Rosamond on the sudden desertion of her lover. Edmund took his seat near the worktable opposite to Lady Emma, who seemed lost in thought, and employed only in cutting a watch-paper; but though she appeared to move the scissars unconsciously, yet the design was completed with all the elegant exactness, which characterised her most trifling undertakings. "What miserable dogs we male creatures are," exclaimed Henry addressing himself to Edmund, "we are unlucky beings, subject to the arbitrary law of the fair, from whose decree we have no appeal. Here is Rose, not content with depriving her humble adorer of the light of her presence, must banish him even from his native country, and I tremble, lest her cruelty should drive him into uninhabited desarts, or unknown shores: confess, Rose, that you feel some qualms of conscience, some signs of returning love." This was a subject, on which Lady Rosamond was ill-disposed to jest, and she replied with a grave countenance, and severe manner, "Love cannot exist without esteem, and I have ceased to esteem Captain Clayton, though I sincerely wish him every happiness." "Ah!" exclaimed Emma, " you are fortunate in self-command, fortunate in being able to withhold love, when you are obliged to deny esteem, for surely it is possible to continue to love, when we can no longer esteem." Edmund felt the full force. of these words, and was covered with confusion, when his eyes met those of Lady Emma, who was pale with emotion. A severe sentiment nttered in a bitter tone, was so great a novelty from her, that it drew general observation. "Bravo, my little Emma," exclaimed Henry, "all for love, or the world well lost, I like the noble sentiment." Lady Maria (addressing her by the appellation, child,) enquired with more ill-humour than was natural to her, how long she had been a casuist in the mysterious H 3 mysterious science of love? And whence were the sources of her experience? Lady Rosamond coldly observed, that young people would have romantic ideas, till experience taught them their fallacy, and Emma vexed at having betrayed her sentiments, and finding them treated with ridicule, burst into tears, and left the room. Lady Drelincourt mildly reproved her daughters, for speaking harshly to a sister, so gentle and unoffending. Henry laughed, and said, " Women were so fond of mischief, that they would quarrel with each other, rather than not enjoy it." And Edmund retired to the library to commune with himself. "Gentle and unoffending, she is indeed," he exclaimed, "but I in wretched folly could throw this pearl away, richer than all its tribe, and for what? For a painted doll, artificial allurements, negative pleasures!" He continued to reprobate his conduct in very severe terms, till he had exhausted all the forms of condemnation condemnation that he could recollect in English, French, and Italian, he then after sincerely lamenting the past, began to form resolutions for the future, and determined first to go no more to Carisbrooke Castle, which contained no inducement to an honorable man, secondly to listen no more to the suggestions of vanity, which are beneath the consideration of a wise man, and lastly to endeavour to render himself worthy of Lady Emma's love, as including all the real blessings that a well-placed virtuous attachment can bestow. Having made these resolutions he felt more easy, and after haveing written his letters, was enabled to join the family at dinner, with the serenity which a consciousness of rectitude and honour, never fails to spread over the mind of the fortunate possessor. CHAP. X. -A prudent father, By nature formed to guide and rule her choice, THOMSON. THE tender attentions of a few days, and a continued absence from Carisbrooke Castle, so completely reinstated Edmund in Emma's good graces, that he ventured to request her permission to inform Lord Drelincourt of his love, and solicit him to sanction it by his approbation. The timid and agitated Emma, vainly endeavoured to put a negative on this unexpected entreaty; the words died on her quivering lips; she looked round the room, |