No More Learning

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? ROSE AND BMILV J OR,
CHAP. XVII.
Tus day of separation nearly approached,
and the melancholy morrow was at last
fixed upon. The parsonage, that spot
of" so much local felicity, which to leave
even for scenes of novelty and pleasure>
had been agony, was now thought of
with a tear. "O, Fanny! " Rose would
exclaim, "could we but take you and
dear Mr. and Mrs. Falkland with us,
what on earth should we have to wish
for more? " "My father! " replied Emi-
ly, with a sigh. "True, Emily, your
father; and then we should be quite
happy. " "Not quite]' said Fanny, " with-
out my father, and my mether, and all
my brothers and sisters. " "I forgot
them replied Rose, laughing; M I wish
we could have all; how delightful would
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 271
be a little village composed only of
friends! " and immediately the. little vi-
sionary pursued her phantom of felicity,
till she was lost in her own Utopia. . '
The day before they quitted Matlock,
every place, which was marked by any
particular remembrance, was revisited;
on some they lingered, unwilling to say
adieu; here Mr. Falkland had repeated
some of his own verses; there he had
read some favourite author; in this spot
Fanny had sung; on this bench Mrs.
Falkland related her narrative, and here
they pledged eternal friendship--how
could they bid adieu to scenes so
dear--go sacred 1 They were all sketch-
ed, and the party grouped by the
pencil of Isabel or Emily, as pre-
cious memorials of departed joys, when
the friends, who gave them interest,
would be far distant! Yet they loved
to indulge in the visions of future visits
to the same scenes, and with the same
society; and were cheered by the pro-
mise that Mr, and Mrs. Falkland and
Fanny would visit the parsonage before
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? 272
ROSE AND EMILY; OK,
the end of the summer. These hopes
beguiled the present hour, and softened
. the pang of the parting one; but a. tear
stood in every eye when the lip attempt-
ed to utter the last farewel; even Mr.
Falkland's spectacles glistened with the
dew of tender sorr<<w; and he scarcely
eould distinguish the object he handed
into the chaise.
The departure of a family that had so
warmly engaged their affections, left a
blank that no common-place company
could fill up; and they resolved upon
leaving Matlock also, and returning
into Yorkshire, where Mr. Falkland
resided. Their road lay across a diffe-
rent part of the Derbyshire Moors from
that pursued by Mrs. Sydney, but the
same bold, wild, and rugged features
marked it, and brought to Mr. Falk-
land's recollection the idea they had ex-
cited in the mind of Rose, of resembling
scenes, such as Ossian describes, of Fin-
gal's battles; and that she expected to
see some of the shades of his lofty heroes
or blue eyed maidens, or even great
jt. . ? '
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 273
Fingal himself, flitting before her. De-
lighted in thus associating the idea of
his little. favourite with the views before
him, and. knowing that it would afford
her pleasure to be so remembered, he
hastily wrote the following lines:--
THE SHADE OF LOB A.
On yonder mountain's cloud-cap't. head,
What grisly form is nigh?
E'en through the veil of mist I dread
The thunder of his arm, and lightning of his eye.
Pale king. of. shadows. ! Loda hail!
Why leave your airy cell 1
Borne on the hollow blast to sail,
Why leave green fields of rest wherein you dwell ]
Drop, drop your dusky spear,
Fell tyrant of the night!
The hero's rising . strength is neai>--
Great Fiugal's giant arm, great Fingai's matchless
might.
Hark! heard. yon not yon hollow groan,"
As through the mist dark Lunot pass'd?
Twas Loda's deepen'd, sulkn mead, .
He shrunk a shriv<<li'd scroll, and vanished in the
? ' Wait!
t TH<< uword of Fingal. . '.
