thou! to whom the world unknown
with all its shadowy shapes is shown;
who seest appall’d th’ unreal scene,
while fancy lifts the veil between;
ah, fear! ah, frantic fear!
i see, i see thee near!
i know thy hurry’d step, thy haggard eye!
like thee i start, like thee disordered fly!
collins.
adeline anxiously watched from her chamber window the sun set behind the distant hills, and the time of her departure draw nigh: it set with uncommon splendour, and threw a fiery gleam athwart the woods, and upon some scattered fragments of the ruins, which she could not gaze upon with indifference. “never, probably, again shall i see the sun sink below those hills,” said she, “or illumine this scene! where shall i be when next it sets — where this time to-morrow? sunk, perhaps, in misery!” she wept to the thought. “a few hours,” resumed adeline, “and the marquis will arrive — a few hours, and this abbey will be a scene of confusion and tumult: every eye will be in search of me, every recess will be explored.” these reflections inspired her with new terror, and increased her impatience to be gone.
twilight gradually came on, and she now thought it sufficiently dark to venture forth; but, before she went, she kneeled down and addressed herself to heaven. she implored support and protection, and committed herself to the care of the god of mercies. having done this, she quitted her chamber, and passed with cautious steps down the winding staircase. no person appeared, and she proceeded through the door of the tower into the forest. she looked around; the gloom of the evening obscured every object.
with a trembling heart she sought the path pointed out by peter, which led to the tomb; having found it, she passed along forlorn and terrified. often did she start as the breeze shook the light leaves of the trees, or as the bat fli[t]ted by, gamboling in the twilight; and often, as she looked back towards the abbey, thought she distinguished, amid the deepening gloom, the figures of men having proceeded some way, she suddenly heard the feet of horses, and soon after a sound of voices, among which she distinguished that of the marquis: they seemed to come from the quarter she was approaching, and evidently advanced. terror for some minutes arrested her steps; she stood in a state of dreadful hesitation: to proceed was to run into the hands of the marquis; to return was to fall into the power of la motte.
after remaining for some time uncertain whither to fly, the sounds suddenly took a different direction, and wheeled towards the abbey. adeline had a short cessation of terror. she now understood that the marquis had passed this spot only in his way to the abbey, and she hastened to secrete herself in the ruin. at length, after much difficulty, she reached it, the deep shades almost concealing it from her search. she paused at the entrance, awed by the solemnity that reigned within, and the utter darkness of the place; at length she determined to watch without till peter should arrive. “if any person approaches,” said she, “i can hear them before they can see me, and i can then secrete myself in the cell.”
she leaned against a fragment of the tomb in trembling expectation, and, as she listened, no found broke the silence of the hour. the state of her mind can only be imagined, by considering that upon the present time turned the crisis of her fate. “they have now,” thought she, “discovered my flight; even now they are seeking me in every part of the abbey. i hear their dreadful voices call me; i see their eager looks.” the power of imagination almost overcame her. while she yet looked around, she saw lights moving at a distance; sometimes they glimmered between the trees, and sometimes they totally disappeared.
they seemed to be in a direction with the abbey; and she now remembered, that in the morning she had seen a part of the fabric through an opening in the forest. she had, therefore, no doubt that the lights she saw proceeded from people in search of her; who, she feared, not finding her at the abbey, might direct their steps towards the tomb. her place of refuge now seemed too near her enemies to be safe, and she would have fled to a more distant part of the forest, but recollected that peter would not know where to find her.
while these thoughts passed over her mind, she heard distant voices in the wind, and was hastening to conceal herself in the cell, when she observed the lights suddenly disappear. all was soon after hushed in silence and darkness, yet she endeavoured to find the way to the cell. she remembered the situation of the outer door and of the passage, and having passed these she unclosed the door of the cell. within it was utterly dark. she trembled violently, but entered; and, having felt about the walls, at length seated herself on a projection of stone.
she here again addressed herself to heaven, and endeavoured to re-animate her spirits till peter should arrive. above half an hour elapsed in this gloomy recess, and no sound foretold his approach. her spirits sunk, she feared some part of their plan was discovered, or interrupted, and that he was detained by la motte. this conviction operated sometimes so strongly upon her fears, as to urge her to quit the cell alone, and seek in flight her only chance of escape.
