" agreeable hoars in year Kbciety," conti-
nued ft©— **' hours that 'willbear rctw-
" fpe&ian without a bhrfh. My fecond
•* wifli i^ that you wift favour me with

* your confidence before ydu enter into*
** any engagement ; let me impartially
*< decide whether the objedfc of your affeo~
« tion deferves the facrificeyou make her,
"for the penetrating eye of friendfhip<
*< may difcover what perhaps may be con-
u ceafed trom that which is blinded by
€€ paffion. Wilt you be guided by my
* c advice, and liften to the councils of as
" difinterefted friend F

" Yes, Amelia ! moft incomparable o£
J? your fex !.— I will do whatever you de-
" fire, for my heart tells me that I ca»»

* refufe you nothing. I believe wpre you-
41 even to afk metobe a villain, I could*
* c not deny you ; but that would be the
" only promiie which would admit of &
"poffibility of being broken^-every other
«< fliaU be facredly k^ptr

-' .»' . As



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As he was (peaking, Selina came run-
fag towards them with the information
that the Count's carriage was driving op
the hill, Amelia oompofed herfelf as well
as flat could, and taking: hold of his arm,
feW, " comey for yoor lake we will go
" and meet him*"

w For my fafce ! Amelia:, I fear your
w btffband's feeing you with me, will be
"* c bof a bad recommendation*"

* No»" kid Amelia, " foe his greateff
fC merit is, his indifference* He is to&
" much engaged with public affairs to*
" wafte a thought on me, and I am of
" too little confequeace to him to be an
*' object of jealoufy ; therefore do not be
•* furprifed if I tell him that your attentions

* * hare contributed much towards making:

* Grieffenhorft agreeable to ma ,r

" Ahl yon are here already) Countels,
*< and without doubt well," faid Brafcha,
as he fiepped out *$f hid K3arriage. She
affured him fhe was perfe&Jy fo, and
added, that (he was under many obliga-
tions to M. dc Nordetiihikf, for the polite
attentions be had fhewn her. "J am

" glad

*



1 88 At&gRT HE UORDENSHIZ,©.

" glad of it, heartily glad of it/* faid the
County (haking Albert's hand. « You are
" much improved, Nordenihild, fince I
. u faw you iaft ; but I hope your heart is
** not attached to Grieffenhorft, if it is,. I
u lhall pity you, for you muft join yatpr
41 regiment as foon as poffible, as feveral
u things have lately happened that makes
" your doing fo abfolutely neceflary ; and,
" it is partly on your account, and to affc
u Cafper's advice on an affair of confe-
" quence, that I am come here." As he
was fpeaking, he faw Cafper, Supported by
Buxar and another fervant, coming dawn
the Steps to receive him. ." If ypu wifh
" me to enter your houfe," continued he,
u remain where you are, Cafper, for if you
€€ come a flep farther, I will return imme-
fi diately. When I am as infirm as you
" are, 1 fhall certainly think ceremony
. " unneceflary when a friend comes to vi-
* c fit me." He hurried to Cafper, whom •
he embraced with the mofl apparent friend-
ship, although he heartily detefied him,
for he knew he was the latent- caufe of
many of hia fchemes.anjl plans being fruf-
5 trated.

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At BERT B* NORDEMSflllft. ftp

trated. But lie knew likewife the influ-
ence he had over the kingj who placed
the moft unbounded confidence in him ;
it was therefore politic td be, or fcem to be
his friend. He.was laviflx in his praife of
Albert, : and mentioned his intentions. tt>
Cafper on his account, which were fuch as
to meet -with his entire approbation. " But
" we muft be expeditious," faid he, f* for
" the king wifhes to have his regiments
" completed as footi as pdflible, and. he
" afterwards means to feledl the fineft men
"from them, to form new ones. This
" will be the firft bufinefi I undertake at
"my return, Albert muft therefore be at
« Notdia in a week at fartbeft."-*-^ At
« that rate," fiid Cafper, " he will be thetfe
« c before you* . for you- eannot Tefufe to
-."•give me a day for every year fince I faiv
« yod," and that is twelve at leaflv ' , »
" I jaw ft leave you to-morrow, * Cafper,"
replied Prafcha, " diiagreeable bufineft
"• obliges me to do fo. The fight of ye**
" has occafioncd a temporary chcerfuln^
y that is foreign to my heart, for I have

" beea



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90 **P«*T |>* «TOItDBKSHli».

