CHAPTER XIII. Shee hath forgott how many a woeful stowre SPENSER. ALL must have felt what it is in this ungenial clime to part with a fine day. It seems as though we were bidding farewell to some long lost friend, and we love to watch even with pensive regret the last rays of the softly sinking sun, as we would trace the lingering steps of some loved one, who it may be long ere we behold again. Fatigued as I am, still I must enjoy this lovely day to the last," said Lady Rossville, as they approached the Castle, and she threw herself on a garden chair that stood upon the lawn; "it is one that sends such a summer feeling to the heart,' that I feel as though I were a better being, while sitting here listening to the faint notes of that sweet thrush, than I should be shut up in the drawing-room with Lady Betty, and Miss Pratt.". "It is much more agreeable at least," said Lyndsay also seating himself—“as to its being more amiable and virtuous, I fear, I may scarcely lay that flattering unction to my soul. I am apt to distrust myself since->› "Since when?" asked the Countess. "Since I knew you, Gertrude." This seemed rather to have burst from his lips involuntarily, than to have been uttered deliberately; and there was something in the tone which made Gertrude start, as a vague suspicion darted across her mind that Lyndsay loved her. But she had VOL. II.-G scarcely time to admit the idea, ere it was as quickly dispelled; for, when she turned to look on him, the earnest expression with which he had been regarding her, fled; and, in a gay manner, he added "I flattered myself, I had been an infinitely wiser, better, and more respectable person than I find I am -for I begin to feel myself, under your influence, gradually sinking into a soft, simple, neat-handed, somewhat melancholic sort of a souffre douleur; and if I stay much longer with you, I must provide myself with a flute and a silk dressing-gown-and then " "What, then?" asked Lady Rossville, laughingly. "Why, then, you must promise to look upon me as a very interesting creature; and I will stand, or sit, half the night at my open window, playing loveforn ditties, that will cause, as Gray says, the very cat to wring its hands." "Well, I shall provide the silk dressing-gown and the flute-but for the lady and the cat, you must find these for yourself." "But these will be only a small part of the stock in hand necessary for me to commence business with. I must be able to write sonnets upon every occasion —often upon no occasion at all. I must be able to take the most correct and striking likenesses without a single sitting " "'Tis time you had begun to practise that part of your profession, certainly," said Gertrude. "Do you remember how long ago it is since you promised to draw my picture?-Pray, begin now-I have nothing else to do; and this lovely setting sun will invest me with a little of his radiance, and soften down all my uglinesses :-see how beautiful every thing looks in its light." "But, you know, I warned you I never flattered in my portraits-mine profess to be 'truth severe'cold, dry, hard fac-similes, without a single Claud Lorraine tint." "No matter, let me see myself such I am, or at least appear to my friends." "Well, not to shock you at the very outset, I must say you appear to me to love truth, and to be sincere in the search of it—but you have some pride and a little obstinacy to prevent your arriving at it; then, your fancy is too lively to permit you to take the right way, and while you are under its fantastic dominion, you will never judge correctly." "Not very flattering, certainly," said the Countess, affecting to laugh" is just not ugly, and is just not mad,' seems to be the amount of your panegyric-but, pray go on." "You do not want penetration, but you form your opinions too hastily; you will be accused of inconsistency and caprice, but unjustly; you will only be undeceived "I seem to have got into the hands of a fortuneteller rather than a portrait-painter," said Lady Rossville somewhat pettishly, "and as I never listen to predictions that bode me no good, I'll none of yours -'tis an idle art, and no coming events shall cast their shadows upon me. Come, this is enough for one sitting, you shall have another to morrow, when, perhaps, you will do me, such as I am, not as I may be." "To-morrow I must leave you," said Lyndsay. "No, pray do not talk of leaving me," cried Gertrude quickly; "what will become of me when you are gone? I shall have no one being, with whom I can have any companionship-no one to talk withno one to read with-no one to sing with-no one to walk with no one to teach me any good thing-my dear cousin, say you will not leave me?" But Lyndsay shook his head. 66 Come, Zoe," to a little Italian grayhound that lay at her feet, "do you join your pretty little intreaties to mine," and she made it assume a begging attitude. The dog was a gift from Delmour, and Lyndsay turned away his eyes. "I must be gone," said he. "Nay, rather say shall or will be gone," cried the Countess pettishly; "I do not believe there is any must in the matter-you are your own master, free to go or stay as you yourself incline." "Even were it so-do not be so much of a spoiled child, Gertrude, as to quarrel with your friend, merely because he has, what it is said all men have, and some women too, a will of his own." "But I have more than once, of late, sacrificed mine to Mr. Lyndsay's," said Gertrude coldly. "But were I to sacrifice my will, I must, at the same time, sacrifice my conscience along with it," said Lyndsay; "or, rather to confess the truth, they are somewhat at variance upon this occasion; the one urges me to stay-the other warns me to be gone.' "The conscience may be mistaken as well as the will sometimes," said Gertrude; "in this matter I suspect yours is, otherwise it would have told you how much good you may do by remaining here." "No-it never tells me such flattering tales; that is the province of hope or fancy, and sometimes, perhaps, I may have been weak enough to listen to their idle tales" he stopped in some emotion, and, for an instant, fixed his eyes on Gertrude's face but if his words had any particular meaning, it was not caught by her, for not the slightest change was perceptible on her speaking countenance. "If I thought I could be of any real service to you, I would remain here even at the sacrifice of my own "happiness was on his lips, but he checked himself, and substituted "time; but I have no right to interfere in the only way where I might be of use, and I cannot linger on for an indefinite time as a sort of spy upon the actions of others. You require protection, I know, and are now in a situation to claim it; choose, then, guardians for yourself, or allow the law to appoint them for you." To think and to speak were commonly one and the same thing with Gertrude, and she instantly exclaimed, “Then I shall choose you for one of my guardians." "Choose me!" exclaimed Lyndsay in astonishment, "No, that cannot be." Why not? I know nobody I should like so much to have for my guardian.—I am sure you would never scold me or lecture me, however naughty I might be-Now, don't-pray don't propose to me any of your old cross things, with round wigs, and square buckles, and long pockets, who would preach me a sermon upon every five pound note I squandered." "Such guardians are scarcely to be met with now, except upon the stage," said Lyndsay smiling. "Perhaps the wigs and pockets-but the long faces and long lectures, I fear, prevail every where. I must know the person before I can put myself in such jeopardy." "You may be in greater jeopardy, Gertrude,' said her cousin gravely. Lady Rossville blushed-she saw to what he alluded; and after a pause, she said, in some emotion, "The danger which you seem to apprehend no longer exists-the person whose audacious behaviour to me you twice resented, is no more-he has perished at sea." And she recapitulated the account of the shipwreck, and her mother's testimony, confirming the fate of Lewiston. "So far, then, I shall leave you with a lightened mind," said Lyndsay; "there seems no more to apprehend from that quarter at least.-If there are ether dangers-> But at that moment a post-chaise and four, the horses in a foam, came driving up the avenue full speed. "Who can this be?" exclaimed Lady Rossville; then as the thought flashed upon her that it might be Colonel Delmour, she started up-her heart beat |