Alice, or the Mysteries — Book 05

								

"Oh, you are so close.  Mr. Hare says he shall support you.  You will
have all the ladies with you.  Well, I declare, Lord Vargrave is going to
dance.  How old is he, do you think?"
Maltravers uttered an audible pshaw, and moved away; but his penance
was not over.  Lord Vargrave, much as he disliked dancing, still thought
it wise to ask the fair hand of Evelyn; and Evelyn, also, could not
refuse.
And now, as the crowd gathered round the red ropes, Maltravers had to
undergo new exclamations at Evelyn's beauty and Vargrave's luck.
Impatiently he turned from the spot, with that gnawing sickness of the
heart which none but the jealous know.  He longed to depart, yet dreaded
to do so.  It was the last time he should see Evelyn, perhaps for years;
the last time he should see her as Miss Cameron!
He passed into another room, deserted by all save four old
gentlemen--Cleveland one of them--immersed in whist; and threw himself
upon an ottoman, placed in a recess by the oriel window.  There, half
concealed by the draperies, he communed and reasoned with himself.  His
heart was sad within him; he never felt before how deeply and how
passionately he loved Evelyn; how firmly that love had fastened upon the
very core of his heart!  Strange, indeed, it was in a girl so young, of
whom he had seen but little,--and that little in positions of such quiet
and ordinary interest,--to excite a passion so intense in a man who had
gone through strong emotions and stern trials!  But all love is
unaccountable.  The solitude in which Maltravers had lived, the absence
of all other excitement, perhaps had contributed largely to fan the
flame.  And his affections had so long slept, and after long sleep the
passions wake with such giant strength!  He felt now too well that the
last rose of life had bloomed for him; it was blighted in its birth, but
it could never be replaced.  Henceforth, indeed, he should be alone, the
hopes of home were gone forever; and the other occupations of mind and
soul--literature, pleasure, ambition--were already forsworn at the very
age in which by most men they are most indulged!
O Youth! begin not thy career too soon, and let one passion succeed in
its due order to another; so that every season of life may have its
appropriate pursuit and charm!
The hours waned; still Maltravers stirred not; nor were his meditations
disturbed, except by occasional ejaculations from the four old gentlemen,
as between each deal they moralized over the caprices of the cards.
At length, close beside him he heard that voice, the lightest sound of
which could send the blood rushing through his veins; and from his
retreat he saw Caroline and Evelyn, seated close by.
"I beg pardon," said the former, in a low voice,--"I beg pardon, Evelyn,
for calling you away; but I longed to tell you.  The die is cast.  Lord
Doltimore has proposed, and I have accepted him!  Alas, alas!  I half
wish I could retract!"