Which, Though Final, It Is Hoped Will Prove Satisfactory.
OUR kind reader will easily comprehend that from the happy day we have just noticed, Ferdinand Armine was seldom absent from Grosvenor-square, or from the society of Henrietta Temple. Both were so happy that they soon overcame any little embarrassment1 which their novel situation might first occasion them. In this effort, however, they were greatly encouraged by the calm demeanour of Lord Montfort and the complacent2 carriage of his intended bride. The world wondered and whispered, marvelled3 and hinted, but nothing disturbed Lord Montfort, and Katherine had the skill to silence raillery. Although it was settled that the respective marriages should take place as soon as possible, the settlements necessarily occasioned delay. By the application of his funded property, and by a charge upon his Yorkshire estates, Mr. Temple paid off the mortgages on Armine, which, with a certain life-charge in his own favour, was settled in strict entail4 upon the issue of his daughter. A certain portion of the income was to be set aside annually5 to complete the castle, and until that edifice6 was ready to receive them, Ferdinand and Henrietta were to live with Mr. Temple, principally at Ducie, which Mr. Temple had now purchased.
In spite, however, of the lawyers, the eventful day at length arrived. Both happy couples were married at the same time and in the same place, and Glastonbury performed the ceremony. Lord and Lady Montfort departed for a seat in Sussex, belonging to his father; Ferdinand and Henrietta repaired to Armine; while Sir Ratcliffe and his lady paid a visit to Mr. Temple in Yorkshire, and Glastonbury found himself once more in his old quarters in Lancashire with the duke and duchess.
Once more at Armine; wandering once more together in the old pleasaunce; it was so strange and sweet, that both Ferdinand and Henrietta almost began to believe that it was well that the course of their true love had for a moment not run so smoothly7 as at present, and they felt that their adversity had rendered them even more sensible of their illimitable bliss8. And the woods of Ducie, they were not forgotten; nor, least of all, the old farmhouse9 that had been his shelter. Certainly they were the happiest people that ever lived, and though some years have now passed since these events took place, custom has not sullied the brightness of their love. They have no cares now, and yet both have known enough of sorrow to make them rightly appreciate their unbroken and unbounded blessings10.
When the honeymoon11 was fairly over, for neither of them would bate12 a jot13 of this good old-fashioned privilege, Sir Ratcliffe and Lady Armine returned to the Place, and Glastonbury to his tower; while Mr. Temple joined them at Ducie, accompanied by Lord and Lady Montfort. The autumn also brought the Count Mirabel to slaughter14 the pheasants, gay, brilliant, careless, kind-hearted as ever. He has ever remained one of Ferdinand’s most cherished friends; indeed, I hardly think that there is any individual to whom Ferdinand is more attached. And after all, as the Count often observes, if it had not been for Ferdinand’s scrapes they would not have known each other. Nor was Lord Catchimwhocan passed over. Ferdinand Armine was not the man to neglect a friend or to forget a good service; and he has conferred on that good-natured, though somewhat improvident15, young nobleman, more substantial kindness than the hospitality which is always cheerfully extended to him. When Ferdinand repaid Mr. Bond Sharpe his fifteen hundred pounds, he took care that the interest should appear in the shape of a golden vase, which is now not the least gorgeous ornament16 of that worthy17’s splendid sideboard. The deer have appeared again too in the park of Armine, and many a haunch smokes on the epicurean table of Cleveland-row.
Lady Bellair is as lively as ever, and bids fair to amuse society as long as the famous Countess of Desmond,
Who lived to the age of a hundred and ten,
And died by a fall from a cherry tree then;
In her annual progresses through the kingdom she never omits laying under contribution every establishment of the three families, in whose fortunes she was so unexpectedly mixed up. As her ladyship persists in asserting, and perhaps now really believes, that both matches were the result of her matrimonial craft, it would be the height of ingratitude19 if she ever could complain of the want of a hearty20 welcome.
In the daily increasing happiness of his beloved daughter, Mr. Temple has quite forgotten any little disappointment which he might once have felt at not having a duke for a son-in-law, and such a duke as his valued friend, Lord Montfort. But Ferdinand Armine is blessed with so sweet a temper that it is impossible to live with him and not love him; and the most cordial intimacy21 and confidence subsist22 between the father of Henrietta Temple and his son-in-law. From the aspect of public affairs also, Mr. Temple, though he keeps this thought to himself, is inclined to believe that a coronet may yet grace the brow of his daughter, and that the barony of Armine may be revived. Soon after the passing of the memorable23 Act of 1828, Lord Montfort became the representative of his native county, and an active and influential24 member of the House of Commons. After the reform, Mr. Armine was also returned for a borough25 situate near the duke’s principal seat, and although Lord Montfort and Mr. Armine both adhere to the Whig politics of their families, they have both also, in the most marked manner, abstained26 from voting on the appropriation27 clause; and there is little doubt that they will ultimately support that British and national administration which Providence28 has doubtless in store for these outraged29 and distracted realms. At least this is Mr. Temple’s more than hope, who is also in the House, and acts entirely30 with Lord Stanley. The Montforts and the younger Armines contrive31, through mutual32 visits and a town residence during the Session, to pass the greater part of their lives together; they both honestly confess that they are a little in love with each other’s wives, but this only makes their society more agreeable. The family circle at Armine has been considerably33 increased of late; there is a handsome young Armine who has been christened Glastonbury, a circumstance which repays the tenant34 of the tower for all his devotion, and this blending of his name and memory with the illustrious race that has so long occupied his thoughts and hopes, is to him a source of constant self-congratulation. The future Sir Glastonbury has also two younger brothers quite worthy of the blood, Temple and Digby; and the most charming sister in the world, with large violet eyes and long dark lashes35, who is still in arms, and who bears the hallowed name of Henrietta. And thus ends our LOVE STORY.
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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bate
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| v.压制；减弱；n.（制革用的）软化剂 | |
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jot
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| n.少量；vi.草草记下；vt.匆匆写下 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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improvident
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| adj.不顾将来的，不节俭的，无远见的 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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18
frisky
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| adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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24
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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25
borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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26
abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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appropriation
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| n.拨款，批准支出 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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29
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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30
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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31
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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32
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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33
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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34
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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35
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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