Tales and Novels, vol 7 | Page 2

is grieved to find it necessary to repel such a charge. The
author of a slight work of fiction may, however, be consoled for any
unjust imputation of personal satire, by reflecting, that even the grave
and impartial historian cannot always escape similar suspicion. Tacitus
says that "there must always be men, who, from congenial manners,
and sympathy in vice, will think the fidelity of history a satire on
themselves; and even the praise due to virtue is sure to give umbrage."
August 1, 1815.

PATRONAGE.
CHAPTER I.
"How the wind is rising!" said Rosamond.--"God help the poor people
at sea to-night!"

Her brother Godfrey smiled.--"One would think," said he, "that she had
an argosy of lovers at sea, uninsured."
"You gentlemen," replied Rosamond, "imagine that ladies are always
thinking of lovers."
"Not always," said Godfrey; "only when they show themselves
particularly disposed to humanity."
"My humanity, on the present occasion, cannot even be suspected,"
said Rosamond; "for you know, alas! that I have no lover at sea or
land."
"But a shipwreck might bless the lucky shore with some rich waif,"
said Godfrey.
"Waifs and strays belong to the lady of the manor," said Rosamond;
"and I have no claim to them."
"My mother would, I dare say, make over her right to you," said
Godfrey.
"But that would do me no good," said Rosamond; "for here is Caroline,
with superior claims of every sort, and with that most undisputed of all
the rights of woman--beauty."
"True: but Caroline would never accept of stray hearts," said Godfrey.
"See how her lip curls with pride at the bare imagination!"
"Pride never curled Caroline's lip," cried Rosamond: "besides, pride is
very becoming to a woman. No woman can be good for much without
it, can she, mother?"
"Before you fly off, Rosamond, to my mother as to an ally, whom you
are sure I cannot resist," said Godfrey, "settle first whether you mean to
defend Caroline upon the ground of her having or not having pride."
A fresh gust of wind rose at this moment, and Rosamond listened to it
anxiously.

"Seriously, Godfrey," said she, "do you remember the ship-wrecks last
winter?"
As she spoke, Rosamond went to one of the windows, and opened the
shutter. Her sister Caroline followed, and they looked out in silence.
"I see a light to the left of the beacon," said Caroline.--"I never saw a
light there before--What can it mean?"
"Only some fishermen," said Godfrey.
"But, brother, it is quite a storm," persisted Rosamond.
"Only equinoctial gales, my dear."
"Only equinoctial gales! But to drowning people it would be no
comfort that they were shipwrecked only by equinoctial gales. There!
there! what do you think of that blast?" cried Rosamond; "is not there
some danger now?"
"Godfrey will not allow it," said Mrs. Percy: "he is a soldier, and it is
his trade not to know fear."
"Show him a certain danger," cried Mr. Percy, looking up from a letter
he was writing,--"show him a certain danger, and he will feel fear as
much as the greatest coward of you all. Ha! upon my word, it is an ugly
night," continued he, going to the window.
"Oh, my dear father!" cried Rosamond, "did you see that light--out at
sea?--There! there!--to the left."
"To the east--I see it."
"Hark! did you hear?"
"Minute guns!" said Caroline.
There was a dead silence instantly.--Every body listened.--Guns were
heard again.--The signal of some vessel in distress. The sound seemed

near the shore.--Mr. Percy and Godfrey hastened immediately to the
coast.--Their servants and some people from the neighbouring village,
whom they summoned, quickly followed. They found that a vessel had
struck upon a rock, and from the redoubled signals it appeared that the
danger must be imminent.
The boatmen, who were just wakened, were surly, and swore that they
would not stir; that whoever she was, she might weather out the night,
for that, till daybreak, they couldn't get alongside of her. Godfrey
instantly jumped into a boat, declaring he would go out directly at all
hazards.--Mr. Percy with as much intrepidity, but, as became his age,
with more prudence, provided whatever assistance was necessary from
the villagers, who declared they would go any where with him; the
boatmen, then ashamed, or afraid of losing the offered reward, pushed
aside the land lubbers, and were ready to put out to sea.
Out they rowed--and they were soon so near the vessel, that they could
hear the cries and voices of the crew. The boats hailed her, and she
answered that she was Dutch, homeward bound--had mistaken the
lights upon the coast--had struck on a rock--was filling with water--and
must go down in half an hour.
The moment the boats came alongside of her, the crew crowded into
them so fast, and