Clergy -- Fiction; Great Britain -- Fiction; Religious fiction
The following morning brought Mr. Cartwright and his daughter again to
the Park a few minutes before the post-horses arrived for Mrs. Mowbray's
carriage, and in a few minutes more every thing was ready for the
departure of the travellers. Helen gave a farewell embrace to Fanny and
Rosalind; while the attentive vicar stepped into the carriage before
Mrs. Mowbray entered it, to see that as many windows were up and as many
windows down as she wished, and likewise for the purpose of placing a
small volume in the side pocket next the place she was to occupy. He
then returned to her side, and as he handed her in, whispered, while he
pressed her hand,
"Do not fatigue yourself with talking, my dear friend: it is a great
while since you have taken a journey even so long as this. In the pocket
next you I have placed a little volume that I wish--oh, how
ardently!--that you would read with attention. Will you promise me
this?"
"I will," replied Mrs. Mowbray, deeply affected by his earnestness--"God
bless you!"
"The Lord watch over you!" responded Mr. Cartwright with a sigh. He then
retreated a step, and Helen sprang hastily into the carriage without
assistance; the door was closed, and before the equipage reached the
lodges Mrs. Mowbray had plunged into a disquisition on regeneration and
faith--the glory of the new birth--and the assured damnation of all who
cannot, or do not, attain thereto.
Meanwhile the party left under the shade of the portico looked at each
other as if to inquire what they were to do next. On all occasions of
morning departure there is generally a certain degree of
_désoeuvrement_ left with those who remain behind. In general,
however, this is soon got over, except by a desperate idler or a very
mournful residuary guest; but on the present occasion the usual
occupations of the parties were put completely out of joint, and
Rosalind, at least, was exceedingly well disposed to exclaim--
----"Accursed spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!"
She remained stationary for a few minutes, hoping and expecting that the
reverend gentleman would depart: but as this did not happen, she quietly
re-entered the house and retired to her own dressing-room.
Fanny then made a motion to enter also, but took very hospitable care
that it should include both her companions. Mr. Cartwright spoke not of
going--he even led the way to the library himself, and having closed the
door and put down the ever-open sash windows, he turned to Fanny, and,
with a smile that might have accompanied a proposal to sing or dance,
said,
"My dear Miss Fanny! does not your heart feel full of kind and tender
wishes for the safety of your beloved mother during her absence from
you?"
"It does indeed!" said Fanny, shaking back her chesnut ringlets.
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