THE DISCARDED SON. CHAP. I. Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, SHAKESPEARE. THE Marchesa now made a proposal to Osmond that was truly agreeable, namely, as the attendance of a valet could not be dispensed with by him, to take Mactalla into his service, who, notwithstanding his sincere attachment to her family, wished to extend his rambles beyond her domain; and had besides conceived such a partiality for him, he having been the servant appointed to wait on him, that he felt solicitous to continue in that situation. This matter being arranged to the satisfaction of all parties, Osmond next availed himself of an opportunity that just at this juncture occurred of writing to England. His letter was long and explanatory. After entreating no time might be lost in writing to the different places where there was a chance of Delacour's touching on his return to Europe, he expressed his hopes of his parents having no objection to joining him as soon as possible in Italy, where every thing that filial love and duty could dictate for their happiness should be done by him. The Count, as the most likely method he thought he could have recourse to for the purpose, endeavoured to induce him to protract his stay at Acerenza, by assuring him he was positive, if he prolonged it, they should yet be able to discover who the fair stranger was. Osmond, however, remained inexorable to his entreaties; but at the VOL. II. A same time promised not only to visit him speedily but often, should he have it in his power. At an early hour one morning, ere yet the mists and exhalations of early day had disappeared, Osmond, having previously the preceding night taken a most affectionate leave of his noble and generous friends, quitted their hospitable mansion on horseback, which mode of travelling would better than any other, he conceived, enable him to gratify his curiosity with regard to the scenery he should travel through; and attended, besides his valet Mactalla, by a little French boy, the son of a deceased servant of the Marchesa's, for the purpose of guiding a sumpter mule, the road between the castle and Naples being extremely bare of accommodation for travellers. The Count gave him an introductory letter to the Duke D'Amalfi, and tried to force a pecuniary obligation on him but to no purpose....the manner in which he meant to prosecute his journey, united to the circumstance of his having received his purse back again from the pirate undiminished in its contents, making Osmond conceive it absolutely unnecessary for him to incur one of the kind. The Count, however, differing in opinion from him, and finding it impossible to prevail on him to do what he wished, privately dispatched a messenger with a letter to the Duke D'Amalfi, two days preceding his departure, in which, after expatiating on the too scrupulous delicacy of Osmond with regard to pecuniary matters, he entreated his excellency to have the goodness to appropriate the sum of twelve hundred pounds, for which he enclosed him an order on his banker in Naples, to the use of Osmond, in such a way as should induce him to believe it was the produce of whatever situation he might be appointed to. With a heavy heart Osmond quitted the castle of Acerenza. Next to his own immediate connexions, there were none for whom he entertained so high a regard as the amiable family he had parted from. He would indeed have considered himself ungrateful in the extreme, if he had not felt the parting with such friends, after the innumerable proofs of esteem and affection he had received from them. Gradually, however, in all probability, the sadness of his spirits would have yielded to the pleasing hopes he entertained of enjoying, and that at no very distant period, perhaps, again their society, but for the despair he felt of ever more beholding Miss Raymond, whose idea, an involuntary retrospect at the moment he was quitting it, of the hours he had passed at the castle, had awakened in his mind. As much as possible, however, he strove to banish the feelings this idea gave birth to; and at length the numerous objects of grandeur and beauty that, as the dawn brightened, swelled on his sight, began to second the efforts he made for the purpose. The sun was just beginning to gild its stately towers, when he paused to indulge himself with another and a last view of the castle of Acerenza. As he gazed upon its green groves and forests, gently agitated by the breath of morning, and resounding with the warblings of innumerable birds.... Delightful shades!" he involuntarily and mentally exclaimed, his heart swelling with gratitude and tenderness at the recollections they revived, • ever may you continue as now, the bowers of innocence and peace....ever may the illustrious owners of the noble pile you shadow....that mansion where the houseless child of want sues not in vain for admission....where the stranger finds a ready refuge....ever may they continue