Letitia Elizabeth Landon

“ Dalton had no kindness in her nature, fault-finding was the very element in which she lived, and the child was so timid that reproof incapacited her from exertion. Eda, saving when she lost the mistress whom she loved as her child, had never felt a keener pang—still she felt that her indulgence in sorrow rather added to the mischief. The sight of her grief increased that of the twins, and, what was worse, made them think it right to indulge in complaints.
"I am a foolish old woman," said she at last, "to cry, when I ought to be glad." ”

“ Brought up only to the exercise of graceful accomplishment, accustomed to attendance and indulgence, she had suddenly found the necessity of exertion. She had learnt not only to do every-thing for herself—but much for others—While the desertion of so many former friends had given her a harsh lesson of self-dependance, she had yet met some unexpected kindness—and hope is so easily encouraged in youth. Her shyness, for that she found impossible to conquer, seemed only natural, in one so young and lovely, and the sweetness inseparable from her temper secured universal civility. ”

“ The darling of wealthy parents, neither pains nor cost were spared on her education, and she had those natural talents which reward cultivation, while she had what was even more than talent, that kindness of heart, and that sweet and affectionate disposition, which even prosperity cannot spoil. As she past up the room, her step buoyant, and her beautiful face beaming with gaiety and health—she seemed like the very extreme of contrast to the pale and sickly child who sat weeping in the corner, the only one who did not call to her. ”

“ Selwyn it came with more than usual bitterness. Immersed in business, whose fatigue unfitted him for the exertion of society, shy, and reserved in habits, to him his own family was every thing. His young wife had died a week after Marion's birth, and he had attached himself entirely to his children. He saw in them the relics of the dearest love on earth, and felt that he had to be both father and mother. It was impossible not to be proud of the fine mind and generous temper of Francis; and it was equally impossible not to be enlivened by the gaiety of Marion. ”

“ Beaumont, and Fanny was roused from her own painful indulgence, by seeing her mother in strong hysterics. Caresses and intreaties at length restored her, and Fanny took the opportunity of telling what her own hopes were. This seemed only making matters worse: "If you leave, what will become of us?" said her mother wringing her hands.
"If I stay, we shall starve; my obtaining a situation as a governess is our only resource against absolute want," replied Fanny gently, but firmly. "Dearest mother, do not deny me the happiness of working for you. ”

“ This was no longer a punishment, it was a penance, on the contrary, which they were glad to avoid. They knew that, from the time they entered, till the bell rang for "Eda to fetch the Misses Dalton," it would be an incessant repetition of reproofs. Nothing discourages a child so much as the impossibility of pleasing. At first Julia and Ellen held up their heads, and altered their position every second minute, but it was in vain. They grew careless at last, and, not loving Mrs. Dalton, became indifferent whether they pleased her or not. ”

“ Ellen stood silent, looking pleadingly into her mother's face; but Julia, who had drawn close to her sister, said,
"But there are no giants, mamma, to carry us away to look at us."
"No, love, but there are many ways in which all may be as needlessly tormented as that poor butterfly; and, by thinking how little we should ourselves like it, we shall surely grow more careful how we pain others. ”

“ Her mother could not devolve every difficulty upon her, as she did, without an unconcious respect for the strength of mind displayed by one so young; yet, thanks to Fanny's sweetness, this was attended by none of that bitterness which too often attends such a change in the natural position of child and parent. But Mrs. Beaumont could not but see that her ease and her amusement were everything to her affectionate daughter; while Fanny had never loved her mother so well as now that she was her chief object, and her renewed cheerfulness the great reward of her constant exertions. ”

“ The next day, it was fortunate that all was hurry and confusion, there was only just time for Fanny to get her few packages ready, and to be at the end of the green lane just as the coach was sweeping down the hill in the distance. Such a long journey, and by herself too, was an awful thing to any girl, especially to one who had lived in such complete seclusion and fear, mixed with the sorrow that made Fanny's voice at parting quite inarticulate. Neither Mrs. Beaumont nor Edith could restrain their tears, and even the farmer's wife who accompanied them cried for sympathy. ”

“ Miss Beaumont was quite convinced of this herself. In one branch, she made great progress; one too which had as yet been unattempted, but Fanny, who observed her ear for music, resolved on beginning to teach her. The child made great progress, and it was useful in two ways. First, it shewed Emmeline that there was something she could learn, and learn well; and secondly, that very learning became the reward of her other exertions.
A bright sunny morning was the next day, only less cheerful than the eyes which it awakened: at an early hour the school room was all gaiety and bustle. ”

