contemn me, when one foot is already in the grave." Conrad's brow wore a deep frown while Edward was speaking, until the concluding sentence, when a smile of pity illumined his countenance, and, affectionately pressing his hand, he said, "Believe me, Edward, as freely as I tendered my forgiveness, before I was acquainted with the extent of your fault, the same I give it now, hoping, however, that my friends are perfectly satisfied I am clear of all blame." As he spoke, he turned to Mr. Yorke and Mr. Camden, who were both in the room. "But, at the same time that I thank for this candid avowal, which, I trust, was you dictated by your wish for my happiness, I am anxious you should be aware, that some of the circumstances you mention were already known to me, and I should have demanded a full explanation ere this, had your health permitted me to do so.' Conrad immediately received the warmest assurances from his friends, of their conviction of his entire exculpation, and, after some more conversation on this and other topics, he took a kind leave of the misguided Edward, and returned home with Mr. Camden. It was then, in the seclusion of his own home, that the old man's heart overflowed; that his feelings found relief. It was there that he strained his gallant, generous, and beloved son to his heart, and blamed himself a thousand times for his proneness to believe him guilty. And it was there that the grateful, the happy Conrad felt the warm tears of his future bride fall on his manly cheek, as he gave her the fervent kiss of happiness and love. CHAP. XI. With love and fond affection blest, EMILY now occupied Conrad's most anxious attention. To see her released from the obnoxious engagement Mr. Yorke had constrained her to enter into, was his dearest wish; yet how to effect it, he was, as yet, undetermined, without derogating from the dutiful and grateful conduct due to Mr. Yorke. He wrote, however, to Ernest, giving an account of his own success, and re-establishment to happiness, through Edward's confession; alluded slightly to his sister's illness; but assured him, that he had no occasion to be uneasy about her recovery. He concluded by saying how zealously he would watch over his interests; at the same time cautioning him against being too sanguine, as he hinted he had found more difficulties to combat than he anticipated. He likewise requested he would not return home, until he should again write. This done, Conrad waited patiently, until Emily should regain sufficient strength to converse upon the agitating subject; for, without her concurrence, he would not proceed in his intention. In the mean time, Edward, to the surprise of all, still survived; and his attendants began to look less despondingly on his situation. Youth and constitutional vigour grappled with disease; and, for a time, it appeared doubtful which would prove the stronger; but but it was only the flickering of the flame before its extinction; making the blow still heavier, from the hopes which had been raised, for a moment, of his improvement. Ten days from the date of Conrad's arrival, Edward's sorrowing parents wept over the untimely fate of their eldest son. As soon as Emily was convalescent, or, rather, in a fair way towards it, her brother endeavoured to lead her conversation to the subject he was so anxious to enter upon. At first, she appeared unwilling, nay, fearful of adverting to it; for, at that time, she was ignorant of Conrad's wish to obviate the union, and she avoided the mention of Mason's name, as one which called up the most galling ideas. By degrees, however, Conrad drew her to the harrowing circumstance of Ernest's return; and at length she owned, how entirely her projected marriage with Frank Mason was the effect of coercion -how ill her heart had seconded her sense of obligation, for she loved him not! This confession was succeeded by a flood of passionate tears, which, for some minutes, prevented Conrad's kind consolations from being attended to. He then informed her of Colonel Taylor's desire, as well as his own, that Ernest should be her husband, and his having been deputed by his father to forward that wish; "which I have been deterred from endeavouring to accomplish, my dear Emily, by an objection to do any thing without your knowledge. I wait but the word from you, to apprise Mr. Yorke of all this, and make you and poor Ernest happy." Emily shook her head sorrowfully, and he added, "You surely will not marry Mason now?" "Never, Conrad," she replied, resolutely; "but how can I expect Ernest to love me, when I have proved myself so unworthy of his affec tion ?" |