while this design was fluctuating in her mind, she distinguished through the grate above a clattering of hoofs. the noise approached, and at length stopped at the tomb. in the succeeding moment she heard three strokes of a whip; her heart beat, and for some moments her agitation was such, that she made no effort to quit the cell. the strokes were repeated: she now roused her spirits, and, stepping forward, ascended to the forest. she called “peter;” for the deep gloom would not permit her to distinguish either man or horse. she was quickly answered, “hush! ma’amselle, our voices will betray us.”
they mounted and rode off as fast as the darkness would permit. adeline’s heart revived at every step they took. she inquired what had passed at the abbey, and how he had contrived to get away. “speak softly, ma’amselle; you’ll know all by and bye, but i can’t tell you now.” he had scarcely spoke ere they saw lights move along at a distance; and coming now to a more open part of the forest, he sat off on a full gallop, and continued the pace till the horse could hold it no longer. they looked back, and no lights appearing, adeline’s terror subsided. she inquired again what had passed at the abbey, when her flight was discovered. “you may speak without fear of being heard,” said she, “we are gone beyond their reach i hope.”
“why, ma’amselle,” said he, “you had not been gone long before the marquis arrived, and monsieur la motte then found out you was fled. upon this a great rout there was, and he talked a great deal with the marquis.”
“speak louder,” said adeline, “i cannot hear you.”
“i will, ma’amselle.” —
“oh! heavens!” interrupted adeline, what voice is this? it is not peter’s. for god’s sake tell me who you are, and whither i am going?”
“you’ll know that soon enough, young lady,” answered the stranger, for it was indeed not peter; “i am taking “you where my master ordered.” adeline, not doubting he was the marquis’s servant, attempted to leap to the ground, but the man, dismounting, bound her to the horse. one feeble ray of hope at length beamed upon her mind: she endeavoured to soften the man to pity, and pleaded with all the genuine eloquence of distress; but he understood his interest too well to yield even for a moment to the compassion, which, in spite of himself, her artless supplication inspired.
she now resigned herself to despair, and, in passive silence, submitted to her fate. they continued thus to travel, till a storm of rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, drove them to the covert of a thick grove. the man believed this a safe situation, and adeline was now too careless of life to attempt convincing him of his error. the storm was violent and long, but as soon as it abated they set off on full gallop, and having continued to travel for about two hours, they came to the borders of the forest, and, soon after, to a high lonely wall, which adeline could just distinguish by the moon-light, which now streamed through the parting clouds.
here they stopped; the man dismounted, and having opened a small door in the wall, he unbound adeline, who shrieked, though involuntarily and in vain, as he took her from the horse. the door opened upon a narrow passage, dimly lighted by a lamp, which hung at the farther end. he led her on; they came to another door; it opened and disclosed a magnificent saloon, splendidly illuminated, and fitted up in the most airy and elegant taste.
the walls were painted in fresco, representing scenes from ovid, and hung above with silk drawn up in festoons and richly fringed. the sofas were of a silk to suit the hangings. from the centre of the ceiling, which exhibited a scene from the armida of tasso, descended a silver lamp of etruscan form: it diffused a blaze of light, that, reflected from large pier glasses, completely illuminated the saloon. busts of horace, ovid, anacreon, tibullus, and petronius arbiter, adorned the recesses, and stands of flowers, placed in etruscan vases, breathed the most delicious perfume. in the middle of the apartment stood a small table, spread with a collation of fruits, ices, and liquors. no person appeared. the whole seemed the works of enchantment, and rather resembled the palace of a fairy than any thing of human conformation.
adeline was astonished, and inquired where she was, but the man refused to answer her questions, and, having desired her to take some refreshment, left her. she walked to the windows, from which a gleam of moon-light discovered to her an extensive garden, where groves and lawns, and water glittering in the moon-beam, composed a scenery of varied and romantic beauty. “what can this mean!” said she: “is this a charm to lure me to destruction?” she endeavoured, with a hope of escaping; to open the windows, but they were all fastened; she next attempted several doors, and found them also secured.
