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Emily Bathurst; or, at Home and Abroad

Chapter IX

page 142

Chapter IX.

"I have been much affected," said Mrs. Bathurst to her friend Mrs. Wilson, "with a noble instance of true affection which I heard to-day. You know that lovely girl Georgina Prescott. She was engaged to young Hamilton before the failure of his father's bank. When that sad crash took place, her father insisted on breaking off the match. Georgina promised that she never would marry without her father's consent, and for years never saw James Hamilton. Still her heart was his, and she refused several advantageous offers of marriage, feeling she never could love another."

Mrs. W.

I remember hearing how deeply she felt her disappointment then.

Mrs. B.

And yet she did not give way to depression, but continued cheerful and obliging as ever, adding to the happiness of all around her. At last her father felt he had page 143no right to control her inclinations, and on ascertaining that James Hamilton continued as much attached to her as ever, he permitted the engagement to he renewed, and that sweet devoted creature is preparing to accompany him to India.

Mrs. W.

Is he in the civil service?

Mrs. B.

No; he has had for some time an appointment in the army. Her father can only make her a small allowance during his life, and she gives up home, country, the luxuries to which she has been accustomed, and the circle of which she is the distinguished ornament, for Hamilton's sake, who has nothing but his profession to live upon.

Mrs. W.

I admire and love her for her disinterested affection. She shews she loved Mr. Hamilton for himself, and not for his property, and I doubt not she will be very happy, though in humbler circumstances than she might fairly have expected. Her father will feel her loss.

Mrs. B.

He will, indeed, but I hear his page 144son and daughter-in-law will come and live at Hartley.

Mrs. W.

I do not approve of the romance of young persons marrying for love, and supposing they can live upon air, but Georgina's is a different case. If her engagement was originally sanctioned by her father, and considered suitable, I do not think loss of fortune should have broken it off. Besides, a captain's pay in India, with a staff appointment, which Mr. Hamilton is sure of from his connexions, is not positive penury; and if her father allows her only two or three hundred a-year, though her position in life will be very different from what she once expected, she will accommodate herself to circumstances, and be very happy.

Mrs. B.

She was by no means romantic. She saw that her duty was obedience to her father, and cheerfully fulfilled it, and though she lost that bright and sparkling gaiety which used to render her so attractive, page 145never did she, by one look, reproach her father for destroying all her bright visions of happiness.

Mr. W.

She is quite an example to all girls, and I rejoice she has her reward.

At this moment the post arrived, and letters were given to Mrs. Bathurst and to Mr. Munro, who sat writing in a corner of the room. One rather closely written was put into Mrs. Wilson's hand. When she had read it, she threw it from her with an expression of impatience; and on Mrs.-Bathurst's look of inquiry, begged her to read it.

"Did you ever hear anything so absurd?" said she, when Mrs. Bathurst laid down the letter. "Is it not provoking! You know how exquisitely Mary Clayton sings and plays. The sums that have been lavished on her accomplishments ! She's fit for any society; and at the present moment I know a young merchant of large fortune is anxious to marry her. A missionary to New Holland83! How perfectly incongruous!"

page 146 Mrs. B.

It does seem very singular! Completely throwing herself away!

Mrs. W.

Completely. She is to be married directly, you see, and to sail in two months, never, I suppose, to return.

Mrs. B.

What does her poor mother say, I wonder.

Mrs. W.

Did you not read the postscript? It is added by Mrs. Clayton. She writes, "I need not tell you the trial it will be to part with my beloved Mary. I will not dwell upon this; for I do, indeed, rejoice and praise my God that he enables her to give up home and friends for her Saviour's sake; and to accompany Mr. Heywood to aid him in the glorious work of bringing the heathen into the fold of Christ.

Mrs. B.

Why, she encourages Mary in her folly.

Mrs. W.

As if there were not enough to do at home! Why, really her schools and her poor people seemed to occupy at least half her time, and if she had married a country clergyman she might have continued page 147these occupations to her heart's content. The heathen! These people, too, are cannibals, are they not? Supposing they eat her husband, and leave her defenceless in a foreign land! It is astonishing that her mother can allow it!

Mrs. B.

Her music, poor girl, will be of little use, unless, like Orpheus84, she tames the wild beasts with it.

Mr. Munro had listened silently to the whole conversation, and in his usual dry manner, he now asked, "Whom are you speaking of?"

Mrs. B.

Of Mary Clayton.

Mr. M.

I was thinking how Georgina Prescott's beautiful dancing Would be lost in India: but I suppose they have balls there, by the bye.

Mrs. B.

Of course they have; and plenty of excellent society. Georgina will shine like a star of the first magnitude amongst them.

Mr. M.

While poor Mary will shine with a hidden lustre, and no one to admire.

page 148 Mrs. B.

Admire, my dear brother? Surely all would blame her unspeakable folly.

Mr. M.

My dear sister, do look at the two cases dispassionately. You and my friend, Mrs. Wilson, love and admire Georgina Prescott for her constant attachment for young Hamilton, and for relinquishing brilliant prospects in England to accompany him to India. India, which is civilized and luxurious, and where she will command all the comforts of life, and retain those refinements of society which certainly increase our enjoyments. She will have few privations, and from Hamilton's excellent character and connexions, he will probably rise rapidly in his profession, and return, if life is spared, rich and honoured to his native land. Mary, from love to her fellow-men, desires to raise them from the lowest depths of degradation and misery, and to do this consents to marry an excellent young man, whose views agree with her own. Her mother tearfully, yet page 149joyfully, consents to her departure. Mary relinquishes all the refinements of society, the comforts of life, and even the blessing of intercourse with fellow-Christians. Even if we consider her schemes visionary, which of these two is the heroine; which deserves the higher praise and admiration? There can be no doubt Mary is the self-devoted one. While all will admire Georgina, not least among Mary's trials will be the contempt and derision of friends. Whose object is the greater? Georgina goes to form the happiness of one who for years has had her heart's best affections. Mary's first object is her Saviour, and she desires to devote her health and best energies to His service. How do angels regard the two? How shall we look on them in the light of eternity? I do love Georgina for her conduct as a daughter and a woman, but Mary, I honour, and most highly prize and esteem, for the determination she has made as a Christian. She will be blessed, and a blessing; and will, I doubt not, hear here-page 150after those words addressed to her, which God grant may be addressed to us likewise, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

83 A historical name for Australia.

84 A legendary musician, poet and prophet in ancient Greek religion who was famed for his ability to charm all living things with his music.