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
Mrs. Stafford with difficulty procured money to furnish him for his
journey, and saw him depart for Dover; while she herself returned to
Emmeline, who had passed the three weeks of her absence in great
uneasiness. No news had been received of Delamere; and she now believed,
that of the promise he had forced from her he meant not to avail
himself; yet did not relinquish it; but in proud and sullen resentment,
disdained even to enquire whether he had justly harboured anger against
her. She wished to have withdrawn a promise she could no longer think of
without pain and regret; but she found Mrs. Stafford so unhappy, that
she could not resolve to oppress her by complaints; and after some
struggles with herself, determined to let the matter take it's course.
Willingly, however, she consented to accompany her friend to France;
where Mrs. Stafford, at her husband's request, now determined to go with
her family. She had found an opulent tradesman in a neighbouring town,
who engaged, on receiving a mortgage on the estate, and ten per cent.
interest, (which he so managed as to evade the appearance of usury,) to
let her have the money to pay Mr. Crofts, and a farther sum for the
support of her family: and having got a tenant for the house, and
satisfied as many of the clamorous creditors as she could, she prepared,
with a heavy heart, to quit her abode, with Emmeline and her infant
family.
As it was necessary that little William should be sent to the Isle of
Wight before their departure, Emmeline wrote to fix a day at the
distance of a month, on which she desired Lady Adelina to send some
careful person for him. But ten days before the expiration of that
period, letters came from Mr. Stafford, in which he directed his wife,
who intended to embark at Brighthelmstone and land at Dieppe, to change
her route, and sail from Southampton to Havre. He also desired her to
hasten her journey: and as every thing was now put on the best footing
the time would allow, Mrs. Stafford immediately complied; and with her
own unfortunate family, Emmeline, and little William, (whom they now
meant to carry themselves to Lady Adelina) they left Woodfield.
The pain of quitting, probably for ever, a favourite abode, which she
feared would at length be torn from her children by the rapacity of the
law, and the fatigue of travelling with infant children, under such
circumstances, almost overcame the resolution and spirits of Mrs.
Stafford. Emmeline, ever reasonable, gentle, and consoling, was her
principal support; and on the evening of the second day they arrived at
Southampton.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account