"Indeed, Moseley," he added, as they were about to resume their carriage
after a change of horses, "we must draw him out, and see what he thinks
of his master now--delicately, you know." The soldier was, however,
impervious to his lordship's attacks, until the project was finally
abandoned in despair. As Peter was much too modest to talk in the
presence of Mr. John Moseley and a lord, the young men had most of the
discourse to themselves. At a village fifteen miles from London, a
fashionable carriage and four, with the coronet of a marquis was in
waiting for Lord Henry. John refused his invitation to take a seat with
him to town; for he had traced Denbigh from stage to stage, and was
fearful of losing sight of him, unless he persevered in the manner he
had commenced. Peter and he accordingly were put down safely at an inn
in the Strand, and Moseley hastened to make his inquiries after the
object of his pursuit. Such a chaise had arrived an hour before, and the
gentleman had ordered his trunk to a neighboring hotel. After obtaining
the address, and ordering a hackney coach, he hastened to the house; but
on inquiring for Mr. Denbigh, to his great mortification was told they
knew of no such gentleman. John turned away from the person he was
speaking to in visible disappointment, when a servant respectfully
inquired if the gentleman had not come from L----, in Norfolk, that day.
"He had," was the reply. "Then follow me, sir, if you please." They
knocked at a door of one of the parlors, and the servant entered: he
returned, and John was shown into a room, where Denbigh was sitting with
his head resting on his hand, and apparently musing. On seeing who
required admittance, he sprang from his seat and exclaimed--
"Mr. Moseley! Do I see aright?"
"Denbigh," cried John, stretching out his hand to him, "was this kind--
was it like yourself--to leave us so unexpectedly, and for so long a
time, too, as your note mentioned?"
Denbigh waved his hand to the servant to retire, and handed a chair to
his friend.
"Mr. Moseley," said he, struggling with his feelings, "you appear
ignorant of my proposals to your sister."
"Perfectly," answered the amazed John.
"And her rejection of them."
"Is it possible!" cried the brother, pacing up and down the room. "I
acknowledge I did expect you to offer, but not to be refused."
Denbigh placed in the other hand the letter of Emily, which, having
read, John returned, with a sigh. "This, then, is the reason you left
us," he continued. "Emily is not capricious--it cannot be a sudden
pique--she means as she says."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account