perceiving all chance of escape was removed, she remained for some time given up to sorrow and reflection; but was at length drawn from her reverie by the notes of soft music, breathing such dulcet and entrancing sounds, as suspended grief, and waked the soul to tenderness and pensive pleasure. adeline listened in surprize, and insensibly became soothed and interested; a tender melancholy stole upon her heart, and subdued every harsher feeling: but the moment the strain ceased, the enchantment dissolved, and she returned to a sense of her situation.
again the music sounded — “music such as charmeth sleep” — and again she gradually yielded to its sweet magic. a female voice, accompanied by a lute, a hautboy, and a few other instruments, now gradually swelled into a tone so exquisite, as raised attention into ecstacy. it sunk by degrees, and touched a few simple notes with pathetic softness, when the measure was suddenly changed, and in a gay and airy melody adeline distinguished the following words:
song.
life’s a varied, bright illusion, joy and sorrow — light and shade; turn from sorrow’s dark suffusion, catch the pleasures ere they fade.
fancy paints with hues unreal, smile of bliss, and sorrow’s mood; if they both are but ideal, why reject the seeming good?
hence! no more! ’tis wisdom calls ye, bids ye court time’s present aid; the future trust not — hope enthrals ye, “catch the pleasures ere they fade.”
the music ceased, but the sound still vibrated on her imagination, and she was sunk in the pleasing languor they had inspired, when the door opened, and the marquis de montalt appeared. he approached the sofa where adeline sat, and addressed her, but she heard not his voice — she had fainted. he endeavoured to recover her, and at length succeeded; but when she unclosed her eyes, and again beheld him, she relapsed into a state of insensibility, and having in vain tried various methods to restore her, he was obliged to call assistance. two young women entered, and, when she began to revive, he left them to prepare her for his re-appearance. when adeline perceived that the marquis was gone, and that she was in the care of women, her spirits gradually returned; she looked at her attendants, and was surprised to see so much elegance and beauty.
some endeavour she made to interest their pity, but they seemed wholly insensible to her distress, and began to talk of the marquis in terms of the highest admiration. they assured her it would be her own fault if she was not happy, and advised her to appear so in his presence. it was with the utmost difficulty that adeline forebore to express the disdain which was rising to her lips, and that she listened to their discourse in silence. but she saw the inconvenience and fruitlessness of opposition, and she commanded her feelings.
they were thus proceeding in their praises of the marquis, when he himself appeared, and, waving his hand, they immediately quitted the apartment. adeline beheld him with a kind of mute despair, while he approached and took her hand, which she hastily withdrew, and turning from him with a look of unutterable distress, burst into tears. he was for some time silent, and appeared softened by her anguish. but again approaching, and addressing her in a gentle voice, he entreated her pardon for the step, which despair, and, as he called it, love had prompted. she was too much absorbed in grief to reply, till he solicited a return of his love, when her sorrow yielded to indignation, and she reproached him with his conduct. he pleaded that he had long loved and sought her upon honourable terms, and his offer of those terms he began to repeat, but, raising his eyes towards adeline, he saw in her looks the contempt which he was conscious he deserved.
for a moment he was confused, and seemed to understand both that his plan was discovered and his person despised; but soon resuming his usual command of feature, he again pressed his suit, and solicited her love. a little reflection shewed adeline the danger of exasperating his pride, by an avowal of the contempt which his pretended offer of marriage excited; and she thought it not improper, upon an occasion in which the honour and peace of her life was concerned, to yield somewhat to the policy of dissimulation. she saw that her only chance of escaping his designs depended upon delaying them, and she now wished him to believe her ignorant that the marchioness was living, and that his offers were delusive.
he observed her pause, and, in the eagerness to turn her hesitation to his advantage, renewed his proposal with increased vehemence. — “to-morrow shall unite us, lovely adeline; tomorrow you shall consent to become the marchioness de montalt. you will then return my love and” —
“you must first deserve my esteem, my lord.”
“i will — i do deserve it. are you not now in my power, and do i not forbear to take advantage of your situation? do i not make you the most honourable proposals?” — adeline shuddered: “if you wish i should esteem you, my lord, endeavour, if possible, to make me forget by what means i came into your power; if your views are, indeed, honourable, prove them so by releasing me from my confinement.”
