Manners Volume Ii Part 1

Manners.

Vol 2.

by Frances Brooke.

CHAPTER I.

Yo se, Olalla, que me adoras, Puesta que no me lo has dicho, Ni aun con los ojos siguiera, Mudas lenguas de amorios[1].

CERVANTES SAAVEDRA.

[Footnote 1:

I know, Olalla, that thou lov'st me, Though words have ne'er thy flame confess'd; Nor even have those guarded eyes, Mute tell-tales of love's emba.s.sies, Betray'd the secret of thy breast,-- Yet still, Olalla, still thou lov'st me.

It was long before Selina's agitated spirits could be composed; and when at length she sunk to rest, she was haunted by confused dreams of mixed joy and sorrow, in which Mordaunt's figure was always prominent. At last, however, towards morning she fell into a quiet sleep, from which she did not awake till several hours after Mrs. Galton and Augustus had left Eltondale.

Selina had given her maid so many charges to call her in time to take leave of them, that she had firmly relied on her doing so, little imagining that Mrs. Galton had previously determined to spare her the pain of parting. She had left a note for her, in which she reiterated her farewell, and her request to hear frequently from Selina; but the kindness of its expressions, if possible, aggravated the poor girl's sorrow and disappointment. As usual, she gave way unrestrainedly to her feelings, and wept aloud, really unconscious that while her tears flowed ostensibly for Mrs. Galton alone, her regrets arose not a little from the absence of Augustus. But, though Selina deceived herself in the belief, that she only bewailed this her first separation from her beloved aunt, she was most sincere in the grief she professed to feel on her account; for hypocrisy was a stranger to her guileless heart, yet uninitiated in the mysteries of that world, in which the timid and unpractised first learn to conceal the sentiments they actually feel, and conclude by displaying those that are but a.s.sumed. On the contrary, her genuine feelings were neither blunted by familiarity with sorrow, nor exhausted by the premature cultivation of sickly sensibility; and, though a more sobered reason might have wished the expression of them to be occasionally restrained, yet even a Stoic might have confessed, that the perfection of her judgment would have been dearly purchased by any alteration in the susceptibility of her heart.

Her melancholy toilet was scarcely finished, before she was summoned to Lady Eltondale's dressing-room. Her Ladyship advanced to the door to meet her with unusual cordiality of manner; but she scarcely beheld her wan countenance, when, starting back, she exclaimed with surprise, "Good heavens, child! what can be the matter? Oh! I had really forgotten Mrs.

Galton's departure. Why, Selina, you could not have disfigured yourself more, if she was gone to heaven instead of to Bath. Here, La Fayette, do bring some cold cream to Miss Seymour, and a little _eau de Cologne_.

However, my dear girl, I cannot regret that you have so totally disguised yourself to-day, as we shall have a pleasant _tete a tete_.

You shall breakfast up stairs with me this morning, for you are really at present not presentable."

Lady Eltondale's kind consideration for Selina individually, and apparent indifference to the cause of her sorrow, was, perhaps, more effectual in its temporary suppression, than the most sympathetic condolences would have been; and, before Mons. Argant made his appearance with the apparatus for breakfast, Selina had sufficiently recollected herself, to request Lady Eltondale not to derange her plans on her account, but to remember her other guests.

"My dear little rustic," answered her Ladyship, laughing, "your odd notions really remind me of the last century. n.o.body plays the part of hostess now; and as to guests--none could be admitted into a fashionable house, that do not know how to make themselves perfectly at home in it.

I declare you are so simple, you would hardly have understood the merit of Mr. Frederick Bijou appearing last spring at a party his wife gave to the Prince, with a round hat under his arm, to show he was the only stranger in the room. Why now every inn in a country village is fitted up with all the conveniences of a private house; and the best praise you can give to a family mansion is to compare it to an hotel." The Viscountess was excessively entertained at the artless surprise expressed by her auditor; and concluded some similar observations by saying, she knew Selina would be so astray in the scene into which she had been thus suddenly dropt, that she was very glad n.o.body would be with them till after Christmas. "Then," said Selina, "I suppose Lady Hammersley is gone." "Oh! dear no--but she is n.o.body. Sir Robert is a relation of my Lord's; and I am obliged to go through the martyrdom of hearing his barbarous phraseology for at least a month every year, and I am afraid ten days of the penance are yet to come. Lady Hammersley never visits London; and, indeed, I believe the good woman thinks herself almost contaminated by even venturing as far as this within the Charybdean pool.--But, poor soul! she need not be afraid. If fashion was absolutely epidemical, she would never suffer from the contagion. She and the Admiral spend nine months of every year at Bath; he, drinking the water and reading the newspapers, and she, playing cards and writing essays. However, you may turn even her to account; for in one half hour you will learn more what vice is, from her long-syllabled declamations against it, than your poor innocent head would dream of in a twelvemonth."

