CHAPTER VII. There was on earth no power to save, WHEN Ludovico arrived at the General's house, and inquired for Mr Dermot, he was told by the porter to "wait a wee bit ;" this wee bit proved a tedious hour, during which time there were servants of all descriptions seen moving about the house with an air of uncommon bustle, but no Dermot amongst them. From their conversation he learnt that the family was on the point of setting out for the South of France, whither the General's wife had been ordered for the benefit of her health; and as this was the period of the short peace, she was taking the advantage of it. "Alas!" thought Ludovico, "they will take no notice of me at such a time as this; and as to buying pictures, that is out of the question, just when the family is about to remove: I wish I had never come." "My bonny bairn, thee hast muckle patience," said the Scotchman, "but hauld up thy head, for here comes Dermot at last, an' ise warrant he'll gie thee a lift.” The broad, open, good-natured countenance of Dermot revived the heart of poor Ludovico; and although he found he was going to be taken immediately into the General's presence, notwithstanding his humble apparel, yet he did not shrink in the manner he had apprehended. Dermot praised the frames of the pictures all the way up-stairs; and this praise, though not of the kind which is gratifying to an artist, was yet welcome to Ludovico at such a moment as this. "Plase your Honour, here's the young boy as I was telling your Honour about, and here's his pictures, which to my mind are more handsomer in their gilding, an' all that, than any your Honour has sain lately." As Dermot spoke, he displayed the pictures, clapping them down opposite to the window. General Villars, who was a fine sun-burnt looking man, giving Ludovico an encouraging look, bade him come forward, and then directed Dermot where to place the pictures, observing, that he "Wished to see the painting, not the gilding." "True, yer Honour; one person likes one thing, and hanother, hanother. The frame always appairs to me the varry heart of a pictur." In the middle of the large room where this examination took place was a table, where three ladies were sitting she whom Ludovico considered the General's wife arose to look at the pictures, laying down an open book that she had been reading, which was a fine edition of Beattie's Minstrel; the table was covered with such a variety and profusion of things, spread out as if for packing, that Ludovico could not forbear looking at it. There were many beautiful toys, sparkling jewels, colour-boxes, and perfumes at one end; and at the other were fruit, conserves, and various cakes: two young ladies were arranging the jewels in some caskets, and when they heard the General tell Ludovico to come forward, one of them looked at the other, as much as to say, "Let us make haste and get these things out of the way: they are too tempting objects to be laid before that poor boy." Mrs Villars saw the look, and the manner which accompanied it; she turned her eyes upon Ludovico and said, "You need be under no apprehension,” repeating from the book she had laid down, "For know, poor Edwin was no vulgar boy, "We shall see by and by," said the young ladies, with a look of doubt, in answer to her observation. The General, calling Ludovico, inquired the subject of the picture he liked best, to which he answered with. promptness and precision; and, when further questioned described the country which environed it with that simple eloquence natural to a mind that feels its subject, and has been accustomed to hear the best language in its ordinary society. "Has your father been many years an artist ?" said the Honourable Mrs Villars. "Yes, madame, he was devoted to the arts from his youth: but he is likewise a—a Poet.” "More the pity!" said the General. blushed excessively. Ludovico "I mean only to say," added the General, kindly, "that it is a pity that a gentleman (which I am sure your father is), should either injure his talents by attempting too much, or be under a necessity of exerting them in such various ways. I am sorry that my departure from this country forbids me the pleasure of inquiring farther after all his productions at present; but on my return I hope to see more of him; I shall, however, purchase this little picture, if your father will sell it for twenty guineas." Ludovico bowed gratefully in assent. Whilst the General opened his escritoire to take out his bills, the lady said, "Now tell me which of all the things on this table you think the best worth having, my young friend?” "The colour-boxes are, I believe, the best worth having, but-" "But what? speak your opinion freely: I am certain you have an opinion.' "I was going to say, that, though I think the colourboxes best worth having, the book you were reading, madame, is the most delightful of all the things." The lady smiled in triumph at her young friends; and whilst Ludovico turned to receive his money from the General, who paid him for the frame of his picture likewise, she closed up one of the colour-boxes, and wrapped the book in some writing-paper; and just as he had received the money, and was thanking the General, she put them and a large cake into his hands, saying, “I am certain you will make a good use of all these things." Ludovico started with surprise, looked at the lady, and the tears flushed into his eyes-his lips trembled, but he could not articulate a syllable. Affected with his artless sensibility, the lady beckoned Dermot, and ordered him to carry the other picture home for him, and Ludovico departed the happiest of boys. His very first care was to repair to the framemaker's to return one frame and pay for the other; and the man, pleased with his ready disposal of the frame, and the boy's punctuality, offered to keep the other picture on sale, to which he joyfully consented; and he returned to set his father's heart at ease, having no doubt but the present sum would satisfy the printer, whose debt would be nearly liquidated. His father received him. with rapture, and extolled all his exertions; but it was now so evident that he was ill, that the poor boy had little pleasure even in his success, for he thought on Sinister's words, that his lungs were touched, and though he attached no precise meaning to the words, yet he dreaded their import. The exultation of his mother was still shorter, for though her husband would not allow that he was ill, and repeatedly sat down to his easel, yet she was convinced that some uncommon ailment hung over him. For several successive days she continued in this anxious state, when, unable to endure it any longer, she procured medical advice, when it was declared that his lungs were disordered, and that he had a considerable degree of fever. As all persons afflicted with the complaints which affected poor Lewis are much relieved by country air, the anxious wife and tender son, were extremely desirous to procure it for him at this period; and as he had been for some time desirous of sketching in Windsor Park, it was resolved that he should go for a few weeks into that neighbourhood. As his disorder, though fluctuating, had not taken any decided character, and his spirits were sure to be improved by the society of Ludovico (to whom he was impatient to communicate instruction), it was thought best that they should go thither together, whilst the female part of the family would pursue at home those labours alike demanded for all. Ludovico, therefore, was entrusted with the care of his father's personal comforts altogether, and young as he was they could not have been in better hands, for he had the affection and activity which supplies the lessons of experience, and even in these he was not deficient. |