Ernest Maltravers Book VIII by Edward Bulwer-lytton

"A hundred fathers would in my situation tell you that, as you are of noble extraction, you should marry a nobleman. But I do not say so. I will not sacrifice my child to any prejudice. " KOTZEBUE. /Lover's Vows/.

"Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man. " SHAKSPEARE. /Henry VI./

"Oh, how this spring of love resembleth Th' uncertain glory of an April day; Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away! " SHAKSPEARE. /The Two Gentlemen of Verona/.

WHEN Maltravers was once more in his solitary apartment, he felt as in a dream. He had obeyed an impulse, irresistible, perhaps, but one with which the /conscience of his heart/ was not satisfied. A voice whispered to him, "Thou hast deceived her and thyself -- thou dost not love her! " In vain he recalled her beauty, her grace, her genius -- her singular and enthusiastic passion for himself -- the voice still replied, "Thou dost not love. Bid farewell for ever to thy fond dreams of a life more blessed than that of mortals. From the stormy sea of the future are blotted out eternally for thee -- Calypso and her Golden Isle. Thou canst no more paint on the dim canvas of thy desires the form of her with whom thou couldst dwell for ever. Thou hast been unfaithful to thine own ideal -- thou hast given thyself for ever and for ever to another -- thou hast renounced hope -- thou must live as in a prison, with a being with whom thou hast not the harmony of love."

"No matter," said Maltravers, almost alarmed, and starting from these thoughts, "I am betrothed to one who loves me -- it is folly and dishonour to repent and to repine. I have gone through the best years of youth without finding the Egeria with whom the cavern would be sweeter than a throne. Why live to the grave a vain and visionary Nympholept? Out of the real world could I have made a nobler choice?"

While Maltravers thus communed with himself, Lady Florence passed into her father's dressing-room, and there awaited his return from London. She knew his worldly views -- she knew also the pride of her affianced, and, she felt that she alone could mediate between the two.

Lord Saxingham at last returned -- busy, bustling, important, and good-humoured as usual. "Well, Flory, well? -- glad to see you -- quite blooming, I declare, -- never saw you with such a colour -- monstrous like me, certainly. We always had fine complexions and fine eyes in our family. But I'm rather late -- first bell rung -- we /ci-devant jeunes hommes/ are rather long dressing, and you are not dressed yet, I see."

"My dearest father, I wished to speak with you on a matter of much importance."

"Do you? -- what, immediately?"

"Yes."

"Well -- what is it? -- your Slingsby property, I suppose."

"No, my dear father -- pray sit down and hear me patiently."

Lord Saxingham began to be both alarmed and curious -- he seated himself in silence, and looked anxiously in the face of his daughter.

"You have always been very indulgent to me," commenced Florence, with a half smile, "and I have had my own way more than most young ladies. Believe me, my dear father. I am most grateful not only for your affection but your esteem. I have been a strange wild girl, but I am now about to reform; and as the first step, I ask your consent to give myself a preceptor and a guide -- "

"A what! " cried Lord Saxingham.

"In other words, I am about to -- to -- well, the truth must out -- to marry."

"Has the Duke of -- -- -- been here to-day?"

"Not that I know of. But it is no duke to whom I have promised my hand -- it is a nobler and rarer dignity that has caught my ambition. Mr. Maltravers has -- "

"Mr. Maltravers! -- Mr. Devil! -- the girl's mad! -- don't talk to me, child, I won't consent to any such nonsense. A country gentleman -- very respectable, very clever, and all that, but it's no use talking -- my mind's made up. With your fortune, too!"

"My dear father, I will not marry without your consent, though my fortune is settled on me, and I am of age."