“can you then wish, lovely adeline, to fly from him who adores you?” replied the marquis, with a studied air of tenderness. “why will you exact so severe a proof of my disinterestedness, a disinterestedness which is not consistent with love? no, charming adeline, let me at least have the pleasure of beholding you, till the bonds of the church shall remove every obstacle to my love. to-morrow” —
adeline saw the danger to which she was now exposed, and interrupted him. “deserve my esteem, sir, and then you will obtain it: as a first step towards which, liberate me from a confinement that obliges me to look on you only with terror and aversion. how can i believe your professions of love, while you shew that you have no interest in my happiness?” thus did adeline, to whom the arts and the practice of dissimulation were hitherto equally unknown, condescend to make use of them in disguising her indignation and contempt. but though these arts were adopted only for the purpose of self-preservation, she used them with reluctance, and almost with abhorrence; for her mind was habitually impregnated with the love of virtue, in thought, word, and action, and, while her end in using them was certainly good, she scarcely thought that end could justify the means.
the marquis persisted in his sophistry. “can you doubt the reality of that love, which, to obtain you, has urged me to risque your displeasure? but have i not consulted your happiness, even in the very conduct which you condemn? i have removed you from a solitary and desolate ruin to a gay and splendid villa, where every luxury is at your command, and where every person shall be obedient to your wishes.”
“my first wish is to go hence,” said adeline; “i entreat, i conjure you, my lord, no longer to detain me. i am a friendless and wretched orphan, exposed to many evils, and, i fear, abandoned to misfortune: i do not wish to be rude; but allow me to say, that no misery can exceed that i shall feel in remaining here, or, indeed, in being any where pursued by the offers you make me!” adeline had now forgot her policy: tears prevented her from proceeding, and she turned away her face to hide her emotion.
“by heaven! adeline, you do me wrong,” said the marquis, rising from his seat, and seizing her hand; “i love, i adore you; yet you doubt my passion, and are insensible to my vows. every pleasure possible to be enjoyed within these walls you shall partake, but beyond them you shall not go.” she disengaged her hand, and in silent anguish walked to a distant part of the saloon; deep sighs burst from her heart, and, almost fainting, she leaned on a window-frame for support.
the marquis followed her; “why thus obstinately persist in refusing to be happy?” said he; “recollect the proposal i have made you, and accept it, while it is yet in your power. to-morrow a priest shall join our hands — surely, being, as you are, in my power, it must be your interest to consent to this?” adeline could answer only by tears; she despaired of softening his heart to pity, and feared to exasperate his pride by disdain. he now led her, and she suffered him, to a seat near the banquet, at which he pressed her to partake of a variety of confectionaries, particularly of some liquors, of which he himself drank freely: adeline accepted only of a peach.
and now the marquis, who interpreted her silence into a secret compliance with his proposal, resumed all his gaiety and spirit, while the long and ardent regards he bestowed on adeline, overcame her with confusion and indignation. in the midst of the banquet, soft music again sounded the most tender and impassioned airs; but its effect on adeline was now lost, her mind being too much embarrassed and distressed by the presence of the marquis, to admit even the soothings of harmony. a song was now heard, written with that sort of impotent art, by which some voluptuous poets believe they can at once conceal and recommend the principles of vice. adeline received it with contempt and displeasure, and the marquis, perceiving its effect, presently made a sign for another composition, which, adding the force of poetry to the charms of music, might withdraw her mind from the present scene, and enchant it in sweet delirium.
song of a spirit.
in the sightless air i dwell, on the sloping sun-beams play; delve the cavern’s inmost cell, where never yet did day-light stray:
dive beneath the green sea waves, and gambol in the briny deeps; skim ev’ry shore that neptune laves, from lapland’s plains to india’s steeps.
oft i mount with rapid force above the wide earth’s shadowy zone; follow the day-star’s flaming course through realms of space to thought unknown:
and listen oft celestial sounds that swell the air unheard of men, as i watch my nightly rounds o’er woody steep, and silent glen.
under the shade of waving trees, on the green bank of fountain clear, at pensive eve i sit at ease, while dying music murmurs near.
and oft, on point of airy clift, that hangs upon the western main, i watch the gay tints passing swift, and twilight veil the liquid plain.
