The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 2
Page 23
CONCLUSION.
Our tale is finished. We have seen the curse, pronounced long ages ago,fulfilled on a whole race! Each in the flower of her age, each in thepride of his strength, has been remorselessly cut down by Death.
First the accomplished Edith, burned on the night of the wedding-ball ofher brother; next the fair-haired Florence, broken-hearted at her younglover's death; then Frank, on the field of glory; then the terribledeath of the Captain shocked us, and the self-wrought doom of theunhappy Edward L'Estrange, the hero of the book,--the unhappy,ill-starred man, who should have lived and died, as his happier brotherthe Earl lived and died. Our heroine, Ellen, faithful to death,fulfilled her promise, Ruth-like, to go where her husband went; to lodgewhere he lodged; his people became her people, and her God his! When hedied she died, and nought parted them--not even death! We cannot dismissour favourite without a few passing words on her character.
In early youth, too much tinged with romance, she committed a greatfault, for we must not shut our eyes to the fact,--she most decidedlyjilted her first lover for the young Earl. Our readers may excuse her ifthey like. We might excuse her,--but she never excused herself! True shereally loved him not, and the Earl was her first true love; but shelearned a bitter lesson, how wrong it was to encourage what she couldnot reciprocate; how wrong to lead on a lover to distraction! Ah! heartsare brittle ware, and easily broken! Ellen then committed _one_ greatfault!--but her whole life suffered for it; never was sin more bitterlyvisited. Our readers, however indulgently they may view her error, mustmark the fatal consequences one swerve from TRUTH entailed on herselfand all connected with her.
And now we need only add that the Earl and Countess were laid side byside, followed to the tomb by the whole surrounding neighbourhood--highand low, rich and poor; no eye unwet; no voice but praised the dead, andsympathized with the poor little orphan Countess.
Another orphan sympathized and wept with Augusta,--Caroline Lennox, whohad safely returned home.
We now leave the story to our readers' acceptance, and conclude with thebest wish--that from these incidents the young may learn to follow thegood, and to forsake the wrong. That it is better to live, and die, likethe Earl and his Countess, than like Captain de Vere, or the unhappyEdward L'Estrange!