FIRST LOVE.
A NOVEL.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET.
1830.
GUNNELL AND SHEARMAN, SALISBURY SQUARE.
FIRST LOVE.
CHAPTER I.
During the day, Lord Borrowdale’s attentionsto Julia were public and unremitting, whilethe infatuated, unhappy Edmund witnessed itall in growing sorrow of heart. Had he then,he asked himself, already yielded to a passionso irrational, so dishonourable?—No. Hewas not quite so mad—quite so base. Hadhe not always loved Julia? loved her when she[2]was a child—when there could be nothingquestionable in the nature of his attachment?—Certainlyhe had, sincerely, fondly lovedher.
Julia, too, in the course of the day, felt alittle uncomfortable; she thought that, notwithstandingthe friendly conversation of themorning, Edmund, some how, did not seemsatisfied. He was not cheerful, he was notfrank and obliging as usual; he was not, inshort, the least like himself! Could it be, thathe fancied he had been but coolly received onhis return? Frances and herself used alwaysto make such rejoicing when he came home;but that was when they were children. Andyesterday, there was such a hurry with company—yet,possibly, Edmund might have thoughtit proceeded from silly pride, because therewere strangers by, or some such worthless feeling![3]She longed for an opportunity of speakingto him kindly on the subject, and doingaway with such an idea, if indeed it existed.But he now rather seemed to avoid her, whileLady Susan always happened to be speaking tohim just when she was intending to do so.
At dinner, Lord Borrowdale handed in Julia;for Lord Morven appeared to think it necessaryto resign in his favour. Not so Henry, whonot only secured the place on the other side ofour heroine, but contrived to engross much ofher conversation. This was but poor consolationto Edmund; it argued indifference to LordBorrowdale, certainly; but then Henry, thoughwithout title, was at least nearly her equal inbirth, being her own cousin. And it was possible—barelypossible, that she might be attachedto him: he had been at home once or twicewhen it had not been in Edmund’s power to[4]return. His observations this morning mighthave been prompted by jealousy.
After dinner preparations were made for asail on the lake. Edmund observed Lord Borrowdale,from the moment they left the house,eagerly secure to himself the care of Julia.He, however, walked on the other side. ButLady Susan, passing them as they arrived atthe place of embarkation, ran on the gang-boardalone; then, stopping half way in alarm,and balancing herself with difficulty, yet refusingthe aid of the bargemen, she called onCaptain Montgomery for his assistance, declaringhe was the only person who understoodboats, and that she should not consider herselfsafe in any other hands. The gallant Captaincould not disobey the summons, nor, havingobeyed it, avoid continuing his especial protectionto the lady; while Henry coming up[5]at the moment, drew Julia’s arm over his withall the freedom of cousinship. The boats,