GRAHAM HAMILTON.

Farewell old Coila's

hills

and

dales,

Her heathy moors and winding

Pursuing past, unhappy loves
Farewell,

vales

The scenes where wretched fancy

!

roves,

my

friends!

My

peace with these,

These bursting tears

my foes my love with those my heart declare.

Farewell,

Farewell the bonnie banks of Ayr.

BURNS.

VOL.

I.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN AND CO.
CONDUIT-STREET, HANOVER-SQUARE.

1822.

The

Manuscript of these Volumes was

placed in Mr.

Colburn's hands two

years

ago, with an earnest injunction neither to

name

the

author,

nor to publish

it

at

that time: having fully obeyed the writer's

wishes, he has
the

now

the pleasure of laying

work before

the public.

Aj>rxl

2,

1822.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

GRAHAM HAMILTON

INTRODUCTION.

The

political convulsions of the

Old

World, and the great prospects opening in the

New, have
unfortunate,

of late years

driven the

and allured

the adventurous, to quit the former,

and to seek
calamity

in the latter a refuge

field
,

from

and a

for enterprise.

In the year
,

and

in the city of

two English strangers found

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
themselves by chance and accident

much thrown
reluctantly
;

together

at first very

for

they resembled each

other neither in appearance, manner,

nor character

but by degrees their

common

country and language, the

forbear-

want of other society, mutual

ance, and mutual curiosity, overcame

the barrier between them, which difference of age and dissimilarity of disposition appeared at
first

to render

insuperable

their habits

became more

and more intimate and

friendly.

The

elder related without reserve to the

younger the strange and chequered

history of his
life
;

and upon

his de-

manding

in

return a similar confi-

dence

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
dence,
place,

the

ensuing
to

conversation

took

and led

the narrative which

follows.
,1 J) wIj

It

is
?'

strange,

JNIr.

JM

'

What

is

strange

Why,

every thing in
all

life

but the strangest of

inexplicable
delineated,
self.

things

is

your

Were

your character

and your
believe it?

history

known,
a form

who would
\\Tought in

With
;

heaven's anger

with the

worst passions and principles, and the

most shameless avowal of them,

you have passed through
life

it

seems

prosperously,

VOL.

I.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
;

nay, even usefully

whilst

I,

born to

feel

with the most acute

sensibility,

am
;

the

lone miserable object you behold

and

have made

all

around

me

nearly as mi-

serable as myself.

M.

Mr. Hamilton,
in

allow

me

to say

that vice the most daring, depravity the

most decided, do not always cause

so

much unhappiness
results

their

course,

as

from an

irresolute,
:

inconsistent

temper of mind

such a

character

is

most dangerous, and generally incapable

of giving or enjoying happiness.

Yet
calm

you must not suppose that

here, Sir, as
it

all is as

appears.

I have but half opened

my

heart to
to

you

yet

have laid open

your

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
view some passages of

3
at

my life,

which

others would blush, and for which, you

say,

must one day

account
all

deeds
within
alone,
to-

from
is

which you infer that

this

worthy of
it

mis-shapen
Sir,

exterior.

Be

so

Xow,

as

we

are

and must pass many long evenings

gether, T propose to

you

to return

my

confidence witli equal candour.

3Ir. Hamilton.
will not

Alas,
;

Sir,

vanity

permit

me

to delineate

my own
satis-

character faithfully

you, on the contrary,

evidently feel no

common

degree of

faction in reflecting on,

lating,

and even in
;

re-

your own vicious pursuits

because

your dexterity, courage, firmness, and decision,

have always extricated you from

E 2

GIIAHAM HAMILTON.

the calamities and dangers to wlncli your

misconduct had exposed you.

nothing but pain

There

is

and humiliation in

reverting to weakness, inconsistency, and

those errors which arise from feebleness

of

mind

yet, if it

be sincerely your deim-

sire-

the

dreadful void around us

pels

me, I acknowledge, to turn

my
I
I

thoughts to the past, even though

fear it will

but excite your contempt.

:

cannot sympathize with you

not even comprehend

you

will

my

conduct.
;

AVe
for to

have, however, no other resource

me

the present

is

insupportable, and the

;

future without hope

so

and since you know

are so well

much

of

human nature, and

acquainted with the world, I shall find

some consolation

in reciting to

you the

graha:m hamiltox.
story of

my

griefs,

even though you

if I

may

smile at them.

Yet,
if I

fatigue you,

check

me

and

am

incoherent, in-

terrupt me.

If I dwell too long on those

recollections

moments endeared hy
happiness, forgive

of

me

But, alas
for

you,

who have no indulgence

weakness, will lose
all

any human

patience before

we

reach the conclusion of

I possessed what
hearts
is

my

narrative.

called the best of

it is

a dangerous possession, as

generally accompanied by the strongest

passions,

and

the

weakest
qualities,

judgment.
reverencing

With many good

my

God,

affectionately fond of

my

pa-

rents,

and susceptible of the strongest

I

attachment,

have ruined, destroyed,

or estrano;ed from

me

all

that I most


GRAHAM HAMILTON.
;

6
loved

and am now

left a

sad and

soli-

tary being, without object or occupation,

destitute of hope:

and with the

the

bitter

consciousness,
I

that

many

sorrows

have experienced, and now endure,

originated in

my own

weakness and im-

prudence.

But enough.

The narrative I

am

about to commence will prove but too

clearly

what you have already advanced

that a
often
vice.

weak and

irresolute disposition is

more destructive than determined

Yes

am

the victim of such a

disposition
to

yet I

may

defy even malice

reproach

me

with one premeditated

act of malevolence or ingratitude.

truth, I

In

seemed born only

to love,

and

to be happy. to involve

Why

then was I doomed

myself and others in misery,

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
and
that
to

endure the bitter remembrance,

errors

my

and misfortunes have

affec-

sprung from pure goodness, vivid

tions,

and a desire generally

to win, to

please,

and

to serve?

GRAHAM HAMILTON

CHAP.
M7\ H.
know,
land.
is

I.

My name,

as j^ou already

Graham.

I was

bom

in Scot-

My

father was the second son of

a family once prond of their high descent

and the gallant achievements of

ancestors,

their

but

by

reverses

of fortune
obscurity.

driven into

retirement

and

Of my mother and
family I say
little

the
is

rest

of

my
his;

am

it

my own

tory, not theirs, I

is

relating to you

it

enough

to say, they

were worthy of a
;

better son

and

relation

but they could

not have had one who loved them better.

GRAHAM HAMILTOy.

In those who have been early disappointed in

life,

whether in projects of

ambition

or

of gain,

who

have ex-

changed the anticipations and exertions

of active pursuits for the hopeless certainty

of a

meagre patrimony

who,

with the .habits

and

tastes

of former

luxury, are compelled to submit to the

restraints

of economy,^

the
are

disposition

often becomes embittered,

affections

and the best

blighted.

of

the

heart

But my
tliese

father

had never experienced

trying vicissitudes.
his

He

inherited

from

parents

their

circumscribed

income, but not their schemes of ambition.

all

In his farm, and in his family,

his
desires,

anxieties,

and

plea-

sm-es were centred.

He

superintended

B 5

10

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
and labourers, and shared

his servants

their toils.

He

planned and executed

idle-

improvements; gently reprimanded

ness,

and

liberally

rewarded merit.

Of

the cares of the world,

griefs,

of the

joys and

the hopes and alarms, by which

those beyond his sphere are tormented

he knew
him
satisfied

little

and that

little

taught

to believe that

he should be better
less.

with knowino;
;

His

chil-

dren were promising

his house

was the
;

model of
two

cleanliness

and comfort

and

apartments,

fitted

up
the
said,

somewhat
rest,

more luxuriously
reserved,
as

tlian

were

he always

until his

younger

brother,

Captain

Hamilton,

should retire from the world, and with

his daughter

Gertrude

fix his

residence

GRAHAM KAMILTOX.
in his native country.

Captain Hamil-

ton had lost his wife, his fortune, even the hope of advancement in his profession,

every

thing

save his

character

and honour. These misfortunes had confirmed in

him

that complaining melan-

choly spirit which

constitutional,

was in some degree

and he was continually

employed in lamenting his disappointments, or bitterly inveighing against the

unkindness of persons from

whom

in fact

he had had no great reason to expect more

favour than he

had met with

for

man,

in his relative situation here below, has

little leisure for

works of supererogation

the strong impulse of necessity, and the

imperious domination of selfishness, will

always influence the conduct of the mul-

12
titucle
:

GKAKAIM HA:\ni.TON.
tlicy

alone are wise

who have
on a few,

learned to

fix their affections

and

to expect

nothing from those whose

services they
quite.

have not the power to

redis-

It was not long before this

gust and discontent produced their natural effect on the

mind

of Captain
to accept

Ha-

milton, and induced

him

my

father's disinterested invitation.

Never
arrival:

shall I forget the

for

day

of his

then I

first

beheld Gertrude
to

We
Captain

went forward

welcome him.
re-

Hamilton bore a strong

semblance to

my

father: the expression

:

of his countenance was pleasing

but
by

my
his

eyes were in a

moment
it

arrested

companion.

Yes,

was then I

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
first

13
at that

beheld Gertrude

She was

time only a beautiful child; but with

something peculiar in her very graceful

and very gentle manner.

was

not

much

older than herself; yet I in;

stantly appreciated her superiority

as I

embraced her, " She

I said,

shall

be

my sister,"
seemed

and led her

to the rest of the

children.

Captain Hamilton

deeply affected with the kindness of

father's reception.

my

He

felt

it

with the

same violence of

sensibility with

which

he had resented the neglect and disregard of others.

As

he looked round his

his mother's

new apartment, he observed

picture placed above

the mantle-piece

and while

my

father modestly excused


14

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

himself for not making every thing more

comfortable, and said something of his

being afraid the furniture and bed were

not to his mind, Captain Hamilton, burst-

ing into

tears,

and

falling

upon

his neck,

thanked him with the eloquence of truth

and
affection,

exclaiming " It

is all

too

delightful

and too comfortable, brother

Jamie, but I cannot at this moment,

no,

I cannot
different,"

utter
lie

my

thanks.

Yet
a

how

continued
is

with

sigh, "

how

different
!"

this

from Mal-

colm's conduct

Malcolm was

my

other

uncle,

my

father's elder brother.

Captain Hamil-

ton could not, even

feelings of gratitude,
to a grievance.

when overcome by
forbear adverting

He must

complain

he

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
must lament.
must,

15
that he

My

father

knew

and therefore

forbore

to

check

him.

Now

every family has

its

great man,

whether he he a peer of the realm, a

knight, an orator, a poet, a statesman,
or a hero;
still

to that

name

his

humwith

bler

relations

continually
;

recur

pride and gratification

and Sir JNIalcolm

Hamilton was the great raanof ourfamily:

he was
to us the

one existing and visible

token of high degree.

He

was the link

tlie

which connected us with

the

world

world
little

of fashion

and though he
man, principally

was a

ugly old

noted for his riches, inhabiting, as

we

were informed, a miserable apartment in

the very centre of the city of London,

16
yet

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
we never heard
his

name without
;

a consciousness of our importance

and

we seldom pronounced

it

but with a

view to confound others, by informing

them who and what

those

were who

coukl thus familiarly speak of Sir Mal-

colm
great
said,

as of a relation.

It

is

true, this
as it

man had made money,

by
little

was

means, and had spent what

little

he was obliged to spend, in a

in
fine,

way

was a niggard

a miser.

But

what of that?

Miser

as

he was, he had
;

contracted for loans to government

ministers,

and

and even

princes,

had waited
acquaint-

upon
ance.

him, and courted his

Notwithstanding the distance of

their places of residence,

and the
certain

differ-

ence of their pursuits, a

inter-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
course

17

had

still

at times been kept

up
two

between
brothers,

Sir

JMalcolm
all

and

bis

and we had

been taught to

love

and reverence the uncle we had

never seen.

GIIAHAM HAMILTON.

CHAP.

11.

It would be tedious were I minutely

to describe our

way

of

life,

even after

it

had been somewhat

arrival

diversified

by the
his

of Captain
It

Hamilton and
regular,

daughter.
Iiappy.

was

peaceful,

The

Captain, fond of narration,

told his stories again

and again.
spirit

JMy

mother, blessed with a

of activity,
father,

put every thing in order.

tranquil,
trifles,

My

industrious,

but careless

of

saw with good-humoured indul-

gence the little errors of those around him,

and was only stern when we any of us

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

19

infringed upon the laws of morality or the

sentiments of honour.
alarm, in

Yet he saw with

strong symp-

my

character,

toms of violence and inconsistency.

He
:

acted ever himself upon fixed principles

tlie

duties of religion,

and the

dictates

of a pure morality, were

his

the objects of

reverence;

and poverty with indefar preferred to

pendence he would have

sharing with Sir
his

Malcolm any part of

conditions which

fortune upon

he

did not approve.

his indigence, for

He was proud
he
felt it

even of

the conse-

quence of his disinterested rejection of

offers

made upon terms

inconsistent with

his principles.

But, as he himself adchil-

vanced towards old age, and saw his

dren growing around him to maturity, he

20

GRAIIAJI HAMILTON.

naturally became anxious for their future

welfare,

and in the care he bestowed upon

our education, he shewed himself more

ambitious for us than he had ever been
for
all

himself.

]\Iy brothers

and

sisters,

in different degrees,
;

made some
but
it

re-

turn for this attention

was

lost

upon me.

^Vild and indocile, I strug-

gled against discipline, and rejected instruction, preferring ignorance

and

li-

berty to accomplishments, rewards, and

praise.

Even my

mother's gentle ad-

monitions could not control

me

and
idle

my

boyhood was passed away in

musings, visionary projects, and entire

neglect of useful study.

Early, too, T

learned to dazzle and confound

my own

understanding by indulging the wild

GllAHAM HAMILTON.
wanderings of fjmcy and yielding
impulse of passion.

21
to the

Not

only did I not

I

see things as they were

as

but

saw them

they were not;

with an impetuous
all

and unreasoning mind exaggerating

things,

and turning them by the

force

of

my own
It

imagination out of their real

course.

may

appear improbable to

some,

yet

it is

nevertheless true, that even in

these early days I loved

loved

too with age.

is

much

of the ardour

of maturer

This happens more frequently than

generally supposed
;

but happy are they

it
;

who have not themselves proved

who

have never yielded themselves up to such

feelings until reason has
reins of

assumed the
;

government over the passions

S2

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
all,

and happier, perhaps, than

are those

whom

age has exempted from the dan-

ger of falling under the sway of such

wild and furious masters.

For me,

became

their slave.

Children, however frank, have generally

some

feelings

which they dare not

betray even to their most familiar companions, and dread, even themselves, to
define or to
as

name

they consider them

mysterious enemies,

who

are con-

tinually impelling
to

them

to acts contrary

their duty;

and they scarcely dare

acknowledge to their own hearts, that

they have ventured
guilty intruders.
It
to
is

harbour

such

only by the most

unwearied observation that parents can

become aware of these

evil

tendencies,

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
and apply
early
tlic

23

most effectual remedy by

religious
principles.
for

inculcating

My

parents

did every thing

me

which depended upon them.

undertook to be
trude^

My uncle

my

monitor; and Ger-

whose virtues and domestic habits

this

had already made

sion on

deep

impres-

my

heart

Gertrude became my

chosen playmate and friend; but alas they

could not discern the secret danger, the

mysterious foe I had to struggle with.

Their innocent minds could not even

imagine
the

tumult, the

ardour,

the

romance, which bewildered

my

reason

and clouded over

my

understanding.

The
sitions

gentleness of Gertrude's dispo-

omewhat,

hov>'ever, softened

the

wildness and violence of

my character.

If

24

GRAHAM HAMILTOX.
me

grief oppressed

if

rage

disturbed
voice

me,

the

soothing
in a

tones

of her

cahned

me

moment, and changed

resentment to a softer and more tender

feeling.

She

felt

for

me

but as she

ought

my

love for her was distraction.

She was the theme of

the object of

my

early

Muse,
;

my

unceasing interest

the

idea which engrossed and employed all

the vehemence of ray

passions.

Oh

that I might call back the mis-spent days

of

my
"It

youth.
is

The time
said

thus,"

Mr. M.,
" that

intersilly

rupting

the

enthusiast,

men make
as they

their silly lives as miserable

useless.

were before

Your

history

hitherto, I acknowledge, interests

little
;

me

but

you must not however be discou-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

25

raged from proceeding: I have met a

hundred such characters in

age through the world.

my

pilgrimal-

They were

ways, like you, Sir, regretting their past

errors:

and the very next temptation,

it

when
and

occurred, found
frail

them

as

weak

as

as

the former.

Proceed,

however,

I wish to hear what brought

this country."

you into

Mr. Hamilwas
be-

ton sighed,

made

excuses, but again

happy in being heard.

cause
it

For why?

was of himself he was speaking.

VOL.

1.

26

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

CHAP.
Gertrude,
had
lost

HI.

while yet

an

infant,
deli-

her

mother;

and the

cate constitution

of that mother,

who

had died of a

decline,

was

visible in her.

Though

pleasing, she could not be called

beautiful.

She was not

fair,

as

our

northern maidens for the most part are

but her clear complexion varied with the

animation of surprise, or the timid blush
of emotion.

Her
;

countenance was na-

turally serious

her smile had, therefore,

a peculiar charm.

She was graceful with-

out art

and had an unembarrassed man-

; :

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
ner.

27

To some

it

may

appear a contra-

diction, if I

add that she was reserved.

The
in

retired habits of our family were,

first
it

the

instance, the cause of this

reserve;
for

was not, however, unbecoming;

was an archness and play-

there

fulness about her,

which was the more

the

captivating
this

from

circumstance of

apparent coldness.

She was not

accomplished; her father had not had

an opportunity of cultivating her talents

yet
it

she

had the sweetest

voice

in

either singing or speaking I ever heard

was low-toned, rather confined

as to

compass, and the higher notes imperfect

but her ear was accurate, and her natural

taste excellent.

She had, what

to

me

possessed

a peculiar

charm, a hearty

c 2

28
laugh,

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
when she did laugh
;

but
to

it

was

not often that she gave

way
it

outward
silent-

emotion
ly,

and

if she

wept,

was

and without much evident

agitation.

Her

health was good, but she was not

exceedingly strong.
ever feminine;

She was

active,

but

and preferred domestic

to

and quiet occupations

cises

those

exer-

which require

agility,

or display

of courage.

She was not a good horseshe danced well,

woman; but

though
she pos-

without science.
sessed the rare

Above

all,

and invaluable quality

of a natural love and taste for reading

a

power of comprehending a subject,

and of feeling the merits and beauties

of

a work

before

her
its

nice

discern-

ment was struck with

defects.

