the very sort of people who intend to fasten upon one like leeches." "Well, Sarah, I will not receive a civility with rudeness: these good people mean to show us respect, or they would not have left their names, and it is not my way to return intended politeness with an impertinent contempt; hitherto they have respected our situation, nor attempted to intrude upon our retirement; it is quite natural that, seeing us out again, they should wish to testify their courtesy, "Of course, it is an honour to them to do so, mamma, but a great bore to us." "I will not suffer it to become a bore, there is always a way of declining intimacy without giving an affront. Remember, Belinda, 'Oft she rejects, but never once offends.' This I hold to be the best way to manage similar matters; remember also the fable of the mouse and the lion, 'We know not who may serve or save us.'" "Oh! dearest mamma, you are too good-natured; one never gets any thanks for being civil to vulgar people, they are never to be repressed by civility." "I never yet met with that vulgar who was not, Sarah: when I do, I shall know how to treat them." Lord de Montmorenci said, “I confess I agree with Miss Herbert-neighbours are great bores; but you are "looking at Lady Herbert, and changing the word he meant to say only-"You are right, Lady Herbert." It is extraordinary how a very slight circumstance, one perhaps which seems wholly unconnected with the serious concerns of life, may entirely change the current of our existence-"Who can know what a day may bring forth?" is exemplified in the lives of all. Lady Herbert returned the visits, and, as it always happens when one does not wish to find a person at home, the greater part of the ladies were at home; one and all were overcome and delighted by Lady Herbert's presence. She might well have charmed the most fastidious; but such a person, so naturally gentle and with such genuine humility of manner, which detracted not from her greatness, but only made it the more apparent, naturally produced an electric effect upon those who were less accustomed to the dazzle of such fascination, The consequence was, that the whole neighbourhood talked of nothing but Lady and Miss Herbert, and each one vied with the other in sending rare fruit and flowers, and testifying their enchantment by every means in their power. Doubtless, this intercourse did, however, interfere in some degree with the employments of the morning hours-a pink note to be answered, which interrupted the drawing or the reading that was going on-invitations to dine, which now came thick and threefold, to be declined, and a thousand other nameless trifles of the same sort, occurred constantly to put Miss Herbert's patience to the test; even Lord de Montmorenci looked provoked, and Lady Herbert's smile seemed rather to tease her child and friend the more. It chanced one evening, after a very late ramble on horseback in Windsor Park, that a violent thunderstorm came on, and Lady Herbert, her daughter, and Lord de Montmorenci, took shelter in a cottage on the skirts of the wood, inhabited only by an old woman; they sent the groom and horses home, with orders for a close carriage to convey themselves, as there was no appearance of the storm soon abating. The groom had not been long gone when two very ill-looking men asked leave to come, or rather entered the hovel, for they waited not to receive the permission they demanded. Lord de Montmorenci did not like their appearance, and regretted having dismissed the servants; however, he only whispered to the old woman to give them some refreshment and send them away, saying, he would amply reward her. There is a seal of wickedness set on the countenance of some persons, and Lady Herbert and her daughter could not but feel terrified at the first glance they cast on these two men-they did not say any thing, however, but trembled inwardly. The old women did as Lord de Montmorenci had desired, but the men refused to go, and, scowling at Lord de Montmorenci, said he should turn out first before they did. Conceiving therefore that it would be better to bribe them under present circumstances, he observed, "it was a bad night to be sure for any body to go abroad, but as one of the ladies was not very well, and was only waiting for her carriage, which was expected to come every moment, he should feel obliged by their leaving her the free use of the house." He accompanied his words by the offer of a half crown. "We'll see you first," said the most ruffianly-looking of the men; "but if you are flush of shiners turn your pockets inside out, and, share your rhino with better men nor you are." So saying, he darted up, and caught Lord de Montmorenci by the arm, while the other drew a clasped knife and vowed, with horrid oaths, that if he offered the least resistance he would plunge it into him. The old woman screamed; Miss Herbert rushed towards them, and, with the boldness of a lion, interposed her slight frame be'fore the uplifted blade. if : "Lady Herbert cried, "Sirs, think well of your own safety in a very few minutes many servants will be here; you hurt either of those persons your own lives will pay the forfeit." But Lord de Montmorenci had made a desperate effort, and freed himself from the grasp of the men. He snatched a large piece of firewood from the chimney, and sprang upon both of them, one of whom he felled to the earth; but the other made a blow at him with