busy troubled world might burst, but never reach;
and for other sorrows, piety and submission were alike
their watchword and their safeguard. Lord St.
Eval was the only person who regretted Arthur’s
promotion to the rectory of Oakwood, as it deprived
him, he declared, of his chaplain, his vicar, and his
friend. However, he willingly accepted a friend
of Mr. Hamilton’s to supply his place, a clergyman
not much beyond the prime of life; one who for seven
years had devoted himself, laboriously and unceasingly,
to a poor and unprofitable parish in one of the Feroe
Islands; in the service of Mr. Hamilton he had been
employed, though voluntarily he had accepted, nay,
eloquently he had pleaded for the office. To
those of our readers who are acquainted with the story
of Home Influence, the Rev. Henry Morton is no stranger.
They may remember that he accompanied Mr. Hamilton
on his perilous expedition, and had joyfully consented
to remaining there till the young Christian, Wilson,
was capable of undertaking the ministry. He had
done so; his pupil promised fair to reward his every
care, and preserve his countrymen in that state of
peace, prosperity, and virtue, to which they had been
brought by the unceasing cares of Morton; and that
worthy man returned to his native land seven years
after he had quitted it, improved not only in inward
peace but in health, and consequently appearances.
A perceptible lameness was now the only remains of
what had been before painful deformity. The bracing
air of the island had invigorated his nerves; the
consciousness that he was active in the service of
his fellow-creatures removed from his mind the morbid
sensibility that had formerly so oppressed him; and
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton perceived, with benevolent pleasure,
that life was to him no longer a burden. He had
become a cheerful, happy member of society, willing
to enjoy the blessings that now surrounded him with
a truly chastened, grateful spirit: Oakwood and
Castle Terryn were ever enlivened when he was present.
After the cold and barren living at Feroe, exiled
as he there had been from any of his own rank in life,
the Vicarage at Castle Terryn and the society those
duties included, formed to him indeed a happy resting-place;
while his many excellent qualities soon reconciled
St. Eval and his Countess to Myrvin’s desertion,
as they called his accepting the rectory at Oakwood.
No untoward event occurred to prevent the celebration
of Percy and Edward’s bridals as intended.
They took place, attended with all that chastened joy
and innocent festivity which might have been expected
from the characters of those principally concerned.
No cloud obscured the happiness of the affectionate
united family, which witnessed these gladdening nuptials.
Each might, perhaps, in secret have felt there was
one blank in every heart, that when thus united, there
was still a void on earth. In their breasts the
fond memory of Herbert lingered still. Mr. Grahame
forgot his moroseness, though he had resolved on returning
to his cottage in Wales. He could feel nothing
but delight as he looked on his Lilla in her chaste
and simple bridal robes, and felt that of her he might
indeed be proud. Fondly he dried the tear that
fell from her bright eyes, as she clung to him in
parting, and promised to see her soon, very soon at
Beech Hill.