Mabel, Vol. II (of 3)

sight can

f deceiv

y over som

ife, though

d of to-d

or futu

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bring Caroline nearer her object, and though for some weeks her temper remained unruffled in his presence, nothing betrayed any thing like admiration on his part; nothing coul

c, she often succeeded, but in their private circle he was more than a match for all her address, for when the manners of the per

company, he would be found in his morning coat, busily employed in writing letters, which no coaxing could induce him to leave. At these times Caroline would often plead a head-ache, and

tions, insensibly interested her, and though her feeling was composed of component parts of vanity, self-love, avarice, and, ambition, it could scarcely be affirmed that it did not contain a few grains of genuine affection. She had indeed merely expected some broken down nabob, who would have formed an easy conquest, and she was therefore agreeably surprised by Hargrave's manner and appearance, for his manly bearing and easy air, compensated for any injury an Indian sun

isted his fascinations, and long after every shadow of her grief had disappeared, continued to avoid him, and never mentioned, before him, the name of her new admirer, whom s

eldom failed to join the Villars party, and engage Lucy in conversation, to her unfeigned satisfaction. She could not fail to perceive t

aded the subject with a coquetry sufficiently skilful to check his confidence, and, though it sometimes sent him away in an ill humour, he

rs. Villars had been from her sister, she yet loved her, as warmly as her selfish nature would allow-and she hastened to her husband's study, to make preparations for her immediate journey; she would not, however, hear of his offer to accompany her, lest Colonel Hargrave might take the alarm, and leave them-she, therefore, only begged hi

pany her for a few stages, saying that he had a friend in

few miles, "and, besides the loss of my sister, my feelings will be agonised,

but your presence will

d Mrs. Villars. "Did you read Mr. War

post-boy to greater speed. "What is to become of Miss Lesly?" he

couched hastily, when she perceive

agers, to tell you the truth," she said

er then?" he repeated,

hould my poor sister die, I mean to bring my niece back with me, for the prese

grave, mechanically, an

g could be discerned, but the gable ends of a more distant mansion. Here Hargrave alighted, and bidding her good-bye, in a tone of sadness, w

ve had his further companionship, to screen her from the th

biting air of a dull easterly wind made to pass over her frame. Night had already closed, dark, dismal, and cold, before she reached Aston. As they entered the village, she leaned from the window, and expressed her desire to stop at the inn, she remembered; b

hope that all would yet be well; but the low, hurried whispers, in the dimly lighted hall, that greeted her arrival, unnerved her, and, dispe

ossible? am

keeper, now advancing; "it is too true.

onvulsively; then, flinging down her purse, she begged her to dismiss the

ins, respectfully, "to compose yourself

epentant tears streamed rapidly down her fac

he noiselessly opened, as if she feared to disturb the slumbers of the dead. The room was fully l

star-light stillness of the night, as if communing with her own spirit. She rose on perceiving them, and gliding from the recess, advanced rapidly and noiselessly to

th, releasing the poor girl from her arms, she advanced to gaze on the face of her sister. How calm and placid seemed the sleep of the dead, in that still chamber-but, though sweetly tranquil was the countenance once so dear, it bore the unmistakable,

ere was enough in the bereavement itself to touch her sympathy, without her being aware of

to wear away the time-nothing but the endless black crape with which she tried to feel interested, though her senses sickened at the mournful tales it t

all events, save her, if dependent, from many minor, but bitter personal necessities which wound the delicate mind so sorely. Well she knew this-but she knew, also, that she never would have the courage, either to limit her own personal expenses, or to ask her husband for the money. Mabel must be repaid by the most lavish kindness, and by all the comforts of a home. She could not know of the debt, therefore would not feel her loss, and if, by a timely display of her beauty, and her painful bereavements, she could marry her well-she might then deem the debt repaid. All this she endeavoured to persuade herself; but, as she wandered from room to room in the t

en to her, she begged her to enter on an explanation of her affairs; expres

abel's reply; "but I m

you left?" enqu

lied Mabel, "for the physicians I procured from London

future conduct to commit herself, by answering what she apprehended to be an all

an a hundred pounds worth, I think

ttern as mine; if you like I will have it properly valued, and pay you fo

with regard to the money, and therefore was little willing to increas

make people belie

hamed of doing I can bear to have known; and it i

worldly matters. "Well, then, if you do not like the plate turned into money, the hundred pounds will keep yo

g, however, in that blush, recalled a resemblance she only rarely shewed to her mother, and Mrs. Villars felt again all the pangs of concealed shame. Hastening then to relieve herself, she entered more eagerly on the real subject of

gently urged the inconvenience this arrangement might possibly bring; Mrs. Villars would hear nothing of it, and when Mabel still hesitated, she folded her in her arms and asked her piteous

sisters who would wile away her sorrow, and re-awaken her interest in life-home where her tried spirit might find refreshment and repos

by Mabel. He had believed Mrs. Villars a worldly-minded woman, and was, therefore, much please

that to part with her before even attempting to console her grief, is more than I coul

friend at Cheltenham, who has been long pressing me to visit her, I will go and see her now, it will do me good after this sad trial-and, provided M

Mr. Ware, who dreaded losing Mabel, an

Mabel's head, "I would have gladly taken her to my heart and home, to be the blessing there she has long been, but this selfish wish would deprive her of the healthy companionship of those who will be her sisters, and kindly cheer he

was bathed in tears, as Mr. Ware, with glistening eyes and trembling steps, hurri