Clementina the

rival of Harriet.

Milton expounded.

CHAPTER XII.

IT is evident that Clementina is the rival of Harriet Byron in the affections of Sir Charles Grandison.

The story briefly is this: Sir Charles rescued Jeronymo della Porretta, already his friend, from an attack of ruffians in a little thicket "in the Cremonese." The young count was wounded severely, and Sir Charles procured a surgeon, attended him to Cremona, and watched over him there till he could be removed. His whole family came to the bedside of their beloved son and brother, and all joined to bless his preserver. Never was there a more grateful family. They urged him to visit them at their various seats. Meanwhile Sir Charles initiated them into the knowledge of the English tongue by reading and expounding Milton to them. He told Harriet:

Our Milton has deservedly a name among them from the friendship that subsisted between him and a learned nobleman of that country. Our lectures were usually held in the chamber of the wounded brother, in order to divert him. He also became my scholar. Clementina was seldom absent. She also called me her tutor, and she made a greater proficiency than either of her brothers.

Clementina had a suitor, favored by all her family; she continually refused him, and upon being pressed and closely examined it became evident that she was in love with the English chevalier. Sir Charles, whose conduct was perfectly honorable in the matter, resolved to withdraw, and did so; but after his departure she grew melancholy, and even out of her mind, expressing her desire

to go into a nunnery; all was in vain, until a wise and judicious friend went to the bottom of the malady and advised the family thereupon. The tutor was sent for. This is Sir Charles's delicate manner of explaining what is coming :

"He arrived at Bologna. He was permitted to pay his compliments to Lady Clementina. Jeronymo called the happy man 'brother.' The marquis was ready to recognize the fourth son in him. A great fortune additional to an estate bequeathed her by her two grandfathers was proposed. My father was to be invited over to grace the nuptials by his presence.

"But," continued Sir Charles, "let me cut short the rest. The terms could not be complied with. For I was to make a formal renunciation of my religion, and to settle in Italy; only once in two or three years was allowed if I pleased for two or three months to go to England." [It was here that his handkerchief was of use to him.]

He went on : "Satisfied in my own faith, entirely satisfied! Having insuperable objections to that I was wished to embrace! A lover of my country too. Were not my God and my country to be the sacrifice if I complied! but I labored, I studied, for a compromise."

But no compromise was to be had. Sir Charles was allowed, desired, to depart from Bologna; and shortly afterward, summoned by the death of his father, he returned to England, regarding this action as final.

But what was the consequence. tinues :

In agitation he con

'Unhappy Clementina! Now they wish me to make them one more visit to Bologna! Unhappy Clementina! To what purpose!"

He arose from his seat, "Allow me, madam, to thank you for the favor of your ear. Pardon me for the trouble I see I have given to a heart that is capable of a sympathy so tender." And bowing low, he withdrew with precipitation.

There was endless discussion, in Richardson's coterie, whether Sir Charles was in love, or not, with Clementina

Proposals of

the Porretta

family.

His return to
England.

Sentiments of
Sir Charles.

Dismay of Harriet's friends.

at this point. I have omitted nothing in the account of the interview just given which would give a clue to his feelings, and have read the whole episode through many times with great care to find some acknowledgment or denial of his ardor for the Italian lady. Some of his admirers thought that he returned with a bleeding heart, or a heart left behind; others, on the contrary, that he was untouched by the pathetic charms of Clementina, and therefore heart-whole when he first beheld Miss Byron. Others imagine that the dazzling image of Miss Byron drove the fainter impression from its hold upon his affections. Then some people regard Sir Charles as a being so cold as to be incapable of an ardent attachment. I for my part believe he cared nothing at all for Clementina; still, I am not sure that Richardson has not somewhere said that he did care for her; and he should know.

There was dismay in the circle of Harriet's friends when it was revealed that Sir Charles Grandison was not altogether free to lay himself at her feet. Her mind turns toward her home in the country, and she warns everybody that she is about to go back.

Sir Charles was quietly winding up his affairs and preparing to depart for Italy, with the intention of taking with him an accomplished surgeon of his acquaintance, to examine the wounds of Jeronymo, which were still extremely troublesome. This is the nominal excuse for his return to Bologna, but every one feels that another wound requires his healing presence, in the heart of Clementina.

Just before leaving, Sir Charles sought another interview with Harriet.

He led me to my seat, and taking his by me, still holding my passive hand: "Ever since I have had the honor of Miss

view.

Byron's acquaintance I have considered her as one of the most excellent of women. My heart desires alliance with hers, and Another interhopes to be allowed its claim, though such are the delicacies of the situation that I scarcely dare to trust myself to speak upon the subject. From the first, I called Miss Byron my sister; but she is more to me than the dearest sister; and there is a more tender friendship that I aspire to hold with her, whatever may be the accidents on either side, to bar a further wish; and this I must hope that she will not deny me, so long as it shall be consistent with her other attachments."

He paused. I made an effort to speak, but speech was denied me. My face, as I felt, glowed like the fire before me. "My heart," resumed he," is ever on my lips. It is tortured when I cannot speak all that is in it. Professions I am not accustomed to make. As I am not conscious of being unworthy of your friendship, I will suppose it, and further talk to you of my affairs and engagements as that tender friendship may warrant."

'Sir, you do me honor," was all I could say.

He then explained his intentions as to the course of his journey and talked of arrangements at home, amongst others the wedding of Charlotte Grandison and Lord G., which the brother was anxious to see consummated before his departure.

Charlotte

wedding.

And there was a great wedding, described at length; Charlotte behaving in a very foolish manner, under the Grandison's guise of coyness or wit; even when she was led to the altar "her levity did not forsake her," Harriet says. It was only a family party, however.

Between dinner and tea, at Lady L.'s motion, they made me play on the harpsichord; and after one lesson they besought Sir Charles to sing to my playing. He would not, he said, deny any request that was made him on that day.

He sung. He has a mellow manly voice, and great command of it.

This introduced a little concert. Mr. Beauchamp took the violin, Lord L. the bass viol, Lord G. the German flute, and

Departure of
Sir Charles.

Harriet's return to

Selby House.

most of the company joined in the chorus. The song was from "Alexander's Feast"; the words,

Happy, happy, happy pair,

None but the good deserve the fair,

Sir Charles, though himself equally both brave and good, preferring the latter word to the former.

The next letter begins :

Saturday morning, April 15th. Oh, Lucy, Sir Charles Grandison is gone! Gone, indeed! He set out at three this morning; on purpose, no doubt, to spare his sisters and friends, as well as himself, concern.

The letter is filled with an account of the last evening, broken by such exclamations as :

Angel of a man! How is he beloved! Lie down, hope. Hopelessness, take place. Clementina shall be his. He shall be hers.

She was now to return to Selby House, and did so, putting up at Dunstable on Friday night. Mr. Beauchamp (a cousin of the Grandisons) and Mr. Reeves rode as her escort. Lord L. and Lord G. also obliged her with their company on horseback.

After this, the scene is at Selby House, and Harriet is writing to Lady G. with the same fidelity that she had done to her Lucy. In return, every scrap of news from the travelers is forwarded to her by Dr. Bartlett or the Grandison ladies. The first is a long letter from Mr. Lowther, the surgeon, describing their passage over the Alps in the most dismal manner :

The unseasonable coldness of the weather (it was May) and the sight of one of the worst countries under heaven, still clothed with snow and deformed by continual hurricanes.

They reached the foot of Mount Cenis at break of day, at Lanebourg (Lansleburg?),

a poor little village, so environed by high mountains that for three months in the twelve it is hardly visited by the cheering