She

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
was a
critic in

29
;

the real sense of the word

not one who, incapable of sympathizing with the writer,

feels

joy only in discover-

ing and pointing out his faults.

Her fancy

was

far

from inventive

she was satis-

fied, therefore, ^^itll

appreciating the ex-

cellences of others, without endeavouring

to excel herself:

indeed, she had

little

vanity, nor
istical
:

was she in the

least ego-

and

praise, which, if just, she

received gratefully, she only smiled at if

greater than she

knew

herself to deserve.

I was not fond of reading,

and that

was not, has been to me, through

a source of deep regret.

life,

Those alone

are

worthy of being commended, or deserve

to be heard,

who have

early
stores

enriched
of other

their

minds with the

30
ages
;

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
and such
are,

in

general,

not

eager to display their

own

acquirements,

nor over-confident in their own powers.

Never can the

search,

taste for

reading,

re-

and

reflection,

be

sufficiently in-

culcated or encouraged.
it
;

Very few possess

to its pos-

and the propensity gives

sessor a superiority at times

even over
it

talent

itself. itself,

The want

of

daily
years,

shews

and, as

we advance in
for

nothing
ficiency.

can

compensate
ignorant
its

the

de-

The
to

mind
slender

reverts
stock,

continually

own

and the same bare ideas produced and

re-produced, from the same scanty provision,

become every day more powerless,

insufficient.
Sir, said

meagre, and
"

Psha

!"

Mr. M. "

diflFer

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
witli

31

you entirely

it is

not reading will

make a man

of talent; but reflection,

sagacity,
tliose

memory, natural
vation.
till

and obser-

know

who have read

to

have

been
read,

sick

death

of

seeing

them

and I never found

them

either wiser or wittier for their

exertions: but continue, for you speak

from the heart, and I

describe to

feel,

whilst you

me what you me
the truth."

were, that you

are telling

As

Gertrude and I were naturally

almost inseparable companions, she soon

became acquainted with

habits.

all

my ways

and

Indulgent even to

my

errors,

she would attend

me

with a gentleness

the most winning, with a patience and

sweetness which

never

wearied;

and


3^

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

though she was fond of conversing with

me, she would, at times, pass hours without uttering a word, lest
disturb me.

she

should

How
!

few there are

repose of a

who
mind

know

this art

the
How

perfectly disinterested,

and amiably enthe feel-

deavouring to adapt
ings of others.

itself to

invaluable such a

companion
the

The unclouded temper

but not noisy, obtrusive

cheerful,

gaiety of a

young mind

the ever-ready
a friend was
those days
if

sympathy which

affection alone can give

the
not
I

faithful,

constant spirit that knows

how

to

change

Such

Gertrude to me.

But even in

had

my

wanderings, which,

she obatten-

served, she

had but

to recall

my

tion to herself, to sing her sweetest song.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
or to
felt

33
at once

smile
error,

upon

me

and I

my

and returned

to her with

redoubled affection.
sions I

Upon

such

occa-

was unable

to restrain the ardent

expression of my feelings, which she heard

without embarrassment, because at that

time she understood but
nature or their
force.
little

of their

In spite of
flattered

all

my
me

faults I

was much

and much
to love

spoiled.
;

Every one
so un-

seemed

and I was

reserved, so frank in

my

manner, that
be-

even strangers, in a few moments,

came

as familiarly acquainted with

me,

as if they

had known

me for years. The

attachment which I appeared to awaken

in others

was always returned by me with

Gentle in manner,

an equal warmth.

34

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

slight in person, I yet delighted to follow

the the
as

plough, to watch the sheep upon

hills,

and never

felt

so

miserable

when

a book or a task was put into

I was pious, and prayed fer-

my hands.

vently and frequently.

No

fears

tor-

mented me, and no

sin polluted

me.
;

heard the Bible read with reverence

and

when Gertrude sang

to the Creator,

hymn

of praise

my

soul

seemed raised

with her's to heaven.

I dwell the longer

upon these
idle,

feelings, as,

though I was an

wandering unruly boy, ever writing

crude sonnets to love, the mountain-lark,

and Gertrude

never applying

to study

never
my mind

endeavouring to

fix steadily in
still

even one useful principle;

there was

something of a higher

spirit

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
in

35
feeling,

me

gleam of genius and

hope,

of

enthusiastic

and honourable

ambition.
AI.
" If you
still

possess

any of your

poetical rhapsodies. Sir, I should be glad

to see

them: uncouth
;

as I

appear,
is

love poetry

particularly if it

breathed

from the heart."

J/r.

H.

" I regret that I have no;

thing to give you

what I

wi'ote I lost.

Some

lines of

mine, however, occasioned

me no

small change of fortune

they
ISIal-

were written on liberty and independence: they

had been

sent, in the pride of

my

uncle Richard's heart, to Sir

colm, with

my

father's yearly present of

grouse

and, contrary to

the

expecta-

tions of the Captain, Sir JMalcolm sent

36

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
in return

me

some valuable books, and

in

commended the poetry

dial terms.

warm and corletter

He
visit,

ended his

by

in-

forming

my

father that he was about to

pay him a

and, after expatiating

upon the expensiveness of land-carriage,

he intimated his intention of coming
to

Edinburgh by

sea.

This was indeed an

in-

unexpected and unhoped-for piece of

telligence
;

and

my

father

and uncle
for

lost

no time in preparing every thing

the

due reception of

so great a personage.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

87

CHAP.
At

IV.

length, exactly upon the day apSir

pointed,

JNIalcolm

arrived.

We
my

were assembled in the evening around

the
fire-side,

listening

to

one of

uncle Richard's long

stories,

when, un-

attended, unannounced, and in the garb

of poverty. Sir

Malcolm

entered.

In

countenance he resembled neither

father nor

my
were

my

uncle

his features

sharp;

his

form diminutive; his eyes

light- coloured
;

keen and
cold

his

manner
harsh,

and repulsive

his

voice

discordant,

and abrupt.

But when he


38
again

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
beheld
his

two

brothers,

after

the lapse of

many

years of absence,

when each of them

accosted

him with

the famiUar tone of old acquaintance,

when the sound of " Welcome, dear Malcolm,"

fell

upon

his ear, it

seemed to

vi-

brate at his heart, and for an instant, a

single instant, a benevolent smile, a flash

of something like feeling, briglitened his

countenance, and
cynical

entirely

changed

its

and contracted expression.

My father
one,
to

now

introduced us, one by

his

notice,

and

Sir

JMalcolm

expressed his approbation of

all

he saw,

in very cordial terms; adding, that

when

he had made a

sufficiency,

perhaps he

also should retire to a cottage,

and enjoy,
his
life.

in rural ease, the

remnant of

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

tjQ

He

remained with us

Jl

fortnight,

and

we had

every hour fresh reason to hke

him notwithstanding the unfavourable

impression his appearance and manner

had
ness,

at

first

produced.
facetiousness,

His shrewdand an odd

satire,

humour, which naturally belonged to

him, pleased some of us so well, that
three or four of the children declared

uncle iMa'co'm to be a greater favourite

than the Captain

though we could not

but

all

wish that he had a better coat, a

good

hat,

and a new cane,

for the

honour

of the family.

Indeed, the meanness of

his dress astonished even

my father, who

seldom saw any thing to wonder at in

any man's humour

still

but our surprise was

farther

increased before he went

40

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
little

away, when he gave to each of us a

shabby box or

case,

which,

on being

opened, was found to contain either a

watch, a
seal,

or

a jewel

of value, in

remembrance, as was written in the cover,

" of old uncle

Malcolm the

miser."
I learned
oc-

^Vhen he had

departed,

that this visit, which

had hitherto

casioned such interest and

to us
all,

amusement
it

had

left

behind

a subject

of

uneasiness

to every

branch of the

family; for
proposal
to

Sir

Malcolm had made a

father,

my

which

it

was

deemed impossible

to

refuse,

although

there was great reluctance to accede to

it.

" I have no child of

my

own, bro-

ther Jamie," said

father, before

Sir INIalcolm to
left

my

he

us

" you have

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
many
ham,
;

41

and the eldest boy

like a troubled

there,

Grawill-

is

spirit,

o'th'wisp hovering over the

dead waters

of a morass.

I '11 take the laddie with

me
and

he shall return once a year to see you

his little wifie Gertrude.

Ill take

care of

him
if

certainly

and who knows

well,
I

but that,

he behaves
heir ?
!

may
hear,

make him my
heir to
Sir

Hey, do ye
will it

Malcolm

not turn
I fear,

his head, think ye ?" his heart too," said

fully.

"

Ay, and

my

father thought-

But such

a proposal could only

be received on his part with the warmest

gratitude; and
return to
Sir

Malcolm did not

receiving his

England without

solemn assurance that I should in a

42

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
and be in

very short time follow him,

future considered as his adopted son.

As

soon as this eventful circumstance

course,

became known abroad, I was, of

greeted on
all sides

with congratulations.

But, great as was the advantage conferred upon me, I

of real
felt
life

knew

as yet too little

its

to

estimate

value,

and
great

nothing but dread

at

the

change of situation and habits to which

I was doomed.
sole

knew

Sir Malcolm's

occupation

in
;

London was
and being

the

amassing of wealth

at that
desires,

time without either ambition or

careless of the future, nor gratified

with

the prospect of possessing lieaps of gold

at

some distant period,

of

after

having

passed years

painful probation far

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
from

34

my

friends,

my

country, and GerI

trude, without a

moment's hesitation,
go to my

positively refused to

uncle's. ISly

father declared as pertinaciously, that I

should at
year,
if I

all

events

make the

trial for

one

under a promise on his part, that

found

my

repugnance invincible, I

should be allowed to return

the
expiration

home

after

of

that
:

period.

The

matter was fully argued

I maintained

the liberty of a son to choose his ov/n

calling
;

he,

the authority of a father.

This

set

my uncle

Richard talking, and

life

the whole history of his

forth,

was brought

by way of example.
discussion

After vehement
sides, passions,

on

all

prayers,

and

kindness

from

my

parents,

and long exhortations

44
from
sons
ed,

GRAHAM HAMILTON. my
uncle, I yielded, as all dutiful
yield.

must
and

I should say, I obey-

at last resigned myself to be;

come the heir of a wealthy uncle

like

and,

many

others, to sell

my

liberty,

youth, and happiness, for gold.

concession I received

For

this

my

father's thanks.

But

I sought the approbation of another.

No
finally

sooner

was

this

arrangement
I

concluded,
she was
her.

than
tears,

met Ger-

trude;

in

and 1 wept
in
to

with

"You
go,"

haver

done right
trying

deciding to
smile
;

she said,

"

it

may break our hearts

"

to part,

but we are young, and we shall meet, I

trust,

some bright day

yet."

We shall
as

meet no more, perhaps," I answered,

striking

my

forehead,

and feeling

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

45

miserable as if our separation were really

to be eternal
;

" or

if

we

do, I

may be

grown a miser, and you

trude, or

will hate

me, Ger-

you

will

have forgotten

me and

your love, and you will marry another."

My
called

father

and uncle laughed, and

I
felt

me

romantic.

confused

I felt

hurt; for

I had not thought

us.

they were near enough to hear

Ger-

trude, however, without embarrassment,

modestly and cheerfully assured

me

she

should never marry, and smilingly said,

" If you grow an old miser, at all events

you

shall find

me an

old

maid on your

return."

When
less

we parted, Gertrude shed more

did.

tears than I
violent,

She was,

in

fact,

but

more

^^Tetched.

46

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
to her

had been
ther, a

a playfellow, a bro-

companion; something she lookherself,

ed up to as above

one

whom

she

preferred to every thing

around

her;

and

my

departure seemed to condemn

her to a degree of loneliness and dulness for which she was not prepared.

In

vain I promised soon to return

I gave her

in vain

den, and

my books, my flower-gareven my dog. Nothing could

and she has assured
suffered
at

soften her sorrow,

me

since,

that

she

that

time so much, that she often doubted

whether her strength would enable her

to support
it.

I said the
feels less

same

but he

who

quits

home

than those who

of prepara-

remain behind.
tion

The hurry

the

eager hope which will spring

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
up
ill

47
of scene
divert
it

the bosom
interests

new
the

the change new

ties,

all

mind of the

one,

and prevent
;

from

dwelling upon grief and regret

whilst

every tree and flower, every look, every

\vord, cruelly

remind the others of

all

they have

lost.

However, the moment of

trial

came

and passed

we
me

parted;

and I

set for-

ward on my journey.
accompanied

]My uncle Richard

of the

part

way

to

London, and, without any extraordinary

adventure, I arrived, miserably dejected,

though in very good health,

late in the

month of November,

at

Sir

Malcolm's

abode, in the heart of the City.

Thus ends
tive.

the

first

period of my narrainnocent, restless.

Thus passed the

48

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

but happy days of childhood, before the

trammels and tutorage of

laid

art

had been
to

heavy on the young mind; and

these succeeds the most mistaken, and

the least happy period of our existence

period,

however,

upon
life,

which

the
suc-

contentment of future
cess
lit"

and the

of
^

all
,

our prospects, for the most

;iesi/

part depend.

,1

^iw

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

49

CHAP.

V.

Sir INIalcolm received me with much

kindness, and laughed heartily

when

expressed

my

astonishment at the early

darkness which a deep

spread over the day of

London

fog had

my

arrival.

The

ensuing morning he took great pleasure

in

shewing

me

the City

and was deits

lighted with

my

admiration of

magthe

nitude and opulence.

But during

two dark dreary days that followed, I

had

full leisure, whilst

confined in m.y

new

habitation, to reflect

how

useless to

my

uncle were the vast hoards of

I.

money

VOL.

IP

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
if

he possessed,

condemned

to submit to
life

the disgust and slavery of the

by

which he had acquired them.

In what
sat

was he better than the beggar who

at

his

gate

" Oh
!

for
!

Scotland's
air

hills

and plains

Oh

for fresh

and Gertrude!"
ed, as pent

continually exclaim-

up

in a narrow chamber,

and

placed at a desk,
cagting
up,

I was day after day abstracting

transcribing,

and indexing
deeds,

accounts,

bonds,

bills,

securities

and documents of

all

descriptions, without the remotest Jiope

of either

terminating

my

labours,

or
I

being delivered from them.

AVhen

walked
bitetl in

out,

the

immense

riches exhi-

the shops around

a dirty
little

me

astonished sooner

rag,; jbjUt

man no

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
saw

51

me

beginning one of these excurshai-ply placing himself be-

sions,

than

fore
*^

me

" ISIaster Hamilton," he said,

let

we must not
you

you out of

office:

step in if

was

my

uncle's

servanthe was
please,
INIy

step in."
as

This

mea-

gre, as shrewd,

and

as poor in appearance

as his master.

room, the best in

;

the house, was filthy

my

uncle's
in

was

somewhat worse and the place

which

the clerks sat and wrote was absolutely

intolerable.

Dinner was served

little

at five;

lamp lighted the dark

bore

apartment.
of

Every thing

the

appearance

pinching economy and

distress.

When
my

first

went

out,

the old ser-

vant was desired to accompany

me

but

uncle himself often took pleasure in

D 2

52
GO

//lOTJIMAH MAHAJIO

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
.A haggard woman
at the
first

going with me.^

and three children were shivering

porch of Westminster Abhey, the

time I went thither.

lings; I

I had a few shilfor

gave one to the beggar;

she said she was starving.

My

uncle

laughed, muttered to himself, and shrug-

ging his shoulders, walked on

die, laddie," at

" Lad-

length he said, turning

to me, " take care, dinna gie awa' your

money.

Brother Jamie,

and brother

Dick, are ow're tender-hearted

and

it

had been better

mair
o'

for baith,

had there been

the flax in

the

flail

and

less o'

their composition.

You must

be mair

canny

money
can buy

's

an unco thing.
;

The

warld 's a bad warld

siller
it

and they who keep

all

and comraard

in

it

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
out when It
s

53

gotten

from you,

you

are no better than a laugliing-stoct."

I soon found, however, that I

had no

reason to complain of Sir Malcolm,

who

was a singular compound of good-nature

and

bitter satire,

and who liked

to

make

Tools and tools of those

who surrounded

him.

After I had passed about a month

in his narrow gloomy mansion, he one

day told

me

he should have company

that evening.

Two

gentlemen came

ac-

cordingly ; and, after discussing together

some general

subjects. Sir

Malcolm, who

always spoke in his native dialect, which

'I
'

cannot pretend

to

render, turning

himself to me, asked me, with his usual

satirical laugh,

*'

what

profession I

meant

to follow.

Hesitatingly I answered, that

54s

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
ardently

I had

wished to enter
life

the

Navy
ill it

that a farmer's

had nothing

displeasing to me, but that after his

it

kindness I must leave

to

him

to decide.

Seating himself with great seriousness

near his table, and looking at
time,

me for some
know
's

and then

at the

two gentlemen^i*

" Nephy, Graham," he said, " you

I told your father, brother
as

Jamie (who

great

fool,

between ourselves, as
to

ever

I saw,
in

owing
home,)
heir.
if

his

fixing

his
to

ideas all

that I

meant

make ye my
shall

Now, Laddie, what

I
tell

you say

you candidly I it

have more wealth, more treasure, than

most
whose

of

those

lairdlings

and

ladies?;;

fine carriages, as

they veer about

atten-i.;.

the streets, are the objects of your

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
lion or admiration.

55

I therefore asked
to

you concerning your profession but

try you; for
to

you

shall

be brought up
'11

none
;

But

as you

bear some

day the great name of our family, you

should receive the education of a gen-

tleman

and

this

you cannot do like a

picking

barn-door

fowl,

up

common

things here and there, without proper

instruction on the subject,

which I have

over and over considered.

Now

hear

me

with attention, and I will explain to

you how in

this world,

and more parwill prosper;

is

ticularly in this to^vn,

you

or rather

how you may become what

^^f
'^?^'f+

called fashionable.

%'

^'^^

" In the

first

place, these

same nobles

of this country, though they have lost

56
a'

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
a'

pride of character,
a'

courtesy of

man-

ner,

dignity of carriage, yet are they

greater monopolists than our neighbours

the corn-factors, and keep those

who

are

not born in their sphere at a very great

distance,
sires
;

bowing attendance on
suffer

their deto forget

and never

them

that they are in every respect their inferiors.

But you

shall leani

how

to be-

come

their envy.

In the second place,

as the steps to the throne of

fame are

many, and

it

is difficult

to climb them,

you need to hearken to the words of experience,

and attend unto the precept of

a

him who knoweth

to
arrive

new way by which

These
lairds
:

at honour.

of

the creation addi-ess their heirs

saying,

pMy

sickly

and

sole

offspring,

be-

I
!

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
queath unto you
squandered
it

57

iiae
all

wealth, for I have

;

away

bequeath

unto

ye, for

an heritage, nae honour

it;

you

never sought

but I leave you

;

a,

Title

and you are born a gentleman

little

however
sees

any one who knows or

it'

might suspect
T'

'^^

Tnvnn bfr

r-'ST??

