“I heard they were to be at Lady Palmerston’s last night,” said Lady St Julians.
“No,” said Lady Bardolf shaking his head, “they make their first appearance at Deloraine House. We meet there on Thursday I know.”
“Well, I must say,” said Lady St Julians, “that I am curious to see her.”
“Lord Valentine met them last year at Naples.”
“And what does he say of her.”
“What a romantic history! And what a fortunate man is Lord Marney. If one could only have foreseen events!” exclaimed Lady St Julians. “He was always a favourite of mine though. But still I thought his brother was the very last person who ever would die. He was so very hard!”
“Ah! he always had a twist,” said Lady St Julians, “and used to breakfast with that horrid3 Mr Trenchard, and do those sort of things. But still with his immense fortune, I should think he would become rational.”
“You may well say immense,” said Lady Bardolf. “Mr Ormsby, and there is no better judge of another man’s income, says there are not three peers in the kingdom who have so much a year clear.”
“They say the Mowbray estate is forty thousand a year,” said Lady St Julians. “Poor Lady de Mowbray! I understand that Mr Mountchesney has resolved not to appeal against the verdict.”
“You know he has not a shadow of a chance,” said Lady Bardolf. “Ah! what changes we have seen in that family! They say the writ4 of right killed poor Lord de Mowbray, but to my mind he never recovered the burning of the Castle. We went over to them directly, and I never saw a man so cut up. We wanted them to come to us at Firebrace, but he said he should leave the county immediately. I remember Lord Bardolf mentioning to me, that he looked like a dying man.”
“Well I must say,” said Lady St Julians rallying as it were from a fit of abstraction, “that I am most curious to see Lady Marney.”
The reader will infer from this conversation that Dandy Mick, in spite of his stunning5 fall, and all dangers which awaited him on his recovery, had contrived6 in spite of fire and flame, sabre and carbine, trampling7 troopers and plundering8 mobs, to reach the Convent of Mowbray with the box of papers. There he enquired9 for Sybil, in whose hands, and whose hands alone he was enjoined10 to deposit them. She was still absent, but faithful to his instructions, Mick would deliver his charge to none other, and exhausted11 by the fatigues12 of the terrible day, he remained in the court-yard of the Convent, lying down with the box for his pillow until Sybil under the protection of Egremont herself returned. Then he fulfilled his mission. Sybil was too agitated13 at the moment to perceive all its import, but she delivered the box into the custody14 of Egremont, who desiring Mick to follow him to his hotel bade farewell to Sybil, who equally with himself, was then ignorant of the fatal encounter on Mowbray Moor15.
We must drop a veil over the anguish16 which its inevitable17 and speedy revelation brought to the daughter of Gerard. Her love for her father was one of those profound emotions which seemed to form a constituent18 part of her existence. She remained for a long period in helpless woe19, soothed20 only by the sacred cares of Ursula. There was another mourner in this season of sorrow who must not be forgotten; and that was Lady Marney. All that tenderness and the most considerate thought could devise to soften21 sorrow and reconcile her to a change of life which at the first has in it something depressing were extended by Egremont to Arabella. He supplied in an instant every arrangement which had been neglected by his brother, but which could secure her convenience and tend to her happiness. Between Marney Abbey where he insisted for the present that Arabella should reside and Mowbray, Egremont passed his life for many months, until by some management which we need not trace or analyse, Lady Marney came over one day to the Convent at Mowbray and carried back Sybil to Marney Abbey, never again to quit it until on her bridal day, when the Earl and Countess of Marney departed for Italy where they passed nearly a year, and from which they had just returned at the commencement of this chapter.
During the previous period however many important events had occurred. Lord Marney had placed himself in communication with Mr Hatton, who had soon become acquainted with all that had occurred in the muniment room of Mowbray Castle. The result was not what he had once anticipated; but for him it was not without some compensatory circumstances. True another, and an unexpected rival, had stepped on the stage with whom it was vain to cope, but the idea that he had deprived Sybil of her inheritance, had ever, since he had became acquainted with her, been the plague-spot of Hatton’s life, and there was nothing that he desired more ardently22 than to see her restored to her rights, and to be instrumental in that restoration. How successful he was in pursuing her claim, the reader has already learnt.