then, when the breeze has sunk away, and ocean scarce is heard to lave, for me the sea-nymphs softly play their dulcet shells beneath the wave.
their dulcet shells! i hear them now, slow swells the strain upon mine ear; now faintly falls — now warbles low, till rapture melts into a tear.
the ray that silvers o’er the dew, and trembles through the leafy shade, and tints the scene with softer hue, calls me to rove the lonely glade;
or hie me to some ruin’d tower, faintly shewn by moon-light gleam, where the lone wanderer owns my power in shadows dire that substance seem;
in thrilling sounds that murmur woe, and pausing silence make more dread; in music breathing from below sad solemn strains, that wake the dead.
unseen i move — unknown am fear’d! fancy’s wildest dreams i weave; and oft by bards my voice is heard to die along the gales of eve.
when the voice ceased, a mournful strain, played with exquisite expression, sounded from a distant horn; sometimes the notes floated on the air in soft undulations — now they swelled into full and sweeping melody, and now died faintly into silence: when again they rose and trembled in sounds so sweetly tender, as drew tears from adeline, and exclamations of rapture from the marquis; he threw his arm round her, and would have pressed her towards him, but she liberated herself from his embrace, and with a look, on which was impressed the firm dignity of virtue, yet touched with sorrow, she awed him to forbearance. conscious of a superiority, which he was ashamed to acknowledge, and endeavouring to despise the influence which he could not resist, he stood for a moment the slave of virtue, though the votary of vice. soon, however, he recovered his confidence, and began to plead his love; when adeline, no longer animated by the spirit she had lately shewn, and sinking beneath the languor and fatigue which the various and violent agitations of her mind produced, entreated he would leave her to repose.
the paleness of her countenance, and the tremulous tone of her voice, were too expressive to be misunderstood; and the marquis, bidding her remember to-morrow, with some hesitation, withdrew. the moment she was alone, she yielded to the bursting anguish of her heart, and was so absorbed in grief, that it was some time before she perceived she was in the presence of the young women, who had lately attended her, and had entered the saloon soon after the marquis quitted it: they came to conduct her to her chamber. she followed them for some time in silence, till, prompted by desperation, she again endeavoured to awaken their compassion: but again the praises of the marquis were repeated, and perceiving that all attempts to interest them in her favour were in vain, she dismissed them. she secured the door through which they had departed, and then, in the languid hope of discovering some means of escape, she surveyed her chamber. the airy elegance with which it was fitted up, and the luxurious accommodations with which it abounded, seemed designed to fascinate the imagination, and to seduce the heart. the hangings were of straw-coloured silk, adorned with a variety of landscapes and historical paintings, the subjects of which partook of the voluptuous character of the owner; the chimney-piece, of parian marble, was ornamented with several reposing figures from the antique. the bed was of silk the colour of the hangings, richly fringed with purple and silver, and the head made in form of a canopy. the steps, which were placed near the bed to assist in ascending it, were supported by cupids, apparently of solid silver. china vases, filled with persume, stood in several of the recesses, upon stands of the same structure as the toilet, which was magnificent, and ornamented with a variety of trinkets.
adeline threw a transient look upon these various objects, and proceeded to examine the windows, which descended to the floor, and opened into balconies towards the garden she had seen from the saloon. they were now fastened, and her efforts to move them were ineffectual; at length she gave up the attempt. a door next attracted her notice, which she found was not fastened; it opened upon a dressing closet, to which she descended by a few steps: two windows appeared, she hastened towards them; one refused to yield, but her heart beat with sudden joy when the other opened to her touch.
in the transport of the moment, she forgot that its distance from the ground might yet deny the escape she meditated. she returned to lock the door of the closet, to prevent a surprize, which, however, was unnecessary, that of the bedroom being already secured. she now looked out from the window; the garden lay before her, and she perceived that the window, which descended to the floor, was so near the ground, that she might jump from it with ease: almost in the moment she perceived this, she sprang forward and alighted safely in an extensive garden, resembling more an english pleasure ground, than a series of french parterres.