" But
heir
:

I,

Sir

Malcolm, thus speak to

in thy

my

"

Take money

hand

open thy house

thing.
field

ha' the best of every

as

And,
is

first,

my

Lord Chester-

doth hold that the exterior deof the most important con-

|>ortment

sequence to the man, take care,

Nephy

Graham,

to acquire

an easy, and some-

thing of an insolent manner; look nae

modest, nae sharp.
not,
ears-. that

Have

eyes that see

hear not; and repress every

: ;

^8

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
would utter the genuine
nature.
;

voice that

feel-

ing of

human

Learn neither
say
little
little,

to

laugh loud, nor weep

discretion,
will

learn

and,

with

study, you

easily

acquire
to

that

talent

which

knows how
if

treat of every thing as

it,

you had read

and understood

it.

Be, as in dreams, surprised at nothing

but try and surprise others

Affect
to

if possible.

be weary

of every
gi-ow so.

thing,

and
is

in time
difficult,

you

will

This

but

a material acquire-

ment.
trouble

Hate no
:

one,

it is

too

much

envy no one ; but keep beneath

all

the level of

that

is

good and great,

clash with

and then they cannot

^i%:,v

you in

Aspire to nothing, then nothing

can greatly humiliate you.

Never love

GRAHAM
and
whilst

HAMILTON'.
power

59
over

you assume
beware

every other,
self into the

of putting your-

power of any one.

Keep

your

own

secret,

but master that of

your neighbour.
friendships, but

Form no
seek,
as
;

intimate

your compaassociate with

nions, those

you despise

the worthless, and smile in pity at every

sort of
crisy,

superiority.

Call feeling hypo-

and

sterling

worth vulgarity.
writing,
cultivate

In
a

speaking and
style

in

of affected conciseness, acquire a

ready
tions,

command
and

of ill-natured
fa;r

observafacts

steer as

from truth as

and dates permit.

But beware

of stum-

bling over such obstacles, they being like

fearful

sandbanks, so that a shipwreck

to the neces-

upon them may put you

60

GEAHAM HAMILTON.
yourself.

sity of exerting

Speak

ill

of

others.

Detract from excellence

by

destroying high character you will shine

yourself the brighter
a
:

thus

may you be
of fashion.

London ephemera, a man

lairds

This heritage, which

bequeath of

right to their offspring, I bestow

upon

you by precept, and with

gold to keep
it

it

hoards of
state

up with prouder

than

they can.

Yet

a'

this shall

be

done without making you pass ten years

fagging
at

public

school,

learning

every vice, and every extravagance, with

the co^t and trouble their children do/g

.One of the two gentlemen smiled and

accused Sir Malcolm of being very severe;

that one was

Lord

Orville,

my

uncle

af-

terwards informed

me

the other was an

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
old

6l

Lord S-

whose son
visit

had seen

wheu once on a
arid

in

Edinburgh,

who

evidently

understood not a

word of what was passing.

Sir

Malcolm continued:

"

You

shall

be instructed in fencing and dancing

learn to play with ladies' fans
till

you

break them

swear

that
;

their pretty

verses at least equal Pope's

and appear
indifferent

well acquainted
to

with,

and

them

all.

You must

drop your en-

thusiasm, nephy, and assume a contempt

for

the great landmarks

all,

of learning
as of

above

talk of

Homer,

one you

could never relish and of Milton's

as a tedious tale,

poem

and

taste the sublime

alone in some novel production of the present day.

Be

over fond of Italian poets,

62

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
you do not understand

in particular if

the language.
figure
doors,

Lace yourself

into the

you may see passing, not these

but along the west end of the
all his airs

town, assuming

and

conceits.

Speak ever

ill

of your

own

country.

Buy

yourself a house, and

fill it

with gewgaws.

Spend

liberally where it is seen,

and keep

a train of well-fed liveried lackeys to do

nothing.

Marry some young girl of rank,

and who
loves another,
;

whom
but

others love,

sells herself for

your fortune

and

let

her be the only

cold neglect.

woman you

treat with

Boast of the attachment of

trusted ye, and if they

those

who have

trouble ye with complaints, break their

hearts

by your unkindness.
j5

And when
fi

o[mi8

oim

boo^t^

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
you have done
deal more, you
all

63

this,

and a great
yourself,
ass
a'

may pronounce

Nephy Graham,

as

great

an

as

any in the kingdom, without

that
so.

trouble they have taken to become

And
ment

then you

shall, as

soon as age per-

mits, stand for a

interest

borough upon Governor,

if

it

pleases

you

better, a

county upon loud-roaring radi-

cal principles,

without knowing or un-

derstanding one word of the Constitution or laws of the country.

Ha,

ha, ha

what think ye?

the
best tailor in

And

such a man, if
takes

London

you

imder his protection, in matters of dress,

will

do

for

what ? "
whose cold unbendino-

Lord

Orville,

good breeding had relaxed into a smile.

64

GRAHA^r HAMlL^om^
his head, saying, "
soul
it
is.
'

now shook

This
I

is

tod

bad,upon my
dismissed to

was then
on

make my own

reflections

what had passed, whilst those Lords and

my Uncle continued more than two hours

in close debate
;

money was the

said

subjects

What

Sir

Malcolm had
all

when

was present, was

meant
it

as a satire

upon them
lie
it

I guessed

not then, but

soon took the trouble of explaining

to

me.

looofi ,9'iU8S9lq

^"However, Sir ISIalcolm did not

jest

when he

said

he meant
this

to

make me

gentleman; and

being the case, I

<rfa

was immediately put under the care

tailor

and a dancing-master,

my
the

uncle's

only orders being, "

Form

young

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
man, and
frequently
dress him.
to

65

I shall send

him

your houses, gentlemen,

find

and I request that I may never

him

deficient

in

the

two

important

articles

of dress and manner."

Thus,

to

my

infinite surprise,

from a house the

meanest in appearance, and by a persou

who seemed

to

despise

and laugh at

even cleanliness, I was given up to two

ridiculous coxcombs, to torment
pleasure, according to every

me

at

whim and
Nor had

fancy that occurred to them.

I power to order

my

clothes as I liked

them, nor
ing,

to refrain

from dancing, bow-

and turning myself into attitudes

which 1 detested.

To

these occupations

were added the exercise of the riding-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
French
so that

school, a professor of fencing, a

abb^, and an Italian musician

my
new

time was entirely engrossed by this

course of general education.

Sir JMalcolm did not, however, neglect'i

to furnish

me

with the best books upon'^

every subject.

read with
studies,
literary

He would even sometimes me, and assist me in my

no
small share of^
still

displaying

acquirement, and

more of^

natural

shrewdness

and
to

penetration.

He
to

encouraged
;

me

frequent

the

theatres

always, however, desiring

me
^^

walk

home, and not take a coach,

o'

" for walking did laddies a deal

good

and coaches
an unco' thing

cost siller,
!"

and

siller

was

Never

shall

I forget

the

astonish-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
ment and
delight with which,

67

upon one

of these occasions, I beheld Mrs. Sid-

dons

for the first time.

To

matchless

beauty,

to

a figure

and countenance

formed

for the expression of strong feel-

ing and passion, she united a voice and

manner, a general talent

so

much above

the ordinary level of humanity, so equal to

any idea of absolute

perfection,

formed

and created by the most vivid imagination, that,

even upon recollection, I can-

not think of her excellence without enthusiasm.

Lost in ecstasy

eyes, ears,

thoughts, wholly engrossed

I was sud-

denly disturbed by a young

man

near

me, who, in a

soft tone of voice

asked

me

whether I had never been at a play before.

On my

replying, " but seldom,"

68

GItAHAM HAMILTON.

he smiled at
tion,

my

agitation,

and the emo-

with which I had attended to the

;

performance

and then,

in a jargon not

'V6ry easy to understand he entertained

title

with innumerable anecdotes of the

players,

and displayed such knowledge of

the drama, the stage, and green-room,

'^s

convinced

me

had gained a most

va-

luable acquaintance ; which opinion was

confirmed by his dress and the perfect

ease of his manner.

On

our leaving

the theatre, he expressed a wish to be

more intimately acquainted with me,

as-

suring me, that at the theatres, or aiiy

other public amusements,
I could not

have

better

guide and companion

thatt

than himself, and

he should be
" I

happy

to

assist

my

inexperience.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
am," he continued,
tonishment,
^lilemau
;

69
as-

to

my

utter

"

Lady Denmont's

gen-

my

uniform I have been per-

mitted to throw aside upon this occasion.

am, notwithstanding, now going

that

to

escort

lady

to

her

daugh-

ter's,

the Countess of Orville's, in Port-

land Place.

If that
will

is

in your

road

gjiome, and you

accept

seat

on

j^e
.

box,

for

we have

at present only a
is

travelling carriage, it

at

your service,

3^nd you may have

a chance of seeing

-.Lady Orville, the finest

world,
positively.

woman

in the

She takes us much

^^qutof the regular beat; Portland Place

^j^ff^%'

most vnifrequented quarter.

Fine
pro-

g^jvvoman,
j

handsome
but she
'11

house,

good

perty

be

ruined,

utterly

70
ruined,

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

poor young
it.

creature,
is

I lament

to profess
ter

She

my

lady's

daughactive a
it,

two

years married.

Too

situation for

me

had the

choice of

but preferred the mother."

During

this address, I

had been

feli-

citating myself

upon the new acquaint;

ance I had formed

and the instant the

gentleman ceased to speak, I wished him

good night, and made the best of

my

way home.

,how sdi

ill

901 Jbaoubfis
<J80fb

10

s;

'^

^^^^'"

imijIK no*

to jjsiiY/oinoa

aohav

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

71

jl

lo 9oiorfa

-^fft

Bf^ ^^
VI.

w'i ftorten M.

CHAP.
^Hf^ n^o^ ^''^
'^

One

evening, however, in rambling

v^^est

about the

end of the town,

;

found

myself in Portland Place

and the name

I had

reminded

me

of

Lady

Orville.

not forgotten

my liveried friend's jiositive

woman

assurance that she was the finest

in

the world.

An
It

indefinite curiosity

induced

me

to

ascertain the house in

which she
fine

lived.

was one of those

illumito

evenings,

when the moon

buildings,

nating

the

gives

the

uniform streets of London somewhat of

72

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
The
fresh air

a solemn appearance.

from

the neighbouring

fields

differed

much

from the dense fog I had been in the

habit of breathing in Abchurch-Lane.

There were, however,

soon drew
the

lights

which

my

attention from the

moon

pilasters

and

balcony

of

Lady

Orville's

house being illuminated with

coloured lamps,

and a cypher
initial

in

the

middle exhibiting the

letters

A.

M.

As

it

was yet
;

early,

this display

appeared unusual

and seeing a num-

ber of carriages surrounding the door, I

asked the occasion of this illumination.

" Lord Merton
is

two years
it is

old,''

replied

one of the porters, "

ton's birth-day.

Albert Merlordship gives

I

His

little

a ball this evening."

And

now heard

plainly the harp

and

violins,

and

soft-

breathing

flute,

from the open window.

Fragrant flowers decorated the balcony,

at which a

young and beautiful woman

suddenly appeared, holding a child in

her arms, and attended by a number of

gentlemen.

I could see her smile,

and

she appeared to

me more
had ever

beautiful than
seen.

any creature
thought
I,

Alas

why

has fate placed

me

at

a distance from this gay, this refined, this

delightful scene?

Upon

these favourites
life

of fortune, every good gift in

to
,

appears

be lavished.

Yet, what have they

done more than others, to deserve their

felicity?

Happy, happy,

are those

who

surround that angel woman.

be

" It

must

Lady
VOL.

Orville

!"

I exclaimed.

" Yes,

I.

,7,4

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

it

must be the mother of the boy

of that

the
all
!

mistress

mansion

where

breathes delight and gaiety.

so blessed as she is
;

Oh who

and long may she

^d rho&irr^oosil

continue so!"
I

stood

gazing upon her, until she

ceased,

retired.

The music

and I heard

only the loud laughing of servants aijd

quarrelling of coachmen. I returned with

my mind
when
and I

full of

the scene I had wit-

nessed to Sir JNIalcolm's.

I slept

That night

my

dreams were confused

rejoiced, for the first time, in the

thought that I might one day be intro-

duced to scenes which

allured from afar.

glittered

and

A few nights
Lady
Orville, it

afterwards I again sa^v

was from the

2

pit at the

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Opera-house
lovely than
;

75

she then looked even more

I

when

had

first

beheld her.

The same
her.

troop of gay admirers attended

I ssLW one, in particular, whose face

;

I recognized

he had often visited our

cottage in Scotland;

he was
it

my own

countryman

it

was

yes,

must be

Moncrief
grossed

He

seemed now entirely enOrville

;

by

Lady

his

eyes

were fixed upon her with undisguised

admiration.
in

But Moncrief was

a

strict

principle;

man

of learning

and

morality.

How

could he be the asso-

ciate of those

whom my

uncle considered
?

as

wanting in every estimable quality

all

" No, they are

beautiful
!"

virtuous as they are

;

I exclaimed

and

the soft

Italian music,

and the dance, which I

E 2

'

76-

GPiAHAM HAMILTON,

looked upon, confirmed

ration of tliat
class

me

in

my

admi.

to

wliicli

it

was

now my ardent

desire to beions'.

ISOiq

9if

rtm yni noqit n

GRAHAM

ha:viii,tox.

77

CHAP.
It would
tire

VII.

you were

I to repeat

my

thousand boyish adveutures

the progress that T
I

or to relate

made

suffice it that

passed
;

two

years

with

Sir

Mal-

colm

during which time I was introto

duced

many whom,
and

in turn, I liked

and

disliked,

whom
much

now

scarcely

remember. Lord Orville, the husband of

the lady I had so

admired, was

nearly the only person

who made any per-

manent impression upon

my mind. He,

as I before mentioned, visited Sir INIal-

colm, not from inclination, but from ne-

78
cessity.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

He was

immensely

rich

and

in

consequence exceedingly poor.

He

had

married an heiress and a beauty, and on

that account was most

unhappy

in do-

mestic

life.

Lady

Orville was the ad:

miration of the whole world

the only
Orville

person to

whom

she was utterly indif-

ferent was her husband.

Lord

was a

man

of a very peculiar character.

He

could lose thousands at play without

a frown, but had no

command

of temper

when

forced, or, it

might be

said,

awaken-

ed into exertion by any urgent necessity,

^iij-^hout this period,

Lady

Orville's un-

bounded extravagance had involved him

in very serious difficulties

it

was neces-

sary

he should

raise

large

sum

of
se-

money.

Sir JNIalcolm,

upon proper

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
curity,

79

advanced the

siiin,

and Lord

Orville liad called

upon him frequently

during the course of the transaction.

Upon

one of these occasions he spoke a

few words to me.

some, phlegmatic
fied

He
his

w?s

fair,

handdignistu-

m.anners
dress

and

graceftil; his

little

died.

He

had a resigned, rather than a

happy countenance; and a degree of

cold,

unheuding pride made him

diffi-

cult of access.

The few words he

said to

me

were, " I understand from Sir INIalfine horse

:

colm that you have a very

are

you fond of shooting ?"

saying
*

And

upon

my

I was, but there was no shooting

in town,' he smiled;

and the next morning

as a pre-

an excellent gun was brought,

sent,

by one of his Lordship's servants.

80
I called

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
some days
after to return

him

my thanks I was of course not admitted.

I fear I tire you
trivial
,

I dwell
and
all

eternally on

points

must proceed.

Lady

Orville,

my new gun,

my London
Malcolm

amusements, were entirely put out of

my

head

at this time; for Sir

to

himself proposed
Scotland,
parents.
to

re-conduct

me

to

see

once again

my

dear

And he proposed
visit,

that after havsix

ing paid this

I should study

months
to

at

Edinburgh, and then return

London.
and

We

set forth

we
in

arrived

there,

after a prosperous journey, I

found myself
ther's arms, at

once

more

ray

mo-

my

father's feet, obtained

for

their blessing,
smile.
ull

and looked

Gertrudes

It

is

impossible to describe
interests of life

how

the

other

pride.

'

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
vanity,

81

and
I

folly

vanished

at that mo-'

ment.

only

felt

that I was restored

for joy, as

to happiness,

and I wept

gazed again upon each dear, each well-

known

face.

"

He

has been a gude lad,"

said Sir

Malcolm

to

my

father, "

though

he
in

's

a comical one." After

some minutes,

which he had taken pleasure in contem-

plating

my emotion, he
ladies

added, "

He goes

abroad more than I approve; the theatres

and the
his

make

a fool of him

and
;'-

money goes something

still

too rapidlyi'^^

But

he

's

a good lad, on the whole

say,

and what I must

he

's

an affectionate
made^^'-

and dutiful nephew, and he has

his old uncle very happy:
their gaieties,
ries,

and none of
their foole^^^

and none of

ever

once

made him

forget

his'

duty."

" It was

my pleasure,"
E 5

I replied,

82

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
;

grasping his hand

for,

in truth,

it

had

been

so.

I owed every
to hear
feel

thing to Sir

Malcolm: and
of me,

him thus speak

that I had done

made me
him

too little for

My
feelings

father was not apt

to

shew his

much; but when he heard me

commended, with an expression I never

can forget, he turned his eyes
his brother, then on
will bless thee,
first

on

me, saying, "

'

God

my

child.

The Captain
when wanand
fol-

said

I looked better than

dering over their mountains,

lowing the i^lough.

Sir
last

*'

And

yet," said

Malcolm, "
three

it

was bad weather the

months.

But what's odd,

true,

though nevertheless
never hurts

London
it

fog
is.

any man.

Certain

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Graham
has

83
it,

made

shift to live in

and
I

sing and dance

feared

the

madcap

till

the neighbours would think

kept a Frenchman in the house.

But

he

's

no Frenchman, he
to foot

's

a Scot, from

head

right noble, and gallant,

as his great ancestor,

he who died with

his claymore in his hand, there,

where
slain,

Scotland's liberty

and hopes were

field."

even on Flodden's bloody

"

Come,

brother, leave all that," said

liis

my

father, thinking of

rising pro-

spects and increasing farm, "

we

w^ere a

greater nation, perhaps, in those good

days

but we are a very happy nation

now

and

my

opinion

is,

that people
all

do muckle more harm with

those la-

ments and exclamations, than they think

84
for.
is

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Graham
's

come home

to-morrow
be as happy

Gertrude's birth-day

and some neighall

bours dine here: let us

and comfortable
should be
;

as it

pleases

God we
life,

for

the things of this

grand or poor, muct pass away.

if

And
and
re-

we

are always looking back,

is

gretting the time that

past, it

may
and

seem

like

a lack

of

satisfaction
is."

gratitude for the time that

My father's words
tended
to,

and wishes were

at-

and my uncle enjoyed the three

his return

weeks he passed with us before

to town.
stories
:

The Captain

narrated his old

Gertrude laughed heartily at

:

each well-known jest

and the laugh

was the more hearty,

I was near
;

I thought, because

but she was timid and bash-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
fill,

855

and even more reserved than when

parted.
I described to her all I

v^^e

had
seen.

had

I told her there

were many pretty

like her.

women
I

in

London, but not one

rise in

saw the colour

her cheeks, and

her teeth, like rows of pearl, just shew-^

ing themselves

when she smiled

yes, I

now saw

she was a thousand times more

beautiful than

when we had

parted.

