First Love: A Novel. Vol. 3 of 3Loudon, Mrs. (Margracia)
General
First Love: A Novel. Vol. 3 of 3
Loudon, Mrs. (Margracia)
Fiction
At length, “Lord Fitz-Ullin!—Lord Fitz-Ullin!” was thundered in the hall,
echoed, from servant to servant, on each landing of the stairs, and
finally repeated at the door of the reception room. The reports of his
Lordship’s intended marriage broken off at the altar, and of his having
shot himself for love, were fresh in the minds of all; so that the idea
of beholding him, appeared to create a pretty general sensation; and,
at the sound of his announcement, every head turned round. Yet, when he
did actually enter, Julia was not even aware of the circumstance. She
had looked towards the door, her heart trembling with the expectation of
seeing Edmund enter with him. And she had seen Edmund enter; but with
whom she had been too much agitated to notice. The appearance of our
hero had shocked her. It was that of one who had received a stunning
blow! All expression of feature was deadened,—all animation of air and
carriage gone! He advanced with eyes scarcely raised. If Julia’s ideas
had been thrown into a state of confusion on his first entrance, what was
her astonishment, when her father, presenting our hero, said, “Julia,
my dear, this is Lord Fitz-Ullin! Lord Fitz-Ullin, Lady Julia L., Lady
Frances L.”
It was now Lord L.’s turn to be surprised. He saw both his daughters
extend a hand at the same moment, while the gentleman he was in the act
of presenting, took a hand of each, and, though with a pale and quivering
lip, pronounced the names, Julia, Frances, divested of title.
All this had occupied but a second or two, during which Lord L. had
exclaimed, “My introduction has been superfluous here, I perceive!”
“Why, papa,” cried Frances, “this is Edmund!”
Julia attempted to speak, but failed. Lord L. looked his amazement, which
was too great for utterance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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