Book contents
CHAP. VII
from The Soldier's Orphan: A Tale
Summary
In peace, love tunes the shepherd's reed,
In war, he mounts the warrior's steed,
In halls, the gay attire is seen,
In hamlets, dances on the green.
Love rules the court, the camp, the grove,
And men below, and saints above,
For love is heav'n, and heav'n is love.
Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel.Fitzormond having concluded his story, which he had related as briefly as possible to avoid wounding the sensibility of his daughter, who had been very much affected during his recital, now proposed that they should take a turn in the park, to dissipate the melancholy it had infected them both with.
To this proposal Louisa readily agreed, as she also wished to see the brow of her dear father free from the marks of/ grief, which the recollection of past events had imprinted on it.
They had proceeded nearly the length of the walk to Kensington garden-gate, when among the horsemen Louisa distinguished Walter Stanley. An universal trembling seized her limbs, her colour changed, and but for the support of her father she would have fallen to the ground.
Fitzormond, dreadfully alarmed, entreated to be informed of the cause of her sudden emotion; but before she could reply, the object who had occasioned it was at her side: he had seen her at the moment she recognised him, and instantly dismounting and giving his horse to his servant, he flew to join her, nearly as much overcome with surprise and joy as she was.
Fitzormond's penetrating eyes soon discovered the cause of their mutual/ embarrassment, he therefore did not repeat his inquiries as to his daughter's agitation; but proposed their returning, as he feared she had fatigued herself by walking so far.
Louisa quickly recovered from the effects of her surprise, and introduced her father and Walter Stanley to each other. The astonishment of the latter was not more excited to find her under the protection of a parent, than it was to see her at liberty, as he had believed she was still a prisoner under the power of Mr. Melford, whom he had in vain attempted to compel to give up the place of her confinement.
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- The Soldier's Orphan: A Taleby Mrs Costello, pp. 196 - 201Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014