P
She

could not disguise

my

sentiments.

was
so

still

young

but not, I thought,

them.

young

as not to share
?

Was

mistaken

did love, in
sleep ?

that peaceful

bosom

still

and were the blush,

briglitness of

and the
those

smile,

and the

eyes,

when they looked on me,

the pure result of affectionate regard ?

In me, the furious passions had awaken-

86

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

ed powerfully, and reason as yet dawned but with a feeble light on

I gave

way, therefore, to

my mind. my attach-

ment, and pouring into her ear vows of

enthusiastic tenderness, I reproached her
for

her coldness, and sought by every per-

suasion, to gain from her the assurance

that her heart was mine.

Never

shall I forget the blessed

moat

ment when, returning home with me

sunset,

one

beautiful

evening in
after

the

month

of June, soon
;

my

return
so long
liberty,

from England

who had been

air
soft

pent up from fresh

and

doubly enjoying the

warm

breeze,

gazing entranced on the green

rural scenery,

hills

and

my heart
was

breathing but

of love Gertrude

moved.

Her

GHAHAM HAMILTON.
coldness was dispelled
;

87

she looked upon

me

with tenderness

she returned the

vows I made her with a simplicity, yet

with an
seen
;

air

of truth, that
passion
is

is

now seldom

for

now

the love of most

hearts,
feeling,
is

and that devoted, that gentle

which alone deserves the name,
It
is

utterly banished.
;

the offspring

of virtue

it

cannot exist with guilt or

is its

affectation

vanity

bane.

It

is all

generous

devoid
made her

of

all

egotism.

Gertrude feared but

to

to give expression

the deep

sentiment she cherished;

every protestation an

whilst I

ardent lov^r makes,

first

when he

loves for the

time.

We walked slowly on towards

is late,"

home.
turn.

I entreated her not yet to re-

" It

she answered, "

my

88
father

GRAHAM
will

HAMILTO>f,.
me."

expect

There

was

something sacred to

me

in these words.

They were

uttered with gentleness,

with nothing of punctilious formality,

hut

as

if

an

affectionate

heart had

breathed them.

I even hastened
lest

home,

partaking in her fear

the old gentleI

man might become

moment
it

anxious.

sympa-

thized with her desire to spare

single

him one
even

of

uneasiness,

though

snatched

me

from happiness.
I

Yet

no, that

happiness continued.
I was loved

was a new being.

it

I felt

had heard

it,

and from Gertrude.

me
at a

She had renewed

and upon
of
the
that

to

maturer age,

full reflection,

the assurances

affection,

which
c^u,jQijr

had blessed
childhood.

happy

days

"

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
With what new charms
life

89

every object in
Studies,

was clad

for

me

which
were

had appeared

dry and tedious,

lightened in idea, with the hope of im-

proving

my mind
when

for her.

Even my

uncle's prison-house

was embellished by
that the

fancy,

I remembered,

fortune promised

me

would render her

and her father happy.

above their usual height
than the Captain.

My
;

spirits

were

I talked

more

IVIy

father

smiled

with delight; and when we assembled

that evening to return thanks to God,

how my whole
lips,

soul breathed from

forth
its

my

and

poured

grateful

praise

Before morning I arose, and, actuated

by the

same

.feeling,

Gertrude

fol-^

90

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
after.

lowed a few moments

dered together
fast,
till

We wan-

tlie

hour of break-

and spoke of love and happiness.

Less timid than the preceding night,

she

now
felt

confided to

me
;

that she had

long

much

for

me

but had feared,

she said, to love me, because I was so

changeable,
so

overpowered

by

every

emotion, so ardent for a time;

"and
cold

who knows,"

she continued, "

how
if

and distant you might become,

should ever change
!

you
she

This

it

is,"

added, " which has prevented

ever daring to permit

me

from

myself to love
it

you."

"

And how
lips to

could you help

?"
to

I enquired.
press

She smiled. I ventured

hers

my

but
my

oh

was

sorry

afterwards, for

feelings were

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
too strong,

Ql
terri-

and Gertrude appeared

fied at their violence.

Strange
delights

it

is,

that a

human being

in tearing
his heart,

open the bleeding

wounds of

when time has

in

part healed them. Wherefore paint a

life

of innocence and enchantment,

luntarily
scribe to
ties

when

vo-

forsook

it ?

wherefore

de-

you the charms,

virtues, beau-

of

my

Gertrude, merely to shew

I

what a wretch
say I loved
so.

have been
it

Did

?
is

I had

not in

me

to

do

Love

what an angel may

feel

for

suffering

man

it

is

all

pure

all

heavenly

all

true.

But my

feelings

were the overbearing violence of passion,

not the
love.

warm and pure

benevolence of

92
JNIy

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
imagination painted the delight
I dwelt wdth

of our future prospects.

Gertrude upon our marriage, our family

arrangements,

my

promised fortune.

talked with her of visiting foreign countries in a carriage,

with imperials, trunks,

servants, clothes, jewels, such as I

had
and

seen in

London

of

theatres, balls,

splendour.

She spoke
all

to

me

also of our

union

but

her thoughts turned to

home,

to rural scenes, to a cottage, to a

farm, to

a small library.

She pointed

out the beauties of nature, and awakened

me

insensibly from

my

visions

of osas

tentation.
sat

My

father

marked us

we

by each other deep in conversation,

and the Captain smiled with benignity

upon our growing attachment.

When

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
my

9^

father exhorted us to virtue and to in-

dustry, his mild eye turned itself to me,

and I

felt

but sentiments of gratitude and

all

veneration for

that

is

holy and good.

The dream
and as such,

w^as assuredly
it left

one of heaven,
eter-

upon the mind an

nal sentiment of delight and peace.

The

six

weeks that Sir Malcolm had

allowed,

were thus passed,

when the
more of
life

Captain,

who knew

a little

than

my

father, advised

that

I should
to

return.

"

They

are

too

young yet

marry," he said, speaking of Gertrude

and me

" and though thus pledged to

it is

each other, I see

leave
fifteen,

an idle thing to

them

together.

She

is

scarce

and he but three years more

Sir

he must go to Edinburgh,

Mai-

94

GllAHAM HAMILTON.
upon that head must be
and

colm's wishes

attended to

my

girl,

instead

of
all

hearing vows of love and nonsense

day long, must read, and work, and improve herself."

I went accordingly to

Edinburgh, passed there the appointed

period,

not without

much

profit

and
for

advantage; returned to

my home

one more happy week

then tore myself

from Gertrude, and rejoined Sir Malcolm

in the old, dark,

and dirty habitation.

D'J

ihroai

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

95

CHAP.
It

VIII.

is

thus that short-sighted mortals,

pursuing some dehisive hope, alloy for

themselves
the

pure

blessings

which

Heaven has already bestowed upon them.

Could they look forward, they would
per-

haps cherish every passing moment, par-

don many imperfections, enjoy what they

possess,

and only tremble

it.

at the thought

of losing

I parted thus again from

Gertrude.
this parting

But oh

how
last.

different

was
w^ent

from our

now

with the certainty of a speedy return,

and the knowledge that she was

to be

96
mine.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
The
Captain, before I went, gave

me
if

the assurance of his daughter's hand,

of us
after
still

we both

continued in the

same mind

my

return.
;

With
scarce

such
can

expectations I left her

and

even say I passed a melancholy hour, as I

set

out

for

London

in

company with
S.)

Frederic Brandon (son to Lord

who

was

still

at the

university

and Mr.
I

Moucrief, the very person

seen in

whom

had

London with Lady

Orville,

who

both entertained

me

during the journey.

Frederic Brandon had once visited

at

me me
I
"s

my

father's,

and with something of

civility,

an ostentatious
promise, that

had made
in

when again
visit at

London,

would return that

villa

Lord S

near Richmond.

His

rattling fri-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
volous conversation entertained

97

me

with-

out enlightening

my

mind, whilst every

INIoncrief,

word which dropt from

whe-

ther in jest or otherwise, shewed superior intelligence, natural quickness,

and

a thorough cultivation of most powerful

abilities.

How
he

large were the resources

from which

drew every

moment
every

deep and just

reflections!

How

scene, and even

young Brandon's crude,

common-place remarks, aAvakened in his

elevated and instructed

mind the
!

finest

and most

original

ideas

The
;

long

journey was but as a pleasant drive

and

we almost regretted our arrival in London,

for there

we

separated.

Young Brandon
and I returned

went

to his father's palace,

to Sir

Malcolm's hovel; but the hearty

I.

VOL.

98

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

welcome with which I was received made

amends
too

for all inconveniences,

and I was
any

happy in

my own mind
London was
it

to feel

mortification or uneasiness from exterior

circumstances.

to

me no
To my
The

longer such

as
it

had been.

new

feelings

oiFered a

new

aspect.

reserve I

had

felt at first
;

had

consider-

ably
still

diminished
sufficient to

the novelty,

though

charm, no longer be-

wildered
curiosity,

and overpowered
too,

me.

My

was
fully

less

poignant, having

before

been

satisfied;

and the
at

delight which
receiving

my
again

uncle

expressed

me

made me,

in spite

of myself, happy and even vain.

Mr. Brandon's
ly after

invitation,

which short-

my return,

was formally repeated.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
after
part,

99
uncle's

some deliberation on
was accepted.

my

I did not perceive,

though I have since leanied that Sir

^lalcolm did, how coldly the invitation

had been made

ciety

and the usage of

so-

not having as yet endowed

tact, (a

me
con-

with that
natural
fers

modern
in I

phrase,)

which

sensibility

some
felt

cases

spontaneously,
in

unreserved
cultivating

pleasure

the

idea

of

Frederic Brandon's

acquaintance,

and

of passing a few days in a beautiful villa

near Richmond; nor w'as

I
in

it

until after

had actually arrived

the very
excess of

there,

dressed
tailor

what

my

assured

me

to be the fashion of the day,

that I suspected in the slightest degree

that I should be an unwelcome guest.

F 2

100

G-RAHAM HAMILTON.
met

Frederic Brandon coloured as he

me

riding into the court

and when he

heard

me
"

order a groom, hired for the

occasion, to bring

my

horse the ensuing

to

day,

Are you come

remain

all

night?' he said with affected coldness,

but
ill- concealed

alarm

and then, with

hesitation, " I believe

for
you.''

we can make room

in

1 replied, colouring

my

turn at perceiving his embarrassment,

that I should return immediately, that
Sir

Malcolm expected me
in
this state of

at

dinner;

and
ness

mutual awkwardinto

we

walked

together

the

drawing-room, where an elderly gentle-

man, with a manner

at

once pleasing

and high-bred, received us

S
,

It was Lord

whom

I had seen before at Sir

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Malcolm's.

101
at once,

He recognised
me
at

me

welcomed
great joy

to his

house,

expressed

seeing a

young man of

whom
highly,

his

son had spoken to

him

so

reminded

me
me

of

the

evening

four years ago

first,

when he had seen me

to spend a few

and requested

days at their house, provided his old

friend
Sir IMalcolm

would not be
between

of-

fended.
father

The
and the

difference

the

son, in point of
:

manner,

struck

me

forcibly

the affable condeac-

scending air with which Lord S.

costed me, as if he were intreating of

me

a favour

in

an earnest and perthe look of shame,

suasive tone
confusion,

and

and coldness young Brandon

betrayed, as if he dreaded lest his ac-

102

GKAHAM HAMILTON.
him

qiiaintance should degrade

could
was his
foibles,

not escape me.

How

different

manner towards
to

a few select associates,

caprices,
!

whose whims,

and

he appeared a perfect slave

Of
certain

these

happy and chosen few

at
this

number were

time at

Brandon Lodge. They had been invited

most of them
to the

Duke

of

's

but, having been put off for

some days

on the plea of want of room, and not

knowing what
the interim,
arrived

to

do with themselves in
of

they had some

them
all

and some of them remained,

most inopportunely, at Brandon Lodge,

during the very week which Lord S

had devoted
services

to the

remuneration of the

of his City friends

and Irish

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
cousins,

103

by giving tliem a couple of days

liis

shooting and a dinner or two at

in the country.

seat
this

In consequence of

arrangement,

Frederic

Brandon
in the list;

had and
this

ventured to inchide

me

he now found, with dismay, that

imprudence had exposed him to that

which of

all

things

he dreaded

the

most, the contempt and ridicule of those,

whose manners,
conversation

dress, appearance,

and
the

would have

excited

contempt and ridicule of any reasonable man.

But
fall

as if every

mischance were

to

upon him

at once.
visit

Lady

Orville,

from
for,

whom

was scarcely hoped

to as a

though looked forward

of bare possibility

mat-

ter

Lady

Orville,

104

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
the queen of

who might be esteemed

society,

the person without whose pre-

sence no place could be tolerated, and

in whose society every place was said to

be charming
to the

she
of

likewise,
's,

on her way

Duke

had sent word

that she might possibly sleep at

Brandon
were

Lodge

instead

of the inn,
as,
it

if it

perfectly

convenient,
it

may be
be.

imagined,

was readily found to

I should

now

therefore see the person,

of

whom

I had heard and thought so

Orville's

much.

Lady

name was the

public

most frequent in the

papers

her house was the most splendid; her

extravagance was said to have exceeded

that of any other lady, whether in dress,

magnificence,

or

donations to the dis-


GRAHAM HAMILTON.
tressed.

105

I remembered

tlie

emotion I

had

felt at

having twice only seen her,

and that

at a distance.

But

was aroused from these thoughts

by the buz of several remarks upon myself,

which were
can

far

from agreeable

'Who

he

be?"
"

"What,

is

it

the old miser's son ?"

to

Are you going

make him your

;

chaplain ?" and divers

other jests

which I awkwardly, and with

strove to look as

much embarrassment,
if

did not overhear.

"

He

is

the

son of a respectable

Scotch gentleman,
;

of a

very old

family
old

my

father

is

acquainted

with
if

Malcolm.

He
at the

came forward,

you remember,

time of the loan, and was made a Baronet for lending vast sums of

money

to

F 5


106

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
This
is

Government.
is

his

nephew he
abilities

supposed to

have great
at

besides,

you know,
avoid

Edinburgh one
acquainted
is

cannot

being

with

every body."

"But what

his

name?"

said a gentleman,
his

somewhat older than

associates
;

raw and
whose

silly

gen-

tleman

countenance
if

indicated

mind, and whose manners,

polished,

not highly
neither

were,

at

all

events,

effeminately ludicrous, nor disgustingly

rude.
Sir
his

Everard Macartney,

for

such was
;

name, repeated the question

and

when Mr. Brandon answered, " Why,

his

name

is

Graham Hamilton."
Everard
:

" Is

it possible ?" said Sir

"

What

the son of Captain Hamilton,

who was

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
SO kind
to

107
at
at
sea,

Charles

Denmont
and

during his

long

illness

his

death?"
nephew."

"Not
" Well,

the

son,

but

the
is,

whatever he

if

he be related at
ton, 1

all to

Captain Hamilsolicit

most earnestly

the honour

of his acquaintance."

As

he spoke, the

warmth
shewed

of a heart that really could feel,

itself

in

every

feature;

and

advancing towards

me

with somewhat

more of ardour than

from his
lips

politeness, I

heard

the most kind and heartray uncle.

felt praises of

The
a

notice of Sir Everard,

who was

man

of science, and

not

man

of

fashion,

had

this

effect

Miss
;

Brandon

put her glass up to her eye, and stared

at

me

with a careless gaze

and then,

108

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

approaching Sir Everard, listened with

avidity to the few words which, from

time to time, dropped from his mouth

for,

as that

which

is

rare

is

esteemed

precious, so the words of the philosopher,

being few, were reverenced; and he, in

his turn,

more

gratified

by the homage
than

of persons so

much

inferior to him,

by the general applause of those who

were capable of estimating his
abilities,

scarcely appeared at least to be sensible

of the ignorance and arrogance of the

company by which he was surrounded.

To my farther
made

relief,

Moncrief, 1 found,

was in the house,

his appearance.

and shortly

after

He
;

greeted

me

in a frank, cordial

manner spoke of Scot-

land and friends there without reserve.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
and restored

109
self-

me

to

a degree of

importance sufficient to sustain

me under

the embarrassment with which Frederic

Brandon's reception had overwhelmed

me.

Whilst conversing with him, I

overheard Miss Brandon say in a distinct whisper to her brother, in a

manbut

ner agreeable certainly to

my vanity,

repugnant to

all

my notions of propriety,
;

that I was exceedingly handsome

that

she had

never seen
;

man

with such

a fine-shaped head

that she

must

in-

stantly be introduced to

me

which as

soon as her brother had done, she coldly

turned from me, and began to talk in a

shrill

voice,

with

much

affectation,

to

one of the gentlemen

appeared.

who had

first

110

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
distress

My
sudden

was great

at lier

sudden

approach,

and greater at her equally

I began

retreat.

now

to observe

the smiles which

cited
;

my

peculiar dress ex-

for I

had

arrived in

my

very best

attire, boots, hat,

handkerchief, and coat,

quite
in

new

quite stiff

all

cut and

made

the very
;

extreme of the

present

fashion

and though I may now say with-

out vanity, far better looking than the

light-haired, insignificant Frederic Bran-

don,

or

any of

his

associates

they

could hardly look upon

their laughter.

me and

suppress

The

consciousness that
it

I was strangely dressed, as

every mo-

ment

increased

upon me, took away from

like
ac-

me

all

power of acting and speaking

another

man

so singularly

had the

GRAHAIII HAMILTON.
cursed
tailor,

Ill

in

whose hands ray uncle

attired me.

had placed me,

observing

JMoncrief,

my

embarrassment kindly pro-

posed to

me

to

walk with him

to see the

grounds, and I accepted the offer with a gratitude those alone can understand

who have been

situation.

themselves in a similar

Indeed no one who has not

retreat,

been bred up in

can comprehend

what
stare

it is

to be exposed to the insolent

and the pretended condescension of

people, soi-disant of fashion.

After a dull walk in a drizzling

rain,

we came

in,

and

I,

retiring
dress.

to

my

apartment, reformed

my

During
as endless

dinner, which appeared to

as the
for
it,

me

time when we had been waiting

there

was much conversation.