thence she had little doubt of escaping, either by some broken fence, or low part of the wall; she tripped lightly along, for hope played round her heart. the clouds of the late storm were now dispersed, and the moon-light, which slept on the lawns and spangled the flowerets, yet heavy with rain-drops, afforded her a distinct view of the surrounding scenery: she followed the direction of the high wall that adjoined the chateau, till it was concealed from her sight by a thick wilderness, so entangled with boughs and obscured by darkness, that she feared, to enter, and turned aside into a walk on the right; it conducted her to the margin of a lake overhung with lofty trees.
the moon-beams dancing upon the waters, that with gentle undulation played along the shore, exhibited a scene of tranquil beauty, which would have soothed an heart less agitated than was that of adeline: she sighed as she transiently surveyed it, and passed hastily on in search of the garden wall, from which she had now strayed a considerable way. after wandering for some time through alleys and over lawns, without meeting with any thing like a boundary to the grounds, she again found herself at the lake, and now traversed its border with the footsteps of despair:— tears rolled down her cheeks. the scene around exhibited only images of peace and delight; every object seemed to repose; not a breath waved the foliage, not a sound stole through the air: it was in her bosom only that tumult and distress prevailed. she still pursued the windings of the shore, till an opening in the woods conducted her up a gentle ascent: the path now wound along the side of a hill, where the gloom was so deep, that it was with some difficulty she found her way: suddenly, however, the avenue opened to a lofty grove, and she perceived a light issue from a recess at some distance.
she paused, and her first impulse was to retreat, but listening and hearing no sound, a faint hope beamed upon her mind, that the person to whom the light belonged, might be won to favour her escape. she advanced, with trembling and cautious steps, towards the recess, that she might secretly observe the person, before she ventured to enter it. her emotion increased as she approached, and having reached the bower, she beheld, through an open window, the marquis, reclining on a sofa, near which stood a table, covered with fruit and wine. he was alone, and his countenance was flushed with drinking.
while she gazed, fixed to the spot by terror, he looked up towards the casement; the light gleamed full upon her face, but she stayed not to learn whether he had observed her, for, with the swiftness of sound, she left the place and ran, without knowing whether she was pursued. having gone a considerable way, fatigue, at length, compelled her to stop, and she threw herself upon the turf, almost fainting with fear and languor. she knew if the marquis detected her in an attempt to escape, he would, probably, burst the bounds which he had hitherto prescribed to himself, and that she had the most dreadful evils to expect. the palpitations of terror were so strong, that she could with difficulty breathe.
she watched and listened in trembling expectation, but no form met her eye, no sound her ear; in this state she remained a considerable time. she wept, and the tears she shed relieved her oppressed heart. “o my father!” said she, “why did you abandon your child? if you knew the dangers to which you have exposed her, you would, surely, pity and relieve her. alas! shall i never find a friend; am i destined still to trust and be deceived? — peter too, could he be treacherous?” she wept again, and then returned to a sense of her present danger, and to a consideration of the means of escaping it — but no means appeared.
to her imagination the grounds were boundless; she had wandered from lawn to lawn, and from grove to grove, without perceiving any termination to the place; the garden wall she could not find, but she resolved neither to return to the chateau, nor to relinquish her search. as she was rising to depart, she perceived a shadow move along at some distance; she stood still to observe it. it slowly advanced and then disappeared, but presently she saw a person emerge from the gloom, and approach the spot where she stood. she had no doubt that the marquis had observed her, and she ran with all possible speed to the shade of some woods on the left. footsteps pursued her, and she heard her name repeated, while she in vain endeavoured to quicken her pace.
suddenly the sound of pursuit turned, and sunk away in a different direction: she paused to take breath; she looked around and no person appeared. she now proceeded slowly along the avenue, and had almost reached its termination, when she saw the same figure emerge from the woods and dart across the avenue; it instantly pursued her and approached. a voice called her, but she was gone beyond its reach, for she had sunk senseless upon the ground: it was long before she revived, when she did, she found herself in the arms of a stranger, and made an effort to disengage herself.
