The Seldens of Sherwood, Chapters VI-IX [pp. 612-622]

country, while an infant, by his uncle, Mr. Fitz- have a way of making me tell you anything, and
gerald, you may perceive many national traits tell me nothing in return."
about him; I believe they are innate." "Not at all, I will answer your question ex " Or perhaps acquired," said Margaret, "you plicitly. I am very sure that Anne Howard is
say his uncle, Mr. Fitzgerald, is an Irishman." not engaged to Mr. Campbell, and that she has
"Yes, he is an eminent lawyer, he is now no present intention of marrying him, but she
gone to Ireland on business, but is expected to esteems him very highly, and is very grateful to
return in the course of a few months. Deve- him for the benefits he conferred on her brother.
reux is not born to opulence, but will have to He took unwearied pains, for her sake, to reclaim
rely on his own exertions to build up his fortunes. poor John from his course of dissipation, and in
Davenport tells me he greatly distinguished him- the last months of his life, when he had become
self at college, and that he has talent enough to an outcast from respectable society, he nursed
enable him to succeed in any pursuit. He stu- him during declining health, and treated him
died law two or three years, and commenced with the kindness of a brother. Anne, so far
the practice about ayear ago. And now, I think from being cold-hearted, as you once supposed,
I have given you all the information I possess suffers from excessive sensibility, and her very
about the two gentlemen, can you tell me, Mar- quiet manner, is a sort of shield, which she uses
garet, whether Anne Howard is actually engaged instinctively, as a defence against her own weakto that odious fellow, Campbell?" ness."
",Why is he particularly odious?" said Mar- "Yes I can readily believe it, I observed indigaret, smiling. cations of great sensibility in her countenance
" Oh, because there is something so stiff', and to-night."
solemn, and precise about him; he is perfectly Margaret laughed-" But, Arthur, you must
insufferable. And such a dancer! It is impossi- remember that constancy is not your forte, and
ble Anne Howard can be in love with him, after flirtation with Anne Howard is out of the quesseeing him dance a Scotch reel to-night with his tion; so you must not think of falling in love
thumbs in perpetual motion." with her, unless you mean to continue so."
" I will answer your question, Arthur, if you "You do me great injustice, how can you
will first answer mine; are you particularlyinte- suppose, I would think of flirting with suo a
restedin the state of Anne Howard's heart?" girl as Anne Howard. But if you talk with
"No, yes,-indeed, I scarcely know whetherI such solemnity of falling in love, and remaining
have any particular interest in it, but then one nat- so forever, the very idea will extinguish the spark,
urally dislikes to see any sweet, pretty girl, sac- before it ever becomes a flame. Here we are
rifice herself to a solemnn prig for the sake of at the gate, and Virginia is still composing sonmoney." nets to the moon, I suppose, or thinking of that
"It is only a week ago, I think, since you personification of refinement, nobleness and sensaid, that Anne Howard was a dull companion, sibility, which has just alighted on our orb, as I
had exactly what you called a tiresome face, have not heard her speak for an hour."
and that Mr. Campbell and herself would be Virginia was much disconcerted, and said in
well matched." a somewhat garrulous tone, " How unkind it is
"But cannot you imagine how one may change in you, Arthur, to be Always endeavoring to ridian opinion? You are as literal as Virginia to- cule me."'
night." Virginia started at the sound of her "You take things too seriously, my dear little
name, but relapsed into reverie, as soon as she sister," replied Arthur, " I only try to extract
found she was not addressed. "To tell you the some amusement from everything withrin my
truth, Margaret, my attention was first attracted reach; of course, you must contribute your
towards her to-night, by hearing her pronounce share."
a very warm eulogy upon you; she did not know "It is very reasonable," said Margaret, "to
that I was near, for she started and blushed when talk of Virginia's silence when yo0have given
she saw me. She spokein such awarm-hearted, her no chance to speak. But se,!how sweet
affectionate manner, I began to think I had per- old Sherwood looks beneath a full moon," she
haps done her injustice, and for the first time her added, as they drove through an avenue of lofty
face struck me as being sweet, and not insipid. tulip trees, whose magnificent masses of foliage
I found, too, she could converse quite interest- displayed, with striking effect, the quivering rays
ingly, and Charlotte Davenport's excessive spi- of silvery brightness contrasted with the magic
rits made the gentleness of Anne Howard more shadows of moonlight.
attractive. But you have not answered my
question yet, Margaret, you are very unfair, you F*****
622
The Seldens of Sher-wood.
[ SEPTEM1BER,