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Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 1 of 3) By: Margracia Loudon |
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BY THE AUTHOR OF FIRST LOVE. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I.
LONDON: BULL AND CHURTON, HOLLES STREET. 1833.
DILEMMAS OF PRIDE.
CHAPTER I.
The immense extent and beautiful irregularity of the grounds, the
unfathomable depth of the woods, the picturesque ramifications of some
of the most conspicuously situated of the very old trees, the hour, for
it was almost midnight, the numerous bonfires scattered in all
directions, the innumerable tenantry gathered round them, the crowd of
moving forms extending as far as the eye could penetrate into the
darkness; and, quite in the fore ground, the figure of a blind old man
who had been born in the family, and grown grey in its service, playing,
with the most extravagant demonstrations of delight, on a rude harp,
that instrument so surrounded with poetic associations; seated too
beneath a spreading cedar, the trunk and undermost branches of which,
together with his countenance and white hair, were strongly illuminated
by an adjacent heap of blazing pine, all gave to Arden Park a demesne
of such unlimited magnificence, that it formed in itself a sort of
sylvan empire, a powerful resemblance, at the moment of which we speak,
to what our imaginations are prone to figure of the feasts of Shells ,
as described by that poet of ancient bards and burning oaks, the
venerable Ossian. On an abrupt and rocky eminence, at some distance, but still within the
park, stood the picturesque remains of Arden Castle, once the residence
of the ancestors of the family. Its round towers of different
dimensions, some still perfect, its perpendicular site, the trees and
turn of the river at its base, were all rendered conspicuous by the
clear light of the moon now about to set behind the ruins. In all the ancient deeds the landed property derived its designation
from this castle, and it was still customary for the heir to take formal
possession of the roofless walls, ere he was considered true Lord of the
Manor; a ceremony which had in the course of the day just passed, been
duly performed. A little removed from the old castle, emerging from the trees, appeared
the square turret of another ruin, called the Grey Friary, once the
residence of monks, to whom at that time a portion of the lands
appertained, while along the verge of the horizon, the spires of several
churches were just visible, breaking the dark line formed by seemingly
interminable woods. The modern house, a magnificent structure, standing on a commanding
eminence, the approach to which was gradual in the midst of a park and
woodlands comprising above thirty thousand acres, now poured from every
door and window streams of cheerful light. Figures were discernible within, some moving in the merry dance, others
thronging to and from halls dedicated to hospitable cheer. We have already said it was near midnight: the day had been spent in
festivities, held to celebrate the coming of age of Sir Willoughby
Arden, now (his father having been sometime dead,) the head of the
ancient family to whom the property belonged. The rejoicings, not only those going forward beneath the sheltering roof
of the mansion but those also out of doors, were kept up thus late in
compliment to Alfred Arden, the twin brother of the heir. The elder twin
had been born about nine in the evening, the younger not till after
twelve at night. To unite, therefore, the two distinct birth days in the
one festival, and thus preserve unsevered the more than brotherly tie,
it had been resolved that no guest, of whatever denomination, should
depart till the hour of midnight had been ushered in with every possible
demonstration of joy. The county town, though not above a quarter of a mile removed, was quite
planted out: the spires already noticed, and which were highly
ornamental to the landscape, being all pertaining of city scenery, which
was visible over the tops of the trees... Continue reading book >>
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