Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 6, June 1852Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 6, June 1852
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
I fell into thought, and I felt that he was right. He gave me but little
time to ponder, however, asking me who else I had seen, and I mentioned
several names, Colonel C——, the commander-in-chief, a number of young
officers, the two strangers who had dined with me, and lastly, in as
easy a tone as I could assume, Westover’s two aunts.
Father Bonneville asked their names, and I replied, “Lady Winslow, and a
lady they called Lady Catherine—I suppose Lady Catherine Westover; for
he said, in the course of the evening, that she was his father’s
sister.”
I looked somewhat keenly at Father Bonneville as I spoke; but my words
did not seem to produce the slightest effect worth noticing.
“It is droll,” he said. “I do not remember the name of Westover in the
English peerage. It must be some new creation, I suppose.”
“I should think not,” I replied, “for there is a calm quietness about
them—a want of all arrogance and presumption—an easy, self-possessed
tranquillity, which I have always remarked, in this country, accompanies
ancient rights, and well assured position.”
“Do you know,” said Father Bonneville, suddenly darting away from the
subject, “that it has once or twice struck me, Louis, that there is a
great deal of likeness between your friend Captain Westover and
yourself?”
I smiled; for I could not conceive two men more different in
appearance—in complexion—in eyes, in height; for I was much taller,
and dark, while he was fair; but still the good Father’s words lingered
in my mind, and I determined the next time I saw my friend to learn, if
possible, something more of his history.
It was with great satisfaction then that, on the Friday morning, I
received a note from Westover, asking me to dine with him, either on the
Tuesday or the Wednesday following, and to name which day.
“Do come, De Lacy, on the one day or the other; for there are some
people, who will come on either day, to whom I much wish to introduce
you. My leave will soon expire, and I may not have another opportunity.”
I immediately answered his note, fixing the first named day, and then,
as it was a beautiful morning in the spring, I went out to fish in a
river which ran at some miles distant from my cottage, and where I had
hired a right—for the English are as tenacious of the right of stream
and wood as any old feudal lord that ever lived.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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