“fear nothing, lovely adeline,” said he, “fear nothing: you are in the arms of a friend, who will encounter any hazard for your sake; who will protect you with his life.” he pressed her gently to his heart. “have you then forgot me?” continued he. she looked earnestly at him, and was now convinced that it was theodore who spoke. joy was her first emotion; but, recollecting his former abrupt departure, at a time so critical to her safety, and that he was the friend of the marquis, a thousand mingled sensations struggled in her breast, and overwhelmed her with mistrust, apprehension, and disappointment.
theodore raised her from the ground, and while he yet supported her, “let us immediately fly from this place,” said he; “a carriage waits to receive us; it shall go wherever you direct, and convey you to your friends.” this last sentence touched her heart: “alas, i have no friends!” said she, “nor do i know whither to go.” theodore gently pressed her hand between his, and, in a voice of the softest compassion, said, “my friends then shall be yours; suffer me to lead you to them. but i am in agony while you remain in this place; let us hasten to quit it.” adeline was going to reply, when voices were heard among the trees, and theodore, supporting her with his arm, hurried her along the avenue: they continued their flight till adeline, panting for breath, could go no farther.
having paused a while, and heard no footsteps in pursuit, they renewed their course: theodore knew that they were now not far from the garden wall; but he was also aware, that in the intermediate space several paths wound from remote parts of the grounds into the walk he was to pass, from whence the marquis’s people might issue and intercept him. he, however, concealed his apprehensions from adeline, and endeavoured to soothe and support her spirits.
at length they reached the wall, and theodore was leading her towards a low part of it, near which stood the carriage, when again they heard voices in the air. adeline’s spirits and strength were nearly exhausted, but she made a last effort to proceed, and she now saw the ladder at some distance by which theodore had descended to the garden. “exert yourself yet a little longer,” said he, “and you will be in safety.” he held the ladder while she ascended; the top of the wall was broad and level, and adeline, having reached it, remained there till theodore followed and drew the ladder to the other side.
when they had descended, the carriage appeared in waiting, but without the driver. theodore feared to call, lest his voice should betray him; he, therefore, put adeline into the carriage, and went himself in search of the postillion, whom he found asleep under a tree at some distance; having awakened him, they returned to the vehicle, which soon drove furiously away. adeline did not yet dare to believe herself safe, but, after proceeding a considerable time without interruption, joy burst upon her heart, and she thanked her deliverer in terms of the warmest gratitude. the sympathy expressed in the tone of his voice and manner, proved that his happiness, on this occasion, almost equalled her own.
as reflection gradually stole upon her mind, anxiety superseded joy: in the tumult of the late moments, she thought only of escape, but the circumstances of her present situation now appeared to her, and she became silent and pensive: she had no friends to whom she could fly, and was going with a young chevalier, almost a stranger to her, she knew not whither. she remembered how often she had been deceived and betrayed where she trusted most, and her spirits sunk: she remembered also the former attention which theodore had shewn her, and dreaded lest his conduct might be prompted by a selfish passion. she saw this to be possible, but she disdained to believe it probable, and felt that nothing could give her greater pain than to doubt the integrity of theodore.
he interrupted her reverie, by recurring to her late situation at the abbey. “you would be much surprised,” said he, “and, i fear, offended, that i did not attend my appointment at the abbey, after the alarming hints i had given you in our last interview. that circumstance has, perhaps, injured me in your esteem, if, indeed, i was ever so happy as to possess it: but my designs were over-ruled by those of the marquis de montalt; and i think i may venture to assert, that my distress upon this occasion was, at least, equal to your apprehensions.”
adeline said, “she had been much alarmed by the hints he had given her, and by his failing to afford farther information, concerning the subject of her danger; and” — she checked the sentence that hung upon her lips, for she perceived that she was unwarily betraying the interest he held in her heart. there were a few moments of silence, and neither party seemed perfectly at ease. theodore, at length, renewed the conversation: “suffer me to acquaint you,” said he, “with the circumstances that withheld me from the interview i solicited; i am anxious to exculpate myself.” without waiting her reply, he proceeded to inform her, that the marquis had, by some inexplicable means, learned or suspected the subject of their last conversation, and, perceiving his designs were in danger of being counteracted, had taken effectual means to prevent her obtaining farther intelligence of them. adeline immediately recollected that theodore and herself had been seen in the forest by la motte, who had, no doubt, suspected their growing intimacy, and had taken care to inform the marquis how likely he was to find a rival in his friend.