Dandy Mick was rewarded for all the dangers he had encountered in the service of Sybil, and what he conceived was the vindication23 of popular rights. Lord Marney established him in business, and Mick took Devilsdust for a partner. Devilsdust having thus obtained a position in society and become a capitalist, thought it but a due homage24 to the social decencies to assume a decorous appellation25, and he called himself by the name of the town where he was born. The firm of Radley, Mowbray, and Co., is a rising one; and will probably furnish in time a crop of members of Parliament and Peers of the realm. Devilsdust married Caroline, and Mrs Mowbray became a great favorite. She was always perhaps a little too fond of junketting but she had a sweet temper and a gay spirit, and sustained her husband in the agonies of a great speculation26, or the despair of glutted27 markets. Julia became Mrs Radley, and was much esteemed28: no one could behave better. She was more orderly than Caroline, and exactly suited Mick, who wanted a person near him of decision and method. As for Harriet, she is not yet married. Though pretty and clever, she is selfish and a screw. She has saved a good deal and has a considerable sum in the Savings’ Bank, but like many heiresses she cannot bring her mind to share her money with another. The great measures of Sir Robert Peel, which produced three good harvests, have entirely revived trade at Mowbray. The Temple is again open. newly-painted, and re-burnished, and Chaffing Jack29 has of course “rallied” while good Mrs Carey still gossips with her neighbours round her well-stored stall, and tells wonderful stories of the great stick-out and riots of ‘42.
And thus I conclude the last page of a work, which though its form be light and unpretending, would yet aspire30 to suggest to its readers some considerations of a very opposite character. A year ago. I presumed to offer to the public some volumes that aimed to call their attention to the state of our political parties; their origin, their history, their present position. In an age of political infidelity, of mean passions and petty thoughts, I would have impressed upon the rising race not to despair, but to seek in a right understanding of the history of their country and in the energies of heroic youth—the elements of national welfare. The present work advances another step in the same emprise. From the state of Parties it now would draw public thought to the state of the People whom those parties for two centuries have governed. The comprehension and the cure of this greater theme depend upon the same agencies as the first: it is the past alone that can explain the present, and it is youth that alone can mould the remedial future. The written history of our country for the last ten reigns31 has been a mere32 phantasma; giving to the origin and consequence of public transactions a character and colour in every respect dissimilar with their natural form and hue33. In this mighty34 mystery all thoughts and things have assumed an aspect and title contrary to their real quality and style: Oligarchy35 has been called Liberty; an exclusive Priesthood has been christened a National Church; Sovereignty has been the title of something that has had no dominion36, while absolute power has been wielded37 by those who profess38 themselves the servants of the People. In the selfish strife39 of factions40 two great existences have been blotted41 out of the history of England—the Monarch42 and the Multitude; as the power of the Crown has diminished, the privileges of the People have disappeared; till at length the sceptre has become a pageant43, and its subject has degenerated44 again into a serf.
It is nearly fourteen years ago, in the popular frenzy45 of a mean and selfish revolution which neither emancipated46 the Crown nor the People, that I first took the occasion to intimate and then to develop to the first assembly of my countrymen that I ever had the honour to address, these convictions. They have been misunderstood as is ever for a season the fate of Truth, and they have obtained for their promulgator47 much misrepresentation as must ever be the lot of those who will not follow the beaten track of a fallacious custom. But Time that brings all things has brought also to the mind of England some suspicion that the idols48 they have so long worshipped and the oracles49 that have so long deluded50 them are not the true ones. There is a whisper rising in this country that Loyalty51 is not a phrase. Faith not a delusion52, and Popular Liberty something more diffusive53 and substantial than the profane54 exercise of the sacred rights of sovereignty by political classes.
That we may live to see England once more possess a free Monarchy55 and a privileged and prosperous People, is my prayer; that these great consequences can only be brought about by the energy and devotion of our Youth is my persuasion56. We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can be no longer synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the Future are represented by suffering millions; and the Youth of a Nation are the trustees of Posterity57.
The End
The End
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1
raves
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| n.狂欢晚会( rave的名词复数 )v.胡言乱语( rave的第三人称单数 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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constituent
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| n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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21
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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glutted
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| v.吃得过多( glut的过去式和过去分词 )；（对胃口、欲望等）纵情满足；使厌腻；塞满 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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29
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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31
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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32
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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oligarchy
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| n.寡头政治 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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39
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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40
factions
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| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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41
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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42
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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43
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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44
degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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46
emancipated
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| adj.被解放的，不受约束的v.解放某人（尤指摆脱政治、法律或社会的束缚）( emancipate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
promulgator
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| n.颁布者，公布者 | |
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48
idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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49
oracles
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| 神示所( oracle的名词复数 )； 神谕； 圣贤； 哲人 | |
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50
deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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52
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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53
diffusive
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| adj.散布性的，扩及的，普及的 | |
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54
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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55
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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56
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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