"And which of the parents does the son resemble?" asked Selina, laughing. "Why, it is difficult to divine what nature intended him to be. One may parody Cowper, and say, 'G.o.d made them, but he has made himself;' and what the composition will turn out, I know not. He wishes to be a man of the world, and affects the reputation of vice, without having the courage to be wicked. I verily believe he is often at church of a Sunday evening, when he pretends to be at the gaming-table.

However, you need not be inquisitive about him, for he will never condescend to notice you, till he ascertains whether you are the fashion or not. He does not want money, and he does want _ton_; and you know, according to the new system of craniology, men ought to choose their wives by the inverse ratio of their own deficiences. But you don't inquire about Mademoiselle Omphalie, whom I thought you meant last night to swear an everlasting friendship with. I asked her here solely for your sake."

Selina coloured, and expressed her thanks with her usual warmth and _empress.e.m.e.nt_.

"But I do not intend Mademoiselle Omphalie to be Miss Seymour's bosom friend. She is a public singer, my dear, and as such her reputation is perfect;--her private character is, I believe, much less immaculate; but with that, you know, we have nothing to do. The world now adopts the precept, 'Judge not that ye be not judged;' and, if people are wise enough not to hold the lantern to their own vices, they need not be troubled with any Diogenes. As to Mademoiselle Omphalie, she is just now on the tottering point of respectability, which, of course, makes her doubly decorous in her general behaviour; and, as I do not think her reputation can survive another winter, I was extremely anxious to seize this opportunity of giving you the advantage of her talents and instruction in music. But, Selina, don't let her instruct you in anything else, for she would infallibly make you a prude or a coquette, and I scarcely know which I hate most."

It is impossible to express Selina's astonishment at Lady Eltondale's conversation. When they had last met, she had been both delighted and surprised at the ease and elegance of her manners; but as she had only seen her in the company of Mrs. Galton, she was totally unconscious of the degree of levity to which that ease of manner could degenerate, either from accident or design. Lady Eltondale now entertained her wondering guest with a style of conversation to which she was totally unused. It is true, her expressions, like her conduct, were so guarded that no weak point was left open to censure; but she seemed so little to respect the barriers between vice and virtue, that they appeared to be considered by her as by no means insurmountable;--and Selina, finding those principles of rigid propriety now ridiculed, which she had hitherto been taught only to venerate, wondered for a moment whether the error lay in her Ladyship's frivolity or her own ignorance.

Meantime the Viscountess was not un.o.bservant of her niece. She perceived that her changing countenance portrayed every varying emotion, almost before she was herself conscious of its influence. Sometimes the expression of her dark brow led her to fear, that Selina was capable of making deep reflections, though she willingly believed her deficient in resolution. At other times the arch smile, that played round her dimpled mouth, showed she was by no means insensible to the charms of raillery and satire, whilst the half-formed reply seemed to insinuate, that she could emulate the bewitching, though dangerous, talent she admired. But above all, Lady Eltondale failed not to remark the evanescent nature of all Selina's feelings, which almost seemed to exhaust themselves in the first stage of their existence. Hers was indeed "the tear forgot as soon as shed;" and, as she accompanied Lady Eltondale through the various apartments of her splendid house, and innocently expressed her delight and wonder at all she saw, her experienced and artful guide smiled at the rapid transitions of her thoughts, and antic.i.p.ated a speedy conquest over a mind, which appeared already weakened by inherent volatility.

When Selina joined the party at dinner-time, Mrs. Galton, Augustus, and the Hall, seemed already to be forgotten by her. It was true the roses in her cheek yet drooped from the effect of the morning shower; but her lovely countenance had rea.s.sumed that expression of content and pleasure which was most natural to it.--But,

How like this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glories of an April day, Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away.

