ABSTRACT
In a few moments after Lord Danesforte’s arrival with Davenant, Lady Newenden, Colonel Chesterville, and Mr. and Mrs. Maltravers, arrived from their visit. Her Ladyship seemed much elated by this acquisition to what had been before ‘a dull family party.’ The chagrin she had conceived at being compelled to make a visit to the family of Ludford was forgotten; and the extreme coldness and visible displeasure of Sir Edward, unnoticed; or being noticed, scorned. Dinner was no sooner over than the loo table was introduced into the drawing-room. Other company came in; deep play began; and Sir Edward, not only suffering under his own uneasiness, but grieved to remark the avidity with which Colonel Chesterville joined those who played, went out to conceal his concern; and that he might enjoy that solitude which his present temper of mind required, he went towards St. Vincent’s rock.7 Ill health, which was more than a pretence, made the retirement of Ethelinde easily accounted for. Glad to escape, she seized the first moment in which the whole party were deeply engaged; and in her own room sat herself down to reflect on what had passed in the morning, which had rather left on her mind a tumultuous and confused sense of pain, than any distinct sentiment of particular unhappiness. All, however, when she began to investigate it, appeared to offer only sources of encreasing calamity. She knew too well that Lady Newenden was so haughty, so high spirited, and so much impressed with an idea that her fortune set her above the common forms of life, that there was little hope of her feeling any thing but rage and resentment on the slightest remonstrance from Sir Edward. She knew that Mr. Maltravers, far from allowing her to be wrong, would feel nothing but indignation at the bare hint of its possibility; and, making her quarrel his own, would be sensible only of indignation at Sir Edward’s want of confidence and liberality of mind; while Mrs. Maltravers, as much bigotted to Lord Danesforte and his parties as Lady Newenden herself, would with impatience hear, and with anger resent, any attempt to put an end to the acquaintance.
