The Mysteries of Udolpho

One of Emily's earliest enquiries, after her arrival at La Vallee, was

concerning Theresa, her father's old servant, whom it may be remembered

that M. Quesnel had turned from the house when it was let, without

any provision. Understanding that she lived in a cottage at no great

distance, Emily walked thither, and, on approaching, was pleased to see,

that her habitation was pleasantly situated on a green slope, sheltered

by a tuft of oaks, and had an appearance of comfort and extreme

neatness. She found the old woman within, picking vine-stalks, who, on

perceiving her young mistress, was nearly overcome with joy.

'Ah! my dear young lady!' said she, 'I thought I should never see

you again in this world, when I heard you was gone to that outlandish

country. I have been hardly used, since you went; I little thought they

would have turned me out of my old master's family in my old age!' Emily lamented the circumstance, and then assured her, that she would

make her latter days comfortable, and expressed satisfaction, on seeing

her in so pleasant an habitation. Theresa thanked her with tears, adding, '

Yes, mademoiselle, it is a

very comfortable home, thanks to the kind friend, who took me out of

my distress, when you was too far off to help me, and placed me here! I

little thought!--but no more of that--'

'And who was this kind friend?' said Emily: 'whoever it was, I shall

consider him as mine also.' 'Ah, mademoiselle! that friend forbad me to blazon the good deed--I must

not say, who it was. But how you are altered since I saw you last! You

look so pale now, and so thin, too; but then, there is my old master's

smile! Yes, that will never leave you, any more than the goodness, that

used to make him smile. Alas-a-day! the poor lost a friend indeed, when

he died!' Emily was affected by this mention of her father, which Theresa

observing, changed the subject. 'I heard, mademoiselle,' said she,

'that Madame Cheron married a foreign gentleman, after all, and took you

abroad; how does she do?' Emily now mentioned her death.

'Alas!' said Theresa, 'if she had not

been my master's sister, I should never have loved her; she was always

so cross. But how does that dear young gentleman do, M. Valancourt? he

was an handsome youth, and a good one; is he well, mademoiselle?'

Emily was much agitated. 'A blessing on him!' continued Theresa. 'Ah, my dear young lady, you

need not look so shy; I know all about it. Do you think I do not know,

that he loves you? Why, when you was away, mademoiselle, he used to

come to the chateau and walk about it, so disconsolate! He would go into

every room in the lower part of the house, and, sometimes, he would

sit himself down in a chair, with his arms across, and his eyes on

the floor, and there he would sit, and think, and think, for the hour

together. He used to be very fond of the south parlour, because I

told him it used to be yours; and there he would stay, looking at the

pictures, which I said you drew, and playing upon your lute, that hung

up by the window, and reading in your books, till sunset, and then he

must go back to his brother's chateau. And then--'