Emily observed with concern the ascendancy, which Montoni had
acquired over Madame Cheron, as well as the increasing frequency of
his visits; and her own opinion of this Italian was confirmed by that
of Valancourt, who had always expressed a dislike of him. As she
was, one morning, sitting at work in the pavilion, enjoying the
pleasant freshness of spring, whose colours were now spread upon the
landscape, and listening to Valancourt, who was reading, but who
often laid aside the book to converse, she received a summons to
attend Madame Cheron immediately, and had scarcely entered the
dressing-room, when she observed with surprise the dejection of her
aunt's countenance, and the contrasted gaiety of her dress. 'So,
niece!'--said Madame, and she stopped under some degree of
embarrassment.--'I sent for you--I--I wished to see you; I have news
to tell you. From this hour you must consider the Signor Montoni as
your uncle--we were married this morning.'
Astonished--not so much at the marriage, as at the secrecy with which
it had been concluded, and the agitation with which it was announced,
Emily, at length, attributed the privacy to the wish of Montoni,
rather than of her aunt.
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