ABSTRACT
The next day was appointed for paying the last sad duty to the deceased Lord Rivers; and as the rector of the parish of Ravensdale was very old and in rm, and entirely unable to o ciate, Doctor Burton, as the intimate friend of the family, took the duty upon himself. We have before mentioned the good opinion he had conceived of Edward, and how much he was interested in his favour. It was with extreme pleasure, therefore, as well as surprise, that he learned, on his arrival at Ravensdale, that he was there before him. A very cordial interview took place between them, in which the Doctor pressed Edward to let him see him at Burton Hall – a visit which, indeed, Edward was very willing to make, but deferred at this/ time on account of the distressed state of the family he was with. Lord Ravensdale, who was unable to appear himself, had requested Edward to ful l the duty of chief mourner, and to do the honours of the house – a task which he acquitted himself of to the perfect satisfaction of a very numerous assemblage of the principal gentlemen of the country, many of whom had never seen him before, but all of whom had heard the beginning of his history, and wished to improve their acquaintance with him, from the specimen of politeness and attention which he this day exhibited before them. A er the funeral ceremony was over, they all returned to Ravensdale house, and partook of a splendid entertainment suitable to the dignity of the living lord, and to his a ection for the deceased; and in the evening the company departed, impressed with very favourable sentiments of the good sense, modesty, and politeness of Edward. It was remarked, that neither/ of the Mr. Nettle elds was there, though invited. An excuse came from Captain Nettle eld, that his father was ill; but as no word in it was addressed to Edward, the real cause of their absence was imputed to a lurking envy and ungenerous hatred, which both their breasts were suspected of harbouring against that gallant young man. His heart, however, was clear of all resentment, and could not long retain ill will against any creature in the universe; according to the true observation of the poet,
When the sad duties of this day were over, and the tomb closed on the last of Lord Ravensdale’s sons, the surviving branches of the family felt a heavy weight removed from them, excepting the venerable peer himself. e ruin of his house, as he called it, wrung him to the soul;/ and being always of a religious turn of mind, he sometimes expressed himself as if he was deserted of God. e piety of his mind, directed perhaps by the native generosity of his temper, induced him to seek the favour of his Creator by the exercise of that godlike virtue which in Scripture is said to cover a multitude of sins; and therefore a few days a er the interment of Lord Rivers, he gave to Doctor Burton one thousand guineas, to be by him distributed among such indigent families in the neighbourhood as he knew to be most in need of it. If the blessings of the poor could indeed at any time cure the distempers either of the body or the soul, it is certain Lord Ravensdale would never have felt any of them. But, alas! his disorder lay too deep; and his despondency at times began to be truly alarming. ere was no society which at these times seemed so acceptable to him as Edward’s. He felt a complacency in his presence, which/ he could not account for: he o en kept him for hours together in his room, talking to him of his dear son George, hearing over and over again all the little anecdotes Edward could recollect about him; and not seldom reading his letters, in which frequent mention was made of Ned, in terms of the most ardent friendship. ese melancholy interviews, though not quite suited either to Edward’s years or disposition, yet he gladly indulged him in, happy in seeing his lordship somewhat relieved by them, and knowing it was the most acceptable service he could perform to Lady Cecilia. But as he had another duty to ful l, which also lay near his heart, he did at last, with her ladyship’s consent, hint to Lord Ravensdale the necessity he was under of going to see his father and mother, who knew that he had now been above a month in Europe, and who were extremely impatient to see him. A visible uneasiness appeared on Lord/ Ravensdale’s countenance, when Edward mentioned going away; yet he admitted the necessity of it. At the same time he pressed him to return and spend the Christmas, ‘for I know not how it is, my young friend, but I feel a comfort when you are with me that I do not experience on any other occasion.’ ‘My Lord,’ replied Edward, ‘there is no circumstance can give me equal joy to contributing to your comfort and consolation. And if your Lordship will permit me to go for a few weeks to Wales, to pay my duty to my parents, I shall return (if God spares me) before Christmas, and pass the winter with you.’ is ready compliance cheered his countenance again; and the next day but one being xed on for his departure, he went to acquaint Lady Cecilia with what had passed.
