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 Montfort

called 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 three

friends had soon quitted the city and entered its agreeable environs.

‘It was wise to pass the winter in Italy,’ said Lord Montfort, ‘but to

see Tuscany in perfection I should choose the autumn. I know nothing

more picturesque than the carts laden with grapes, and drawn by

milk-white steers.’

They drove gaily along at the foot of green hills, crowned ever and

anon by a convent or a beautiful stone-pine. The landscape attracted the

admiration of Miss Temple. A palladian villa rose from the bosom of a

gentle elevation, crowned with these picturesque trees. A broad terrace

of marble extended in front of the villa, on which were ranged orange

trees. On either side spread an olive-grove. The sky was without

a cloud, and deeply blue; bright beams of the sun illuminated the

building. The road had wound so curiously into this last branch of the

Apennines, that the party found themselves in a circus of hills, clothed

with Spanish chestnuts and olive trees, from which there was apparently

no outlet. A soft breeze, which it was evident had passed over the wild

flowers of the mountains, refreshed and charmed their senses.

‘Could you believe we were only two hours’ drive from a city?’ said Lord

Montfort.

‘Indeed,’ said Henrietta, ‘if there be peace in this world, one would

think that the dweller in that beautiful villa enjoyed it.’

‘He has little to disturb him,’ said Lord Montfort: ‘thanks to his

destiny and his temper.’

‘I believe we make our miseries,’ said Henrietta, with a sigh. ‘After

all, 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 you

much.’

They stopped, they ascended the terrace, they entered the villa. A few

rooms only were furnished, but their appearance indicated the taste and

pursuits of its occupier. Busts and books were scattered about; a table

was covered with the implements of art; and the principal apartment

opened into an English garden.

‘This is one of my native tastes,’ said Lord Montfort, ‘that will, I

think, never desert me.’

The memory of Henrietta was recalled to the flowers of Ducie and of

Armine. Amid all the sweets and sunshine she looked sad. She walked away

from her companions; she seated herself on the terrace; her eyes were

suffused with tears. Lord Montfort took the arm of Mr. Temple, and led

him 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 of

Henrietta had not escaped his quick eye.

‘Miss Temple has made a great exertion,’ he said. ‘Do not think me

pedantic, but I am something of a physician. I have long perceived

that, although Miss Temple should be amused, she must sometimes be left

alone.’

Mr. Temple looked at his companion, but the countenance of Lord Montfort

was inscrutable. His lordship offered him a medal and then opened a

portfolio of Marc Antonios.

‘These are very rare,’ said Lord Montfort; ‘I bring them into the

country 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 somewhat

hesitating tone; ‘I wish I could induce you and Miss Temple to visit me

at 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 is

much to see, and I would take care that she should see it in a manner

which would not exhaust her. It is the most delightful climate, too, at

this period. The sun shines here to-day, but the air of these hills at

this season is sometimes treacherous. A calm life, with a variety of

objects, is what she requires. Pisa is calm, but for her it is too dull.

Believe me, there is something in the blended refinement and interest

of Rome that she would find exceedingly beneficial. She would see no one

but ourselves; society shall be at her command if she desire it.’

‘My dear lord,’ said Mr. Temple, ‘I thank you from the bottom of my

heart for all your considerate sympathy; but I cannot flatter myself

that Henrietta could avail herself of your really friendly offer. My

daughter 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 some

wood-nymph, or some river-god.’

The first classic ruin that she had yet beheld attracted the attention

of Miss Temple. It was not far, and she acceded to the proposition

of Lord Montfort to visit it. That little ramble was delightful. The

novelty and the beauty of the object greatly interested her. It was

charming also to view it under the auspices of a guide so full of

information 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 go

to Rome?’

The proposition did not alarm Miss Temple as much as her father

anticipated. Lord Montfort pressed the suggestion with delicacy; he

hinted at some expedients by which the journey might be rendered not

very laborious. But as she did not reply, his lordship did not press the

subject; sufficiently pleased, perhaps, that she had not met it with an

immediate and decided negative.

When they returned to the villa they found a collation prepared for them

worthy of so elegant an abode. In his capacity of a host, Lord Montfort

departed a little from that placid and even constrained demeanour which

generally characterised him. His manner was gay and flowing; and he

poured 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.’