in possession of the happiness they so eminently merit.' Then with a lingering adieu to all the beloved and enchanting haunts in which he had passed so many de lightful hours, he rode on. For some time nothing could be more agreeable than his journey....the road, for a considerable way after leaving the castle, gently sloping and winding amongst cliffs covered with aromatic plants and flowers, and tufted with the most beautiful and fragrant shrubs, the exquisite sweetness of which was diffused around by a light breeze that swept over the cliffs; but as the sun ascended in the horizon, this by degrees dying away, the heat became intense, and the swarming insects that buzzed around troublesome in the ex treme. same time promised not only to visit him speedily but often, should he have it in his power. At an early hour one morning, ere yet the mists and exhalations of early day had disappeared, Osmond, having previously the preceding night taken a most affectionate leave of his noble and generous friends, quitted their hospitable mansion on horseback, which mode of travelling would better than any other, he conceived, enable him to gratify his curiosity with regard to the scenery he should travel through; and attended, besides his valet Mactalla, by a little French boy, the son of a deceased servant of the Marchesa's, for the purpose of guiding a sumpter mule, the road between the castle and Naples being extremely bare of accommodation for travellers. The Count gave him an introductory letter to the Duke D'Amalfi, and tried to force a pecuniary obliga tion on him; but to no purpose....the manner in which he meant to prosecute his journey, united to the circumstance of his having received his purse back again from the pirate undiminished in its contents, making Osmond conceive it absolutely unnecessary for him to incur one of the kind. The Count, however, differing in opinion from him, and finding it impossible to prevail on him to do what he wished, privately dispatched a messenger with a letter to the Duke D'Amalfi, two days preceding his departure, in which, after expatiating on the too scrupulous delicacy of Osmond with regard to pecuniary matters, he entreated his excellency to have the goodness to appropriate the sum of twelve hundred pounds, for which he enclosed him an order on his banker in Naples, to the use of Osmond, in such a way as should induce him to believe it was the produce of whatever situation he might be appointed to. With a heavy heart Osmond quitted the castle of Acerenza. Next to his own immediate connexions, there were none for whom he entertained so high a regard as the amiable family he had parted from. He would indeed have considered himself ungrateful in the extreme, if he had not felt the parting with such friends, after the innumerable proofs of esteem and affection he had received from them. Gradually, however, in all probability, the sadness of his spirits would have yielded to the pleasing hopes he entertained of enjoying, and that at no very distant period, perhaps, again their society, but for the despair he felt of ever more beholding Miss Raymond, whose idea, an involuntary retrospect at the moment he was quitting it, of the hours he had passed at the castle, had awakened in his mind. As much as possible, however, he strove to banish the feelings this idea gave birth to; and at length the numerous objects of grandeur and beauty that, as the dawn. brightened, swelled on his sight, began to second the efforts he made for the purpose. The sun was just beginning to gild its stately towers, when he paused to indulge himself with another and a last view of the castle of Acerenza. As he gazed upon its green groves and forests, gently agitated by the breath of morning, and resounding with the warblings of innumerable birds.... Delightful shades!' he involuntarily and mentally exclaimed, his heart swelling with gratitude and tenderness at the recollections they revived, ever may you continue as now, the bowers of innocence and peace....ever may the illustrious owners of the noble pile you shadow....that mansion where the houseless child of want sues not in vain for admission....where the stranger finds a ready refuge....ever may they continue in possession of the happiness they so eminently merit.' Then with a lingering adieu to all the beloved and enchanting haunts in which he had passed so many delightful hours, he rode on. For some time nothing could be more agreeable than his journey....the road, for a considerable way after leaving the castle, gently sloping and winding amongst cliffs covered with aromatic. plants and flowers, and tufted with the most beautiful and fragrant shrubs, the exquisite sweetness of which was diffused around by a light breeze that swept over the cliffs; but as the sun ascended in the horizon, this by degrees dying away, the heat became intense, and the swarming insects that buzzed around troublesome in the ex treme. |