* been toy trafiicceJsful in my negocia-
«tiott. w
" I hope not/* feidOtfper.
" I likcwife hoped the fame, but the
" fentimental Rife has taken k into her
" head that her heart alone (hall dire& her
«Mn the important choice of a hufband ;
u and as fhe will neither be guided by
" prudence nor policy, other- methods
*< rnuft be taken.*

Albert and Amelia looked at each otk6K
"Poor Rtfa!" thought ihe, and: Albert

/ at that moment detefied the C©unt Crf»
peiv by Aiberfo dcfim,' wcommended
Hardi to in* pEote&km, but he, wttfrt*
ihrog of the flwulders, feid, *< thai aP-
" though he*fhould ever be attentive te>
" Caller's wUhes, yet he muft own the

" >* prefcnt was painful to him, as he kne*
" Hardi to be a pcrfon ufetefs th his pro-
" feflion, and dangerous to fociety." It
was much for Prafcha to fay ; but Cafper*
.who was ever aecuftomed to.drftruft him*
did fo, when for once hefpokethe truth.
i The day, however, palled agreeably
enough, for every one thought themfclves

near

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near the attainment of their wifhes. v At
dinner Prafcha pointing to the fideboard,
faid, " I fee you a» ftill the old hofpitable
*' Gafper ; I am furfe the king will rej&ice
^ when I tell him that you xdiilt your
" glafe."

*< That 1 know he will* for he loves me*
*' Tell him I cam good for nothing now
" but to kill flies and drink wine, but
" that I have brought up Albert in fuoh a
u manner as to hope and expeft he will
«* £11 up my blank."
, « And what ihtfll 1 fey to Angelina V r >

♦ 4 * You remind mc," faid Gafper, fmil*
jiig£ " of old times, Cooat, that i had
-*• long forgotten ; thejr were very different

* from the ppefeni."

€l You ftiould have known him, Conn-
^teft, at (hat tin* ; I affure you be was
" the firfl: favourite of the ladies."
: The Countef* failed, stnd perhaps
thought "it would have been better if
" you had not known him then ;" for oafe
could not well raiftake Prafcha's age, when
he owned having been acquainted with
Caiper in his youth*

"He

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9* ALBERT DE tfORDENSHILBU

" He will likewife fill up your blauJj*
" with the ladies/* obferved Prafcha,
pointing to Albert.

" I hope when he is as old as I am, he
" will be able to recollect his youthful
" days with as much tranquillity as I do
" mine. Come, let us drink the king's
" health, and with a trembling hand
" he pufhed his glafi to the Count's*

Cafper drank till a flufh, refemWing
that of youth, glowed oh his cheeks, *nd
with fparkling eyes he declared, that if a
war were to break out, and his fnbje&s
-{pointing to his legs) were not ib rebel-
lious, he would again- mount his horfe,
and. repeat the fame manoeuvres he did at
Stefenau, when the enemy faid, " that w
" either the devil or NordenAuld." Caf-
per was now mounted on his hobby-horfe,
and if a fliort-hand writer had been pre-
fent, he would have noted down a very
circumstantial account of the wars that
happened in the beginning of the cen-
iury. He forgot his gout, his afternoon nap>
4md thought of nothing but how to amufe
his guefts* As love is iaventi\% Albert

and

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ALBERT *>E NORDENSHILD. 93

and Amelia fomctimes found a moment
to entertain each other. He fixed the
day and the hour of his arrival at Nordia,
and ihe named the ftreets he was to ride
through, that he might pais her houfe,
for fhe fuppofed he would not chufe to
Hop there immediately, and added with a
iigh, " I fhould be miferablc to know
" you were in Nordia without having fcen
« you."

