First Love: A Novel. Vol. 2 of 3Loudon, Mrs. (Margracia)
General
First Love: A Novel. Vol. 2 of 3
Loudon, Mrs. (Margracia)
Fiction
Lady Susan sighed and smiled, and tried to be of his lordship’s opinion.
The following plan, which had been in agitation ever since the arrival
of the Arandales at Lodore House, was now finally arranged. In short,
Mrs. Montgomery, after many objections, at length consented to her
grand-daughters accompanying their uncle’s family, back to Ayrshire,
for about a month. Captain Montgomery, and Mr. St. Aubin were invited
to join the party. The Euphrasia being still in dock, our hero quickly
assented to a proposal, by which he was to enjoy a continuance of Julia’s
society.
“Julia!” exclaimed Frances, on receiving a message from a servant, “our
poor little friend, Gotterimo! Oh, may we have him in, grandmamma? It
will be so amusing!” “And I dare say every body will buy something from
him,” added Julia.
“He is, I believe, a deserving poor creature,” said Mrs. Montgomery.
“Shall we gratify the girls, and admit him?” she added, turning to Lady
Arandale.
Lady Arandale, of course, assented, and orders were given accordingly. A
young man, of a neat diminutive figure, now entered. His eyes sparkled
with hope at the sight of so large a company; while, at the same time, a
kind of bashfulness flushed his cheek and flurried his manner. The girls
saw this, and felt for him.
“Here, will you open the boxes on this table, Mr. Gotterimo?” said Julia;
and while he was doing so, she observed, that when the first flush,
called up by his entrance, went down, the poor creature’s countenance
assumed an anxious and saddened expression.
“I hope,” she added, “you had good success in Bath?” “Yes, madam,”
he answered, with some hesitation; then added, “it was first year,
madam—every ting must have begin, madam.” This led to further enquiries,
and a dismal tale of having been robbed by his partner, of the savings of
his whole life.
Our breakfast party felt much commiseration for poor Gotterimo; and
commenced making purchases as a means of affording, at least, temporary
assistance. The sale of his goods raised the spirits of our poor little
friend, who soon became all activity in displaying, and eloquence in
recommending each shining article in his sparkling collection. A chain
was admired by Edmund for its resemblance to a cable, and was purchased
by Julia. Lord Arandale’s eye accidentally fell on a musical box.
Gotterimo set the air playing immediately.
“Is it not rather slow in the time?” said the Earl.
“Oh, de slow time, it do make listen!”
“I should prefer something less dismal,” said his lordship.
“So ’tis, sir! De quick time, it do make dance!” and, while he spoke,
with nimble fingers he was winding up a curious seal which now began to
execute a more lively air.
“That is pretty!” said the Earl. Gotterimo proffered the seal to his
lordship.
“The articulation of the box is superior,” observed Lady Susan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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