But Huntley was very wary; he was in thorough earnest, and his genius was as remarkable in love-making as in any other art, accomplishment, or science, which he had yet mastered. The more his acquaintance with Hannah improved, the more he became sensible of the difference between her retiring manners and the approachableness of her sister, and of the difficulty of awakening her dormant passions and kindling her imagination. But remembering that the placidly smiling wave, may anon be roused by the winds to chafe and foam on the rocks, and that thunder sleeps unsuspected in the summer cloud, Huntley trusted that Hannah's heart, if once awakened, might glow with all the intensity of feeling he wished to excite. Leaving little to depend on her inexperience and vanity, and wisely judging of her character, he resolved to begin by making her like him, hoping that in time she would like him better than she loved every one else. He entered with interest into all her favourite pursuits, encouraged her to talk to him of her books, her flowers, her brothers, and the villagers, discovered a wonderful similarity of feeling between them, declared his passionate fondness for a country life immediately after giving tantalizing descriptions of London, expressed her own opinions for her better than she could have done herself, or replied to her remarks by a bright intelligent smile and a gratified “that is exactly what I think that is what I was going to observe!" He praised her favourite authors, detected her favourite passages, frequented her favourite walks, and sketched her favourite flowers. Dahlias have wanted interesting associations to me hitherto," said he, "but henceforward, they will always remind me of you." Then he appeared so sensibly to appreciate the excellence of Mrs. Wellford's character, and spoke so well of Mr. Russell, and so often of Matthew and Rosina, that Hannah's good will was completely secured. Good will, indeed, does not amount to love, but it affords excellent opportunities for making it. Hannah did not run in from the garden if she saw Mr. Huntley coming down the lane; and whenever she went to the village or the scattered cottages around it, he seldom failed to meet her, and to escort her back. Why should she shrink from his society? He never talked nonsense, as she had occasionally heard young men do, about bright eyes and incurable wounds: to Miss Phoebe Holland, for whom he cared not a straw, love was the burthen of his lay, while to her he always spoke as to a rational being. 66 When, indeed, the point of their similarity of tastes and ́sympathy of minds seemed established beyond dispute, his speech became more explicit, though still it was une voix voilée. He spoke of love-not of his own!--but of others; and history, poetry, common life, were all in turn ransacked for illustrations, leading to disquisitions on constancy, devotedness, affection without hope, all treated as general subjects, though broken off with a pause and a sigh; till Hannah, like the heroine of Mrs. Tighe's exquisite allegory, dwelt in the atmosphere of love and felt the fanning of his wings, unconscious of his presence. Her mother was more clear-sighted, but she liked Huntley, and believed he might make Hannah happy. It would not be a brilliant match for either; both had exhaustless treasures of mind,—of fortune, none. Ro Italian became another vehicle of Huntley's passion. Hannah, attracted by the appearance of the books which he had sent for Rosina, and rather ashamed of her sister's inconstancy of purpose, said she should attempt to make use of them herself, and Huntley eagerly offered himself as her teacher. Rosina, meanwhile, was beginning her acquaintance with the language under the direction of Miss Pakenham, but the progress of the sisters was very different. sina toiled through the tedious routine of grammars and exercise books. Huntley skipped over as much of the dry part of the business as possible, and endeavoured to lead Hannah by a new and quick road to the sense of her author. He made her read after him a stanza from his pocket Tasso, assisted her in construing it, and by frequent repetition, possessed her of the pronunciation. Then taking the book from her hand, he translated for her, page after page, of the fascinating story,-closed it with a smile, and to accustom her to the sound, repeated some favourite verse or sentiment in his beautifully modulated tones, till she caught not only the accent, but the very tone and emphasis of her lover. Huntley, delighted with her and with himself, exacted frequent repetition of her lesson-for her own improvement, as he would have it believed, but in reality, to luxuriate in hearing the voice of her he loved utter beautiful thoughts in the most musical of languages. Milton say "Questa e lingua di cui si vanta Amore." Well might Love breathes in its softness, its repetitions of sound, its 'felicità, crudeltà, amore, ardore, speranza, costanza,' which chime in with each other so naturally, that an Italian lover can scarcely escape being an improvisatore. So many minutes, hours, half mornings, and whole evenings did Huntley contrive to spend with Hannah, that he was seldom out of her sight, and seldomer out of her thoughts. Like the coin, which, impressed on our hand, we seem still to hold after it is removed, he, being absent, appeared