by Clara Reeve
thus reflecting, when a servant knocked at his door, and told himit was past six o'clock, and that the Baron expected him to breakfast inan hour. He rose immediately; paid his tribute of thanks to heaven forits protection, and went from his chamber in high health and spirits. Hewalked in the garden till the hour of breakfast, and then attended theBaron.
"Good morrow, Edmund!" said he; "how have you rested in your newapartment?"
"Extremely well, my lord," answered he.
"I am glad to hear it," said the Baron; "but I did not know youraccommodations were so bad, as Joseph tells me they are."
"'Tis of no consequence," said Edmund; "if they were much worse, I coulddispense with them for three nights."
"Very well," said the Baron; "you are a brave lad; I am satisfied withyou, and will excuse the other two nights."
"But, my lord, I will not be excused; no one shall have reason tosuspect my courage; I am determined to go through the remaining nightsupon many accounts."
"That shall be as you please," said my Lord. "I think of you as youdeserve; so well, that I shall ask your advice by and by in some affairsof consequence."
"My life and services are yours, my lord; command them freely."
"Let Oswald be called in," said my Lord; "he shall be one of ourconsultation." He came; the servants were dismissed; and the Baron spokeas follows:
"Edmund, when first I took you into my family, it was at the request ofmy sons and kinsmen; I bear witness to your good behaviour, you have notdeserved to lose their esteem; but, nevertheless, I have observedfor some years past, that all but my son William have set their facesagainst you; I see their meanness, and I perceive their motives: butthey are, and must be, my relations; and I would rather govern them bylove, than fear. I love and esteem your virtues: I cannot give you upto gratify their humours. My son William has lost the affections of therest, for that he bears to you; but he has increased my regard for him;I think myself bound in honour to him and you to provide for you; Icannot do it, as I wished, under my own roof. If you stay here, I seenothing but confusion in my family; yet I cannot put you out of itdisgracefully. I want to think of some way to prefer you, that you mayleave this house with honour; and I desire both of you to give me youradvice in this matter. If Edmund will tell me in what way I can employhim to his own honour and my advantage, I am ready to do it; let himpropose it, and Oswald shall moderate between us."
Here he stopped; and Edmund, whose sighs almost choked him, threwhimself at the Baron's feet, and wet his hand with his tears: "Oh, mynoble, generous benefactor! do you condescend to consult such a one asme upon the state of your family? does your most amiable and beloved sonincur the ill-will of his brothers and kinsmen for my sake? What am I,that I should disturb the peace of this noble family? Oh, my lord, sendme away directly! I should be unworthy to live, if I did not earnestlyendeavour to restore your happiness. You have given me a nobleeducation, and I trust I shall not disgrace it. If you will recommendme, and give me a character, I fear not to make my own fortune."
The Baron wiped his eyes; "I wish to do this, my child, but in what way?"
"My lord," said Edmund, "I will open my heart to you. I have served withcredit in the army, and I should prefer a soldier's life."
"You please me well," said the Baron; "I will send you to France, andgive you a recommendation to the Regent; he knows you personally, andwill prefer you, for my sake, and for your own merit."
"My lord, you overwhelm me with your goodness! I am but your creature,and my life shall be devoted to your service."
"But," said the Baron, "how to dispose of you till the spring?"
"That," said Oswald, "may be thought of at leisure; I am glad that youhave resolved, and I congratulate you both." The Baron put an end to theconversation by desiring Edmund to go with him into the menage to seehis horses. He ordered Oswald to acquaint his son William with all thathad passed, and to try to persuade the young men to meet Edmund andWilliam at dinner.
The Baron took Edmund with him into his menage to see some horses he hadlately purchased; while they were examining the beauties and defectsof these noble and useful animals, Edmund declared that he preferredCaradoc, a horse he had broke himself, to any other in my lord'sstables. "Then," said the Baron, "I will give him to you; and you shallgo upon him to seek your fortune." He made new acknowledgments for thisgift, and declared he would prize it highly for the giver's sake. "ButI shall not part with you yet," said my lord; "I will first carry all mypoints with these saucy boys, and oblige them to do you justice."
"You have already done that," said Edmund; "and I will not suffer anyof your Lordship's blood to undergo any farther humiliation upon myaccount. I think, with humble submission to your better judgment, thesooner I go hence the better."
While they were speaking, Oswald came to them, and said, that the youngmen had absolutely refused to dine at the table, if Edmund was present."'Tis well," said the Baron; "I shall find a way to punish theircontumacy hereafter; I will make them know that I am the master here.Edmund and you, Oswald, shall spend the day in my apartment abovestairs. William shall dine with me alone; and I will acquaint him withour determination; my son Robert, and his cabal, shall be prisoners inthe great parlour. Edmund shall, according to his own desire, spend thisand the following night in the haunted apartment; and this for his sake,and my own; for if I should now contradict my former orders, it wouldsubject us both to their impertinent reflections."
He then took Oswald aside, and charged him not to let Edmund go out ofhis sight; for if he should come in the way of those implacable enemies,he trembled for the consequences. He then walked back to the stables,and the two friends returned into the house.
They had a long conversation on various subjects; in the course of it,Edmund acquainted Oswald with all that had passed between him and Josephthe preceding night, the curiosity he had raised in him, and his promiseto gratify it the night following.
"I wish," said Oswald, "you would permit me to be one of your party."
"How can that be?" said Edmund; "we shall be watched, perhaps; and, ifdiscovered, what excuse can you make for coming there? Beside, if itwere known, I shall be branded with the imputation of cowardice; and,though I have borne much, I will not promise to bear that patiently."
"Never fear," replied Oswald, "I will speak to Joseph about it; and,after prayers are over and the family gone to bed, I will steal awayfrom my own chamber and come to you. I am strongly interested in youraffairs; and I cannot be easy unless you will receive me into yourcompany; I will bind myself to secrecy in any manner you shall enjoin."
"Your word is sufficient," said Edmund; "I have as much reason to trustyou, father, as any man living; I should be ungrateful to refuse you anything in my power to grant; But suppose the apartment should really behaunted, would you have resolution enough to pursue the adventure to adiscovery?"
"I hope so," said Oswald; "but have you any reason to believe it is?"
"I have," said Edmund; "but I have not opened my lips upon this subjectto any creature but yourself. This night I purpose, if Heaven permit,to go all over the rooms; and, though I had formed this design, I willconfess that your company will strengthen my resolution. I will have noreserves to you in any respect; but I must put a seal upon your lips."
Oswald swore secrecy till he should be permitted to disclose themysteries of that apartment; and both of them waited, in solemnexpectation, the event of the approaching night.
In the afternoon Mr. William was allowed to visit his friend. Anaffecting interview passed between them. He lamented the necessity ofEdmund's departure; and they took a solemn leave of each other, as ifthey foreboded it would be long ere they should meet again.
About the same hour as the preceding evening, Joseph came to conductEdmund to his apartment.
"You will find better accommodations than you had last night," said he,"and all by my lord's own order."
"I every hour receive some new proof of his goodness," said Edmund.
When th
ey arrived, he found a good fire in the chamber, and a tablecovered with cold meats, and a flagon of strong beer.
"Sit down and get your supper, my dear Master," said Joseph: "I mustattend my Lord; but as soon as the family are gone to bed, I will visityou again."
"Do so," said Edmund; "but first, see Father Oswald; he has something tosay to you. You may trust him, for I have no reserves to him."
"Well, Sir, I will see him if you desire it; and I will come to you assoon as possible." So saying, he went his way, and Edmund sat down tosupper.
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