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? S7* ROSE AKD EMILY; OK,
Mrs. Sydney and her family proceed-
ed to the parsonage with their thoughts
almost entirely occupied by the friends
they had left; they saw only their forms*
heard only their voices; and even the
moors, which had before been to Rose
scenes of so much interest and fancy, now
appeared nothing but a dark and barren
heath; but the nearer she approached
her home; when dear and familiar ob-
jects met her eye; when she caught the
first glimpse of the white chimnies of
the parsonage, her heart bounded in her
bosom; she hailed the long-loved scenes
of her native place, and Matlock faded
from her mind; but it was a momentary
oblivion; and as she sprung out of the
chaise, she exclaimed--" O mamma, that
that we had but our beloved friends to
welcome to the parsonage ! ** The dear
and lively interests of home soon occu-
pied their hearts; the anguish of the
parting moment had passed away; and
all that remained was a tender and faith-
ful recollection of their friends, a delight
in dwelling upon every Little circum-
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? SKETCHES (C)F YOUTH. 275
stance that had occurred when they were
together, and in indulging the hope of
soon meeting them again. ,. *
The garden was visited by all; Rose
bounded over every path, and eagerly
examined every favourite plant, while the
more . patient hand of Isabel or Emily
raised up those that had fallen, and gave
them the support they wanted. The cat
accompanied them in their walk, purring
and rolling before them, and giving every
indication of joy. "Who can say cats
are insensible," cried Rose, " and that
they are incapable of attachment? "--
"vThey are undoubtedly," replied Mrs.
Sydney, " sensible of kindness, and will
distinguish the person who most caresses
them from every other; this is, there-
fore, a species of personal preference
that must be granted them. " "They
are an unhappy, persecuted race of ani-
mals," said Rose, piteously, and catch-
ing up her tabby favourite, which clung
to her shoulder, and returned her cares-
ses by rub"bing its velvet face against her
cheek.
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? 276 HOSE AXD EMILY *, OR,
Phoebe, who, on alighting from the
chaise, had immediately gone to her fa-
ther's, now returned with a countenance
of excessive dejection, and her eyes
swollen with weeping. Mrs. Sydney
anxiously and affectionately enquired
the cause. "My father is married," she
almost inarticulately sobbed. Mrs. Syd-
- ney concealed her surprise from the poor
girl, and asked her how long he had been
married? " He married, madam, on the
day we went to Matlock; he said he
knew I should not like to be at his wed-
? ding, and so he had it when I was away. "
"He was kind to you Phoebe, was he
not? " "O yes, he was kind, and cried
almost as much as I did; but he said he
thought I was too young to take care of
his dairy, and manage his house, and that
bis wife would. " Here the poor girl
sobbed aloud. w There is nothing very
distressing in this," said Mrs. Sydney, en-
deavouring to sooth her j "you will be
glad to ,see. your. father comfortable ; and
in his situation he wants a wrfe*to attend
to his house, while he is about his farm. 5'
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 277
'<< I know it, madam," she said, " but
what grieves me the most is, that I fear
I have been to blame; for when my fa-^
ther has asked me how long it would be
before I went to live at home, I used to
say I thought I was too young to manage
his house; for I could 'not bear the
thoughts of leaving you. He saw this,
and so he married; and now I have no
home. " "Is not this your home, Phoebe? "
"You are very good to me, ma'am, but
SI ought to have gone to iny father when
he wished me. I must not be a trouble
to you any longer, and I beg upon my
knees,'' cried the poor girl, "that you
will let me live with you as a servant;
I will do any thing for yOu; my father
says he will always find me in cloaths, and
I do not want wages. " "No, my good
girl," said Mrs. Sydney, raising her up,
"you shall live with me, but not as a ser-
vant. Your mother, humble as was her
situation, was myJriend, and never shall
her child want a mother's tenderness
while I live. You must not call yourself
a trouble to me. Are you not rny little
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? 278 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
housekeeper? Your industry has made
me idle; and I fear my table would be
but ill supplied unless you attended to it.
Your father, I hope, will be happy, and
you shall remain with me. "
The poor girl could only reply by tears,
but they were tears of true gratitude;
and the certainty of continuing with Mrs.