'

112

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
laughter,

much
old

many

repartees

an

Lord and a young gentleman talked

tellmg

incessantly,

many

anecdotes,

which,

if

not as tedious, were certainly

as long, and, I believe, not as correctly

true,

as

my

uncle

the

Captain's.

It

was singular
silly

to see the devotion these

personages paid to

Sir

Everard,
the
rigi-

who,

never

relaxing

from

dity of truth, checked their flippant im-

pertinence by a simple
or,
'

'

Yes,' or

'

No

It

has been said, but I have no

it
;'

reason to believe
authority
whilst

or,

'

Upon what
fact
?'

do you advance this

champaigne

and

claret

were
if

drank around in copious goblets, as

they had been water
:

and the length of

the repast, and the shyness under which

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
I laboured, inclined

113

me

to regret,

more

than

once,

Sir

INIalcolm's

one joint
I
felt

and dark apartment.

Yet

the
as-

necessity of self-composure,

and of

suming

some of

Gertrude's
I spoke

calmness
little,

and good-humour.
respectfully
;

and

opposed none of the exag;

gerations I heard

and,

when obliged

to

make any remark,

self to that

strove to confine

myleast

which would give the

offence.

Still
;

I perceived a good deal

of laughter
'

and not having then read

Letters,'

Lord

Chesterfield's

had
its

the bad taste to imagine that I w^as

object.

At

length the ladies withdrew, and

trial to

then the

which I was exposed

became harder

for

me to bear.

Indecency,

114

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

immorality, gross misrepresentations, and

humour

of a coarse and vulgar kind, con-

cluded this latter stage of the entertain-

ment. JMy

lips

trembled

my colour went
he dread-

and came. Frederic Brandon viewed me

with indescribable agitation
:

ed

my known

violence of temper if once

roused.

He

dreaded

lest I

should ex-

pose myself utterly, by saying one word

that would shew me, as he termed
it,

not a gentleman
the world
sort

not

one who knew

not

used to things of this

I per-

not, in fine, one of them.

;

ceived his alarm

and looking upon him

remained dumb, and

with contempt,

impatiently awaited the signal from Lord

to rise

from

table.

His Lordship's conduct had

particu-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
larly disgusted

115

me.

He, whose manner

morning,
countefine

had thought

so dignified in the

whose venerable head and

nance had commanded

my

respect,

now

laughed and drank and jested with the

young men,
to

in a

manner that appeared

I repressed

me

the most unbecoming.

my feelings,

but the scene was hateful to

me, and the beings contemptible who

could find pleasure in
ceived
it.

Moncrief per-

my

inward agitation, and, as we

were leaving the room, gently approached me, and in a low voice, asked

me

to

moderate

my

zeal

and indignation.

His

timely admonition soothed

my perturbed

temper
I was,

and when he reminded me where

how much

the youngest of the

party present, and

how improper

a word

116

GIIAHAM HAMILTON.

or look from

me would

be deemed,

acquiesced at once in the propriety of his

advice,

and resumed the quiet and

silent

demeanour, which undoubtedly belonged

both to

my

age and situation.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

117

CHAR
The

IX.

evening was passed by

me more

agreeably than the preceding part of the

day; for Miss Brandon, after a short conversation during tea with Moncrief, look-

ed at me, as

if to

express that

it

was

for

me

she was going to play, and sitting

to the piano-forte, rattled over the
airs

down

keys a variety of

all

delightful,

though not equally

paused
for a

so

after

which she

few moments, and then, with

a true spirit of coquetry, played, in softer

tones, a Scottish ballad.

The

sounds

went, as they were intended, to

my heart.

118

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
as the children of

I could have wept,

Sioii, at

hearing one of

my own
The

country

songs in a strange land.

impression

had not

ceased,

when the young lady

abruptly quitted the instrument, and ap-

proaching me,
poet

said,

" I

know you
from

are a

we heard of you
told us,
'

my

brother
a boy,

he

when you were

you were considered quite a prodigy.'

I should so

much

like to have

some of
you
for

your poetry in

my

album.

Will
me ?

write something for

me
me

or to

most of the verses in

it is,

this book, thick as

;

are addressed to

and there

is

not one IMS. that any other person on

earth can have, except indeed
Orville."
it

be

Lady

GRAHAM HAMILTOy.
As
slie

119

said tins she looked signifi-

cantly at jNIoncrief,

then returning to

her questions,
Orville ?

"
is,

Do

you know Lady

she said

"
;

that

have you seen her ?"

out of

for few, I believe,

her

own

set

know

her.

She

is

amaz-

ingly handsome
freshness

she

has preserved a
for

many mistake

youth

she
!"

has such charming spirits

she must be
!

how happy
but she imis

how incredibly happy

;

A deep sigh from

mediately resumed

JNIoncrief interrupted

the young lady's remarks

:

"

She

little

fine; she visits few,

and she never

in-

vites unless she visits."

" If she could

think to please any one," said JMoncrief

gravely, "

would she not

visit or invite

120
for

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
who
in the wide world
is

so good^^^^
,,,
\

natured as

Lady

Orville?"
INIiss

f^^j

" Tell me," said

tiently, "

Brandon, impa-

what new books are there ?"

" I have read so few of the old ones yet,"

I replied

" Oh
did

now you put me

said of you."
?''

in

mind
" "

of what

my brother
JNlr.

And what Why, he

Brandon say
it

said

you.''

" It cannot." " That

and spoke
scientific,

but

may

offend

you were

like a book,

in sentences;

and

were methodical,
different

and quite
I hope I
this.

from

all

of us.

But

do not give you pain by saying

like to say

and

to

do every thing that

is

odd" " May

"

I ask you wherefore ?"

it

Oh, because
it is

makes people

stare

and then

pleasant to be different

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
from
otliers;

121

and,

in short, I

Do

you not think

me

so
:

?''

"

am
I

odd.

am no

judge," I replied, coldly

" I have seen

very

few ladies; and every thing, of

course,

must appear odd

to

me."

" Oh
from
if I

but I assure you I

others.

am

different

You
I

may

ask every body

am not.

should think you yourself were

;

rather singular

unlike the rest of the

world."

I bowed, without returning any

answer.

"

The women

in Scotland are

not, in general,

handsome."

" To
so

me

they appeared

so."

" You
there."

could not

have formed any attachment, I should

think:

you
or, if
I.

must have been

very

young when you were

any
settled age at

"

Is there

which persons begin to

believe

love ?

may

what

I have

VOL.

122
heard,
"
is

GRAHAM

HAMILTO^N^.
?*"

there any at which they cease

;

Now you puzzle me, Mr. Hamilton

much

but,

pray inform me, does your hair curl naturally ? I like black hair so
is
:

your's

darker, I think, than

Mr. Moncrief's."
Miss Brandon
dancing.
1

made no

answer.

then asked

me

if I liked

replied in the negative.

She had the

kindness to communicate to me, that she

had learned

to

dance quadrilles at Paris,

and French and drawing she had studied

with Mademoiselle Bertalle, the elderly
lady, in a turban,

who had only made

coffee

her

appearance when the

was

brought round, and now sat at no great

distance from the whist-table, considera-

bly rouged, and constantly employed in

taking snufF.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Mademoiselle, upon hearing

123
herself

the subject of her pupil's audible

servations,

ob-

slightly

inclined

her head

with some dignity and grace, which in

a measure

made up
;

for a considerable

portion of affectation

and then drawing

her chair towards us, she entered fully, in

tolerable English,
cation, addressing

on the subject of edu-

me in particular, which
She

made me

at first imagine, that this gou-

vernante took
expatiated

me

for a governor.

much upon
ladies

the best

mode of

making young

and gentlemen ap-

pear as early as possible en societe: she

talked of the finishing touches of politeness, dat svelte light air in di

dance
to

and much more, quite enigmatical

me

at

every third

sentence

mentioning

IM

QRAHAM HAMILTON.
;

Lady Orville's name

who, she
her's,

said,

had

one year been a pupil of

pealing to

then ap-

me

if

had not heard her

I

highly

commended.

took

the hint
in

from

herself,

and bowed, and smiled,

lieu of either assent or the contrary.

Moncrief,

who had taken

this

moment
new

of general conversation to look at a

work

upon

Political

Economy,

now
it

opened his

lips,

addressing himself, as

appeared, to two dogs,

chairs near the fire-side

who
;

slept

upon
or
as

and praised

condemned the work he was reading,

it

excited his approbation or the reverse.

to think that

Miss Brandon, who seemed

the comprehending an argument was of

no consequence, but that the contradicting

it

might shew an original and daring

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
rniiid,

125

immediately began to talk at ranthe subject

;

dom upon

but as

all

she

said was too absurd to bear repetition,

and

as

many

silly

young

ladies,

who

talk

on such
same, I

subjects, say pretty

felt

much

the
,

happy when Lord S

his long sleep,

awaking from
bell

rang the

and ordered supper.

parties at cards

The

now broke

up.

Lady Louisa Somerton,

cousin to Miss
lire,

Brandon, joined us by the

and, with

a vehemence far more unbecoming than

the ignorance displayed by her cousin,

espoused the contrary side to Moncrief

in

the literary discussion.

Moncrief,

as if accustomed to take the

evil of this life as

good and

they occurred, within

out

disturbing himself

the

least,

126

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

argued on as calmly and as seriously as

if

the ablest

men

of an university had

been waiting to wTite down what he said

and

after the termination of this ani-

mated

conversation, IVIiss Brandon played

waltzes and reels.

served,

When the supper was

and
after

Lady

Louisa, IVIiss Brandon,

Bertalle,
retired;

Mademoiselle

whicb IMoncrief followed me to

ment, and asked
in so

my apart-

me how

I found myself

new a

scene.

I expressed
tience,

my

surprise

at

his pa-

and

my dislike
I

of the personages

with

whom

had made acquaintance.

He

answered, that I must be very

new
and

to life to care

much about them

that instead of enjoying what was before

me, I tormented myself with seek-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
ing to
^'

127

make

things as they ought to be.

Now

take this

word of admonition

from me/' he continued, " be sensible of

what you have, and

have not
:

affect

not what you

is,

I take every one as he

it

and

every event as
in

comes.

The time

spent

condemning
it

and censuring

others,

were

made use of by us
possess,
;

in enjoying

what we
yond

would be valuable befor, after

all,

calculation

this is

not your promised

paradise

Brandon
;

Lodge
but

is

not your land of Canaan

be

satisfied

with

it

as

you would be
is

with an inn,
before

and look upon what

you without dreaming of what

to

you conceive ought

will to-morrow see

be there.
ladies

You
to

some

more

my

taste

than Miss Brandon, her cou-

128
sin,
is

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
and her governess
to
;

a friend of mine

coming

whom
;

am

desirous

of

introducing you

but you must get off

your pedestal
about as we
stilts,

if

you
;

please,

and walk

all

do

we

require not your

will still

and without them you

look a heaven too high for us."

" Is

Miss Brandon," I
modest girl?"
"

said,

a perfectly

AVhat a question!

Why, my
so

dear Graham, you positively

embarrass even
;

me

assuredly I hope

she had the disadvantage of losing

life
;

her mother early in

cessively polished,

she

is

not exlittle
;

and knows but

she has, however,

many good

qualities,

and you

will like her

more when you

know her
"

better."
is it,"

But after all,

he continued arch-

GRAHAM HAMILTOX.
ly,

1S9

" the company you dislike ? No, Grait is

ham, believe me,

feels itself

your

self-love this

which

humbled, and

makes you

discontented.

Hitherto wherever you

have appeared, you have been taught to

consider yourself as superior to your companions. Genius and natural

endowments

have found a just distinction where real

superiority
liere

was

fairly appreciated

but

high rank, an easy unembarrassed

air of fashion, alone are con;

manner, an
sidered

and you
you
are

feel lost

and humbled
you
do

because

aware that

not possess
great degree.

these

advantages in
!

any
will

Alas

Graham, you

soon learn these things, and then I fancy

your high principles and exceeding delicacy

will

vanish

:"

thus

saying,

he

130
wished

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
me
good-night, and left
reflections.

me

to

my own
trude,"

"

Oh
these,

for

Gerfar
shall

thought

" with

her,

away from

scenes like

taste of rational happiness.

Folly, af-

fectation, vice, constraint, presumption,

how

I detest you
ladies
all,

I hate

London, and
;

London

and

gentlemen
!"

and,

more than

Brandon Lodge

So I

thought during half the night, when I

could not sleep and for three long hours,
;

when, having risen

early,

I waited in

the breakfast-room alone.

So

also

thought,

when I rode out upon

a horse

of Mr. Brandon's, which could not go a step without danger of falling, and

saw a cold green

flat

country,

with

a mist, which I took for water, bound-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
iiig

131
also I

the

distant

horizon

so

thought,

when

a magnificent carriage,

and two

curricles,

with servants both be-

hind and before, entered the court, and

Lady
Mr.
son,

Orville,

Miss

Clairville,

the two

Orvilles her brothers-in-law,

and her

and Lady Denmont her mother,

It

were announced.

seemed

as if the
all

whole of the Orville family, in

branches, had arrived at once
;

its

and has-

tening to

my own apartment,

the dinner-

hour, I thought, would be time

for this

enough

interview.

The

bustle of servants, trunks, port-

manteaus, and maids, soon after informed

me

that the hour was near.

Mon-

crief,

knowing

my

shyness,

and feeling
to

for

my

situation,

had the kindness

132

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
to

come

my

room and accompany

me

into the saloon.As I entered the apart-

ment

looked solely for Miss Brandon,

in the dread of beholding the

numerous

other personages, who, I thought, must

be near at hand
taken
;

I was, however, mis-

they had not yet finished their

;

and at the very instant when a servant came to announce to Lord

toilettes

S
the

that dinner was on the table,

ville

Lady Or-

and Miss

Clairville

entered

apartment.

Lord S
full

whom I had

before thought

of civility to every guest, was

now

new beingall

attention, all devotion.

That

air of superiority,

that consciousspoiled

ness of importance which the

favourites of fortune are

naturally led

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
to assume,

133

and which does not always

visible,

misbecome them, was

displeasing, in
say, that in

but not

Lady

Orville ;

and I must

beauty of person, in grace

in figure, in dress,

of manner,

in de-

portment, she far surpassed every idea

I

had formed.

Whether

art or nature
lustre I

had given her complexion the

there beheld, I

know

not.

Her

eyes were

of the deepest blue, so that they appeared

black

at

little

distance

but

their

brilliancy

was mitigated by a peculiar

expression of languor.

They were

long,
lids

but not laughing eyes; and the

were fringed with, and the eyes half concealed by, their long dark lashes.
it

Had

not been for

this,

some might have

thought them too large.

She was some-

134

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
common
height too, but

thing above the

finely

and nobly made.

;

Her

hair was

dark brown and worn without ornament.

She had a foreign manner, and spoke

Italian

and

French

better

than

her

native language,

in the

pronunciation
slight

of

which

there

was

pecuI

liarity
first

of accent.

Her

age,

when

saw

her, I conceived to
;

have been

barely

eighteen

but,

upon observing

her more narrowly, she had the traces

of being older, and the fine colour in

her cheeks was gone the ensuing morning.

I thought, however, that she only

looked a thousand times more interesting and

voice, like
iruor^

lovely

for

being pale.
full

Her

her look, was

tone
thrilled
to

of lan-

its

the

heart

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
she had a
little

135
:

degree of affectation

she was seldom animated, yet her lips

expressed, before she spoke,

the senti-

ment
fancy.

that for

the time engrossed her

At

dinner, her conversation was

;

solely confined to those near her

and

in the evening she spoke so low, that I

scarcely could catch a

word she

said.

Enchanted with her beauty, I had

remained with
for a

my

eyes fixed on
time,

her
per-

considerable
INIr.

when

ceived that

Melmond and

INIr.

Len-

nox,

two favourite followers of IMiss

her,

Brandon, were laughing with

and

that I was the subject of their mirth.

It

had hitherto never occurred

entirely,

to

me,

how
new

from the moment of this

accession of company, I

had been

136

GRAHAM HAMILTON,

neglected.

wjas

not like the

farce;

little

gentleman in a recent

so

very

tenacious of respect, that I keenly felt

its

omission

but

now

discovered*

that I was considered as a being whose

very presence seemed disgraceful to

associates
;

my

and when I saw myself treated

with absolute disdain, some of my native

spirit

rushed into me, and I

felt

an
I
to

indignation the
alone
in
this

more misplaced,

as

transaction

had been

blame.

had placed myself out of

I

my
to

own

sphere.

had condescended

enter a circle of which I

sity

must of neces-

be the most unimportant part.

The

haughty and repulsive manner assumed

towards
sister,

me by

INIr.

Brandon and

his

was strongly contrasted with the

-_r

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
which they paid to
evidently
;

137
theirj

servile flattery

new

guests,

who were

of a

higher genus than themselves

and, like

the monandria, of a class of which there

was no other example. This neglect

left

me

fully at leisure to contemplate

Lady

Orville,

who but

for a gentle

laugh now

and then, and at times a softly-breathed

sigh,

might have raised the same doubt

as the figure of Constance de Beverley

before her judges, of her existence

" So calm and pale,

That, but her breathing did not

fail,

And
And
-rr

motion slight of eye and head,

of her bosom, warranted
neithfer sense

Xhat

nor pulse she lacks,

a form of wax-ntpij

You might have thought

Wrought
to the very
life

was there."

138

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Orville reclined

Thus Lady
sofa.

upon a

One

of her brothers-in-law sat near

it

to her, as
silence.

seemed

to

me, in profound

The

other,

George

Orville,

dressed in a style which was not quite

so ridiculous

in

him

as it

would have

been in another, kept the company in a

continual smile by trifling attacks and
endless
affected
gossip.

However absurd and

of this

much
at

might

be, it

was

impossible,

the same

time,

not to

perceive, that these were persons of real

refinement and high manners.

A sensible
this opinion

proof that I was right in

was shortly given

me when
young
in

Mr.

Orville, evidently disgusted at

Brandon's rudeness, accosted

cold polite manner.

me

I could have smiled

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
when
I

139

heard the inquiry,

which he

pompously began,

relative to the agri-

cultural improvements in Scotland,

and

the deeply-learned questions which he

asked of me with an

air of reverence

and

attention, as if his life

had depended
stood

upon

my

answer.

He

up whilst

he entered upon the subject, and though

naturally proud, abrupt, and in general

almost wanting in courtesy, he assumed

a degree of ceremony which exceedingly

embarrassed
"

me

adding
in all
;

continually

Your

opinion

is all

I wish not

to hear

any other

you have obliged

me

unutterably by your answer, I

am
re-

satisfied

perfectly so."
his

And

as

he

peated

between

teeth

the

words

" perfectly so," he took snuff from a box

140

GRAHAM HAMILTOH*
admi-

the beauty of which was really

rable,
.^

.aojfoscf I9i't6

Yfe*^fe9^^*

My

eye was caught by the miniature

it

on

the box:

resembled

Lady Or-

ville.

