A Simple Story

by Mrs. Inchbald

  CHAPTER X.

  Lord Margrave, black as this incident of his life must make him appearto the reader, still nursed in his conscience a reserve of speciousvirtue, to keep him in peace with himself. It was his design to plead,to argue, to implore, nay even to threaten, long before he put histhreats in force; and with this and the following reflection, hereconciled--as most bad men can--what he had done, not only to the laws ofhumanity, but to the laws of honour.

  "I have stolen a woman certainly;" said he to himself, "but I will makeher happier than she was in that humble state from which I have takenher. I will even," said he, "now that she is in my power, win heraffections--and when, in fondness, hereafter she hangs upon me, how willshe thank me for this little trial, through which I shall have conductedher to happiness!"

  Thus did he hush his remorse, while he waited impatiently at home, inexpectation of his prize.

  Half expiring with her sufferings, of body as well as of mind, abouttwelve o'clock the next night, after she was borne away, Matildaarrived; and felt her spirits revive by the superior sufferings thatawaited her--for her increasing terrors roused her from the death-likeweakness, brought on by fatigue.

  Lord Margrave's house, to which he had gone previous to this occasion,was situated in the lonely part of a well-known forest, not more thantwenty miles distant from London: this was an estate he rarely visited;and as he had but few servants here, it was a place which he supposedwould be less the object of suspicion in the present case, than anyother of his seats. To this, then, Lady Matilda was conveyed--a superbapartment allotted her--and one of his confidential females placed toattend upon her, with all respect, and assurances of safety.

  Matilda looked in this woman's face, and seeing she bore the features ofher sex, while her own knowledge reached none of those worthlesscharacters of which this person was a specimen, she imagined that noneof those could look as she did, and therefore found consolation in herseeming tenderness. She was even prevailed upon (by her promises to sitby her side and watch) to throw herself on the bed, and suffer sleep fora few minutes--for sleep to her was suffering; her fears giving birth todreams terrifying as her waking thoughts.

  More wearied than refreshed with her sleep, she rose at break of day,and refusing to admit of the change of an article in her dress, shepersisted to sit in the torn disordered habit in which she had beendragged away; nor would she taste a morsel, of all the delicacies thatwere prepared for her.

  Her attendant, for some time observed the most reverential awe; butfinding this had not the effect of gaining compliance with her advice,she varied her manners, and began by less submissive means to attempt aninfluence. She said her orders were to be obedient, while she herselfwas obeyed--at least in circumstances so material as the lady's health,of which she had the charge as a physician, and expected equalcompliance from her patient--food and fresh apparel she prescribed as theonly means to prevent death; and even threatened her invalid withsomething worse, a visit from Lord Margrave, if she continued obstinate.

  Now loathing her for the deception she had practised, more, than had shereceived her thus at first, Matilda hid her eyes from the sight of her;and when she was obliged to look, she shuddered.

  This female at length thought it her duty to wait upon her worthyemployer, and inform him the young lady in her trust would certainlydie, unless there were means employed to oblige her to take somenourishment.

  Lord Margrave, glad of an opportunity that might apologize for hisintrusion upon Lady Matilda, went with eagerness to her apartment, andthrowing himself at her feet, conjured her if she would save his life,as well as her own, to submit to be consoled.

  The extreme disgust and horror his presence inspired, caused Matilda fora moment to forget all her want of power, her want of health, herweakness; and rising from the place where she sat, she cried, with hervoice elevated,

  "Leave me, my Lord, or I'll die in spite of all your care; I'llinstantly expire with grief, if you do not leave me."

  Accustomed to the tears and reproaches of the sex--though not of thoselike her--he treated with contempt these menaces of anger, and seizingher hand, carried it to his lips.

  Enraged, and overwhelmed with sorrow at the affront, she cried,(forgetting every other friend she had,) "Oh! my dear Miss Woodley, whyare you not here to protect me?"

  "Nay," returned Lord Margrave, stifling a fit of laughter, "I shouldthink the old Priest would be as good a champion as the lady."

  The remembrance of Sandford, with all his kindness, now rushed soforcibly on Matilda's mind, that she shed a shower of tears, on thinkinghow much he felt, and would continue to feel, for her situation. Onceshe thought on Rushbrook, and thought even _he_ would be sorry for her.Of her father she did not think--she dared not--one single moment thatthought intruded, but she hurried it away--it was too bitter.

  It was now again quite night; and near to that hour when she came firstto the house. Lord Margrave, though at some distance from her, remainedstill in her apartment, while her female companion had stolen away. Hisinsensibility to her lamentations--the agitated looks he sometimes castupon her--her weak and defenceless state, all conspired to fill her mindwith horror.

  He saw her apprehensions in her distracted face, disheveled hair, andthe whole of her forlorn appearance--yet, notwithstanding his formerresolutions, he could not resist the desire of fulfilling all herdreadful expectations.

  He once again approached her, and again was going to seize her hand;when the report of a pistol, and a confused noise of persons assemblingtowards the apartment prevented him.

  He started--but looked more surprised than alarmed--her alarm wasaugmented; for she supposed this tumult was some experiment tointimidate her into submission. She wrung her hands, and lifted up hereyes to Heaven, in the last agony of despair, when one of LordMargrave's servants entered hastily and announced,

  "Lord Elmwood!"

  That moment her father entered--and with all the unrestrained fondness ofa parent, folded her in his arms.

  Her extreme, her excess of joy on such a meeting, and from such anguishrescued, was, in part, repressed by his awful presence. Theapprehensions to which she had been accustomed, kept her timid anddoubtful--she feared to speak, or clasp him in return for his embrace,but falling on her knees, clung round his legs, and bathed his feet withher tears.----These were the happiest moments that she had everknown--perhaps, the happiest _he_ had ever known.

  Lord Margrave, on whom Lord Elmwood had not even cast a look, now leftthe room; but as he quitted it, called out,

  "My Lord Elmwood, if you have any demands on me,"--

  The Earl interrupted him, "Would you make me an executioner? The lawshall be your only antagonist."

  Matilda, quite exhausted, yet upheld by the sudden transport she hadfelt, was led by her father out of this wretched dwelling--moredespicable than the beggar's hovel.