Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

CHAPTER III.

"And Gertrude climbed a widow'd father's knee.

*

*

*

Young, innocent, on whose sweet forehead mild,
The parted ringlets shone in simplest guise.

[blocks in formation]

To time, when as the rip'ning years went by,

Her lovely mind could culture well repay,

And more engaging grew, from pleasing day to-day."
GERTRUDE OF WYOMING.

AND now, if any interest has arisen in my reader's minds, in behalf of the young creature

I have introduced to their notice-they will not

be sorry, I presume, that the old man, laying aside the personal style of narrative, should detail the full particulars which he slowly and gradually obtained, of the events appertaining to her history-and that he should now place it before them, as simply and connectedly as he may. This is the extent to which he can pretend. His imagination is dulled-his eloquence impaired. He must narrate without painting, and though such is a language at variance with that used by the poet, and the novel writer, he is unambitious enough to adopt such a colourless style.

The infant daughter of Sir Alexander Seyton was baptised by the high sounding names of "Alexandrina Maria," on the evening of the same day that the eyes of the mother, who had some hours before given her birth, were closed in death-for it was feared that the child would also die.

The father immersed in grief at his loss, gave his infant daughter scarcely a thought, and the

attendants, already prevising the prospect of a second marriage, saw little importance, whether the poor delicate babe lived or died. But they performed their duty towards it to the uttermost, and that successfully, for the infant not only lived, but thrived and grew into the good graces of all, through her loveliness and engaging ways.

The little Alexandrina, visited occasionally by relations, lived in the country with her nurses, for the first year of her life, whilst the father travelled abroad. At the end of that period, Sir Alexander returned to England, sent for his child to London, caressed and admired the little creature, thought it really the sweetest infant he had ever seen, and felt his heart open towards it, very paternally.

Again the widower occupied himself with the pleasures, or rather business of life, to which the natural bent of his mind made him inclined. He had already attained considerable political celebrity, and the little Aline-for so in familiar

par

lance his child was called, received, as may be imagined, but a small share of the statesman's time and attention.

But a very few months had seen the little lady domiciled in her father's London house, ere she, or, at least, her nurses were apprized, that a change in her circumstances was about to take place.

The morning after Sir Alexander returned from a lengthened visit in the country, the child was brought into her father's study, to sit as usual on his knee for a few minutes, to receive his kind caress, some playful words, and, occasionally, an expensive toy.

She was a fair, gentle creature, and her sweet smile and soft caress seemed this morning peculiarly to attract the father's tender notice. "Poor little thing!" he murmured.

Then suddenly addressing the nurse, he said in a voice of some emotion :

"Robertson! I am obliged for the care and attention you have bestowed upon Miss Seyton;

I trust you will continue in my service, and give equal satisfaction to the future mistress of this house."

Robertson started, coloured and curtsied, with as much well feigned surprise, as if the mysterious hints and innuendoes of Sir Alexander's valet, who had accompanied his master in his late lengthened visit to the Marquis of Marchmont's, had not circulated through the establishment.

"I wish to inform you," Sir Alexander continued, bending his face, slightly crimsoned, to receive the offered stroke from his unconscious daughter's little satin-like hand," and you are at liberty to make the circumstance generally known in this house, that I am shortly to marry Lady Adelaide Marchmont, a daughter of the Marquis of Marchmont."

"Indeed, Sir Alexander! I wish

you all happiness, sir, I am sure, for your sake and this dear

little lady's, sir !”

"Thank you, thank you," hastily interrupted

« ZurückWeiter »