The consequences to Lord Finlay were inevitable, though never suspected.
A student of about eighteen, full of the amours of Ovid, and the soft
odes in Horace, has a heart very susceptible of love. These sensations
were too agreeable to be repulsed; he delivered himself entirely over
to his passion, which absorbed every other faculty of his soul. The
most perfect affection soon subsisted between these young people: but
the dignity of Miss Burt's manners inspired her lover with such respect
as rendered him silent on the subject of his passion, as he could not
enforce it without his father's sanction.
But there is an intelligence between tender souls, and the most animated
expression may be conveyed without the aid of words; and this dumb
language is so eloquent, that it is generally understood where the
heart is in unison. Friendship, indeed, was only spoke of; but their
every look, their every action, bespoke the most ardent love. 'What
transports,' (said he, one day to her) 'can friendship bestow! what
refined feelings, what delightful sensations, actuate the human soul in
such happy moments as these!'
We contemplate each other in silence; but the soul is never more
eloquent than under the influence of such a silence. She expresses, in a
moment, a train of ideas and sensations, which would be but confounded
by utterance.
Miss Burt had a merit the more engaging, from its avoiding notice and
parade: a refined genius, enriched with great knowledge and happy
expression, united with the most candid sincerity and goodness of heart;
these qualities entitled her to the esteem and friendship of every noble
mind: and the thick veil, under which her too great modesty concealed
her pre-eminence, exalted her in the penetrating eyes of her lover. She
scarce ever laid _this veil_ aside, except to him, whose approbation
rendered her indifferent with respect to the commendations of every one
else. He became every day more attached to her: and was so ignorant of
the world as to expect his father's approbation of his passion, and that
he would be propitious to it.
Thus situated were the lovers, when Lord Munster disgusted with the
court retired to the country. He immediately sent for Mr Burt and Lord
Finlay: although the distance was only a few miles, it was very grievous
for the latter to leave a place where he had access every minute of the
day to behold the object of his wishes.
Upon this occasion he was determined to disclose to her the situation of
his heart. He threw himself at her feet, in that pathetic disorder of
spirits which constitutes the true eloquence of love, and endeavoured to
speak, but hesitated at every word. In the mean time she saw and pitied
his confusion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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