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the glass, saw Valancourt among the crowd at the gates.
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Before the carriage drove off, he disappeared. Madame Cheron
forbore to mention him to Emily, and, as soon as they reached the
chateau, they separated for the night.
On the following morning, as Emily sat at breakfast with her aunt,
a letter was brought to her, of which she knew the handwriting upon the
cover; and, as she received it with a trembling hand, Madame Cheron
hastily enquired from whom it came. Emily, with her leave, broke the
seal, and, observing the signature of Valancourt, gave it unread to her
aunt, who received it with impatience; and, as she looked it over, Emily
endeavoured to read on her countenance its contents.
Having returned the letter to her niece, whose eyes asked if she
might examine it, Yes, read it, child, said Madame Cheron, in a
manner less severe than she had expected, and Emily had, perhaps,
never before so willingly obeyed her aunt. In this letter Valancourt said
little of the interview of the preceding day, but concluded with declaring,
that he would accept his dismission from Emily only, and with
entreating, that she would allow him to wait upon her, on the
approaching evening. When she read this, she was astonished at the
moderation of Madame Cheron, and looked at her with timid
expectation, as she said sorrowfully -- What am I to say, madam?
Why -- we must see the young man, I believe, replied her aunt,
and hear what he has further to say for himself. You may tell him he
may come. Emily dared scarcely credit what she heard. Yet, stay,
added Madame Cheron, I will tell him so myself. She called for pen
and ink; Emily still not daring to trust the emotions she felt, and almost
sinking beneath them. Her surprise would have been less had she
overheard, on the preceding evening, what Madame Cheron had not
forgotten -- that Valancourt was the nephew of Madame Clairval.
What were the particulars of her aunt's note Emily did not learn,
but the result was a visit from Valancourt in the evening, whom Madame
Cheron received alone, and they had a long conversation before Emily
was called down.
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THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO Vol I
When she entered the room, her aunt was conversing with
complacency, and she saw the eyes of Valancourt, as he impatiently
rose, animated with hope.
We have been talking over this affair, said Madame Cheron, the
chevalier has been telling me, that the late Monsieur Clairval was the
brother of the Countess de Duvarney, his mother. I only wish he had
mentioned his relationship to Madame Clairval before; I certainly should
have considered that circumstance as a sufficient introduction to my
house.
Valancourt bowed, and was going to address Emily, but her aunt
prevented him. I have, therefore, consented that you shall receive his
visits; and, though I will not bind myself by any promise, or say, that I
shall consider him as my nephew, yet I shall permit the intercourse, and
shall look forward to any further connection as an event, which may
possibly take place in a course of years, provided the chevalier rises in
his profession, or any circumstance occurs, which may make it prudent
for him to take a wife. But Mons. Valancourt will observe, and you too,
Emily, that, till that happens, I positively forbid any thoughts of
marrying.
Emily's countenance, during this coarse speech, varied every
instant, and, towards its conclusion, her distress had so much increased,
that she was on the point of leaving the room.
Valancourt, meanwhile, scarcely less embarrassed, did not dare to
look at her, for whom he was thus distressed; but, when Madame Cheron
was silent, he said, Flattering, madam, as your approbation is to me --
highly as I am honoured by it -- I have yet so much to fear, that I
scarcely dare to hope.
Pray, sir, explain yourself, said Madame Cheron; an unexpected
requisition, which embarrassed Valancourt again, and almost overcame
him with confusion, at circumstances, on which, had he been only a
spectator of the scene, he would have smiled.
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THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO Vol I
Till I receive Mademoiselle St. Aubert's permission to accept
your indulgence, said he, falteringly -- till she allows me to hope --
O! is that all? interrupted Madame Cheron. Well, I will take
upon me to answer for her. But at the same time, sir, give me leave to
observe to you, that I am her guardian, and that I expect, in every
instance, that my will is hers.
As she said this, she rose and quitted the room, leaving Emily and
Valancourt in a state of mutual embarrassment; and, when Valancourt's
hopes enabled him to overcome his fears, and to address her with the
zeal and sincerity so natural to him, it was a considerable time before
she was sufficiently recovered to hear with distinctness his solicitations
and inquiries.
The conduct of Madame Cheron in this affair had been entirely
governed by selfish vanity. Valancourt, in his first interview, had with
great candour laid open to her the true state of his present circumstances,
and his future expectancies, and she, with more prudence than humanity,
had absolutely and abruptly rejected his suit. She wished her niece to
marry ambitiously, not because she desired to see her in possession of
the happiness, which rank and wealth are usually believed to bestow, but
because she desired to partake the importance, which such an alliance
would give.
When, therefore, she discovered that Valancourt was the nephew
of a person of so much consequence as Madame Clairval, she became
anxious for the connection, since the prospect it afforded of future
fortune and distinction for Emily, promised the exaltation she coveted
for herself. Her calculations concerning fortune in this alliance were
guided rather by her wishes, than by any hint of Valancourt, or strong
appearance of probability; and, when she rested her expectation on the
wealth of Madame Clairval, she seemed totally to have forgotten, that
the latter had a daughter. Valancourt, however, had not forgotten this
circumstance, and the consideration of it had made him so modest in his
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THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO Vol I
expectations from Madame Clairval, that he had not even named the
relationship in his first conversation with Madame Cheron.
But, whatever might be the future fortune of Emily, the present
distinction, which the connection would afford for herself, was certain,
since the splendour of Madame Clairval's establishment was such as to
excite the general envy and partial imitation of the neighbourhood. Thus
had she consented to involve her niece in an engagement, to which she
saw only a distant and uncertain conclusion, with as little consideration
of her happiness, as when she had so precipitately forbade it: for though
she herself possessed the means of rendering this union not only certain,
but prudent, yet to do so was no part of her present intention.
From this period Valancourt made frequent visits to Madame
Cheron, and Emily passed in his society the happiest hours she had
known since the death of her father. They were both too much engaged
by the present moments to give serious consideration to the future. They
loved and were beloved, and saw not, that the very attachment, which
formed the delight of their present days, might possibly occasion the
sufferings of years. Meanwhile, Madame Cheron's intercourse with
Madame Clairval became more frequent than before, and her vanity was
already gratified by the opportunity of proclaiming, wherever she went,
the attachment that subsisted between their nephew and niece.
Montoni was now also become a daily guest at the chateau, and
Emily was compelled to observe, that he really was a suitor, and a
favoured suitor, to her aunt.
Thus passed the winter months, not only in peace, but in happiness,
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