The Mysteries of Udolpho

Madame Cheron had a long conversation with Valancourt, and, when she

returned to the chateau, her countenance expressed ill-humour, but not

the degree of severity, which Emily had apprehended. 'I have dismissed

this young man, at last,' said she, 'and I hope my house will never

again be disturbed with similar visits. He assures me, that your

interview was not preconcerted.'

'Dear madam!' said Emily in extreme emotion, 'you surely did not ask him

the question!' 'Most certainly I did; you could not suppose I should be

so imprudent as to neglect it.'

'Good God!' exclaimed Emily, 'what an opinion must he form of me, since

you, Madam, could express a suspicion of such ill conduct!'

'It is of very little consequence what opinion he may form of you,'

replied her aunt, 'for I have put an end to the affair; but I believe

he will not form a worse opinion of me for my prudent conduct. I let him

see, that I was not to be trifled with, and that I had more delicacy,

than to permit any clandestine correspondence to be carried on in my

house.' Emily had frequently heard Madame Cheron use the word delicacy, but she

was now more than usually perplexed to understand how she meant to apply

it in this instance, in which her whole conduct appeared to merit the

very reverse of the term.

'It was very inconsiderate of my brother,' resumed Madame Cheron, 'to

leave the trouble of overlooking your conduct to me; I wish you was well

settled in life. But if I find, that I am to be further troubled with

such visitors as this M. Valancourt, I shall place you in a convent at

once;--so remember the alternative. This young man has the impertinence

to own to me,--he owns it! that his fortune is very small, and that he

is chiefly dependent on an elder brother and on the profession he has

chosen! He should have concealed these circumstances, at least, if he

expected to succeed with me. Had he the presumption to suppose I would

marry my niece to a person such as he describes himself!'

Emily dried her tears when she heard of the candid confession of

Valancourt; and, though the circumstances it discovered were afflicting

to her hopes, his artless conduct gave her a degree of pleasure, that

overcame every other emotion. But she was compelled, even thus early

in life, to observe, that good sense and noble integrity are not always

sufficient to cope with folly and narrow cunning; and her heart was pure

enough to allow her, even at this trying moment, to look with more pride

on the defeat of the former, than with mortification on the conquests of

the latter. Madame Cheron pursued her triumph. 'He has also thought proper to tell

me, that he will receive his dismission from no person but yourself;

this favour, however, I have absolutely refused him. He shall learn,

that it is quite sufficient, that I disapprove him. And I take this

opportunity of repeating,--that if you concert any means of interview

unknown to me, you shall leave my house immediately.'