Unfortunately at dinner Lord Eltondale addressed to her one of his inconsiderate compliments, in which he alluded, with more kindness than delicacy, to her recent misfortune. The unexpected mention of her father overcame her spirits; and, as usual, without reference to the spectators, she gave way to the feelings of the moment, and burst into tears. Mr. Hammersley, laying down his knife and fork, turned to stare at the mourner with an expression of countenance, that seemed to say, it was long since he had witnessed the natural emotions of a susceptible heart. Lady Eltondale withdrew the attention of Mademoiselle Omphalie by making some opportune inquiry. But Sir Robert's observation of Selina was not to be evaded. After looking at her steadfastly for some minutes, he exclaimed, "Come, come, my girl, cheer up;--swab the spray off your bowsprit, and never let the toppinglifts of your heart go down. If your father has got into port before you, if you keep a steady course and a true reckoning, you'll be sure of having a good birth alongside of him in a tide or two. Here, toss off this b.u.mper, and haul in your jib sheet."

Selina could not help smiling at the manner in which the kind-hearted old man offered his consolation. But Lady Hammersley, who had hitherto remained in silence, now remarked in an emphatic tone, that "It was a work of supererogation to endeavour to suppress the tear of filial regret. A few weeks' a.s.sociation with the votaries of fashion would effectually eradicate the meritorious sentiments, and teach hypocritical sensibility to fict.i.tious griefs to be ostentatiously subst.i.tuted for genuine susceptibility."

From that day, during the remainder of his stay at Eltondale, Sir Robert Hammersley seemed to interest himself particularly about Selina. And though his Lady seldom condescended to address herself to her, yet even the cynical turn of her conversation implied approbation of Miss Seymour's present character by the very antic.i.p.ations of its speedy alteration, which she daily repeated. Mr. Hammersley, as Lady Eltondale had prophesied, scarcely noticed the untutored girl, and seldom joined the morning party, except when Mademoiselle Omphalie was employed in communicating her enchanting talents to Selina, whose rapid progress astonished even Lady Eltondale. She already perfectly understood the science of music; and her naturally fine voice was peculiarly adapted to exemplify Mademoiselle Omphalie's excellent instructions. Even before many weeks had pa.s.sed, Selina could not only join her in some beautiful Italian duets, but also accompany herself very tolerably on the harp, which soon became her favourite instrument.

CHAPTER II.

Le faux bien qu'elle preche est plus dangereux que le mal meme, en ce qu'il seduit par une apparence de raison, en ce qu'il fait preferer l'usage et les maximes du monde, a l'exacte probite, en ce qu'il fait consister la sagesse dans un certain milieu entre le vice et la vertu[2].

JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU, A M. D'ALEMBERT.

[Footnote 2: The false propriety which she preaches is more dangerous than vice itself, inasmuch as it seduces by an appearance of reason--inasmuch as it recommends the usages and the maxims of the world in preference to strict integrity--inasmuch as it makes wisdom appear to be a certain medium between vice and virtue.]

Selina was not less attentive to Lady Eltondale's various lessons on propriety and elegance, than she had been to the instructions of Mademoiselle Omphalie. And though Lady Hammersley's satirical predictions were not yet fulfilled, as to any alteration that had taken place in her mind; yet it was evident, before she had been many weeks at Eltondale, that her general deportment was considerably changed since she had been under the superintendence of the Viscountess. Perhaps no woman ever more thoroughly understood the rules of politeness than did Lady Eltondale; and though a pupil formed entirely in her school would scarcely have failed to acquire, ultimately, that freezing apathy which was one of her own most distinguishing characteristics, yet the refinement of her manners was by no means an unfortunate counterpoise to the natural vivacity of Selina's. If it could have been possible to unite the polished exterior of the one with the unsophisticated mind of the other, it would have formed as perfect a whole, as if the rich and exuberant fancy of a t.i.tian had been harmonized by the chastely correct judgment of a Michael Angelo.