“on the day following that, on which i last saw you,” said theodore, “the marquis, who is my colonel, commanded me to prepare to attend my regiment, and appointed the following morning for my journey. this sudden order gave me some surprize, but i was not long in doubt concerning the motive for it: a servant of the marquis, who had been long attached to me, entered my room soon after i had left his lord, and expressing concern at my abrupt departure, dropped some hints respecting it, which excited my surprize. i inquired farther, and was confirmed in the suspicions i had for some time entertained of the marquis’s designs upon you.
“jacques farther informed me, that our late interview had been noticed and communicated to the marquis. his information had been obtained from a fellow servant, and it alarmed me so much, that i engaged him to send me intelligence from time to time, concerning the proceedings of the marquis. i now looked forward to the evening which would bring me again to your presence with increased impatience: but the ingenuity of the marquis effectually counteracted my endeavours and wishes; he had made an engagement to pass the day at the villa of a nobleman some leagues distant, and, notwithstanding all the excuses i could offer, i was obliged to attend him. thus compelled to obey, i passed a day of more agitation and anxiety than i had ever before experienced. it was midnight before we returned to the marquis’s chateau. i arose early in the morning to commence my journey, and resolved to seek an interview with you before i left the province.
“when i entered the breakfast room, i was much surprized to find the marquis there already, who, commending the beauty of the morning, declared his intention of accompanying me as far as chineau. thus unexpectedly deprived of my last hope, my countenance, i believe, expressed what i felt, for the scrutinizing eye of the marquis instantly changed from seeming carelessness to displeasure. the distance from chineau to the abbey was, at least, twelve leagues; yet i had once some intention of returning from thence, when the marquis should leave me, till i recollected the very remote chance there would even then be of seeing you alone, and also, that if i was observed by la motte, it would awaken all his suspicions, and caution him against any future plan i might see it expedient to attempt: i, therefore, proceeded to join my regiment.
“jacques sent me frequent accounts of the operations of the marquis, but his manner of relating them was so very confused, that they only served to perplex and distress me. his last letter, however, alarmed me so much, that my residence in quarters became intolerable; and, as i found it impossible to obtain leave of absence, i secretly left the regiment, and concealed myself in a cottage about a mile from the chateau, that i might obtain the earliest intelligence of the marquis’s plans. jacques brought me daily information, and, at last, an account of the horrible plot which was laid for the following night.
“i saw little probability of warning you of your danger. if i ventured near the abbey, la motte might discover me, and frustrate every attempt on my part to save you: yet i determined to encounter this risk for the chance of seeing you, and towards evening i was preparing to set out for the forest, when jacques arrived and informed me, that you was to be brought to the chateau. my plan was thus rendered less difficult. i learned also, that the marquis, by means of those refinements in luxury, with which he is but too well acquainted, designed, now that his apprehension of losing you was no more, to seduce you to his wishes, and impose upon you by a fictitious marriage. having obtained information concerning the situation of the room allotted you, i ordered a chaise to be in waiting, and with a design of scaling your window, and conducting you thence, i entered the garden at midnight.”
theodore having ceased to speak, “i know not how words can express my sense of the obligations i owe you,” said adeline, “or my gratitude for your generosity.”
“ah! call it not generosity,” he replied, “it was love.” he paused. adeline was silent. after some moments of expressive emotion, he resumed; “but pardon this abrupt declaration; yet why do i call it abrupt, since my actions have already disclosed what my lips have never, till this instant, ventured to acknowledge.” he paused again. adeline was still silent. “yet do me the justice to believe, that i am sensible of the impropriety of pleading my love at present, and have been surprized into this confession. i promise also to forbear from a renewal of the subject, till you are placed in a situation, where you may freely accept or refuse, the sincere regards i offer you. if i could, however, now be certain that i possess your esteem, it would relieve me from much anxiety.”
adeline felt surprized that he should doubt her esteem for him, after the signal and generous service he had rendered her; but she was not yet acquainted with the timidity of love. “do you then,” said she, in a tremulous voice, believe me ungrateful? it is impossible i can consider your friendly interference in my behalf without esteeming you.” theodore immediately took her hand and pressed it to his lips in silence. they were both too much agitated to converse, and continued to travel for some miles without exchanging a word.
