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
But when, early the next morning, with the dire idea of leave-taking,
she re-visited the gentle mourner, she found her nourishing a hope that
her Juliet might yet be melted to a change of plan. 'Oh my sister!' she
cried, 'my whole heart cannot thus have been opened to affection, to
confidence, to fondest friendship, only to be broken by this dreadful
separation! Our souls cannot have been knit together by ties of the
sweetest trust, only to be rent for ever asunder! You will surely
reflect before you destroy us both? for do you think you can now be a
single victim?'
Dissolved with tenderness, yet agonized with grief, Juliet could but
weep, and ejaculate half-pronounced blessings; while Lady Aurora, with
renovating courage, said, 'Ah! think, sweet Juliet, think, if our
father,--was he not ours alike?--had lived to know the proud day of
receiving his long lost, and so accomplished daughter, such as I see her
now!--would he not have said to me, 'Aurora! this is your sister! You
are equally my children; love her, then, tenderly, and let there be but
one heart between you!'--And will you, then, Juliet, deliver us both up
to wretchedness? Must I see you no more? And only have seen you, now, to
embitter all the rest of my life?'
'Oh resistless Aurora!' cried the miserable Juliet, 'rend not thus my
heart!--Think for me, my Aurora;--Think, as well as feel for me,--and
then--dispose of me as you will!'--
'I accept being the umpire, my Juliet! my tenderest sister! I accept it,
and you are saved!--We are both saved!--for this would be a sacrifice
beyond any call of duty!'--cried Lady Aurora, instantly reviving, not
simply to serenity, but to felicity, to rapture. Her tears were dried
up, her eyes shone with delight, and smiles the softest and most
expressive dimpled her chin, and played about her cheeks and mouth,
while, with a transport new to her serene temperament, she embraced the
appalled Juliet. ''Tis now, indeed,' she continued, 'I feel I have a
sister! 'Tis now I feel the force of kindred fondness! If you had not
loved me with a sister's affection, you would not have listened to my
solicitations; and if you had not listened, such a disappointment, and
your loss together,--do you think I should have been strong enough to
survive them?' But this enchantment lasted not long; she soon perceived
it was without participation, and her joy vanished, 'like the baseless
fabric of a vision.' Anguish sat upon the brow of Juliet; fits of
shuddering horrour shook every limb; and her only answer to these tender
endearments was by tears and embraces; while she strove to hide her
altered and nearly distorted face upon Lady Aurora's shoulder.
'Speak to me, my sister!' cried Lady Aurora. 'Tell me that your pity for
the good Bishop is not stronger than all your love for me? than all your
value for your own security from barbarous brutality? than your trust in
Providence, that will surely protect so pious and exemplary a person?'
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