TALES OF A TOURIST. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. But as he fondly snatch'd the wreath of fame, THE bells of the village of Llanvair, in Merionethshire, had been ringing from early morning; the villagers were dressed in their holiday clothes, and preparations for old English hospitality, on the most festive and extensive plan, were seen at the park and castle, for the double purpose of celebrating the coming of age of its lovely mistress, and her recent marriage VOL. I. with sir Herbert Montgomery. Great was the joy with which her arrival was anticipated; for though it was many years since she had been permitted to visit her native domains, the numerous objects of her bounty remembered well the fascinating manners and benevolent mind of their young and lovely lady. Her equipage was now distinguished winding down the steep descent, that, between two rugged mountains, turned towards the ancient and picturesquely-situated Castle of Llanvair. Instantly three distinct shouts of welcome and heartfelt triumph resounded through hill and valley. The multitude pressed forward to meet her, while the ancient harper of the castle, Cerdic ap Howyll, maintained his station at the gate, to welcome its mistress in the genuine strains of Cambro. British melody. The fair and blushing bride, however gratified, was too much oppressed by the ardent and tumul tuous zeal of her faithful dependants not to seek, as soon as possible, the privacy of her her own apartment. Leaving it therefore to sir Herbert to express the sense she entertained of their enthusiastie attachment, she withdrew from the general gaze, to pour forth, in strains to which her young and innocent heart was early accustomed, her gratitude to the Giver of all good, who had thus crowned her days with prosperity, and blessed them with the husband of her choice. Rosamond countess of Llanvair possessed that high rank, and the estates annexed to it, by inheritance, and, though apparently distinguished by the possession of every worldly blessing, had been made acquainted with that best tutor, Adversity, and had many a domestic difficulty to struggle with, before she arrived at that haven of peace and rest which an union with one of the best and most amiable of beings seemed to promise her. Having early lost her parents, and being left under the guardianship of a relative of supposed integrity, the lovely orphan distinguished B 2 tinguished sir Herbert Montgomery, for his personal merit, above all the numerous pretenders to her hand; but unexpected difficulties opposed her choice, and the lovers were obliged to wait till the law declared the young countess at liberty to act for herself, before they could seal for ever the union of their hearts. That blissful period was at length arrived. Conscious of the purity and disinterestedness of his attachment, sir Herbert Montgomery, though lady Llanvair's inferior in rank and fortune, did not experience that repugnance to owe an obligation to the hand of Love, which, if it sometimes marks an independent spirit, proceeds as often from a proud and ungrateful heart; while the lovely countess, when surveying the varied riches of her wide domain, and the happy countenances of the dependants on her bounty, would softly sigh-" Pardon, oh Heaven! the error of a heart attached too fondly, if, while thus chosen by thy favour to be the instrument of fe |