still present; and Hannah, poring over her Italian lessons, watering her flowers, or plying her needle, had still one image before her eyes, coming uncalled, like Abra, and changing disguises as rapidly as Matthews in his Monopolylogue. CHAPTER XXIII OBSERVATIONS ON THE ARTIST'S PROGRESS. ROSINA had so much to relate, and her listeners were so much interested in the narrative of her visit, that bed-time had nearly arrived before she made the inquiry-" Well! and how has every-thing been going on here?" "Much as usual, I believe," said Hannah. "That means-Mr. Russell has called three or four times each week; Mr. Huntley, ditto, ditto; Matthew has drunk tea with you twice, and Phoebe Holland called once; Mr. Good has been seen in the village, and Lady Worral at church; Mrs. Greenway has met you at the shop and told you that she has had a charming letter from Anne and Eliza; on Monday you were caught in the rain, and on Tuesday you carried an umbrella to Hexley and back without wanting it. Would not that be 'much as usual?'"' But we have not been to Hexley." "An evident proof that I was not at home. What! a whole fortnight unenlivened by a walk to Hexley? No ribbons, bobbins, tapes, or needles wanted, nor any wants invented? You must have been shockingly dismal-or excessively happy. Which ?" "Not particularly dismal," said Hannah, in the smiling consciousness of having been particularly the reverse. "Not dismal at all," said Mrs. Wellford, looking expressively at Hannah. Well, I wonder at that, considering I was away; I am of less importance than I thought I was." At night, when Rosina went to her bed-room window, she called Hannah to see how beautifully the moon was shining. Hannah obeyed, and after a few moments' silence, gently repeated, "Guarda che bianca luna ! Why, Hannah!" cried Rosina, with surprise, "are you able to quote Italian ?" "I have been learning a little in your absence," replied she, smiling. "I have been learning Italian too, but you seem to know much more about it than I do. Your fluency, in so short a time, is quite surprising! I should never have suspected you of a talent for acquiring languages !" The next morning, the two sisters were sitting at work, and Rosina was wondering to herself what advances Mr. Huntley had made, during her absence, in Hannah's affections. She was just going to ask whether the picture were nearly finished, and suddenly looked up, when she perceived a crimson blush on the cheek of her sister, whose eyes were turned towards the garden. Rosina looked the same way, and saw Mr. Huntley passing through the gate. That blush told volumes! Rosina again glanced at Hannah, who was quietly resuming her work, while her colour was gradually returning to its usual delicacy of tint. Before Rosina had much time for speculation, Huntley entered. There was ease as well as pleasure in his manner of meeting her he held out his hand. Rosina was surprised; she gave her hand to him, however, with as much coolness as she could; and looked towards her sister. Hannah, though still slightly blushing, received him with as much evenness of manner as usual; it was only from Huntley's look and tone that any thing could be gathered; and they were less ceremonious, more open, more expressive of affection than Rosina had anticipated. She could hardly understand his having gained so much ground in so short a time. He appeared to feel himself on the footing of a recognized lover. "Will you walk, this morning?" said he, after conversing for a short time on in different topics. "Do you not mean to paint ?" inquired Rosina, with a little surprise. 66 Oh, no, the colours are not dry. I should do more harm than good if I touched the pannel to-day. Come let me persuade you. The weather is enchanting. You had better walk." "I hardly know, this morning, Rosina?" said Hannah, hesitatingly. "Why should this morning be more unfavourable than yesterday, to-morrow, or any other morning?" said Huntley, rapidly. "There can be so little rational hope that such fine weather will last long, that you should avail yourselves of it as much as you can.' 66 What do you think, Rosina?" again inquired Hannah, with unusual indecision. 66 If you and mamma have no objection," said Rosina smiling at her, "I can have none." "Mamma is engaged-she will not be able to accompany us.-Perhaps I had better go and ask her," said Hannah, and she left the room. "You have had charming weather during your visit to Mrs. Shivers's," said Huntley, playing with Hannah's scissars. "I suppose you had a walk every day." 66 66 A drive every day." 'A drive! Ah, true. I forgot what grand ladies I was speaking of. A carriage is a fine thing; however," (laughing) "I doubt not whether we pedestrians have not the most enjoyment, after all." 6 Have not' is better than had not,' certainly, thought Rosina. She could not help feeling that he addressed her with more freedom and yet more indifference than hitherto. His easy, open way of asking them to take a walk was something new formerly, he had occasionally accompanied them, but only by accident or on sufferance. Hannah returned to say that her mother had no objection to their walking, but that she should be unable to accompany them. "I suppose," said Rosina, as she and her sister dressed themselves, "Mr. Huntley has been here a good deal in my absence-hey, Hannah ?" |
