Emmeline, the Orphan of the CastleSmith, Charlotte
General
Emmeline, the Orphan of the Castle
Smith, Charlotte
Gothic fiction; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Marriage -- Fiction; Single women -- Fiction
'Well, my Lord,' continued she, addressing herself to her husband, 'what
do you intend to do about this unhappy, infatuated boy?'
'I really know not,' answered his Lordship.
'I will tell you then,' resumed she--'Go to this girl, and let her know
that you will abandon her pennyless; force her to accept the honour Mr.
Rochely offers her; and, by shewing a little strength of mind and
resolution, break these unworthy chains with which your own want of
prudence has fettered your son.'
'It has already been tried, Madam, without success. Consider that if I
am bound by no obligations to support this young person, I am also
without any power over her. To force her to marry Mr. Rochely is
impossible. I have however her promise that she will not enter into any
clandestine engagement with Delamere.'
'Her promise!' exclaimed Lady Montreville.--'And are you weak enough, my
Lord, to trust to the promise of an artful, designing creature, who
seems to me to have already won over your Lordship to her party? What
want of common sense is this! If you will not again speak to her, and
that most decisively, I will do it myself! Send her to me! I will force
her not only to tell me where Delamere has had the meanness to conceal
himself, but also oblige her to relinquish the hopes she has the
insolence to indulge.'
Miss Delamere, who wanted to see the wonderful creature that had turned
her brother's head, and who was charmed to think she should see her
humbled and mortified, promoted this plan as much as possible. Augusta,
dreading her brother's violence, dared not, and Lord Montreville would
not oppose it, as he believed her Ladyship's overwhelming rhetoric, to
which he was himself frequently accustomed to give way, might produce on
Emmeline the effect he had vainly attempted. He therefore asked Lady
Montreville, whether she really wished to see Miss Mowbray, and when?
'I am engaged to-morrow,' answered she, 'all day. But however, as she is
a sort of person whom it will be improper to admit at any other time,
let her be here at ten o'clock in the morning. She may come up, before I
breakfast, into my dressing-room.'
'Shall I send one of the carriages for her?' enquired his Lordship.
'By no means,' replied the Lady. 'They will be all wanted. Let her
borrow a coach of the people she lives with. I suppose all city people
now keep coaches. Or if she cannot do that, a hack may be had.' Then
turning to her woman, who had just brought her her snuff-box,
'Brackley,' said she, 'don't forget to order the porter to admit a
young woman who will be here to-morrow, at ten o'clock; tho' she may
perhaps come in a hack.'
Lord Montreville, who grew every hour more uneasy at Delamere's absence,
now set out in search of him himself. He called at Fitz-Edward's
lodgings; but he was not yet come to town, tho' hourly expected. His
Lordship then went to Clapham, where he hoped to meet his son; but
instead of doing so, Emmeline put into his hands the following letter--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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