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Extracted from Ormond by Maria Edgeworth, published by Appletree Press

Ormond
by Maria Edgeworth
Chapter One - part 4

Sir Ulick thought to extinguish her jealousy, by opening to her his views on Miss Annaly for his son; but the jealousy, taking only a new direction, strengthened in its course—Lady O'Shane did not like her son-in-law—had indeed no great reason to like him.—Marcus disliked her, and was at no pains to conceal his dislike. She dreaded the accession of domestic power and influence he would gain by such a marriage.—She could not bear the thoughts of having a daughter-in-law brought into the house—placed in eternal comparison with her. Sir Ulick O'Shane was conscious that his marriage exposed him to some share of ridicule; but hitherto, except when his taste for raillery, and the diversion of exciting her causeless jealousy, interfered with his purpose, he had always treated her ladyship as he conceived that Lady O'Shane ought to be treated. Naturally good-natured, and habitually attentive to the sex, he had indeed kept up appearances better than could have been expected, from a man of his former habits to a woman of her ladyship's present age. But if she now crossed his favourite scheme, it would be all over with her;—her submission to his will had hitherto been a sufficient, and a convenient proof, and the only proof he desired, of her love. Her ladyship's evil genius, in the shape of Miss Black, her humble companion, was now busily instigating her to be refractory. Miss Black had frequently whispered, that if Lady O'Shane would shew more spirit, she would do better with Sir Ulick;—that his late wife, Lady Theodosia, had ruled him, by shewing proper spirit;—that in particular, she should make a stand against the encroachments of Sir Ulick's son, Marcus, and of his friend and companion, young Ormond. In consequence of these suggestions, Lady O'Shane had most judiciously thwarted both these young men in trifles, till she had become their aversion: this aversion Marcus felt more than he expressed, and Ormond expressed more strongly than he felt. To Sir Ulick his son and heir was his first great object in life; yet, though in all things he preferred the interest of Marcus, he was not as fond of Marcus as he was of young Ormond.— Young Ormond was the son of the friend of Sir Ulick O'Shane's youthful and warm-hearted days—the son of an officer who had served in the same regiment with him in his first campaign. Captain Ormond afterwards made an unfortunate marriage; that is, a marriage without a fortune—his friends would not see him or his wife—he was soon in debt, and in great distress.—He was obliged to leave his wife and go to India—She had then one child at nurse in an Irish cabin.—She died soon afterwards. Sir Ulick O'Shane took the child, that had been left at nurse, into his own house; from the time it was four years old, little Harry Ormond became his darling, and grew up his favourite. Sir Ulick's fondness, however, had not extended to any care of his education; quite the contrary; he had done all he could to spoil him by the most injudicious indulgence, and by neglect of all instruction or discipline.
      Marcus had been sent to school and college; but Harry Ormond, meantime, had been let to run wild at home: the gamekeeper, the huntsman, and a cousin of Sir Ulick's, who called himself the king of the Black Islands, had had the principal share in his education. Captain Ormond, his father, was not heard of for many years; and Sir Ulick always argued, that there was no use in giving Harry Ormond the education of an estated gentleman, when he was not likely to have an estate. Moreover, he prophecied that Harry would turn out the cleverest man of the two; and in the progress of the two boys towards manhood, Sir Ulick had shewn a strange sort of double and inconsistent vanity in his son's acquirements, and in the orphan Harry's natural genius. Harry's extremely warm, generous, grateful temper, delighted Sir Ulick, but he gloried in the superior polish of his own son. Harry Ormond grew up with all the faults that were incident to his natural violence of passions and that might necessarily be expected from his neglected and deficient education. His devoted gratitude and attachment to his guardian father, as he called Sir Ulick, made him amenable in an instant, even in the height and tempest of his passions, to whatever Sir Ulick desired; but Harry Ormond was ungovernable by most people, and rude, even to insolence, where he felt tyranny, or suspected meanness. Miss Black and he were always at open war; to Lady O'Shane he submitted, though with an ill grace; yet he did submit for his guardian's sake, where he himself only was concerned; while most imprudently and fiercely he contended upon every occasion, where Marcus, when aggrieved, had declined contending with his mother-in-law. Upon the present occasion the two youths had been long engaged to dine with, and keep the birth-day of Mr. Cornelius O'Shane, the king of the Black Islands—next to Sir Ulick, the being upon earth to whom Harry Ormond thought himself most obliged, and to whom he felt himself most attached. This he had represented to Lady O'Shane, and had earnestly requested, that as the day for the intended dance was a matter of indifference to her, it might not be fixed on this day; but her ladyship had purposely made it a trial of strength, and had insisted upon their returning at a certain hour. She knew that Sir Ulick would be much vexed by their want of punctuality on this occasion, where the Annalys were concerned, though, in general, punctuality was a virtue for which he had no regard.
     

The family history of Sir Ulick O'Shane continues:here

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