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
'She is then greatly changed.--Yet the eyes and features, and the whole
air of the countenance, I should immediately have acknowledged.'
Continuing to look pensively at the picture, she added, 'Tis charmingly
coloured; and might represent a very lovely and penitent Magdalen. The
black veil, and tearful eye, are beautifully touched. But why did you
indulge her in this melancholy taste?'
Godolphin, excessively hurt at this, speech, answered mournfully--'Poor
Adelina, you know, has had little reason to be gay.'
Delamere, who during this conversation seemed lost in his own
reflections, now suddenly advanced, and desired Lady Clancarryl would
favour him with a sight of the picture. He took it to a candle; and
looking steadily on it, was struck with the lightness of the drawing,
which extremely resembled the portraits Emmeline was accustomed to make;
tho' this was more highly finished than any he had yet seen of her's.
Without being able to account for his idea, since nothing was more
likely than that the drawing of two persons might resemble each other,
he looked at the back of the picture, which was of gold; and in the
centre a small oval crystal contained the words _Em. Mowbray_, in hair,
and under it the name of _Adelina Trelawny_. It was indeed a memorial of
Emmeline's affection to her friend; and the name was in her own hair;--a
circumstance that made it as dear to Godolphin as the likeness it bore
to his sister: and the whole was rendered in his eyes inestimable, by
it's being painted by herself. Delamere, astonished and pained he knew
not why, determined to hear from Godolphin himself the name of the
paintress: returning it to him, he said--'A lady, you say, Sir, drew it.
May I ask her name?'
Godolphin, now first aware of the indiscretion he had committed, and
flattering himself that the chrystal had not been inspected, answered
with an affectation of pleasantry--'Oh! I believe it is a secret between
my sister and her friend which I have no right to reveal; and to tell
you the truth I teized Adelina to give me the picture, and obtained it
only on condition of not shewing it.'
Delamere, who had so often sworn to forget her, still fancied he had a
right to be exclusively acquainted with all that related to Emmeline. He
felt himself piqued by this evasion, and answered somewhat quickly--'I
know the drawing, Sir; it is done by Miss Mowbray.'
Godolphin was then compelled to answer 'that it was.'
'I envy Miss Mowbray her charming talent,' cried Lady Clancarryl. 'Pray
who is Miss Mowbray?'
'A relation of Lord Delamere's,' answered Godolphin; 'and a most lovely
and amiable young woman.'
Delamere, whose varying countenance ill seconded his attempt to appear
indifferent on this subject, now grew pale, now red.
'Are you acquainted then with Miss Mowbray, Sir?' said he to Godolphin.
'I have seen her,' replied Godolphin, 'with my sister, Lady Adelina
Trelawny.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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