensible, girl!" exclaimed Mordaunt, after a pause. "Tell me, Mrs. Galton, what am I to understand?" "Nothing," said she, "but that Selina refused Mr. Sedley, who gave her that dog: for the same reason she has since refused Lord Eltondale." "Refused Lord Eltondale?" repeated Augustus, quite bewildered. "Yes;" replied Mrs. Galton, "his Lordship came here express, hoping to say Veni, vidi, vici; and proposed himself to Selina before he was three days in the house. Of course, even if she had been actuated by no other motive, she would have declined a proposal that could only be for her fortune, and she accordingly refused it almost with resentment. Lady Eltondale manœuvred, and stormed, and raved, but to no purpose; and finally, much to our satisfaction, set off for Brighton." Mrs. Galton might have continued her discourse ad infinitum. Augustus had turned to the window to conceal his emotion. There he caught a glimpse of Selina passing towards the shrubbery; seizing his hat, he rushed past Mrs. Galton, exclaiming, "There she is!" She smiled, and took up her book; but anxiety scarcely permitted her to comprehend one word of its contents. At length, after an absence of two hours, which to her appeared an age, and to them a second, Selina and Augustus returned arm in arm. Mrs. Galton looked up through her spectacles, and guessing the result of their conversation from Selina's blushes and Mordaunt's countenance, "Thank God!" exclaimed she, clasping her hands, whilst the tears rolled down her cheeks, "I have lived to see my two dear children happy!"
Lord Osselstone was scarcely less rejoiced than Mrs. Galton, at receiving Mordaunt's letter, informing him of Selina's having promised him her hand. In his answer to it he said, "I have myself written to the very charming niece you are going to bestow on me, to express a part of the joy I feel on the occasion; but as I have much more to say on the subject, will you obtain her permission for me to pay my compliments to her and Mrs. Galton, in person, at Deane Hall, when I hope to make my peace with Miss Seymour, for having told you the story of Carlo's portrait, as you have no doubt already obtained her forgiveness for obtruding his little bronze duplicate into her cabinet."
CHAPTER XX.
J'ai vu beaucoup d'hymens, aucuns d'eux ne me tentent,
Cependant des humains presque les quatre parts
S'exposent hardiment au plus grand des hasards,
Les quatre parts aussi des humains se repentent[10].
La Fontaine
To return to Ballinamoyle:——One day Mr. O'Sullivan was sitting in his study, examining some old family writings, and rather wearied with his task, was not displeased to hear that familiar knock at his room door, which announces the approach of a friend. "Pray come in," said he: "Oh, Edward, is it you? I am happy to see you." "I should not have intruded into this sanctum sanctorum," replied Colonel Desmond; "but that I have in vain visited the library, and the parlour, and the drawing-room, without seeing a living creature, except the great dog who is lying asleep before the fire in the breakfast-room; and yet when Phelim took my horse, he said you were all at home." "That only means," rejoined Mr. O'Sullivan, laughing, "that with the aid of a telescope you might be able to discover all the party within a circuit of two or three miles: any thing on this side Tuberdonny he calls home. Miss Fitzcarril and Caroline are gone to cure Mrs. Cassady with some infallible remedy for the rheumatism; and Adelaide has rode with Mr. Dermoody, to see a curious ruin, that attracted his notice as he came from visiting a sick penitent yesterday. But it is late," continued he, looking at an old fashioned time-piece that stood on a bracket over the fire-place; "they will soon return."