ABSTRACT
It was in this friendly conference that the two young men canvassed their future projects. Ellesmere, whose ingenuous and sensible heart swelled with indignation when he believed D’Alonville insulted on account of his country; still more, when his unhappy situation seemed to call forth the sneering arrogance of unfeeling prosperity, was prompted to conceal from him, as far as he could, what he flattered himself he might not perceive. D’Alonville, too tremblingly alive to be deceived, was perfectly aware of the supercilious slights which the elder Mr. Ellesmere evidently designed for him; but he saw too, that such circumstances gave great pain to his friend, and therefore he determined not to appear to perceive them. Edward Ellesmere now, for the first time, acquainted him that his appointment was fixed; and that he meant to go to Captain Caverly’s in the next day but one, and to return home only a few hours to take leave of his family before he went to London, from whence he should immediately return to the Continent. D’Alonville knew that every consideration of propriety and duty urged him to adopt at the same time his original plan, and to return to France; but to leave, and probably for ever, the only woman to whom his heart had been truly attached, could not be thought of but with exquisite pain. He sat silent for some time, till Ellesmere, who had been arranging some papers which lay before him, suddenly said, ‘And there will be some degree of kindness, my dear Chevalier, in your going before our poor friend becomes more ridiculous; – she is already very far gone.’
