Two Ghostly Mysteries | Page 4

said she, placing herself upon a chair beside me;
"I must chat with you for a quarter of an hour or so. Saunders (to the
maid), you may leave the room; do not close the room door, but shut
that of the lobby."
This precaution against curious ears having been taken as directed, my
mother proceeded.
"You have observed, I should suppose, my dearest Fanny; indeed, you
must have observed, Lord Glenfallen's marked attentions to you?"
"I assure you, madam," I began.
"Well, well, that is all right," interrupted my mother; "of course you
must be modest upon the matter; but listen to me for a few moments,
my love, and I will prove to your satisfaction that your modesty is quite
unnecessary in this case. You have done better than we could have
hoped, at least, so very soon. Lord Glenfallen is in love with you. I give
you joy of your conquest," and saying this, my mother kissed my
forehead.
"In love with me!" I exclaimed, in unfeigned astonishment.
"Yes, in love with you," repeated my mother; "devotedly, distractedly
in love with you. Why, my dear, what is there wonderful in it; look in
the glass, and look at these," she continued, pointing with a smile to the
jewels which I had just removed from my person, and which now lay a
glittering heap upon the table.

"May there not," said I, hesitating between confusion and real alarm;
"is it not possible that some mistake may be at the bottom of all this?"
"Mistake! dearest; none," said my mother. "None, none in the world;
judge for yourself; read this, my love," and she placed in my hand a
letter, addressed to herself, the seal of which was broken. I read it
through with no small surprise. After some very fine complimentary
flourishes upon my beauty and perfections, as, also, upon the antiquity
and high reputation of our family, it went on to make a formal proposal
of marriage, to be communicated or not to me at present, as my mother
should deem expedient; and the letter wound up by a request that the
writer might be permitted, upon our return to Ashtown-house, which
was soon to take place, as the spring was now tolerably advanced, to
visit us for a few days, in case his suit was approved.
"Well, well, my dear," said my mother, impatiently; "do you know who
Lord Glenfallen is?"
"I do, madam," said I rather timidly, for I dreaded an altercation with
my mother.
"Well, dear, and what frightens you?" continued she; "are you afraid of
a title? What has he done to alarm you? he is neither old nor ugly."
I was silent, though I might have said, "He is neither young nor
handsome."
"My dear Fanny," continued my mother, "in sober seriousness you have
been most fortunate in engaging the affections of a nobleman such as
Lord Glenfallen, young and wealthy, with first-rate, yes, acknowledged
_first-rate_ abilities and of a family whose influence is not exceeded by
that of any in Ireland--of course you see the offer in the same light that
I do--indeed I think you must."
This was uttered in no very dubious tone. I was so much astonished by
the suddenness of the whole communication that I literally did not
know what to say.
"You are not in love?" said my mother, turning sharply, and fixing her
dark eyes upon me, with severe scrutiny.
"No, madam," said I, promptly; horrified, as what young lady would
not have been, at such a query.
"I am glad to hear it," said my mother, dryly. "Once, nearly twenty
years ago, a friend of mine consulted me how he should deal with a
daughter who had made what they call a love match, beggared herself,

and disgraced her family; and I said, without hesitation, take no care of
her, but cast her off; such punishment I awarded for an offence
committed against the reputation of a family not my own; and what I
advised respecting the child of another, with full as small compunction
I would do with mine. I cannot conceive anything more unreasonable
or intolerable than that the fortune and the character of a family should
be marred by the idle caprices of a girl."
She spoke this with great severity, and paused as if she expected some
observation from me. I, however, said nothing.
"But I need not explain to you, my dear Fanny," she continued, "my
views upon this subject; you have always known them well, and I have
never yet had reason to believe you likely, voluntarily, to offend me, or
to abuse or neglect any of those advantages which reason and duty tell
you should be improved--come hither, my dear, kiss me, and do not
look so frightened. Well,