Sydney in a short time reconciled her to
her father's marriage. .
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? SKETCHES'OF YOUTH, 279
CHAP. XVIII.
A? teii the first emotions of delight on re-
turning home had subsided, their former
habits and occupations were all resumed;
and while Mrs. Sydney sat surrounded
by her amiable family, she acknowledged
with gratitude how amply they had repaid
ajl her cares and attention. In her own
children, was evinced the benefit of early
precept and parental vigilance ; in Emily,
the influence which afFection, united with
the force of example, has upon the youth?
ful mind.
Isabel, uniform in her principles, faith-
ful in her attachments, and gentle in her
disposition, performed the duties of a
daughter, and the tender offices of a sister,
with a promptitude that never failed, a
cheerfulness that never varied.
Rose, lively in her temper, ardent in
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? 280
ROSE AND EMILY } OR,
her feelings, and fanciful in her opinions,.
longer required the hand of gentle re-.
straint, and the admonitory lessons of ex-
perience, than her sister.
Though prone
to error, she was open to conviction ; and
her mother never spoke in vain. Quick
to feel, yet ready to forgive, if, for a mo-
ment, the glow of petulance mantled on
her cheek, a word, a look of kindness
would instantly dispel it, and her smile.
return in all its sweetness.
Emily, whose early wishes had been too
much indulged, and her faults neglected,
gradually experienced the advantages of
mild authority and kind admonitions.
Her understanding was excellent, and
her heart affectionate; though little
had been inculcated by precept, there
was much to eradicate from example;
for the youthful mind, like. ductile
wax, as easily receives the. impressions
of accident as of design; and those which
had been stamped on Emily's,. required
the hand of time, affection, and judg-
ment to efface, and to establish others.
As new ideas expanded in her mind, new
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 281
feelings were awakened in her heart. She
regarded Mrs. Sydney as the friend who
had rescued her from ignorance and error,
and rendered her fit for the society of the
wise and good. Whenever the cloud of
discontent or displeasure gathered in her
bosom, and shaded her brow,the sunshine
of Rose's smile, the tear of Isabel, or the
gently-reproving look of Mrs. Sydney,
would soon calm the storm, and she " let
not the sun go down upon her wrath. "
It was now that Mrs. Sydney anxiously
wished for the return of Mr. Blandford,
that she might present his daughter to
him with errors eradicated, and virtues
established; and she received with plea-
sure the intelligence that in a few months
he should revisit England; and from
the date of the letter, the period was not
far distant. Emily's heart beat with hope
and apprehension the nearer it approach-
ed, and her thoughts dwelt incessantly
upon her father; that father from whom
she had never experienced any thing but
affection and indulgence ; who, at length
conscious of h. er defects, had sacrificed
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? 282
ROSE AND EMILY; OK,
every selfish feeling for her benefit, and
tore himself away lest he should frustrate
the advantages of the plan he had adopt-
ed: she knew how highly his expecta-
tions were raised of her improvement;
how many qualities he thought requisite
to constitute an amiable woman; and she
could not dwell upon the idea of meeting
him, without fear and trembling. "I
am not like Isabel," she would mentally
say, " I am not so good and gentle as she
is; neither have I the sweet temper and
talents of Rose; but Mrs. Sydney loves
me, and therefore I cannot be unworthy
of my father's affection. "
As these reflections passed in her mind,
the tear would often rise in her eye, and
the blush of emotion crimson her cheek.
Mrs. Sydney remarked the conflict of her
feelings, and secretly wished that Mr.
Blandford could first behold her without
her being consciousof observation, as, on
a mind so peculiarly constructed as his,
io impetuous in its sensations, so impul-
sive in its opinions, a first impression
might be important; and she knew that
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH.
