Chapter V: Our Heroine has an Interview with the Grandfather of our Hero

When the young and lovely orphan, whom our history will no longer overlook, was admitted to the presence of the venerable De Lancaster, no third person being there but the lady who introduced her, she had so far composed her spirits as to make her first approaches, and receive his compliments, under no other agitation than what served to set off the modest graces of her person and deportment to the best advantage: he led her to a chair, and placed himself by her side. After a pause of some short continuance, during which he had kept his eyes admiringly upon her, he turned to Cecilia, and said--I see you were resolved I should enjoy the pleasure of a surprise, for though you described in part what I was to expect, your description was far short of the original. I have seen my brother Morgan’s portrait of Miss Jones’s father, and I can trace a likeness.

You would do that better, said Cecilia, in a miniature, which perhaps Amelia has about her.

Amelia answered that she had not the miniature in her possession.

Let it pass, rejoined De Lancaster; we have matter of more moment to discourse upon. You will understand, Miss Jones, that by the will of the deceased lady, who had your interest so much at heart, you become invested with a claim upon us of a twofold nature: the one portion of my daughter-in-law’s bequest to you is easily satisfied, for it is set down in the shape of a specific sum; the other and the greater portion, being undefined, is an obligation, that can never be fairly said to terminate so long as any thing shall remain undone on the part of my grandson, which, according to his interpretation of his mother’s wishes, may seem necessary for your honour and advantage to be further done. John however is yet under age: on whom then, but on me, during his minority, does that obligation in its full extent devolve? I acknowledge it; I embrace it voluntarily; I will execute it religiously. You are my charge; you are my child, and in trust for my grandson I receive you into my adoption.

Amelia, half-rising from her seat, and pressing her claspt hands upon her bosom, bowed her head and wept. De Lancaster proceeded.

How then am I to fulfil this duty. Surely not by deputy, not by assignment: I must not suffer you to live at distance; you must discharge yourself as speedily as may be from your residence at Denbigh. Retain if you see fit, Mrs. Jennings as a friend attached to you, but look to my Cecilia for those instructions, which are to regulate your morals, and that example, which is to form your manners. Henceforward I expect that you will regard Kray Castle as your proper home.

With this benevolent, but authoritative, invitation Mr. De Lancaster concluded, when Cecilia, rightly conceiving, that a creature, young and modest as Amelia, might find it difficult to suit her answer to a speech and speaker of such a style and character, kindly interposed by asking her in a familiar manner, whether she thought she could pass her time as much to her content at Kray Castle as at Denbigh.

Ah madam, she replied, I have good reason to be contented with the way in which I pass my time at Denbigh, but I trust I need not say how much I feel the honour of being asked to Kray Castle, which of course would be so high a treat to me. I must acknowledge to you notwithstanding, that as I know of nothing, that can intitle me to the kindness you are pleased to show me, I am fearful and alarmed, lest by stepping out of my obscurity I should be suspected of conceiving myself to be any other than what I really am, an orphan hitherto supported upon charity, and now at once provided for in a way, that offers comforts, which my parents did not possess, and affluence, which they had not to bequeath.

Here the good old man eagerly interposing, turned a kind approving smile upon Amelia, and said--There is a grace, my good child, in humility, which well befits your sex, your situation and your time of life; but don’t be more humble than the descendant of a good and ancient family ought to be; for the dignity of the stock is not to be degraded by the eventual sterility of any one of the branches. When we invite you to partake of the society of our family, you may be sure it is a pleasure, that we are desirous to enjoy: If you therefore are pleased to consider our solicitation as a civility, how much more cause have we to set down your compliance as a favour? I must ever think, that when my guest brings with him the recommendatory properties of good birth, good manners, sense and morals, he brings with him into my company what does me honour, let him be as bare of money as hard fate may make him. You seem to think that your ambition should be bounded by the specific sum bequeathed to you in the will of our newly-deceased friend, and rightly you would think, had nothing else been devised by the testatrix; but as this is not the case, and as the mother in her will lays further commands upon the son, don’t suppose, because your moderation may conceive that much is done, that he will think there is no more to do.

