Belmour: A Modern Edition

Chapter 8

✦ 78 ✦ good company, sir, would interrupt—and so, you will excuse us.” Rycot, though rather disappointed at their leaving him so soon, had nothing to oppose to their determination, and felt so well satisfied with his day, that he the more easily consented to their going. Having seen them to the door, he returned to his little parlour, where, after finishing his bottle of ale by himself , he as usual fell fast asleep in his arm-chair. Chapter 8 belmour, from the moment he left the castle, had felt his spirits sink, and as he proceeded on his journey, became more and more thoughtful and melancholy. His hopes of improving his acquaintance with Miss Melville seemed to fade—and, if he did, to what must that not lead?—He no longer deceived himself, as to the sentiments with which she had inspired him, but dreaded the consequences of finding his heart further engaged , before he could know even to whom.—Much less if there could ever be a chance of anything but misery for him, in such an attachment.—Yet voluntarily to give up seeing her, was an effort he felt not disposed to make. Everything appeared tiresome and uninteresting to him in town, and after a very few days, as the business on which they came appeared settled, and that his father was in possession of his long wished for title, finding that he proposed making a visit of some days more near town, Belmour determined to return without him. The marquis did not object, but showed some signs of surprise at his son’s proposition, and fixed his eyes at the moment on him, in a manner that brought the blood into Belmour’s face.—Nothing however further was said, and ✦ 79 ✦ the next morning, Belmour, with an agitated feeling of impatience , threw himself into the chaise, that was to convey him back to the castle. On the morning of the third day after his departure, he arrived there.—Caution had by this time given way to the soothing idea of again seeing the object of his admiration .—As he alighted, his sister and Lady Clementina flew to meet him.—He thanked them for their eagerness—inquired after their health with more than usual warmth, and asked every question but the only one he was really anxious to have answered. Lady Clementina, however, so far shortly relieved him; for, turning to Lady Caroline, she said, “My dear, don’t you think we might send for Miss Melville, to come to us this evening? We have not heard of her these two days, and, poor thing! she looked wretchedly the night she was here, though she would not allow she was ill, and sang more like an angel than ever.”—To this proposition Lady Caroline assented, and Belmour took courage to say, that he would be their ambassador , and carry their message to Miss Melville. The moment dinner was over, Belmour, with a beating heart, flew to the parsonage—he found the rector walking to and fro before his door, who immediately came up to him, bowing with even more than his usual obsequiousness.— “Humbly thank your lordship for this honour—just come, I find—left my lord marquis well, I hope—but pray, my lord, walk in—or would your lordship please to rest yourself first on this bench?”—Extending one hand forward as he held his hat in the other—“I am always happy to wait on you, sir,” Belmour politely replied, “but my visit this time was intended for Miss Melville—to whom I bring a message from Lady Clementina and my sister—may I be allowed to see her?”—“Miss Melville !—O dear! my lord, Miss Emily went this morning—bird flown, my lord,” said the rector, smiling with complacency at his own lively mode of expression.—“Went this morning!” repeated Belmour, endeavouring to conceal the painful surprise ✦ 80 ✦ he felt.—“When does she return?” “O! my lord, Miss Emily does not return.—I received a letter from Dr. Stanmore, the day after lordship and my lord marquis went, to thank me, as he was pleased to say, for my care of Miss Emily, and telling me, that she was to leave us immediately—thought, indeed, we should have kept her here all summer, which to be sure would not have been quite so convenient, as they say, but glad to do anything...