As neither Cafper's intreaties nor per-
flations had power to prevail on Prafcha
to lengthen his vifit, his carriage was or-
dered to be at the door by break of day ;
he afked the Countefs if fhe chofe to ac-
company him to town, or remain at
GriefFenhorft fome time longer i Prudence
whiipered it was right to do the former,
fhe therefore did violence to her inclina-
tion, and obeyed its dilates; and the
reflexion that a few days would re-unite
her to a friend fo dear, feothed the pangs
of parting.

Albert rode with them a few leagues,
and then returned to GriefFenhorft in a
hurry and buftle that exceeds defcription.

Horfes,

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94 ALBERT DE KORPENSHILD.

Horfes, laddies, fwords, and fire-arms,"
were now his only occupation, and he
was impatient to quit a place where he
had (pent many, perhaps the only happy
days of his life.



. CHAr~



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AZ.B1RT DE NOR&ENSHIUd.' (ffi



CHAPTER IL



K0RDIA.

{^ASHER muft have been blind if he
^-^ had not perceived Albert's impati-
ence to be gone, for he quarrelled with
the farrier for not moving his hands
quicker when he ftoed his horfes, and
with his taylor for not having iinifhed his
uniform before it was befpoke. Cafpcr
ihook his head arid feid, " if yem were
* f as well acquainted with the world as I
" am, the troubles, villainy, and cabals,
t€ you will have to encounter, you would
" loiter rather than burry. Albert, if you
* wifh to be happy, you mufl be difbreet."'
Thus fpoke the father, who did not chufe
to notice what the friend but too plainly
faw.- If Albert had not fixed the day of
his departure with Amelia, he would cer-
tainly have quitted GriefFenhorft two days
before he did, for, thanks to his impatience,
i - every



<j£ A&BE&T D£~HORDENSHJI,D.

every thing was ready by that time.
Cafper repeated his former admonitions to
him, and added many friendly cautions,
and much parental advice ; he particu-
larly recommended to him to. cultivate
Prince He&or's frieudlhip, and to guard
againft.Prafcha's arts.
. At length the day fo impatiently wU^4.
for by Al|>crt arrived, Cafper .gave hiqp^
his blefling with an aching |bc#rt r . an<J ,
Berda;and:Selina were, almoft drpwned in.
tears. He tenderly embraced them^ .and.
Ijie refletft ion that time and abfence would,
foon relieve their forjrows, tranquillized
him on f their account. Auguftafent to-beg.
he would favour her with his cpmpany, if,
it was only for five minutes ; but heafli^red.
the meffenger it was absolutely impoffibi^,
for him to do fo, and ordered his hprfe tQ,
be faddled immediately. . Bux^r, wl^o \va^
to attend him, had adorned himfelf tji*fc
morning in the moft fuperb manner, and
had combed and blackened his. whifkers^.
with the greateft nicety; for al thought
Buxar had pafled threefcore, he feemed
tot enjoy the thought of returning to a

world

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ALBERT t>E NQttDENSHlLEh §f

world he loved. He bad afked Cafpct to
let him go, who kt fa6fr, was glad Albert
had a perfon with him, in whole fidelity
he knew he could confide, notwith&and*
ing the Iofs he fliould himfelf fuffain, in
being deprived of £> ufeful a fervant, and
fo tried a friend. ? But affection for Albert
conquered every fekifh wiih.

Buxar was already mounted, and hold-
ing his mailer's horfe at the gate, while he
was embracing arid taking leave of his a£»
fli6ted father, and weeping coufins, ontha*
terrace. Sfiri, his groom, and Rufh hi*
chaileur, had been fent on two days before,
with relays of horfes for him,

The firft of Auguft was the day that
Albert, mounted on his beautiful Gold-fox,
made his entre into Nordia : he wore his
uniform, and was only attended by Buxar:
On being alked by the guard at the gate,
Who he was, he announced himfelf as
Lieutenant de Nordenftiild. Tl>e guard, a
grey-headed veteran, laid his hand on lite
horfe, and laid, " Is your honour of the
A% iame femily as CSafper dc Nordenfhild,
• Vol. I t F . " that'



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98 ALBERT DE NORDENSttlLD.

u that lived at Grieffenhorft."— « He is
" my father," replied Albert,

"He is living ftill then ? I am glad to
* c hear it," faid the guard ; " how does he
"do?"

