The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1907-07-12
'i'nE MYSTERIES OF
UDoLPHo,
A ROMANCE BY ANN RADCLIFFE

without deeply injuring his creditors.
and In the meantime 1 should be
very happy to remain at La Vallee.
No doubt you would, replied Mad.
atne Cheron, with a smile Of irony,
and shall no doubt content to this,
since 1 see how necessary tranquility
and retirement are to restore your
spirits. did not think you capable
Of so much duplicity. niece; when you
pleaded this excuse for remaining
here, 1 fooliShly believed it to be
just one, nor expected to have found
>th YOU 81 agreeable a companion a.
this M. LA Val, 1 forgoL his name
Emily could no longer endure these
cruel indignities, 1t was just one,
madam, said she: and now, indeed, i
feel more than ever the value of the
retirement 1 then solicited; and. if
the purport Of your visit is only to
add insult to the sorrows CT your
brothers child, she could we'll have
spared it.
l see that 1 have undertaken a very
troublesome task, said Madame Cher
on, colouring highly. II am sure,
madam, said Emily mildly, and en-
deavouring to restrain her tears, 1
am sure my rather did not mean it
should be such. have the happiness
to reflect, that my conduct under his
eye was such as he often delighted to
approve. 1t would be very painful to
me to disobey the sister of such par
ent, and If you believe the task will
really be SO troublesome, L must Ia
, ment that it is yours.
Well! niece, fine speaking signifies
little. am willing in consideration
Of my poor brother to overlook the i'm
propriety of your late conduct, and tC
try what your future will be.
Emily interrupted her, to beg sht
would explain what was the impro
, priety she alluded to.
Wha improperly! Why that of re
ceivir z the visits of d lover unknown
to J our fcmily, replied Madame Cher
on, not considering the impropriety o
which she had herself been guilty, il
'ne to the possibilit'
of conduct so erroneous.
A faint blush passed over Emily's
countenance; pride and anxiety strug
gled in her breast: and, till she reco
lected, that appearances did, in some
degree, justify her aunt's suspicious
she could not resolve to humble her.
self SO far as to enter into the defence
Of conduct, which had been so limo
cent and undersigned on her part. She
mentioned the manner Of Valancourt's IS
introduction to her father; the cir
cumstance Of his receiving the piStoi
shot, and of their afterwards travel
ling together; with the accidental
way, in which she had met him, on
the preceding evening. She owned he
had asked permission to address her
family.
And who is this young adventurer,
pray? said Madame Cheron, and what
are his pretensions? These he must
himself explain, madam, replied EN-
! lily. OF his family my father was not
ignorant, and believe it is unexcep-
tionable. She then proceeded to men
tion what she knew concerning it.
o. then, this it seems is younger
brother, exclaimed her aunt, and of
course beggar A very fine tale in,
deedl And so my brother took fancy
to this young man after only a few
days acquaintance!-but that was so
like him! In his youth he was always
taking these likes and dislikes, when
no other person saw any reason for
| them at all; nay, indeed, have often
thought the people he disapproved
were much more agreeable than those
| he admired;-but there is no account
| ing for tastes. ewas always so much
| influenced by peoples countenances;
now |, for my part; have no notion of
this, 1t is all ridiculous enthusiasm
What has a mans face to do with his
character? Can man Of good char
acter help having dsagreeable
face?-which last sentence Madame
Cheron delivered with the decisive air
Of person who cougratulates her.
self on having made grand discovery;
and believes the question to be unan-
swerably settled.
Emily, desirous Of concluding the
conversation, enquired il her aunt
would accept some refreshment, and
Madame Cheron accompanied her to
the chateau, but without desisting
from a topic, which she discussed
with SO much complacency to herself
and severity to her niece.
l am sorry to perceive, niece, said
she, in allusion to somewhat that
Emily had said, concerning physiog-
nomy, that you have great many OF
your fathers prejudices, and among