“ Some recommended a school to Mr. Dalton, others a governess, but, still more, a wife. The owner of Dalton Park was however not a man to be advised, at least, if people desired that their advice should be taken. An impatient shrug of the shoulder and a still deeper silence was the utmost reply that the ingenious insinuation, or even the more direct attack, ever produced. Every time Mr. Dalton went from home, it was universally decided that he was gone to be married: still, though there is an old proverb stating that what everybody says must be true, yet there is no rule without an exception. ”

“ I leant my face upon it; but I saw my nurse coming along as distinctly as if I had watched her. The coach stopped at the gate, the coachman gave a loud and hasty ring, my nurse hurried by without seeing me, another moment and I felt that she was lost to me for ever. I sprang forward, I flung my arms around her, I clung to her with the momentary strength of despair; I implored her to take me with her, I said I would work, beg for her, anything, if she would let me go and be her own child. ”

“ The two children suited such a morning, the golden sunbeams turned their light brown hair to gold, and their colour was as fresh as the flowers in the garden below: how different to the feverish flush on the cheek of their mother! The joyous beauty of inanimate nature but made the contrast sadder and deeper with suffering humanity. For once, the loveliness of external nature was unheeded by Mrs. Dalton—that loveliness on which she had never before gazed without a thrill of delight and gratitude. ”

“ Bennett had been waiting in the drawing-room above an hour for Miss Elphinstone. The friends affectionately embraced, and parted hastily; while Fanny sat down, and began to think over the events of the morning. She felt that she had done rightly, and, while her heart warmed at the thought of Emmeline's kindness, she could not endure the idea of dependence on her generosity—a generosity, too, unsanctioned by her father. Still a person of Mr. Elphinstone's position in society might serve her in many ways. ”

“ Emmeline had been so accustomed to have her wishes the study of all around that she could scarcely comprehend Fanny's supposing that there could be an objection raised to their gratification.
"I tell you what you may do for me," said Fanny at last. "I feel I can do no more here than a servant could do; I will ask you to aid me in procuring another situation. Could I benefit these children, I own Mr. Bennett's kindness would give him a paramount claim upon my exertions, but I cannot; they are incapable of even attachment." ”

“ As soon as she was recovered from the fatigue of moving, she begged to be placed near the window. The warmer hues of the sun-set had faded into one deep, rich, purple. Only on the furthest verge of the horizon floated a few white clouds, on which the crimson lingered to the last, all below was tranquil, as in that stillness which precedes sleep. Not a leaf stirred on the tree, and the evening song of the birds had ceased. The colours of the variegated shrubbery were growing more and more indistinct, and the grass of the meadow had already caught the shadow of might. ”

“ He soon reached the palm the old sailor had indicated, and there saw what had been the last employment of his more than kind protector—the grave was ready dug. Frank sat down by its side; and sobbed as if his heart were breaking; at length he tightened the ropes of the hammock till it closed, like a shroud, round the body: he turned over the frame, and it fell with a heavy sound into the deep grave. Frank paused for a moment, and then proceeded to throw in the mould heaped on either side. ”

“ Finding it the same, day after day, seemed to reconcile them more than all Eda could urge to the duty which they owed to their father, and the indulgence which they were to expect from his bride. At length the important day came on which Mr. and Mrs. Dalton were expected to arrive. It was with a heavy heart that Eda prepared to dress the children. It was the first time that they had laid aside their mourning since their mother's death. The affectionate and faithful creature felt almost as much in putting on the white frocks as she had done when they first wore their black ones. ”

“ But these were not the attractions of that solitary pond in my eyes. Its charm was a little island which seemed to float upon the dark water; one side of the pond was covered with ancient willow trees, whose long pendant branches drooped for ever over the same mournful mirror. One of these trees, by some natural caprice, shot out direct from the bank, a huge, straight bough that formed a complete bridge to the little island—at least so near that a rapid spring enabled me to gain it. There was only one tree on this miniature island—a curiously shaped but huge yew tree ”

“ One of the singularly brilliant butterflies, with which the island abounded, had for some time been skimming about on its white and azure wings; at last it settled on the sick man's face; Frank rose to drive the insect away, and saw with terror the change of countenance which had taken place; his exclamation brought Marion from the adjoining room, whither she had been sent, lest her movements might disturb Michael's sleep. "He is dead, Marion—dead! He will never look at or speak to us again! We have lost our only friend!" ”

“ The twins were uncommonly lovely children. India gave its lustre and its darkness to their large black eyes, and England its rosy fairness to their complexion; while a profusion of glossy auburn hair hung down in thick curls to the waist. They were alike, only Julia was taller, and had more colour than her sister, and on all occasions was the one who rather took the lead, and encouraged her shy and timid sister. It was a touching thing to witness the entire affection of the orphans. They were never apart; their little stools were always drawn close together ”