Belmour: A Modern Edition

Chapter 2

✦ 17 ✦ what had been described could possibly in any way belong to them. Belmour, on this, recounted to her the vision he had seen on the preceding evening—he spoke with so much descriptive warmth and energy, that it extracted a smile from his sister.— “What can you mean?” said he, colouring. “—Ah! my dearest brother,” replied she, gently pressing his hand, “beware of romance—remember the views of a father ever most kind to us—his earnest wish to see one of us at least settled,” (here a tear started into her eye) “and his project, to which you certainly have listened of late, if not consented.”—“But my dear sister,” said he, recovering himself, “what can make you so serious?—can you possibly suppose me so ridiculous?—alas!” added he, mournfully, “the too sensible disappointments of my heart tend rather, I fear, to baneful apathy, than to the chance of any new or lively interest.”—Here they were interrupted by the voice of Lord Delavere, who called to Lady Caroline, to come in and make his tea, and their conversation was not again renewed that evening. Chapter 2 in spite of the way in which Belmour had answered his sister, what she had said did not fail to make an impression on his mind.—The warmth with which he had spoken in describing his adventure, and still more what he had felt, made him appear almost ridiculous in his own eyes.—The two following days, which preceded the Saturday, although he did frequently walk by the rector’s garden, and once or twice thought he saw the same figure at a distance through the trees, he made no ✦ 18 ✦ attempts to see more of her; and when the Saturday came, had by that time half persuaded himself, that he was indifferent whether or not he even saw her at all, certain that he should see her, he began to believe, that his imagination, assisted by the dusk of the evening, and her unexpected appearance, had deceived him, and that most of the ideal charm would shortly vanish, and some, at best, ordinary beauty, present herself to his sight. A little before the hour of dinner the company were assembled in the drawing-room, when, soon after, the rector and his wife were announced.—All eyes were instantly directed towards the door, when in rolled the smug, fat parson, grinning from ear to ear, preceded by his wife, curtseying all round to the very chairs, which she seemed in her confusion to take for lords and ladies—but in vain they expected the young stranger would follow.—The disappointment was general.—Belmour bit his lips, and could scarcely command himself sufficiently, to be commonly civil—all his curiosity, and all his interest in the stranger returned, as the expectation of seeing her vanished .—The earl, making a few steps forward, said—“But we were in hopes you would have brought your company—the young lady, of whom we have heard wonders.”—“Much obliged to your lordship,” said the parson, “yes, my lord—no, my lord, could not persuade her, my lord—never yet got her to go anywhere but to church, that, my lord, you know is quite in my way.” This he seemed to think a prodigiously good joke, and laughed at it himself immoderately.—Here the inquiry would for the present have ended, had not Dash, who thought himself now backed by Lord Delavere, skipped up, and with a look that expressed, you dare not now refuse me, said—“But pray, doctor, who is this stranger?”—“Stranger!” replied he, “almost as much a stranger to me, as she can be to you, captain, know very little of the young person.—Dr. Stanmore, an old friend of mine, who helped me to this living, by saying a good word ✦ 19 ✦ to the bishop for me, begged that my wife and I would give her lodging for some time, as his parsonage was painting and repairing, that’s all.” At this moment dinner was announced, much too interesting an event to Mr. Rycot, for him any longer to attempt even a second joke, or attend to one word, either Dash or any other person could possibly say to him.—During dinner, though several trials were made, little was got out of the rector or his wife respecting the young stranger, but that her name was Melville. The...