€S I find you know him."
".Know him ! yes, that I do; he, or
*! rather we, both were wounded at the
(c battle of Stonnberg. I attended him as
u well as I could there, and he rewarded
i € . me and my family in a princely manner
"for it, Godblefshim!"

" He is living, and well," continued
Albert; u when I write to him I will
" mention your remembrance, which I am
€€ certain will give him pleafure — what is
cf your name?' 1

" Streamer ; but he will know me bet-
" ter by the name of Black Thomas*"

" Have you any children ?"
: " Two fons, one is in your regiment,"

« I will/' faid Albert (lhaking his hand)
" take notice of him — farewellcomrade."

About an hour after Albert, Rufli ar-
rived, leading two fine horfes : " Whofc
c * are they/' laid the offiper on duty at the

gate,



ALBERT DE NORDEKSHI&D. 09

gate, " Lieutenant de Nordenihild, of
" Hulm's Cuiraffiers," was the reply. Soon
after Stiri came, leading two more; in-
quiry was again made who they belonged
to, and the fame aniwer received. The
youth thought the officer would foon learn
joeconOmy in our garrifon, and be glad to
fell his borfes, and perhaps pawn his watch,
as I have been forced to do many a time •
but of what confequence to us are his
thoughts ? There rides Albert ! and look,
there is Prafcha's houfe ? We can now
gueis the reafon of Amelia's giving a fete,
for it was not the day on which fhe ufually
received company ; but ihe was impatient
to have the pleafure of introducing her
favourite to a number of pcrfons, as foon
as he arrived: but whether Ihe wifhed
them to fee him with her partial eyes, is
what we cannot determine. Her femme
de qhambre had been placed at a window,
for feveral hours, to watch his arrival.
Will he ,keep his promife ? thought Ame-
lia; perhaps he has forgotten . both that
and you before now. The idea occafionetf
a wrinkle on her lovely brow, and made
F2 her

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ICO ALBERT DE NORDEN-SHILD.

her Italian gauze handkerchief heave
higher : but (he was foon relieved by her
maid's bringing her work-bag, and the
fmile on her countenance informed her
xniftrefs of the welcome news. In the moll
indifferent manner (he could affume, &c
went to the window. "Who is ihat^" laid
(everal perfons together, who happened to
be (landing near it : " It is young Nordei**
<" (hild," replied (he, with a palpitation
of the heart, that every virtuous female
feels the firft time (he mentions her laser's
name in company. Happily, ^very one
was too much engaged to attend to her.
The noife they made ftartled the horfe of
Albert; he looked up, pulled off his hat, /
and rode on. The tranfient glance they
ba4 of him, had however occaiioned many
a lady's heart to flutter, and the gentle-
men felt they (hould have a formidable ri-
val to encounter -. even Amelia thought (he
had never (een him look fo handfome, nor
fo animated, as when he galloped down
the ftreet The windows were (hut,
imt the thread of the oemverfation which
bad been broken by Albert's arrival, was

not

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ALBERT HE NORDENSHIXD* fOC

not again joined, and every one feemed
at a lots for fomething to fay. is I flxaU
" have the honour of introducing him to
u you immediately," faid Prafcha, with a
finiie, and ringing the bell, ordered a rele-
vant to go to him, with his compliments,
and to deftre he would favour him with
his company to dinner ; alfo, to beg of him
aot to take the trouble of changing his
drefs* Albert returned his refpe&s, and
that he would wait on him immediately,
which he did, as ibon as Buxar had br ufhed
the duft from bis boots. Notawordwasiaid
by the company, either to cenfure or praife
him i but every female heart told its pof-
feflbr that he would conquer wherever he
chofe to attempt ; and the men felt, with
envy, how much they would lofe by being
compared to him. Old ftories and anec-
dotes that had long been out of date, were
the fubje&s of converfation, till Albert was
announced. He entered the room in the
moft graceful manner, and with an cafe,
as if he had long been acquainted with the
Company to whom he was now introduced,
F 3 and



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r02 ALBERT DE NORDENSHILI*.

afid a fingle glance of his annihilated the
power of many an Adonis, who had be-
fore tyrannifed, with unbounded fway,
over the hearts of the fair.