Lady Eltondale had been right in believing, that Mr. Hammersley would not venture to admire the superior charms of Miss Seymour, till they had become current by receiving the die of fashion; and, as he found but little pleasure in the comparatively quiet society at Eltondale, he pleaded an indispensable engagement, and set off for town a few days after Selina's arrival. Nor did Sir Robert and Lady Hammersley protract their stay much longer. Early in January they returned to Bath, and their places at Eltondale were almost immediately filled by other visitors; for Lady Eltondale could never bear to be alone; and though on account of her brother's recent death she forbore giving any very public entertainments, or receiving the most dissipated of her acquaintances, yet a constant succession of parties filled up to her, in some degree, the charm of a winter's seclusion; and the gay and fashionable manners of several of her guests served to introduce Selina to those frivolous amus.e.m.e.nts, which are generally the outposts to more reprehensible pursuits.

Selina's deep mourning had at first served as an excuse for her declining to partake of the gayer engagements the neighbourhood of Eltondale occasionally afforded. For, notwithstanding the avidity with which she entered into the pleasures by which she was surrounded, she was still sufficiently unlearned in the ways of the world to believe, that, at least where the memory of a parent was concerned, it was not altogether decorous

"To bear about the mockery of woe "To midnight dances and the publick show;"

and having at first received Mrs. Galton's approbation of her forbearance, she resisted in that one instance all Lady Eltondale's arguments and entreaties.--Happy would it have been for her, if she could always have resorted to the counsel of such a friend as Mrs.

Galton. Lady Eltondale felt mortified by the unexpected resistance to her wishes, in a point she deemed so trifling; but, however, she compromised the matter with Selina, by prevailing upon her to change her sable dress at the end of three months, and to give up her mourning entirely at the end of six, which term would arrive before their going to London. She at the same time secretly resolved to interrupt, as much as possible, Selina's correspondence with Mrs. Galton, foreseeing it might, in other instances, equally frustrate her intentions and designs:--not that she could exactly define, even to herself, why she was so solicitous not only to supplant Mrs. Galton in Miss Seymour's affection, but also to change even the very character of her niece. She looked upon the engagement between her and Mr. Elton almost as irrevocable; and it was indeed a matter of comparative indifference to her, what was the true character of the woman she was so anxious to make his wife. But the real motive of the Viscountess' conduct, of which she herself was scarcely conscious, was a jealousy of Mrs. Galton's influence over Selina's mind, and an envious hatred produced by the consciousness of her own inferiority to her rival in her niece's affection; and she was perfectly aware that she could by no means so essentially mortify the woman she hated, or lessen the influence she so much dreaded, as by undermining the principles and changing the character Mrs. Galton had taken so much pains and pride in forming.

One morning Lady Eltondale entered the breakfast-room before Selina had returned from her usual early ramble; and as she carelessly tossed over the letters, which were left on the table to be claimed by their owners, her eye rested on one directed to Miss Seymour, in a hand-writing with which she was unacquainted. She had understood from Selina, that she had no correspondent but Mrs. Galton; and her curiosity was not a little roused by perceiving the seal bore the impression of the well-known Mordaunt arms. While she still held the letter in her hand, Selina entered the room;--the Viscountess feeling a momentary embarra.s.sment in being detected so closely examining a letter directed to another, hastily concealed it, resolving to replace it next day. But in error, _ce n'est que le premier pas qui cote_. No person that voluntarily treads on the threshold of vice, can be certain that they will always have it in their power to retrace their steps. Lady Eltondale would probably have shuddered at the idea of deliberately intercepting a letter, and still more of clandestinely perusing it; yet having thus unpremeditatedly possessed herself of the one in question, she could not resist the further temptation of satisfying herself as to the nature of its contents, and accordingly opened it as soon as she found herself alone. It proved to be, as she suspected, a letter from Augustus. In truth, the expression of Selina's countenance, the last evening they had spent together, had never faded from his "mind's eye." With all the tenacity of a lover's memory, he called to remembrance every look, every word that seemed to flatter his fond wishes; and then, with all the subtlety of a lover's rhetoric, he persuaded himself that no duty he owed to the memory of Sir Henry forbad his endeavouring at least to retain whatever share of Selina's good opinion he already possessed; though he was still determined so far to respect the expressed wish of the Baronet, as not to precipitate a declaration of his own attachment, till Selina had an opportunity of fully understanding her own heart, and making her selection between him and Mr. Elton. Thus compromising between his pa.s.sion and his principles, he addressed Selina in the character of trustee to her estate, and profiting by the excuse which that situation afforded him, conjured Selina to point out in what way he could be of most use; expressing his anxiety to be of service to her, in the warmest terms that pa.s.sion under the mask of friendship could suggest.

