thing, as it might enable him to conquer his mistress's resentment for
his having transferred his attention elsewhere, which he elegantly
expressed, by saying "In the first brush of the thing she may cuff off
her nose to punish her face."
Our travellers proceeded on their journey with the most dissimilar
feelings possible. Mrs. Sullivan enjoying the idea of the fortune this
expedition would secure to Caroline--the Miss Webberlys, in sullen
discontent, were forming schemes to make their mother return as soon as
possible to the neighbourhood of London, supposing the society of
Ballinamoyle must be still more insipid than that in the vicinity of
Webberly House--their brother engaged in promoting the success of his
passion for Adelaide, she not less so in keeping him at a distance, and
in the endeavour to divert her thoughts from her companions to the
country they passed through--Caroline alone, with unfeigned pleasure,
was enjoying the change of scene, and coaxing her "Dear, precious
Adele," who returned the sweet child's caresses with equal affection.
The weather was intolerably hot; the Miss Webberlys would not consent to
have their pelisses faded by opening the barouche--"You know, mama, we
can't get any thing from London for a long time, and you would not have
_us_ dress in the Irish fashions:" so the four ladies and Caroline were
nearly suffocated with heat; little relief was obtained from letting
down the front windows, for Mr. Webberly and a footman in the driving
seat intercepted the air. Mr. Webberly had placed himself there, that he
might from time to time cast sweet looks at Adelaide. She sat with her
back to him that she might not see them; but this was of little avail,
for he tapped her every five minutes on the shoulder, on pretence of
pointing out some remarkable object to her notice, therefore she
willingly accepted Mrs. Sullivan's offer of making room for her on the
other seat. Oh! how she envied the abigails, as they drove past in the
post chaise! she could not enjoy the pleasure of walking up the hills
with Caroline, as in that case, Mr. Webberly was at her side in an
instant, ready primed with the compliments he had composed on the
barouche seat. But notwithstanding all this, she was enchanted with the
picturesque scenery of North Wales: the Vale of Langollen, Capel
Kerrick, and Lake Oggen, called forth her rapturous praise, in the
expression of which she was sometimes joined by her companions, though
they were little capable of feeling the pleasure she experienced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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