Rosa Lambert — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

202 “ [ am appointed to the command of the Juno corvette,’ he answered; “and it is destined for service in the Chinese Seas.” “Can I go with you?” I eagerly asked. “Alas, no, dearest Rose,’ he responded gloomily : then catching me in his arms, he ex- claimed, “ But a thousand thanks for this proof of your love! No, dearest girl—you cannot accompany me!—it would be impossible for you to encounter the hardships of such long voyages— nor indeed should anything induce me to consent that you should dare them.” “The hardships are nothing,’ I responded, the tears streaming down my e¢cheeks. ‘“ You have so fond—that I look upon you as the best and dearest friend I ever possessed. George, I cannot separate from you !’--and I besought him to let me accompany him. “Tt will be anguish indeed for me to part from , you, Rose,” he said: “ but it must be. We part however only for a time—four years at the out- side. During this interval you shall continue to enjoy the same position as if I were with you. I will not insult you, dearest Rose, by enjoining you to be true to me: I know that you will And on my return,” he added, scarcely able to repress his emotions, “you shall have the reward which you will merit—L will make you my wife.” I experienced so much grief at the idea of part- ing from one whom, even if I did not love him in the same sense that I had loved Arthur Brydges, I my voice was choked with the intensity of my feelings; and I could only utter a few broken and inarticulate words. ‘We have need, dearest Rose,” he said, “ of all our firmness; and let us not sadden the last few days we have to be together, by unavailing re- erets. iI have no doubt that my father, thinking to afford me pleasure, has secretly used his in- fluence to obtain this appointment; and my duty as a naval officer compels me to accept it.” “When must you depart?’ I inquired, exer: cising all my fortitude to keep my emotions under restraint. “In three days I must be at Portsmouth,” he answered; “and it will perhaps take altogether a month to commission my vessel and fit her for sea.” “Oh, then,’ I exclaimed, with a feeling of joy, “we shali not be immediately separated! You will permit me to go with you to Ports- mouth P” Beaumont’s assent was unhesitatingly and cheerfully given; and we mutually agreed that we would keep up our spirits and maintain a happy demeanour to the utmost of our ability. In three days we went to Portsmouth, and took lodgings while the Juno was being fitted out. I will not dwell upon details which can be of little interest to the readers. Suffice if to say that it was to me a source of pleasure—or at all events of satisfaction—-to superintend the appointments of George’s cabin, s0 that he might be rendered as comfortable as possible: and I must say that I felt proud of him when I beheld him, in his Captain’s uniform, standing on the quarter-deck, the com- mander of that beautiful little vessel carrying which should be faithfully kept, ROSA LAMBERT. soon made up; and by the end was in readiness to sail. Then came the parting moment; and we both, as if by tacit consent, controlled our feelings as much as possible. Beaumont intimated in delicate terms that he had made arrangements with his nayy-agent to allow me a thousand a year during his absence; and he begged that I would not re- duce the establishment at Highbury, but continue to live in the same style of comfort as if he were with me. He bade me court such recreation as under circumstances would be within my reach,— suggesting that 1 might seek change of air at ; watering-places, and assuring me that he had the been so kind and so good to me—so indulgent and | utmost confidence in my esteem, my friendship, and my love. He renewed his promise that on his return to England he would make me his wife,— though at the same time assuring me that he did not hold out the promise as an inducement to keep me faithful to him, because if he fancied for a moment that sueh inducement was necessary, the pledge would not be given at all. But it was as a proof of the love which he experienced for me, and of the admiration he entertained for my con- duct, of the goodness and generosity of which he had found so many opportunities of judging,—it- was for these reasons that he made that promise He besought me to be careful how I ventured out in unfrequented parts in the neighbourhood of London; and ex- acted from me the assurance that I would never ramble far unless attended by one of the men- nevertheless regarded as my dearest friend,—that servants. IL promised to fulfill all his injunctions, —thanking him for his great kindness towards me, as well as for the confidence which he reposed in me—and assuring him that he should never repent the former, nor find the latter violated. Then we took the farewell embrace—and we parted. When he was gone, it appeared to*me like a dream. The door had closed behind him:—a few moments back he was with me—I was inhisarms: , he had vanished from my presence—and now I was alone! Never before had I felt a separation from any one so acutely. My grief was greater than L can describe—far greater even than I could have supposed it would be, considering that it was not altozether the passionate fondness of love which L entertained for George Beaumont, but only a very dear friendship, a tender esteem, and a most affec- tionate interest in his welfare. Of a surety all these feelings were as nearly akin to love as they well could be; and hence the, magnitude of my affliction. His vessel had been for the last few days anchored at Spithead; and he had therefore now cone off in a boat to join her. With a considerate precaution against any aggravation of my grief, he had besought that I would not repair to the platform nor the beach, to see the ship sail: and I obeyed the injunction. I remained in-doors for the rest of that day; and on the following one I returned to London—for I could not endure to — remain any longer at the lodgings where so lately — I had possessed a fond and agreeable companion, — but where I now felt so fearfully alone. More than ever did I ponder upon all the generous — qualities and the noble attributes of George Mi Beaumont’s character. Not a single harsh word — had ever escaped his lips during the six or seven eighteen guns. His complement of seamen wa ! months we had been together: not once bad his — of July, the Juno 7