283
Emily, natural and unembarrassed, was
an object, both in person and manner,
that could not fail to excite admiration
and interest: but to make anv arrange-
ment for this was impossible, as neither
the hour nor day of his arrival could be
ascertained, and she dreaded, yet expect-
ed, his sudden appearance. Chance,
however, is frequently more favourable
to our wishes than design. Mr. Bland-
ford arrived while Emily was taking a
walk with Isabel and Rose. His extreme
agitation at seeing Mrs. Sydney made her
rejoice that his daughter was not present
to witness the unbounded effusions of his
feelings. She sought to tranquilize them
by reminding him of the effect they might
produce upon Emily 5 and represented
to him her apprehensions and inquietudes.
He promised to make an effort at compo^
sure, examined her drawings, turned
over her books, and read with delight
some of her marginal observations; look-
ed repeatedly at his watch, then from the
window; walked up and down the room }
and at length, impatient at her delay, re-
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? 284 ROSE AS(R) EMILY; OR,
quested Mrs. Sydney would send a ser-
vant to inform her of his arrival. "They
are coining," she replied.
He was rushing out of the room, but'
Mrs. Sydney again intreated him to com-
mand himself, and observe her as she ap-
proached. "Which is my child, which
is Emily? " he hastily enquired. "The
tallest. " "She has her mother's figure,"
he replied, and sunk down in a chair.
"My dear Sir," said Mrs. Sydney ear-
nestly and emphatically, "unless you
overcome the violence of these emotions,
what must you expect from your daugh-
ter? " "I would not have her calm,"
he answered. Mrs. Sydney retired from
the window, and was silent. "Forgive
my impetuosity," he exclaimed, " forgive
my impatience and agitation; I will
be composed, and again look at her. "
He seated himself by the side of the win-
dow, which was shaded by the mingled
branches of a vine and clematis; and,
unseen by her, gazed at her as she ap-
proached: her bonnet was thrown back;
her dark hair was partly blown from her ,
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 285
? white and open forehead, and the glow
of health and exercise had tinged her
cheek with its liveliest carnation. The
? little party had been botanizing, and Rose
carried in a basket, the treasures of the
fields and hedges. Emily had in her
hand a beautiful branch of the wild-rose,
and some woodbine, which she had ga-
thered for Mrs. Sydney. Seeing her at
the window, she held them up with a
smile, which gave an added charm to her
countenance, and Mr. Blandford heard
the sweet and cheerful accents of her"
voice, as, speaking to her young friends,
she entered the little court. "Inform
her that I am here,' said he, " and I will
wait as patiently as I can. '
Mrs. Sydney performed her office so as
best to moderate the transports of the
father and daughter; transports that she
knew,
"Were bliss but to a certain bound;
Beyond was agony. "
Tears mingled with their mutual ca-
resses; but they were tears of controuled
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? 286 ROSE AND EMILY } OR,
emotion, of softened rapture. He gazed
at her with all a father's pride, a father's
joy; and as he murmured her praises, and
his affection, she hung round his neck,
smiled at his encomiums, and no longer
feared he would not love her.
To Mrs. Sydney his gratitude knew no
bounds, and to her daughters he shewed
a father's kindness. For his little friend
Rose, who had been the instrument of
their introduction to each other, he re-
tained all the partiality he had formerly
felt. The pretty, playful, and engaging
child, was now the beautiful, lovely, and
interesting girl of fifteen; her sweetly-
modulated voice faithfully revealed every
movement of her mind, every emotion of
her heart; and her eye sparkled with the
purest rays of intelligence and genius.
This evening was given to the pleasures
of friendship and affection; but the joy
of having his daughter restored to him all
he wished to find her, was, in Mr. Bland-
ford's bosom, the predominant sentiment.
Though he still retained that quickness
of feeling, and enthusiasm of" character,
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 287
which had formerly distinguished him;
yet he seemed to have acquired more
settled principles, more established ha-
bits; to discriminate with more perspi-
cuity, and to decide with more judgment.
On him depended the happiness or mi-
sery of his daughter, and he seriously re-
flected upon the important trust which
now would delegate to him; and deter-
mined to adapt his plans and his conduct
solely to this one vpoint. His future
establishment was discussed with Mrs.