As Mr. De Lancaster was addressing these words to the fair and gentle creature that was seated by his side, the person, to whom they alluded, at that instant entered the room. There are lights favourable and unfavourable, in which every human being will at different times be seen; this was decidedly one of the happiest moments, which an artist could have seized for modelling, or a sensitive young damsel for contemplating, our hero John De Lancaster. As Amelia was rising from her seat upon his entrance, the address, with which he hastened to replace her, and the gracefulness of the action, which accomplished it, were in the very best style of good breeding and politeness, as they were then understood and practised: as they are now better understood and more easily practised, no elegant lady would take the trouble to rise, and if an awkward miss attempted it, no elegant gentleman would be at the pains to prevent her; ease is the grand desideratum of modern life; and no one makes a compliment of what every one helps himself to without ceremony.

The Wilsons, father and son, now joined the company, and whilst they drew off to the party of the senior De Lancaster, John took his seat between Amelia and his aunt, being thereunto invited by the latter.

I have been soliciting Miss Jones to pass some time with us at the castle, said Cecilia.

I am happy to hear it, John replied, and I hope you have prevailed. I understand you go home to-morrow, and I must deny myself the gratification of attending upon you, for I feel it indispensably incumbent upon me to devote some few days to my grandfather Morgan, and to sundry things, which he wishes to be done in consequence of the mournful event, that brought us hither; of course so long as I can afford any consolation to that good and generous heart, which pain and sorrow conspire to oppress, I must wait till I am released, and in the mean while pace the solitary yew-tree walk without the hope of again enjoying that delightful vision, which I once most luckily chanced upon, but was speedily deprived of. I presume Miss Jones will be of your party to-morrow.

That must be at her option, Cecilia observed; there will be room in the coach, as our worthy Colonel stays a few days longer with Mr. Morgan. Then turning to Amelia, she took her hand, and with a smile, that seemed prepared to welcome an excuse, said to her in a whisper--How do you stand disposed, my dear? Will you go with my father and me to-morrow, or wait a few days till Colonel Wilson and my nephew can attend upon you?

I should naturally be most happy to go when you do, madam, (said Amelia blushing) but--

Aye, resumed Cecilia, you would like that best no doubt, but what, my dear? Something stands in the way of it--you are not ready I dare say--that is it; is it not?

Yes, madam, it is. I have nothing with me here: all my things are at Denbigh; and I am persuaded Mrs. Jennings will expect me to go with her, and there will be a good deal to do.

I am persuaded there will be a good deal, repeated Cecilia; about as much to do, as will fill up your time till the coach shall return for the colonel and this gentleman, if we could suppose he would prefer it to his horse, which in fact would be to suppose he would do that which he has never done yet: our coach and crawling cattle move too slow for him.

Not in all cases, my dear aunt, believe me--Not in your case, for instance, unless they were conveying me to you; then they would be slow indeed--If they were conveying you with me, and were it possible that my poor company could content you, they could not spin out time, so pleasantly engaged, too long.

Upon my word, nephew John, that is a very handsome compliment; but you are seated between two ladies, and I suspect, whilst you were saying it to one, you intended it for the other.

Excuse me, madam, that was not the case: It would indeed have been correctly true, had I ventured to have addressed it to the other lady; but till I can gain her confidence by my conduct, I will not court her good opinion by my compliments.

As he spake these words, Amelia, struck with the turn he had given to Cecilia’s raillery, raised her bright eyes, and for the first time fixing them without a blush steadily upon him, said with an energy, that seemed to carry her beyond herself--You answer nobly, sir! My father would have honoured you for that sentiment.

This said, she rose from her seat, and with her rose the company; the venerable old butler having given notice that the hour was come, when, according to family custom (then very generally honoured and observed) they were called upon to offer up their praises and petitions to the Author of their being, and Dispenser of their blessings.