Stranica 181 [181]
OCR
133 for madmen.” Mr. Giles, reminded of his unbecoming costume, snatched off and pocketed his night-eap, and substituted a hat of grave and sober shape which he took out of the chaise. ‘This done, the postboy drove off, and Giles, Mr. Maylie, and Oliver followed at their leisure. As they walked along, Oliver glanced from time to time with much interest and curiosity at the new-comer. He seemed about five-and-twenty years of age, and was of the middle height ; his countenance was frank and handsome, and his demeanour singularly easy and prepossessing. Notwithstan ing the differences between youth and age, he bore so strong a likeness to the old lady, that Oliver would have had no great difficulty in imagining their relationship, even if he had not already spoken of her as his mother. Mrs. Maylie was anxiously waiting to receive her son when he reached the cottage, and the meeting did not take place without great emotion on both sides. 6 Oh, mother,” whispered the young man, “ why did you not write before?" s] did write,” replied Mrs. Maylie; “but, on reflection, I determined to két back the letter until I had heard Mr. Losberne’s opinion.” " But why,” said the young man, “ wh run the chance of that occurring whic not utter that word now—if this illness had terminated differently, how could you ever have forgiven yourself, or I been happy again!" “If that had been the case, Harry,” said Mrs. Maylie, “I fear your happiness would have been effectually blighted, and that your arrival here a day sooner or a day later would have been of very, very little import.” 6 And who can wonder if it be so, mother?” rejoined the young man; “ or why should I say if?—It is—it is—you know it, mother—you must know it.” “I know that she well deserves the best and purest love that the heart of man ean offer,” said Mrs. Maylie; “I know that the devotion and affection of her nature require no ordinary return, but one that shall be deep and lasting. If I did aot feel this, and know, besides, that a shanged behaviour in one she loved would areak her heart, I should not feel my task 60 difficult of performance, or have to encounter a many struggles in my own bo “This is unkind, mother,” said Harry. “Do you still suppose that [am so much a boy as not to know ny own mind, or to mistake the impulses of my own soul!" s [ think, my dear fellow,” returned Mrs. Maylie, laying her hand upon his shoulder, “that youth has many generous impulses which do not last, and that among them are some which, being gratified, become only the more fleeting. Above all, I think,” said the lady, fixing her eyes on her son’s face, “that if an enthusiastic, ardent, ambitious young man has a wife on whose name is a stain, which, though it originate in no fault of hers, may be visited by cold and sordid people upon her, and upon his children also, and, in exact proportion to his success in the world, be cast in his teeth, and made the subject of sneers against him, he may—no matter how generous and good his nature—one day repent of the connection he formed in early life, and she may have the pain and torture of knowing that he does so.” c Mother,” said the young man impatiently, " he would be a mere selfish brute, unworthy alike of the name of man and of the woman you describe, who acted thus.” “You think so now, Harry,” replied his mother. “ And ever will,” said the young man. red during the last two days wrings from me the undisguised avowal to you of a passion which, as you well know, is not one of yesterday, nor one I have lightly formed. On Rose, sweet gentle girl, my heart 1s set as firmly as ever heart of man was set on woman. I have no thought, or view, or hope in life beyond her; and if you oppose me in this great stake, you take my peace and happiness in your hands and cast them to the wind. Mother, think better of this, and of me, and do not disre the warm feelings of which you seem to think so little.” “Harry,” said Mrs. Maylie, "it is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts that I would spare them from being wounded. But we have said enough, and more than enough, on this matter just now.” “Let it rest with Rose, then,” interposed Harry. " You will not press these overstrained opinions of yours so far as to throw any obstacle in my way?!" “T will not,” rejoined Mrs. Maylie, ? “but I would have you consider——”