Amelia was delighted to fee the general
approbation Albert met with, although fhe
trembled when fhe thought on the num-
berlefs fnares that would be fpread for him.
And indeed fhe had reafon for her fears ;
for many a wife who had hitherto piqued
herfelf on her conjugal fidelity, wifhed to
pleafe him ; and many a fimple girl learn-
ed to ogle, and made her firft effort on
his heart. Thofe that were accuftomed to
conquer ufed every artifice to gain his af-
fections ; for to have Nordenfhild in their
train was the wifhi and would have been
the glory of every female, in the gay, the
diflipated Nordia.

The name of Nordenfhild was again as
renowned there, as it had been once be-
fore, when Cafper's mighty arm relieved it
from the po\ve£ of a cruel enemy; but
with this difference, that then the air re-
founded



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ALBERT PE NORDENSHILD. I03

founded with the name, mingled with the
joyful acclamations of grateful inhabitants,
but now it was whifpered in the (Jrefling-
rooms and bed-chambers of love-lorn fe-
male fimpletons. But I hope fome time
hence, to be able to prefent this fame Nor-
denfhild to my readers in a more advan-
tageous light ; when, perhaps, his name
may ferve to infpire Nordia's warriors with
courage, and to fill the hearts* of the ene-
mies of his country with terror and con-
fternation.

Every eye was attentively fixed on him
the next day, when Prafcha presented him
at court. Some fervile hearts, that beat
under a glittering ftar, were furprifed at the
firm undaunted flep with which he walked
up to the king, whom he had never feen
before. Others wondered at the eafe with
which he fpoke ; an eafe that they, whofe
lives had been fpent at court, could never
acquire, for their hearts were filled with
intrigues: a third admired his figure, &
fourth his eyes. But Albert was perfectly
F 4 uncon-



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104 ALBERT DE NORDJENSHILD.

unconcerned, fear nothing he faw feemed to
jfurprife him: yet, without being able. to
affign a reaibn for it,, his heart palpitated
violently as he approached the king, whofe
own feemed to beat in unifon. The quef-
tions Arno afked him he anfwered with as
much eafe, as if he had been fpeaking to
his father. The king was pleafed with the
confidence which Albert placed in him*
and, fhaking his hand in the moft affec-
tionate manner, recommended him ta
He£lor*s ffiendfhip. The prince offered
him his hand arid faid* " It is what I hfcve
" iortg defired 5 for although unknown, a
<< feciet impulie has attached me to you—
*' -be to me what your father was to hhi^,
" a fincere friend." The fight of the prince
•infpired Albert with efteem and refpe&,
which are thebafis of true friendfhip ; an#
much did he, at that moment, regret the
reftraint he was under, which forbad him
to afture that amiable youth of his invari-
able attachment. Hc&or feemed to gqefs
his thoughts, and again giving him his
hand, that moment united, in the moft
ittdiftbluble union, two worthy hearts.

Aruo

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ALBERT BE NORDXNSHILm '" I&5'

Arno was afflicted at the fcene, which
recalled to his mind the happy days of his,
youth ; many of them had been fpent with
Cafper at Grieffenhorft , and, turning to
one of his minifters, hefakl, "Withfuch
a fupporters we may ceafe to lament the
" weaknefs of declining age/' He defired
Albert to come frequently to court, and
then" retired," with his minifters, into his
cabinet.

