48 THE PORTRAIT PAINTER.
“Capital, “thought he, as he slowly retraced his steps; 66 an admirable opening for an intro- duction. "
On the following morning, Maria was surprised by a visit from a tall and elegant, yet somewhat delicate - looking young man, who announced himself as the son of Mrs. Fitzgerald, and re- quested she would take his likeness for that lady, stipulating, at the same time, that the transac- tion should be kept a profound secret from his mother, as he said he wished to surprise her with a present on her birth - day, which was at hand.
Promising to call or send on the day appointed for the picture to be finished, Henry placed a morocco case in the hand of Miss C, and de- siring her to accept payment in advance, de- parted.
Henry Fitzgerald wanted a year of his majori- ty, and his immense fortune depended on the will of his mother, should he marry without her con- sent before he reached that period. But Henry saw and loved Maria - Maria, the humble por- tionless Maria, was preferred by him to the rich and titled dames who were contending for his smiles. He loved her ardently, passionately- more than all, sincerely; and it was his decided resolution to make her his wife, so soon as he was legally master of his actions.
Maria, the fond, confiding Maria, believed him true, loved him, and accepted his proffered troth. He visited her secretly, and poured forth the vows of affection with all the impassioned ardour of his nature. A few months, and Henry would be empowered to espouse her without injury to his fortune. Both were young, both were inexperienced, for Henry was no profligate, no selfish man of the world, or of dissipation, but the soul of sin- cerity and honour.
In a moment of delirium they were lost!
Henry was sitting one evening alone with his Maria, and endeavouring to calm her fears by renewed protestations of sincerity - one arm en- circled her slender waist, and he was imprinting upon her tearful cheek the kiss of affection, when the door suddenly flew open, and a little, thin, hatchet - faced old woman entered, dressed in the extreme of juvenile fashion. Henry started up at her entrance, but her quick eye discovered the posture in which he had been sitting, and she exclaimed, “Eh! -What! Mr. Fitzgerald here! Bless me! I really beg pardon, Miss C, I was not aware you were so pleasantly engaged, or I certainly should not have intruded. The street door I found open, accidentally I suppose, and I thought the liberty of your oldest customer allowed me to come up without being formally announced, to inquire if you had copied that lit- tle effigy of my dog. You may send in your de- mand, Miss, as soon as you please, “added the old woman, pursing up her skinny lips into an expres- sion which she intended to represent scorn and dignity, “and I will instantly discharge it, as I
cannot, of course, continue my patronage after this discovery. Gracious! who would have be- lieved it. Well, I declare! Good evening, Mr. Fitzgerald, I suppose I shall have the honour of meeting you at Lady D's to - night. "
“It is not my intention to go there, Madam, “said Henry, his indignation mastering his usual courtesy- “I suppose, “continued he, “this cir- cumstance will be known before this hour to- morrow over all the space intervening between Portland Place and Paddington? "
66
Indeed, sir, “replied the old woman, tossing her head, “my character both for philanthropy and secresy is too well known. ”
“Pshaw! “said Henry, contemptuously, as the intruder left the room. “My love, “said he, turning to Maria, who had covered her face with her handkerchief on the first entrance of the old woman, and now leaned back in her chair in an agony of tears, “do not let this untoward cir- cumstance prey upon your spirits — I will supply you with money. You shall leave this place im- mediately and give up your business, by which you will avoid again coming in contact with those whose knowledge of this event ( which, depend upon it, that painted hag of quality will most in- dustriously spread, ) might cause to treat you with contumely. Courage, my only love! let a few months elapse, and I call my Maker to wit- ness you shall be my wife; and, as I before have often said, we will immediately retire to my seat in Dorsetshire, where we will take up our per- manent abode, and seclude ourselves forever from those heartless fools, whom still greater fools are pleased to term “the world. "
Henry was not mistaken, for the story of poor Maria's shame was soon generally known both in her own small circle of friends, and amongst the numerous and noble connexions of the high- born Henry.
The honourable Miss Sneyde, for such was the name of the lady, with praiseworthy perse- verance ceased not driving about town the next day, to the manifest chagrin of her coachman, and the endangering the wind of the fat old fami- ly horses, until she had communicated the disco- very to about fifty friends, and in the evening an extra quire of paper was put into requisition for the purpose of imparting the momentous intelli- gence to those whom time or other circumstances had not permitted her to favour with a morning call. “Let a few months elapse, and I call my Maker to witness you shall be my wife. "
Such were the emphatic words which Henry spoke, and from his heart, to his Maria, the last time he visited her.
But two days elapsed from thence, and Fitzge- rald was stretched on a couch of sickness, a prey to an internal disorder which no medicine could cure, and his delicate constitution was fast sink- ing under its baneful influence. Still Maria was not forgotten - he supplied her, through the me- dium of his faithful groom, with money, and en- deavoured to buoy his spirits with the hope of eventually recovering, and attaining the height
