CHAPTER III.
_In Which Mr. Temple and His Daughter, with Their New Friend, Make an Unexpected Excursion_.
ONE delicious morning, remarkable even in the south, Lord Montfortcalled upon them in his carriage, and proposed a little excursion. Mr.Temple looked at his daughter, and was charmed that Henrietta consented.She rose from her seat, indeed, with unwonted animation, and the threefriends had soon quitted the city and entered its agreeable environs.
'It was wise to pass the winter in Italy,' said Lord Montfort, 'but tosee Tuscany in perfection I should choose the autumn. I know nothingmore picturesque than the carts laden with grapes, and drawn bymilk-white steers.'
They drove gaily along at the foot of green hills, crowned ever andanon by a convent or a beautiful stone-pine. The landscape attracted theadmiration of Miss Temple. A palladian villa rose from the bosom of agentle elevation, crowned with these picturesque trees. A broad terraceof marble extended in front of the villa, on which were ranged orangetrees. On either side spread an olive-grove. The sky was withouta cloud, and deeply blue; bright beams of the sun illuminated thebuilding. The road had wound so curiously into this last branch of theApennines, that the party found themselves in a circus of hills, clothedwith Spanish chestnuts and olive trees, from which there was apparentlyno outlet. A soft breeze, which it was evident had passed over the wildflowers of the mountains, refreshed and charmed their senses.
'Could you believe we were only two hours' drive from a city?' said LordMontfort.
'Indeed,' said Henrietta, 'if there be peace in this world, one wouldthink that the dweller in that beautiful villa enjoyed it.'
'He has little to disturb him,' said Lord Montfort: 'thanks to hisdestiny and his temper.'
'I believe we make our miseries,' said Henrietta, with a sigh. 'Afterall, nature always offers us consolation. But who lives here?'
'I sometimes steal to this spot,' replied his lordship.
'Oh! this, then, is your villa? Ah! you have surprised us!'
'I only aimed to amuse you.'
'You are very kind, Lord Montfort,' said Mr. Temple; 'and we owe youmuch.'
They stopped, they ascended the terrace, they entered the villa. A fewrooms only were furnished, but their appearance indicated the taste andpursuits of its occupier. Busts and books were scattered about; a tablewas covered with the implements of art; and the principal apartmentopened into an English garden.
'This is one of my native tastes,' said Lord Montfort, 'that will, Ithink, never desert me.'
The memory of Henrietta was recalled to the flowers of Ducie and ofArmine. Amid all the sweets and sunshine she looked sad. She walked awayfrom her companions; she seated herself on the terrace; her eyes weresuffused with tears. Lord Montfort took the arm of Mr. Temple, and ledhim away to a bust of Germanicus.
'Let me show it to Henrietta,' said Mr. Temple; 'I must fetch her.'
Lord Montfort laid his hand gently on his companion. The emotion ofHenrietta had not escaped his quick eye.
'Miss Temple has made a great exertion,' he said. 'Do not think mepedantic, but I am something of a physician. I have long perceivedthat, although Miss Temple should be amused, she must sometimes be leftalone.'
Mr. Temple looked at his companion, but the countenance of Lord Montfortwas inscrutable. His lordship offered him a medal and then opened aportfolio of Marc Antonios.
'These are very rare,' said Lord Montfort; 'I bring them into thecountry with me, for really at Rome there is no time to study them.By-the-bye, I have a plan,' continued his lordship, in a somewhathesitating tone; 'I wish I could induce you and Miss Temple to visit meat Rome.'
Mr. Temple shrugged his shoulders, and sighed.
'I feel confident that a residence at Rome would benefit Miss Temple,'said his lordship, in a voice a little less calm than usual. 'There ismuch to see, and I would take care that she should see it in a mannerwhich would not exhaust her. It is the most delightful climate, too, atthis period. The sun shines here to-day, but the air of these hills atthis season is sometimes treacherous. A calm life, with a variety ofobjects, is what she requires. Pisa is calm, but for her it is too dull.Believe me, there is something in the blended refinement and interestof Rome that she would find exceedingly beneficial. She would see no onebut ourselves; society shall be at her command if she desire it.'
'My dear lord,' said Mr. Temple, 'I thank you from the bottom of myheart for all your considerate sympathy; but I cannot flatter myselfthat Henrietta could avail herself of your really friendly offer. Mydaughter is a great invalid. She------'
But here Miss Temple joined them.
'We have a relic of a delicate temple here,' said Lord Montfort,directing her gaze to another window. 'You see it now to advantage;the columns glitter in the sun. There, perhaps, was worshipped somewood-nymph, or some river-god.'
The first classic ruin that she had yet beheld attracted the attentionof Miss Temple. It was not far, and she acceded to the propositionof Lord Montfort to visit it. That little ramble was delightful. Thenovelty and the beauty of the object greatly interested her. It wascharming also to view it under the auspices of a guide so full ofinformation and feeling.
'Ah!' said Lord Montfort, 'if I might only be your cicerone at Rome!'
'What say you, Henrietta?' said Mr. Temple, with a smile. 'Shall we goto Rome?'
The proposition did not alarm Miss Temple as much as her fatheranticipated. Lord Montfort pressed the suggestion with delicacy; hehinted at some expedients by which the journey might be rendered notvery laborious. But as she did not reply, his lordship did not press thesubject; sufficiently pleased, perhaps, that she had not met it with animmediate and decided negative.
When they returned to the villa they found a collation prepared for themworthy of so elegant an abode. In his capacity of a host, Lord Montfortdeparted a little from that placid and even constrained demeanour whichgenerally characterised him. His manner was gay and flowing; and hepoured out a goblet of Monte Pulciano and presented it to Miss Temple.
'You must pour a libation,' he said, 'to the nymph of the fane.'