Albert was better acquainted with the
the military fervice, when he firft entered
it, than many are when they retire upon
penfions, or are carried to the grave ; for
he had been the pupil of Cafper. He was,
therefore, more ufeful the firft month'; than
hundreds whofe lives have been fjjent in
martial warfare : but although cqnfcious
of his fuperiority, he took care not to let it
be felt by his companions, which, added
to his being always in cafli, made him ge-
nerally beloved in the corps, except by a
few perfons, whofe envious hearts could
not fupport the man whofe merits eclipfed
their own. Albert was overwhelmed with
F 5 prafe&

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Xo6 ALBERT HE NOfrDEWSHILm

profdflions of friendfhip by his comrades;
which, however, made but little impreffion
oh him, for he foon found it was his purfe,
not himfelf, that was the object of their
attentions. But a young man in his re-
giment, a Baron Drake, interested him
the more, from being a contrail to the
reft ; his manners were as referved as theirs,
were importunate ; yet Albert perceived
he was a man of fenfe and worth, ftruggling
with difficulties that he wifhed to conceal j
for the only inheritance the beft of fathers
had in his power to bequeath him, was an
excellent education, and an uncorrupted
heart. Albert at laft, with much diffi-
culty, gained his Confidence, and foon af-
ter his friendfhip ; and it was with pleafure
he difcovered* that Cafper and Drake's,
father had likewifebeen friends : he there*
fore invited him to accompany him to
Grieffenhorft, where their vifits were fre-
quently repeated, and Albert foon difco-
vered that his friend had made an impref-
fion on the heart of Selina, and fhe on
his. He had perceived their mutual at»
iachxnent almoft before they knew it them-

ielvesj

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ALBERT DB # K0RB£NSjr!£l#r ^^

felves, and likewife the violence Drake
did to himfelf in endeavouring to conquer
his paffion. Albert, with much difficulty*
extorted a confeffion from him, which, as.
loon as he gained, he communicated to hi*
father, who, although he in general object-
ed .to young officers forming matrimonial
engagements, conceived, that in giving
his niece to a young man, the fon of his
friend, who was rich in every thing except
the gifts of fortune (but without which it
was almoil impoffible for him to attain
that fituation in life his worth deferred) was
a fufficient exception to the rule. Ho
therefore, with pleafure, gave him the
hand of his beloved Selina ; and at the
fame time put him in poffeflion of a fum
fufficient to extricate him out of his pre-
fent difficulties, and to promote his future
advancement. Drake's every wifh was
now fulfilled, and his gratitude to his be-
nefactor and friend v were unbounded.
Cafper had likewife attempted to be a
friend to Hardi, for foon after Albert firft
left Grieffenhorft, he had confented to his
marriage with Berda, and had given him
F 6 the

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108 ALBERT PB KORBEtfSHILP.

the fame fum which he had beftowed on
Drake; but his extravagance had occaiion-
t& him the greatefi: vexation ; for at Ncmfe,
where he was now quartered, (having
changed his regiment) he, through gam-
ing, and diffipation of every kind, had en-
tirely fpent his wife's fortune, and had
made feveral clamorous demands for more*
u I hope," laid Cafper to Drake one day,
" you will a& with more prudence than
"Hardi, you fhall then have tmafked >
ic that which his infblence fhall never ex-
" tort from me." It was agreed on, that Se~
lina /hould remain with her uncle, and
our two young heroes returned to Nordia*
and purfued their career with honour.

I hope my readers will not fupfpofe the
occurrences I have juft related happened
within the fpace of a few months : No ! 1
.own that I have leaped over four years,
the events of which were fo common-plaee,
as not to deferve relating, Befides, Bare-
nau had enjoyed the bleflings of uninter-
rupted peace for feveral years; and what is

the



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ALBERT t>£ JTOftDEHSHILXU t09

the hiftory of a foldier in time of peace ?
And although Albert appeared in the clofeft
connexion with the mintflry, he was by no
means initiated into the fecrets and private
cabals of the cabinet, except what inime*
diately related to prince He&or, who was
too fincerely his friend not to place in him
an unbounded confidence. He partook
of all the amufements the town offered,
but avoided excels of every kind, and of-
ten when furrounded by the moil alluring