Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 137: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

112 Alfred de Rosann. Mr. Clayton, in the meantime, had listened only to the dictates of a good and kind disposition, and was pre-determined to act in favour of De Rosann. He saw that the future happiness of Eloise aepended upon the manner in which her engagement with Alfred was considered, and he loved his fair niece too tenderly and too sin- cerely, to think of crushing her hopes and her felicity furever. He knew that change of air and variety of scenery could not eradicate the cankering worm of despair from her young heart; he appre- ciated the excellence of her character and the rectitude of her natural sentiments—not the false ideas which are imbibed by an acquaintance with the world in general—too well, to suppose that she would easily forget one to whom she had pledged an unchange- able affection in his presence. He therefore resolved to seek an opportunity of conversing with De Rosann, and of unfolding to him the real state of Mrs. Clayton’s mind on the all-important subject: for that lady’s repugnance to his suit, after the verdict was made known, had not been revealed to De Rosann in his dun- geon at Bicétre, both Eloise and her uncle thinking it prudent to suppress that which would only have added to his misery. But it was not the worthy Mr. Clayton's intention to afflict his unfortunate oung friend, without giving him some hope and some consolation. | He resolved to put him in possession of certain severe truths, and to assure him at the same time that, great as the difficulties were, they must not be deemed insurmountable. ‘* Faint heart never won fair ladye,” thought the excellent uncle ; ‘and, as my niece will eventually inherit all my wealth, what does it matter to me if I settle the half on her at once, sooner than suffer pecuniary affairs to interfere with her happiness ?” With regard to Eloise herself, we have before said that her feel- ings were at present a compound of mingled joy and sorrow—hope and despair. She could not help acknowledging to herself that, in a worldly point of view, her mother was acting as most parents would do upon similar occasions ; but she wished the matter to be con- sidered in a moral light, with due regard to the laws of justice and humanity. She had plighted her troth to De Rosann—she had fixed her affections upon him—her chaste imagination was ever filled with his image—her pure mind dwelt perpetually on every word he had uttered in her ears, expressive of his attachment ; and now, to resign the object of her solicitude—the subject of her con- stant thoughts—impossible ! Without him, to whom she had _ bound herself by words as well as feelings, life’s prospective dream was a dreary waste—a sandy desart, without a single odsis—a dark heaven, unvaried by the lustre of a solitary star. To forget— to become indifferent to Alfred, was as probable as the junction of the poles or the annihilation of matter. Eloise felt that she would sooner disobey even her fond mother, than retract the syllables of unchangeable fidelity which she had breathed to De Rosann in his rison, and in the presence of heruncle. Because the world would enceforth look with coolness and contempt on an individual, whose misfortunes, and not his crimes, had mixed him up with malefac- tors, and obliged him to become the inmate of a vile gaol ; because ECONlNCOOOlKS.CO