He,
was

who seemed

lost in aftecta-

tion,

as quick as lightning in dis-

covering

my

admiration of his trinkets

and shewing me the box,

"
"

said carelessly,
like."
\%iii

My
Oh

sister,

reckoned goodnot very beautiful very

like,

replied, with

more enthusiasm than he

had, perhaps, ever witnessed ; for staring

at

me

with something like approbation,

he continued, "
painted
genius
it,

A young friend of mine

quite an ehauche,

a rising
;

price a

hundred guineas

well
re-

enough

for a beginner."

And

then

turning to his

former post, whispered

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
in

141
or two,
re-

Lady

Orville's

ear a

word

immediately after beckoned to me,

turned, and presented
excessive coldness

me

to her.

The
lately

which I had

experienced from others, perhaps

made

me feel more

deeply the sweet smile with

which Lady Orville received me; and

when she asked me

about

few questions

my

uncle Capt. Hamilton,

turnin the
;

ing to IMoncrief, as if to reassure herself

that she

had made no mistake

felt

name, was
ped

the emotion I
Her beauty

was great

it

as if I could
her.

have knelt and worshipI did not think of

I saw alone the angel

mind and

heart,

which, forgetful of

self,

considered only

what

it

could do for others.

IMy admiIMoncrief

ration I fear

was

ill-bred,

for

142
called

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
me away
twice before
I

could

bring myself to move; and

Lady Orville

seemed, I thought, rather embarrassed

by

my

ardent gaze: yet, strange as

it

may

seem, she looked at

me with a degree
of
confusion,

of interest,

of surprise,
to say,

which seemed
fear me."

" you need not

I said

I
I

knew no longer what

or did.

had not power

I
detail

to withdraw.

But why do

my

folly?

No

man who has not,

feelings

like myself,
to
;

known the
sensibility

which belong

keen

and utter inexperience

no man, who

has not, like myself, been raised at once

from an humble sphere into the splendid habitations of the rich and the great,

can conceive the

sensations

experi-

enced at being received with kindness

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
by
one, to

143

whom

all

others were paying

the most servile homage.

Fixed

as if

by

enchantment, no

human

labour would
difficult,

have

appeared to

me more

than did the act of retiring from the

very conspicuous post in which I stood.

Blushing modesty and

youthful maiden has
its

shyness

in

charms, but in a
ridiculous;

man,

it

must ever be
that

and

my

valour, like
fast,

of Squire Acres,

was going

when Lady Denmont,

the mother of

Lady

Orville,
,

who had
suddenly

been talking to Lord S

turning to me, in a louder tone than I

had yet heard from any of the

exclaimed, " Is
it

party,

possible

I see before
?

me

any relation of Captain Hamilton

Lord

you must introduce

INIr.

144

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
to

Hamilton
for I

me

or there

is

no need,
with

must ever
from

feel

acquainted

his

family,

whom my own
kindness."

have

experienced so

much

The
and
as

words were like an

the

electric shock,

whole

circle
spirit.

looked

upon

me

with a new

Lady

Orville,

still

remaining by Moncrief, talked low, and

all

the time, I think,

of me.

Lady

Denmont
I scarcely

asked

me many
;

questions, but

heard her

for I

was watch-

ing, thinking of,

and admiring Lady

Orville while she spoke.

Miss Brandon now proposed

amusements, such as

several

secretaire, charades,
all sorts, in

and jeux-d'esprits of

which,

with music and dancing, the hours of

the night passed by, for me, as but a mo-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
nient;

145

Lady Orville had spoken to me, and

now kind
in the extreme.

every one was

Here was exhibited by the company much

of that talent, which can only be acquired

by constantly

living in the best society

the light artillery of words, wit, sighs,

smiles; the extempore verse, intermix-

ing touches of satiric spleen with real

good-humour and

skilful

flattery;

the

happy

art of saying every thing,

and do-

ing every thing, with presence of mind,

delicacy, tact; the lively contest,

which

at

the same time leaves behind it neither pain

nor asperity

so

high is the polish of the

skill of

weapons, so complete the

batants.

the com-

All tediousness was avoided by

the rapid change of topics, which, like the

scenery of a pantomime, must be shifted

VOL. L

146

GRAHAM HAMILTON. HAHO

who ap-

every instant; and I could not but admire

the dexterity displayed by those

peared to have read every thing, and to

know every thing

I

an

effect

produced, as

am told, by skimming books, and cursory

This,

reading of reviews.

all this, like

the manners of the world, or the costume

in fashion,

may

be acquired
diligent.

in

time
to

by the apt and

But how

learn the depth of the art ?

to.

How

learn
for-

speak of virtue, when we have

it
;

saken
vices
lity

to express abhorrence at the

we

practise;

to

jest

with

frivo-

upon
fear
;

subjects
to smile, to affect
;

we

still

venerate
hearts are

and

when our

lacerated;

youth in the deof love

crepitude of age

to talk

when

we have. ceased
i^fll'^d

TO b92n09C 9-IB

to feel.it; to appear 70fli 2 iBnimn;

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
tranquil

147

when the

still,
lis

small voice of
;

conscience calls to

from within

and

ah

to

look

so

innocent,

when our

hearts,

and the whole world, know that

" Pour qui
le

we

are guilty ?

secret

done,'' as Basil says in the " Barbier de

Seville
too
till

;"

but no

matter.

Since

this, T

have studied the science, though

now without

effect.

Those who
it.

feel

deeply cannot
Orville,

acquire

Yet Lady
it ?

had she not attained

And

did she not

ah

did she not feel ?

"

With

all

your experience, Mr. Ha-

milton," interrupted

Mr. M., " you

are

wronsr in this vehemence of indignation:

I cannot agree with you, nor with the

.

mjiny, in thinking persons of rank as

criminal as they are accused of being.

148
There
society,
is

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
a prettiness in this order of

which none can more admire

;

than I do
I

and, with some exceptions,

am

convinced by years of observation,

vice

that greater

and corruption
really belongs to

has
it.

been ascribed than

Desperate crime disdains to herd in the

light
train

of

folly

and
if

meanness,
they enter,

baseness,

and corruption,

are obliged to present

themselves unof

der

the concealment

mask,

or

at least a veil.

The

greatest reproach

that can be cast upon

fashion,
is

the votaries of
fear

the

slavish

they ever
;

seem to be under of each other

the

dread, not of doing wrong, but of exciting ridicule

;

the anxiety to be disto

tinguished

and yet not

be

con si-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
dered dissimilar

149

from

their associates;

the idolatry of self;

fiilness

the total forgetlife,

of the real end of

and the
little

constant frittering away of time in

portions

upon

little pursuits.

Amongst

the uncultivated and rude, the character

is

more decided, and vice

stalks abroad in

its

one undisguised and ferocious form."

JVIy

own

birth and early habits, re-

plied

Mr. Hamilton, placed me between

It
is,

the two extremes of society.

fore,

there-

but natural that I should view with

It

greater partiality the middle rank.

seems to

me

that in

it is

the sap and

flower
is

stamina of the country.

The

more beautiful; but,

"

as

Dryden

says,

The

life

is

in the leaf"

From

that

order vice and dissipation are in a great

150

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
The regular habits of

measure excluded.

necessary industry discourage and repress

them, and though some will tread in

the steps of the higher classes, these are

but as the froth which shev/s

the wave
strong,
:

itself

upon

the stream below runs fresh,

and uncontaminated, and long,

it

long

may

continue to do so

" It cannot long continue to do so,"

said
^ton,

Mr. M. interrupting Mr. Hamil" if care

is

not immediately taken

to check a fast-spreading corruption.

could say much, but I will not interrupt

your narrative

I attend to you, I

Sir,

with your distresses

thize,

cannot sympa-

but I hear you with pleasure."

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
to eJiduii iBlj/'g-

151

m
^^

CHAP.

X.

Mr. Hamilton, resumed.

The

en-

suing morning I had intended to leave

Brandon Lodge

but, to

my

surprise, I

^as >varmly pressed

to stay

by Frederic

and Eugenia Brandon.

herself, playfully

INIiss

Brandon
said,

approaching me,

" Oh, Mr. Hamilton, you cannot possibly

go
to

you would not wish

have
heard
has
I
felt

it,

were

you

half

how mucli
you."
I

Lady
I

Orville

commended
that I

coloured;

did so;

ivas flattered.

I required

no pressing;

152
I
staid.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
But
till

saw

little

of "Lady

Orville

the dinner was over,

seated herself

when
sofa,
i

she

again

upon a
circle.

surrounded by an obsequious

Lady Denmont, whose kind remembrance of

my

uncle had so

much

contri-

buted to extricate
rassment of

me

from the embar-

my situation, now introduced

Clairville,

me

to

Miss

her youngest

daughter,

whom

I had not spoken with

the evening before, and

it

whom

I wish

were in

my

power to describe either

in person or in

mind; but where the

charms of any individual belong more

to a certain expression of sweetness

and

grace than to regular beauty, they are

almost undefinable.

Near Lady
like

Orville,

Miss

Clairville appeared

white

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
rose, or

153

what

is

called the maiden's blush,

exotic,

by the side of some rare

whose

splendour and fragrance attracts general

admiration and though attractively beau;

tiful in

her figure, her finely-cut features,

it

and very delicate complexion, yet

was

not until a near view, and more complete

acquaintance, that the whole of her peculiar fascination

could be

felt.

Until

had spoken with Miss

I

Clairville

until
one
airs,

had heard her sing

in Italian

of Mozart's simple
I

yet affecting
faithful,

had

remained

even

in

thought, to Gertrude.

Lady

Orville's

beauty had no power to

detach
I

me
be-

and
held,

of all

the

numbers
smile

had
yet

Gertrudes

was

the

sweetest in

my

remembrance.

But even

154*

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

Gertrude's smile was hardly to be com-

pared to that of

ISliss Clairville.j

ujzd

ij.

i^Lady

Orville,

when she saw me

sister,

ih

conversation with her

full eyes

turned her

upon me, and languidly beckon-

ing to the young lady and to me, seemed

to request us both to join her.

" Mr.

Hamilton appears
said, " that I

so fond of music," she

if

think

you were

to sing

tq^ijim

my favourite air, he would be pleas?diss

Clairville

ed."

immediately com;

plied with her sister's request

and then

sang,"

The Flowers

of the Forest," the air

of which does
tiful words.

little justice to

the beau-

As she

raised her eyes plain-

tively upwards, the heaving of her bosom,

her beautiful bands, free from

all

motion,

p?,^^ng,

tb,,l^,^ys, ypt.^.carcely

appearing

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
to

155

touch them

the perfect stillness of

her expression, and the manner in which,

when she had concluded the

lier

song, all
their

features once

more resumed

former repose,

filled

me

with

delight

and admiration.
sionately,
able."
left

" She must love passuffer

and

anguish unutteras

These words escaped me,

the instrument. "

Who ?"

said

Moncrief, smiling

" Miss
has loved,

as

he overheard

me

Clairville, perhaps.

She neither

does suffer,

nor ever will do

either. T believe she is blessed

with a calm
suitors,

contented

spirit.

She has many

being rich

she has

many

admirers, beleaves

ing beautiful. her

Lady Denmont

much
:

to the

guidance of her own

it,

judgment

I should have heard

had


156

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
this nature taken place.
feels

any thing of

And
less

you may believe me, she never

than when singing in this impas!"

sioned manner." " Impossible

I said replied

"

Yet be

assured

'tis

true,"

Moncrief.

Miss Brandon now proposed dancing.

Lady

Orville would play

she could play

waltzes, quadrilles, any thing they wished;

but she was not inclined to dance.

sister

Her

would

and in a moment that

form of heaven, that divinity

whom

had thought

it

sacrilege

to approach,

was embraced by every

with
little

man

in the
I

room

ceremony or regard.

am no
lan-

great pretender to morality.

The

guage I speak

is

rough and rude, as was

my

origin

aud no one can regard with

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
more disgust than
dwells
I

157

do, the critic

who

upon

every

innocent

freedom,

prates of propriety he never knew,

and
in-

considers all harmless

centives to wrong,
virtue.

amusements

and deviations from

country, where long
it

In

its

own

habit

and custom render

is

common,
I
it

the waltz

as

any other dance, and

1 loved

could see the

woman

mix

in

without regret; but here

must

virgin

youth be emboldened at

least

by joining

in that dance, which can never be reconciled to the right feelings of a lover, a

husband, or a parent.

Miss

Clairville's reserve, her look of

rank, her
entire

easy,

graceful motion,
affectation,

her
ren-

freedom from
it less

dered

painful

Gertrude, had she

158

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
her

been there, might have waltzed:

simplicity

and

modesty

would

have

prevented any wrong construction.

But
dis-

when

saw Miss Brandon begin,

first

gust once again arose, and the

objec-

tions to the dance returned in their full

force
nity,

when no longer supported by

dig-

tempered by grace, or chastened by

it

innocence:

shewed too plainly how

much

it

was calculated to render more

conspicuous and more offensive, affectation, pertness,

vanity,

and the love of

of the dislike

theatrical display.

Some

which Miss Brandon excited naturally

fell

upon Miss

Clairville,

and nothing

but Lady Orville's assurance that her

sister disliked all

kind of exhibition, and

only danced to please her mother, rccou-

GRAHAM HAMILTOX.
ciled

159
so.

me

to her

having done

But

the airs that were played affected

me

beyond words, and the whole scene was

enchanting.
'

Sir," said

Mr.

^,'

You

talk

of these matters with an enthusiasm

romance, to

me

perfectly unintelligible.

We have not the same nature,

not a thought
in
;

surely

common:
and
let

proceed,

however, proceed

us hear what

you did amongst

jMr.

all

these divinities."
for

Hamilton made some excuse

the vehemence of his language

try

^I

will

and speak more calmly, he

still

said,

but

my mind is

inflamed

and you must

thoughts could
concluded,
airy took

bear with me.

Before
the

my

become calm,

waltzes

and a dance more light and

160
place.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Amidst the unskilful and ungracesomething divine skimming the

ful, like

earth with softest ease, Miss Clairville

might be distinguished.
in

It

was not

my
;

power
with
all
;

to

command my admirafelt,

tion

the ardour which I

commended

and hanging enraptured

she
con-

over

Lady

Orville's chair, as

tinued to play, I poured into her ear

such

praises

of

her

sister,

that turn-

ing round with

tenderness

an archness and yet

I did not expect, "

What
thus
as-

must he

be," she said, "

who

feels

strongly the merits of another

suredly a

man of the world !"

I said in

" Can there

Oh
now,"

not

be men,"

a serious and im" "

pressive tone, "

who

said Moncrief, interrupting me, "

you are

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

I6l

beginning like Joseph Surface, with one

of your
are men,

sentiments.

Assuredly there
apt,

and they are not

all

in this

country, to feel with

the rawness and

exaggeration of a college."

As Moncrief
and piqued

said this in a

haughty
when, to

tone, I looked up,

my

surprise, I beheld a

gloomy frown

louring over his

features,

and a smile

expressive of bitter contempt

lips.

upon

his

Alarmed

I paused.

"

What can

I have said, or done," I thought, " to

call

for

this ?

but

it

is

no matter."
with an ex-

Lady

Orville, turning to

me

pression

no

man

could coldly witness,

changed the conversation with the dexterity

to

which I before alluded,

questions

by

asking

me many

respecting

162

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
" I

Ediiibiirgli.

have been nearly

all

over the world," she said, " but I have

never seen Edinburgh

I think

yet I

know

itj

at least I have heard of

all

it suf-

ficiently."

She smiled, and looked upon

the

Moncrief with

witchery

of a

woman who
uses
it.

feels

her power and missullen,

He

was

and made no
either

reply.

That he loved
Clairville I

her

or

Miss

was now convinced

feel jealousy

but that he could

of one
so

who

until this hour

!

had been

ut-

terly neglected

this

I could not un,,

derstand.

^,y^j,u

Lady Denmont drew

her chair be-

hind her daughter's, and asked

was the writer of an
article in

me who
one of

the last Reviews, and some other gene-

Glti^HAM HAMILTON.
ral

163
of

questions

upon

the

literature

Scotland.

The

conversation turned on

works of

this nature.

Lady

Orville

professed her

admiration of that speJMoncrief was equally

;

cies of writing.

sensible

of the talent displayed

but

doubted whether, upon the public mind,

it

had a

beneficial
said,

effect.

" Writers

now," he
to

" only write with a view

criticism.
vivid, it

court

or
is

escape

Where
should

the thought

warm and

come

forth with freedom.

IVIr.

Had

Shak-

speare thought of

y would he
?

have written
tic's

as

he has done

The

cri-

duty

is

to feel beauty or detect errors

no doubt; but the writer, who remembers

even the
flat.

critic,

will ever

be cold and
is

Again, the reading of reviews

164
to

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
the
public,

what eating of many

is

different

dishes

to

a child.

The

organs of digestion are weakened in the

one,

and the mind of the other overSciences

are dislearn-

informed, and that unnaturally.

are

skimmed

over, conclusions

covered, without

any

effort

and

ing runs through a brainless head, as

water through a pipe or channel, leaving
it

as

empty

as it

found

it.

It puts

a tongue into the mouths of

gives weapons to hands that

fools,

and
not

know

how

to wield them.

Above
;

all, it

tends

to extinguish natural taste

and babies
enthu-

now,

instead

of

feeling

with

siasm the beauties of a play or a poem,

pretend to judge by rule and discover

the defects.

Lady Orville

differed

from

GRAHAM HAMILTOX.

165

Moncrief, and he replied to her arguments

as I thought, with something of acrimony

and

ill

humour.

Miss Brandon,
to
;

tired of

this discussion, proposed

teach us a

new French game

at cards

but as the
sufficiently
it

mind and body had been

exercised during the whole evening,

was thought advisable to

pretty,

sit

still,

look

and do nothing.

At
fixed

this

moatse-

ment what had passed

tention
rious,

my

upon IMoncrief; he had a

not a melancholy cast of coun-

tenance; and

when he became animated,

a ray of superior intellect beamed from

his eyes.

He

had a most comprehensive

mind, and was blest or curst with a high

genius, which raised

him above

others.

He

united

the strong sense of manly

166
reason

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
to

enthusiastic

and exquisite
inde-

sensibility.

His

character was

pendent and high.

spirit

Yet, but for this

and high courage, he had been

worked upon
wicked
;

by
with

the
all

designing

and

for,

his abilities, his

itself

heart was

melting as kindness
;

to the unfortunate

and the

tear of

sym-

pathy glistened in his eyes, when anything awakened

it

in his heart.

He

read

with emphasis, with pathos, but with no

affectation.