the knife and slightly wounded his hand, nevertheless, Lord de Montmorenci grappled with and nearly succeeded in flinging him out of the door, when his companion, who had only been stunned by the fall, recovered his legs, and fell likewise upon him. Then, there was a short moment of despair, as he cried to Lady Herbert and her daughter to fly. Lord de Montmorenci, scarcely knowing what he said, repeated the word "fly," but the very next moment the trampling of horses was heard at a distance: one of the men looked out, and beheld several riders rapidly approaching; so he called to his companion with an oath, and they both fled with a celerity that eluded pursuit. The persons who thus opportunely arrived, were Mrs. and Miss Plumbtree, in their barouche, Mr. Jervis and Captain. Badger, on horseback. They had heard that Lady and Miss Herbert were caught in the storm, and with that good nature, which unfortunately, it must be confessed, is more frequently shown by persons in a lower rank of life than by the highest, they lost not a momeut in coming to offer such assistance as they deemed would be acceptable. "We knew," said the Plumbtrees, "that we must be here long before your carriage could come, and Mr. Jervis and Capt. Badger being with us at the time, would escort us, even though it did rain so hard. But before Lady Herbert could explain what had occurred, they immediately saw that some accident had happened, for Lord de Montmorenci's hand was bleeding, and Miss Herbert was entreating him to let her bind it up with her handkerchief. "It is nothing, I assure you, a mere scratch, and he evaded her offers, twisting around it the handkerchief which she held. Lady Herbert now related the adventure, and the gentlemen proposed setting off immediately in pursuit of the ruffians; but the ladies were too much alarmed to allow any of them to depart, and only expressed their gratitude, that a mere act of civility, should in fact have effected a service of such importance-a rescue even, it might be from death. These were the visiters whom Miss Herbert had so scorned. Thankful as Lady Herbert was for this deliverance, she did not omit to say to her daughter, "Well Sarah, never will you now, I hope, forget the fable of the mouse and the lion." CHAPTER X. THE DECLARATION. But who can view the ripened rose, nor seek BYRON. FROM the day on which Lord de Montmorency's life had been perilled, Sarah Herbert evinced an interest and an anxiety about fim, which, diffident, and devoid of vanity as he was, even struck himself, as being extraordinary, and perhaps it hastened his resolve to make known a long cherished secret, and decide his fate. One evening, when Miss Herbert retired for the night, complaining of indisposition, Lord de Montmorenci contrived to whisper to Lady Herbert before she left the room with her daughter, "I beseech you return, as I have something to communicate, which I do not wish Miss Herbert to be acquainted with at present." Lady Herbert readily assented, and a thousand contra dictory imaginings arose in her thoughts respecting the nature of the communication he was about to enter upon; but the natural idea which flashed across her was, that he would propose for her child. She could not have described to any one the mingled and mysterious feelings which this supposition elicited-was it pleasurable, or painful, the emotion which throbbed at her heart? She could not say, for she did not herself distinguish the nature of the sensations by which she was agitated-but agitated she was-and for the first time she was anxious to conceal her feelings from her daughter. She remained with her, however, while she undressed, and then held her daughter's hand in hers, until she fell asleep; but she thought the half-hour very long which elapsed, before she slept sufficiently sound for her to steal away unobserved. When Lady Herbert reached the drawing-room door, her hand rested on the lock, and she paused a moment to recover her breath, before she had courage to open it; she tried to assume composure, she tried to still the beating of her heart, and making one determined effort to master her emotion, entered the apartment. Lord de Montmorenci started forward to meet her, and taking her hand, led her to a seat. "Suffer me," he said, "to confide a secret to you-one which involves the happiness of my existence; one which is so vital to me, that even now I shrink from the task of putting it to the test of a denial; if you think me presumptuous, ridiculous, to suppose that one so perfect should ever be induced to listen to me, do not tell me so harshly, rudely— no person knows better than I do, that to aspire to such felicity is almost madness; and even were it possible that you should lend a favourable ear to me, how dare I hope that Miss Herbert would like" Lady Herbert turned very pale, but she made an effort to conceal her thoughts, whatever they were, and interrupting him, quickly said, "You know the esteem and regard I entertain for you, you know how readily I shall consent to your wishes, if Sarah is propitious to your suit." 66 Oh! Lady Herbert, do you wilfully misunderstand me, or are you indeed ignorant of the cause I am about to plead. At once, then know it, if it be possible that you do not already do so. I love you, and you only, with a devotion of heart and mind, which must make me either the happiest or the most wretched person for the remainder of my life. |