The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 5 of 5)Burney, Fanny
History
The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 5 of 5)
Burney, Fanny
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Refugees -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Refugees -- Fiction; War stories
They engaged to meet again by daybreak, the next morning, though to meet
but to part. The next morning, however, when summoned to a post-chaise
by the Admiral, the courage of Juliet, for so dreadful a leave-taking,
failed; and, committing to paper a few piercingly tender words, she
determined to write, more at length, all the consolation that she could
suggest from the first stage.
But when, in speechless grief, she would have felt her little billet in
the anti-room, she found Lady Aurora's woman already in attendance; and
heard that Lady Aurora, also, was risen and dressed. She feared,
therefore, now, that an evasion might rather aggravate than spare
affliction to her beloved sister; and, repressing her own feelings,
entered the chamber.
Lady Aurora, who had scarcely closed her eyes all night, had now, in the
fancied security of a meeting, from having placed her maid as a
sentinel, just dropt asleep. Her pale cheeks, and the movement of sorrow
still quivering upon her lips, shewed that she had been weeping, when
overpowering fatigue had induced a short slumber. Juliet, in looking at
her, thought she contemplated an angel. The touching innocence of her
countenance; the sweetness which no sadness could destroy; the grief
exempt from impatience; and the air of purity that overspread her whole
face, and seemed breathing round her whole form, inspired Juliet, for a
few moments, with ideas too sublime for mere sublunary sorrow. She
knelt, with tender reverence, by her side, inwardly ejaculating, Sleep
on, my angel sister! Recruit your harassed spirits, and wake not yet to
the woes of your hapless Juliet! Then, placing gently upon her bosom
the written farewell, she softly kissed the hem of her garments, and
glided from the room.
She made a sign to the maid, for she had no power of utterance, not to
awaken her lady; and hurried down stairs to join the Admiral, attended
by the faithful Ambroise.
She was spared offering any apologies for detaining her uncle, by
finding him preparing to step down to the beach, with a spying glass,
without which he never stirred a step; to take a view, before they set
off, of a sail, which his servant, an old seaman, had just brought him
word was in sight. He helped her, therefore, into the chaise, begging
her patience for a few minutes.
Juliet was not sorry to seize this interval for returning to the
anti-room, to learn whether Lady Aurora were awake; and, by her
resignation or emotion, to judge whether a parting embrace would prove
baneful or soothing.
As she was re-entering the house, a vociferous cry of 'Stop! stop!'
issued from a carriage that was driving past. She went on, desiring
Ambroise to give her notice when the Admiral came back; but had not yet
reached the gallery, when the stairs were rapidly ascended by two, or
more persons, one of which encircled her in his arms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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