Camilla | Page 4

nor much better than t'other sister Lavinia; and not one
of the three is half so great a beauty as my little Indiana; so I can't well
make out what it is that's so catching in her; but there's something in
her little mouth that quite wins me; though she looks as if she was half
laughing at me too: which can't very well be, neither; for I suppose, as
yet, at least, she knows no more of books and studying than her uncle.
And that's little enough, God knows, for I never took to them in proper
season; which I have been sorry enough for, upon coming to
discretion.'
Then addressing himself to the boy, he exhorted him to work hard
while yet in his youth, and related sundry anecdotes of the industry and
merit of his father when at the same age, though left quite to himself, as,
to his great misfortune, he had been also, 'which brought about,' he
continued, 'my being this present ignoramus that you see me; which
would not have happened, if my good forefathers had been pleased to
keep a sharper look out upon my education.'
Lionel, the little boy, casting a comic glance at Camilla, begged to
know what his uncle meant by a sharper look out?
'Mean, my dear? why correction, to be sure; for all that, they tell me, is
to be done by the rod; so there, at least, I might have stood as good a
chance as my neighbours.'
'And pray, uncle,' cried Lionel, pursing up his mouth to hide his
laughter, 'did you always like the thoughts of it so well?'
'Why no, my dear, I can't pretend to that; at your age I had no more
taste for it than you have: but there's a proper season for every thing.
However, though I tell you this for a warning, perhaps you may do
without it; for, by what I hear, the rising generation's got to a much
greater pitch since my time.'
He then added, he must advise him, as a friend, to be upon his guard, as
his Cousin, Clermont Lynmere, who was coming home from Eton

school next Christmas for the holidays, would turn out the very mirror
of scholarship; for he had given directions to have him study both night
and day, except what might be taken off for eating and sleeping:
'Because,' he continued, 'having proved the bad of knowing nothing in
my own case, I have the more right to intermeddle with others. And he
will thank me enough when once he has got over his classics. And I
hope, my dear little boy, you see it in the same light too; which,
however, is what I can't expect.'
The house was now examined; the fair little Indiana took possession of
her apartment; Miss Margland was satisfied with the attention that had
been paid her; and Sir Hugh was rejoiced to find a room for Clermont
that had no window but a skylight, by which means his studies, he
observed, would receive no interruption from gaping and staring about
him. And, when the night advanced, Mr. Tyrold had the happiness of
leaving him with some prospect of recovering his spirits.
The revival, however, lasted but during the novelty of the scene;
depression returned with the feelings of ill health; and the happier lot of
his brother, though born to almost nothing, filled him with incessent
repentance of his own mismanagement.
In some measure to atone for this, he resolved to collect himself a
family in his own house: and the young Camilla, whose dawning
archness of expression had instinctively caught him, he now demanded
of her parents, to come and reside with him and Indiana at Cleves; 'for
certainly,' he said, 'for such a young little thing, she looks full of
amusement.'
Mrs. Tyrold objected against reposing a trust so precious where its
value could so ill be appreciated. Camilla was, in secret, the fondest
hope of her mother, though the rigour of her justice scarce permitted
the partiality to beat even in her own breast. Nor did the happy little
person need the avowed distinction. The tide of youthful glee flowed
jocund from her heart, and the transparency of her fine blue veins
almost shewed the velocity of its current. Every look was a smile, every
step was a spring, every thought was a hope, every feeling was joy! and
the early felicity of her mind was without allay. O blissful state of

innocence, purity, and delight, why must it fleet so fast? why scarcely
but by retrospection is its happiness known?
Mr. Tyrold, while his tenderest hopes encircled the same object, saw
the proposal in a fairer light, from the love he bore to his brother. It
seemed certain such a