Sydney, and arrangements made for the
introduction of Emily into the world ; for
though he dreaded to open to her its
temptations, he yet longed, with parental
pride, to introduce her to its notice; and
wished her to obtain its advantages.
Dr. Blake was dead, and the new in-
cumbent, who, though a young man, was
properly impressed with a sense of the sa- *
cred duties he had pledged himself to
fulfil, intended to reside at the parson-
age. A new habitation was therefore to
be sought for; for Mrs. Sydney, though she
had permission from the present rector,
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? 288 ROSE AND EMILY } OR,
to remain there till she could conve-
niently remove j but while he occupied
a lodging in the villige, she was uneasy
a; i eing a resident in his house. Mr.
Blandford propose her removing to Lon-
don, and still continuing the guide of
Emily; but to this proposal she'gave a
decided negative. Her ignorance of fa-
shionable life, customs, and places, ren-
dered her a very unfit person to introduce
an heiress into life; and she, laughingly,
told Mr. Blandford she herself would re-
quire a chaperon, instead of being one.
She recommended h;s engaging, for the
companion of his daughter, some lady
whose moral character would stand the
test of the strictest scrutiny; whose man?
ners might be held up as a model to
Emily, and whose knowledge of the world
might be her guide.
Averse as Mr. Blandford felt to sepa-
rate her from Mrs. Sydney, and still ap-
prehensive of the contamination of evil
example, he promised to follow her ad-
vice. "I trust, my good friend," said
Mrs. Sydney, "you need not fear the
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. . 2S3
perversion of Emily's morals, even if she
Avere to be led into the vortex of ill ex-
example. Principles of virtue, when
founded on religion, and confirmed by
practice, are not easily shaken; and
though I would not carelessly or confi-
dently expose a young person to the al-
lurements of vice; yet, I should hope, if
vice approached under its most specious
form, a mind so fortified would be able to
resist all its attractions; and, under any
disguise it might assume, to find it,
'A monster of such frightful mien.
As to be hated,. needs but to be seen. '
But, my dear Sir, whoever may have the
happiness of being selected as the com-
panion of your daughter, your of course,
will be with her; and, under a father's
protection, there can be little to fear. "
While Mr. Blandford was in quest of a
proper person to introduce Emily, she
still remained with her beloved friends at
the parsonage. whose society became
every hour more dear, as she reflected
upon the little time that, probably, would
o
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? 290 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
be allowed her to enjoy it: she constantly
hung on the arm of Rose or Isabel, and
scarcely could leave the side of Mrs. Syd-
ney for a moment; she would look at
them in silence, till the tears swelled in
her eyes; and then hastily leave the room
to recover her composure.
At this time a letter arrived, which an-
nounced the long-wished-for intelligence,
that Mr. and Mrs. Falkland and Fanny
intended paying the promised visit at the
parsonage; every heart was gladdened;
ev^ry hand was busy: the happy day at
length dawned, and the friends were wel-
comed. For a week all was joy; but at
the end of that period, the parting hour
came, and sunk them in sorrow and de-
jection. The visit was, however, to be
returned in the spring, when Mrs. Sydney
and her daughters? would be introduced to
Mr. and Mrs. Belmont; and this hope,
though viewed through a distant perspec-
tive, revivedtheir drooping spirits.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. ' 291
CHAP. XIX.
After several months spent in unavail-
ing enquiries for a person qualified to act
as chaperon to Emily, and such a one as
Mr. Blandfbrd approved, the wife of an
officer, then absent in the service of his
country, was introduced to him at a party.
The elegance of her manner, the grace-
fulness with which she performed the most
trivial acts, the modesty which marked
her whole demeanor, and the discrimi-
nating force of her remarks, made him re-
gard her as the very person under whose
auspices he should wish to introduce his
daughter. She had just attained that pe-
riod of life when the person derives its
greatest lustre from the emanations of the
mind ; and the manner its greatest charm
from the kindness of the heart.