Nothing is so detestable as forcing people to be amused. Come, now for Knowle."
Sir Sedley was then putting up his tickets; but the Major, taking one of them out of his hand, presented it to Camilla, saying: "Let the ladies take their tickets now, and settle with us afterwards."
Camilla felt extremely provoked, yet not knowing how to resist, took the ticket; but, turning pointedly from the Major to Sir Sedley, said: "I am your debtor, then, sir, a guinea--the smallest part, indeed, of what I owe you, though all I can pay!" And she then resolved to borrow that sum immediately of Mrs. Arlbery.
Sir Sedley began to think she grew handsomer every moment: and, contrary to his established and systematic inattention, upon hearing the sound of the carriages, conducted her himself to Mr. Dennel"s coach, which he ascended after her.
Edgar, unable to withstand joining the party, had ordered his horse during the debate about the tickets.
Lords O"Lerney and Newford, and Sir Theophilus Jarard, and Major Cerwood, went also on horseback.
Sir Sedley made it his study to procure amus.e.m.e.nt for Camilla during the ride; and while he humoured alternately the loquacious folly of Miss Dennel, and the under-bred positiveness of her father, intermingled with both comic sarcasms against himself, and pointed annotations upon the times, that somewhat diverted her solicitude and perplexity.
She forgot them however, more naturally, in examining the n.o.ble antique mansion, pictures, and curiosities of Knowle; and in paying the tribute that taste must ever pay to the works exhibited there of Sir Joshua Reynolds.
The house viewed, they all proceeded to the park, where, enchanted with the n.o.ble old trees which venerably adorn it, they strolled delightedly, till they came within sight of an elegant white form, as far distant as their eyes could reach, reading under an oak.
Camilla instantly thought of her moonlight friend; but Sir Theophilus called out, "Faith, there"s the divine Berlinton!"
"Is there, faith?" exclaimed Lord Newford, suddenly rushing forward to satisfy himself if it were true.
Deeming this an ill-bred and unauthorised intrusion, they all stopt. The studious fair, profoundly absorbed by her book, did not hear his lordship"s footsteps, till his coat rustled in her ears. Raising then her eyes, she screamed, dropt her book, and darting up, flew towards the wood, with a velocity far exceeding his own, though without seeming to know, or consider, whither her flight might lead her.
Camilla, certain now this was her new friend, felt an indignation the most lively against Lord Newford, and involuntarily sprung forward. It was evident the fair fugitive had perceived none of the party but him she sought to avoid; notwithstanding Lord Newford himself, when convinced who it was, ceased his pursuit, and seemed almost to find out there was such a sensation as shame; though by various antics, of swinging his cane, looking up in the air, shaking his pocket handkerchief, and sticking his arms a-kimbo, he thought it essential to his credit to disguise it.
Camilla had no chance to reach the flying beauty, but by calling to her to stop; which she did instantly at the sound of her voice, and, turning round with a look of rapture, ran into her arms.
The Major, whose devoirs to Camilla always sought, not avoided the public eye, eagerly pursued her. Edgar, cruelly envying a licence he concluded to result from his happy situation, looked on in silent amaze; but listened with no small attention to the remarks that now fell from Mrs. Arlbery, who said she was sure this must be the fair Incognita that Miss Tyrold had met with upon the road; and gave a lively relation of that adventure.
He could not hear without delight the benevolent courage thus manifested by Camilla, nor without terror the danger to which it might have exposed her. But Lord O"Lerney, with an air of extreme surprise, exclaimed: "Is it possible Lord Newford could give any cause of alarm to Mrs.
Berlinton?"
"Is she then, my lord, a woman of character?" cried Mrs. Arlbery.
"Untainted!" he answered solemnly; "as spotless, I believe, as her beauty: and if you have seen her, you will allow that to be no small praise. She comes from a most respectable family in Wales, and has been married but a few months."
"Married, my lord? my fair female Quixote a.s.sured me she was single."
"No, poor thing! she was carried from the nursery to the altar, and, I fear, not very judiciously nor happily."
"Dear!" cried Miss Dennel, "i"n"t she happy?"
"I never presume to judge," answered his lordship, smiling; "but she has always something melancholy in her air."
"Pray how old is she?" said Miss Dennel.
"Eighteen."
"Dear! and married?--La! I wonder what makes her unhappy!"
"Not a husband, certainly!" said Mrs. Arlbery, laughing, "that is against all chance and probability."
"Well, I"m resolved when I"m married myself, I won"t be unhappy."
"And how will you help it?"
"O, because I"m determined I won"t. I think it"s very hard if I may"nt have my own way when I"m married."
""Twill at least be very singular!" answered Mrs. Arlbery.
Camilla now returned to her party, having first conducted her new friend towards a door in the park where her carriage was waiting.
"At length, my dear," said Mrs. Arlbery, "your fair mysterious has, I suppose, avowed herself?"
"I made no inquiry," answered she, painfully looking down.
"I can tell you who she is, then, myself," said Miss Dennel; "she is Mrs. Berlinton, and she"s come out of Wales, and she"s married, and she"s eighteen."
"Married!" repeated Camilla, blushing from internal surprise at the conversations she had held with her.
"Yes; your fair Incognita is neither more nor less," said Mrs. Arlbery, "than the honourable Mrs. Berlinton, wife to Lord Berlinton"s brother, and, next only to Lady Alithea Selmore, the first toast, and the reigning cry of the Wells for this season."
Camilla, who had seen and considered her in almost every other point of view, heard this with less of pleasure than astonishment. When a further investigation brought forth from Lord O"Lerney that her maiden name was Melmond, Mrs. Arlbery exclaimed: "O, then, I cease to play the idiot, and wonder! I know the Melmonds well. They are all half crazy, romantic, love-lorn, studious, and sentimental. One of them was in Hampshire this summer, but so immensely "melancholy and gentleman-like[2]," that I never took him into my society."
[Footnote 2: Ben Jonson]
""Twas the brother of this young lady, I doubt not," said Lord O"Lerney; "he is a young man of very good parts, and of an exemplary character; but strong in his feelings, and wild in pursuit of whatever excites them."
"When will you introduce me to your new friend, Miss Tyrold?" said Mrs.
Arlbery; "or, rather," (turning to Lord Newford,) "I hope your lordship will do me that honour; I hear you are very kind to her; and take much care to convince her of the ill effects and danger of the evening air."
"O hang it! O curse it!" cried his lordship; "why does a woman walk by moon-light?"
"Why, rather, should man," said Lord O"Lerney, "impede so natural a recreation?"
The age of Lord O"Lerney, which more than doubled that of Lord Newford, made this question supported, and even drew forth the condescension of an attempted exculpation. "I vow, my lord," he cried, "I had no intention but to look at a letter; and that I thought, she only read in public to excite curiosity."
"O but you knelt to her!" cried Miss Dennel, "you knelt to her! I saw you! and why did you do that, when you knew she was married, and you could not be her lover?"
The party being now disposed to return to the Wells, Mrs. Arlbery called upon the General to attend her to the phaeton. Camilla, impatient to pay Sir Sedley, followed to speak to her; but, not aware of her wish, Mrs.
Arlbery hurried laughingly on, saying, "Come, General, let us be gone, that the coach may be last, and then Dennel must pay the fees! That will be a good guinea towards my ponies!"
CHAPTER V
_Mount Pleasant_