The Mysteries of Udolpho

The Count immediately gave orders for his own boats to assist

in bringing them to shore, and that such of these unfortunate

strangers as could not be accommodated in the adjacent hamlet should

be entertained at the chateau. Among the latter, were Emily St. Aubert,

Monsieur Du Pont, Ludovico and Annette, who, having embarked at Leghorn

and reached Marseilles, were from thence crossing the Gulf of Lyons,

when this storm overtook them. They were received by the Count with his

usual benignity, who, though Emily wished to have proceeded immediately

to the monastery of St. Claire, would not allow her to leave the

chateau, that night; and, indeed, the terror and fatigue she had

suffered would scarcely have permitted her to go farther.

In Monsieur Du Pont the Count discovered an old acquaintance, and

much joy and congratulation passed between them, after which Emily was

introduced by name to the Count's family, whose hospitable benevolence

dissipated the little embarrassment, which her situation had occasioned

her, and the party were soon seated at the supper-table. The unaffected

kindness of Blanche and the lively joy she expressed on the escape of

the strangers, for whom her pity had been so much interested, gradually

revived Emily's languid spirits; and Du Pont, relieved from his terrors

for her and for himself, felt the full contrast, between his late

situation on a dark and tremendous ocean, and his present one, in a

cheerful mansion, where he was surrounded with plenty, elegance and

smiles of welcome.

Annette, meanwhile, in the servants' hall, was telling of all the

dangers she had encountered, and congratulating herself so heartily upon

her own and Ludovico's escape, and on her present comforts, that

she often made all that part of the chateau ring with merriment

and laughter. Ludovico's spirits were as gay as her own, but he had

discretion enough to restrain them, and tried to check hers, though in

vain, till her laughter, at length, ascended to MY LADY'S chamber, who

sent to enquire what occasioned so much uproar in the chateau, and to

command silence.

Emily withdrew early to seek the repose she so much required, but

her pillow was long a sleepless one. On this her return to her native

country, many interesting remembrances were awakened; all the events

and sufferings she had experienced, since she quitted it, came in

long succession to her fancy, and were chased only by the image of

Valancourt, with whom to believe herself once more in the same land,

after they had been so long, and so distantly separated, gave her

emotions of indescribable joy, but which afterwards yielded to anxiety

and apprehension, when she considered the long period, that had elapsed,

since any letter had passed between them, and how much might have

happened in this interval to affect her future peace. But the thought,

that Valancourt might be now no more, or, if living, might have

forgotten her, was so very terrible to her heart, that she would

scarcely suffer herself to pause upon the possibility. She determined to

inform him, on the following day, of her arrival in France, which it was

scarcely possible he could know but by a letter from herself, and, after

soothing her spirits with the hope of soon hearing, that he was well,

and unchanged in his affections, she, at length, sunk to repose.