The Mysteries of Udolpho

'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.

'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.