I never heard any one read

I never

like him.

saw any one yet

near

like

him.

When seated
as if

Lady

Orville, it

seemed

Nature had united the two

;

master-pieces of her art

and that destiny

alone had separated them from each other.

Yet, in Moncrief 's noble soul the hopes of

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
the seducer could not find place

167

: strong
were the

were his passions

powerful

incentives of example.

Early thrown

upon the rough school of the world,

amidst the young, the gay, the
dissi-

pated, he had, like others, forsaken the

calmer

road,

and

plunged

into
;

all

the violences of youthful passion

but

he had climbed again the rugged steep

with the daring intrepidity of advancing
reason,

and

his

mind,

adonied

with

knowledge, rose above the vulgar herd.

His eyes were now turned upon Lady

Orville
\\itli

all

the softness of love

but, as if resolved to conquer the feeling,

he spurned

it

from him, and struggled

with the tempter.

Yes, he nobly

set

me

the example of self-conquest,

but

168

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
I followed
it
!

how have
shewn
this

Moncrief had

me much

kindness;

even

upon

evening he did not forget me.

He

was perfectly disinterested

in his con-

duct throughout; but he was hurt

did not disguise
it
:

he
how

he saw in a moment,
saw,

at least he fancied that he

much

I was struck with

Lady

Orville,

and that she was not displeased with the

ardour and suddenness of the impression.

GRAHAM

HAINIILTON.

169

CHAP.
To
were

XI.

betray, even in after-years,

any
me,

woman who
base.

ever

had confided

in

But

as appearances to

were
the

more
reality

unfavourable
justified,
it

me

than
a

becomes

duty

to relate every

thing that

passed be-

tween myself and

the

Lady

Orville.

On
St.

second evening of

my

stay at

John's Lodge, Miss Brandon had ap-

peared to be so

much

struck by a sud-

den sense of
deric

my

attractions, that
it

Fre-

Brandon had thought

I.

necessary

VOL.

170

GRAHA^M HAMILTON.

to inform
self

me

that his

sister,

being her-

an heiress, and consequently not in

to

want of money, was destined

none but a
help smiling

marry

man

of rank.

I could not

when he

said this, for I per-

fectly understood his

meaning, and had

not been blind to her attentions.

Miss
with

Brandon was a
a

clever,
;

forward

girl,

bad manner

insolent

to those she
servile

termed her
persons like

inferiors,

and

with
she

Lady

Orville,

whom

considered as the great leader of society.

Her

real

wish was to be in the very exof the

it

tremity

fashion, but

she could
at-

not achieve

she could only dance

;

tendance upon those who were

and she

required a great name, as a sort of prop,

cr support,

whenever

slic

gave an opi-

GllAHAM HAMILTON.
nion.

171

Even

whilst

professing to like

singularity,

and

to be herself odd, she

far

was always anxious to ascertain how

such extravagances would suit the very

elevated
taste

of

the

small

circle

to

which Lady Orville belonged.

Lord

S.

had a good cook, a good house, and a

great deal of

money

but he was not

the fashion

neither was Miss Brandon.

Before I

left

them.

Lady

Orville,

Lady

Denmont, and Moncrief, having

ed that morning, she read

departlines
al-

me some

which she had newly inserted in her

bum. They were

a

entitled,
;'

'A Farewell

to

young stranger

and

as she read them,

I was surprised not only at their beauty,

but at the tone of feeling with which they

were written.
"

Did you
I

write

them

?"

172

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
"

I said earnestly.

Why

do you ask ?"

she replied, colouring more deeply than

became
sire

her.

" Because I earnestly de-

to

know.
read

They
them

are

beautiful,

let

me

again."

" No,

cannot

I will not."

The

purport of

the lines was, that the writer of them

might, perhaps, never more meet that

new

that
to

unsophisticated
feel

being,
;

who
the

seemed

so

deeply

that
life,

ardent beaming of his eye, which shewed

a heart unexperienced in the ways,

and had

unworn by the

sorrows,

of

awakened sympathy and

interest in the

bosom of her whose

career

was over

that

although they might probably

never meet again, one

who had thrown

talent,

away

health,

riches,

earnestly

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
prayed that he might better use
gifts

173
the

of

Providence,
pains

nor
late

ever

know

the

bitter

of

repentance
"

and
not

ineffectual

remorse.

They

are

of

your writing," I
said,

said.
;

INIiss

Brandon
said
it

they

were

but

she

in a

manner which convinced

were
not;

me
ever

that vain

they
it

and
I

how-

may

appear,

believed

them written by Lady

pecially as one

Orville,

more

es-

stanza

alluded to

the

emotion I had beti'ayed whilst her

sang.

sister
felt

told

INIiss

Brandon I
Orville,

sure they were by

Lady

that

they reminded

me

of JMiss Clairvilles
it

song; and I asked her whether

were

possible the former lady could be un-

happy

" Unhappy," said

JNliss

Bran-

174
tloii,

GPvAHAM HAMILTON,
laughing; "good heavens
?
!

what can
assu-

you mean
redly say

Unhappy
most

I should

Lady

Orville was the happiest^

perfect, of all

as well as the

human
for

beings."

This indeed I believed;

that smile of heaven, which

delight

conferred

upon others, could not, I imagined,

;

proceed from a suffering heart

long, long

"And
!"

may

she continue so

I ex-

claimed with

fervour.

" Mercy upon

me !"

said

Miss Brandon, " you have

fallen in love, I

am

sure of

it,

at first

sight

the most dangerous of

she
affectation;

all fallings

in love,"

continued, looking

down

with

but I was too much

her,

moved

to attend to

and only

re-

peated, that I would give any thing for

the verses.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
The next moruiug
I took

17-^

my

leave

but three days at Brandon Lodge had

ruined

me two
Orville

days in the society ol

Sir

Lady

had made
I

Malcolm's

house insupportable.
I

knew not what

at

said or did:

Sir

^lalcolm stared
if I

me, and asked me,

first

was

ill.

The

day passed

^the

second began as

unprosperously
ciently

nor

was

yet

suffi-

myself to speak, read, or write,

when

to

my

astonishment I received an

invitation to dine at

Lady

Orville's.

I was in the act of writing a constrained letter to Gertrude.

The

diffi-

culty of expressing myself as I wished,

before the entrance of the servant,

who
had

would deliver his message

been considerable;

to myself,

it

was now utterly

176

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
my letter.
me
Every

impossible for me to end

thing I had to say to her was so forced

the scenes which engrossed

were so

wholly unconnected with Gertrude, that

they could not have been understood by
her
;

and I detested the thought

of,

per-

haps,

wounding her by praising

others^

or dazzling her fancy

by descriptions of
could

gaiety,

which

I never

wish her

to partake.

I therefore threw

my

letter
and,
it

into the

fire,

after re-perusing cold,

it,

perceiving

how

how

constrained

was

and thinking of nothing but of ob-

taining

my uncle's

leave to dine at

Lady

Orville's, I

went to him in his miserable

study, and stopped as I pronounced the

words,

'

have you any particular objec-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
tion'

177

for I

saw

it

was an unfavourable

moment.

My

bills for clothes

and various other

table.

expenditures were on the

eyes, always little,

His
in

were now so

lost

wrinkles, as to be scarcely perceptible,

and with
figures of

his

hand he was reckoning the

tailor's

my

account, which, to

my

infinite

distress,

amounted

to fifty

pounds, or more properly speaking, to

49/. 19^.

Hid.

IMy own

bill,"

said

Sir Malcolm, in a sharp high tone he

never
yearly

used but when displeased,

fifteen

"
it

is

pounds.

I allow

to

another rascal to find

" I think
it

me
said,

in

clothes."

dear," I

laughingly
too

and

my

uncle,

who was
I

fond

of

178

GRAHAM HAMILTON,
to be offended, looked at his threadit

me

bare coat, and said

was certain the

but that was
al-

knave cheated him

ways the case

rate
did.

if

you went

to the first-

and most fashionable

shops, as

he

Then

getting
as

still

more good-

humoured,
being
so,

he found he had begun

he ended by almost telling

me
for

that I might spend what I pleased,

as
I

was

to

marry Gertrude, he should

all

make me
if I

the heir of
as I to

he possessed,
;

behaved
as I

ought
it

that, therelate,

fore,

was

have

soon or

he

did not wish

departure.
.

me

to be in a hurry for his

rise

This gave

to

expresso the

sions of gratitude from

me

and

ill-humour vanished.
I then informed him,
for I

thought

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
as he seemed so proud of
like to hear
it,

179

me

he would

that

Lady

Orville

the
the

Countess of Orville, had doue

me

honour of inviting

me

to dine with her

but contracting his brows again,

" Gra-

ham," he

said,

" that's no great honour,

between ourselves.
spectable
;

The

lady's not re-

have as

little to

do with the

Orvilles as you can, they're sair comical

folks.

I have had her here before this,

and
at

she's only
;

making much o ye

to get

my money
I."'

but 1 11 gie her none,

not

"Uncle," I answered indig"

nantly,

you mistake

me

quite.

My
!"

Lady Orville,"" Your Lady

Orville

is

"

Well, but I mean

this

Lady

Orville

the richest, best, finest lady in

"

Lon-

don."

That may

be," said Sir 3IaI-

180

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

colm, " but then I pity the other puir

things from

my

soul

but

if

you

11 hear

me,

you'll learn that in truth

yOur Ladj^^J^

Orville,

and

my Lady

Orville, are

much

the Same person, only she catches thfe^d

auld

men by

the garb o sorrow, and

shtJ'-'

cozens the young

of beauty
;

men by the

allurements'^'
belief,

but

still it is

my

that

your

daughter."
"

Lady

Orville "

is

Lady DenmontV'

The

same."
:

Now mark

me, Nephy Graham

ili'^J

this gay, this dissipated town, this

sili^'^'

gular assemblage of rich and poor, wise

and

foolish.

Lord

Orville

is

one, but not

tlfe only,

instance of a great nobleman^'

his

who from

youth seemed to take no

delight himself in any of his

sio:is

own

posses*^^
all

or

advantages.-^He allowed

GEAHAM HAMILTON.
about liim to spend his fortune and

181
exerl^io

his privileges, without concerning himselfrilj

either about one or the other.

Thus he

made many friends, and few enemies

he hurt no one, and sought no one.
abilities

for

Kis

were good, but his love of repose,

and

his distaste for all sort of

show

or

noise, prevented

them from being much

exercised or generally known.

at

He

\vas

Naples on a

tour,

with his two bro-

thers, as I

have heard, when Lady Den-

mont, having lately become a widow,

was

also there for her

own

health

they

were always at

her

ladyship's

house,

amidst dinner parties, amusement, and

expense of
est of
all sorts
all,
;

and he the

clever-

them
all,

the greatest gentleman

in

of

them

and assuredly a man

mind

182

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
cast,

and form of a very superior

at that
life,

time not more engrossed by

cares, or vicissitudes,

its

than the inhabitants

of the silent city in the Arabian Nights.

To be
brother

brief (for

it

is

sufficient that

one in a family speaks at the length puir

Richard

does,)

Lord

Orville,

in his reverie, saw, loved,

and married
a
girl

the

eldest

Miss

Clairville,

at

that time such as the world contained

no other

the

most beautiful, the most

accomplished, the wildest, and yet the

gentlest

the

most admired, and yet

most virtuous.
her
say,
fate.

Yet,

Graham, mark

This happiest

this,

I
is

may
now

dearest child of prosperity,

involved in deep distress.

Imprudence,

GRAHAM
pushed
to the

HAMILTON'.

183

utmost

beneficence, that
heart,

knew not to refuse

that could not

a tenderness of

upon any

occasion resist

the supplication of the unfortunate, and

a wasting spirit that scorned to take the

due means of preserving any thing, have

brought her to utter ruin.

Lovers sur-

rounded her, and

"

"

Speak not

so

profanely, uncle,"

1
is

said, interrupting

him

" you say she

so;

involved, wretched

it

may be

but no

suspicion of guilt can attach itself to her

name.
her,

Thousands,

it is true,

surround

and regard her with eyes of admi;

ration

yet none dare hope for favour.

like an angel, placed

She

is

on earth,
its

entrapped and entangled in

cruel

''

184

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
She
is

artificial snares.

like a rose, de-

voured by

catei-pillars

but herself

all

sweetness, purity, beauty.

She is-^^^^^
sfee

"Well
is

done,

Graham, I

HoFaf'

with you.

However, go
moral in
all

to her dinn^i^i'
sai^'f'

for there's a

you have
ill

and

besides, I never heard one

woM'
llA

of her reputation, which I should,

doubt, if there had been one to say.
to her, therefore,

Go

my

boy

but when yoK

aiiH^'

can spare a

little "

of your raptures

enthusiasm

" Sir," I interrupted^*

"

is it

probable that a

woman

that

is eifi-^
shonrlft''

barrassed, unhappy,

and deserted,

give balls and suppers, w^hich she does

continually?"

"She's

ruined,
;

tell

you," replied Sir JNialcolm

" and that

accounts for

it

it 's

quite the fashion.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

185

We rich and honest folks break up early,

and lock up our
coffers
;

and they who^

keep nothing within, like

question, are all open

my Lady

in

and

profuse, cover-

ing necessity with shew and pretence, as

some General did

other folk."

in a famine, to deceive

]My uncle now shewed

ters

me some

let-

from

Lady

Orville,

which very

much

surprised me.
to

Struck with comthat

miseration

find

sorrow

had

taken root in a bosom which seemed

formed only

for happiness, I

made

all

the usual moral reflections, and uttered

all

the common-place invectives against

dissipation

and extravagance.

then

listened to

my

uncle with more attention

;

than I had done before

and being

full

186

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
liis

of gratitude at ting

kindness in permit-

me

to accept the invitation, I asked

him

if I

could not be of use to him,

I

which

he immediately found that

;

might be
to copy

and

in consequence set

me

the

dullest,

and longest, and

books.

most
ten

intricate of

his

made

thousand errors in the task, and

the

well nigh wrote

name
in

of Orville,

two

or

three

times

every

page;

but I was in extreme; good humour, and

my

uncle was pleased to overlook

my

negligence.
I need not say with what impatience I awaited the
liberty.

moment

of regaining

my

It

would have been madness

not to have answered

invitation.

Lady

Orville's

might have

written, but 1

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
knew not the form
;

187
I pre-

in sliort,
visit.

ferred an excuse for a

I flew to

her

saw

her

was

embarrassed

she
what
that
at

was

so herself

I hardly

know

either of us said.

This I know,
than

she

looked

more beautiful
-'s
;

Lord
;

that

her

cheeks

were pale

that she was like a faded

lovely flower,

and her countenance exgentleness,

pressed

sadness,

nothing

hidden, nothing affected.

to

She seemed
;

wish to speak to

me

complained
a

of Moncrief's

absence

at

moment
and
said

when

she

needed a

friend,

he had been a sincere one

to

her.

reminded her that Lady Denmont was

in

town

she evaded answering

:

tears

filled

her eyes

was unable to see

188

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

them without experiencing a degree of

emotion and pain
ridiculous
to
I.

knew
She

it

would be
that
it

shew.

said

appeared so good, so young

that
me
;

was

unkind and cruel

to speak to

of griefs

which I could not even conceive

yet," she said, "

"

But

you can be of use

me.

to

me

^perhaps, save

You will soon hear

may
as well

my

sorrows from others, you

myself."

know them from

proceeded

She had not

farther,

when her mother

I

was announced.
I did
so, I

withdrew

but as

thought I perceived an ex-

pression of surprise in

Lady Denmont's
She
I re-

countenance

on

beholding me.

bowed
turned

coldly to

me

as I passed

home

but

all

my

thoughts were

occupied by

Lady

Orville.

GEAHAM HAMILTON.

189

CHAP.
The day
ville at

XII.

for dining

with Lady OrI

length came.

arrived early;

but had

no opportunity

of seeing
in

her alone.

She now appeared

much

better spirits.

She paid more

I

attention to

me
me

than to others, and

thought she either felt or feigned more

interest
for

than Gertrude ever

the day of the

had shewn.
dinner,
till

From

the evening of her ball,

in the

which took place

and
to

ensuing week,

which she had invited me.

190
1

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
that acci-

met her but once, and

dentally, in her carriage.

She had
and

the

two children with

her, a girl

a boy.

They were

beautiful, but they

did not look very healthy; and she

appeared tenderly anxious about them.

In the course of this week Mr. Bran-

don arrived

in town,

and did

me

the

extraordinary honour of calling

on

me.

He
it

brought a

letter in order to

shew

to

me

it

will
it

appear like va;

nity, if I transcribe

but vanity

is

no longer the

uppermost

feeling in

my

heart,

and to the imputation of it,

as to other imputations, I
sensible.
I

am now
it

in-

know

not to

whom
tell

was
it

written

he would only

me
;

that

was

to a friend of his sister

but

it

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
was Lady
it

191

Orville's

writing.
It

Half of

was

torn away.

began with an

intreaty that the person to

whom
to

it

was addressed, would come

for

town

her ball

"

And

then you will

let

see

Graham Hamilton; and

you,

me
him

assure

you

will
I

not

see

without danger.

know you
with

are al-

ready half
tion of

in love

my

descripis

Moncrief,

but Graham

thousand times more attractive, and

besides, younger
;

he

is

a poet

that
had
I

you have heard no doubt; and he would

be a lover
if

he dared

that

any one

may

see

and were

I in spirits,

not a million of things to annoy me, I

would drive down

to bring

to

M on purpose
:

him with me

at all events I

192

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
for

depend upon you

is

Tuesday.

He
Monfalls

not so

tall
is

as

Moncrief,
lighter:

though

his figure

somewhat

crief s hair, as

you well know,

dark brow,

carelessly over his

and

gives

him an appearance of

fierce-

ness and negligence not altogether un-

becoming; but
hair
is

this

young Graham's

curled above his forehead and

neck.

Each has a noble and manly

;

countenance

but Graham's eyes are

softer than Moncrief s.

Moncrief 's com-

plexion varies with every feeling, red-

dens with the breeze, and grows pale

with sorrow or
illness
:

but Graham's

cheek

is

colourless

both are fond of

conversation, both are ardent and free

in speech,

but Graham's manner

is

not

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

193

SO perfectly unaffected as Moncriefs,

for his

embarrassment

is

greater,

and

his
I

knowledge of
believe
I

social life less."

in

have told you before

the course of this narrative, that from

a boy

had been troubled

at times

by

certain agitations of mind, during

which

my

spirits

were exceedingly
feelings sensitive

depressed, and
to a

my
fit

degree of painful and alarming

weakness. The
I

was now upon me

questioned therefore the propriety

of appearing in public whilst under

its

influence.

know
mind

not

how
as

to de-

fine precisely

what occurred
it

at these
if if

periods

to

my

was

my
the

imagination was struck

as

events of futurity in some measure

VOL.

