The Greatest Gothic Classics of All Time. Эдгар Аллан По

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СКАЧАТЬ to her, of what use is my pursuit? she will now be introduced to the great world, and my pretensions may be distanced by a thousand pretenders of more merit and superior fortune! Nevertheless, I will not give her up until from herself I receive my doom.' Accordingly the following morning, a little recovered from his fatigue, he set of for Vienna.

      Meantime the Countess, her daughter, the Count and Countess Marcellini, with their attendants, were safely arrived at Vienna, from whence Matilda wrote to her beloved friends, and earnestly requested the favor of seeing them.

      'Tis impossible to describe the transports which her letter occasioned. They lost no time in setting off, and that very same evening their names were announced, Lord Delby and the young Count restraining their impatience 'till the following day.

      The mutual joy, congratulations, and expressions of obligation which took place on their meeting may be easier conceived than described. The Countess Berniti was never weary of pouring forth her acknowledgements to the friends and preservers of her child, whilst they, on the other hand, could not help admiring the wonderful chain of events which had gradually led the way to such a happy discovery both for her and the Countess of Wolfenbach.

      'To-morrow said the Marquis, 'we shall beg leave to introduce our friend Lord Delby, and the young Count, my sister's son. I assure you,' said he, addressing Matilda, 'when we first heard of your being forced from the convent, our young Frederic, though only sixteen years old, had the gallantry to offer himself as your champion to pursue and deliver you.' 'Can I wonder at his generosity and heroism, my dear Sir,' answered she, 'born of such a mother, and possessing doubtless the virtues of his family? No; I am already prepossessed in his favor; I know he must resemble my charming Countess.'

      She forebore speaking of Lord Delby, that she might not be obliged to ask for the Countess, his sister, as she concluded the marriage must have taken place long ago.

      They spent a most delightful evening together, and engaged to accompany the Countess of Wolfenbach to her seat, in three days from the present; that lady next day sending orders to prepare for the reception of her noble guests.

      Matilda longed to see young Frederic, and her ideas of him were all confirmed when she beheld him: his elegant form and polished manners, in some measure, reconciled her to his late father, for having done his son so much justice in his education. Every one was charmed with him; and Lord Delby was received with all the respect due to his rank and merit.

      As both the Countess Berniti and her daughter were silent respecting the Count, the others were equally cautious not to name him, lest they might say more than Matilda chose to have known; and there being no opportunities for private conversation, the Marchioness earnestly wished to be in the country, that they might enJoy a few uninterrupted têtê-à têtes.

      At the appointed time they all quitted Vienna, and arrived at the Countess's villa.

      They were just seated at the dinner-table when the Count De Bouville's name was announced. The Marchioness gave a cry of joy; the knife and fork dropped from Matilda's hand, and it was with difficulty she kept her seat when he entered the room. The Marquis introduced him to the strangers as his particular friend: as they had never heard his name mentioned, they received him with the politeness due to that recommendation only: but when he advanced to Matilda she changed colour, and trembled so violently as to attract her mother's observation, although she was too attentive just then to speak, for the Count's agitations were visibly greater than hers; he bowed upon her hand and said a few words, but they were not intelligible. The Marquis hurried him through the rest of the company, and then placed him between Lord Delby and himself, saying, 'Now, if you please, let us have our dinner; I put a negative to all compliments and question for this hour to come -'tis plain we are all very glad to see each other.'

      In consequence of this seasonable order the conversation became general, and the Count and Matilda had time to recover themselves. She wondered indeed no one asked for his lady, nor that she appeared to be of the party. He cannot help being a little confused, thought she, and did not expect to find me here, I suppose: well, I must try to exert my fortitude, and, amidst so many blessings, I ought not to repine that one is withheld from my possession. Occupied by these reflections, she ate very little, nor attended to the conversation.

      The Countess, her mother, who had been an attentive observer both of the Count and her daughter, said, 'My love, Matilda, you eat nothing.' She almost started, but replied, 'I beg your pardon madam, I am doing extremely well.'

      Bouville, who had been at no loss to discover Matilda's mother, as well from the likeness as the tender looks of the latter, now paid that lady particular attention.

      When the dinner and servants were removed, the Marchioness complained of a trifling head-ache, and said she would go for a few minutes into the air. 'Will you step out with me, Matilda?' 'With pleasure, my dear madam,' answered she, rising quickly from her chair, and glad to escape.

      The two friends walked to the garden. 'My dear Matilda,' cried the Marchioness, 'I could rein in my impatience no longer; I was eager to congratulate you on the arrival of the Count, and on your happiness, in having now all your friends about you.' 'You are ever good and kind to me, my dear madam. I have indeed met with so many great and undeserved blessings, that my heart bounds in gratitude to heaven for its goodness towards one who, a short time since, thought herself the most unhappy of her sex.' 'You will remember, my dear,' said the Marchioness, 'it was my constant lesson to you, never to despair. Providence has now brought you out of all your troubles; a reliance on its justice and mercy, and an humble and grateful heart for the blessings you enjoy, will henceforth make your happiness permanent. But, my dear Matilda, I can perceive your confidence in your charming mother has not been quite unreserved; I plainly see she is a stranger even to the name of the Count De Bouville; how comes that to be the case?' 'As all possibility of any connexion between the Count and myself was at an end, I conceived there would be an indelicacy in mentioning his former offers to my mother; yet perhaps I was wrong, and ought to have done justice to the sentiments he then honoured me with, as they proved his generosity and nobleness of mind. If I have been wrong,' said she, with a sigh, ' 'tis not too late to repair the fault, though it can be of no consequence to him now.' 'Your words astonish me,' cried the Marchioness; what has the Count De Bouville done to have forfeited your esteem?' 'Nothing, madam,' replied she, confused; 'he has done nothing to lessen his merit or virtues in my estimation. I think indeed,' resumed her friend, 'you must be strangely altered. If it should be so, for I thought you always an enthusiast in gratitude, and surely the man who made you an unreserved offer of his hand, and though rejected, still preserved his affection through many temptations -who has traversed lands and seas in search of you.' 'Of me, madam!' exclaimed Matilda, surprised; 'pardon my interruption, but did you say the Count had been in search of me?' 'Doubtless I did,' replied her friend; 'can that surprise you; could you suppose we did not inform him, you were in the power of Weimar? or that he knowing it, would not range through the world to find you? I am sorry you do him so little justice, Matilda, for certainly he is entitled to your warmest gratitude, if your heart no longer speaks in his favor.' Astonishment overpowered the senses of Matilda for a moment. 'He is not then married to Mrs Courtney' said she, faintly. 'To Mrs Courtney! good God! no; how came you to entertain such a ridiculous idea?'

      Joy, transport, and unexpected relief from the painful thoughts she long had entertained were now too powerful for her feelings: with difficulty she tottered to a seat, and leaning her head on her friend's shoulder, burst into a flood of tears, which preserved her from fainting.

      'My dear Matilda,' cried the Marchioness, 'I now clearly comprehend the whole; but, at the same time that I give you joy of your doubts being removed, I could beat you for presuming to wrong my amiable friend by entertaining them; see that you excuse yourself well, or depend upon my displeasure.'

      Matilda, after taking some time to recover her spirits, mentioned the anonymous letter; also, nearly as СКАЧАТЬ