Raymond by John Lang

True to his word, the old man saw his son no more. He quitted Cambridge by the next morning's Telegraph, and immediately on reaching London dispatched a letter to Henry, repeating all he had said in conversation. The cold, business-like air of this epistle, occasioned Raymond much grief; but it soon gave place to more pleasant feelings, when he remembered that he had now the means of honourably discharging all his debts; and had, besides, a surplus capital of upwards of two thousand pounds, with which, small as it was for a beginning, he persuaded himself he should make his way handsomely through life. Yes, and not only this, but he would marry Julia Wyndham! She loved him; for, during their last interview, he had succeeded in wringing this acknowledgment from the artless and affectionate girl; and equally evident was it, that nature had destined them for each other. Thus thinking, Raymond soon regained his wonted cheerfulness, and when his gyp came in to receive his orders for the day, he desired him to go round to his different creditors, a list of whom he put into his hand, and tell them that, if they would call in the course of a week, their claims should be liquidated to the last farthing.

Having given these directions, my hero, who was meditating weighty projects, and, among others, an immediate removal to London, where, full of confidence in his own mental resources, he had no doubt he should distinguish himself in literature, the only vocation for which he felt qualified, and to which his inclinations led him--Raymond, I say, who was full of these and other sage projects, posted off to the little Dutch village on the banks of the Cam, in other to acquaint Julia with his plans, and persuade her to share his fortunes. He reached the cottage just as she was going out for a walk, whereupon he joined her, and, in the course of an animated conversation, he informed her of all that had occurred since he last saw her; of his altered prospects, and consequent intention of quitting the university without delay; and concluded by imploring her, as she valued his happiness and her own, to fling all further hesitation to the winds, and link her fate with his. Quite as unworldly--indeed even more so than Henry--and carried away by his enthusiasm, Julia was but too ready to be prevailed upon to take the step he recommended to her; nevertheless, though she looked only to the sunny side of the picture, she would come to no decision, but referred him for an answer to her grandmother. Away, therefore, went the sanguine daydreamer to the old lady, who being already prejudiced in his favour, and, like her grandchild, dazzled by his glowing accounts of his prospects, gave a ready consent; and it was finally determined that the marriage should take place within a month, when they should leave the cottage, and go and reside in the neighbourhood of London. Having thus far succeeded in his projects, Raymond next set out for the metropolis; drew a sufficient sum from his banker's to defray his debts and other contingent expenses; took a small, cheap, and retired cottage at West-end, near Hampstead, and then returned to Cambridge, where, at the appointed time, he became the husband of Julia Wyndham.