I.

194

GRAHAM HAMILTOX.

appeared before

me

as

if

material

objects vanished, and the perceptions

of the

mind became too bright and

vivid for the understanding to bear.

1

was

as

if

endowed
sense
;

for

a few instants

with a

new

memory appeared

to cease

and futurity to open

in

fine,

the seer's mournful spirit, the

of second-sight, in
verily believe

power
I

some measure,

tormented me, though

in a degree too slight to deserve the

name.

My unelpi
but
I

who saw

that I

was not
:

well, requested

me to remain at home

Who that had been invited by Lady Orville to a ball, at my age,

went.
?

would not have gone

ten-^^no one

arrived too at
at

had thought of coming

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
that hour.

195

Lady

Orville

was how-

ever dressed

spoke with her more

than

had yet done.

:

She talked

of

Scotland

spoke of Gertrude, of
;

my

hopes, of my prospects
feebly and coldly
timents.

my tongue expressed my senbut

after, I

Some time

spoke of

herself, of her

kindness to me, of her

beauty, her talents,

my
me

admiration

and
ville

was more eloquent.

looked upon

Lady Or-

with interest.

She placed her

in

sickly but pretty

boy

my

arms; he was half-asleep

my

pressed him with enthusiasm to

bosom, and looked upon

his mother.

We were

in a small

apartment opena boudoir

ing upon the ball-room,

prettily fitted

up with

lace and dra-

k2

106
pery.
lessly

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Lady
Orville

was leaning careI

upon a harp:

reminded her

of her sister's singing, and the impression

it

had made upon me.

;

asked her to sing

without hesitation

she touched the strings simply and

unaffectedly.

Her voice was deep,

and so sweetly touch-

impassioned,
ing, that

except from the dear and

ever to be lamented Mrs. Jordan, I

never heard notes like those which

now

delighted me.

The

air
;

was

that

of an old French
as follows
If thou could'st

romance

the words

know what

'tis

to

weep,

To weep
The
Silent

unpitied and alone

live-long night, whilst others sleep,

and mournful watch

to keep,

Thou would'st

not do what 1 have done.

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
If thou could'st

197

know what 'tis

to smile,

To

smile, whilst scorn'd

by every one,

To

hide by

many an

artful wile,

heart that

knows more

grief than guile,

I

Thou
And,

would'st not do what

have done.

oh, if thou could'st think

how

drear,

When friends are changed and health is gone, The world would to thine eyes appear, If thou like me to none wert dear.
Thou
*'

would'st not do wliat I have done.

I

Heavens
?" I

what can you have

as soon as she

done

said,

had

ceased.

She had

tears trembling in
silent
:

her eyes

she

Avas

the song

she had sung

in

still

sounded mournfully
I

my

ears,

and

dared not again

disturb that sacred silence.

The

ball

commenced towards twelve,

but long before that hour. Lady Orville

drew

me

from where

was

198

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
made me

seated with the child/ arid

assist

her in arranging the flowers and

decorations.

Moncrief was one of

entered.

the

first

who

The company
I

now began
made an
Lady
r

rapidly to assemble.

effort to forget the

I tried to

song and

Orville.
fair

think alone

of

the

and crowded assembly

before me.
to

To my
like

eyes,

still

new

scenes

these,

every

woman

looked
ris

lovely, as
;

we

fancy the hou-

of Paradise

and every man ap-

peared to
still

me

another Moncrief; but

in

there
:

was a want of gaiety

it

the dance

was
it

beautiful

it

was
dull

graceful, tut
for

was apparently
laugh

the

heart's

was never

heard, and the joyous sound of re-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
velry, such as I
tish
hall

199
in Scot-

had read
Baronial

of,

and
as 1

feast,

and

^ven such

had myself witnessed

in

amongst the youth

my own

time,

was wanting. The

constraint, too, of

the younger party was great

it

was

oot natural ease

and the unfledged

its

bird attempting to follow

parent on

its uncertain pinions, could not

more

frequently

fail;

yet upon the whole

the scene was dazzling,

Orville, breathing life

and Lady

and happiness
picture

around,
beautiful
self,

shewed

the

of

woman, not

forgetful of her-

but eager to render every one

It

happy.

was delightful

to see the be-

nevolence of her welcoming smile, the

repose of her whole appearance, the

200

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

dignity with which she did the hotiOTirs

of her house, without

effort.

Her dress
what texof
pearls

was light I know not

ture
:

of

she wore one

row

round her neck, and her hair braided.

Moncrief was gazing

with anxiety
to

upon her

it

was evident was

me, no-

vice as I was, that he

seriously

attached to her. I pitied him; for

who
fair,

could have beheld any

woman

so
?

so brilliant, and not have loved

The

first

quadrille

was over

Miss

Clairville seated herself near the place

where

was

standing.
that
:

Suddenly

dreaded

malady
if

came upon me

it

was
I

as

a mist
:

had enveloped me.

a singing
in

saw no more

my

ears

sickness

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

201

and violent beating of the heart oppressed me.

Miss
ill;

Clairville

asked
to

me

if I

were

put

my

hand

my

head
it

had not power

to speak.

Then

was

that even whilst

my
fill

eyes

were fixed upon Lady

Orville, a vision

wholly different seemed to

the
in

scene; every one appeared clad

black

Gertrude appeared dead,

My
me
father and
;

and

in her shroud.

my
how

uncle stood before

pale and
feeble

but oh,

my

father

looked

then

all

was
;

terror, uproar, noise.

I started

Miss Clairville was

;

assist-

ing

me

with some water

several per-

sons surrounded

my

chair looking at

me with surprise. To me it appeared as

if I

had been

ill

an hour, but

found

K 5

202

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

the whole had scarcely exceeded a minute.

" What did

say or do ?"

ask-

ed Miss Clairville hastily. " Nothing,"

she said, blushing deeply and sighing,
^*

but look so earnestly on

my

sister,

and appear so agitated, that every

one
I

in the

room observed you."

*'

Oh!"

thought, "

how

little

they know, or

even guess, what was passing in

mind.'^^'-^
'^*'-

my

This occurrence was quite sufficient

to

occasion

general

observation,
;

that I

was deeply
to see I
I

in love

that

it

Was easy

had no command

over myself, or

should not have ex-

posed myself; and that the attention

of one
sister,

whilst

my

eyes were

fixed on the other,

was a proof that

GRAHAM
Lady
folly.

HAMIt-TON.

203
in ray

Orville encouraged

me

Frederic Brandon rallied

;

me

on

this subject

that conceit
is

and vanity

which no man
tirely to

strong enough en-

subdue, prevented

me
is

from
the
this

discouraging him;

and such

weakness of human nature upon

point, that I could not but feel satisfaction, that

my illness was placed

to an

account other than the true one. The

boy,

who was somewhat

fantastically

dressed, and had been talked to and

admired by

all

the company,
to rest, seeing

now,
me,

upon being sent

darted from his mother and climbed

up

my

knees to wish

me good
the

night.

This again

confirmed

opinion

which had already been formed by

2.0,4

GRAHAM
for every

HAj\]ILTO-V.

many;

one in that busy

interested in the

town seemed more

affairs of

others than their own, and

more

intent

upon scandal and

sur--^^

mise than upon any weightier matter.

was

besides, for the

moment,

an object of importance.
attractions

My personal
an

were augmented by the

addition
of

reported
fortune.

immense

'

Heir to Sir Malcolm' was

all sides,

whispered on

and

his wealth

exaggerated, nay, doubled and tripled

by every new speaker.

Miss
Clairville in the
left

mean time

being asked to dance,

me

to

my
ill ?

own

reflections.

Was
I

Gertrude
I

]SrjC)^,.ijt;

was impossible.
lately.

had heard

from home

would not be

GRAHAM HAMILTOX.
superstitious.

205
I

Enough

of dreams,

thought

let

me
I

attend to the scene

before me.

now observed Monwith Lady

I

crief conversing

Orville,

and from

his

manner

suspected that
Since his
inter-

he was speaking of me.

return to

town he had never

I felt

changed one word with me.

hurt

but such reflections were interrupted

by the approach

of Miss

Brandon,

who warmly expressed

at seeing

her pleasure
for

me, and her regret

my
the

indisposition.

We
sets

talked

of
to

dancers
as

she

named them

me,

different

they exhibited

their skill in the

light quadrille, or

the graceful waltz.

that nothing

But

it

seemed
this

was

to

proceed upon

206

GllAHAM HAMILTON.
evening in
all

important
course
;

the

ordinary

and that

things were de-

termined to conspire to furnish matter for

rumour and conversation

for

scarce had

my

indisposition ceased to

be the subject of speculation, when

Lady

Orville

was seen leaning on

as

my

arm apparently
I

much

disturbed as

had been.

The

fact

was

this:
I

whilst talking

with Miss Brandon,

observed a serletter,

vant passing by with a

quiring for

and en-

Lady

Orville; I pointed to

the spot where she

was conversing

with Moncrief.

heard the servant

**

say as he gave her the note,

The
:

bearer will not leave the house

says,

he

my

lady, he

must be answered,

; !

GRAHAM HAMILTOX.
and that your ladyship knows
very night he
is

207
this

ruined

if"

" Speak

lower, fellow," said Moncrief angrily,

and seeing Lady Orville excessively

agitated, he left her

and went out of

Orville

the apartment.

Lady

could

not conquer the emotion by

she was

which

overpowered.
;

She made

an

effort

she endeavoured to smile

of death
over-

when

the paleness

spread her countenance,

and,

beceyes,
**

koning to me,
" Take

for

she met

my

me

hence," she said;

all

Oh

take me, nor let

London witness

my

misery and disgrace."

I

" Disgrace!"

repeated,

almost

overpowered by her words, but complying with her wish, " lean on

my

208
arm,"

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
I said,
;"
**

I will

take you

out

instantly

she drew

me

along, though
;

her step was feeble and tottering

she
to

would follow Moncrief

wished

lead her to her mother.

case,

The

stair-

superbly lighted and adorned

with flowers, was crowded with domestics and spectators,

foot of the
stairs

and

at

the

were seated the

band, which was playing loud and

sweetly

there

wretched-looking

man, with a desperate countenance,

stood enveloped in a rough great coat,

and Moncrief, with

in
stifled

great anxiety,

whispers,

implored,

me-

naced, requested him to be gone

it

was

in vain

he would speak to
;

my

lady, he said

and Lady Orville hesi-

GRAHA^
'>?<6j

HA^IILTON.
i
'-

20D
1
(.iirii.

in" 7/

.joijsa

tatingly assured

me

that,

provided

would not forsake

see him.

her,

she would
vKlioi

-M

We
when

had descended a few

steps,

a servant followed us to inquire

from Lady Denmont, whether Lady

Orville

was

ill

"Tell
I

my
I

mother,"

she replied, "

am

only gone for a

;

moment
well

to give
shall

an order

am

quite

soon return."

" Mr.
faltering-

Hamilton," she said, in a

tone,
*'

am

taking you from a scene

to
?"

of

amusement

one of anguish

can
!"

you forgive me
replied
*'
;

" Forgive you

forgive an angel for shew-

ing

me

the example of humanity, of

a charity, which none of the selfish

amusements of this world can

stifle ?"

210
?f

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
are striking a dagger into her

You

heart in every

word you speak,"

said

Moncrief, turning fiercely round etnd

seizing from

appeared
port
;

to

me that arm which it me heaven thus to sup^

your

" hold your prate and

;

sentences

look what you have done."

in
fact,

Lady

Orville,

had

fainted.

''Augusta," said Moncrief with tenderness,

**

Augusta

!"

and with

my

assistance he

supported her into an

adjoining parlour,

where the cloaks

and shawls had been thrown upon

the sofa, and where, upon a heap of

them,
this

we

laid her.

What

a sight was

lifeless,

lovely form upon a

bed of coloured trappings, contrasting

their vivid, varied tints with the pale-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
n^ssdftef
calm;
cheek.

Moncrief was
call

he

durst not

for assis-

tance, least he should excite attention

;

he

bathed her temples with

the water

which

he

brought her,

kept a

strict

watch on the door, only

permitting the stern being,

who was

the cause of this disturbance, to be a

witness of the scene.

By

degrees

Lady Orville
and

recovered,
;

raised herself,

sat upright

then

trying to assume composure, she fixed

her

eyes

mournfully

on

the

man man

before her, and prepared to hear his

reproaches.

" When
**

the poor

drops in the streets from want," he

said, at length,

breaking silence in a
the rich

hollow tone,

man

says he


GRAHAM

212
is

HAMILTON",
I will

an impostor:
to

not presume,
I

my lady,

judge you so harshly:

will not refuse to believe that Nature,

though spurned so often from the

sorts

rein

of

Fashion,

yet

continues

some measure
of those

to influence the hearts

who

reject her."

Moncrief

darted an eye

of fury on the
I

man.

" Let me turn him out/'

-^,-the

cried,

wretch

the
Lady
let

impious
'

wretch

who

dares to utter

" Let him

speak," said

Orville, in a low,

but firm tone, "

pleases
^,...J*j
;

him say

all

he

deserve

it."

Madam,"

said the

man, affected

for

moment by
your

her loveliness, such

patience, such
it
is

magnanimity,
I

"If

desire,

will

postpone

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

213
did not

my

visit."'

Lady
*i'

Orville
it

answer,iAi

Far

be

from

me,"

he continued, " to judge you

gared as
I

begyour

am by my

trust in

countenance of innocent sweetness.

1

wish not

to insult you,

but when
aching

disease

and

famine

when

limbs and motherless children cause

distress
it.

human
great

nature cannot bear

The

man

pleads his nature

I

as his excuse for every evil deed.

have by a year's imprisonment expiated the crime, your want of punctuality

your
to

riot

and extravagance
" Hold

led

me

commit."

have

mercy," Lady Orville interrupted him.

' See," continued the man, pointing

to her,
'*

what

gifts

heaven has be-

214

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

stowed there
in the
if
it

and
all,

yet that

heart,

midst of

this splendour,

must,
self-re-

beat at

beat with
the

proach.

Amongst

many whom

you and your gay associates have

brought to ruin,
unfortunate
T

for

am one of the most I am disgraced. To

I

save your honour,

to

suffered myself

become the

sacrifice; I

saw

my

wife's
cries-

tears- heard

my

children's

but,
I

faithful to the

lady whose

protection and benevolence had such

a name, trusted to
to

your promise.
a thousand

The money due

pounds

me was
I

the
you

property
that sum.

possessed

was not half

all,

Deprived of
I

without a friend on earth,

to
for

wrote
for

daily

succour,

nay

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
justice
:

215

an

insolent porter turned

I

me

from your gate.

was advised

to

have recourse to the law

but your
guarantee.
I

word alone had been

She
will
I

my

remember me,
wept
to

yet said
letter
I
still

and
upon

as

traced

letter

one

whom
to

believed

too

generous

act

as

you have done.

At length one night

to

it

is

terrible

me
I

to

recall
I

it

temptation came across me.

utterly
destitute.

was
a

attempted

robbery
cuted
:

was

seized

and

prose-,

was convicted, but obtained

a pardon after long confinement.

life

My
I

was saved, but disgrace

is

stamped

on

me

for ever.

Three days ago

wrote to you again.

My

letter

was

;:

216

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

menacing

was desperate
is

but so was

my
day

situation.
I

All yesterday

all this

have awaited your answer

given

to-night the answer

ball
this

and supper, splendour, excess:

is

my money this is my sustenance. Take my heart's blood take my life

you have ruined me.

almost
lies

My wife

died,

of want;

my
I

youngest boy

famished and cold before

for

me

if

apply

work,

am

spurned.

Are you not

afraid of wearing, before

the Almighty

God who made

baubles,
the bread of

you,

those glittering

which you

must
dren
?

feel are

my

chilI

Give

me

but justice
is

ask

no charity.

Your God

my

God:

we

are the

same before him.

What

GRAHAM HAMILTON.

217

you have taken from me, that alone

I

claim

and
it,

if

you are too poor

you
not
too
to

to

restore
to

are

poor

wear

this

costly attire,
to

keep

these liveried minions,

feast ?"

give this

Struck with this unexpected

tory, I

his-

gazed alternately on the ex-

piring figure of penitence and despair,

whose

tears,

coursing each other

down

her cheeks,

seemed

to

supplicate

offended Heaven for forgiveness, and

upon the
fore us.
silence.

sallow, haggard

man

bein

Moncrief and

remained

The man then continued

" Your servants drive

me from your

door they
thief;

call

me vagabond and
in all

and your steward came,

I.

VOL.

218

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
it

his insolence, but yesterday, sent as

seemed by your command,

to insult

me
that

in

my own
but
to

insult,

house." " Oh, not to " Possibly relieve."

intent
;

was your

but was

it

not

insult, think you,

to enter

my

miser-

able and bare walls, and ask

me

if
?

the beggar

named Colan

lived there

Was

it

not insult, do you suppose, to

place a piece of

money on

the table,
if it

saying
is

you sent it you,

Orville
tried

whom,

my

will, I

can expose as cruel, and

as dishonest, to a

wondering world

Lady
tears

to conceal her

she looked upon

me

me

as

if

sup-

plicating

not to judge her harshly.

to the

Moncrief spoke some time

man

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
in a

219

low tone of voice

he then audi-

bly requested

him

to depart

now, and

come

again the

next morning; and

with this request the man,

who seem-

ed somewhat

satisfied

with having ex-

pressed his indignation,

his willingness to
ville

now

declared

comply.

Lady Orit

thanked Moncrief, as
;

struck

me, coldly

and turning

to

me, bade

me compose

myself, and not betray

my

agitation

when

returned to the

ball-room.
I shall

never forget Moncrief 's look

at

upon both her and

ed round, and
It

me, when

turn-

his

dark eye met mine.

would have awakened the dead,

in

and

truth

it

might have annihi-

220

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
Lady
Orville, with-

ated the living.

out one other word,

gave him her

suppose, to her

arm, and returned,

company; but

felt

myself so

much

moved

as to be unable to
;

obey her
in-

injunction

and apprehensive of

juring her by

my

emotion

I left

the

house, with the intention of instantly

I

proceeding

home.

Before

me

perceived the very

man who had

much
disturb-

been the cause of so

ance;
I

overtook,

and

questioned

him, and he then told me, that the

gentleman had promised

his

to

pay him
strictly
cir-

whole demand, but had

enjoined him not to mention the

cumstance.

Upon

receiving this in-

GRAHAM HAMILTON.
telligence
uncle's,
I

22]
to

proceeded onwards

my

deeply meditating upon the

melancholy lesson of the evening, and

struck with admiration of Moncrief 's

calm and disinterested generosity.

END OF

VOL.

I,

LONDON
'RINTED BY
S.

AND

R.

BENTLEY, DORSET-STR.ILET.

J^