תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

Amelrosa was conversing with the mistress of the shop on the subject, when a boy she employed, who had gone out to get change returned, saying, he could not get any where his mistress had desired him to go; "But ma'am," said he, "there is one of the grandest burials I ever see'd, coming down the street ;" and scarcely had he finished speaking, when one of the most magnificent funerals they had ever beheld, began to pass by. The curiosity of the mistress of the shop was excited, and apologizing to Amelrosa for keeping her waiting, desired the boy to inquire, whose remains were being conveyed to their last mansion in such grand style, and afterwards to go to another place, to which she directed him for change.

Amelrosa, to whom the awful pomp of the solemn obsequies of the dead, always imparted a melancholy sensation, reminding her of the loss of beloved friends, was endeavoring to divert her thoughts into another

another channel, by looking at the goods in the shop, when the boy came back, and while his mistress, as she counted the money, was eagerly questioning and listening to him, Amelrosa unavoidably heard him, though she paid little attention, pronounce that it was the funeral of Lady Archdale.

A shriek of agony burst from her, as the heart-piercing sound of death, harshly grated on her ear, and pale as the friend she mourned, she fainting, sunk inanimate. The mistress of the shop and boy, ran to assist her; and two or three men and women who were at the extremity of it, seeing a bustle, came forward, and by her direction, carried the lady into a little parlour adjoining. Every proper application to restore her were used; and the mistress of the shop said, "Poor young creature, she seems to have been very ill; for I remarked how poorly she looked when she first came in. I suppose the shock of hearing so unexpectedly of the death of

some

some friend or relation, as I imagine, quite overcame her; for directly the boy repeated whose funeral it was, such a look of terror, as I never witnessed before, took possession of her countenance, and she turned of a more ashy white than ever."

Amelrosa now began to revive, and opening her eyes, forgot where she was, looking round with dismay at the strange faces about her; but recovering her recollection, burst into tears, and exclaimed, friend! my dear friend! shall I

[ocr errors]

"Oh, my never see you more! Why did I not die, instead of you." She continued to weep to relieve her oppressed heart; and the people seeing her better, all retired, except their mistress; and Amelrosa thanking her for her humane attention, added, she must trespass further on her goodness, by requesting she would procure her a hackney coach; and the boy was instantly dispatched for one. The mistress of the shop then gave her the change, promising punc

tually

tually to observe her commands, respecting the purchases she had made for Emmeline, and attended her to the coach, which she got into with weeping eyes.

Amelrosa did not take any nourishment during the remainder of the day, but continued to mourn incessantly for the loss of her beloved friend; while the increased forlornness of her situation forcibly occurred to her afflicted mind: though with her at that moment, it was an inferior consideration; and could Lady Archdale have been restored to life, she would have been content, she thought, to encounter the severest misery.

Since she had been out, the intelligence of Lady Archdale's death had reached Mrs. Stanhope, and hastily spreading throughout the house, came to the ears of the affectionate Lucy, who being well acquainted with the friendship her ladyship had for Amelrosa; and learning from the footman,

she

she came home very dejected, and looked as if she had been crying, hastened to offer her humble consolation, and endeavored to persuade her to take some refreshment, as she appeared quite exhausted: but her kind persuasions could not prevail. She came up as frequently as her occupations would permit, to see her, and in the evening informed her, that Mr. Melville, apothecary to the late Lady Archdale, wished to speak with her. Amelrosa, who highly respected him, and imagined he had some interesting information relative to her dear friend, to communicate, de ired he might be shewn into her dressing-room.

He was shocked on his entrance, at the striking alteration in her person for the worse; and attributing it entirely to affliction for the loss of her ladyship, (being ig norant of the dreadful and unexpected manner in which she was informed of her misfortune,) attempted to comfort her. But when she imparted to him, the sudden

and

« הקודםהמשך »