“The conduct of Edric,” replied the baronet abruptly; “he refuses to see me, and as I understand he had a long conference with you this morning, I have sent for you to know what he means.”
“That, my dear Sir,” returned Father Morris, with a gentle smile, and half-closed eyes, “you must allow, it would be impossible for me even to guess. The minds of young men are wayward and capricious; they scarcely know their own wishes; how then can one so ignorant of the world as I, be expected to divine them? Our good friend Dr. Coleman is much more competent to advise you upon the subject than I am.”
“Oh, you are too humble, father!” said Dr. Coleman ironically; “pray have a juster sense of your own merit.”
“All this has nothing to do with the business,” exclaimed Sir Ambrose, getting into a passion. “I want to know what you said to Edric this morning, and what he said to you.”
“He told me that he would sooner die than marry Rosabella.”
“The young villain! then let him die, if he likes it. But it’s all nonsense—a mere figure of speech. It is very easy to talk about dying; but few people like it when they are put to the test. Not that he’s the least intention of anything of the kind. He thinks I’m an old fool, and only says it to frighten me: but I see through his schemes! I’m not to be duped, and I won’t give up the point. I shall be deaf to all his prayers and supplications.”
“I do not think that he intends to offer any.”
“Not offer any! What do you mean?”
“That I think he has a project in his head, which makes him rather glad of the quarrel that has taken place, than otherwise.”
“Impossible! this must be false,” cried Dr. Coleman, starting from his seat.
“See him, and judge for yourself,” returned Father Morris, scowling at his opponent.
“And what is this project?” asked Sir Ambrose, as soon as he had recovered a little from his astonishment.
“He intends to go to Egypt, and visiting the Pyramids, to try to resuscitate a mummy!”
Dr. Coleman groaned in the spirit: Sir Ambrose shook his head.
“I fear it is but too true,” said he, “it is just like one of his plans. The boy is mad; evidently distracted: that silly tutor of his has quite turned his brain.”
“I really am afraid he is deranged,” sighed Dr. Coleman, “if he seriously entertains so mad a scheme: but you will excuse me, Father Morris, if I still entertain some doubts upon the subject. He may only have mentioned such a thing in joke.”
“Talk to him yourself; he is in the chamber of Dr. Entwerfen: I do not wish you to confide in my representations. It is always painful to me to interfere in family disputes. Indeed, when Edric this morning wished me to explain his intentions to his father, I declined doing so; and you were witness, that it was only in compliance with the earnest entreaty of my worthy friend, that I spoke at all on the subject.”
“Notwithstanding,” said Dr. Coleman, after musing a short time, “I shall be better satisfied when I have seen Edric myself.”
“I beg you will do no such thing,” interrupted Sir Ambrose, “he will fancy you an ambassador from me, and I could not bear that. It is his place to submit, not mine. He shall not triumph over me in that manner.”
“I am sure he would feel no triumph.”
“But I tell you he would, Sir! He would rejoice, exult, and glory in such a thing. I will be master in my own house, and over my own sons: you shall not see him, nobody shall see him; and he shall remain shut up in the asylum he has chosen, till he comes to his senses.”
“It is useless to enrage Sir Ambrose by farther opposition now,” whispered Father Morris to Dr. Coleman; “Edric cannot go to Egypt without money, and you know he never has any in hand. It can do no harm to adjourn the subject till tomorrow: they will both then be calmer, and more likely to listen to reason.”
Dr. Coleman could not deny the policy of this advice, though he felt reluctant to follow it, as it was suggested by Father Morris: discarding the presentiment of evil, however, as a prejudice which it was his duty to overcome, as it was contrary to his reason, the worthy physician took his leave, fully determining to reconcile the father and son on the morrow.
But the morrow—(alas! who shall dare speculate upon the morrow?) was destined to see Edric and his tutor on their way to Egypt. When Father Morris returned to the adytum of Dr. Entwerfen, he informed Edric, that his father, so far from expressing anger at his intended expedition to Egypt, seemed glad of the opportunity to get rid of him, as he said his presence would only spoil Edmund’s triumph. “He says you always look so gloomily,” continued the wily priest, “that even when he is disposed to enjoy himself, you throw a damp upon his spirits the instant you appear. He, therefore, gave his free consent to your journey, and commissioned me to supply you with the funds necessary for the expedition.”
It had ever been the prevailing weakness of Edric to believe his brother more beloved by Sir Ambrose than himself; and Father Morris knowing this, had framed his tale accordingly. We easily believe what we fear; and Edric, though not generally credulous, placed implicit faith in the father’s story, though it gave him acute anguish.
“I knew he did not love me,” said he, “but to bid me go thus, on so perilous an enterprise, without seeing me, I did not expect,” and involuntary tears
