Home Influence: A Tale for Mothers and DaughtersAguilar, Grace
General
Home Influence: A Tale for Mothers and Daughters
Aguilar, Grace
Domestic fiction; Mothers and daughters -- Fiction
His taste had always pointed to the naval in preference to the military
profession, and the voyage confirmed it. Before he had been a month on
board he had become practically an expert sailor--had learned all the
technical names of the various parts of a ship, and evinced the most
eager desire for the acquirement of navigation. Nor did he fail in the
true sailor spirit, when, almost within sight of England, a tremendous
storm arose, reducing the vessel almost to a wreck, carrying her far
from her destined moorings, and compelling her, after ten days' doubt
whether or not she would reach land in safety, to anchor in Milford
Haven, there to repair her injuries, ere she could be again seaworthy.
The passengers here left her, and Mrs. Fortescue, whose illness the
terrors of the storm had most alarmingly increased, was conveyed to
Pembroke in an almost exhausted state; but once on land she rallied,
resolved on instantly proceeding to Swansea, then cross to Devonshire,
and travel direct to Oakwood, where she had no doubt her sister was. But
her temper was destined to be tried still more. The servant who had
accompanied her from India, an Englishwoman, tired out with the fretful
impatience of Mrs. Fortescue during the voyage, and disappointed that
she did not at once proceed to London, demanded her instant discharge,
as she could not stay any longer from her friends. The visible illness
of her mistress might have spared this unfeeling act, but Eleanor had
never shown feeling or kindness to her inferiors, and therefore,
perhaps, had no right to expect them. Her suppressed anger and annoyance
so increased physical suffering, that had it not been for her children
she must have sunk at once; but for their sakes she struggled with that
deadly exhaustion, and set off the very next morning, without any
attendant, for Swansea. They were not above thirty miles from this town
when, despite her every effort, Mrs. Fortescue became too ill to
proceed. There was no appearance of a town or village, but the owners of
a half-way house, pitying the desolate condition of the travelers,
directed the postboy to the village of Llangwillan; which, though out of
the direct road and four or five miles distant, was yet the nearest
place of shelter. And never in her whole life had Mrs. Fortescue
experienced such a blessed sensation of physical relief, as when the
benevolent exertions of Mr. Myrvin had installed her in widow Morgan's
humble dwelling, and by means of soothing medicine and deep repose in
some degree relieved the torture of a burning brain and aching frame.
Still she hoped to rally, and obtain strength sufficient to proceed; and
bitter was the anguish when the hope was compelled to be
relinquished.--With all that followed, our readers are already
acquainted, and we will, therefore, at once seek the acquaintance of
Mrs. Hamilton's own family, whose "Traits of Character" will, we hope,
illustrate other and happier home influences than those of indiscreet
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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