Had this letter then reached Selina, it would have spared her many hours of future sorrow. But Lady Eltondale determined it should not do so. Her penetration too soon discovered its real import;--she perceived

"Love's secret flame Lurk'd under friendship's sacred name:"

and, with her usual sophistry, persuading herself that the end sanctified the means, she congratulated herself on the steps she had taken, and believed her laudable anxiety for the welfare of her step-son justified her treacherous conduct to her orphan niece. She was not long in deciding on the best measures to prevent a continuation of a correspondence so dangerous to her favourite scheme; and enclosing the letter back to Mordaunt, wrote the following note in the envelope:

"LADY ELTONDALE presents her compliments to Mr. Mordaunt, and her best thanks for his polite offers of service, which, however, she begs to decline as Mr. Elton is expected to return to England immediately, who will of course superintend himself the management of all Miss Seymour's estates. Lady Eltondale returns Mr.

Mordaunt's letter, as perhaps he may, at a future time, wish to refer to it on the subject of Wilson's farm, upon which Miss Seymour, in her present delicate situation, feels no wish either to correspond or decide."

It would be impossible to describe the mortification and disappointment this laconic epistle occasioned Augustus. He felt justly indignant at the manner in which his proffered kindness had been rejected; and considered the insult in no slight degree aggravated by the circ.u.mstance of Selina permitting a third person to convey her own unfeeling reply.

In one moment the bright vision of hope and joy, that had flitted before him, dissolved in air; and, from the delighted contemplation of all her charms, he sunk in an instant into the opposite extreme, and equally exaggerated all her failings. He recalled to mind Mr. Temple's observations, which now seemed absolutely prophetic; and, pa.s.sing rapidly from one pa.s.sion to another, upbraided her not only with the foibles she really possessed, but even with those errors that were as yet but antic.i.p.ated. By degrees, however, the storm subsided. He so often repeated to himself that she was now perfectly indifferent to him, that he flattered himself it was really the case; and he determined thenceforward only to consider her as the wife of Mr. Elton, believing that appellation would act as a talisman, to prevent a return of a pa.s.sion he had now persuaded himself was perfectly hopeless.

While Augustus, in his retirement at Oxford, was thus endeavouring to extinguish feelings that were only a source of regret; and while Mrs.

Galton was consoling herself as much as possible for her separation from her beloved child, by renewing old friendships, and forming new acquaintances at Bath, Selina was, by degrees, becoming more familiarized with the levity, duplicity, and frivolity, which were daily exemplified in the manners of Lady Eltondale and her different visitors.

At length the time approached for their removal to London: an early day in April was fixed for their journey, which Selina antic.i.p.ated with all the delight of a young vivacious girl, that at last found herself on the confines of a new world of pleasure, the enjoyments of which were yet untasted, and its sorrows unsuspected.

When the moment of their departure actually came, she gave way to unmixed feelings of joy. She laughed, sung, and frolicked round the room like a sportive child, and yet she could scarcely define her own emotions. She was hardly conscious that her pleasure, in a great degree, arose from the silently cherished hope of seeing Augustus. She had felt surprised, and even hurt, at his not having, as she supposed, made any inquiry after her, during her four months' stay at Eltondale. But she had always felt an unaccountable unwillingness to mention his name to Lady Eltondale; nor did she even to herself confess how much the expectation of seeing him once more contributed to the pleasure she antic.i.p.ated from her visit to London.

The future was now opened to her view like an extended horizon, shining in all the luxury of light, which, while the intervening ma.s.ses of the ground lay concealed, depicted no object in its natural colours, but touching here and there some prominent beauty with its most resplendent rays, confounded all the rest in one undistinguishable ma.s.s of brilliancy. As they were stepping into the carriage, a letter from Mr.

Elton was delivered to Lord Eltondale. Little did Selina imagine she had any reason to be interested in the packet his Lordship so anxiously perused; and even had she been aware of the mention made in it of herself, it would scarcely have had power to withdraw her thoughts from the nearer, and therefore with her more powerful attraction.

TO THE VISCOUNT ELTONDALE.